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Giuliani Shows a Candidate's Mettle to Republicans in Iowa
NY Times ^ | 5/2/6 | Patrick Healy

Posted on 05/02/2006 9:42:32 AM PDT by Crackingham

Former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani said on Monday that he was seriously exploring whether he has "a chance" of winning the presidency in 2008, as he visited politically important Iowa and huddled with state advisers, donors to President Bush and other prominent Republicans. While Mr. Giuliani was officially in Iowa to attend two Republican fund-raisers, his behavior and remarks came close to politicking for himself. He ruminated openly about running, disclosed he was not sure what he would do if his friend John McCain also ran, and argued that if Republicans are to be a majority party, they need to accept politicians like himself who support abortion rights, gay rights and gun control.

"I've got a lot of places to go and a lot of people to talk to and a long process of figuring out whether it makes sense to run for president in 2008," Mr. Giuliani said before speaking at a daytime fund-raiser in Des Moines for a Republican congressional candidate. "I don't know the answer to that yet."

He added: "My effort this year will be to help Republicans get elected, and then, quite honestly, as part of it, saying to myself, does it look like I have a chance in 2008? And make that decision after the 2006 election."

At a fund-raiser in Davenport on Monday night, Mr. Giuliani offered a stout defense of President Bush's leadership, arguing that the economy was growing and that Mr. Bush would go down in history as "a great president."

"I don't know what we're all so upset about," he said, referring to concerns about the economy and rising costs, such as gas prices.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: 2008; abortion; banglist; bush; demtrollsinvadefr; election; gayrights; goawayrudy; gop; guiliani; guncontrol; guns; havewesunksolow; homosexualagenda; homosexuality; ia2008; iowa; kissmeiamproabort; libinpubbieclothing; presidency; prolife; republicans; rino; rinosforrudy; rudyskunkinbigtent
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To: blitzgig

"Actually, I believe every GOP ticket since 1952 (but for Goldwater in 1964) has had a Nixon, Bush or Dole. Just think - four individuals, fifty two years. I don't know what it means, but it's just interesting."

What it means is that the GOP leadership is a country club.


41 posted on 05/02/2006 10:37:51 AM PDT by Vicomte13 (Et alors?)
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To: Crackingham
...if Republicans are to be a majority party, they need to accept politicians like himself who support abortion rights, gay rights and gun control.

WRONG! There is a party which supports that platform already. If the Republicans want to ensure they are not the majority, they can embrace those positions. (HINT: Rudy, those are not the values which got the Republican majority elected.)

42 posted on 05/02/2006 10:38:05 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly.)
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To: zarf
That simply reflects the stupidity of the GOP base. They would rather lose entirely then compromise at all. I don't subscibe to that philosophy.

Then you are missing a huge component of voter turnout. they don't consider themselves to be "Republicans" or care about strategizing or anything else about politics. They look at the candidates and when they see a God fearing moral person they go vote. When they don't see anyone like that, they go back to what they were doing.

I didn't plan it that way. No one did. That's just the way things are. Half of the eligible voters don't vote. It's always been that way. When we give them an appealing candidate a big chunk of then DO vote. Like it or not that's the way things ARE.

43 posted on 05/02/2006 10:38:08 AM PDT by ElkGroveDan (California bashers will be called out)
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To: blitzgig

The Dean thing in 04 was unbelievable to watch. I somewhat credit Christie Vilsack for the Kerry victory. She and her husband stayed out of the fray for a long time and then she did a bus tour with Kerry toward the end and that seemed to turn the tide. The location of the Dean Scream speech is about 5 blocks from where I live and I chuckle ever time I drive past the place.


44 posted on 05/02/2006 10:39:21 AM PDT by babaloo
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To: Bluegrass Conservative
Just out of curiousity, what would you do if it was a Rudy v. Hillary race?

What would you do if it was Abe Lincoln vs. George Washington? Neither matchup is going to happen, so why debate how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

45 posted on 05/02/2006 10:40:50 AM PDT by ElkGroveDan (California bashers will be called out)
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To: babaloo

"The location of the Dean Scream speech is about 5 blocks from where I live and I chuckle ever time I drive past the place."

HAHA! Cool stuff!


46 posted on 05/02/2006 10:41:17 AM PDT by blitzgig
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To: rhombus
"There are a number who will never support him because of his stance on abortion and gun control."

- Unfortunately, you're probably right even though, if the truth be told, as President he wouldn't have a great deal of direct clout on these issues unless he chose to make them some sort of priority action which would involve Supreme Court nominations and by arm twisting legislators. He would be up to his ying yang in so many issues he wouldn't go looking for more trouble by actively campaigning on these highly divisive issues.
My guess is that, if elected, Rudy is a smart enough politician to leave these issues well enough alone except for voicing his views in appropriate forums, such as the occasional Hollywood fundraiser.
Rudy should start "triangulating" on these issues in the same way that Hitlery is doing.
All that said, I would expect that a Rudy/Rice ticket would be unbeatable and I would support it.
After all, look at the alternative.
47 posted on 05/02/2006 10:42:50 AM PDT by finnigan2
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To: amutr22

and if Rudy is elected president over a democRAT, there will be what noticeable difference?


48 posted on 05/02/2006 10:43:44 AM PDT by Bluesguy (bluesguy)
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To: zarf
"I don't buy the hysteria that he would confiscate guns."

It's not hysteria. Rudy, from the article, "if Republicans are to be a majority party, they need to accept politicians like himself who support gun control. Gun grabbers can go choke.

49 posted on 05/02/2006 10:49:13 AM PDT by spunkets
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To: ElkGroveDan
What would you do if it was Abe Lincoln vs. George Washington?

In that hypothetical situation, I would vote for Lincoln. I believe he had more foresight and intellect. Washington receives many accolades since he was the first president, but I believe there were many others, namely John Adams, who were truly running the country. While there were many problems that surely arose during Washington's tenure, he never had to endure anything like the Civil War.

Neither matchup is going to happen, so why debate how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

That I am not so sure of. If I was a betting man, right now I not put money on either Rudy or Hillary being their respective party's nominee. However, there is a possibility. If I was betting, I would put money on Mark Warner and John McCain . . . with Warner being the next president. Hope that's not the case though.

50 posted on 05/02/2006 10:56:57 AM PDT by Bluegrass Conservative
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To: Bluegrass Conservative
If I was a betting man, right now I not put money on either Rudy or Hillary being their respective party's nominee. However, there is a possibility. If I was betting, I would put money on Mark Warner and John McCain

You haven't followed the Republican primary process in recent years have you? I would venture that Lincoln, Washington, or even Fidel Castro have better chances of being the GOP nominee this year than McCain or Giuliani.

51 posted on 05/02/2006 11:03:23 AM PDT by ElkGroveDan (California bashers will be called out)
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To: Bluesguy
For one thing you wont see your taxes go up. Secondly if he were to try and push gun control legislation or a pro-roe SCOTUS nominee he knows he would not be reelected, or if done after reelection that he would become a lame duck in a millisecond and Rudy is not stupid. He is a true fiscal conservative, and he is a staunch law and order type and a major hawk. As far as moral issues go my bet is he would probably defer to congress and possibly even support them even if he did not believe in them (see political expediency).

I am sure we would get that if Hillary/Gore/Feingold/Kerry/Edwards/ETC. were president.

Personally, I think we need to keep looking for a more conservative and base appealing candidate, however if in the end he becomes our nominee, we could do a lot worse (see Arizona).
52 posted on 05/02/2006 11:04:11 AM PDT by spikeytx86 (Pray for Democrats for they have been brainwashed by there fruity little club.)
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To: Jake The Goose

"Come on Rudy - this conservative is a big fan of yours."

So am I. And I'll get flamed for this -- as if I care -- but a ticket consisting of two of the following -- Rudy, McCain, and/or Condi -- would be unbeatable.


53 posted on 05/02/2006 11:07:07 AM PDT by zook
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To: HitmanLV

I don't think Jeb Bush would have a realistic chance, I agree.


54 posted on 05/02/2006 11:11:17 AM PDT by cvq3842
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To: blitzgig

yup.


55 posted on 05/02/2006 11:11:56 AM PDT by cvq3842
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Serious question for Allen supporters: what is his appeal?

because msm hates him?
56 posted on 05/02/2006 11:12:19 AM PDT by absolootezer0 ("My God, why have you forsaken us.. no wait, its the liberals that have forsaken you... my bad")
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To: Vicomte13

Well put!


57 posted on 05/02/2006 11:12:28 AM PDT by cvq3842
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To: Bluesguy
and if Rudy is elected president over a democRAT, there will be what noticeable difference?

I think he would wage the war on Islamic terrorism better than any dem on the scene.

58 posted on 05/02/2006 11:13:46 AM PDT by HitmanLV ("5 Minute Penalty for #40, Ann Theresa Calvello!" - RIP 1929-2006)
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To: zarf

Interesting post.

I am proud to call myself a conservative. That label is clearly NOT the same as calling one's self a Republican.

If the realistic choices I have are (excuse the crudeness) to vote for Republicans and be in sh*t up to my waist, or vote for Democrats and be in sh*t up to my neck, I choose door number one, Monty. I don't think voting third party or staying home are viable options.

Having said that, I do not think Rudy will gain enough support in the primaries to go anywhere nationally. I'm just giving my opinion on what WILL happen, not necessarily what I want or don't want.

I do think, however, that Rudy would have made a great candidate for Senator from NY, or NY Governor. Now it is likely both those races will be won by Democrats. And Rudy is about the most we could hope for in such a blue state.


59 posted on 05/02/2006 11:17:22 AM PDT by cvq3842
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To: zook
So am I. And I'll get flamed for this -- as if I care -- but a ticket consisting of two of the following -- Rudy, McCain, and/or Condi -- would be unbeatable.

I'm not excited about any of the 2008 names right now, but along your lines of thinking, I do like a Rudy/Condi ticket in some ways.

60 posted on 05/02/2006 11:18:04 AM PDT by BUSHdude2000 (Only a more Savage Nation can survive.)
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