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 ...
"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.
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.)
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.
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.
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?
"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!
and if Rudy is elected president over a democRAT, there will be what noticeable difference?
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.
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.
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.
"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.
I don't think Jeb Bush would have a realistic chance, I agree.
yup.
Well put!
I think he would wage the war on Islamic terrorism better than any dem on the scene.
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.
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.
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