GIULIANI '08: A REAL CHANCE

The New York Post ^ | 5/23/06 | John Podohertz

[Blackirish]

May 23, 2006 -- IN my new book ("Can She Be Stopped?"), I suggest that the Republican best suited to the challenge of preventing Hillary Clinton's ascension to the Oval Of fice in 2008 is Rudy Giuliani. A Fox News Opinion Dynamics poll released yesterday offers some strong ballast for the idea: In a head-to-head matchup, Rudy beats Hillary 49 percent to 40 percent, the best showing among all Republican contenders.

By contrast, John McCain has a 46-to-42 advantage over Hillary - besting her but not as decisively as Rudy does. Rudy is viewed favorably by 64 percent of those asked, McCain by 49 percent (Hillary: 50 percent).

And this is not a poll of Republicans alone: The respondents are 41 percent Democrat, 32 percent Republican and 21 percent independent.

It's probably not surprising that Rudy wins in a head-to-head contest for the presidency. After all, Hillary is a lightning rod - while he, once a hugely controversial figure, has become beloved.

But what about in a Republican primary? Can Rudy possibly win?

In surveys of Republican primary voters, two names top every list - Giuliani and McCain. Each gets support from around 30 percent, with every other possible contender hovering around 2 or 3 percent at most.

[Sabramerican]

You should find a way to see his appearance on Sat Night Live last week. I did.

I was shocked by how good and human he looked. Elegant even.

[durasell]

You don't know what your talking about. Freedom works everywhere.


A nice bumper sticker, but right now I can list a dozen "feedoms" enjoyed in NYC that would be shut down cold in nearly any other city in the country...

[defconw]

I'll take the "known unknonws" of Giuliani over the "known knowns" of Clinton and McCain.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

If Rudy is serious, he could end the Hildebeast threat by running against her for the U.S. Senate.

Vigilanteman, you got that right.

Julie-Annie is a stalking horse for the left wing religion haters and the homo-activists. He would capitulate to the left in every way...

Of course, look who posted the article... Blackirish always supports the homosexuals and bashes the religious folks.

[oceanview]

give me a break on that one, it was a systematic plan to reduce crime. and it included having to win numerous court battles against the ACLU, to get tougher policing practices like stop and frisk cleared by the courts.

[spunkets]

"I can list a dozen "feedoms"... "

Freedom is a condition. It's a gift extended by folks to each other that they may enjoy their own pursuits. Naturally that they don't infringe on other's rights. When you take away folk's right to defend themselves, you've taken away their Freedom. Being able to live in a relatively crime free place with enough cash to keep you happy is not Freedom. Some can do that even in the lands of the world's worst tyrants. The rest are at the mercy of the tyrants and their enablers, the bliss ninnies.

[Clemenza]

I can't argue with that statement. ;-)

[George W. Bush]

Naaaah Not that big a fall in crime, over such along period ( we are still enjoying the effects of Rudy's huge reduction in crime here). It took plenty of hard work and guts and Rudy to do it.

We'll see how easily Rudy can sell that to Red America. Given how he's backing away from gays and his previous gun statements, I'd say he understands his personal opinions don't appeal to the states a Republican must win. You know, some of these people love their gun rights a lot more than they hate the Clintons. You'd better not ask them to choose between the two. The guns will win.

Still, Bush favored AWB and got elected. And gunners used the House to defeat AWB and even got Frist in the Senate to push through the gunmakers liability immunity. So his gun position doesn't completely or automatically disqualify him. But it sure doesn't make it any easier. And anyone with a strong NRA rating will pick up a lot of primary votes if Rudy is the other choice.

Gunners never forgive. This is true even with Bush on the AWB when you get right down to it.

[durasell]

Look, my point is simple: America is a diverse country. The landscape differs greatly as do the people and their customs. It's foolish to apply some laws across the board and expect them to be effective. Note, I said "some laws."

[One-Four-Five]

Okay, why?

Keeping in mind that he hasn't been a prosecutor in nearly 20 years...not that the prosecutor's mentality isn't a valid observation...these sorts of things were heard from many on both sides prior to his mayoralty. A lot of them made sense, and after the incident at the Mosque in early 1994 that led many to think that we were in for increasingly tumultuous times due to race relations, they seemed profound. Fortunately, that was brief.

Theodore Roosevelt was of course the Police Commissioner, which I would hope would be factored into your response.

[Blackirish]

I still say he cannot win the support of social conservatives because of his positions on Abortion, same-sex marriange and gun control."

---

I think Guliani can and will.


As I said it's up to the Social conservatives to come up with an electable candidate. Do not expect the libertarian wing to do your heavy lifting.

It's up to you guys to find one.

Right now you don't have a varsity player and your bench is weak.

[durasell]

Do you understand this Rudy worship? I mean, what the hell is it about? And it just keeps getting worse...

[George W. Bush]

You should find a way to see his appearance on Sat Night Live last week. I did. I was shocked by how good and human he looked. Elegant even.

I recall his hottub appearance on SNL after he lost in 2000. You don't suppose a GOP campaign might use that unsavory footage against him, do you? Way too much flesh, far more repellant than him Frenching the little woman at the Dim convention in 2000.

[Blackirish]

Blackirish always supports the homosexuals and bashes the religious folks

---

What are talkin about goofy? You don't even know me.
But I did get a good 500 post brawl started. and....

Your name is pretty gay dude.

[George W. Bush]

And we're still the center of the universe.

Even if true, and California would dispute it, it's just another reason why New Yorkers and Californians have an uphill battle to the White House. The rest of us don't like that attitude. And the association of New York with liberal television networks and media and of California with Hollywood does not help you in Red America.

Besides, both are Dim strongholds and GOP strategy for electoral college victory assumes both vote liberal.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

If anything, it'll give the hildebeast the WH.

I think that is really the plan and the hope of the inter-national socialist left. I don't see a dime's worth of difference between the two... just different designer labels.

But, consider this... Anyone who thinks Hillary Clinton is the be all, end all of presidential politics has already conceded defeat. Or, they have ulterior motives for promoting Julie-Annie.

[George W. Bush]

Oh, never mind. He's a gun grabber! He's a cross-dresser!

He's too ethnic. His name is not WASPish enough and is hard to spell.

Around here, we just refer to him as the Gun-grabbing Cross-dresser. But some NRA members prefer to call him the Cross-dressing Gun-Grabber.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

What are talkin about goofy? You don't even know me.

You want me to dig up the posts bootcamp??? You are pro-homo-activist...

[durasell]

What is this "California" of which you speak? I have heard vague rumors, I think, of such a place. Filled with tan air heads and sunshine.


Seriously -- many New Yorkers have a strong sense of civic pride. Even in the worst days, when the city was going broke. This is the way it's always been -- note this quote from the movie Casablanca:


Major Strasser: Are you one of those people who cannot imagine the Germans in their beloved Paris?
Rick: It's not particularly my beloved Paris.
Heinz: Can you imagine us in London?
Rick: When you get there, ask me!
Captain Renault: Hmmh! Diplomatist!
Major Strasser: How about New York?
Rick: Well there are certain sections of New York, Major, that I wouldn't advise you to try to invade.

[durasell]

Bogart, by the way, was a New Yorker. He grew up on Park Avenue.