Posted on 07/07/2006 7:32:14 AM PDT by chiller
Twenty-eight months to go, and I can't wait.
( edit )
Since Condi insists she isn't interested - and for the moment I believe her - speculation ranges from base-pleasing Republicans like Sens. Bill Frist, Sam Brownback and my current favorite, George Allen, to the intriguing prospects of envelope-pushers like John McCain and Rudy Giuliani.
And these two intriguing figures constitute my point of the day. There are two things I have stopped saying: first, Mr. McCain can't win, and second, Rudy won't run.
I still don't believe Mr. McCain will be the '08 nominee, but his loyal support for the war has healed some distaste that the GOP base has had for him since he challenged Mr. Bush six years ago. His disconnect with many Republicans on overhauling campaign finance is still an anvil around his prospects, but I can no longer write him off.
As for Mr. Giuliani, I used to say that he won't run and couldn't win if he did. The gay-friendly, abortion-rights-supporting ex-New York mayor whose legacy includes an embrace of gun control? It would seem highly unlikely.
Unless you were in a room with me at the Hotel Crescent Court last month as the Dallas County Republican Party welcomed Mr. Giuliani to a fundraiser also heralding local congressional candidates.
I served as master of ceremonies, and there was a thoroughly polite welcome for the GOP primary survivors who will try to unseat Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson and Chet Edwards.
But it was Mr. Giuliani who put a room of Reagan-loving red-staters into a positive swoon.
He did it with steadfast support for the Bush war doctrine, coupled with a passion for tight borders that even the still-admired incumbent cannot muster. He did it with strong fiscal conservatism, another Bush weakness. And he did it with a passionate pitch for school choice, an issue Republicans have neglected - mysteriously, since scads of Republicans and Democrats want it.
His content was great. His style was even better. His sharp wit and off-the-cuff comfort are miles beyond the average glazed, scripted politician. He sports a good-natured partisan streak that puts him a head above Mr. McCain, who seems to gag on any sentence suggesting that a Democrat might be wrong.
This is not my prediction that Mr. Giuliani's hand will rest on a Bible at the swearing-in on Jan. 20, 2009. But the Bible-embracing core of the GOP shows a willingness to consider him as he includes evangelical groups in his curious tour of various Republican constituencies.
He will not launch a national gun grab, leaving gun statutes to the cities. He will not push for nationwide gay marriage, happy to leave those decisions to the states, where the Constitution says they belong. He will not pound the bully pulpit for affirmative action, leaving that to the courts.
And speaking of the courts, he speaks glowingly of Mr. Bush's Supreme Court selections, Samuel Alito and John Roberts, suggesting he does not necessarily dream of packing the court with sure-fire abortion-rights opponents.
Throw in the tasty imagery of the Mayor of America wiping the debate stage floor with Mrs. Clinton or virtually anyone else, and it's the kind of thing to make a Republican heart quicken.
I don't know yet whether I can be a Rudy voter, but I'd enjoy watching him try to make me one.
Mark Davis is a columnist for the Dallas Morning News. The Mark Davis Show is heard weekdays nationwide on the ABC Radio Network. His e-mail address is mdavis@wbap.com.
Yes, it is. Kerik's unsavory background was known to some of us long before he pleaded guilty last week to a number of criminal counts related to graft and corruption. A person in a position of authority can't hire a slimy, corrupt greaseball to a high-profile public position and then step away and pretend that the actions of said slimy, corrupt greaseball shouldn't reflect poorly on the person who appointed him.
The fact that Kerik was named police commissioner after serving as Giuliani's personal driver is all you really need to know.
But he have had our share of corrupt oficials. We just had a Republican congressman, "Duke" Cunningham, put in jail for corruption, and currently the Republican governor of Ohio, Bob Taft is mirred in corruption even as we speak.
And neither one of these guys could be re-elected today. If they were Democrats, they'd be front-runners for their party's nomination by a wide margin.
Could you be more specific? Expound on his "very solid record of achievements".
""Anyone who thinks George Allen would be harder to beat than Rudy is myopic enough to qualify for an extra deduction on their income tax.""
Rudy is perhaps the strongest general election choice for Repubs - that's not the same as saying conservatives should push his nomination. McCain would be strong in the general too - I have the same sorts of concerns there too.
Jurisdiction? Arafat's diplomatic immunity?
Name another politician in the US who actually made UN diplomats' lives miserable?
You can belittle anything he did. I have a long list of things he did I disagree with.
If I could built a perfect candidate I might not choose Giuliani.
In the real world, with his accomplishments, no one comes close to him.
True as well. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
Thing is Rudy actually believes he is that popular (snicker), another indication he is pathetically in denial.
Go ahead Rudy---throw your hat into the ring. You gonna be blown out of the water so fast, you won't know what hitcha, Your Honor.
You make an excellent point about Chief Executive type.
GWB actually was a private sector CEO before he was Governor. Most Presidents lately have been former Governors or at least ran an organization (GHWB - CIA) before they became President.
Senators, on the other hand, only run their mouths. Other than the Leaders of the Senate, leadership is not needed in the Senate -- in fact, being a narcissistic jackass is what defines most Senators on BOTH sides of the Aisle (Kerry, Kennedy, Biden, Cryin'vich, Stevens, etc).
Yet another reason why someone like George Allen is not a realistic option IMHO. If he wants to be President, then become Governor first and prove you can run something.
I'd vote for Rudi too....
Giuliani has severed all ties to Kerik.
If you want to judge Giuliani a criteria could be who lies about him.
They lie about him from both the Left, and the far crazy Right.
Bernie Kerik.
Yes, Rudy is a dynamic Far Left Republican...A Liberal Republican...
And completely unacceptable to a Conservative...
He and McCain could split a similar vote in NH.
But if he won NH, any candidate the extreme Right would use to prevent him getting the nomination, if they succeed, will get killed in November.
Allen doesn't have the name recognition...I could be wrong, and I don't know all that much about Allen, except that I don't know much. What has Allen done to combat terrorism? I know that Guiliani is tough, that he did the unthinkable in New York, which was to clean it up. I moved from New York before he came to power, and when I returned, I did not recognize the City I left. Hey, I'm open to Allen...I have to find out more about him. This article was about if it came down to McCain or Guiliani. And I do care about Christian values...but it's not the most important thing to me in a President. And that's me being honest.
If Rudy took a stance on Judicial nominiations similar to Bush's -- judges that will follow original intent and not invent new laws -- he'd go a long way to get a lot of GOP votes. As far as abortion and gays, this is the area where a President has the most influence.
"Yet another reason why someone like George Allen is not a realistic option IMHO. If he wants to be President, then become Governor first and prove you can run something."
If you have ever had any creditability in a political debate, it is now gone with that silly statement.
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