The Big Apple has always been a political sewer controlled by the ruling class of liberal elites, of which Giuliani is a member in good standing. Just like Mike Bloomberg, a converted Democrat but a liberal to the core.
Liberal politics may sell in some parts of the country, like NYCity and California, however, if you think that Giuliani`s politics will sell in mainstream America, you're out of touch with the nation. Giuliani gets credit for getting tough on crime and bringing some fiscal sanity to the city budgets. That doesn't make him a conservative or the right leader for America either. Btw, Giuliani didn't end crime in NYCity. Today, crime is down under Mayor Bloommberg. That doesn't mean conservatives are gonna run out and support Mayor Mike for POTUS. LOL
Giuliani`s own words and actions are all the proof any conservtaive needs to conclude, RudyG isn't the right candidate for the GOP in 2008. Giuliani`s support for a citywide sanctuary policy for illegal aliens and his support of special rights for homos, should be enough to disqualify Rudy by every conservative in America. Not to mention his support for abortion on demand, partial birth abortion and more gun control.
If you run round saying in public:
“I’m pro-choice. I’m pro-gay rights,” Giuliani said. He was then asked whether he supports a ban on what critics call partial-birth abortions. “No, I have not supported that, and I don’t see my position on that changing,” he responded. [Mayor Rudy Giuliani on CNN`s “Inside Politics” Dec 2, 1999.]
Fact: You're a liberal.
If you go around saying in public:
We need a federal law that bans all assault weapons ... [Mayor Rudy Giuliani, MAYOR'S MESSAGE, Sunday, March 2, 1997
and
I only hope that.... Congress is finally ready to recognize that the vast majority of Americans want more gun control. It makes sense. It is time.[Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Speech to Citizens Crime Comission, March 6, 1997]
Fact: You're a liberal.
More facts. Rudy left office having increased spending by 18.7% from 1995-2000, leaving behind a $2-billion deficit, a $42-billion debt, almost doubling contractual expenses from $3-bil to $5.8-bil, increasing city employees by 20K --- adding 15,000 new teachers and 2,000 new political positions. Giuliani had no success in shrinking the size and scope of the NYCity government. When Rudy left office NYCity still had a city-income tax, along with some of the highest property taxes and utility rates in the entire nation.
No thanks.
Dude, can't you read? Where did I call myself a CONSERVTIVE?
(Perish the thought!). Where did I call Giuliani one? The author called him one, not me. I also stated to another poster that I prefer Gingrich for president, but wouldn;t be adverse to a Giuliani Vice-Presidency. Little comprehension problem there, huh?
"Liberal" loon? Hardly. Voted for Reagan (twice), both Bushes (twice). What I am is a Republican (and a proud one) who wishes to God that sanity could be reintroduced to American political debate, and who absolutely deplores the constant appplication of "litmus tests" within a party that swears up and down that it hates "litmus tests", especially "litmus tests" that are rigged. My assertion has only been that Giuliani should be considered, but won't be for ridiculous reasons. I guess anyone who smashes your deeply-held (and poorly-understood-but-clung-to-like-a-liferaft) ideology MUST be a "liberal" (in the obviously vicious way in which you meant to use that word). Do yourself a favor: learn something about politics -- Republicans ARE HISTORICALLY AND POLITICALLY LIBERALS! What you really mean to say is "Progressive loon". Perhaps you should learn what the difference between a liberal and a progressive is, and then you'll find out that the Republican party is a classicly liberal party.
Thanks for the ready-to-post ton of rhetorical garbage you linked to, which, I guess, is supposed to substitute for actual debate. You'll send me links to fourteen thousand webpages, but not make an attempt to actually argue in your own words (probably because it's really hard to memorize eveything you're supposed to say). Bulk reading does not substitute for argument.
And I have news for you: Giuliani (or, rather, classical republican) politics WILL sell all over the country, because the alternatives are communism and fascism. You can stop with the "flyover country pride" BS. People are opportunistic parasites; when something comes along that suits their needs and interests (like compitence), they will flock to it, even if comes with something they don't like.
As for your "No Thanks" comment, well, I'd apply that to the current crop of "conservatives" in office today:
* I remind you that after a massive public battle, two "conservatives" were appointed to the Supreme Court, ready to shoot down a whole host of "liberal" decisions from affirmative action to abortion to the Kelo case. Haven't done a thing. In fact, haven't heard a word from them on anything seriously important in a while, except for that time Roberts recused himself. If that's conservatism, then No Thank You.
* I remind you that after all the talk of "reform of entitlements" that a republican-dominated congress folded on Social Security Reform and Medicare Reform, and that both programs will continue to eat up ever-larger slabs of the Federal budget for the forseeable future. But, hell, no problem getting a majority vote to get a resolution to ask the courts to intervene on behalf of a vegetable about to be mercy-killed. If that's conservatism in action, then No Thank You.
* I remind you that the republican-dominated congress spent five years spending tax dollars like drunken sailors on shore leave, increasing deficits, and didn't give a damn until it was handed the bill to rebuild a sunken city where a republican couldn't get elected if you offered free booze and hookers at the polling station (they know: they've tried), and THEN reigning in federal spending and seeking accountability with that 200 billion estimate became a hot-button issue. If that's conservatism in action, then No Thank You.
* I seem to recall somewhere that it was a conservative who led the charge to "get the money and special interests" out of American politics, in order to "clean it up", and instead gave us the biggest assault on political speech and the best shield incumbants ever had. I refer to "Campaign Finance Reform" which is three lies for the price of one.If that's conservatism, then No Thank You.
* Five years after I walked out of a burning 1 WTC, the organizer of this attrocity is still walking around free somewhere, and hasn't been brought to justice for the deaths of my four friends who weren't as lucky. Somehow, along the way, finding Usama Bin Hidin' became less important. Instead, we can spend a ton of money and invest a lot of effort in making sure people don't bring a Diet Coke on board their flight to Duluth or Boise. If this is conservatism, then No Thank You.
* I remind you that a host of "conservatives" who scream from their bully pulpits in Congress about "law and order" and "keeping the American people safe", have recently caved-in to the construction, restaurant, agriculture, tourism and landscaping industries (amongst others) and refuse to enforce American immigration laws, but can instead crow about "Paths to citizenship" and "Guest worker programs" as viable alternatives. If this is conservatism, then No Thank You.