Posted on 01/23/2007 10:03:35 AM PST by BunnySlippers
"If you can go toe-to-toe with liberals in Massachusetts and New York City and acquit yourself well, you are prepared for D.C.," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.
**
Mead credits Giuliani with mental toughness rare among elected officials. Instead of seeking consensus, Giuliani openly defied many of the city's leading liberals on crime and welfare reform.
"Giuliani confronted not only the bureaucracy, but the community groups and the academics and the journalists and all those who said you couldn't be tough on the poor," Mead said. "He said that you can be — you can demand that they play by the rules. And he got away with it."
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"It's very difficult for such a person to win Republican primaries," said Jack Pitney, a professor of politics at Claremont McKenna College.
Difficult, but not impossible, Norquist said. As an example, he pointed to Ronald Reagan.
"Reagan passed the most liberal abortion laws in the country and the most liberal divorce laws in the country as governor (of California), and then ran as the pro-life, social-conservative presidential candidate," Norquist said.
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Giuliani's sharp-edge personality is another wild card. He sometimes rubs people, especially journalists, the wrong way.
On the other hand, his toughness might appeal to like-minded conservatives.
"A nice person couldn't have done what Giuliani did in New York," Mead said. "You needed a pit bull. Giuliani is a pit bull."
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
National Republicans can lump it if they don't like his new domestic-partners bill, Mayor Giuliani said yesterday. "I really haven't thought about what the impact is on Republican politics or national politics or Democratic politics," Giuliani said. The bill he submitted to the City Council would extend the benefits city agencies must grant to gay and lesbian couples. "I'm proud of it," Giuliani said of the bill. "I think it puts New York City ahead of other places in the country." Source: New York Daily News, reprinted in 3/25/05 NY Observer May 13, 1998
Hitler was a national socialist, the FARTHEST thing from conservative. I honestly think that the definition of "conservatism" is long overdue to be debated here on FR, as it seems as if several people have several definitions of the term.
well, I do like him better than Hillary. What will get me to sit this election out is if McPain runs.
“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.
Source: CNN.com, “Inside Politics” Dec 2, 1999
President Bush stopped government money from being used to pay for abortions. Would Rudy?
I honestly think that the definition of "conservatism" is long overdue to be debated here on FR, as it seems as if several people have several definitions of the term.
I'll stack my pro-life credentials up against anyone on this board.
The fact is that the President can only do one meaningful thing for pro-lifers: appoint pro-life, constructionist judges.
Guiliani has said that Scalia would be his model for a Supreme Court justice. That is good enough for me. It should be good enough for any pro-lifer who wants to see actual progress in our struggle.
Unfortunately, we have a few Unappeasables on this board who are more interested in ritual purity than real progress. I have nothing but contempt for them.
Just as an aside, I just want to let you know that I have really enjoyed your logic-based, reasonable posts over the last two days. We don't agree on everything, but you have earned my respect as a freeper.
Thanks for the kind words...
You should NEVER assume that ANY politician is "truly genuine". By nature they are power-hungry, say-what-it-takes-to-win whores. This goes for the guys I support as well as those who I oppose.
Don't you have a Tom Tancredo rally or Alan Keyes seminar to attend? LOL.
He doesn't just support abortion.
He supports partial birth abortion.
And gun registration.
And declared NYC a sanctuary city for illegal aliens.
That's hardly a single issue.
Nominating Giuliani would be a strategic mistake of colossal proportions, as it would likely result in the GOP being out of power for at least a decade.
You're absolutely right. That's why we as freepers should get behind someone who will provide a true contrast between themselves and the Dem nominee. Rudy is not the man for this.
Good posts, dirtboy.
That is because support for gun control by Al Gore crippled the Dems for half of a decade after that election. Are you really willing to take that chance by running an anti-gun Republican such as Rudy or Mitt? It would be the single most unpragmatic thing Republicans do.
(Newt '08!)
I can respect that...
You don't hear Bush out making speeches about abortion. And frankly, I'm grateful for that. Leaving aside the fact that he is a singularly poor communicator, I believe that our movement is best served by a quiet, steady approach.
This means a commitment to constructionist, pro-life nominees to the federal judiciary. On this score, Bush has been fantastic.
Guiliani would continue in Bush's footsteps. How do we know this? He cited Antonin Scalia as his model for the ideal Supreme Court Justice.
You don't hear Bush out making speeches about abortion. And frankly, I'm grateful for that. Leaving aside the fact that he is a singularly poor communicator, I believe that our movement is best served by a quiet, steady approach.
This means a commitment to constructionist, pro-life nominees to the federal judiciary. On this score, Bush has been fantastic.
Guiliani would continue in Bush's footsteps. How do we know this? He cited Antonin Scalia as his model for the ideal Supreme Court Justice.
Well, I can say with some certainty that expressing support for pro-choice definitely doesn't advance a pro-life agenda.
Some are dirtier than others. Take Romney for instance...
You're absolutely right. That's why we as freepers should get behind someone who will provide a true contrast between themselves and the Dem nominee. Rudy is not the man for this.
You're right. I like Hunter but I'll support whichever conservative is decidedly in the lead by summer. For the good of the country, the others should shift their support to him as well.
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