Posted on 01/28/2007 10:18:35 AM PST by Blackirish
MANCHESTER, N. H., Jan. 27 — Rudolph W. Giuliani sounded nearer than ever to being a presidential candidate on Saturday, repeatedly talking about the prospect of running, and inviting voters to judge him by his record as mayor of New York City.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Just my opinion mind you, but I don't trust any politician that all of a sudden gets a change of heart before an election. However foregoing that, one thing comes to mind. Rudy was mayor after 9/11 and he still did not nix his anti-second amendment lawsuit.
In fact it took President Bush's signing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act in October 2005 to stop that lawsuit. Just as any FYI, the lawsuit was filed by Rudy's admin against more then 2 dozen gun manufacturers in 2000 and never recinded by his office.
"My top concerns with Rudy are guns, abortion and homo support, all of which he has a track record as mayor with."
Agreed. His only political experience is that he was a mayor. He did a good job of cleaning up NYC and his shining role after the 9-11 attacks, but he does not have the experience to be President, especially during these troubled times.
"FReepers are taking Rudy seriously because he has a solid record of fiscal and national security conservatism."
Well, I see that a handful do...since when does being pro-illegal alien qualify one as having a solid record on national security?
Rudy's views on illegal immigration has changed.
No kidding...what are his views today?
Your attempts to present Giuliani as a leader are preposterous.
Politicians like Rudy and Mitt who "run right," in pursuit of power, and in spite of a long record of extreme liberal governance, are not "leading." They are following.
Once they have obtained the power they seek, they will revert to following the approval of the people whose opinions they have always cherished the most - those of the Leftist Media and political establishments.
The beginnings of this election cycle, and your posts during it, have convinced me that you should change your screen name to something like "Squishily Squishy Squish."
After all that work at taxpayer expense no less in federal court AGIANST INS? That dog don't hunt.
In terms of population, New York city is larger than most states.
You and other critics of Rudy are incapable of refuting his solid record of fiscal and public safety conservatism and are using irrelevant social issues (when he was Mayor) to make your case. It's not working.
Once they have obtained the power they seek, they will revert to following the approval of the people whose opinions they have always cherished the most - those of the Leftist Media and political establishments.
Rudy received fawning praise from the NY Slimes, that's why he was a flaming liberal? When did this happen?
Rudy was the candidate of the Liberal Party of New York:
Here's a brief synopsis of their platform:
Reproductive Freedom
The Liberal Party supports a woman's right to choose abortion and rejects all measures to restrict this basic civil right. Women should have access to information on all the alternatives available to them so that they are able to make informed decisions. Abortions, birth control measures and decent pre- and neo-natal health care should be available to all women, regardless of their ability to pay. We support the expansion of programs which provide for sex education and availability of condoms to young people as a means to promote responsible sexual behavior, prevent against the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases and reduce teen pregnancy.
Health Care
The Liberal Party believes that access to affordable, decent health care for all is the mark of a civilized society and supports universal health insurance. No American should die because of a lack of financial resources. In addition, health care dollars must be spent more efficiently. Non-emergency patients currently forced to use expensive hospital emergency rooms should instead have access to community-based primary medical facilities and preventative programs. Alternative cost-effective care, including at-home and hospice care should be made available to those not requiring hospitalization.
Education
The Liberal Party believes that a quality public school system is essential for equality of opportunity for all Americans, regardless of economic circumstances. We have consistently opposed all measures, including tuition tax credits, to fund private and parochial schools with taxpayer dollars. These proposals can only serve to destroy the viability of our public school system and raise serious constitutional questions regarding the separation of church and state. All students who have the desire and ability to pursue higher education should be able to do so and should be financially assisted, when necessary, so as to enable them to fully realize their potential.
Crime
Government's first responsibility is to protect its citizens from harm; the right to safety is the most basic civil right. Individuals who commit crimes must be held responsible for their actions. The Liberal Party supports life imprisonment without parole legislation and is opposed to the death penalty. Capital punishment has never been a deterrent to crime and the state ought not resort to this ultimate brutality.
Civic Responsibility
The Liberal Party believes it is a privilege to be an American citizen. Those who reap the benefits of our enduring democracy, the freedoms we enjoy and our economic system have a duty and obligation to give back something positive to the nation. We believe all citizens must partake in the electoral process. There is no greater threat to the survival of our democracy than the apathy of the people.
The Environment
New York, the United States, and the world are in the grip of an environmental crisis. This crisis not only threatens the survival of endangered species and habitats, it threatens the health and well-being of the human population as well. We can no longer ignore the long-term effects of human activities on the environment. It is essential that environmental considerations and costs be fully taken into account by government and business alike.
Civil Rights
Certain groups within our society have historically suffered discrimination due to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and economic class. The Liberal Party supports comprehensive civil rights legislation to ensure that members of such groups are not discriminated against, either in or outside of the workplace.
http://www.liberalparty.org/platform.html
Now, tell me again why any Republican should support this man, and why he isn't a contender for the Democrat Party or even the Green Party nomination?
Illegal immigration wasn't the volatile issue then as it is now.
You have to understand the character of NYC to see why Rudy made the decision he did. I agree what Rudy did was flawed, but I doubt the illegals in NYC weren't hordes of Mexicans. We're talking Eastern Europeans, Russians, and Asians, who genuinely came to NYC to start a better life instead of being criminals, in the criminal-minded sense.
Apparently, liberals think that Republicans should nominate Rudy so that candidates from the two largest political parties will both be pro-abortion, pro-gay, and pro-illegal...thus trying to strip the electorate of the opportunity to choose otherwise.
Nobody's forcing you to choose Rudy.
Don't like him? Don't support him in the primaries. It's that simple.
The fact that on every Rudy thread there's gnashing of the teeth, the obligatory Rudy in drag photo, and the anti-Rudy spam of past statements simply reveals the lack of confidence you have in the other choices.
It worked for our Pres.
Apparently.
Well, maybe we're getting down to the source of your support for Giuliani: Gross ignorance.
Thank You!
Rudy was AJ of NYC and his local politics reflect his base. He is fiscally conservative, pro-business and strong on national defence. Your litmus tests of gay rights and abortion are nonsense, as these are state issues.
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