A 'Good Chance' Giuliani Will Run In '08

AP via Yahoo ^ | 02/03/07 | JIM DAVENPORT

[BunnySlippers]

By JIM DAVENPORT, Associated Press Writer

He keeps an itinerary that has all the makings of a full-fledged presidential candidate: South Carolina this weekend, New Hampshire the one before.

Which is what Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, says he's leaning toward becoming.

"There's a real good chance," Giuliani told The Associated Press on Saturday, after a 30-minute speech and question-and-answer session with party leaders in South Carolina. In year, they will put on the first-in-the-South GOP presidential primary.

On Giuliani's first visit to New Hampshire last weekend since setting up the committee, he told reporters he'd received a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and support from people.

But he said he had not yet decided whether he could make a "unique contribution" toward strengthening the nation that would justify a run for president.

He has emphasized his steady hand dealing with the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. However, his moderate stances on gun control, abortion, gay rights and other social issues could be liabilities for him in a GOP presidential primary that includes hard-core conservatives as a central voting group.

For instance, in November, South Carolina voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional ban on same-sex unions.

"The fact is I appeal to conservative Christians the way I appeal to everyone else," Giuliani said at a news conference. "I don't think you have separate appeals to people."

Giuliani formed a presidential exploratory committee in November to prepare for a possible bid for the GOP nomination in 2008. It lets him raise money and travel the country, gauging how much support there could be for him.

In his few first weeks, Giuliani took in $1.4 million. He collected donations online, and held a major fundraising event in New York in December.

Financial documents show that by the start of this year Giuliani had about $1 million available, having spent money to set up campaign headquarters, buy equipment and hire workers.

The Republicans' top tier of candidates for 2008 includes Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback (news, bio, voting record).

Giuliani's visit to Columbia wrapped up a busy week in the state for White House hopefuls. Romney was in the capital on Tuesday and Brownback on Friday.

[wireman]

Words of reason. How refreshing!

[narses]

The abortion issue is really splitting conservatives.

Not really. It is exposing RINO's.

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 http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Rudy_Giuliani_Abortion.htm

ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES (November 14, 2006)

RUDY GIULIANI (R), FORMER MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: I'm pro- choice. I'm pro-gay rights.

KING: Giuliani supports a woman's right to an abortion, and back in 1999, he opposed a federal ban on late-term abortions.

GIULIANI: No, I have not supported that, and I don't see my position on that changing.

KING: Immigration could be another presidential landmine. Back in 1996, Mayor Giuliani went to federal court to challenge new federal laws requiring the city to inform the federal government about illegal immigrants.

JEFFREY: He took the side of illegal immigrants in New York City against the Republican Congress.

KING: Giuliani opposes same-sex marriage but as mayor, he supported civil unions and extending health and other benefits to gay couples. He also supported the assault weapons ban and other gun control measures opposed by the National Rifle Association.

GIULIANI: I'm in favor of gun control. I'm pro-choice.

Republican Big-Wigs Support Pro-Abortion Event in NY

Pro-abortion Governor George Pataki and New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who also supports unrestricted abortion, are co-chairs of the 2000 Choice Award Presentation to be held on May 30 at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. The event is sponsored by the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition, a group that is campaigning for the removal of the pro-life plank from the Republican National Platform.


http://www.nationalreview.com/murdock/murdock200503010743.asp

[narses]

It is obvious to me that you are abusing the rules of the road here in an effort to smear another FReeper. A number of former posters, in their burning desire to promote Rudy at the expense of civility here have had their accounts revoked recently. Please be careful that you do not end that way as well.

[firewalk]

Thanks for the ping

[narses]

His post was deleted. Many protests were deleted.

For a reason. Taking deleted posts and jumping from thread to thread chasing a fellow FReeper with them is a very bad idea. I implore you to think through your own conduct here.

[narses]

"vile historical references, ..."

Like this:

Tuesday, June 20, 2000 MAYOR GIULIANI AND SPEAKER VALLONE ANNOUNCE CITY LAWSUIT AGAINST GUN INDUSTRY

[Petronski]

It is obvious to me...

That's two.

Yet a quote is hardly a smear, no matter how much that quote shames him.

[processing please hold]

You keep rudy and may you live happily ever after.

[Petronski]

Taking deleted posts and jumping from thread to thread...

The quote is highly relevant to this thread.

Everyone I have spoken to about the quote has been appalled by it....except you.

[wireman]

You seem to be receiving some threats tonight.

If your statements were baseless, I'd expect you'd be gone by now.

You're still here...

[processing please hold]

Well, there's hope for you, at least you admitted you have a reading comprehension problem. See, there's hope.

[narses]

"The quote is highly relevant to this thread."

Irrelevant. It was deleted by the Mod's for a reason. You are taking a fight from thread to thread. You are attacking fellow posters. Trust me when I say that self same conduct is what causes most people to get banned here. Again, may I respectfully suggest that you look to your own conduct and prevent an unpleasant end result?

[EternalVigilance]

Yet a quote is hardly a smear, no matter how much that quote shames him.

It is a smear, and it doesn't shame me in the least. I know the truth. Giuliani supporters spent hundreds of posts on that thread espousing their view of conservatives as bigoted haters. So, I posted a sarcastic reply that was meant to illustrate their anti-conservative bigotry. Looks like it hit the mark, listening to you whine thread after thread after thread.

[EternalVigilance]

Everyone I have spoken to about the quote has been appalled by it....except you.

Try talking to someone other than supporters of Rudy McRomney sometime...expand your horizons.

[narses]

I have not pushed the abuse button. I won't. But I will tell you that every time I;ve seen it pushed under these circumstances two results occur - the thread gets moved to the Smoky Back Room and the attacker gets banned if he persists. That would be an unfortunate end result.

[processing please hold]

I implore you to think through your own conduct here.

I see nothing wrong with my conduct here. Please enlighten me as to what you see as questionable.

[wireman]

It's nearly inevitable that every thread that mentions Rudy Giuliani ends up in the "Smoky Back Room."

I won't vote for the guy in a primary, but the level of vitriol from the people opposing him is scary. He's been a good citizen and leader. He'll have his day if he decides to run (and I certainly think he will).

That's why we have elections. When all is said and done, what is written here on FR is really quite irrelevant. I'm just sorry that the level of discourse has fallen to this point.

[Petronski]

Your words illustrate your own bigotry.

[processing please hold]

I have to go lay down and stretch out my back. I await your critique with bated breath. BBL

[Petronski]

...the thread gets moved to the Smoky Back Room...

Just what our prolific anti-Giuliani associate would want. Interesting.