The conservative credentials of R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. cannot be questioned by anyone who has been paying attention for the last twenty years. It is telling that he is so high on Rudy. I don't think most of us who are open to Rudy's candidacy are rooting for social conservatives to be expunged from the GOP. On the contrary, I am a social conservative myself which is why I know that losing in 2008 is not an option. If the GOP is going to reverse the disastrous landslide of 2006 we need some charisma at the top of the ticket. While social issues are dear to my heart my politics is not one dimensional. 2008 is about three things to me. We must elect: 1) someone who understands that we are in a struggle for the survival of western civilization and will vigorously defend it. 2) Someone who understands that our children's future depends on a vibrant globally competitive economy, and who knows that high taxes and protectionism won't give us that. 3) Someone who will fight against moral relativism and decay and will appoint constructionist judges. Rudy is solid on one and two and has promised to deliver on number three. Rudy and Mitt will change the entire electoral map. We will once again be able to compete for Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and California. If he puts an innovative southernor like Mark Sanford on the ticket it'll be a landslide.
Pennsylvania? You're kidding me, right?
The crossovers in PA come largely from pro-life Dems. You won't get that from a pro-choice pubbie nominee.
And I imagine that is the case to a lesser extent in Ohio and Michigan as well.
Tyrell is great. AmSpec is one of the best magazines around.
You raise good points about Rudy.
Ed
Yes, Tyrrell`s past conservative credentials are solid. However, did you catch his essay from last year that trashed Newt Gingrich? Emmett sure didn't sound like a conservative to me. Sounded like someone out to destroy a very serious conservative Republican. The Bushies around FR enjoyed it tremendously. You might have even enjoyed it.
To this conservative it sounded like political trashtalk. Now we see ole Emmett running up the flag for RINO-Rudy, and you want conservatives on this forum to take him seriously. Sounds more like a pathetic joke.