'America's mayor' praises Bush in state GOP speech

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 2/11/7 | Carla Marinucci and John Wildermuth

[SmithL]

Sacramento -- Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, arguing that America is in desperate need of a Ronald Reagan-style optimistic vision, told California Republicans on Saturday that he wants to be a president who will "win the world for a set of ideas ... that I believe come from God."

"We're for freedom, we're for the future, and in order to do that, we need leadership that uplifts us and moves us toward the future," Giuliani told the lunchtime crowd at the state GOP convention, all but formally declaring his candidacy for his party's presidential nomination. "You get to decide who that leader is going to be -- and I wish you'd decide on me."

Asked by reporters afterward when he would make a formal announcement of his 2008 presidential campaign, Giuliani joked, "If you listened to my speech, I may have announced it."

Giuliani, who last Monday filed a declaration of candidacy, is considered one of the early favorites in the GOP 2008 presidential contest with Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Giuliani's sold-out, $60-a-head lunch before 800 California Republicans -- with at least another 100 in overflow rooms -- was a hot ticket at the semi-annual GOP gathering at the Hyatt Hotel.

Giuliani's audience was primed for a lovefest: Excited Republicans in the hall jumped to their feet and cheered when scores of young volunteers waving "I (heart) Rudy" signs marched through the room, where the man introduced as "America's mayor" took the stage to the sound of the Clash tune "Rudie Can't Fail."

[Jeff Chandler]

that I believe come from God

Waiting for the lightning bolt.

[NormsRevenge]

well, that's a kiss of death here in california, bag him, tag him and wheel him out of here, no matter how early the primary is moved up.

[Darkwolf377]

Like Reagan, Rudy has a vision. Also like Reagan, he isn't strong on certain issues, or merely APPEARS to be such; I keep hearing about how Reagan wasn't for big government, but that didn't shrink the size of the government while he was in power; nor did it cut spending; nor did it decrease deficit spending.

So when I hear the caterwauling about how Rudy isn't a "Reagan-style conservative" I have to wonder how many people actually paid attention while RWR was president. (He's still the greatest president of my lifetime, I'm just realistic about him.)

[FairOpinion]

Rudy ping

[Prince Caspian]

To be fair, his cost-cutting budgets were routinely declared "dead on arrival" by a Democrat Congress.

[BunnySlippers]

((((( PING PIING PING )))))

This is the Rudy Ping List
Let me know if you want on or off.

[Darkwolf377]

To be fair, his cost-cutting budgets were routinely declared "dead on arrival" by a Democrat Congress.

I've seen little evidence that such budgets would be adopted by a Democrat one, but if it were anyone but RWR we'd be saying it doesn't matter, and that it merely showed a failure of spine or leadership, wouldn't we?

To be fair, I don't recall Reagan butting heads with the Democrats the way some here would like to pretend. He was just as pally with the dems as Bush ever was.

[paudio]

If anything, Rudy seems to be fiscal conservative while he's NY Mayor.

[narses]

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Giuliani/Clinton/Dem vs. GOP Platform Comparison
Issue	Giuliani	Clinton	Dem Platform	GOP Platform
Abortion on Demand	Supports	Supports	Supports	Opposes
Partial Birth Abortion	Supports Opposed NY ban	Supports	Supports	Opposes
Roe v. Wade	Supports	Supports	Supports	Opposes
Taxpayer Funded Abortions	Supports	Supports	Supports	Opposes
Embryonic Stem Cell Research	Supports	Supports	Supports	Opposes
Federal Marriage Amendment	Opposes	Opposes	Opposes Defined at state level	Supports
Gay Domestic Partnership/ Civil Unions	Supports	Supports	Supports	Opposes
Openly Gay Military	Supports	Supports	Supports	Opposes
Defense of Marriage Act	Opposes	Opposes	Opposes	Supports
Amnesty for Illegal Aliens	Supports	Supports	Supports	Opposes
Special Path to Citizenship for Illegal Aliens	Supports	Supports	Supports	Opposes
Tough Penalties for Employers of Illegal Aliens	Opposes	Opposes	Opposes	Supports
Sanctuary Cities/ Ignoring Immigration Law	Supports	Supports	Supports	Opposes
Protecting 2nd Amendment	Opposes	Opposes	Opposes Supports bans	Supports
Confiscating Guns	Supports Confiscated as mayor. Even bragged.	Supports	Supports Supports bans	Opposes
'Assault' Weapons Ban	Supports	Supports	Supports
Frivolous Lawsuits Against Gun Makers	Supports Filed One Himself	Supports		Opposes
Gun Registration/Licenses	Supports	Supports		Opposes
War in Afghanistan	Supports	Supports Voted for it	Supports	Supports
War in Iraq	Supports	Supports Voted for it	Supports Weak support	Supports
Patriot Act	Supports	Supports Voted for it 2001 & 2006	Opposes	Supports

"Most of Clinton's policies are very similar to most of mine." - Rudy Giuliani

Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do and how you do it.
Rudy Giuliani

[PhiKapMom]

You and I have the same memory! I am not sure some of these people paid attention to politics or Government back then after seeing some of their comments! President Boren then Senator and Sen Nunn helped Pres Reagan get bills passed in Foreign Relations and Armed Services. He reached out all the time to the other side.

[Darkwolf377]

And at this stage, someone who's tough on terror and tough on budgets is the most I'm hoping for.

[Lancey Howard]

To be fair, I don't recall Reagan butting heads with the Democrats the way some here would like to pretend. He was just as pally with the dems as Bush ever was.

You obviously were not paying attention.

[Darkwolf377]

You obviously were not paying attention.

I was, actually. I don't seem to recall the deficit shrinking as a result of any of Reagan's "battles" with the Democrats. Nor do I recall the government shrinking, either. I recall some rhetoric. I'm ready to see all the evidence you have to the contrary.

[Prince Caspian]

but if it were anyone but RWR we'd be saying it doesn't matter, and that it merely showed a failure of spine or leadership, wouldn't we?

No, not necessarily (speaking for myself, that is). Politics is give and take.

[truth_seeker]

"I was, actually. I don't seem to recall the deficit shrinking as a result of any of Reagan's "battles" with the Democrats. Nor do I recall the government shrinking, either. I recall some rhetoric. I'm ready to see all the evidence you have to the contrary."

The premise of Reaganomics was "supply side." Cutting taxes would stimulate the economy. Government revenues would increase. If the RATE of government spending was slowed, the economy would GROW itself out of deficits.

The big IF was slowing the rate of increase of government spending. The congress held the purse strings. Also, Reagan ramped up defense spending.

In the end, it didn't happen immediately. But in the 90s, with a push from 1994 Contract with America, and Clinton, the budget was briefly brought into balance.

So Reagan's premise was correct, as it was before him (Kennedy) and after him.

The same effect is taking place right now, but Bush has allowed non-defense social spending to explode. Medicare, homeland security, education, etc.

But the deficit is being reduced once again. Reaganomics works., if allowed to work.

[Lancey Howard]

If you were paying attention you would know, for example, that the Democrats controlled the House overwhelmingly during his entire tenure. If you were paying attention you would have noticed the relentless attacks on Reagan from every conceivable angle. If you were paying attention you would have seen the daily smear jobs on everybody in Reagan's cabinet and you would remember the trumped up charges against Ray Donovan.

You would also remember the bogus "Iran-Contra" hearings, and you would remember the public insults from House Speaker Tip O'Neill who proclaimed that he didn't care that Reagan was re-elected, the Democrats were in charge and were going to do whatever they wanted their way. And on and on and on.... The open hatred the rats had for Reagan was at least as bad as their hatred for Dubya today.

Anyway, it's late and you can look up all this stuff and plenty more yourself.

I'm sorry about being short with you, but if you honestly believe that Reagan and the Democrats were on the same page - - or even in the same library - - then you were most definitely not paying attention.

Regards,
LH

[IslandJeff]

Thanks for that new, insightful information. Maybe I should reconsider...

[paudio]

And at this stage, someone who's tough on terror and tough on budgets is the most I'm hoping for.

I'm with you, and I see Rudy has it. Especially since has said what kind of judges he'd appoint.

[spunkets]

"Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do and how you do it."
Rudy Giuliani

Did he really say that?