Posted on 02/12/2007 5:24:32 PM PST by NapkinUser
Nobody can discredit the talent, skill and sheer genius of Frank Sinatra. Emerging onto the music scene in 1935, the hoodlum from Hoboken went from the marketplace to the marquee. For six decades this musical rock of Gibraltar wooed audiences from Jersey to Japan, Connecticut to Cambodia. He was a living legend.
But like most legends, Sinatra had an Achilles heel. While drugs, alcohol and cigarettes may be addictive, the spotlight is down right infectious, and when one has occupied the spotlight for decades, it is pretty much impossible to vacate it. Sinatra, even though a maverick of music, fell victim to this siren song.
Here was a man who shared a microphone with Count Basie, was a star of stage and screen, recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, and played sold out venues for more than half a century. By the time the 1990s rolled around, it was clear this legend had nothing left to prove.
Yet, Sinatra, after a brief retirement in the '70s, pressed on. The slim, fit, and handsome Chairman of the Board became an ailing singer who relied on TelePrompTers for his lyrics. The man who had commanded the stage at Madison Square Garden in 1974 was soon falling from the stage while singing "My Way" 20 years later. Gone were the images of Vegas and here were the images of vulnerability.
What can Sinatra teach Rudy Giuliani? For starters, the moral of Sinatra's story, which is not exclusive to him, is a simple one - quit while you're ahead and be remembered for your greatness, not your frailty. In other words, resist the quest to satisfy your ego and recognize your limits.
In the past few weeks, the speculation surrounding a Giuliani for President Campaign has moved from rumors to reality. It is painstakingly clear that the former Mayor from New York will be joining the likes of John McCain, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo, Duncan Hunter and other GOP hopefuls all waiting for the opportunity to change their mailing address to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The problem for Giuliani, though, is he has the most to lose if he chooses to travel this road to the White House.
Right now, Rudy is on cloud nine - a Jan. 12 Gallup poll has him ahead of any potential rivals and the media is swooning over America's mayor. Giuliani is living off his 9/11 inheritance and Americans are remembering him as the mayor who tended to America's wounds as she bled and wept. Rudy was there for America when she needed him most.
This is the image earned by Giuliani because of his heroic actions immediately proceeding 9/11 and this is the image most Americans hold. When Americans think of Giuliani today, they think of Time's Man of the Year, they don't think of the man with a mistress-and this is the realization that Rudy must come to grips with. Life was not always full of roses for Rudy. While he did crush crime in the Big Apple and evict the flesh peddlers from Times Square, Giuliani was a man whose public policies and private antics made enemies on both the right and left.
Moreover, his image prior to 9/11 is a far cry from the image held by the mayor today. Hence, the mayor should consider some things prior to throwing his hat into the ring and going "all in" on his living legend status. First, pushing aside Times Square and CompStat, this is a mayor who was not always a friend of social conservatives and his nomination, yet alone election, is far from guaranteed.
When Rudy officially enters this race, the liberty libations that have been pouring from mainstream media outlets will give way to a heartland hangover. Gone will be the images of Rudy standing on the rubble of the World Trade Center and here will be images of Rudy marching in the New York City Gay Pride parade. Furthermore, Rudy will have to explain to folks in New Hampshire and Iowa why they should nominate the first pro-choice candidate since Roe. To Rudy's credit, he has begun to address the abortion issue by telling social conservatives he will appoint justices in the mold of Samuel Alito. But this ship has long sailed. Since the rise and retreat of the Republican revolution 12 years ago, social conservatives have awoke from their slumber to realize they have been used and abused by a GOP establishment that takes their votes, but leaves their views at the door.
In the 12 years that the GOP-controlled Congress, six of which a Republican president was sitting in the Oval Office, many words have be spoken on the issue of life, but few actions have been taken. Even more important, when Dubya was championing the conservative cause in 2000, he, just like Giuliani, proclaimed that he was committed to nominating judges in the mold of Antonin Scalia and William Rehnquist.
Despite his spotty record on the cause of the unborn, conservatives took Bush at his word, held their nose, and pulled the lever. While Bush initially kept his promise with the nomination of John Roberts, the President then decided that one Scalia-like judge was enough and nominated unknown Harriet Meyers. Here was a president who promised "Grade A" judges and, in his second opportunity to reshape the jurisprudence of the High Court, he gave America a "Whopper." Who is to say that Rudy will not hold the same view of the president he makes look like Pat Robertson? Additionally, pro-lifers are beginning to see that the GOP has been dangling the judicial carrot before them for too long with too little results. If the rights of the unborn are to be protected, the pro-life movement needs a president who realizes that reshackling the Judiciary to the Constitution is his first step, not his last.
Finally, judicial nominations are not infallible. Remember, it was Eisenhower who gave the nation Earl Warren, Nixon who nominated Harry Blackmun and Reagan, the strongest pro-life president since Roe, who placed Sandra Day O'Connor on the bench. What are the odds that a moderate to left leaning judge will slip pass a publicly pro-choice President Giuliani? This writer thinks they are pretty high.
Translation - Rudy's pledge may have quelled fears a decade ago, but now Rudy needs more if he wants to win the White House.
The GOP's conservative base, however, is only the beginning of Rudy's nomination problems. The mayor's other rivals fighting for the conservative base will do there best to dredge up the mayor's less than lily white past.
And who will be the headline act? Donna Hanover. Hanover was Rudy's second wife and the mayor divorced her after an affair with Judith Nathan, now his third wife, was unearthed. Rudy's response to the breaking news was to call a press conference and announce his divorce to the media. This was done prior to informing Hanover of the mayor's decision. He then left Gracie Mansion and bunked with two gay friends, a residence he kept while responding to the 9-11 attacks.
Politics is an ugly game and very few men are able to escape it smelling like roses. Giuliani was one of those rarities and he has been able to live off of his political capital for six years.
If, however, Rudy decides to let his political capital ride on this presidential horse race, he better make sure he is riding Seattle Slew, for he could fall from the grace of being America's mayor to the man who, in the words of family values campaigner Maggie Gallagher, "made Bill Clinton look like a good husband and father."
The question is - will Giuliani go out on top or falling from the stage?
You think nominating Earl Warren had "little impact" on social issues?
Blowing your credibility early and often I see.
WRONG! The individuals record including LIFETIME stands on issues and his personal conduct are both necessary considerations. Now the game the DEMs play is you ignore these items and vote for the party ideas no matter where the canidate stands on them. Rudy isn't even 25% conservative nor is his life long stands such. He changed is mind ONLY when he decided he might run for POTUS and that is called DECIET. That type of questionable behavior does now win my vote.
In 2004 He still ran moderate but Kerry was a solid left winger and did not stray from that. Even at that Bush had a close race. He was loosing part of the GOP Conservative base by then. Had it been Lieberman or anyone else who would run center? Bush may well have lost it with a wide margin. 2004 wasn't a vote of confidence in Bush but more of a rejection of Kerry. Bush is too much like his dad {remember his cabinet is a majority of Poppy's people as well} and Jerry Ford especially on socila issues with Ford.
I agree that Roe v Wade is a bad law and should go back to the states. However, I don't know one state in the US that would make abortion illegal. Do you? Even here in Texas, if it came to a vote almost ALL D's would and at least 1/2 R's would vote to keep some form of abortion legal, for the reason that we don't want to have another underground baby killing market as we did before abortions became legal.
Regarding Giuliani I must agree that his personal life is not the ideal role model. However, we live in a period of time when the basic foundation of our country and the world is at stake. I know of no one else that has the hootspa(sp) to ACT. We need someone that's not so soft on our enemy. Thanks for your input.
Kinda like a woman being raped. The Rudy partisans would prefer we just lie back and enjoy the experience.
Have you noticed that many of the Bushbots are now the Rudybots...
"If you took Duncan Hunter's views and we changed him from a congressman to a Governor, people would be doing cartwheels over him. I don't understand it. Don't we pick our candidates on their platform? I cannot understand discounting him as a viable candidate because he's a congressman. I believe he has great leadership qualities."
But yet they'll support a hard liberal mayor, and when has a mayor become POTUS?
I AM however, listening to Rush who is also bugged by those who want to support these non-conservative "Republicans" and is dismayed at how hard they are trying to remake conservatism in their own image!!!
Sounds just like FR from the CA Recall Election, till now!!! Some of it is downright insulting to a conservative's intelligence, to say nothing of the constant annoyance when some think that repetition and redundancy will make their claims more credible... Phooey!!!
"Too many seem to say "Rudy isn't 100% conservative,.."
Rudy isn't even 50% conservative, and all we are doing is showing how liberal he is - pro-"choice", pro-special rights for gays, pro-ILLEGAL immigration, pro-gun CONTROL, etc.
Do not fear truth. :)
C.r.a.f.t. has gotten to me. I cant remember either. Just damn
> Somehow I doubt that. The unofficial moniker of the GOP is "The Stupid Party".
Stupid enough to have had a pretty good run at putting a POTUS into the White House over the past several decades -- with brief interruptions during the Carter and Clinton administrations.
That's the sort of "stupidity" that the Democrats would *love* to have!
I think Rudy's closer to 70% conservative...maybe 75%...If we call it 72.5% can I get you to buy this car tonight?
Yep.
*wink*
As I'm sure has already been pointed out, if the MSM seems to be all googly-eyed over Rudy as the (R) candidate it is not because he's a candidate they can or would ever get behind , but because they have found a new excitement and purpose at being able to function as the "impartial" clearinghouse for all the pictures of Rudy in drag, all the nasty regurgitating of the marriage and divorce scandals, and any number of other things that they could "look up" on their own or that Team Clinton could provide them with. Their "support" of him "going in" will be predicated on his being the best candidate TO LOSE to Hillary or whomever, while also being the easiest candidate for them to support, considering how "readymade" he is and how little work they'd have to do to acquaint people with him.
"If we call it 72.5% can I get you to buy this car tonight?"
lol, and no thanks on the car. :)
Abortion, gays, ILLEGAL immigration, antifreedom, anti2nd amendment - the math just ain't working out.
Weak on borders = weak on terrorism, so that doesn't leave much in the way of conservatism.
Incredibly stupid article.
Quit while you're ahead.
Tell that to any football coach.
Yes, W is really more of a moderate. But my premise still stands. Conservatives win. Moderates Pubbies generally lose, and when they do win, it's a squeaker. Bush won because he talked like a conservative and a lot of us bought it.
Hillary! has been positioning herself as a moderate Dim. Around here we know better but the soccer moms will buy it. If Rudy runs against Hillary, Hillary will win.
Let's run a real conservative and stop screwing around with courting the Rockefeller wing.
One other thing must be understood about Hillary. If in a venue say of young Republicans she can talk as Conservative as anyone in the GOP. I remember about 6-12 months ago reading a thread where she spoke at a conservative college. Everybody was busy flaming her but nobody read the speech. If they did they could understand just how quick she can run to the right of most GOP moderates like Bill did and win. I know she's liberal but she can also be whatever her setting at that time calls for.
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