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?
Seriously, all I've been seeing the past week has been thousands of anti-Rudy posts.
"He can't win. Too many conservatives (including me) would sit home if he were the nominee."
That's funny, the majority of conservatives I know would vote for Duncan Hunter if nominated or Rudy if nominated.
Oh, but maybe the conservatives that I know are really liberals, right?
Instead of making dumb threats, try working to get a guy like Duncan Hunter known by more than 3% of the population.
The "I won't vote" people make me puke.
"Republicans don't get my vote by default. They have to earn it."
What can we promise you today?
I used to be pretty deeply into the Republican National Committee. Every quarter, they'd send me a questionaire asking me to rate my biggest concerns. I'd do that, and send the questionaire back to them. A few weeks later, I'd get a solicitation letter with promises targetted to the areas I'd shown the most concern over. It was brilliant. Too brilliant. I sent in a final donation and told them to piss off.
It is ironic that his supporters tout his electability as his primary attribute when he is objectively the least electable of the current Republican field. Candidates rarely win general elections without their party's base. Far from a safe nominee, a Giuliani nomination would almost certainly result in a Democrat presidential victory.
Right. Thousands of anti-Rudy posts, countering thousands of pro-Rudy posts. Its called free speech and political dissent. That's what we do around FR. Especially when conservatives are faced with a liberal Republican masquerading as the savior of the GOP, and trying to garner the party nomination in the process.
It was just a con. The GOP is becoming the DNC quickly.
You can be assured that if that occurs, the same people now supporting Giuliani will blame his loss on the "one issue extremists" within the GOP. Sadly, they lack the introspection to see the results of their views.
"Candidates rarely win general elections without their party's base."
Rudy would get the overwhelming majority of Republican votes, the majority of independents and a good portion of Democrat votes.
We'll see if he gets nominated.
It would be nice if a candidate came along that could unite us, but it doesn't look too promising.
"Know what's ironic? Folks will discount Duncan Hunter with the, (fallacious), argument that a 'congressman won't win the Presidency'. They forget to then tell us when the last time a mayor did so."
That's what I'm always saying.
Today I heard a caller call Rush's show, praising Duncan Hunter. I hear this all the time. I think we might be in for a pleasant surprise.
"He can't win. Too many conservatives (including me) would sit home if he were the nominee. We will not accept a liberal nominee. End of story."
Oh, much better to accept Hillary?
The last President who was a Mayor was Calvin Coolidge.
The last house member was George Bush Sr.
The last President who was a ...
Radio Announcer (1): Ronald Reagan
Divorced (1): Ronald Reagan
Actor (1): Ronald Reagan
Circus Roustabout (1): Ronald Reagan
Coach (1): Ronald Reagan
Lifeguard (1): Ronald Reagan
Construction Worker (1): Ronald Reagan
Born in Illinois (1): Ronald Reagan
Belonging to "Disciples of Christ" (3): Reagan, Garfield, Lyndon Johnson
Dishwasher (3): Reagan, Lyndon Johnson, Ford.
It is not so much where you come from, but what you stand for. I will vote for any Republican over any Democrat, with the exception of McCain ( I will go third party before I will vote for him). I also have a problem with Mormons ( I consider it a cult.)
"He can't win. Too many conservatives (including me) would sit home if he were the nominee. We will not accept a liberal nominee. End of story."
Oh, much better to accept Hillary?
That's funny, I know a heck of alot of conservatives who think "staying home" is probably the dumbest thing anyone could do.
Maybe he actually wants President Shillary.
Now that's a real conservative plan isn't it?
What you are seeing are thousands of posts from conservatives who are discussing the views of one possible Republican Presidential nominee. We come to this conservative forum to discuss all things that are of concern or interest to conservatives.
You can construe these posts to be anti-Rudy, but I think the majority of them are just an assessment or discussion of Guiliani's views on the issues. Are you frightened that we are having discussions about Guiliani's views in forum threads?
Staying home and not voting is everything a Conservative is against! Makes me wonder what type of conservative would stay home and not vote. I have held my nose more than once but I never would think of staying home and not voting in any election.
So what is conservative about a lot of things that are posted on here? If you are afraid to read articles about Rudy, then ignore them. He is going to be a Republican candidate. Obama and Hillary have tons of stories on here, and they are certainly not conservative.
Trying to stifle debate is not Conservative and wanting everyone to march in lockstep is also not Conservative.
There are many areas that Rudy is conservative like the WOT, smaller government, less taxes, law and order, strict constructionists judges, supply sided economics, etc.
Hate to break the news to you but to be conservative you don't have to be a social conservative. We have a lot of fiscal conservatives in the Republican Party and the Contract with America said nothing about social issues which a lot of us who are Conservative believe they belong at the state level not the federal level.
"Makes me wonder what type of conservative would stay home and not vote."
Especially at this time when we face the greatest threat to our Republic since WWII.
How any intelligent conservative could stay home or throw their vote away is beyond me.
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