Culture Warrior (Don't write off Giuliani's appeal to social conservatives)

Wall Street Journal ^ | Februrary 13, 2007 | BRENDAN MINITER

[RWR8189]

The book on Rudy Giuliani is that he is too liberal on social issues to win the Republican presidential nomination. Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council, put it succinctly: "I don't see anyone getting the Republican nomination who is not pro-life and a staunch defender of traditional marriage."

But Mr. Giuliani is running strong in Iowa and New Hampshire polls and leading most national surveys of Republicans. He's charming crowds of conservatives everywhere he goes. So it's worth wondering if Mr. Perkins is missing an undercurrent coursing through conservative politics.

Republicans have just experienced a bruising midterm election defeat. The president is suffering dismal approval ratings, and its erstwhile front-runner for the presidential nomination, Sen. John McCain, made his national reputation as a "maverick." The Giuliani rise evident now may be more than name recognition and residual support from his stalwart leadership following the Sept. 11 attacks. Mr. Giuliani's support may also arise from his having successfully moved an entrenched political culture in New York City, something national Republicans have not been able to do in Washington.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

What, like appointing almost all Dems to the bench?

Could he have gotten conservative judges appointed in that city?

Breaking the law to protect hundreds of thousands of illegal foreign invaders?

Who broke the law first? Giuliani's fault that the borders are wide open?

Grabbing guns?

Gang-bangers and convicted felons have 2nd Amendment rights? Who knew?

[Cincinna]

Excellent point.

Each Election is different. Different coalitions, different cndidates, different circumstances.

Rudy seems like the perfect candidate to go against Hillary or whomever in this perfect storm.

[nopardons]

What on earth ARE you talking about? Are you really THAT benighted?

I'm talking about all of the members of FR; members who didn't yet know you and those who do and don't agree with you.

How come you are soooooooooooooooooooooo consummed with anti-FR sites? Could it be because you are on them?

[Carry_Okie]

No. He was trying to keep himself alive - he had cancer and undergoing treatment.

Are you saying that it was impossible for him to run while under treatment? If so, I suggest you ask John Ashcroft about how far Democrats will go to win.

[nopardons]

Then you must be one of those so far off to the right that you're about to fall over the cliff.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

As I stated earlier, the president has the most influential role in ending murder.

He can use the bully pulpit, yes, and maybe issue EOs placing restrictions on abortions pertaining to foreign policy.

Abortion laws originate in Congress, not the Executive Branch.

[Junior_G]

I'm talking more about the issue of electability, as this article is. Clinton cruised into the White House on charisma alone after convincing everybody he was the second coming of JFK.

[afnamvet]

nopardons , you tend to list so called "facts" to a thread but fail to post a link substantiating your position do you not? "I don't do HTML" and all that", true?

[PzLdr]

And Rudy has not spoken out against the first, has spoken in support of the second, but has acted [and spoken] against the third. So how how does he make it better?

[EternalVigilance]

Could he have gotten conservative judges appointed in that city?

How you ever going to know when you elect a leftist like Giuliani?

Who broke the law first? Giuliani's fault that the borders are wide open?

Giuliani thumbed his nose publicly at the law and at the Congress. Face facts, squish.

Gang-bangers and convicted felons have 2nd Amendment rights? Who knew?

Giuliani and his gungrabbing ilk don't take guns from criminals, Squish. They're criminals. Capiche? They take guns from lawabiding citizens and trash the Bill of Rights. Wake up.

[oldenuff2no]

Rudy will not be the Republican candidate. He already blew it when he equated the second amendment as a hunting issue. No repub candidate can make it without the NRA supporting them. Rudy opened his mouth and shot his "RIGHT" foot off. The gun owners of America know what the second amendment is about, and it is not about hunting!!!!!

[familyop]

Maybe we should start calling him "Benito." That would really get 'em stirred up..."

...good idea! Posts that push him for the nomination often gather quite a few rotten tomatoes early on. Then his/Hillary's supporters move in to fire the threads up even more. For some reason, these threads usually end-up resembling discussions between family rights advocates and feminist domestic violence advocates.

[Carry_Okie]

The only one who is delusion and living in a fantasy is you.

I see you've run out of arguments. Maybe daddy can help you.

[PzLdr]

The Congressional GOP has already been punished. They lost the majority in both houses.

[presently no screen name]

Perhaps too far left - has all the signs.

[nopardons]

That's right, play dumb, be coy, and then throw in a childish
insult. You are just too funny and obviously too desperate to do anything else. LOL

[EternalVigilance]

I don't care. I have no interest in being friends with anyone who would sell out the country by supporting a leftist like Giuliani.

[PzLdr]

He was also in the middle of a rather messy divorce.

[nopardons]

You have no credibility at all, after saying that.

[EternalVigilance]

No kidding.