Posted on 02/14/2007 6:49:58 AM PST by CrawDaddyCA
As a presidential candidate, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is for real. Despite his unorthodox Republicanism — his support for legal abortion, his embrace of gun-control, and his unwillingness to act against court-imposed same-sex marriages — Giuliani now leads in several polls for the GOP nomination.
The common wisdom is that most Republican voters know nothing of Rudy’s social liberalism, and so his support will dwindle as they learn more. But this may prove wrong. Knowledgeable folks on the Right, disheartened by a presidential field that lacks viable, trustworthy conservatives, are talking themselves into supporting the man who earned the title of “America’s Mayor” after his performance on 9/11.
The argument is easier to make than it might seem at first. Rudy’s transgressions, conservatives can tell themselves, are smaller than they appear, particularly considering the shortcomings of the other candidates. Even if he is pro-choice on abortion, Giuliani has said that he would appoint the same kind of justices as President Bush has — the John Roberts variety, likely to overturn Roe v. Wade. And yes, Rudy supported gun control in the Five Boroughs, but as he told Sean Hannity on February 5, it was just a practical matter for a man inheriting a lawless city — some gun-control was “necessary with the 2,000 murders or so that we were looking at [annually in New York City]…”
(Excerpt) Read more at article.nationalreview.com ...
No doubt.
At this point he is not my first choice but if it comes down to it, he is better than Hillary if we have to have one or the other.
I respect him for his leadership on 9/11. But I can't support him if he's not going to work to restore the Constitution. And I think it's a safe bet that he won't.
Might as well get used to hearing "Good morning, Madam President."
Exactly what was it that Rudy did on 9/11 and the aftermath that any decent, caring human being would not have done.
He happened to be the Mayor when it happened.
From the article:
"If Giuliani’s stances on babies, guns, and gay marriage do not sink him in the Republican primaries, he will probably suffer in a general election campaign from the fact that there is so much evidence in the public record that he is a total jerk.
Yes, that’s right. Most Americans love Rudy, but it’s not just because they don’t know where he stands on issues. It’s also because they know nothing of his pre-9/11 self, and the more they learn, the less attractive they will probably find him.
By September 10, 2001, New Yorkers were weary of their mayor and longed for an end to his administration, even as they enjoyed the dog-poop-less sidewalks, the safe subway platforms, the squeegee-free street corners and the low murder rate they all knew he had brought about. It understates the case to say that a massive terror attack saved Giuliani’s political career — it would be more accurate to say that nothing short of 9/11 could have saved it. "
This could be difficult for social conservatives in "swing" states, because their votes can change who will be president. Social conservatives in super-solid "blue" states can vote for people who have socially conservative morals but won't probably win.
I am certainly not a Rudy supporter. But, if rudeness were a disqualifier for the presidency, Hillary Clinton would have the worst prospects in the field.
Ahhh. The obfuscatory "Compassionate Conservativism" of 2008.
Not to be supporting Rudy, but at least he's honest where he stands on things. Is there any conservative principle you could trust McCain not to jettison in a heartbeat if he thought it might be worth another 5 points in the polls?
When you can't justify supporting your own candidate attack the front runner ping.
a.k.a.democratic socialism in faux conservative drag
These early polls are all about name recognition and Rudy's been pushed down our throats a presidential contender since 9-12-01. Everybody knows who they think he is. Once they find out who he really is those numbers will drop like rocks.
I've had the same feelings for years.
I wasn't impressed then, and I'm still not impressed.
"He leads in the polls because the majority of the GOP thinks moral principles are fodder for compromise."
No, he leads because most Republicans want the best candidate available WHO CAN WIN. I have no interest at all in making some statement in the primaries by nominating a Newt Gingrich-type who will get absolutely trounced by Hillary. Honestly, I wish Giuliani had different positions on abortion, gay rights, etc. But I see that he's a strong leader, a tax cutter and a fiscal conservative and that he promises to appoint strict constructionist judges. That is a package that I can support.
"Might as well get used to hearing "Good morning, Madam President."
The fact is that polls show Giuliani beating Hillary.
Get ready for the "Rudy is God" vs. "Rudy is the Devil" onslaught.
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