Posted on 02/14/2007 9:22:08 PM PST by PhiKapMom
HotAir has a must see video of Rudy Giuliani talking about the senselessness of non-binding resolutions and what's wrong with Washington from the Mayor's appearance on Lary King Live. In case you haven't seen him make this case in the last few days, this is must see viewing:
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/02/14/video-rudy-on-non-binding-resolutions/?s=video
Transcript:
GIULIANI: I mean, you can look at the practical and common sense conclusion on that anyway you want. But there's something more important than that. We have a right of free speech in this country and we elect people to make decisions. Here's what I would prefer to see them do, though, if you ask me what's my view on that. The nonbinding resolution thing gets me more than are you for it or against it. I have tremendous respect for the people who feel that we either made a mistake going to war, who voted against the war, who now have come to the conclusion, changed their minds, they have every right to that, that it's wrong, you should, in a dynamic situation, keep questioning. What I don't like is the idea of a nonbinding resolution.
KING: Because?
GIULIANI: Because there's no decision.
KING: But it's a statement.
GIULIANI: Yes, but that's what you do. That's what Tim Russert does and that's what Rush Limbaugh does. That's what you guys do, you make comments. We pay them to make decisions, not just to make comments. We pay them to decide. The United States Congress does declarations, the war…
KING: So if you feel that way, withhold funds and that's the way you feel?
GIULIANI: The ones I think have a better understanding of what their responsibility is and are willing to take a risk are the ones who are saying we've got to hold back the funds, we've got to vote against the war or we're for the war. And maybe it's because I ran a government and I tend to be a decisive person. I like decisions. And I think one of the things wrong with Washington is they don't want to make tough decisions anymore. Nonbinding resolution about Iraq, no decision on immigration, no decision on Social Security reform, no decision on what to do about energy independence, no decision. You know why that happens? Because it's unpopular.
It is so true. When we elected Senator Coburn he pledged to spend no more than two terms in the Senate because he said it is not a lifelong career. We need more like him.
I am tired of Warner in particular who has been there for as long as I can remember.
You are wrong! We have all types of conservatives supporting Rudy in my State and in other states. Some of you don't get it that dynamics have changed since 9-11. Running up the flag on social issues as the #1 issue isn't going to cut it any more. Doesn't mean that the Republican voters are not values voters but it does mean that is not the #1 priority facing this Country. You take care of Defense first and go after the terrorists. Pushing social issues in 2006 costs us in some states because people are sick and tired of the same message election after election. They want answers to problems not rhetoric and that is what is happening. Voters are turned off. The majority of voters in this Country are moderate and go too far in either direction and they don't want to hear it.
But then I am a Repubican that believes winning elections is why I help out campaigns -- I don't go into campaigns wanting to ever lose because when you lose your entire agenda goes up in flames.
Some of you are going to be shocked at the amount of support Rudy is going to keep getting from Repubicans of all ideologies. Been around politics most of my life, know a lot of folks, and this is only going to get better for Rudy.
I agree 100% that abortion should be returned to the States as we already have laws on the books in OK to ban abortion here.
You may be surprised at who else believes abortion belongs to the states -- Rudy.
Each to his own. Whoever you support is not gaining support by you coming on Rudy threads and being so negative.
So another person without an R telling Republicans who we should nominate?
"Hello Arnie." I was enhusiastic at first for Arnie. Whooooboy was I wrong.
As the WHO said: "Won't get fooled again"
I expressed my displeasure recently with the RNC over their support of Chafee in Rhode Island. I received no reply. Not a surprise as I was rather err... forceful in my email.
NO MORE RINOS!
Thanks for the ping. Glad to see the MAN weigh in on this.
You don't get rid of the moderate Republicans because they come from places like Maine. My state elects conservatives but if anyone thinks Senators Inhofe and Coburn would be elected in a lot of blue states, they need to think again.
As I have stated before -- Republican does not = Conservative on every issue. That's a fact and a 100% ACU rating doesn't matter if you support CFR IMHO and vote for it.
After months of calling for an increase in troops they are now against an increase in troops.
These are people that only democrats can love.
NY is another kettle of fish, dead fish, and her heinous will buy the union votes, etc.
Dear Jim Robinson,
Gee, Jim. How disappointing. It sounds like for you, this Republican / Democrat thing isn't just like a football game, where the only thing that counts is the final score, and that your team got the most points.
It sounds to me like it matters to you what our team - the Republicans - actually believe and do. That kind of attitude is hardly going to win us any elections in an environment of "win at any cost, even if you have to draft players who really belong on the other side."
Taking my tongue out of my cheek, I guess the divide here is that for some folks, it's enough to PREVENT the other side from winning, no matter how much political territory we have to cede to them by electing someone close to them in terms of political positions. For other folks, it isn't enough to defeat the Dems, if we're accepting 80% of the Dems' political positions on any number of issues.
I think that for some folks here, membership in the Republican Party is almost like an ethnic thing - no matter what your party does, you stick with it.
For others of us, becoming Republican was about the values promoted by the party. And if the party no longer stands for the bulk of those values, then we'll have to figure out some other way to voice and express our political views.
sitetest
Dear PhiKapMom,
"You may be surprised at who else believes abortion belongs to the states -- Rudy."
Please provide evidence of this assertion. To hold such a belief requires believing that Roe should be overturned, in that it is Roe and its companion case, Doe v. Bolton, that invalidated every state law that did not permit abortion on demand throughout all nine months of pregnancy.
I've read recently that Mr. Giuliani may have once in 1989 said unkind things about the decision Roe v. Wade. However, Newsday then quotes him on Sept. 1, 1989, specifically denying that he ever suggested that Roe should be overturned.
The rest of his career indicates support of abortion, not merely as something that should be legal, but as a CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
There are any number of quotes from Mr. Giuliani where he describes abortion as a woman's constitutional right.
Folks who believe that something is a constitutional right don't then usually also believe that it is a matter to be permitted or banned by the states.
Even during last week's Hannity interview, Hannity gave him the opening to say just what you're saying - that it should be a matter for the states - by asking whether he thought Roe was a good or bad decision. Mr. Giuliani side-stepped it.
If folks are going to assert that Mr. Giuliani is anti-Roe, they should put up some evidence.
sitetest
You ain't a conservative. You are Archie Bunker, a caricature of a buffoon conservative. Just as Archie deserved no respect, you do not either.
The truth is that he saved the city, when everyone was convinced it was ungovernable.
He threw Arafat out of Carnegie Hall while hitlery was kissing Suha Arafat. He told the Arab sheik what he could do with his money after 9/11.
This is a man who WALKED THE WALK. Saved lives, made the city better for everyone, even those who fought him every step of the way.
Well, we know California is a conservative state. They elected McClintock governor! And he's a fine governor too.
Yes, almost like Nationalist Socialists. If you have done nothing wrong and you're papers are in order you have nothing to fear.
I call them faux patriots. They betrayed the President, the troops, and our allies.
They rant, they rave, they demand. They lose.
I missed that last night..did he make any comments on guns and gun control?
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