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.
Absolutely laughable. This kind of resistance against, Reagan, the Bushes and Bob Dole was almost non-existent. I and most other conservatives were perfectly willing to support them. Not so with Guilianni.
Screaming? Worrying? LOL
This is politics, my man. POLITICS!
If you've ever been involved in a political campaign at any level, anything.... a campaign for city council.... to mayor.... to the state legislature.... to the US House/Senate.... to Governor.... to POTUS.... .... the first rule of any political campaign.... you NEVER let up, and you NEVER give up.
This is all about the age old battle that has been going on since the 1930`s and full blast since the 1960`s. Its conservatism versus liberalism.
Besides I didn't start promoting Rudy`s candidacy on FR. A core group of RudyBots decided last year, the time was right to get his campaign on FR off the ground. This has been going on now for 5-6 months. Its gotten real hot in the last month or so. I expect the anti-Rudy and pro-Rudy forces aren't about to give up. I'm not.
Dear PhiKapMom,
I apologize in advance if I'm unable to sustain a consistent conversation on this and other threads. We lost power in the storm that went through the Washington, DC region, and the wireless here in the hotel really stinks.
"You will get the answer soon enough! :) Just be patient!"
May I inquire as to whether the answer will arise from some hitherto past hidden remarks by Mr. Giuliani, or whether perhaps it will arise from some future, but imminent remarks by Mr. Giuliani in which he repudiates nearly 20 years of pro-Roe speeches and efforts?
Thanks,
sitetest
I concur.
I'm certainly not either. I'm actually very confident that Rudy is going to win. However, repeating that over and over again isn't going to benefit me, or those listening/reading.
Those that know me well, know that above all else, I hold needless bellicosity in contempt. Tempers are running far too hot on any issue that involves the former mayor from NYC.
I was insulted here recently for bringing up my relatives in Manhattan and upstate NY. They are the opposite of your relatives. None of them have ever credited Rudy for any of his accomplishments and all of them will crawl across broken glass to vote for Hitlery. Nice people, but I don't think I will ever figure why they vote the way they do. I think you are very wrong about his chances in his home state, and as I've said repeatedly now, history has been very unkind to candidates who cannot even win their home state. Rudy people better do a great job of convincing folks that he is actually going to win in NY, IMO.
Newt as VP would help - although I'd rather have Newt on top of the ticket.
Because nobody has ever won the Presidency without winning his home state.
You can dream all you want but that media center of the world will be pounding the historical facts every time another poll comes out showing Rudy behind Hillary in NY. I'd rather not turn NY into the epicenter of the next election. I don't like my chances of beating Hillary with that strategy.
In many ways, politics is like war. Its not for everyone and its not for the thin skinned. The level of debate isn't incumbent on whether you approve of someones tactics or style. Speak for yourself. We have a political system in this country and at its core is the first amendment, free speech and dissent.
You think Rudy`s gonna win. Fine. I think conservatives will make sure we don't have his kind as the GOP nominee. Liberals aren't in keeping with traditional GOP values. A big govt, pro abort, pro gay rights, pro amnesty, gungrabber isn't representative of the conservative party.
Rudy is not a Ginsberg admirer. You need to stop saying that, because it is untrue. Rudy said nice things about Ginsberg when he was explaining that conservatives gave Ginsberg votes because she was very qualified, and thus liberals should give Roberts votes for the same reason. Rudy was doing a sales job for Roberts, nothing more, and nothing less.
You still can dump Rudy for abortion, gays, and guns, if that is your wish. Isn't that enough for you?
By the way, I think Rudy has about a 60% chance of being nominated. So start making your plans to purge and cleanse if that is your wont.
"May the best conservative win."
"But I hope and pray we don't go with the liberal superstar. I'd like to think we're smarter and more capable than that... and that we learn from recent mistakes.
Hello Arnie."
"When conservatives argue so forcefully for this liberal bilge water, you've got to wonder when did some members of FR make a left turn into la la land."
Dear Torie,
I read the transcript with Mr. Colmes where Mr. Giuliani said nice things about Mr. Roberts, and with Mrs. Ginsburg.
Although I don't find your interpretation completely unsupported, frankly, my own reading suggested that Mr. Giuliani holds Mrs. Ginsburg in high esteem, and found her to be a good choice for the Court.
Which doesn't surprise me. On many issues, I suspect that Mrs. Ginsburg is likely closer to Mr. Giuliani than Mr. Roberts, et. al. This seems pretty obvious, especially in the light of the fact that Mr. Giuliani all but endorsed the man who selected Mrs. Ginsburg - Mr. Clinton - in 1996, and did explicitly endorse Mr. Clinton's policies.
At most, I'd say that the interview was ambiguous, but it isn't at all unreasonable to interpret it as support for Ginsburg-like nominees.
If Mr. Giuliani would like to clear things up, all he needs to say is that although he understands why a liberal Democrat would nominate someone like Mrs. Ginsburg, that the choice was execrable in his own view. Of course, then he'd need to explain WHY Mrs. Ginsburg would be a bad choice for him, and WHY Mr. Roberts or Mr. Alito are so much the better.
And "They're strict constructionists" just doesn't cut it.
The fact is, Mr. Giuliani has spent the better part of the last 20 years praising the "CONSTITUTIONAL right of a woman to choose an abortion." As far as I can figure, someone who would uphold Roe would seem to me to be a "strict constructionist" to someone who thinks that abortion really is a constitutional right.
Unlike candidates who have explicitly condemned Roe, we can't assume that Mr. Giuliani means by "strict constructionist" what other Republican candidates have meant by it. In fact, it would seem more reasonable to assume the opposite - that for him, a "strict constructionist" will understand that the "right" to abortion really is found in the Constitution.
sitetest
Nonsense. Politics is for everyone, because every last one of us is going to have live under the political system that we create in our democratic republic.
The level of debate isn't incumbent on whether you approve of someones tactics or style.
The problem isn't the level of debate. The problem occurs when it ceases being a debate and starts becoming a snark fest. I see no benefit in being mean or petty, and I see the behavior manifested from both sides. I suppose the real problem lies with those who cannot fathom the difference between debate and exchanging insults.
You think Rudy`s gonna win. Fine. I think conservatives will make sure we don't have his kind as the GOP nominee.
So here we are, both looking at an uncertain future (as though there exits another kind) each with a different prognostication. In the end only one of us is going to be right. You believe it will be you, I believe it will be me. Only time will. Repeated claims from either one of us isn't going to make anyone more or less right.
Rudy is a joke too. He's trying to make a veiled declaration that he's against the war, but he's too much of a politician (hypocrite) to come out and take a position that can be used against him.
My guess is that it's somewhat higher than that. None of the sitting House members have much chance, and those chances dropped even further when they became the minority party in the House. Brownback has no charisma and is attempting to undercut our troops. Gilmore is an unknown.
It's Rudy, McCain, and possibly Romney. Newt isn't going to run unless there's a trainwreck involving the big three.
McCain is unlikely to repeat his performance in 2000 since he has managed to further alienate Republicans, and he has high negatives. And his performance in 2000 wasn't good.
The way I see it developing is into a contest between Giuliani and Romney. Romney is more of an unknown, which gives him more flexibility to define himself on his terms to folks outside of New England. But Giuliani comes across as a guy who would gladly continue the war on terror and protect this country. Romney will have a tougher time convincing people he'd be as competent. Plus, there's the Mormon thing to overcome.
A lot of social conservatives are uncomfortable with either candidate, which adds an interesting new dynamic to this election. But they've got nowhere to go, unless Duncan Hunter rises to the level of Rudy Giuliani, a goal which I suspect is unobtainable.
Rudy will raise a gazillion more dollars than Hunter, and with major states planning to move their primaries up to early February, the race will likely be over for all practical purposes that month.
I think Rudy's chances of winning the GOP nomination are closer to 75-80%. And judging by the anti-Rudy sentiment at this forum, his opponents here must be somewhat in agreement with that or they wouldn't be expending so much energy trying to derail him.
I dunno, maybe some new candidate will enter the race and upset the whole apple cart. I'm not sure the Reform Party even exists anymore (Thank you, Pat).
The race appears to be Rudy's to lose, but there are going to be people quite unhappy about that.
Rudy is a pro-abort, pro-euthanasia, pro-illegal immigrant, pro gay marriage, pro school gay agenda, anti-gun RINO that will be a disaster if elected. George McGovern with a pink R on his lapel.
That's the election in a nut shell Dog.
He tried to say what he thinks in code, leaving adequate puausible deniability for future squirming. About as refreshing as passed gas.
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