Posted on 02/16/2007 1:58:44 PM PST by Spiff
Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, has become the clear frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination despite a personal life that his own staff once conceded opened him up to accusations of "weirdness".
A USA Today/Gallup poll gave Mr Giuliani a 16-point lead over his rival Senator John McCain and showed him trailing Hillary Clinton, the leading Democrat, by just a single percentage point.
But the extent of his task to persuade Americans he can lead them was underlined this week when a remarkable 450-page "vulnerability study", compiled by aides in 1993, emerged. His current advisers fear that his colourful past and his liberal social positions could scupper his candidacy.
The study listed all the former prosecutor's perceived weaknesses as part of a "tough and hard-hitting" assessment.
Mr Giuliani, who subsequently became a national hero as mayor of New York after the September 11 attacks, ordered all copies of the document to be destroyed. But it was obtained by a reporter working on a book about him and posted on the Smoking Gun website.
According to the document, chief among his problems as he sought re-election as mayor was that his "personal life raises questions about a "weirdness factor". This stemmed from a 14-year first marriage to his second cousin that was annulled by the Roman Catholic Church.
"When asked about his personal life, Giuliani gives a wide array of conflicting answers. All of this brings the soundness of his judgement into question - and the veracity of his answers."
Mr Giuliani, who has twice married subsequently, was also vulnerable to claims he avoided service in Vietnam by receiving "special treatment from a friendly federal judge" and later "hypocritically prosecuted draft dodgers".
In an interview with CNN's Larry King Live on Wednesday, Mr Giuliani conceded that there was lots of material with which the press and opponents could attack him. "The way I deal with that is, hey, I'm a human being," he said.
"You know, I made mistakes. I'm not perfect. I keep trying to learn from them. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. I keep working on that. I keep trying to learn from them. I'm a human being, much like, I think, everybody else." Mr Giuliani confirmed that he was in favour of abortion rights and against gun control - litmus-test issues for many conservatives - but emphasised that he personally hated abortion.
He would also "select judges who try to interpret the Constitution rather than invent it" - a notable reassurance to conservatives who fear presidents who use judicial appointments to engage in what many see as liberal social engineering via the courts. Whereas Democrats often reject a front runner during the party primaries, Republicans tend to coalesce around a leading candidate who they feel is electable by the broader populace. Mr Giuliani, 62, is vying to be that candidate in place of Mr McCain, 70, the early choice of the Republican establishment.
The document was the second to hand Mr Giuliani's White House rivals an arsenal of ammunition against him. Last month, a 140-page campaign battle plan setting out budgets, fundraising plans and details of possibly "insurmountable" problems with his candidacy was leaked to a New York tabloid.
Colourful past threatens Giuliani's lead
The Daily Telegraph
By Toby Harnden in Washington
Last Updated: 2:04am GMT 16/02/2007
Probably because he respects her enough not parade her around like a whore...
Exactly. Most hypocritical. Even Bill Clinton didn't go that far (prosecuting draft dodgers).
I'll vote Giuliani if it comes to that. He's a Lieberman Republican; right on the war, wrong on almost everything else. But the war is my bottom line issue.
Meanwhile, I want someone who believes what I believe. That means I'm looking for a Hunter/Bolton or Gingrich/Bolton ticket.
Heck, maybe Bolton should head the ticket.
Rush Limbaugh said it the best, and I will paraphrase:
'When the "good" compromises with the "evil," the "good" always loses.'
Which prospective First Lady gets "paraded around like a whore"?
I think he's more like the Republican's version of Bill Clinton. His receiving the Republican nomination to the presidency is a very a BAD idea.
As my post #82 suggested, what's wrong with Duncan Hunter?
Being a Californian, perhaps he could put that state in play.
Maybe my memory's bad, but I don't recall that he's announced that he's running.
Assuming that we don't have a conservative candidate win the primaries, which I sincerely hope happens, we have the following with which to contend:
It is also a compromise with evil not to vote or to cast a futile vote.
Constitution doesn't have a chance. Libertarian doesn't either, but they're as liberal as they are conservative. 3rd party run....it'll split the vote and guarantee failure. (Lived through that with Perot.)
Therefore, you are left with the choice:
a) Hillary
b) Liberal to Moderate Liberal Fiscal Conservative Republican. (and if the conservative candidate gets enough votes, he'll be the VP candidate.)
Which is the best choice?
The folks that will point out Reagan's, supposed, shortcomings will be along shortly to point out the errors of his ways.
If only the GOP had control of the House of Reps.
If only the GOP had control of the House and the Presidency.
If only the GOP had control of the House, the Presidency and the Senate.
If only the GOP had a super majority of the legislative branch of the federal government and the Presidency.
Only then would "conservatives" not have to compromise with the "evil" communists and socialists.
Only then could the principles put forth by the founders in the Constitution be upheld.
Until then compromise and concession is the only hope...
Rudy's personal life is bizarre, I gotta agree with you there.
I will be voting for Duncan Hunter in the primaries. And if Duncan Hunter wins the California Primary then he will be the front runner for delegates to the Convention.
Duncan Hunter is very eloquent, he is a war hero and he is a Reagan Republican. He will annihilate any democrat in any national debate. He will be formidable. Once he has name recognition he will be a contender. He should be our hope at this point.
For those who ask "Who is Duncan Hunter?" I would ask them, honestly, how many people had heard of Bill Clinton in 1991?
Hunter is a protectionist. But heck considering the origins of the Republican party and its Whig stance on trade, perhaps he would be the truest representative of the party
Now that would've been great had we been able to maintain it until at least the next opening on the Supreme Court. We could've been in a position to yank all this socialist crap out by the roots. That was my prayer. But the people lost patience. So be it. We're now back a few places, but I do not want to go back and start the whole battle from the beginning again. We must recover and fight on. Do not give up ground to the abortionist loving socialists!
Have you heard Hunter in debate and in front of a live microphone? We need someone dynamic who can talk over top of the media.
Is he your congressman?
Yup. There is no compromise in the matter of life or death. You are either living or dead! Abortion is death. Abortion is the murder of an innocent and helpless unborn human baby. Murder is evil. Abortion is evil. There is no compromise possible.
Both did everything they could do to avoid military service. But then again if you boot every politician who dodged the draft you would lose the vice president and depopulate the House and Senate on both sides of the aisle.
Yes, I keep forgetting I'm not as smart as most folks around here. That's why I posted #82 & #107, so such things as "if/thens" in subsequent posts wouldn't be misunderstood.
I have a lot of work to do. Maybe I'll figure it out some day.
I can't imagine why Jim?
Three out of the four were accomplished and what happened?
SOS. Compromise and concession on a large number of issues.
Hell, it even happened today.
Why is that?
We're now back a few places, but I do not want to go back and start the whole battle from the beginning again.
Then Rudy is the only hope.
The money and influence folks are trying to tell you that.
Compromise and concession with the communists and socialist is the last, best hope.
Going over the cliff at 50 mph is, supposedly, better than 100 mph.
Sorry, I'm not going over the cliff with Rudy.
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