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
I understand you've picked a candidate and are getting partisan. I haven't yet.
People who got deferments were not draft dodgers. You're taking a page right out of the Dems playbook, where even Guard service is "draft dodging."
Thanks... some really sage advise, except the poster puts the same multi-screen postings on dozens of threads... some of them interest me because I want to learn something new about all the candidates.
S.O.S for multiple days doesn't do anyone any good, except the very slow learners.
You''re making a false assertion. We can disagree agreeably but I won't stand for anybody putting words in my mouth or ascribing liberal nonsense towards me.
Rudy got his deferment questionably to avoid military service. President Bush served honorably in the Air National Guard. Rudy went on to prosecute others who avoided military service. President Bush did no such thing.
If you can't see the political ramifications of that in a political world where Republicans were merciless in their pursuit of Clinton's draft dodging so be it.
The fact their the front runners is why over half the nation in a recent poll stated they wanted someone else. All we have to is supply that someone else with worthy principles.
You DO have a scroll mouse? I have added a supercharger / turbo booster to mine to fly past that kind of thing that I have already read.
Soon, you will have evidence that Rudy is a coke dealer.
How is your candidate Keyes doing in the polls?
OK, how do you distinguish Dick Cheney's deferment from Rudy's???
The only way to do it is to claim Cheney should have gotten his but Rudy shouldn't even though Rudy's draft board thought he should. By the time you get there, you've lost the American people. Don't go down the Dem's chickenhawk road.
The draft dodgers were the ones who went to Canada or faked physicals or the like.
DH has been in a gerrymandered district, and hasn't ever had big league political opposition to dig up stuff. DH was involved in the House bank check writing brouhaha. DH remains largely unvetted, which represents a risk to his candiancy, not an advantage.
DH to his credit has been married only once, but curiously, we never see his wife. The candidate's wife can be a significant asset.
So DH is relatively neutral as regards ethics, etc. No glaring problems, but neither proven free taint free. Married but once, but no use of wife to burnish his appeal.
I never called Bush a draft dodger or coke dealer and didn't believe any of that hogwash. And, no, I did not support Bush in the Primary election. I was very much against him but I supported him in both General elections.
The draft dodger thing came directly from Giuliani's own campaign documents. It's not made up.
There was nothing wrong with conservatives supporting Dr. Keyes. The owner of this forum supported him and he was a welcome guest and speaker at Free Republic events. Your constant smearing of a good conservative, a Reagan appointee, like Alan Keyes exposes your disregard for conservatives and conservative values. Perhaps you're on the wrong forum if you feel the way that you do.
Thats funny!!!!!
electability is a critical issue
if that were true, people wouldn't be pushing Rudy.
You good of fooled me. I thought Keyes had fallen out of favor for laundering minute man money. When will you be building the fence Spiff?
Soon, you will have evidence that Rudy is a coke dealer.
How is your candidate Keyes doing in the polls?"
You completely hit the nail on the head. This all feels too familiar. Duncan Hunter is a nice guy and I wish him well. He's starting way back in the pack though and no betting man would pick him for the nomination. In the end its going to be Rudy vs. Hillary. Rudy can win this walking away.
The "draft dodger" issue didn't exactly hurt Bill Clinton at the polls. The same accusation was made (erroneously) against W. He won two elections also. The fact of the matter is many Americans have no problem with somebody trying to legally stay out of Vietnam.
If nominated Giuliani will have my vote.
No difference in a political campaign. Americans aren't very nuanced when force-fed by the MSM and the Carville types. What's more, I know you're smart enough to know that.
OK, how do you distinguish Dick Cheney's deferment from Rudy's???
I don't but Dick Cheney is not running for CIC during wartime. Rudy is and he will be gutted by the opposition with the MSM more than willing to repay perceived debts owed Bill Clinton, born liar.
The only way to do it is to claim Cheney should have gotten his but Rudy shouldn't even though Rudy's draft board thought he should. By the time you get there, you've lost the American people. Don't go down the Dem's chickenhawk road.
I told you once already, there no reason to make false assertions. I'm not going down any road. I think for myself and I have concluded that Rudy Giuliani is a hypocrite with no core values who will do what he must to get elected.
The draft dodgers were the ones who went to Canada or faked physicals or the like.
You're parsing a bit too much. Student deferments were the law of the land. I once had one. The Lottery then became the law of the land. I had a high number. Moving to Canada broke the law of the land and getting high placed judges to get you a deferment is indeed dodging the draft unless we are going to change the English language.
I don't think it disqualifies him or anybody from elective office. That was a tough time for young Americans. Like I said it's Rudy's hypocrisy that I can't stand. Comprende?
Mr Spiff I don't think anybody appointed you to decide who belongs on this forum and who does not.
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