Giuliani Praises Conservative Judges

Townhall.com ^ | 2/16/2007 | Staff

[Fawn]

Thx Julie. I am a die-hard conservative, but for me the war trumps all other social issues. In fact, for me, the War is THE social issue.

Amen to that.

[HitmanLV]

I don't agree. I was speaking in terms of some pro life advocates who somehow expect the USSC to outlaw abortion, and see that as the flip-side of the Roe decision.

That is activist and it's the kind of activism conservatives should discourage.

So your point about striking down Roe as bad law is valid, but my point was that a person of any political stripe could rule that way. A judge doesn't have to be pro-life to overturn Roe. It's a simple concept that too many on our side can't cope with. That's my point.

[Jorge]

The same fools who led us to disaster last year are still in charge. Republican Party, R.I.P. Load of big govt liberals.

Actually it's fools who label everybody a RINO who deviates from their narrow definition of "true conservative" and promised to stay home on lection day etc etc...

THESE are the people who helped give us the present Democrat Congress.

The political puritans who bash Bush all over these boards when he disagrees with them on a single issue.

We know who Giuliani is and what he stands for.

We also know that we prefer him to Hillary..... whom the rest of you seem determined to elect to the White House. Talk about fools.

[George W. Bush]

Judges like Scalia, Thomas, Roberts and Alito

I keep noticing that the ex-mayor praises the others. He's even praised Ruth Buzzi Ginsberg. But never Justice Thomas. It's kind of striking.

[MilesBennell]

Where did Rudy get all this miliatry knowhow?

First of all, let me say that if Hunter gets the nod in the primary...he's got my vote.

But as to Rudy, he took the mob in NYC and won. He listens but he is a smart sumbeatch. He is a fighter in that his life has been under contract for at least 2 decades...and that never stopped him from prosecuting the 5 families in NY.

If Rudy isn't the guy...OK. But let's give him a chance. Let's look at the evidence and evaluate.

[zendari]

We know Rudy is a lib on some issues...but if he can be believed, he does respect the true job of the SCOTUS is to interpret the written law, not invent it. The previous two elections have given us reason to doubt Republicans in many ways. 2008 primaries are going to be a gut-twister.

I don't think that's fair. As far as judges go, Bush has been stellar, especially if there is a 3rd SCOTUS pick....

We sunk Harriett Miers; We can sink Guiliani's nominees if he doesn't follow the lead of the current President.

[demkicker]

I suppose if skunkweek makes one a gun grabbing pro-abortion professional politician, he/she may want to refuse partaking of such, unlike your friend, Rudy. Oh, and he/she may want to think twice about portraying themselves as a conservative unless he really is a warlock.

Be sure an check out Jim Robinson's posts about Rudy.

[HitmanLV]

First, it's constitutional originalist, not strict constructionist.

Second, Roe is good and valid law as of now. What do you expect him to say? If he supports originalist judges, it's up to them to rule on Roe (should it come up), not the president.

[jwalsh07]

If Rudy wins the nomination, I'll stop being his opponent. Until then, I'll point out his shortcomings vis a vis the issues. And he has many shortcomings.

[MilesBennell]

Sounds good to me...have at it! And God bless!

[HitmanLV]

Almost nobody praises Justice Thomas. I like the guy, but he isn't a name on the tip of the tongue when people speak about the USSC.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Being somewhat of a judicial buff, I was aware of Rudy long before he became a household name. No doubt that he was a admirable prosecutor and able mayor -- you have that absolutely right. I truly believe that his stance on key social issues will do more harm to this country then we will be able to regain/repair. Rudy is not the only Republican that would be tough in the war on terror. He is not the only answer, nor is he the best answer. We do not have to compromise the war on terrorism to get a nominee that will promote traditional social values.

There are almost two years left until the election. It will be a year before the first vote is cast in a primary. I will spend more time evaluating all of the candidates that I will spend promoting just one man this early. Just an idea.

[George W. Bush]

Where did Rudy get all this miliatry knowhow?

I started scanning around for info on the mayor's military expertise and turned this one up:

From the October 28 [2004] edition of NBC's Today:

GIULIANI: The president was cautious. The president was prudent. The president did what a commander in chief should do. And no matter how much you try to blame it on the president, the actual responsibility for it really would be for the troops that were there. Did they search carefully enough? Didn't they search carefully enough?

Like any other liberal, he blames the troops. Funny, I thought the troops were just supposed to follow their orders.

[JulieRNR21]

I'm glad to see so many senior FReepers starting to weigh in. Recently, I've noticed far more coming out against a liberal GOP candidate than the ones who are expressing eagerness to vote for him.

---

Really? Not in my case....

My Freeper 'seniority' trumps both of you.

[demkicker]

;-)

[jwalsh07]

First, it's constitutional originalist, not strict constructionist.

Not according to Rudy.

"What I mean by strict constructionist, or using the plain language or meaning of the Constitution, is judges should try to interpret the Constitution, not make it up to fit their social preferences," Giuliani said.

Or weren't we discussing Rudy?

Second, Roe is good and valid law as of now. What do you expect him to say? If he supports originalist judges, it's up to them to rule on Roe (should it come up), not the president.

Roe is not "good law", it is farce. Even liberals like Lawrence Tribe attest to that. I expect him to say the same thing that Tribe said, to wit (paraphrasing), Roe is farce.

Name one originalist judge that Rudy appointed in New York.

[George W. Bush]

So your point about striking down Roe as bad law is valid, but my point was that a person of any political stripe could rule that way. A judge doesn't have to be pro-life to overturn Roe.

Well, it's not contentious really. Legal scholars won't defend Roe. It's fifty-some pages of social engineering with hardly a legal argument in it. So you're right. But overturning Roe would be called judicial activism and it would be. Because the Court would have to select the case to hear it. Or, rarely, just reach out and grab onto it (only ever happened once as I recall).

My point was that good conservative judges do things all the time that could be portrayed as activist. This is an area where your personal bias comes to bear.

[MEGoody]

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, who favors abortion rights, said Friday if elected in 2008 he wouldn't hesitate to appoint anti-abortion conservatives such as Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito to the federal bench.

Rudy speaks with forked tongue.

[MilesBennell]

Rudy is not the only Republican that would be tough in the war on terror.

As a former New Yawker, I know what Rudy can do. He is a killer.

Of course, I might be wrong...but I might be right! Hang tough on this war...our troops are at risk!

To me the war and our troops are THE issue. I believe the guy or gal that stands behind them deserves our vote.

[DKNY]

If you are supporting Rudy ignoring that he is at odds with all but 5% of the traditional Republican plank, youare no conservative. you may be a Republican....bt not a Reagan or Lincoln republican and certainly never again a majority.

And I suppose Michael Reagan isn't a Reagan Republican either. Accept the fact that conservatives will vote for Rudy in the primaries whether you approve or not. You know nothing about my personal opinions on abortion, the second amendment or just about anything else except that I like Rudy... I don't appreciate your holier than thou attitude nor do I care to be judged by you.