"Respect Conservatism" - Rudy Giuliani's distinctive brand?

Weekly Standard ^ | 2/26/07 | Ross Douthat & Reihan Salam

[madprof98]

. . . in wartime defense matters trump social matters for me . . .

Yeah, right. Yesterday Jim Robinson posted a thread challenging the Rudybots to come up with ANY reason why Rudy is especially qualified to be Commander-in-Chief. The thing went on for 441 posts. Know how many reasons they offered? Basically, not one.

[spikeytx86]

I have no beef with him, I like him a lot actually. But if all he can muster is 2% with Republicans, it does not give me confidence to his abilities in the general. Now, if for some reason he catches on with the people and republicans, that's a different story.

IMO, he should consider running for Governor of California next time around. It would give him executive experience and show he could make it in the general (If he can convince California, he can convince America).

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

You dismiss abortion as a mere minor issue in the bigger picture. If the sanctity of life isn't a part of the core of a person, party and nation, we have a Brave New World and it doesn't include The United States of America. The entire spectrum of birth-to-burial existence and medical care and who has sovereignty over their very person is at stake. Abortion is a RAPID and ACCURATE litmus test. Rudy has been on HILLARY'S SIDE until now. Can the leopard change its spots?

The best indicator of future performance is past performance. Rudy's past performance does not assure me of the truth of the *mere assertion* that he will behave more Conservatively in the future. Is he advocating anything Conservative now while he campaigns--or is he focusing on truisms and platitudes? Did he happen to make any comments about South Dakota's battle last fall to outlaw abortion? Has Rudy ever Freeped an abortion mill? No. But he's STOOD GLADLY on the NARAL dais with those who make millions making carcasses. Hmmmmm.

It's not Rudy that Pro-Life people hate, it's the dreadful *positions* he's taken, the organizations he's stood with in the past that are of concern now and for the future. That liquid you see is blood from an infanticide holocaust, not the 'drool' of Pro-Life Conservatives. Those who are posting them of course decry and do not enjoy those ghastly pictures. They use them as shock therapy and as a reality check for those for whom abortion is merely a 'minor medical matter.' It is...interesting...that you'd use such a condescending tone about those who stand up against abortion.

Now back to my earlier question. If you are, as you just said, anti-abortion,

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1791330/posts?page=97#97

then why on this same thread do you clearly imply that you *support* NARAL and that 199 others here do as well?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1791330/posts?page=9#9

Again, it seems that you've contradicted yourself on this thread and not answered my question even yet. What is your *precise* position on abortion? Hillary herself has called it 'a tragic choice' in her doublespeak for Pro-Choice

[spikeytx86]

1. He was the mayor of a city that is larger then a fair amount of states.

2. He was the #3 guy in Reagan's justice department

3. The precedent he set with the RICO statute, was instrumental in may areas of the PATRIOT ACT

4. He was a successful U.S. Attorney and was instrumental in rolling up the 5 families of NY.

5. Tested in crisis and passed big time (9/11 for those under a rock).

6. Leadership, He held the city together and to an extent the country.

7. From booting out Arafat to his steadfast commitment to Iraq and the GWOT he has always been on the side of victory.

And this is just a summary.

In summary, Executive Experience, Leadership, Tested in Crisis, Hawk.

[madprof98]

Mayor, attorney, and federal bureaucrat. Talks tough.

[spikeytx86]

1. He was not mayor of Mayberry, he was mayor of a city that is over 8 million people strong (or 14-15 electoral votes if it was a state). And a Thirty odd billion dollar budget (1/2 the size of the State budget of Texas).

2. He was not just an Attorney he was a U.S. Attorney

3. That "bureaucrat" set a precedent that enabled law enforcement all across the country to roll up drug dealers and organized crime as well as giving the PATRIOT ACT it's TEETH. Yeah some paper pusher.

[Politicalmom]

That's fine. The bottom line for me is I won't vote for a man who thinks murder is acceptable.

That stance is strengthened by the many other reasons Giuliani is completely untrustworthy.

[nosofar]

How can someone balance such apparent cognitive dissonance?

Because Roe v. Wade is bad law. If a person is not a pro-choice fanatic and actually cares about the law, it's not a tough choice. Of course to someone who believes the ends justifies the means, being pro-choice and opposed to RvW would indeed be a contradiction.

[nosofar]

Setting up some false image of a person doesn't honor their memory, it dishonors them.

How dare you blaspheme against Saint Ronald! Off with your head!

[Prokopton]

Rudy, the "tough guy" has made statements that, to me, are chilling.

As Giuliani later philosophized, "Freedom is not a concept in which people can do anything they want, be anything they can be. Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do."
(New York Times, March 17, 1994).

[spikeytx86]

The full quote;

"We only see the oppressive side of authority. Maybe it comes out of our history and our background. What we don’t see is that freedom is not a concept in which people can do anything they want, be anything they can be. Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do and how you do."

In context it was referring to the "freedom" and "rights" such lovable rascals as the sqeegemen, panhandlers, and public urinators that the left was whining about at the time in the city under his programs to eliminate them.

[spikeytx86]

You graphed it wrong, the penguin is actually supposed to cut the pillow, yeesh.

Your leaving out how he said in so many words if one of his judges sent abortion back to the states, it would be no skin off his back. Have a great afternoon EV.

[Prokopton]

I know the context. I still can't help but think that the Founders of this Country would have been chilled by this statement.
"We only see the oppressive side of authority. Maybe it comes out of our history and our background."
Yea, Rudy, it does. Our Country was founded on the principles of FREEDOM, not authoritarianism. Maybe this is why Rudy doesn't get, or refuses to accept, the Second Amendment.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Rudy is a liberal John Lindsey Republican. To say or assume otherwise is shear nonsense.

Sorry... couldn't let this go by without comment: Do you know ANYTHING about Rudy's record in NYC? Anything about how he shrunk the bureaucracy, reduced tax rates, reduced crime, reduced the welfare roles, improved the schools, improved the business climate in the city? Doing all of these things that were a reversal of John Lindsey Policies and Traditions?

You can criticize Rudy on many of the familiar talking points, but don't lie or reach for ridiculous comparisons. I don't even think the knee-jerk Rudy hater's here on the FREEP would join you in John Lindsey comparison. THAT is sheer nonsense!

[bluerose]

Same here, my sentiments exactly. How many other candidates would have turned down the money offered by that Saudi Prince?
Rudy takes no crap and is not PC. He gets the job done.

"In choosing a president, we really don't choose a Republican or Democrat, a conservative or liberal. We choose a leader.
Rudy Giuliani"




I am pro-life. But I am also a 40+ year resident of the NY-Metro area, and I support Rudy Giuliani over the pro-lifers who won't have a snowball's chance in Hell against Shrillary, et al.

[madprof98]

I am pro-life. But . . .

Spoken like a true Democrat.

[bluerose]

Should I make fun of the fact you can't read since I didn't say that? Nah, I'll leave the immaturity to you. Carry on.


I am pro-life. But . . .

Spoken like a true Democrat.

[madprof98]

You need to learn how to quote other people in the replies you post to them. Generally, posters do that with italics.

[kellynch]

How dare you. I have NEVER voted for a Democrat. Not EVER.

[madprof98]

I have NEVER voted for a Democrat. Not EVER.

Well, if you're voting for Rudy, you might as well. And stop telling people you're pro-life. Pro-life people don't vote for politicians who brag that they will spend tax money on abortions.