A Rudy Awakening for the NRA

Third Way ^ | 2/8/07 | Matt Bennett

[NormsRevenge]

A little-noticed oddity of the 2008 presidential election field is that the three leading candidates for the Republican nomination have, at one time or another, gone to war with the NRA and its allies on the gun issue.

After six years of thumb-twiddling boredom – the issue has been off the radar in elections and in Congress – the gun lobby must have been a bit shocked when they realized what they faced: John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, all once proud champions of sensible gun laws, are the odds-on favorites to carry the GOP banner.

Consider their histories:

McCain was the lead sponsor of federal legislation to close the gun show loophole. In 2000, he appeared in television ads in Colorado urging voters to pass a ballot initiative closing the loophole there.

Romney signed a state ban on assault weapons into law as Governor of Massachusetts. And as the Boston Globe has reported, he said during a debate in 2002 that he supported his state’s tough gun laws and vowed that he would not “chip away at them” because they “protect us and provide for our safety”

Giuliani aggressively went after illegal gun traffickers when he was mayor, and he filed a lawsuit against a bunch of major gun manufactures and dealers. He’s on record supporting tougher gun laws, including the assault weapons ban.

Now, the gun lobby is not subtle in responding to perceived threats. NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre gave a speech six months after 9-11 comparing our old organization, Americans for Gun Safety, to al Qaeda and our founder to Osama bin Laden. LaPierre concluded, not without some hyperbole, that we were “a far greater threat to your freedom than any foreign force”.

So it’s no surprise that the NRA responded to this problem with overwhelming firepower.

First, they attacked John McCain, slathering his caricature on their magazine covers and calling him “one of the premier flag-carriers for the enemies of the Second Amendment.” McCain buckled like he was gut-shot – he has stopped talking about guns (despite the fact that the gun show loophole remains open in most states), and he just brought on James Jay Baker, once the NRA’s lead man in Washington, as a strategist for his “kitchen cabinet.”

Then they took on Mitt Romney. After getting peppered with criticism for his gun positions, Romney, who does not own a gun, now calls himself a “proud” NRA member. He even toured a gun show with the NRA’s chief lobbyist Chris Cox, (the guy who took over for McCain’s kitchen-mate Baker).

Most recently, they trained their sights on Rudy Giuliani. In a press release this week, an NRA ally called the National Shooting Sports Federation warned: “Giuliani No Friend to Gun Owners.”

How Giuliani will respond is not yet clear – as the NSSF notes, there are conflicting signals out of his camp about where he stands today on guns.

But if Rudy Giuliani is anything, he’s tough. We hope that he treats these thugs the way he treated them back when he was cleaning up New York one turnstile-jumper at a time.

Our advice to Rudy: tell the NRA and its minions that you will not be cowed, and stick to your guns: you are a strong supporter of the rights of law-abiding citizens to own firearms. But rights come with responsibilities. And anyone who isn’t responsible about owning, selling, or using their guns should lose those rights.

[rmlew]

The Third Way between what, a Constitutional Republic and Communism?

[NucSubs]

Can I ask a question of those far more knowledgeable than myself.

Has the NRA come out and said ANYTHING about Rudy running for POTUS? If so, why not?

[EternalVigilance]

Haven't heard a peep.

Probably too busy endorsing Democrats...

[mysterio]

If the NRA endorses Giuliani, then they've jumped the shark.

[KATIE-O]

"Our advice to Rudy: tell the NRA and its minions that you will not be cowed, and stick to your guns: you are a strong supporter of the rights of law-abiding citizens to own firearms. But rights come with responsibilities. And anyone who isn’t responsible about owning, selling, or using their guns should lose those rights......"



Good advice. Rudy won't kow-tow to any lobby, IMO. The NRA is making a mistake by backing the nutballs who want to own and sell assault rifles used in combat. This is nuts!! And Rudy is right.


Rudy Giuliani for President '08

[airborne]

In a press release this week, an NRA ally called the National Shooting Sports Federation warned: “Giuliani No Friend to Gun Owners.”

Our advice to Rudy: tell the NRA and its minions that you will not be cowed, and stick to your guns: you are a strong supporter of the rights of law-abiding citizens to own firearms. But rights come with responsibilities. And anyone who isn’t responsible about owning, selling, or using their guns should lose those rights.

And since Rudy is on record for gun control, it's safe to assumehe will be willing to takeour gun rights away from us.

[LibKill]

Real Republicans don't let Clintons back in the White House

Rudy said that his policies were basically like Clinton's. He IS a Clinton.

If we are going to have a Clinton in the White House let it be a democrat. That way there will be no confusion as to who and what are hurting us.

Putting Rudy in the White House will be just the same as having Hillary there, but will cloud the issues because he as an (R) after his name.

As far as the War on Terror goes, if Rudy is against our basic rights at home he will not defend them overseas.

To get my vote you have to be more than "I'm not Hillary." You have to be a PRO-GUN-RIGHTS CONSERVATIVE.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

The NRA is making a mistake by backing the nutballs who want to own and sell assault rifles used in combat.

Nutballs?

Assault rifles are a problem...why?

This is nuts!! And Rudy is right.

The Constitution disagrees with him.

2nd Amendment ping.

[arthurus]

What can Giuliani do for the Islamic War with a Liberal Congress? And under Giuliani that Congress will get more liberal in 2008 and even more in 2010. If we do not have a conservative in this race it would be better for Mrs. Clinton to win. She will give us back the House in 2010 and maybe the Senate, too. Any other Democrat who is any sort of real contender, at this point, running against one of the "big three" Republicans makes for an awful scenario because he will probably keep a leftist congress through his term. That would still not be a reason to vote for Mr. Giuliani because a Giuliani win will just about end the viability of all conservative social issues. A Democrat win leaves the socons in the field because that is the other side scoring a victory in the seesaw of battle, not your own side handing you over to the enemy.

[dirtboy]

The NRA is making a mistake by backing the nutballs who want to own and sell assault rifles used in combat. This is nuts!!

I see you checked your brain at the door of Rudy HQ. Gun-rights activists are nutballs? This country was founded by gun-rights activists. And will be undone by the likes of you if left unchecked.

And Rudy is right.

I see you've joined the cult of personality big-time as well.

[dirtboy]

Real Republicans don't let Clintons back in the White House

Real Republicans also don't promote a gun-grabbing, pro-abort, anti-federalist, pro-global warming, pro-amnesty liberal as the party's standard-bearer.

[KATIE-O]

I see you checked your brain at the door of Rudy HQ. Gun-rights activists are nutballs? This country was founded by gun-rights activists. And will be undone by the likes of you if left unchecked.



I am very pro-2nd Amendment, but to allow the free flow of combat assault rifles in a crime ridden city like New York City is irresponsible and
insane. Only a foaming nutwad would say this is "GUN RIGHTS!" These are the type of NRA zealots who give gun rights activists a bad name. Not all of us are mentally retarded! Rudy did the right thing to curtail these weapons in his city. Every major city with large crime populations and gangs should do the same thing.

[dirtboy]

I am very pro-2nd Amendment, but to allow the free flow of combat assault rifles in a crime ridden city like New York City is irresponsible and insane.

Free flow? Last I checked, you had to go through a background check to get one.

Only a foaming nutwad would say this is "GUN RIGHTS!"

Only a liberal dipweed would refer to a gun-rights activist in such terms.

These are the type of NRA zealots who give gun rights activists a bad name.

You're the type of alleged gun-rights activist that makes gun-grabbing possible.

Not all of us are mentally retarded!

You're doing a lousy job demonstrating that.

Rudy did the right thing to curtail these weapons in his city. Every major city with large crime populations and gangs should do the same thing.

Sure. The criminals will certainly obey those gun laws.

[dirtboy]

and I still despise Liberals!

Did you read the background info on the group you are applauding here?

Third Way is a non-profit, non-partisan strategy center for progressives.

In other words, they are liberals. So much for despising them - you think like them. Unless, of course, you despise yourself, in which case all this would make sense.

[KATIE-O]

Rudy did the right thing to curtail these weapons in his city. Every major city with large crime populations and gangs should do the same thing.

Sure. The criminals will certainly obey those gun laws.






IT MUST HAVE WORKED!

Total crime went down by some 64 percent during the Giuliani years, and murder went down 67 percent. Auto thefts went down on average about 80,000 per year.



GO RUDY!!!

[Politicalmom]

Sure. Who cares how many law abiding people had their civil rights trampled on.

You are not pro-2nd amendment if you applaud someone who yanked thousands of gun permits from innocent people.

[KATIE-O]

In other words, they are liberals. So much for despising them - you think like them. Unless, of course, you despise yourself, in which case all this would make sense.






It's just your deranged opinion that Rudy Giuliani is a LIBERAL. But then I'll take your opinion with a grain of salt after reading that you are supporting a loser like Duncan Whathisname.

[KATIE-O]

You are not pro-2nd amendment if you applaud someone who yanked thousands of gun permits from innocent people.






Oh, please! I know what I am much better than you do. Stuff it.

[KATIE-O]

RUDY FACTOIDS:



- Rudy tossed Arafat out of a city sponsored celebrations saying, "I would rather not have someone who has been implicated in the murders of Americans there, if I have the discretion not to have him there”.


- Rudy did the same to Fidel Castro.


- When a Saudi prince donated millions to 9/11 relief efforts and later suggested that United States policy in the Middle East may have been partially responsible for the attacks, Rudy returned the money.


- Rudy refused to meet with racial arsonist Al Sharpton.


- Rudy as mayor was strong on law and order. Rudy said that "government exists above all to keep people safe in their homes and in the streets, not to redistribute income, run a welfare state, or perform social engineering". And Rudy backed this all up by going after both quality-of-life crimes and serious crimes.

Total crime went down by some 64 percent during the Giuliani years, and murder went down 67 percent. Auto thefts went down on average about 80,000 per year.


- Rudy supported the police when the police had to enter and deal with Muslims at a mosque.


- Rudy closed down many porn shops across the city and specifically shutdown porn shops in residential neighborhoods.


- Rudy went after both low level and high level drug dealers for the first time in the cities history.


- Rudy had zero tolerance for quality of life crimes such as squeegee extortionists, graffiti vandals, panhandling and public urination.


- Rudy launched a welfare revolution, removing illegal recipients, cutting the rolls by 20% the first year alone and dropping the welfare rolls by 600,000 over the course of his plan.


- Rudy launched a work requirement program for the remaining welfare recipients. the NY Times called it slavery.


- Rudy constantly spoke out against illegitimacy and fatherless families. One of many things that Rudy said on the subject was the following: " If you wanted a social program that would really save these kids, I guess the social program would be called fatherhood.


" - Rudy objected to affirmative action. Rudy ended the cities set-aside program for minority contractors.


- Rudy rejected the idea of lowering the job requirement standards for minorities and woman. - Rudy said. "it was unfair to expect middle-class kids to work their way through college by holding down jobs and going to classes while exempting students on welfare from working.


" - Rudy reformed the public school system and forced out liberal chancellors who wouldn't install his reforms.


- Rudy tried to privatize 5 of the cities worst public schools.


- Rudy was for school vouchers, Rudy said, "The whole notion of choice is really about more freedom for people, rather than being subjugated by a government system that says you have no choice about the education of your child,".


- Rudy fought against public money for an art display that defiled Christ and he fought against other obscene so-called works of art.


- Rudy played hardball with city unions winning concessions from city workers that other mayors had failed to do.


- Rudy strong armed state leaders to merge the cities Housing Police and Transit Police into the NYPD saving the city hundreds of millions. Rudy did this by threatening to fire every housing and transit officer and rehire each as a city cop if legislative leaders did not go along.


- Rudy did the same with the city’s garbageman, many of whom worked only half days because the department was so overstaffed with union jobs. Rudy won $300 million in savings from them by threatening to contract out trash collection to private companies.


- Rudy cut or killed 23 levies and taxes, saving taxpayers $9.8 billion during his terms.


- Rudy cut NYC's top income-tax rate by 20.6%.


- Local NYC taxes on a family of four dropped 23.7% during Rudy's term.


- Rudy cut the commercial-rent tax.


- Rudy cut sales taxes, including taxes on clothing.


- Rudy cut the marriage penalty on taxpaying couples.


- Rudy cut taxes on commercial rents everywhere outside of Manhattan’s major business districts, and various taxes on small businesses and self-employed New Yorkers.


- Rudy's expenditure growth averaged 2.9% annually, while local inflation between January 1994 and December 2001 averaged 3.6%.


- Rudy privatized municipal assets.


- Rudy sold WNYC radio for $20 million, WNYC-TV for $207 million, and NYC's share of the U.N. Plaza Hotel for $85 million.


- Rudy divested the City from the New York Coliseum adding $345 million to city coffers.


- Rudy let the private Central Park Conservancy manage Central Park.


- Rudy cut NYC's hotel tax from 6% to 5%. Consequently, hotel tax revenues increased from $135 million in Fiscal Year 1995 to $239 million in FY 2001.


- When asked if Rudy would raise taxes after 9/11 Rudy said that would be "a dumb, stupid, idiotic, and moronic thing to do.


" - A quote from Rudy on his economic philosophy: “City government should not and cannot create jobs through government planning. The best it can do, and what it has a responsibility to do, is to deal with its own finances first, to create a solid budgetary foundation that allows businesses to move the economy forward on the strength of their energy and ideas. After all, businesses are and have always been the backbone of New York City.


” - Construction permits increased by more than 50% in the city per year during Rudy's terms.


- Tourism increased 50% in the city per year during Rudy's terms.


- City jobs increased by 430,000 to an all time high of 3.72 million during Rudy's terms.


- City personal income increased 50% during Rudy's terms.


- The percentage income that city residence paid in taxes declined from 8.8 to 7.3 percent during Rudy's terms.


- Unemployment in the city went form 10.3% to 5.1% during Rudy's terms.


- Rudy was an outstanding leader during the 9/11 crisis.


- Rudy has been a strong supporting in our WOT including supporting the mission in Iraq.


- Rudy was chosen by Ronald Reagan in 1981 as an Associate Attorney General placing him in the third highest position in the Reagan's DOJ.


- In 1983, Rudy was appointed by Reagan to be U.S. Attorney for the SD of NY. In that position, Rudy amassed 4,152 convictions including the heads of NY's so-called "Five Families". Rudy also prosecuted terrorists and illegal immigrants.

[Mini-14]

Learn the truth about Katie-O and the type of firearms she wants to ban: http://www.washingtonceasefire.com/content/view/49/45/