Right panics over Giuliani's big lead

The Australian ^ | March 01, 2007 | Tom Baldwin

[madprof98]

RUDY Giuliani has opened a lead of up to 20 per cent over his declared rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, sparking near panic among Washington's pundits that a thrice-married supporter of abortion, gay rights and gun control could create such enthusiasm in a party dominated by Christian conservatives.

The former New York mayor's slew of strong poll results among likely Republican primary voters is battering the conventional wisdom that Mr Giuliani is too socially liberal and combustible to win the nomination. Some commentators insist the numbers cannot last and that Mr Giuliani's popularity will evaporate once voters are reminded of the positions he has taken and his tarnished record as an arrogant mayor with dubious connections in New York City.

Others are trying to find a reverse gear for their opinions because no Republican candidate in modern history has been so far ahead at this stage in the contest and then failed to win the nomination.

In Virginia, where Republican activists gathered for their annual dinner to hear him speak at a Marriott Hotel on Tuesday, it does not take long to discover his appeal.

[snip]

Audience member Richard Brown said he would consider voting for Mr Giuliani. This might not be remarkable, except that he served as a US navy pilot on the same ship as Senator McCain in the Vietnam War and is worried that his former comrade is now trying "to grasp more of the right wing of our party".

Asked if he was worried about Mr Giuliani's social positions, he said: "There's not a candidate with a clean skirt out there. Hell, I've been married myself three times."

[svcw]

Where is the "sate of panic"? Do they have a cool flag?

[Constitution Day]

No panic here.

However, the tone here lately is embarassing.

[svcw]

Where is the "state of panic"? Do they have a cool flag?

[Fierce Allegiance]

Why should the right panic about Rudy? Because the MSM and their pollsters tell us too?

Because he's a lousy, liberal candidate.

[Alberta's Child]

I'm not panicking. If they run him, I'll calmly vote for somebody else.

LOL. I hear ya.

[montag813]

Moral values are so . . . yesterday. At least in the GOP.

Is permitting 20 million criminal aliens the full benefits of citizenship a moral value?

Is throwing two border agents in prison for 12 years for shooting a drug smuggler in the ass a moral value?

Is giving a traitor who stole and destroyed critical top secret documents 200 hours of community service a moral value?

Is taking your shoes off in a filthy mosque after 9/11 and proclaiming "Islam is Peace" a moral value?

Is calling Pakistan--the birth mother of the Taliban and the new home to Bin Laden--an "ally" a moral value?

Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.

[shekkian]

Rudy Giuliani ahead in the polls?

AAAARRRGGH!!! RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!

Is that panicky enough?

[Antoninus]

Panic? Not hardly. The "big leads" are all generated by the MSM who are more interested in creating a perception and influencing voters than reflecting the TRUTH.

Rudy is a loser at the national level, regardless of the bogus polls.

[ozzymandus]

Was I supposed to panic? I didn't get the memo.

[The South Texan]

The author must be reading FR.

[Blackirish]

Yeah right....there is so much panic and FLOPSWEAT coming out of the RudyHaters club it's laughable.

[zbigreddogz]

That's an interesting theory. Especially in light of the fact that Newt has said he won't jump in if Rudy has a big lead.

[Alberta's Child]

I dunno -- Most of the posts I've read on this subject seem to be rational in nature and factual in content.

[Alouette]

Rudy told the Saudi prince to kiss his @$$. What other candidate has done that?

He is strong in national defense. The issues on which he is a liberal are best dealt with at the state and local level.

[The South Texan]

"Yeah right....there is so much panic and FLOPSWEAT coming out of the RudyHaters club it's laughable."

Yep. The Duncanistas and "All or Nothings" are fun to watch. Kind of like the Toyota and Wal Mart bashers on here.

[hosepipe]

[.. Right panics over Giuliani's big lead ..]

What RIGHT?...
There is no right wing in America these days..
Actually there "IS" a right wing but its quiet... just watching..

JUST WATCHING...
The moral majority years ago was benign..
BUT Americas right wing these days may riot or stampede..
THE LACK of a presence these days by the right wing is OMINOUS..
CIVIL WAR?... Creative terrorism on 5th column?.. maybe.. I dunno..

When the right wing ((BLOWS)) its not going to be pretty..

[John D]

But the problem I have with Rudy is his basing of Reagan and Goldwater.

---

If you look at Rudy and Goldwater you have to admit their views are pretty similar. They both supported a strong defense, both support or supported (Barry is no longer with us) abortion and gay rights. Both were or are fiscal conservatives. Their views on gun control are about the only major differences I can see.

[twigs]

What an overstatement. I am not a Rudy fan and will not vote for him in the primary. But I am not in a panic. Nowhere near it. I figure we could do a lot worse.

[msnimje]

Because he's a lousy, liberal candidate.

But Panic about him? He will not survive the primaries in the South.

[AmusedBystander]

I'm afraid we have lost the Buchanan wing of the party forever.

Wait, they didn't vote for Republicans anyway.

Life will go on and we'll see how close Ms. President Clinton's policies will be to their liking. Unless we get lucky enough to get a Republican candidate who actually has a chance to get elected.