Posted on 03/02/2007 11:57:07 AM PST by meg88
Rudy Giuliani is going before a big meeting of conservatives this weekend with a remarkable lead in the GOP race; according to a Washington Post poll, he's ahead of Sen. John McCain 44-21.
That raises a question: How could a pro-choice, pro-gay rights, pro-gun control ex-mayor from New York be doing so well with Republicans?
The short answer is "September 11," but for reasons that go beyond the obvious, which is the sense that Giuliani rallied a stricken city, spoke in bold language about defeating the new enemy and actually was at risk in those moments.
But 9/11 did something else -- it elevated Giuliani far above the level of big-city mayor.
He was the official who "stood up to al Qaeda" and became a major American figure in the global battle against the enemy who'd so savagely attacked the United States. That made him much more than a big city mayor.
Moreover, the attacks radically changed the picture of New York -- the biggest Democratic city in the nation, and one not usually admired by core Republicans.
Two things have changed about New York. First, 9/11 made New York much more "American."
That's where the enemy attacked; that's where the president and the mayor stood with firefighters and American flag to promise payback.
The second factor -- and this is an argument Giuliani hasn't made much, but I'm guessing he will -- is that New York was where a Republican mayor, using conservative ideas on crime, taxes and welfare, turned around the city that was ground zero of modern liberalism.
For whatever reason, New York is much safer, cleaner, healthier city than it was a decade and a half ago, and Giuliani is likely to say, "I don't just talk about ideas like senators. I made them work."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
LOL I neglected nothing! MI`s homepage HAD the link posted. You were just too lazy to look hard enough for it. The analysis by MI`s Edmund J. McMahon is the good the bad and the ugly of Rudy`s record. That final closing chapter of Rudy`s fiscal record as mayor of NYCity showed he was no fiscal conservative.
The proof is in the pudding. As Mayor of NYCity, Rudy raised spending by 32% --- double the inflation rate, expanded the city government, and left behind a $2.0 billion deficit, along with doubling the city's debt to $42 billion. And as MI said: "Even with the tax cuts of the last several years, New York remains by far the most heavily taxed big city in the country."
If everyone read ONLY your posts, they'd think it was the second coming of Reagan. Which it is not, btw. Besides, only one in four new jobs back then, can be attributed to those measly tax cuts. The modest cut of $200 million in city income taxes that Giuliani and the City Council agreed to, did little good. Three in four new jobs were directly attributed to the nationwide economic boom of the 1990`s. Which Rudy had NOTHING to do with.
Nope, i guess you don't. You trust your government implicitly. Not everyone does.
all respects but NY ain't the nation. Nationwide conservatives will doom Rudy only 'cause of
every and I mean every media guru is SCARED of Hillary
Borders?
Invasion?
2nd Amendment?
Lax immigration enforcement???
Terrorist student visas?
National security?
RINO = Redeploy Immigration & Naturalization Officers.
You need to get serious...
Partly because he was a nice guy (which you are not), and partly because he was a Christian who "WALKED THE WALK', while most alleged Christians merely 'talk the talk'.
You could be a Buddhist, but the lesson is the same.
You do not deserve to have the name "Reagan" in your nic because you soil it with every post.
As I suggested previously, "The Mad Monk" is still open out there...and more descriptive...
Guiliani did turn New York around was good for the city of New York. But American is not New York. We need a president who is fiscally as well as socially conservative.
Yeah, I was in the front of the warmongers who wanted Saddam out of there - after Afghanistan we all got a little too greedy, I think.
Had I known that we had no plan for 'what happens afterwards', and had I believed Gen Shinseki instead of dismissing him as a Clinton shill along with the other Koolaiddrinkers around here, I would not have been in favor.
On balance, I still like Dubuya and certainly (I pray - for the sake of the nation) future events will hopefully lead history to treat him more kindly than present polls indicate.
But he was sold a bill of goods on Iraq, and stuck by the people who recommended the wrong strategy way too long.
It PAINS me to admit this, but its a FACT.
Now I pray we can get the Iraqi army to a decent state before we pull out...but I have my doubts there...we have unintentionally strengthened Iran's hand in the region with our failure in Iraq. A costly mistake.
I chose a screenname that honors a great conservative icon. If you're a conservative and you believe its important to advance conservatism on the internets premier conservative website, then it only makes sense to take a screenname that is appropriate for that venue. One that represents what conservatism is all about. Think I'll keep my handle. I hope it continues to drive you liberals bonkers.
Maybe you could ask JimRob to change your screenname to "Giuliani Man", or maybe a more generic handle would work better for you. Say, "Liberal Man".
For my money, it was Rudy, more than Bush, who rallied the country after 9-11. Bush represented the government response; Rudy represented the public reaction. He was able to get and keep a connection with the people that Bush lost with the mismanagement of the Iraq war.
I see Rudy has having the potential to be this era's Teddy Roosevelt-another "Outsider" who was a reformer and a man of ideas, not just ideology. And isn't that what conservatism is supposed to be about?
lunge??? that is so laughable. ....Mitt is at 4$ he has no where to go but down....McCain will too as he's jumping on the mud bandwagon with Mitt
I have spoken to many NYFD and NYPD post 9/11 and they tell me a very different story than the one you are trying to portray....they respect him and admire him as he went to all the funerals of those who died....walked brides down the aisle...officiated at wedding ceremonies and many other things he was asked to do by the families of those great fire and police officers and their families....
(You've learned from our last exchange, no?)
I AM a liberal - in the classical sense, of course.
And I think I'll keep my nic. It'll keep me squarely in your sights. ;>)
that is NOT Ray Nagin....he hid in they Hyatt and did nothing but whine...I have family that lives there and in MS and they are all ashamed of him
Still rooting for McCain I see .. ROTFLOL!! Poor things!
*YAWN*
Looks like its way past your debate-time.
I agree with what you say about Giulianis cultural qualities. I am sure he is a fine man. His politics and record stink.
However , Giuliani is creating an image, and has spent millions on it. He has done this so as to obtain political power from an electorate. I am Giulianis political enemy. He is a liberal, I am a conservative. I will produce facts to show that he is a liberal. I will tear him down as a liberal. You Rudy Rooters seem to think that we conservative Republicans need to lie down and not join issue with Rudy's record, and his previous images, created by Rudy to acqquire votes which will work against conservative interests after Rudy is elected.
I guess you think we should all just lay down as conservatives and let the Rudy Machine just roll over us?
Ain't gonna happen. Whatever King making is going on with Rudy as the MSM darling, we will defeat it. Our place is to generate grass roots support for a conservative candidate, that will overcome men like Rudy. And we mean to be about our business.
Now, lead, follow, or get out of the way.
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