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The Republican party has many wings. Some of us think the most important issues are the war on terror, a free economy and low taxes. Those nice folks, who include me, love Rudi Giuliani, because his stances are pretty much ours, and his stands on other issues just don't excite us one way or the other.

Others consider gun issues, anti-abortion or gay marriage to be more important. Those people are completely baffled that Rudy Giuliani is even in the Republican party or is supported by Republicans. I do not have anything against these people; I think they are good folks. I am not going to go and smear them, saying they're less than human, as they seem to want to do to my side.

They are not less than human. They are real people who have valid points.

So let me hand over a few of mine.

If you think of how out of control spending has been even under George W Bush, who at least pays lip service to fiscal conservatism, you can just imagine what it would be like under Duncan Hunter, who has been mentioned by many as "a bit spendy". I don't remember Bush being spendy in Texas; now he is. The pressure to spend Federal government money is enormous and you need to be a real leader to resist it.

This is where Rudy's record shines. He stood up to the biggest spenders in the nation and won battles against them fair and square.

And if you think of what it would take to align the nation as one body united in fighting the War on Terror, I think Rudy's leadership skills are our best chance.

In other words, if those two issues are your most important issues, a vote for Rudy is a vote for a strong leader who will push those issues far more than anyone else would.

If gun control and abortion are your most important issues, I fully respect your desire not to support someone who is in opposition to your most heartfelt views.

But I don't think those views are going to change anyone's minds. Those who support Rudy know his views. Those who oppose him know his views. I think that if you want to defeat Rudy, you're going to have to find some kind of real problem with the guts of his administration. Show how he's less fiscally conservative than we think, or that his leadership during 9/11 wasn't what it's cracked up to be, and we're likely to at least listen.

Keep on going on about abortion or gun control, and I don't think anyone's going to listen.

Illegal immigration, I'm afraid, is a bigger issue and one I really don't know how to deal with. But only 2% of the electorate considers it their most important issue. I personally have very mixed feelings on this issue, and respect both sides. I hate the idea of this place tearing itself apart over another illegal immigration debate, but I fear that's exactly what's going to happen.

When it does, please remember to shoot the message, not the messenger. You can say I'm a disgusting, lawbreaking SOB for admitting to disobeying speed limits (and comparing that disobedience to illegal immigration), but that's not going to change anybody's mind on the issue. In fact, it may make people sympathise with me just a bit.

So let all of us take Ultra Sonic's example and be of good cheer. If Rudy wins the primary, I'm 95% sure we'll take the general. And that's what all of us should really care about, as long as we care more about the issues Rudy represents than those he doesn't.

If you care more about those peripheral issues, which from my perspective barely matter, more power to you and I wish you the best. the only problem is that I don't think you'll get the candidate with the name recognition or ability to connect with voters that will win us the general. You'll be happy when you win the primary and cry about the result in the general. And I'll be sad for you, honest.

But I'll be sadder for the country.

D