I Have Seen the Future: It Is Giuliani (Red State.com)

Red State.com ^ | 3/5/07 | Eric Erkickson

[meg88]

Today I have seen the future and that future is President Rudy.

It's not that I'm voting for Rudy, but the vacuum to be filled has been filled.

Consider this:

Rudy Giuliani and Tony Snow are the only guys who have had to have fire marshals bar people from entering due to overcapacity in a very big room.

In the green room, Giuliani's speech was the only one to cause everyone to sit down, shut up and watch.

More and more, the conservatives at CPAC are realigning. You have the Brownback folks, the Mitt folks, and the people who are headed quickly to Rudy. And you know what? They are more or less cheerful in doing it.

They've found the guy who knows he needs them to get in the door. They know the calculus Rudy has made -- the conservatives aren't selling out their principles; Rudy is telling them he won't impose his social view on them, but he'll keep them safe.

After all, abortion is not an issue when a terrorist has killed you.

Look for all guns to turn on Rudy now. He's been the frontrunner all along and now the rest of the pack realizes it.

The reception he got at CPAC should worry them.

[Beckwith]

who is going to beat Rudy?

Single issue conservatives/Republicans.

They did it to G. H. W. Bush and we got 8 years of Bill Clinton. If the do it again, we get the Marxist wife -- and 8 more years of Slick Willie.

[Beckwith]

Isn't an abortion to save the life of the mother a certain circumstance?

[garv]

Rudy supports the Partial Birth Abortion ban the President signed. Acting like he gets his jollies watching abortions to listen to you folks.

Oh he does now does he? That's odd, he opposed the exact same bill when he ran for the Senate in 2000.

I don't believe him.

Just to keep you happy though I'll rephrase. Your delightful little candidate supports the dismemberment and chemical burning of unborn babies.

Is that better?

[Beckwith]

Talk to you from Belize

Say hi to Alec Balwin for me, will ya'?

[PerConPat]

Of course, I could be completely wrong. Wouldn't be the first time here.

I will stipulate that your comment applies to me, as well.

My concern over an early coronation of Rudy is centered on the possibility that this might tend to mute the debate over his past as it relates to abortion, gun control, and sanctuary city stands. IMHO, these issues must be thoroughly discussed in front of the public prior to his possible nomination. Otherwise, the Dims would certainly be able to employ agents provocateurs to the maximum effect in the run up to Nov. 4, 2008.

A solid Conservative's voice is needed in the Primary debates to ensure that all candidates are thoroughly vetted in advance of any nominee's selection.

[Maeve]

Just citing their lingo in their code. It reminds us of who they are.

[LtdGovt]

That is legalized abortion.

Allowing abortion to save the life of the mother is 'legalized abortion'?

All of those states also have abortion for impregnation by rape by an infidel.

Regardless of how you feel (that's irrelevant), abortion should be allowed whenever a woman has been raped. If you believe that is 'legalized abortion' and a pro-choice position, you must not have voted for George Bush, because he would be 'pro-choice'.

[meg88]

If RR hired the man, I might take that as an endorsement of his ability to do the job.

[garv]

Which single issue voters are responsible for G.H.W.B. losing?

[LtdGovt]

Just citing their lingo in their code. It reminds us of who they are.

Aren't you disrespectful of human life if you think that women should die before they are allowed to have an abortion? (You said that making an exception for the life of the mother is 'legalized abortion'.)

[Parrot_was_devastating]

I personally think Rudy will win the GOP nomination and will be elected as President. What that means to conservative values and the agenda is certainly going to be a discussion point here for a very long time.

Yes....and hopefully many will become U.S. Marines,
"You will adapt,improvise.....overcome"

the rest....might need straight jackets.

Nothing can be done about the Hair.
It either spontaneously combusts and re ignites in the air

or it doesn't : )

[garv]

Once again I'll ask because I see this fiction repeated over and over again.

Do you honestly belive that Ronald Reagan personally hired Giuliani to work at DOJ? Do you think it's more likely that he was hired by the Attorney General?

Without looking it up do you know who the current head of the criminal division at DOJ is?

[LtdGovt]

Who hired the Attorney General?

[Sunsong]

What Does Giuliani's Popularity Say About Conservatives?

Instapundit links to a WaPo article discussing Rudy's popularity among conservatives. He remarks that he's not too surprised by it, but doesn't address why Rudy gets a pass on most of his socially liberal stands.

To me, it's a pretty simple answer really. Conservatism has never been dominated by the religious right the way liberals have always pictures them to be. Fiscally conservative socially liberal conservatives are a dime a dozen. It just doesn't make for good campaign fodder for either side to recognize their existence. Hey, my ideal candidate is one who is strong on defense, a champion of the balanced budget, and believes that the best government is the smallest government. Show me a candidate like that, and he's got my vote no matter what letter comes after his name.

Or her name for that matter.

shot across the bow

[Theresawithanh]

"Get used to it Duncanistas."

Sure, Rudyators! I mean, after all, it's a done deal. Why even hold the GOP primaries?

[Labyrinthos]

The odds are strongly against Duncan Hunter at the moment. I will concede that there is plenty of time to turn that around, but he needs massive funding, a new wardrobe, and I'd argue a new trade policy. The first one is the big challenge. I'm not buying the David vs Goliath scenario. In today's political envirnoment, it's Goliath vs Goliath. David is just some kid slinging pebbles.

The problem with Duncan Hunter is that conservatives are looking for the next Ronald Reagan and I don't see the next Ronald Reagan coming from Congress. Congressman in general have too much baggage to successfully run for POTUS when you start reading the fine print of every bill and resolution they have supported or opposed and every C-Span speech they have given to an empty chamber in the middle of the night. In addition, Congressmen can come off as conservative or as liberal as they dare because they only have to pander to a few thousand voters to get elected. When they run for POTUS, however, they have to pander to a much broader base or they don't stand a chance.

IMHO, Hunter is going to have real problems that go beyond his appearance. As Dog Gone points out, his position on international trade is weak, and in my view, will appeal primarily to the Buchannan fringe. Hunter is also the King of Congressional Pork, and he has repeatedly broken the "Contract with America."

[garv]

Who hired the Attorney General?

Reagan, but what's the point? Is everyone that Alberto Gonzales hires automatically a conservative?

Didn't Christie Whitman have a cabinet position or was that my imagination?

Giuliani was hired by the Reagan administration to head the Criminal Division at DOJ. Pretending that Ronald Reagan plucked him out personally is fiction.

[PerConPat]

If Rudy does indeed win without the support of evangelical Christians, it could spell the early stages of real persecution...

A very interesting and, I might add, possibly ominous twist...

[surely_you_jest]

the conservative right is about to get pushed to margins in the same way the liberal left has been.

So it would seem. And for very similar reasons.

[George W. Bush]

I see only one name that could swoop in and do something to the Right of Rudy and that is Fred Thompson, but he has probably already waited too long.

Fred Thompson is pretty good. But he'll never look as good as he did on L&O or Red October on the campaign trail. I like him but I suspect he's overestimated as a presidential candidate.

If a well spoken person on the right showed up other than Gingrich, they could get a huge boost in money and ground game. But I haven't seen them...and they have to appear roughly about NOW to have a prayer.

It's not too late until about September. If Rudy (or the frontrunner) implodes as McCain already has, even October or November. But it would have to be someone well-known, like Jeb Bush or a charismatic governor.