THE GIULIANI TEMPTATION (Reinhard)

The Oregonian ^ | Marc 11, 2007 | David Reinhard

[Vigilanteman]

The only ones in the polls with any name recognition are Giuliani, McCain and Gingrich. All three have zipper control problems and temper control problems. Newt and McCain are yesterday's news. It is no wonder Giuliani is rolling over them. We need real primaries and real decisions by real primary voters, not a pre-annoiting by biased press and pollsters.

[FairOpinion]

Giuliani Leads Three Democrats in Florida

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1799208/posts


In poll after poll, Rudy is the only one consistently beating all leading Dem candidates.

[CWOJackson]

"We need real primaries and real decisions by real primary voters, not a pre-annoiting by biased press and pollsters."

This far out there's still plenty of time. Heck, even Newt says he's not going to make up his mind till this fall (but he's still running as fast as the rest). Hopefully in a few weeks PRE-primary fatigue will set in and this nonsense will quiet own and some other candidates will emerge.

[mkjessup]

The only poll that counts is the one on Election Day.

[jazusamo]

You're a voice of calm in the storm, Chief, and I agree.

[CWOJackson]

Thanks.

[El Laton Caliente]

In poll after poll, Rudy is the only one consistently beating all leading Dem candidates, until you tell them what Rudy stands for:

Kill Babies
Gay Marriage
Ban Firearms
Amnesty for Illegals
Big Government
Fascistism

[FairOpinion]

I am sure you already know this, but here is the list of what Rudy stands for an accomplished (excellent summary with links, by areafiftyone):



http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1790765/posts?page=56#56


Additional reading material:

Politics And Moralizing In Presidential Primaries

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1790774/posts


For Republican candidates, the toughest litmus tests are not about any actual policy alternatives, foreign or domestic, but about "social issues." What most social issues have in common is that they are none of the federal government's business, let alone the president's.


The federal government will never pass a law banning or permitting abortion, so a presidential candidate's opinion on that subject has no practical relevance.

The federal government will never pass a law banning or prohibiting states and religious organizations from defining marriage, and presidents cannot enact constitutional amendments, so gay marriage is not a federal issue, either.


Licensing of handguns is mainly a local issue, and no candidate is about to push for ending the federal ban on machine guns and assault rifles.


...polls show that a substantial majority of Republican voters approve of Giuliani's positions on all social issues, so the demand for ideological purity in these cases seems to require that candidates capitulate to a minority of the minority party. That does not sound like a recipe for success.


In the general election, however, the winner will emphasize concrete ideas about those issues a president can actually affect and be properly optimistic about the wondrous U.S. economy.

[neverdem]

thanks, bfl

[Sun]

Early polls aren't a done deal.

Remember Muskie and Howard Dean.

[Luke21]

No.

[El Laton Caliente]

Yes and I also remember flashbunny's

---

Culture of life:

ABC clip:

George Will: "Do you think Roe v Wade was good constitutional law?"

Rudy Giuliani: "Yes I believe, I believe it is."

Cnn Clip December 2, 1999:

Announcer: "Giuliani was then asked whether he supports a ban on what critics call partial birth abortions, something Bush strongly supports."

Rudy Giuliani : "No, I have not supported that, and I don't see my position on that changing."

Immigration

CNN clip:

Announcer: "Back in 1996, mayor Giuliani went to federal court to challenge new federal laws requiring the city to inform the federal government about illegal immigrants."

Rudy Giuliani: "There isn't a mayor or a public official in this country that's more strongly pro immigrant than I am. Including disagreeing with President Clinton when he signed an anti-immigration legislation about two or three years ago."

Gun control:

CNN clip

Rudy Giuliani: "I'm in favor of gun control"

Meet The Press:

Tim Russert: "How about registration of all handguns?"

Rudy Giuliani: "You know I'm in favor of that. I've been on your show many times."

Gay Rights:

CNN Clip:

Announcer: "As mayor he supported civil unions, and extending health and other benefits to gay couples."

ABC Clip: "I supported domestic partnership legislation and signed it"

Meet The Press:

Tim Russert: "So should gay people be openly allowed to serve?"

Rudy Giuliani: "I think people should be judged on the merits. And there should not be a specific focus on someone's sexual orientation."

First Amendment:

ABC Clip

Cokie Roberts: "Would you vote in the senate in favor of Mccain / Feingold?"

Rudy Giuliani: "Yes, I'm a big supporter of Mccain / Feingold. I have been for a long time."

Party Loyalty:

ABC Clip:

Rudy Giuliani: "Frankly George, I'd like to run on all the lines. I'd like to run on the liberal line, the conservative line, I'd like to run on the democratic line if I could figure out how to do it."

Conservative Values:

Meet The Press:

Tim Russert: "Whether it's gays in the military, gun control, campaign finance, late term abortion - you and Hillary Clinton are in sync on those issues."

Rudy Giuliani: "Well then maybe the other side should stop the 'He's part of the vast right wing conspiracy'."

---

He'll still run the conservative base out of the party and give Hillary the only chance she could have.

And, yes, I know he's a law & order fascist who will ignore constitutional rights and law whenever it suites him...

[El Laton Caliente]

One more thing... HR1022, the Assault Weapons Ban bill introduced by Caty McCarty. The gun guys know Rudy will sign it as fast as Hillary. They are NOT going to vote for him by around a 2 to 1 margine. That's about 7 million votes out of the Republican base just like GHWB in 1992...

Don't believe me? Go ask them: http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?t=304773