Bill Simon (CA conservative) soothes conservatives' concerns over Giuliani

Scripps News ^ | March 14, 2007 | PETER HECHT

[FairOpinion]

Bill Simon, an unsuccessful 2002 California gubernatorial candidate, former federal prosecutor under Giuliani and bedrock social conservative, delivered a spirited intro.

"He comforted us. He inspired us in what was one of the darkest moments in our history," Simon said, extolling Giuliani's leadership after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. "Extraordinary times cry out for extraordinary leadership, and these as such times."

"It would be fair to say that Bill Simon is using his personal cachet to vouch for Giuliani," said Jon Fleischman, a conservative Republican activist and publisher of the Flash Report political newsletter. "Giuliani is a moderate on social issues, yet Simon has been a champion to conservatives on those same issues.

"When I talk to conservatives supporting Giuliani, many of them say, 'I'm putting my faith on what Bill Simon says.' "

First he told a hotel ballroom crowded with conservative GOP delegates that his former boss was "a fellow Ronald Reagan Republican," who cut taxes, cleaned up New York and put "countless career criminals behind bars."

He said Simon explained that Giuliani opposes partial-birth abortions and tax-funded abortions and _ though Giuliani supports domestic partnerships _ he believes marriage is strictly between man and a woman.

"If he (Simon) is endorsing Giuliani, it makes some members of the conservative wing of the party feel safer," said Gaines, a Giuliani convert. "I did have concerns. But with the explanation of how he (Giuliani) would view Supreme Court appointments, I have a level of comfort."

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Irrelevant. I voiced dismay over the fact that you seem to prefer a socially conservative fiscal liberal over a fiscally conservative social liberal. And I think Rudy will be a fiscal conservative.

Very relevant, because Nixon and Bush I (and somewhat Bush II) gave the Left whatever they wanted in terms of liberal, big government social policy. I prefer someone with the moral standing to reject reckless spending and government expansion. I trust that Hunter will be more fiscally conservative than Giuliani becoming more social conservative, because of his traditional moral values.

BTW: Nixon was only a social liberal on the issue of affirmative action, and Bush I flip-flopped on all the social issues.

So I can ignore EPA, OSHA, and wage-price controls now?

He should not have bullied Congress into passing NCLB and Medicare Part D.

I don't think Hunter's going to make the same big government mistakes like Bush did, despite his votes for them. I would say he's probably kicking himself over this, as it is costing him some critical conservative votes.

[Siobhan]

Giuliani and limited government in the same post really hits the heights of comedy.

[onyx]

In fact, Governor Arnold will sign the bill tomorrow that officially moves CA's primary to Super Duper February 5, 2007 Tuesday.

[LtdGovt]

(1) Most of them are internet-based, which means they're unscientific and has zero credibility

WRONG! None of the polls I cited were internet-based. They are all scientific polls. And Rasmussen, the most reliable pollster, also puts Giuliani at 37%.

[spikeytx86]

"CA conservative= oxymoron

or

CA conservative= liberal"

Yeah like that damned Reagan, lousy socialist. /s

[LtdGovt]

I don't doubt that conservative activists favor Gingrich over Rudy. However, the GOP primary voters will decide who is the nominee, and right now, it appears that they disagree with the conservative activists.

[Reagan Man]

FR is a conservative website.

If you think FReepers don't speak for conservatism, you're the one living in the twilight zone.

Should the GOP primary process go through wholesale changes, then all bets are off.

[spikeytx86]

Hey Reagan's no Reagan Conservative LOL.

[You Dirty Rats]

We might as well face it -- all of those other polls are wrong and GOPUSA is right. Hunter is way ahead of Giuliani.

Somebody's had WAY too much Goofy Grape.

[spikeytx86]

"Conservatives DO NOT support an assault weapons ban. Rudy supports an assault weapons ban.

Your no. 1 hero, my no. 2 hero, supported both the Brady Bill and the Assault Weapons Ban. Does that mean that he is no conservative?"

Hey! Reagan's no Reagan Conservative /s LOL.

[Sunsong]

Giuliani and Romney are the top tier candidates right now who understand what fiscal conservatism is. Duncan Hunter is a liberal - a betrayer.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

See post #123

So you ignore my explanation and just want to bully your point, I see. Got news for you. A President who lacks a moral compass and hypocritically believes that Iraqi children should be saved but American unborn children should be sucked out at birth has zero credibility on the other issues as well.

Nixon and Bush I were social liberals and they sucked at fiscal conservatism too.

[LtdGovt]

I don't understand the logic of driving the government out of our pocketbook, and right into our bedroom.

[LtdGovt]

I trust that Hunter will be more fiscally conservative than Giuliani becoming more social conservative, because of his traditional moral values.

Like Bush. If I thought that Hunter had a snowball's chance in hell, I would hope that you are right.

So I can ignore EPA, OSHA, and wage-price controls now?

Are those social issues?

I don't think Hunter's going to make the same big government mistakes like Bush did, despite his votes for them. I would say he's probably kicking himself over this, as it is costing him some critical conservative votes.

Conservatives for whom fiscal conservatism is important, are probably content with the frontrunners Rudy and Romney.

[Sunsong]

I don't understand the logic of driving the government out of our pocketbook, and right into our bedroom.

Some folks are way too titilated at the thought of getting into other people's bedrooms(s). It's immoral(s).

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Conservatism is about personal freedom and limited government. Getting government out of people's lives as much as is possible.

Giuliani does not care about personal freedom or limiting the size of government, pal.

If he's elected, the drug war will expand, parts of the WOT will expand, and Rudy will fight for new laws to be passed all in the name of "keeping Americans safe." Might as well just federalize all of our police officers and state cops under Rudy. And you know what Ben Franklin said about safety.

[Siobhan]

I have no interest in Hunter. Romney cannot win. Giuliani cannot win in spite of polls and lots of wishful thinking. And he is not a fiscal conservative unless we are comparing him to Barney Frank.

I suspect Fred Thompson is the Republican Party's only genuine hope for success.

[LtdGovt]

Reagan signed the most permissive abortion law in the country. He opposed a law banning gay teachers. He signed an amnesty law. He supported both the Brady Bill and the assault weapons ban. Let's retroactively excommunicate Reagan from the GOP!

Hydroshock in 1980: Rino Reagan will split the party. I will not vote for him.

[You Dirty Rats]

FR is a conservative website. If you think FReepers don't speak for conservatism, you're the one living in the twilight zone.

You are misrepresenting what I said, no doubt deliberately.

FR is not a reliably proxy for Republican primary voters. If it was then GWB would never have been nominated in 2000.

If you can find a post I have ever done that said Freepers don't represent conservatism or that FR is not a conservative website then repost it. Otherwise, in the immortal words of Bob Dole, "Stop lying about my record." I am not going to be intimidated by your pathetic attempt to define me off this site based on comments I never made.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Giuliani and Romney are the top tier candidates right now who understand what fiscal conservatism is.

That remains to be seen and neither candidate is talking about the elephant in the room. No, I don't want dribs-and-drabs tax cuts again, I want to see SS/Medicaid/Medicare abolished or at least phased-out.