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."

[LdSentinal]

So it's nothing more than hand-job politics then.

That's slang for: "Thank you for supporting me. I appreciate it very much. Let me return the favor."

[PhilDragoo]

This is where the self-immolators screech that Bill Simon is a soulless RINO, isn't it.

[HitmanLV]

I hoped Simon would have pulled it off, too. But the average voter in CA is either instinctively liberal, or just not that political. A strong conservative has no chance in a CA statewide race, Freeper fantasies notwithstanding.

[dmw]

"It's amazing. You stay home and do everything you can to make Rudy lose, and in the end, you'll blame mainstream Republicans for nominating Rudy. That's not how a party is supposed to work."

What I find amazing is so called conservatives here trying to promote a liberal candidate for the republican nominee. As far as blame goes, your side is already blaming the conservatives if Hillary wins. Some people see it differently. I think we need to wait it out and see who all gets in before we get behind a liberal candidate. For crying out loud, we still got almost a year before we need to decide who we're gonna support. Why choose the most liberal of the lot? As Jim Robinson says on another thread,

"So you guys are saying that all we have to do to beat the democraps is to be just like them, ie, pro abortion, pro gay rights, pro illegal alien, pro gun control? No thanks to all that rubbish."

Rubbish indeed!

[itsahoot]

doesn't answer the question as to whether he's being paid by the giuliani campaign.

Henry Ford was asked onece how much money was enough? He replied "Jus a little bit more."

[You Dirty Rats]

Oh I agree Mon-Dull is more respectable than Carter. IMHO Mon-Dull waged a very courageous campaign. He knew he was going to get crushed, but he never quit and the 'rat Senators who won close elections appreciated that --- unlike that loser Carter who conceded while the polls were still open out west.

But in politics in the end what matters is winning -- full stop. Bob Dole was and is a fine man, and Clinton didn't deserve to share the stage with him -- but that's not the point. Bob was nowhere near that disreputable man as a Presidential candidate. Sad, sad fact.

[FairOpinion]

"This is where the self-immolators screech that Bill Simon is a soulless RINO, isn't it."


===

Exactly. Only Hillary Clinton is conservative enough for them.

[onyx]

That was lomg ago decided --- Bill Simon was thrown under the bus weeks ago --- this thread has actually brought forth unbelievable posts ---posts that belong at DU.

[ken21]

yeah, but simon was his own worst enemy:

in our tv age where appearance and sound bites mean everything,

simon came across like a limp wash rag.

john and ken gave him LOTS of free air time on kfi,

even they got tired of his lack luster appearances.

they asked him if he could seem more alive!

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Hunter is a liberal - a sell out. He's a big spending, big government liberal.

Advocating secure borders, pro-American foreign and trade policy, and protecting the unborn is "liberal?"

About the spending thingy...who do you think demands it? People do.
Seniors demanded discount Rx drugs. States and local governments are always looking for the feds to pay for their roads or schools. I'm not defending Hunter on this, and yes, he should have had the stones to vote against big spending bills...but calling him a liberal is a little too far don't you think?

[Sunsong]

Hunter is a liberal, yes, a fiscal liberal. But frankly, I don't think those issues are all that important for most Hunter-supporters. Hunter marchs in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi, Jack Murtha and Sherrod Brown when it comes to free trade. But do they care about his fiscal liberalism? I only see them talking about: abortion, gay rights, gun control and immigration.

Isn't it sad to see the GOP reduced to this state?

It is sad. And it's crazy-making. We are being told that we are not conservatives because we want limited government and personal freedom - while those who support big government and liberal spending are supposedly *true* conservatives because they want to peek into people's bedroom's and proclaim some kind of national religion. It's really crazy-making.

[LtdGovt]

Please define the term 'liberal'. Most liberals in NYC would be surprised to hear that some consider Rudy Giuliani to be a liberal.

[HitmanLV]

He is a Clark Kent kind of guy, with no Superman in there. :-)

[longtermmemmory]

former federal prosecutor


Pretty much discredits him. The DOJ is very incestuous and perhaps he is even gunning for a job as attorney general or the job security of a federal judge seat.

[LtdGovt]

Exactly. Only Hillary Clinton is conservative enough for them.

This bears repeating. They think that Rudy is too liberal, but they're perfectly willing to pave the way for the election of Hillary by staying home. Clinton is tolerable, while Rudy is not.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Only Hillary Clinton is conservative enough for them.

LOL. Any post from you should come with an automatic Barf Alert. It's about as credible as a Weekly World News article.

[LtdGovt]

The only trade policy that is pro-American, is one that is 100% free and without restrictions. Why is another man allowed to object when I try to buy a product from abroad?

[dmw]

"Do you believe Hunter is leading Rudy right now? That's a fair question."

On the gopnation poll, yes. On some other conservative polls, yes. On the majority of the MSM polls, no. But it doesn't matter to those of us who are not poll driven how high Rudy's numbers are. We are interested in supporting the candidate who will represent the *whole conservative agenda* and not just parts of it. Your are content to eliminate the social issues, getting conservative judges nominated, and gun control, many of us are not. Why not wait and see who all gets in and then put your support behind the one you feel best represents you. It's waaaaaay to early to chose the most liberal candidate on the republican side right now when we don't know who all will be running.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

We are being told that we are not conservatives because we want limited government and personal freedom

Tom Tancredo has been a champion of limiting the government and spending.

Do you support him? Probably not, because he's "unelectable" and you're too eager to scratch off Rudy's lottery ticket.

[LtdGovt]

True. Folks like Alan Keyes believe that they are virtuous if they go around and scold other people for their supposed immorality. Now what's immoral? In my view, paying yourself a $80,000 salary from campaign contributions by pious supporters is immoral. In my view, it's immoral to treat your daughter like sh*t.