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'Freedom Is About Authority': Excerpts From Giuliani Speech on Crime
New York Times ^ | March 22, 2007

Posted on 03/22/2007 11:28:22 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

...We constantly present the false impression that government can solve problems that government in America was designed not to solve. Families are significantly less important in the development of children today than they were 30 or 40 years ago. Religion has less influence than it did 30 or 40 years ago. Communities don't mean what they meant 30 or 40 years ago.

As Americans, we're not sure we share values. We're sometimes even afraid to use the word values. We talk about teaching ethics in schools -- people say, "What ethics? Whose ethics? Maybe we can't." And they confuse that with teaching of religion. And we are afraid to reaffirm the basics upon which a lawful and a decent society are based. We're almost embarrassed by it.

.... What we don't see is that freedom is not a concept in which people can do anything they want, be anything they can be. Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do.

... The fact is that we're fooling people if we suggest to them the solutions to these very, very deep-seated problems are going to be found in government.

... They are going to have to be just as solid and just as strong in teaching every single youngster their responsibility for citizenship. We're going to find the answer when schools once again train citizens. Schools exist in America and have always existed to train responsible citizens of the United States of America.

If they don't do that, it's very hard to hold us together as a country, because it's shared values that hold us together.

(Excerpt) Read more at query.nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: electionpresident; fascistnotamerican; freedom; freedomisslavery; giuliani; ignoranceisstrength; rudy; rudygiuliani; rudytherino; stoprudy2008; warispeace
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To: Artemis Webb

I'd rather a conservative than a liar with an R after his name. Rudy is a scumbag, not worthy of any conservatives vote.

If you support Rudy, you support abortion and have the blod of 50 million aborted baies on your hands.

You, artemis, are a murderer by proxy. I detest murderers of innocent babies.


241 posted on 03/22/2007 6:34:57 PM PDT by Fierce Allegiance (There are 2 types of Rudy fans - the uninformed or anti-conservative TROLLS who do not belong on FR)
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To: supercat

Just as a side note here;

I'm not a Rudy supporter (though I was at an earlier point). I'm a Fred Thompson supporter. I just think it's unwise for us to viciously eat our own this way.
In the end I'm going to vote for the guy with the R in front of his name (with the exception of McCain...because I just CAN'T).

I really do understand where you are coming from though and by the time the primaries come around I believe conservatives will have more or less rallied around a single candidate. One who supports ALL of The Bill of Rights.


242 posted on 03/22/2007 6:38:22 PM PDT by Artemis Webb
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To: beansox
now you guys are pulling out Hitler refrences..and here I thought that was a tactic used mostly by DUmmies against Bush

It's a tactic used by losers everywhere. During the sixties the bedwetting hippie libs were all the time pulling "Hitler quotes" out of their a** to smear some conservative or other. Appears we have a few old has-beens or never-was's hereabouts.

243 posted on 03/22/2007 6:41:51 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: Artemis Webb
I'm not a Rudy supporter (though I was at an earlier point). I'm a Fred Thompson supporter. I just think it's unwise for us to viciously eat our own this way.

I want Rudy to be confronted with his record and made to answer for it. The sooner the better. If Rudy actively starts pushing for prosecution of Bloomberg's gun criminals, then he might deserve support. If he still maintains that "gun lawsuits" are proper, then he does not. Again, the sooner he takes a side, the better for all conservatives.

244 posted on 03/22/2007 6:45:11 PM PDT by supercat (Sony delenda est.)
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To: Fierce Allegiance
"If you support Rudy, you support abortion and have the blod of 50 million aborted baies[sic] on your hands.

You, artemis, are a murderer by proxy. I detest murderers of innocent babies."


I am a Fred Thompson supporter. YOU SIR ARE A LIAR. Better get your facts straight.

245 posted on 03/22/2007 6:45:12 PM PDT by Artemis Webb
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To: airborne
Surrender to whom? And how much?

I gave you an example. Essentially, the rule of law. But when it comes to setting policy that affects the 2nd Amendment

I don't like gun control either, but when the cops are outgunned by the bad guys you have to wonder if there isn't a better solution. I'll be danged if I know what it is. This is an issue that I'll cede to a more conservative candidate.

How about we compare the Republican candidates and pick the best man for the job.

That's where we agree - but only to a point. I'll agree to vote for whomever the party nominates. I prefer that to be Rudy, and we'll see what happens in the primaries. If someone more conservative gets the nomination, I'll vote for him. But if the majority of Republicans feel that Rudy is a better way to move the party, will you agree to support the candidate? And what strong leader do you suggest? I can see Rudy taking on Schumer a lot more than I can Fred Thompson. Fred's a great guy - I'd love for him to have the ticket, but I don't think he's got the cojones that Rudy has to stand up to the Democrats.

We need a strong leader, preferably one with military training and conservative values that represent the majority of the Republican base.

Again I agree. But what if you discover that the majority of the Republicans prefer someone a little less conservative? My personal issues are a strong military, strong against terror, good leadership abilities. I prefer the government stay as far as possible away from the bedroom and issues of morality among consenting adults. I prefer a strong leader who is pro-life than a weak leader that is pro-choice.

Rudy is head and shoulders above any of the other candidates in the field with regard to the way I prioritize the issues. I know a lot of people prioritize their issues differently, but if they want to cooperate with the system as it is now, they need to agree to support whoever wins the primaries.

246 posted on 03/22/2007 7:49:27 PM PDT by Spyder
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To: Spyder
I don't like gun control either, but when the cops are outgunned by the bad guys you have to wonder if there isn't a better solution. I'll be danged if I know what it is. This is an issue that I'll cede to a more conservative candidate.

The badguys are vastly outnumbered and outgunned by law-abiding citizens. If government was actually interested in fighting badguys, it would exploit this fact rather than trying to change it.

247 posted on 03/22/2007 8:06:20 PM PDT by supercat (Sony delenda est.)
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To: Spyder
I prefer a strong leader who is pro-life than a weak leader that is pro-choice.

Rudy is a strong leader who is pro-choice.

Now what?

248 posted on 03/22/2007 8:10:11 PM PDT by Enosh (†)
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To: Spyder
There are a lot of "what if's" in your post.

And a lot of time between now and the 'Super Tuesday' in February 2008.

At this point in time, anything can happen. I support Hunter, so I will not publicly state support for anyone else, especially Rudy.

Because of his liberal social policies, I pray that it will not be Rudy.

Here are the issues most important to me.

1. The war.
2. Border security/illegal immigration.
3. Supreme Court nominations.
4. 2nd Amendment.
5. Abortion.

# 3 has an effect on #4 and # 5, so I put it above them.

1. Rudy is not the most qualified man to be CIC.
2. Rudy is for the Bush Amnesty plan. I am not.
3. Rudy says he will appoint 'strict constructionist judges', but I have my doubts.
4. Rudy has a bad track record on guns.
5. Rudy has a worse track record on abortion.

As we get closer to the primaries, you can bet the Dems and their accomplices, the media, will begin tearing down the GOP front runners with story after story on every little detail of their lives, and with Rudy I see a bottomless well of issues with which to smear him on.

Just remember, John McCain was the media's "anointed one" back in the 1999 primary elections. Things change.
249 posted on 03/22/2007 8:17:02 PM PDT by airborne (Airborne! Ranger! Combat Tested Vietnam Veteran! DUNCAN HUNTER !!)
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To: Spyder

"I don't like gun control either, but when the cops are outgunned by the bad guys you have to wonder if there isn't a better solution. I'll be danged if I know what it is. "

Do you believe it so dire that the nation should follow what Rudy supports and has enforced in NYC? To take away the right to self defense from law abiding citizens? Do you believe that you do not have a right to self defense? Do you honestly believe that you should cede this natural right to an authority which may or may not be there to defend you from one of those bad guys who "outguns the cops?"

I'm just askin.


250 posted on 03/22/2007 8:42:11 PM PDT by takenoprisoner
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To: Fierce Allegiance; flashbunny

Explain the notion of freedom without the presence of authority.


251 posted on 03/22/2007 8:55:42 PM PDT by Luis Gonzalez (Some people see the world as they would want it to be, effective people see the world as it is.)
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To: Luis Gonzalez

LOL! cute strawman argument! You think totalitarianism is OK, huh? Good job, little sheep.


252 posted on 03/22/2007 8:57:26 PM PDT by Fierce Allegiance (There are 2 types of Rudy fans - the uninformed or anti-conservative TROLLS who do not belong on FR)
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To: Luis Gonzalez

"Explain the notion of freedom without the presence of authority."

I can help you on this one. There is authority which is needed, and then there is abuse of authority which is not needed. To take away the right of a law abiding citizen to self defend is an abuse of authority.


253 posted on 03/22/2007 8:59:04 PM PDT by takenoprisoner
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To: Fierce Allegiance

You seem to have an issue with what Rudy said, and I'm willing to listen to your reasons with that statement (other than the fact that Rudy said it).

You went as far as equating Rudy's words with Hitler's...explain to me the notion of freedom without the presence of authority.


254 posted on 03/22/2007 9:00:39 PM PDT by Luis Gonzalez (Some people see the world as they would want it to be, effective people see the world as it is.)
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To: takenoprisoner

But autority needs to be present in order to secure freedom...is that not right?


255 posted on 03/22/2007 9:01:48 PM PDT by Luis Gonzalez (Some people see the world as they would want it to be, effective people see the world as it is.)
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To: Fierce Allegiance

I'm no one's sheep...as you're about to find out.

I'm waiting for your explanation.


256 posted on 03/22/2007 9:02:47 PM PDT by Luis Gonzalez (Some people see the world as they would want it to be, effective people see the world as it is.)
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To: Luis Gonzalez
LOL! Are you a rudy supporter?

Look, chumpweed, if you want to discuss politics, I'd chew you up like a pine twig in one of my little toys that look like this:

Sorry, the models I own don't show up on the internet, as they are custom one-offs for extra high production.

257 posted on 03/22/2007 9:07:02 PM PDT by Fierce Allegiance (There are 2 types of Rudy fans - the uninformed or anti-conservative TROLLS who do not belong on FR)
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To: Fierce Allegiance

In other words, you can't actually post anything with any level of intelligence.

Answer my question...or should I try to post it again, using smaller words?


258 posted on 03/22/2007 9:08:38 PM PDT by Luis Gonzalez (Some people see the world as they would want it to be, effective people see the world as it is.)
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To: Luis Gonzalez

LMAO! I can't answer a question you don't pose, dork!


259 posted on 03/22/2007 9:09:43 PM PDT by Fierce Allegiance (There are 2 types of Rudy fans - the uninformed or anti-conservative TROLLS who do not belong on FR)
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To: takenoprisoner
"To take away the right of a law abiding citizen to self defend is an abuse of authority."

It seems that you agreed to take someone's ability to self defend based on your own willingness to exercise authority over others.

You have no problem with setting up laws under which all must live (whether they all like it or not), then you also have no problem with taking away the rights of self defense of those who don't live under the laws you've enacted, against their will.

"Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do."

The statement I quoted from you is in complete agreement with what Rudy said.

260 posted on 03/22/2007 9:09:54 PM PDT by Luis Gonzalez (Some people see the world as they would want it to be, effective people see the world as it is.)
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