I agree. Do you think making a statement like this would get you elected in a national election? What I am saying is that Giuliani's record as far as trampling on rights is not really going to affect his electability. Like Lincoln, he will be judged on outcomes.
Even Bush recognizes that the Patriot Act is a political winner as far as the public is concerned. Heck, I doubt that you could get a majority ofAmericans to support the Constitution as written today if it appeared on the ballot. Most would trade five pounds of freedom for an ounce of security and have many times.
In spite of the truth in what you say, I doubt very much you would get a majority of Republicans to agree that Lincoln was a dictator. I think most Republicans are proud to have him in our stable of past presidents. They certainly invoke his name enough.
I suspect that the only difference between us is that you think the erosion of liberty can be stopped; whereas, I see it as inevitable. If I went with my heart, I'd vote with Ron Paul. But it would be a vote as wasted as the ones I cast last year for Santorum and Swann. I want to back a winner more than I want to be right at this point.