Posted on 03/27/2007 7:25:09 PM PDT by FairOpinion
Republican presidential hopeful Rudolph Giuliani on Tuesday called the Democratic-controlled Congress' challenge to President Bush's policy in Iraq "a terrible mistake" and equated it with waving a white flag in the war against terrorism.
"I can't imagine in the history of war anybody announcing a timetable to run out and retreat," he said at an appearance at a delicatessen in this suburb just over the George Washington Bridge from New York City. "I think it's a terrible mistake. To put up the white flag and announce a timetable for retreat seems like a very bad strategy to me."
Giuliani's remarks came on the heels of the U.S. Senate narrowly passing a nonbinding timeline that would have U.S. combat troops home by next March. President Bush is likely to veto the resolution.
"I hope that the president vetoes it," Giuliani said. "The full focus of our energies should be on supporting the troops that are there and trying to act against terrorism, trying to create an Iraq that acts as a bulwark against terrorism instead of a headquarters for terrorism."
He also didn't mince words when asked what he would do as president if Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad continued to flirt with developing nuclear weapons.
"What I would do is make clear to him that he's not going to have nuclear weapons. That's not an option. Containment may have worked with the Soviets, but as far as I can recall, the Soviets weren't planning to come here and kill us. They didn't blow up the World Trade Center twice. We've got a different kind of enemy here. Ahmadinejad has to be clear that we're not going to let him move to the stage where he can have nuclear weapons."
(Excerpt) Read more at wcbstv.com ...
Thanks Rudy, unleash hell on those sniveling Senators!
Why not just call him a "scumbag" like you usually do?
*sigh*
Why must you lie?
Duncan Hunter's plan: rotate troops out as Iraqi troops are rotated in.
Isn't that Bush's plan? Isn't that what we WANT to happen?
What this bill is advocating is a public withdrawal, effectively telling the enemy that we will one day leave. That defeats the purpose entirely.
However, in this same day and age, I CANNOT overlook the gun control issue.
Even knowing he has the best chance (currently) of defeating the Leftist pig-dogs...
LEWIS:
They don't have a choice! Rob Rumson's the only one doing the talking. People want leadership. And in the absence of genuine leadership, they will listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They want leadership, Mr. President. They're so thirsty for it, they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand.
Rudy is all talk, and the Rudy supporters lap up the sand like it was fresh spring water.
The President's comeback was also appropriate:
People don't drink the sand, 'cause they're thirsty, Lewis. They drink it 'cause they don't know the difference.
The media force-fed us this "Rudy is a 9/11 hero" line again and again -- because they wanted to try to keep that label from attaching to President Bush. Rudy wasn't their first choice, but he was there, and he was pretty liberal, and he did really well, so they went with what they could.
Rudy did very little for all the credit he got. He turned down money to help his city because he didn't like who was giving it. He made speeches, lots of speeches, about how they would rebuild -- but 5 years later, they aren't rebuilding.
I bet when Rudy said "I do" to his first two wives, they believed him. Rudy supporters believe Rudy will do the opposite of what he believes in, just because they want him to.
Rudy governed in a fiscally conservative manner, for a mayor of a liberal city. He took a city that was spending twice as much money as it should have been, borrowed money to the hilt, and only "cut" the budget if you measure with a "local inflation" figure. Meaning that at the end of his term the city's budget was still ALMOST twice what it should be (unless you believe that Dinkins had already exercised such remarkable fiscal restraint that Rudy merely had to hold the line to be a fiscal conservative).
Rudy was good on tax cuts, or at least he appeared to be, having made up for the lost money by borrowing on their better credit -- a bill that came due with disastrous consequences when 9/11 destroyed the city's financial structure.
I have no doubt Kudlow loves him. Rudy is Kudlow's kind of republican, a fiscal conservative and not much else.
And, the idea we need a liberal like Rudy to lead the war on terror and can't get a conservative like Fred Thompson to do the same thing is a pretty ridiculous contention.
I need Rudy to autograph my copy of his book "Leadership". Hope he comes to Pittsburgh soon.
Haven't been paying much attention eh?"
"Is there a strategic rationale for this date?" asked Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee and a presidential hopeful. "Nothing that I have seen on the ground in Iraq - and I was there just 10 days ago - suggests that Congress should force a precipitous withdrawal from Iraq and tie the hands of American military commanders."
But what can you say; Giuliani has an instant access to cameras that Hunter doesn't have. Glad he's spoken out against the plan, certainly. But this is all it is: rhetoric. It doesn't excuse everyone else.
I'll take a tough-talking conservative over a tough-talking liberal.
"But this is all it is: rhetoric. It doesn't excuse everything else."
Bleh, I need sleep.
This record is a conservative one?
Illegal immigration/Immigration
Immigration politics have similarly harmed New York. Former mayor Rudolph Giuliani sued all the way up to the Supreme Court to defend the city’s sanctuary policy against a 1996 federal law decreeing that cities could not prohibit their employees from cooperating with the INS. Oh yeah? said Giuliani; just watch me. The INS, he claimed, with what turned out to be grotesque irony, only aims to “terrorize people.” Though he lost in court, he remained defiant to the end. On September 5, 2001, his handpicked charter-revision committee ruled that New York could still require that its employees keep immigration information confidential to preserve trust between immigrants and government. Six days later, several visa-overstayers participated in the most devastating attack on the city and the country in history.
New York conveniently forgot the 1996 federal ban on sanctuary laws until a gang of five Mexicans—four of them illegal—abducted and brutally raped a 42-year-old mother of two near some railroad tracks in Queens. The NYPD had already arrested three of the illegal aliens numerous times for such crimes as assault, attempted robbery, criminal trespass, illegal gun possession, and drug offenses. The department had never notified the INS.
Source: Heather Mac Donald
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."
The New York Immigrant Coalition Press Release, August, 1989:
Rudy would continue to make city services available to all immigrants, regardless of immigration status.
Prohibit city workers from reporting undocumented immigrants to the INS, unless criminal activity is involved….
Make sure that city workers understand what benefits immigrants are entitled to….
Encourage outreach to immigrant communities to encourage their utilization of city services….
Support the use of interpreters and translators in city government
Support bilingual and bicultural education with goals of learning fluent English and maintaining native language skills….
Oppose making English the “official language” of the U.S.
Support adding alienage to protected class under City’s Human rights Law.
Additionally, he has supported Bush's guest worker program. Guns
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."
As mayor of New York City, Rudolph W. Giuliani became the favorite Republican of gun control advocates. He spoke in favor of a licensing system for gun owners that would require trigger locks and firearms training, and he lobbied Congress to outlaw most military-style assault weapons. He was the only Republican mayor to join a lawsuit by dozens of cities against the gun industry, and he complained that Southern states had lax gun laws that fed the illegal weapons trade in the Northeast.
Abortion
As mayor, Rudy Giuliani will uphold a woman's right of choice to have an abortion. Giuliani will fund all city programs which provide abortions to insure that no woman is deprived of her right due to an inability to pay. He will oppose reductions in state funding. He will oppose making abortion illegal. New York Times, August 4, 1989
On Partial Birth Abortion: Mr. Giuliani has said that New York State law should not be changed to outlaw the procedure. New York Times, January 7, 1998
Leaflets distributed by the Giuliani campaign .... said that he opposes restrictions to Federal Medicaid financing for abortions and opposes the Hyde Amendment, which is intended to deny support for that financing. New York Times, June 18, 1993.
"I never called for the overturning of Roe vs. Wade." Rudy Giuliani, New York Newsday, September 1, 1989
From the FEC database: 04/24/1999 Donations
NEW YORK STATE NARAL INC WOMEN'S HEALTH PAC
NARAL donated exclusively to Democrat candidates with one exception----Rudy Giuliani.
Giuliani accepted $1,000 from NARAL in 1999.
NARAL gave $250 to Hillary Rodham Clinton.
NARAL gave $1000---4 times as much-----to pro-abortion Giuliani.
The homosexual agenda
Giuliani said homosexuality is "good and normal." quoting Ray Kerrison New York Post, July 7, 1989
According to the New York Times, Giuliani has attended every “gay pride” parade in New York during his eight years as mayor. In 1992, during his first run for mayor, Giuliani took part in a homosexual “pride” parade that included a contingent of pedophile activists marching behind a banner for NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Love.
On Gay Domestic Partnership: "I have no objection to the concept of domestic partnership," said Rudy Giuliani on Informed Sources New York T.V. Show (PBS), May, 1992
On Gay-Rights/Gay Rights Bill: Giuliani favors extended civil-rights protection for gays and lesbians. Giuliani urged, by letter, to the New York Senate Majority Leader to pass the state's first ever gay rights bill, but did it privately. "I am writing to convey my support for the current legislation to prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians, and to urge you to allow the bill onto the floor of the Senate for prompt action." ".......It is my belief that we can penalize discrimination [against gays] without creating any potentially objectionable special privileges or preferential treatment." New York Post, June 5, 1993
Judical appointments
A Politico review of the 75 judges Giuliani appointed to three of New York state's lower courts found that Democrats outnumbered Republicans by more than 8 to 1. One of his appointments was an officer of the International Association of Lesbian and Gay Judges. Another ruled that the state law banning liquor sales on Sundays was unconstitutional because it was insufficiently secular.
A third, an abortion-rights supporter, later made it to the federal bench in part because New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer, a liberal Democrat, said he liked her ideology.
Cumulatively, Giuilani's record was enough to win applause from people like Kelli Conlin, the head of NARAL Pro-Choice New York, the state's leading abortion-rights group. "They were decent, moderate people," she said.
Source: Ben Smith, The Politico, 3/1/07
One judge approved by Giuliani, Rosalyn Richter, had been executive director of a gay rights organization, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, before being named to the bench. After her initial appointment by former Mayor David N. Dinkins, Richter changed the questions asked of potential jurors to be more welcoming to gay and lesbian couples. She was later reappointed by Giuliani.
Another judge, appointed by Giuliani to the criminal bench in 1996, Dora Irizarry, has called herself pro-choice and was later elevated to the federal bench with strong support from Democratic Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.
A family court judge reappointed by Giuliani, Sheldon Rand, was excoriated on the conservative-leaning New York Post editorial page last week for ruling that city funds be used to pay for a sex-change operation for an indigent New York resident.
And a fourth judge, Paula J. Hepner, appointed initially by Dinkins in 1995, issued a ruling that allowed a lesbian to adopt her partner's child. Four years later, Giuliani reappointed Hepner to New York's family court bench. Hepner was subsequently married to another woman in a ceremony in Canada.
Source: om Hamburger and Adam Schreck, Los Angeles Times, 3/12/07
Global Warming
"I do believe there's global warming, yes. The big question has always been how much of it is happening because of natural climate changes and how much of it is happening because of human intervention. The overwhelming number of scientists now believe that there is significant human cause." -- Rudolph Giuliani, Feb. 12, 2007.
Taxes
[Giuliani] says ruling out a tax increase is "political pandering." Newsday, August 31, 1989
"When I ran for Mayor both times, I was asked very, very often to do the following:
Pledge that you will never raise taxes. I refused to do that. Pledge that you will lower taxes. I refused to do that." -- Rudy Giuliani, New York Times, October 25, 1994
Mr. Giuliani criticized Mr. Pataki’s proposal to cut taxes as “a shell game” that would hurt everyone in the state… -- New York Times, October 30, 1994
School Choice
"He doesn't support tuition tax credits and vouchers." Sandra Feldman, President of N.Y.C. Teacher's Union, 1993
Minimum Wage
"I favor increasing the minimum wage." -- Rudolph Giuliani, 2/6/00, CNN Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer.
On McCain-Feingold
"For example, on campaign finance reform, I'm a very, very strong supporter of Campaign Finance Reform. A very strong supporter of McCain-Feingold for a long, long time now." -- 2/6/00, CNN Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer.
You are learning, grasshopper!
Duncan Hunter has his heart in the right place -- but he is an unknown and has no chance at the presidency.
He should realize that and maybe should focus on running for CA Senator.
"You do realize that tht quote was part of a general statement he had made about the country being in capable hands if either Clinton or Dole won in '96. Rudy endorsed Dole."
But would've been fine with Bill. Shouldn't that tell you something if he considered the country in "capable hands" with Bill?
"Of course Rudy is a conservative."
False.
Cool. maybe he can sign with aborted baby blood. Y'all like Rudy's stance on abortion, I take it.
Rudy did very little for all the credit he got. He turned down money to help his city because he didn't like who was giving it.Oh, please. It was 10 million from a Saudi prince who was using the money to buy a soapbox on which to denounce the Jews. Your characterization is absurd.
He made speeches, lots of speeches, about how they would rebuild -- but 5 years later, they aren't rebuilding.Newsflash: Rudy isn't mayor anymore.
Everyone can see what the Democrats are doing after being in power only a few months -- can you just imagine what will they do if they also have the presidency?!
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
The damage will already be done before then.
No, man, the Silliness threads are only on Fridays!
Now, if we could just get G.W. Bush to say as much.
Or any _other_ of the candidates...
Honestly, for all the Rudy-haters out there? What is he saying wrong?
What stronger statement could a candidate (conservative or otherwise) possibly make?
This man is presidential material. Who else out there is as much?
- John
Nope, he's not. If we look at what he's done in the last 5 years, it's nothing at all.
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