Almost everyone here at FreeRepublic are already in the mainstream of the GOP, because the GOP is comprised of several elements: Religious Right Conservatives, Pro-Life Conservatives, Pro-2nd Amendment Conservatives, etc. These elements always have voted Republican in past elections, and we have always had candidates who unite the party.
Rudy Giuliani, his handlers and his supporters who have never "thought outside the New York box" are wrongly assuming that those conservative elements will abandon their principles in order to win. No, you must run a candidate that can unite ALL Republicans. The fact that Rudy says "If you don't like my positions, don't vote for me" will be taken literally, both in the primaries and in the November general election.
Here's the key: America is not a "bigger version of New York". New York is a caricature of politics. It represents everything that most family-values oriented Republicans cannot accept.
Well, if so, why are 70+% of Republicans in favor of one of the top 3 candidates, none of whom garner any support from the social right? In fact, in one recent survey, a large number of the RR said they would vote for Giuliani if he were nominated.
But then most conservatives are pro-life to a varying degree. Many would make exceptions, while most of those here wouldn't. Most conservatives are pro-2d Amendment, but understand that it doesn't mean an F-18 in every driveway.
The difference is that these issues, while important to many of the conservatives in the Party, are not what is driving this election, and they understand that.
Rudy Giuliani, his handlers and his supporters who have never "thought outside the New York box" are wrongly assuming that those conservative elements will abandon their principles in order to win.
To the contrary, all of the top three candidates, not just Rudy, understand that conservatives want a safe Nation first and foremost. They understand that conservatives want a sane fiscal policy, and they want a leader who can bring together both the Party and the conservatives from the Democrat Party as well as the independents. Most of those folks have social values, but do not put them before the security of this Nation.
No, you must run a candidate that can unite ALL Republicans. The fact that Rudy says "If you don't like my positions, don't vote for me" will be taken literally, both in the primaries and in the November general election.
I doubt it very much. But for those who do not vote to bring a Republican into office, they can gleefully take credit for anything done by Hillary, including 2 or 3 USSC justices, a complete reversal of our leadership in the war on terror, an increase in income taxes and a substantial increase in the socialist policies she believes in.
But for those who don't really care if they can't get their one percenter nominated, I say again, don't let the screen door hit you in the a$$!
You take care.
Amen and amen.
Must be a riot at Giuliani Campaign Central, going through the list, deciding who Roto-Rooty puckers up to next.
Must have an aide just to keep Rooty's kneepads in ship-shape condition for constantly kneeling in obeisance.
New York is a caricature of politics.
It represents everything that most family-values oriented Republicans cannot accept.
Amen brother.
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Thank goodness.