Posted on 05/15/2007 6:48:19 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Ten Republican presidential candidates will gather in South Carolina tonight for their second debate of the month, with much of the focus likely to be on former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and his continuing effort to extricate himself from a controversy over his position on abortion.
Giuliani, the putative front-runner for the GOP nomination, has struggled for the past two weeks after declaring at the first GOP debate in California that it would be "okay" if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide, but then added that it would also be "okay" if the justices upheld that ruling.
Giuliani sought to put the controversy behind him with a speech in Houston last Friday in which he declared abortion "morally wrong" but defended the right of women to decide for themselves. He then added fuel to the fire during a taped interview on "Fox News Sunday" when he declared that he did not have an answer to the question of whether life begins at conception.
"I think the candidate that has the most to prove is Giuliani," said Scott Reed, a GOP strategist and former presidential campaign manager for Robert J. Dole. "Since the first debate his standing with conservatives has spun out of control, and he has a real challenge ahead of him."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I’m sorry to say I think Mr. Giuliani has already lost — in my eyes. It’s not just the abortion issue — he just is too RINO for me. And as I mentioned before, the leadership I thought he had just isn’t there.
He’s going to be under a lot of fire for his positions.
I guess Rudy was afraid to run as a ‘Conservative’ Democrat against Hillary so he decides to run as a ‘Moderate’ Republican against other ‘Moderate’ Republicans.
Awwww... how SWEET!
I think it’s just so very sweet that these guys would be willing to get together again SO SOON just to continue their audition to be FRED THOMPSON’S RUNNING MATE.
Wake me when it’s over................
Why are the neocons backing Rudy?
The very last thing America needs is for two New Yorkers running for President. Clinton vs Rudy is just something the American people will not allow.
Sorry MSM but your pushing New Yorkers on the world just is not going to happen.
Something like:
“So who wore the pants in the relationship?”
“Why are the neocons backing Rudy?”
I am not backing him at this point, but will support him if he wins the nomination. The stakes are too high to allow the Dems to take complete control of government.
IMO, the Rudy haters on FreeRepublic should work hard for an alternative candidate. If Rudy wins and they sit out the election, their moral vanity and narcissism will cost this country a great deal.
I have heard this response many times before, “Well, at least I stood on principle”. What principle is that? If you can’t get your way, you will punish the rest of us with Hillary, Nancy and Harry? Grow up!
I feel the same way. It is way too early, although it would be nice to hear questions from Brit.
Hey, it’s only a 90 minute show, right?
>some abortion question<
"You know, abortion is an issue that directly affects about .01% of Americans, and it is also an issue that will be decided not by the executive or legislative branches, but by the judiciary. I will appoint conservative judges. Now, why don't we talk about solving some of the very real and serious problems facing our entire nation like tax policy, Iraq policy, and the looming apocalyptic entitlement crisis instead of harping on a fringe issue that the President has no power to influence other than by his appointments?"
Unfortunately, Rudy has to bow and scrape to the fundamentalists who have parasitized the Republican Party and run it off a cliff, so I instead expect more waffling and stuttering. Too bad.
Considering how much he agreed with, and seemed to like, the policys of the Klintoons, it wouldn't surprise me to find out that Hitlery asked him to pull all the support in the Repubs he could, then drop out and leave them spinning.
Not saying that's the way it is, but it wouldn't surprise me.
“I think it’s just so very sweet that these guys would be willing to get together again SO SOON just to continue their audition to be FRED THOMPSON’S RUNNING MATE.”
****
LOL! Good one.
Only political junkies watched last time, and only political junkies will be watching this time. As a percentage of 2004 voters, viewership was on the order of 1.5%.
When the last debate was in progress more people were watching O’Reilly.
That’s my thought, too. I might make an exception to never watching TV for a crucial speech or debate, but this ain’t it.
What, are they going to do two debates a month for the next year and a half? Or will they raise it to once a week when the election gets closer?
This is insane.
Wow - what a powerful post.
Refreshing to see a contrary point of view in here.
Thanks
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