Posted on 05/19/2007 1:04:07 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
By his transparent effort to find "middle ground" on the fundamental issue of human life, where clearly none exists, Giuliani's proved that his recent pronouncement of a decidedly pro-abortion stance resulted neither from any heartfelt belief nor from any desire to promote a certain agenda. Rather, it represents a desperate calculation, designed to hastily settle a brewing firestorm that otherwise leaves him exposed to further controversy.
~~snip~~
During the May 4 Republican debate, liberal "mediator" Chris Matthews hammered him relentlessly on the abortion issue. As a result, the Giuliani camp seems to have concluded that an unambiguous statement on the issue, no matter how adverse to the conservative base, would settle matters more quickly and equitably than a continuation of his former course. Unfortunately for Giuliani however, this latest announcement, when weighed against his previous postures on the abortion issue, is anything but "unambiguous."
Giuliani has since reasserted his belief in a woman's inherent "right to choose." Yet in past months, he has claimed to support the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices who may well eradicate that "right." So now he will be forced to "clarify" his statement on the sort of Justices he would appoint to the high court. This can of worms has only begun to open.
Furthermore, by now taking such a strident stance on an issue about which he diligently sought, until this past weekend to find "common ground" with the base, he shows once again that all of his stances on this issue are merely postures. Thus his political gymnastics beg the question of which other foundational issues are similarly up for debate and reconsideration in the aftershocks of tough questioning from reporters.
Among Giuliani's other "Achilles Heel" issues are his support for same-sex "marriage," amnesty for illegals, and gun control. He can certainly expect no less of a media attack over these clearly non-conservative philosophies in the upcoming months. Yet even the heat he now faces will be minor in comparison to the potentially fatal blow the media will be able to deliver to his camaign if he wins the Republican nomination next year.
In the process, conservatism in the GOP will unquestionably suffer a setback from which it may never recover.
When the subject is constitutional law, I always encourage people to read the documents for themselves.
John / Billybob
That’s interesting. Rudy owns Texas, Florida, California, Carolina, New York, Ohio and Penn, while Romney has NH and Iowa.
What this really tells me is that McCain is in huge trouble. And Rudy can take Romney out within a week of the early primaries.
I always enjoy your posts on the SCOTUS since you have direct experience before the court.
Yeah, it isn't exactly pretty. In the more recent polls McCain is pulling closer to Rudy (see the link that I also listed). For example, in California and Texas, Rudy leads only by 3% and 5% and those leads are shrinking. But in other States Rudy still has 10 point or larger leads. Mitt Romney, on the other hand, doesn't appear to be making very large gains.
But putting Stare Decicis ahead of a literal reading of the Constitution is not a strict constructionist/originalist position (contrary to Giuliani’s claims).
My real problem with Giuliani is that he has absolutely no concept or respect for what the Constitution and our founding documents mean and how work. He doesn’t even understand Constitution 101. That makes any Giuliani statement related to the Constitution unreliable.
Even if your map were correct, Rudy can’t win without social conservatives and constitutionalists. He needs to be nudged, or swift-boated away, for the good of the party.
That’s assuming that the Roe v. Wade had a constititutional basis - which I don’t believe it does. Bad law is bad law.
I’d expect Rudy to poll well in California, or most traditional blue/purple states. Ohio and Penn are not surprising.
But for him to hold down Texas, Florida and the Carolina’s, especially at the expense of McCain, suggests the latter really has nowhere to go. He’s had eight years to mend fences in South Carolina, for instance.
Its still early, but its later than it used to be.
Rudy’s toast, along with McCain and the rest of the declared field. Fred Thompson’s extremely effective use of the internet the day of the last debate sealed the deal.
The Electoral College was created for the sole purpose of having the Electors exercise their discretion in voting for President (and Vice President). The language of the Constitution about the College has not changed from then to now, except for the differentiation between President and Vice President.
In the meantime, most states have made it a felony, and an automatic resignation, for any Elector to attempt to vote differently than he was pledged, when elected. The whole concept of the Electoral College has been turned on its head. Still, I guarantee that any constitutional challenge to this change will fail -- because it has been too long, more than two centuries, since the plain language of the constitution was first violated (in the election of John Adams, as the second President).
Does that example make sense?
Congressman Billybob
1. Who are “you people”?
2. Is “intellectually facile rational” a compliment or a criticism?
3. I am not a Guiliani supporter.
4. I am a lawyer interested in Constitutional law.
5. Your main point is you don’t like the fact Rudy is for legal abortion. I conceded that many wouldn't’t like that position in my comment.
6. So other than being angry, what’s your point?
Buy Benito was mayor during 9/11. Doesn’t that make him infallible?
How do you even know that? He has absolutely ZERO foreign policy experience and is on the payroll of the Saudi Government.
Rudy is an all-around sh*tbag -- he total package.
With a liberal republican in there, like WE DO NOW, the GOP will just roll over for the president.
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