Posted on 05/20/2007 5:26:25 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Over 1,000 New York Republicans crowded into the ballroom of a Times Square Sheraton Thursday night to hear from presidential contenders Rudy Giuliani and John McCain, but the real elephant in the room was immigration reform. Neither candidate addressed the issue in their speeches, even though rank-and-file conservatives spent Thursday talking about little else.
McCain, of course, helped shape the immigration compromise that has so many conservatives in open revolt. For his part, Giuliani issued a statement in which he didn't really take a position on the bill, which would provide amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants living in the United States. He ignored that part and emphasized his commitment to border enforcement in general.
Conservatives hoping for either candidate to elucidate his position were left wanting. Neither candidate talked about the proposed compromise. Instead, both largely stuck to the same talking points they've recited dozens of times before, although Rudy tailored his in order to capitalize on his personal connection with New York and New Yorkers. "I didn't take a city that was unmanageable and ungovernable and make it into a city that was the best example of urban renaissance in the 1990s," Rudy told his fellow New York Republicans. "I didn't do it. You did it. We did it as a team. We did it with ideas that are the ideas we're going to put into place in Washington, and Washington needs these ideas badly." McCain delivered the keynote address (he was the first to accept the state party’s invitation), but Rudy owned the crowd.
Both of the candidates also addressed Rudy's public scolding of hapless anti-war Republican Ron Paul. For those who missed last Tuesday's Republican presidential debate, Paul tried to argue that the September 11th attackers were partially motivated by U.S. missile strikes on Iraq in the 1990s. Rudy responded, "That's an extraordinary statement. As someone who lived through the attack of September the 11th… I don’t think I’ve ever heard that before, and I’ve heard some pretty absurd explanations for September the 11th." The crowd gave Rudy a lengthy ovation. Many commentators argued that Rudy won the debate on the strength of this comeback alone.
So it came as no surprise that Rudy wanted to replay his game-winning jam for the crowd at the Sheraton. Speaking of the six jihadists recently busted for plotting a terrorist attack on Fort Dix, he asked the audience, "Why [did they want to kill our soldiers]? Because we had some attacks on Iraq in the 1990s? I don't think so."
"That was a reason given by one of our candidates on the stage the other night," Rudy added, in case anyone missed the reference.
When it was his turn to speak, McCain begrudgingly gave Rudy his props. "I’d like to express my appreciation," he conceded, "for the former mayor of this city, who Tuesday night corrected a terrible impression that might have been created that somehow we were responsible for the attack on the United States of America."
Excuse this interruption of presidential politics for a quick moment with a reality check: What’s the big deal with admitting that our pre-invasion policies toward Iraq — the sanctions, the no-fly zones, the bases to protect Saudi Arabia from Saddam’s lunatic aggression — were used to justify mass slaughter in Osama bin Laden’s various fatwas against America? That doesn’t make him right. It just identifies one dynamic at work in the evil worldview of a madman.
Nor does it make those pre-invasion policies wrong, although Ron Paul seems to think it does. Most Americans, even those who think this war was a mistake, agree that it’s probably a good thing we kicked Saddam out of Kuwait and stopped him from gassing the Kurds. I think that's an honest debate that Rudy Giuliani and John McCain should be able to win without having to make Paul out to be some kind of Osama-lover.
But there’s no denying it’s great politics. That much was evident Thursday night, as McCain continued to praise his toughest competitor. "I was proud of Rudy Giuliani's comments," McCain grumbled in obligatory deference to the great smackdown of '07. "And I was proud of him as an American. So, and… so I’m very proud of him. As you are."
Just as I was starting to wonder whether there might be a little envy mixed in with that pride, McCain said, “Somehow, now we’ve had two debates, and they always have me standing next to Rudy, so I don’t know if the fix is in or what." The audience laughed, relieved. Straight talk at last.
Dead men walking and talking..
I’m just waiting for McCain to blow a gasket on television the way he did in the Senate meeting prior to the amnes ... uh, “reform” bill’s unveiling. The guy’s Mount Saint Helens just awaiting the right moment.
He did what politicians do. Went to the cameras and made speeches. He would have never arisen to the position he had without that talent. It's nothing unique.
The question today is, what does he actually bring in the way of real experience in waging the WOT?
Hunter laid the challenge out at the debate. His own credentials in this area are impressive. Rudy got deferments.
Wait a minute. This is John McCain. With McCain-Finegold, are we even allowed to TALK about the issues here or would that violate John’s sense of clean government?
We need a better word than “reform” for the proprosed new laws. “deform” seems to be what they are trying to do. Suggestions are needed.
wreck
damage
etc...
Now there’s a ticket from hell. Ghouliani/McStain 2008.
I don’t think I can bear it another month till Thompson declares. And if he doesn’t, I swear I’ll wet myself in panic.
Gutless wonders.
CALL! CALL! CALL! CALL! AND KEEP CALLING TILL THE LINES FRY!
WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! TILL YOU RUN OUT OF INK IN YOUR PEN!
Bombard the Democrats as well, especially the ones that ran on an anti immigration plank and the ones in marginal districts who could be vulnerable. keep pounding on them.
>>Aww, how touching... If those two think they’re going to duck this amnesty bill, think again, boys!!<<
I’ll bet that as the reality of the threat of the amnesty bill soaks in, and Rudy keeps ducking the question, his poll numbers among Republicans will go down.
The inner spirit of a human being should be one that will not ‘blow-back’ in times of crises. John was a brave hero but a lousy Pub Senator. His day is done. Rudy was brave and has proved some cred in crises. One wonders how the voter will now look at Rudy,Mitt, Fred the coy one in the upcoming primaris. Ready for prime time in times of travail??
” The guy’s Mount Saint Helens just awaiting the right moment”
LMAO!
I really don’t understand why Rudy isn’t a Dem. He agrees with them on gays, guns, the border, and abortion (actually goes farther than many of them). He also has a personal life that would make Clinton blush. Why is he in this party?
McCain is finished and hopefully Rudy is also. I would not trust Rudy on the right to life issue or illegal immigration.
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