[Sadecki]

I just don’t see how it can be said, after nearly every debate, that Rudy won when he cannot distance himself from his record.

Well, he's not trying to distance himself from his record so that isn't really a salient point.

Rudy wins by putting his record in the context of his whole package.

Rudy wins because he is the best at going for the jugular and hammering his points home in a way that is easily understandable. I mean, Conservatives can break his positions down into minutiae, but when it comes right down to it -- this is a guy that is hated hated by the Left, hated by the NY Times, so to call him a "liberal" is pretty ridiculous. And when he laughed at the suggestion -- he won the argument.

But most of all, Rudy wins the debate because he wasn't boooed. Republicans cheer him. He knows that religious conservatives are hopelessly divided among the other candidates, that vote is split. And Rudy has a lock on the GOP moderates. All he needs is about 10% of religious conservatives and he wins the nomination.

[longtermmemmory]

not getting booed makes it a five way tie.

Paul and McCain were bood.

Giuliani is only able to win as long as the Fruitless five divide the front runnder by wasting out time.

Giuliani is too close to Hillary.

In the General Election Hillary can run to the right of Giuliani because Giuliani is Hillary.

[eastsider]

He knows that religious conservatives are hopelessly divided among the other candidates, that vote is split.

Rudy's stuck in the general polls at about 30% -- and the trend is down. The social (not religious) conservatives are presently divided, but will coalesce before the February 5 'national primary.' The best Rudy can hope for is a brokered convention.

Welcome to FR.

[Sun]

IF Rudy wins the primaries; the Dem candidate wins.

True conservatives won’t vote for Rudy, and here’s why:

“Culture of life:

ABC clip:

George Will: “Do you think Roe v Wade was good constitutional law?”

Rudy Giuliani: “Yes I believe, I believe it is.”

Cnn Clip:

Announcer: “Giuliani was then asked whether he supports a ban on what critics call partial birth abortions, something Bush strongly supports.”

Rudy Giuliani : “No, I have not supported that, and I don’t see my position on that changing.”

Immigration

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.”

Gun control:

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.”

Gay Rights:

CNN Clip:

Announcer: “As mayor he supported civil unions, and extending health and other benefits to gay couples.”

ABC Clip: “I supported domestic partnership legislation and signed it”

Meet The Press:

Tim Russert: “So should gay people be openly allowed to serve?”

“I think people should be judged on the merits. And there should not be a specific focus on someone’s sexual orientation.”

First Amendment:

ABC Clip

Cokie Roberts: “Would you vote in the senate in favor of Mccain / Feingold?”

Rudy Giuliani: “Yes, I’m a big supporter of Mccain / Feingold. I have been for a long time.”

Party Loyalty:

ABC Clip:

Rudy Giuliani: “Frankly George, I’d like to run on all the lines. I’d like to run on the liberal line, the conservative line, I’d like to run on the democratic line if I could figure out how to do it.”

Conservative Values:

Meet The Press:

Tim Russert: “Whether it’s gays in the military, gun control, campaign finance, late term abortion - you and Hillary Clinton are in sync on those issues.”

Rudy Giuliani: “Well then maybe the other side should stop the ‘He’s part of the vast right wing conspiracy’.”

....
ABC clip:

George Will: “Do you think Roe v Wade was good constitutional law?”

Rudy Giuliani: “Yes I believe, I believe it is.”’

See Rudy for yourself on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVBtPIrEleM