Giuliani Retools Stump Speech

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani's "bold" vision for the nation sounded a lot like the same ideas he's been talking about for months, but delivered in a new package Saturday.

Giuliani's address before about 200 people was billed by his campaign as a new speech that shows the former New York mayor's bold vision for the future of the country.

But the 30-plus minute speech hit on similar themes: a little Hillary Rodham Clinton bashing, some reflections on the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a call to make energy independence as big a priority as landing on the moon was in the 1960s, and the need to fight terrorism so the United States can be safe and do more business in the Middle East.

And the theme throughout was that he has shown the leadership needed to be president.

"Tested, ready, now. America needs a leader," Giuliani said as he began the speech.

The address comes after a rough few weeks for Giuliani. The police commissioner he appointed in 2000 and pushed for the post of head of Homeland Security, Bernard Kerik, was indicted on federal charges that include lying to the White House, corruption and filing false income tax returns.

Giuliani has also faced questions about whether he hid the expenses of his security detail as he had an extramarital affair Judith Nathan, now his third wife. And his poll numbers have slipped as Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's have risen, indicating GOP voters are looking for a conservative candidate instead of one seen as a moderate-to-liberal Republican.

The speech was delivered in the state Giuliani is counting on to give him a boost ahead of his GOP rivals on Feb. 5, when more than 20 states will hold primaries and caucuses. Giuliani is trailing badly in Iowa, which holds its caucus Jan. 3, and dueling for second in several polls in New Hampshire, which votes Jan. 8, and is in a tight race in South Carolina, which holds its primary Jan. 19.

Florida is voting Jan. 29, and Giuliani has made the state a prime focus, visiting frequently and quickly showing support for a national insurance backup fund -- a top priority for Gov. Charlie Crist. He planned to hold a rally in Jacksonville later Saturday.

Throughout the speech, he described the country he wants to leave for the next president _ one where parents have school choice, the borders are secure, citizens are safer and government doesn't overspend.

"I've faced adversity before, I've led in situations that seemed hopeless and dire. In need of a miracle, I don't just pray for miracles, I don't just hope for miracles, I expect miracles," Giuliani said.

He also criticized Democratic candidate Clinton's universal health care plan, saying, "We'll hand over a country where decisions about your health care are made between you and your doctor, not between you and a Hillary-care custodian."

He promised tax cuts, envisioned selling more American products to China and India and said the United States can win over the Middle East by promoting ideas and ideals and understanding that the vast majority of people there share the same values as Americans, like loving their families and wanting to be safe.

While the United State has to stabilize Iraq and Afghanistan and stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power, it also must embrace "people in the Middle East, in the Arab world, in the Islamic world," he said. "We've got to reach out to them, we've got to get to know them better, we have to get them to know us better, we have to do more business."

Actual exerpts from speech from RCP:

Drawing on his years of experience as a prosecutor, Rudy Giuliani is set to day to deliver what is being billed as his “closing argument” of the primary campaign. Here are excerpts from today’s speech released yesterday afternoon by his campiagn:

America needs a leader. I am running for President of the United States because I believe that I can lead America into a new era...with bold leadership, optimism, determination, and distinctly American solutions.
***

If you are looking for perfection, you are not going to find it. Not in me and not in any candidate. But if you are looking for a leader who has been tested in times of crisis...A leader who is ready to lead right now... A leader who has achieved results - results that some people thought were impossible - a leader who believes that there is no problem too serious for American solutions and a free, American spirit ... I believe I am that leader.

***

Some people look at the challenges we face as a nation and they fear the future.

I welcome it.

I welcome the opportunity to defeat the Islamic terrorists who are at war with us because of our freedoms.

I welcome the opportunity to restore fiscal discipline to Washington D.C. while we empower millions of people to move out of poverty and achieve the American dream.

And I welcome the opportunity to win this election...leading a revitalized, 50-state Republican Party into the White House.

***

As I travel across our country, I’ve begun to hear a murmur that somehow America has lost its ability to achieve great goals.

Some good people have come to believe that our country is on the wrong track. Middle Class families feel that the American Dream may be slipping away - they’re worried the future might not be as bright as the past.

It does not have to be that way. We can decide America’s direction. We determine America’s future. That’s what an election is all about.

***

We’re at war. The American people want to see victory in Iraq and Afghanistan - not humiliation and defeat. They want their children to live free from the fear of Islamic Terrorism. They’re telling us: Get it done. And we will.

Washington’s culture of wasteful spending is out of control. The American people want to see real fiscal discipline. They’re telling us: Get it done. And we will.

Americans have heard presidents talk about energy independence for three decades. Now they are paying more at the pump and seeing their money flow into the hands of our enemies. They’re telling us: Get it done. And we will.

The American people are angry that the federal government has failed to secure our border. They want to see legal immigration reconnected with Americanization. They’re telling us: Get it done. And we will.

What America needs in 2008 is a proven leader who will get things done.

***

I believe in the strength and wisdom of the American people.

Look at our history and you’ll see why.

Because no matter when or how your ancestors came to our country, we are all the proud descendants of pioneers and patriots.

Their optimistic American spirit...the defiant determination to do what some consider impossible - that is our greatest inheritance.

http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2007/12/rudys_closing_argument.html

Rudy gave this speech three miles from were I sit. I did not attend. The invitation went out through our Hillsborough County Republican Executive Committee. Hillsborough County is the home of The Bush Chad Rangers, and of CENTCOMM. This is the largest REC in the State of Florida, and the most active. We have added a paid staff member for the first time this year. Some of the other campaigns have given the County Chair gruff for not publicizing their candidate events, as was done for Rudy.

Rudy has only the slimest of grassroots support here. The local newradio station’s headline bite was, “Can Giuliani restart has faltering Campaign?”

200 people attended? The waterfront Convention Center where he spoke could hold 5,000. This is an improvement over Rudy’s last public appearance in Tampa in September, when about 50 people showed. He made some short remarks and then quickly left. Rudy has 16 paid staff in this state, the most of any candidate.

Mitt Romney spoke at our Lincoln Day Dinner last February. This was our largest REC fundraiser for the year. Mitt’s appearance made that dinner the most successful ever.

The Fla address comes after a rough few weeks for Giuliani. Police commissioner Bernard Kerik (Rooty's former driver and bodyguard) that he pushed on the nation as Homeland Security nominee is facing federal charges for official corruption, filing false income tax returns......and lying to the White House.

Lying to the federal government? C'mon Bernie, fess up: Who helped you fill-out fraudulent WH forms?

Isn't it odd that Rooty who gets paid big bucks for "security expertise" did not adequately vet his buddy before making a fool of him when Kerik flopped on the national stage?

Giuliani has also faced charges about hiding security detail for his mistress in obscure city agencies.

Rooty's obedient yes-man Kerik okayed Jooty's security detail of seven police offers and cars and drivers at Jooty's beck and call 24/7. Somebody should look into the income and expenditures of Kerik's tax-exempt "Correction Foundation" while they're at it.

As Rooty humbly said at the Iowa debate: "I'm just a great 9/11 guy, a 9/11 hero who made a lot of mistakes, but everything was revealed and transparent in my hugely successful 9/11 mayoralty when I smashed the Mob, Wall Street fraud, taxes, crime, squeegee men and litter 9/11."

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