Posted on 12/21/2007 12:10:35 AM PST by gpapa
Let me first preface this by saying that I write this as a Rudy Giuliani supporter. For a period of time earlier this year, I was officially consulting with the campaign, and I have remained a Rudy supporter since, though I’ve mostly put on my analyst hat when writing about the primary in this space.
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Now, Rudy was never going to do well in South Carolina. Perhaps the same was true of Iowa. But New Hampshire? If someone like Rudy can’t win in New Hampshire, where can he win (save for the winner-take-all states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut)?
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
I was anticipating this instance. The man had been terribly ill with cancer, which is nothing to subject to severe stress. A presidential campaign has that in spades.
So, if Rudy backs out, that leaves Romney, Huckabee, McCain - if Fred Thompson sticks with this, do you think he’ll move up in the southern states?
Giuliani people won’t go for Huck or Mitt I wouldn’t think, but who knows. Some might go to McInsane.
While Thompson is in the back of the pack, he is the least likely to shoot a hole in his foot. I just don’t know.
I wouldn’t make that generalization. Some, it is true, are SoLibs, but others jumped on his bandwagon early after drinking the media-driven Kool-Aid that “only Rudy can win.” There are other candidates running with actual military, military policy, and national security experience who would run rings around Rudy in prosecuting the WOT. All of them could beat Hillary (widespread unlikeability) or Obama (green, inexperienced, “let’s invade Pakistan”).
In my mind the race is wide open. As we have seen in the last few months things can change on a dime very rapidly.
In some respects this reminds me of 1976, which was a battle royal between Ford and Reagan. The convention that year was the last one that was not decided in the primaries and caucuses. Reagan lost mainly due his choice of a moderate as VP, Senator Schweiker of Pennsylvania. Conservatives, including myself, were outraged at this selection. Ford narrowly won when the key State of Mississippi switched to the Ford camp. Only 117 votes separated the two candidates on the first and final official ballot.
Good riddance to a bad GOP candidate!
Or better yet,
Good riddance to a good Dem candidate!
I think most of the Rudy supporters are so called “broken glass” Republicans, who would vote for the Pubbie no matter who it is. From what I have seen so far it appears most of that support has gone to the Huckster, but that could change in a heartbeat when exposure to some of his record sees the light of day.
Mr. Ruffini dismisses social conservatives much too quickly.
Positioning so that he has an excuse, if and when he gets whomped, I assume.
I would guess Giuliani people are mostly NE’sterners. So I think Romney would benefit.
I’m pro-choice. I’m pro-gay rights, Giuliani said. He was then asked whether he supports a ban on what critics call partial-birth abortions. “No, I have not supported that, and I don’t see my position on that changing,” he responded. Source: CNN.com, “Inside Politics” Dec 2, 1999 http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Rudy_Giuliani_Abortion.htm
ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES (November 14, 2006)
RUDY GIULIANI (R), FORMER MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: I'm pro- choice. I'm pro-gay rights.KING: Giuliani supports a woman's right to an abortion, and back in 1999, he opposed a federal ban on late-term abortions.
GIULIANI: No, I have not supported that, and I don't see my position on that changing.
KING: Immigration could be another presidential landmine. 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.
JEFFREY: He took the side of illegal immigrants in New York City against the Republican Congress.
KING: Giuliani opposes same-sex marriage but as mayor, he supported civil unions and extending health and other benefits to gay couples. He also supported the assault weapons ban and other gun control measures opposed by the National Rifle Association.
GIULIANI: I'm in favor of gun control. I'm pro-choice.
Republican Big-Wigs Support Pro-Abortion Event in NY
Pro-abortion Governor George Pataki and New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who also supports unrestricted abortion, are co-chairs of the 2000 Choice Award Presentation to be held on May 30 at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. The event is sponsored by the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition, a group that is campaigning for the removal of the pro-life plank from the Republican National Platform.
http://www.nationalreview.com/murdock/murdock200503010743.asp
Rudy didn’t run hard in the hard places like Iowa. He fell off the radar. He needed to run hard early.
Rudys support for”
illegals,
amnesty,
gun control,
big govt,
abortion,
govt funded abortion,
Rudy is not a Republican, Rudy is a Republican of convenience better known as a RINO.
That is why Rudy is not going to win.
Conservatives FINALLY started to realize how out-of-touch with the traditional base a LIBERAL with a 'train-wreck' of a personal life--like Giuliani--really was!!!
No question about it--and the best way to elect Hillary is to SPLIT the Party WIDE OPEN, and DEMORALIZE the base. No one does that better than Rudy. NO ONE.
Ref. the WOT....It's outrageous to think that Rudy is the only (or even the best) Republican to aggressively fight the WOT (Paul doesn't even count).
Exactly what would Rudy do different in the WOT than President Bush (or any other Republican)?
Push more gun control?
Sue gun manufacturers?
Expand sanctuary cities?
Encourage illegal immigration by telling illegals that they are not really illegal?
Encourage even more illegal immigration by publicly affirming continued citizenship for kids of illegals?
Allow gays to openly serve in the military?
Continue to publicly tell muslims and the world that Islam is a ‘great religion’ (like he did in the CNN debate)?
Make solid appointments to important positions like his recommendation to President Bush of Bernie Kerik to head Homeland Security?
Put emergency command centers in the most likely targets (like he did in NY)?
It's absolutely outrageous to think that we need a LIBERAL like Rudy to aggressively and successfully fight the WOT.
Spock: "He's dead Jim."
McCoy: "Worse than that you long-eared, inhuman hobgoblin... HIS BRAIN IS GONE!"
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