Rudy: What Went Wrong?

National Review ^ | December 20, 2007 | Patrick Ruffini

[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.

---snip---

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)?

[calcowgirl]

You're funny! You can't forget McCain and CFR/gang-of-14, but you can forget Rudy's position on guns, gays, abortion, misuse of public funds, appointment of liberal judges, and hiring a staff of "Yes-Rudy's" many of whom went to prison.

You "support Giuliani because of his tough stance on the GWOT" despite his total lack of experience. The man couldn't even acknowledge that he had a terrorist shooting up NYC from the Empire State Bldg, instead using the event to call for more gun control! His "consulting" business has largely been hocking questionable "security" products/services to the Government enriching himself and some questionable characters.

I don't like Huckabee or McCain, but I find your arguments totally illogical.

[dearolddad]

What did I miss?

Not much that we are aware of at this time.

[calcowgirl]

Interesting thought on Bloomberg/Giuliani. I hadn’t considered that one!

But I don’t think Giuliani is going to drop out. I think he has something up his sleeve.

[britt reed]

What went wrong?

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!!!

So, then how long before Huckabee is outed as the non-conservative he pretends to be. Huckabee is playing the minister card to all those self-righteous believers? You know, the same one's who got sucked in by the Georgia, peanut boy?

Why is it not difficult for me to imagine Huckabee delivering one of those "I have sinned against you" addresses a la Swaggart. One hand on the good book the other hand up his secretary's skirt.

Goooood dey!

[merry10]

what conservative CAN unite the party. Seems like they are all doing a good job of dividing it.

[A2J]

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?

Yep.

[Huck]

what conservative CAN unite the party. Seems like they are all doing a good job of dividing it.

Fred Thompson, if only Romney, Huckabee, McCain, and Guliani would drop out of the race. /s

[srmorton]

I am not trying to be funny and it is insulting for you to suggest that. The POTUS has very little impact on some of the issues you mention because the laws are made by Congress. McCain had a direct impact on CFR and the Gang of 14. The POTUS has his most important effect on the appointment of judges and on foreign policy. Rudy has stated his position on judges, and, I don't care what you say about Rudy, he totally "gets" the GWOT, as does McCain.

The most important thing for the GOP is not to let the Dems to split the party and allow Hillary to become POTUS. The damage she could do to our country in even one term doesn't bear thinking about. ANY of the Republican candidates are 1000X better than Hillary! I would vote for Huckabee, although with reluctance, if he were the nominee. I would NEVER sit it out or vote third party in such an important election. I would think that the Rebubicans would have learned their lesson about that in 2006!

[srmorton]

I agree with you, yet splitting the party is what some of you are willing to do! I will vote for the Republican nominee. Period. Any of the Pubbies are 1000X better than Hillary or any other Democrat. If conservatives want to save our country, they must be willing to do the same. I would think that the damage done by conservatives sitting out an election would have been made profoundly obvious in 2006. It’s only the fortitude of GWB, who is so often criticized on this forum, and the brilliance of General Petraus that Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi were prevented from accomplishing their goal of a US defeat in Iraq.

[alicewonders]

With Rudy having to make a trip to the hospital, it sounds like the stress of campaigning is affecting his health (which is not a good thing for a Presidential hopeful) - or that maybe he is setting the scene to use a health issue to drop out of the race while he still has some dignity.

I think the story coming out about New York taxpayers footing the bill for his mistress’s security and chauffering - was the final nail in his coffin.

The most patriotic thing he could do now is to drop out of the race.

[calcowgirl]

Rudy has stated his position on judges...

Rudy had a long record of appointing liberal judges and has praised the likes of Ginsburg. Rudy thinks that Presidents appoint judges that think like them (You want Scotuses that think like Rudy?). Rudy says he'll appoint "strict constructionist" judges (a description that was widely used to describe Blackmun--the author of Roe v. Wade and other terrible, leftist opinions). In short, Rudy will be an utter failure on judges.

I don't care what you say about Rudy, he totally "gets" the GWOT...

Really? That is why, in the past, he has used terrorist attacks to justify taking away rights of Americans? How about those Sanctuary Cities? How about recommending Bernard Kerik for top posts in Iraq and the DHS? You and I must have a different definition of "getting it".

ANY of the Republican candidates are 1000X better than ________! .... I would NEVER sit it out or vote third party in such an important election. I would think that the Rebubicans would have learned their lesson about that in ____!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. How many times have folks used the same argument to give us the likes of Schwarzenegger? How about we start electing folks that actually support the Republican platform? How about that idea, huh?

[glmjr]

[claudiustg]

It’s a long way to the top if you want to rocknroll.

[Thombo2]

“Fred Thompson-if he sticks with it do you think he’ll move up in the southern states?”I hope so.I’d be comfortable w him as pres:)Unfortunately(for whatever reason???)the msm are focused on Romney,Rudy,and Huck.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

>> What did I miss?

Pro-choice. Taxpayer-funded abortion.

[srmorton]

Always remember the old saying - the perfect is the enemy of the good. Rudy has also said that he would nominate judges similar to John Roberts and Sam Alito which would be fine with me! Other Republican POTUS have nominated jugdes that turned out to be pretty liberal in the end!

As mayor of one of the most liberal cities in America, Rudy had to govern as such. My whole point in responding to this thread was to say that I think Huckabee would be even worse because he is much more of a liberal than he appears to be. At least Rudy does not appear to be someone he is not. His drop in the polls has been correlated with the rise of Huckabee and that is what has me worried. Huckabee raised taxes in Arkansas and is willing to take away some of your rights as an American as well - even in the area of nutrition and how much you are allowed to weigh. IMHO, if we lose the WOT, we will lose the freedom that all of us cherish and all of those other issues become meaningless.

I'm afraid that we will just have to agree to disagree and pray that God will continue to bless America through this difficult time in our history.

[kabar]

Rudy never had a chance. He is just too far Left and out of step from where most of the GOP base is. This shouldn’t come as a surprise.

[Badeye]

Nothing ‘went wrong’. Guiliani’s track record has been examined, and found lacking.

Its not earth shattering news, its historical record.

The only thing surprising is the Guiliani supporters appear to have convinced themselves nobody would ‘look’ at his track record prior to 9/11, and if they did it would begin and end with his positive results related to crime in NYC.

[kabar]

You left out McCain’s support of amnesty.

[kabar]

Hell, Rudy endorsed Mario Cuomo over Pataki in the NY Governor’s race.