The Case for Rudy Giuliani

Townhall.com ^ | 1/22/08 | Dennis Prager

[StatenIsland]

Rudy Giuliani may have made a great mistake by not campaigning in New Hampshire, Nevada, Iowa and South Carolina. But between Rudy Giuliani (and, for that matter, Mitt Romney) on the one hand and John McCain on the other, there is little question as to who more embodies mainstream conservative and Republican principles.

But Giuliani is not merely more of a conservative than John McCain. In fact, if it is Ronald Reagan that Republicans want, Giuliani is extraordinarily close to that venerated man. Ronald Reagan stood for two great beliefs: that big government is a big problem for a free society and that America must be militarily strong and lead the war against global communism.

Substitute "global jihadism" for "global communism" and you have Rudy Giuliani's twin pillars. His one major weakness in appealing to all conservatives is that he is for abortion rights. Let me, then, briefly address all those who, like me, consider nearly all abortions immoral.

Ronald Reagan was pro-life, and it mattered little to the pro-life cause. Concerning abortion, what matters most in a president is the type of judges he appoints to the Supreme Court. As George Will wrote on behalf of Giuliani, "The way to change abortion law is to change courts by means of judicial nominations of the sort Giuliani promises to make." It is extremely unlikely that John McCain would appoint similarly conservative judges. After all, why would he appoint judges like Scalia and Alito who apparently differ with him on the constitutionality of McCain's own "campaign finance reform" laws?

Pro-life Republicans need to ask themselves: Will a Democrat or Giuliani as president render abortion less common in America? The best is the enemy of the better. And Giuliani is far better on abortion than any Democratic nominee.

Giuliani is for school vouchers, against bilingual education, for reducing taxes further, for reducing government spending. And he has well-thought-out positions on how to achieve these things. He also has the experience of cleaning up the most liberal major city in America.

I write this column aware that Giuliani may have lost his chance at getting the Republican nomination. But I could not live with my conscience if I did not articulate one week before the potentially decisive Florida primary why I believe Rudy Giuliani would make an excellent president of the United States.

[StatenIsland]

Please do not shoot the messenger.

I am a Conservative. My first choice would be Fred Thompson, but I am also capable of defending Rudy, in the unlikely chance he gets the nomination.

I see the same conservatism in Rudy that Prager sees - always have. I chalk up his socially liberal positions to the practicalities of having to be elected, and effectively govern, an overwhelmingly Liberal and heavily immigrant like New York City.

Point's probably moot, though. His strategy seems to have failed, though, in truth, it wasn't really a choice; it was really the only strategy he had available to him. Even if he had campaigned in the early primary states, he really had no shot to win them, and would have been broke and gone long before Florida - the first contest he would have a real chance to win.

[nonliberal]

I would take Rudy over McCain or Huckabee.

[rineaux]

"Rudy Giuliani may have made a great mistake by not campaigning in New Hampshire, "

Not true. Rudy made more visits and spent more money then most of the other candidates.

Hope he loses FL.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

I agree.

[newzjunkey]

Is this from the Onion?

[bcsco]

Please do not shoot the messenger.

I only shoot messengers who shot first.

I'll only say that trying to make a point that Rudy is a viable candidate through comparisons to the Democrats is disingenuous. When compared to rival Republicans such as Fred Thompson & Duncan Hunter (who's stopped campaigning), he doesn't hold a candle. I'd even vote for Mitt before I'd vote for Giuliani, McCain or Huckabee. Let's see, did I leave anyone out? No one I can mention without a bad taste in my mouth.

[Vigilanteman]

You are correct. While Rudy didn't live in New Hampshire like McCain, he did invest a lot of time and money there before bugging out when it became apparent his campaign would be a no show.

All his eggs now are in the Florida basket. He has to win there to be taken seriously.

I'd also take him over McCain or Huckabee. Both of them represent conservative constituencies as pulled them leftward. Rudy was representing a hopelessly liberal constituency and pulled them to the right.

[Timeout]

I read that earlier. I agree with most of what Praeger says...we’ll know soon. Rudy’s chance to break out will be in Thursday’s debate. He’ll have to do better than his previous outings, and I think he will.

Assuming Huck is out, McCain is my least favorite.

So I’m torn between Mitt and Rudy. I like both, Rudy for his scrappiness, Mitt for his down-to-earthedness. I relish the idea of a President Guilliani taking on the WH press corps AND the bureaucracy. I’d be happy with either one. Florida should help me sort out which one gets my nod on Super Tuesday.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Rudolph William Louis Giuliani
Michael Dale Huckabee
John Sidney McCain III
Willard Mitt Romney

The above would fit in the democrat party!

They all would do or say anything and have did
and said anything for power!

They are all frauds!

[codercpc]

Rudy is either my #1 or #2 right now, and I agree with this article. In todays economic situation, we need someone that is a supply sider. Of course, I will probably have to change all of my voting ideals depending on if he is still in the race when Wisconsin rolls around.

For all of those Florida Fred supporters, if he does step out of the race today, and if you really want to stop John McCain, please consider voting Rudy. If Mitt wins, that does not stop McCain, but if Rudy does I think it does (they share the same voters). If McCain wins Florida, he goes into Super Tuesday as the favorite. If Rudy does, it will basically be down to him vs Mitt.

[dforest]

No Rudy, he isn’t the person I would settle for.

He doesn’t even deserve mention because he was too scared of going after the nomination by participating in the first states.

Argh

[Minn. 4 Bush]

I would vote for Rudy or Romney anyday over McLiar or the Huckabeast! Fox has been touting ALL morning how McCain is beating Rudy in Florida but they fail to mention Romney’s beating McCain. The fix is in.

It will be interesting to see who Fred endorses. If he gets behind McLiar - I will have lost all respect.

[narses]

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

[narses]

Rudy Guiliani has marched in lockstep with liberals on affirmative action, gay rights, gay marriage, gun control, school prayer, tuition tax credits, liberal immigration policies, and he's reinforced it, time and time again. Just about everytime Rudy opens his mouth, offensive liberal words come pouring out. As Mayor, Rudy put liberals in high-paid city jobs, an indication what a Rudy WH would look like. Here then is Rudy in his own words:

--The New York State Liberal Party on its endorsement of Rudy Giuliani for Mayor: "When the Liberal Party Policy Committee reviewed a list of key social issues of deep concern to progressive New Yorkers, we found that Rudy Giuliani agreed with the Liberal Party's stance on a majority of such issues. He agreed with the Liberal Party's views on affirmative action, gay rights, gun control, school prayer and tuition tax credits. As Mayor, Rudy Giuliani would uphold the Constitutional and legal rights to abortion." N.Y.S. Liberal Party Endorsement Statement of Candidate Giuliani for Mayor of New York City April 8, 1989

--On the Republican Party: "Mr. Rockefeller represented 'a tradition in the Republican Party' I've worked hard to re-kindle - the Rockefeller, Javits, Lefkowitz tradition." Rudy Giuliani told the New York Times July 9, 1992

--Village Voice Interview with Guiliani: He was asked: "What kind of Republican Is [Giuliani]? A Reagan Republican?" Giuliani pauses before answering: "I'm a Republican." Village Voice January 24, 1989

--On Attending 1996 Republican Convention: Rudy expressed his pleasure when he wasn't invited to the Republican National Convention in San Diego. "If I take three or four days off from city business, I want to do it for a substantive purpose. It didn't seem to me any substantive purpose could be served by going to the Republican convention." said Rudy. Rudy! An Investigative Biography of Rudolph Giuliani, Page 459, by Wayne Barrett

--On Barry Goldwater: Giuliani described John Kennedy as "great and brilliant. Barry Goldwater as an "incompetent, confused and sometimes idiotic man." New York Daily News, May 13, 1997

--On President Bill Clinton: Shortly before his last-minute endorsement of Bob Dole in the 1996 presidential election, Giuliani told the Post's Jack Newfield that "most of Clinton's policies are very similar to most of mine." Rudy! An Investigative Biography of Rudolph Giuliani, Wayne Barrett.

--The Daily News quoted Giuliani as saying March 1996: "Whether you talk about President Clinon, Senator Dole.... The country would be in very good hands in the hands of any of that group." An Investigative Biography of Rudolph Giuliani, Wayne Barrett.

[normy]

If Fred is gone my support will shift to Rudy.

[StatenIsland]

It’s amazing - pundits seem to be all over the map with this election. It seems to be completely unpredictable.

One thing I do know: the New York media is taking potshots at Rudy every single day, and touting McCain. And it’s all so painfully obvious that they’re doing it, too.

For what it’s worth, they DO NOT want Giuliani to win this nomination, and they most certainly DO want McCain.

From todays NY Daily News: FIERY MCCAIN GIVES GIULIANI BIG HEADACHE and MCCAIN’S LEAD CAUSES EMPIRE STATE BLUES FOR RUDY.

If it weren’t so transparently comical and heavy-handed, it would be, at the very least, some serious and unforgiveable editorializing. But that’s what we’ve come to expect from the MSM, yes?

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

His one major weakness in appealing to all conservatives is that he is for abortion rights.

Wrong.

1. War

2. Border

3. Terrorism

4. 2nd Amendment

You can't separate these issues.

Cultural Marxism ultimately leads to economic Marxism...

All cultures ARE NOT equal!

[Condor51]

Please do not shoot the messenger... but I am also capable of defending Rudy.. I see the same conservatism in Rudy that Prager sees - always have

(sniff, sniff) -- I smell ozone in the air. And the Viking Kitties are sharpening their Battle Axes and are getting ready to man the boats.

And Rooty's NO conservative. Ta-ta. (IBTZ)

[mad_as_he$$]

There is video out today of ROOTY begging like a 10 year old to drive a NASCAR pace car. Go see that and tell me what you think then.

[what's up]

Romney and McCain have just recently joined Rudy in calling for corporate tax rates to be slashed from 35% to 25%.

Rudy's been saying it for some time. They see that the proposal is a winner so have copied him.

I think Rudy's the best leader of the 3.