Posted on 12/22/2010 7:09:21 AM PST by StatenIsland
As a 2008 primary front-runner, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani tanked. But as a 2012 dark horse, he could do surprisingly well.
It’s not because Giuliani has shifted; it’s because the Republican Party has. The 2010 election was less about social conservatism than it was fiscal conservatism, and that aligns with Giuliani’s socially moderate and fiscally conservative ideology.
There is another promising wind of change blowing Giuliani’s way, one that’s less ideological. This isn’t the era of kinder, gentler politicians. This is the age of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — three politicians whose appeal lives, partly, in their aggressive rhetoric.
But, according to Giuliani, he started the political fad. When explaining Christie’s appeal to the New York Post, Giuliani said: “What’s making him popular is that he’s not afraid to be called a bully. I used to be proud to be called a bully, and Christie would call me and tell me, ‘I’m going to do it just the way you did.' "
Thus, both the national ideology and aesthetics of these political times are more favorable to Giuliani than, perhaps, at any time in his political career.
So what’s he been up to?
Leg work:
While Giuliani maintained his visibility at a national level this year through frequent appearances on cable political shows, he also showed the GOP that he was willing to do the less glamorous work of crossing the country on behalf of Republican candidates.
In the run-up to the midterm elections, Giuliani made high-profile visits on behalf of Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey, Illinois gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady, Illinois senatorial candidate Mark Kirk, West Virginia senatorial candidate John Raese and many more, garnering significant media attention along the way.
Skeptics often claim that Giuliani’s political activity is simply good business, since it keeps him relevant. For example, Auburn University shelled out $85,000 earlier this year for a Giuliani speech on leadership — an amount that might be less if he weren’t flirting with a bid. But that obscures the fact that his success, financially, is a good sign of his continuing appeal, politically.
Rhetoric:
The question for any presidential aspirant is whether he or she is building a broad case for the presidency. At the very least, Giuliani has built a broad one against the current president, slamming Barack Obama on everything from foreign policy to being, well, too New York.
Earlier this year, he questioned the president’s philosophical approach to foreign policy, not to mention his actual record, which he’s frequently criticized on missile defense, terrorism and Middle East relationships.
“President Obama thinks we can all hold hands, sing songs and have peace symbols. North Korea and Iran are not singing along with the president.”
And while Gingrich literally wrote a book, christening the Obama administration a “secular-socialist machine,” Giuliani has been similarly critical of the president’s economic policy, telling conservative bloggers that Obama is trying to turn the United States into a “European social democracy.”
Then there’s the ironic and primary-friendly charge that Obama has too much of the mayor’s hometown blood in him.
“The president may be suffering … from the inability to see the rest of America from having a warped view in New York,” Giuliani told ABC’s “The View” last month.
Fire in the belly:
Giuliani has refused several times this year to close the door on a bid. Most recently, he told The Wall Street Journal that it’s been difficult to give up the dream.
“It’s always in your mind when you’ve done something like this,” he said.
And it’s possible that his poor showing in 2008 hasn’t done much to diminish his confidence in another bid. Earlier this year, Giuliani told The Washington Post that his failure could have been as simple as bad timing.
“You know, I was conflicted about running when I did ... I don’t think any Republican could have won in 2008,” he said.
That being said, if he did do it again, it’s not likely he’d take any chances and stake the race on Florida, as he did in 2008.
“If you’re going to run for president and get nominated, you better win Iowa [or] New Hampshire. By then, it’s probably over. If it isn’t over by then, it’s over by South Carolina,” he told the Post.
What lies ahead:
In the end, it’s perhaps smartest to appeal to a former New York state representative, Guy Molinari, who once told reporters of Giuliani: “Rudy is Rudy. Rudy is either going to run or not based on how he feels. He’s not a guy who looks at statistics and worries about the fact that ... maybe he could win, maybe he can’t win.”
And that makes him a wildcard, a dark horse — and a worthy figure to watch in 2012.
Didn’t we put this to rest in during the last presidential election?
He’s another NY RINO.
RINOs can be harder to get rid of than vampires and werewolves.
I would hope this place doesn’t become LGF in that regard.
It seems that the absolutely Rudy treatment is for all but one person that may not even be running.
Director of Homeland Security is the perfect job for Rudy.
He hates these terrorist bastards and has vast experience dealing with law enforcement and how to reduce crime.
President - NO
I would have a very difficult time voting for Palin if she selected a pro-abortion veep.
Yeah agreed. I like Pence, Daniels, Jindal. But they diss them here and we are not even in the primaries full swing—go figure.
I just truly wish West would run. He would tell the U.N. to go pound sand.
He is great on Budget, lousy on Social Issues, and ignoring Social issues has brought us where we are.
America is great, because America is good, if she ceases to be good, she will cease being great. Misquote I think, but close enough.
No, but it certainly doesn't make a difference if the RINO's that sold you out in the Lame Duck session, stay in power either. Good vs Evil, you choose, the less evil approach is what got us here.
Choose this day Whom you will serve, as for me and my house........
I would rate all four of them well to the right of Rudy. None are gun-grabbing, pro-gay rights, abortion-loving "Catholics", although in Romney's case he used to be. Rudy was the most liberal Republican seeking the 2008 presidential nomination, and probably will be again.
Christie is 100% pro-life (with a track record of actually DOING something about it and shutting down Planned Parenthood in NJ), pro-traditional marriage (and has pledged to veto any gay marriage legislation), pro-freedom of religious expression (and he is personally a very devout Catholic who started his inageration day with a Mass), pro-school vouchers and educational choice, and anti-enthusenia.
No, he's not perfect on social issues, but the idea that he's a "social liberal" is a myth started by bitter Lonegan supporters. Christie is conservative on roughly 80% of the social issues out there. When they're confronted with this and asked to provide proof of all his "social liberal" policies, they get off topic and start talking about windmill taxes and other stuff that has nothing to do with social issues. If he was a "social liberal", he'd be marching in gay pride parades and handing out condoms in public schools.
He's not as conservative as me on social issues, but he's well to the right of a social liberal like Mark Mark or Barney Frank.
Thanks for clearing that up re: Christie. He is a worthy candidate don’t let anyone diss him.
Whoever makes it out of the primary will have my vote, I can't stand Obama one bit.
I'm from upstate NY with relatives in the city and he was nothing but great for NYC. If you can clean up that place, you can clean up Washington.
And those pictures of him in drag were a big joke, you do know that folks, right? Did you see him on SNL? He was funny and a good sport, I taped it and occasionally still watch it when I want a good laugh.
He ran a horrible campaign last time around for sure, but if he can win in NYC, he can win the state, probably NJ (Christie is a good friend of his) and maybe a few other blue states. I don't think Palin, Gingrich, Romney, et al can pick off any blue states.
I want Obama gone. I don't think Giuliani will push any left wing social issues as President of the U.S., he'll know who got him there. He won't be in NYC anymore.
Hey Dirtboy...at this point economic conservatives, moderates and independents may likely disregard Rudy’s abortion and gay rights background...they tend to view him more as a “law and order” candidate as opposed to a “liberal Republican” candidate...also, the Left absolutely positive HATES Rudy with a passion, which gives him “Republican” credibility...regardless, the primary system is not set up to give Rudy a chance in the Republican race, so it’s probably a moot point, so as I indicated, right now this is a Romney/Palin race at this point in time...Merry Christmas ! ...magritte
I guess we should just ignore all of the lobbying for tighter federal gun laws he did over the years.
Not.
Rudy is an authoritarian to the bone and belongs nowhere near the White House.
Giuliani and Palin would be a great ticket.
I will second that. (unlesss she picks him for another post .....AG, SS)
Another great idea.
” Someone should also ask Rudy what happened to the $4 million from the “911 Foundation” he set-up and put his mistress (his present wife) in charge of. “
That oughta be a hoot ;-)
” Only stupid conservatives rally to vote for liberal statists. “
If the Repubs run another RINO, we will likely get Obama for 4 more years
LOL!!
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