Rudy 'No Conservative' Giuliani Receives Reagan Award

NewsMax ^ | 3/11/02 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

This past Friday night, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was feted in Beverly Hills where he received the Ronald Reagan Presidential Freedom Award.

The dinner, hosted by Nancy Reagan, is the annual event for the Reagan Presidential Library. Mrs. Reagan was on hand, with daughter Patti, but her son Ron was not invited, nor was her stepson Michael Reagan, the nationally syndicated conservative radio show host. "This means a great deal to me, to receive a medal from Mrs. Reagan and have it named after Ronald Reagan," Giuliani told the crowd. He also claimed Reagan was his role model.

"This award means more than any other I have ever received," Giuliani said.

Giuliani's remarks seemed a bit odd to some of New York's best Giuliani chroniclers.

They note that Giuliani has long distanced himself from the conservative "Reagan" wing of the Republican Party.

A one-time McGovern Democrat, Giuliani switched to the Republican Party only after Reagan came to power in 1980 -- a decision widely viewed as a good career move.

When Giuliani left the U.S. Attorney's office to run for mayor of New York in 1989, he was quick to distance himself from President Reagan and publicly criticized many of his policies.

As a mayoral candidate in 1989 and 1993, Rudy was also the candidate of the New York's far left Liberal Party.

He had no interest in running for his office on the state's Conservative Party line, which Reagan himself ran on.

Even moderate Republicans typically receive the Conservative Party nod. But Giuliani spent eight years in Gracie Mansion distancing himself from the traditional Reagan wing of the Republican Party.

As Mayor, Giuliani became a champion of several key initiatives of Bill Clinton, and even endorsed liberal Democrat Mario Cuomo during the hotly contested 1994 governor's race.

But last week Giuliani was sounding like he was a born again Reaganite. Earlier in the week he was also the featured speaker at a Washington Republican dinner wowing Republicans with a conservative message.

Columnist Robert Novak even noted that Giuliani is being touted as Dick Cheney's replacement in 2004.

But many New York Republicans, of the Reagan mold, are saying "Not so fast!"

They note Rudy was a good city manager during prosperous times, and he offered the city leadership after Sept. 11, but he is far from being a Reagan Republican.

[JennysCool]

But last week Giuliani was sounding like he was a born again Reaganite

Gee, Limbacher -- maybe he is!

[JohnGalt]

In 1998, he advocated eliminating the capital gains tax.

In 2001, I got a $300 rebate check.

Carl from Oyster Bay should go back to carrying Senator Pothole's water.

[OldFriend]

He was the right man at the right time........can we at least save our bashing for those who deserve our disdain.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

"In 1998, he advocated eliminating the capital gains tax."

[JohnGalt]

I'm a libertarian, but I do not understand what litmus test Carl for Oyster Bay is applying here to say that Rudy is not a 'Conservative' when George W. is the lead 'Conservative' in the country.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

First, libertarians are liberal, thus making such a distinction more difficult. There is no bipartisanship, Clinton offered nothing worthwhile, and what makes a complete change of attitude in a matter of a few weeks acceptable?

[JohnGalt]

Clinton cut the capital gains tax; George W. sent me a $300 'rebate check' and promotes protective tarriffs.

It makes me want to shower, but Clinton was more of a supply-sider than Bush is proving to be.

Again, I asked, what litmus test are we using for Conservative these days? An R next to the name? Being intellectually against abortion, but not doing a thing to stop the partial birth industry-- does that qualify as Conservative?

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

How was Clinton a "supply-sider"?

[RnMomof7]

I agree Bush also restored some of the welfare Clinton cut. He is opening our borders..

He is nominally pro life ..but as far as I can see that's it. He has put more openly gay men in political positions than Clinton ever did.

Rudy is tough on crime and fiscally responsible..He qualifies as much of a conservative as Bush!

[JohnGalt]

Granted, Clinton did not know he was [acting as a supply-sider] and a GOP Congress, who equally did not understand what they were doing, lowered the capital gains tax and balanced the budget which makes investing a better bet than say, purchasing government debt (bonds).

Bush merely correct "bracket creap" for the past 12 years; that means people who were bumped up tax brackets due to inflation and the growth of the economy, or simply, more tax payers. That will provide additional cash for people to spend (demand side) but does not encourage investment that comes with meaningful top rate cuts or capital gains cuts.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

What is the Laffer Curve?

[JohnGalt]

The 'he' here that I am reffering to is Guiliani. If he chooses to go national, he will prove a greater friend to supply-siders than Bush.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Laffer curve?

[JohnGalt]

Tax revenues to tax rate curve, illustrating that there are two points on the curve that will yield the same tax revenue, say taxing the populace at 80% versus taxing the populace at 20%; its based on a simple diminishing returns for dong business "over the table" and under the table concept.

Laffer figured the number at 12.3% and wrote the flat tax plan for Jerry Brown in 1992 (based on a 13% flat tax and a 13% Value Added Tax.) (Steve Forbes elminated the VAT portion and settled on a 17% flat tax number.)

Supply-siders were captured for the GOP by Reagan who also wooed libertarians (like myself) who say a means to an end with the pragmatic politcs of supply-side. Basically, buy off Democrats with pork (roads and public works), whatever crap they want just no new 'programs' like say the Bush Education Bill.

[JohnGalt]

The end point I am making here is that in my estimation, Rudy is no more a threat to 'Conservative' politcal goals than George W. and in some cases he is in a better postion to further long term goals.