Dear oceanview,
"gay marriage for example has made its greatest strides ..."
So far at the state level, only.
I don't think that most folks would expect Mr. Bush to interfere at that level.
"only on the litmus test social issues - which neither McCain or Rudy will move the ball on either way if elected president. "
Well, I don't know about Sen. McCain. I do know that Mr. Giuliani would be unlikely to try to propose any federal limits on abortion; if it were to come up as a federal issue, he would not do anything to oppose federalized homosexual marriage; it is quite likely that he would re-introduce an "assault" weapons ban, etc.
So, in one case, we might get someone who doesn't turn the tide for us (Sen. McCain), in the other, we'd have someone who would advance the causes that we loathe.
As well, it is remotely possible that a President McCain might appoint justices to the Supreme Court who were not flaming liberals. It is highly unlikely that a President Giuliani (yech, now I have to wash my keyboard) would.
Sen. McCain wouldn't by my first choice.
Nor my second.
Perhaps not my third.
But I could hold my nose and pull the lever for him in the general election.
Short of his having a Damascus-like conversion experience, I could never, ever vote for Mr. Giuliani for president.
sitetest
if the current SCOTUS tosses the defense of marriage act - can Bush do anything about that? what powers do you think he has?
don't confuse positions Rudy had to take as mayor of liberal NYC - with what he might do as president. he has a strong background as a lawyer and a prosecutor, and I hardly see his record as indicative of him appointing ruth bader ginsburg like justices.