By coincidence, things are falling into place to Giuliani's advantage.
Three things the country will demand in 2008 are competence, an anti corruption prosecutor type and someone they trust to fight the war to a winning conclusion.
If Republicans believe social issues will be at the fore in 2008, they are political suicidal.
politically
Well, if Giuliani is to be the GOP candidate, even if he is perfect on economic and foreign policy issues, he has to assure the GOP base on social issues. In other words, he would need to pick a Sam Brownback as his running mate.
Rudi is doing a serious disservice to the party. His proper role is defeating Hillary's Senate re-election run, not running for president. It is, in 2008, far more important that she not be elected than it is any single Republican be elected.
Agreed. If Reps think social issues are going to win in 2008, they are wrong. It will be keeping America safe, and a powerhouse leader will be the only one who can beat the dims.
"Three things the country will demand in 2008 are competence, an anti corruption prosecutor type and someone they trust to fight the war to a winning conclusion. If Republicans believe social issues will be at the fore in 2008, they are political suicidal."
All due respect, Sab:
Competetence, anti-corruption (just wait till New Orleans shakes out further) and trust to fight the war to a winning conclusion...ARE social issues, in my opinion, in that our quality of life derives very much from how powerfully those three areas are dealth with.
My opinion. I also believe, for the conservatives who say they won't support Rudy because he's not conservative enough on some issues, that we will see two dynamics advance in the coming months:
1. Rudy will modify stances on abortion, guns and gay marriage, moving rightward (not far enough for a lot of people here, myself included, but rightward just the same).
2. The conservatives who say he hasn't moved rightward enough will mostly support him just the same, as they will see that the alternative is: Hilary.
How can he differentiate himself from Hillary? When he was running against her in 2000 they had virtually the same position on the issues. (He was a little more explicit on crime issues- although Hillary has always claimed she is tough on those issues. And her public statements, at least, on aboprtion were slightly to the right of his. Other than that, pretty much the same thing.)
Well said! There are for more pressing non-social issues to be addressed that the GOP has been AWOL for too long on:
- Govt. spending like "drunken sailors"
- Declaring war and mobilizing the country to victory
- Energy independence from our enemies
- Immigration/border enforcement to bring jobs/wages back to Americans (and stop the social service spending hemorrhage on ILLEGALs)
It'll be political suicide for conservatives if Guilani gets the GOP nod.
The 2nd biggest issue facing America after WOT is the three-headed monster: Social Security/Medicare/Medicaid. Until a GOP candidate grows some genitals and proposes nothing short of an immediate phase-out of these economic-killing entitlement programs, then you might as well kiss this country goodbye.
Guilani has no business running for President - he'd be great as head of Justice Dept though.
I'm sure you think that adherence to "social issues" is a calculation, but for the vast majority of Republicans they are deeply held beliefs -- the basics of right and wrong in a civilized society, regardless of what is at the "fore".
It seems that way, doesn't it?
I like the way you think. Really, this is why Guilliani would be viable. Historically, odds favor a swing to a Democrat this time around. The only thing that can change that is a very popular and unquestionably competent candidate like Guilliani.
Baloney. Real Americans don't want some pro-abortion, faggot-loving, gun-grabbing liberal from New York City.
Rudy would be better off as Hillary's running mate.....as they have so much in common.
I think you overlooked ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION which is becoming more and more of a "hot button", especially in California and other border states.
What is real political suicide is for the GOP to abandon social issues.
Guliani: anti-Gun, pro-abortion, pro-gay.
The problem with those unusally fixated on the social issues in 2008 is that since 9-11, part of the GOP's message to liberal dems is that they should cool their engines when it comes to some of their social issue concerns in the face of this serious national security threat.
Now it's the GOP's turn to show that we were not full of it with that prescription. The truth is that Rudy as President doesn't have the authority to take everyone's gun away, make same-sex marriage the law of the land, etc.
The war on terror is the primary issue. Conservatives and Republicans who don't recognize that will be caught flat footed as election returns roll in on election night, 2008.
The issue is: who is better suited to continue the next steps in the war against Islamic terrorism - Hillary or Rudy (provided Hilly & Rudy gets the nominations). It's not an imaginary choice between ideal candidates - if one doesn't win, the other will win. Those of the 'I need to vote and sleep soundly' have a strange definition of sleeping soundly if their lack of voting for the GOP, or a vote on a 3rd party candidate, translates into 8 years of President Hillary in a cruicial, violent time in our history.
Not a sound sleep at all.