Not to hijack this thread with Rudy talk, but honestly, I'm about as socially conservative as you can get and I think Rudy would be incredibly effective as a leader.
I lived in NYC during his time as mayor. He was incredibly effective and just the kind of fighter we all complain that we don't have in office. He takes it to his political enemies and will not back down.
Rudy is a man of his word and if he said he was going to appoint conservative judges, not only would he do it, but he'd ram them DOWN THE THROAT of the Dems. No namby pamby bullcrap with him.
The only thing that sinks him in my book is the anti-gun stuff. In NYC, it's practically a given that all pols are anti-gun, but that's no excuse to the national audience. I wonder what his answer would be to that.
You have no problem with Rudy being pro abortion, pro partial birth abortion, pro homosexual marriage, or pro amnesty for illegal immigrant invaders?
Don't get me wrong, I like Rudy, but I don't think he would do well on a national stage. That's why I think he could have done the GOP, the nation, and the world a favor by unseating Hillary. It's too late for that, so we do need to find a useful role for his leadership abilities, just not as a presidential candidate.
He also went against the one group as tough as the Dems are (at least they are in politics) - the mob.