Giuliani's Star Might Be Rising (Lavish Praise from Gingrich Caps Big Week for 'America's Mayor')

ABC News ^ | Feb. 16, 2007 | TEDDY DAVIS

[Jet Jaguar]

Long dismissed by Washington insiders as incapable of receiving the Republican Party's presidential nomination because of his pro-abortion rights, pro-gay rights and pro-gun control views, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was lavished with praise Friday by an icon of American conservatism.

"He is much stronger than anyone could have predicted six months ago," said former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich from Georgia. "New York is four times safer than it used to be. It's one of the greatest achievements of government capability in the 20th century. And Rudy just has to go out and say, 'This is who I am. If you think the world's dangerous, and you need a tough guy … that's me.' "

Gingrich, who co-wrote a Wall Street Journal op-ed with Giuliani last month, said he is not endorsing the man who led New York City through the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and he noted that he may still jump into the presidential race against him.

But the words of praise from the architect of the GOP's 1994 takeover of Congress capped a big week for Giuliani, which included more encouraging poll numbers, a raucous reception from California Republicans, and the latest round of softball interviews in which he has been able to downplay his liberal social views by espousing his commitment to appointing "strict constructionist" judges.

Nearly a year before the first presidential primaries are held, a Gallup Poll released Wednesday found that Giuliani has a 16-point lead among Republicans over Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

In general election matchups, Gallup found that Giuliani leads Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., by nine points and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., by two points, within the survey's three-point margin of error. McCain, by contrast, ties Obama and trails Clinton by three percentage points.

Saying that former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., is going through a "little bit of a rough patch," Gingrich was noticeably cooler toward Romney today than he has been in the past.

Back in November, while appearing on "Fox News Sunday," Gingrich singled out Romney as someone who is working "very hard" to fill a vacuum in the GOP for a "clearer voice of conservatism," adding that Romney "may well succeed."

Gingrich adopted a different tone toward Romney today after cost estimates for his health care plan, which have soared above the former governor's expectations, which revealed.

"I think that he's very smart, he's very articulate, and he's had a little bit of a rough patch with the cost of the health plan is Massachusetts," said Gingrich, "But he's a very smart guy, and I think he'll be a very significant candidate."

In assessing Giuliani's potential appeal to conservatives, Gingrich pointed to Giuliani saying in recent interviews that he would appoint "strict constructionist" judges.

Gingrich predicted that one of Giuliani's GOP rivals would air television ads attacking him for having made positive statements in the past about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court justice appointed by former President Clinton, who has upheld abortion rights.

Gingrich, however, seemed unconvinced that the line of attack would work

"And as he said the other day," said Gingrich, "he would have appointed the same two Supreme Court justices as Bush did. So conservatives have got to decide, you know, is that acceptable or not acceptable?"

[Reagan Man]

Foolish post, bucko!

Jim`s not impressed either.

"And so it starts. Michael Reagan should hang his head in shame. I never would have suspected he'd tuck tail and run in the face of adversity. Buck it up Reagan!"
~~~ Jim Robinson

[onyx]

Nice knowing ya, Newt ------

Free Republic Opinion Poll: If the short list for Republican Nominee were narrowed down to the following, which one would you favor?

Composite Opinion
Newt Gingrich	27.4%		2,315
Duncan Hunter	21.2%		1,793
Rudy Giuliani	15.5%		1,310
Tom Tancredo	11.4%		965
Mitt Romney	9.3%		789
Undecided/pass	6.6%		560
Ron Paul	6.3%		531
John McCain	2.3%		194
	100.0%		8,457
Member Opinion
Newt Gingrich	26.0%		905
Duncan Hunter	26.0%		905
Rudy Giuliani	14.2%		493
Tom Tancredo	10.3%		358
Undecided/pass	8.6%		299
Mitt Romney	7.9%		274
Ron Paul	5.5%		191
John McCain	1.6%		54
	100.1%		3,479
Non-Member Opinion
Newt Gingrich	28.3%		1,410
Duncan Hunter	17.8%		888
Rudy Giuliani	16.4%		817
Tom Tancredo	12.2%		607
Mitt Romney	10.3%		515
Ron Paul	6.8%		340
Undecided/pass	5.2%		261
John McCain	2.8%		140
	99.8%		4,978

[ More Opinion Polls · Return to Forum ]

[BigSkyFreeper]

He's not very articulate. LOL

[onyx]

He's flat out dumb.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Nice knowing ya, Newt ------

LOL. I actually voted "Undecided".

[BigSkyFreeper]

He's flat out dumb.

Can't disagree with you on that one. It was painful to listen to.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

I don't know about anyon else, but I'm really disappointed in Jim Robinson's reaction to Rudy's rise. I thought he of all people would understand that we need somebody who can lead in these times, not just be the social conservatives' prom queen.

Peach, onyx: I think a lot of the Rudy bashers are contemplating mass suicide. Cults tend to do that when they're exposed to reality.

[onyx]

He was the choice of 905 members --- how many like him now?

See, it only takes one little excursion off the straight and narrow, and wham --- hero to turncoat, sell out, rino.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

As my Mom would say, if Ron Paul had a brain in his head he'd be dangerous.

[BigSkyFreeper]

See, it only takes one little excursion off the straight and narrow, and wham --- hero to turncoat, sell out, rino.

Exactly. Just last week, a Gingrich column was posted on FR and many were falling all over themselves heaping praise on Newt.

[BigSkyFreeper]

As my Mom would say, if Ron Paul had a brain in his head he'd be dangerous.

LOL! My mom tends to say that about idiots and fools too.

[PhilDragoo]

Hillary must be defeated. She will remove our troops from Iraq and disable the intelligence network which has prevented follow-on domestic terror attacks.

She will send a Madeleine Albright or a Bill Richardson to sign a worthless treaty with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, insuring he has the time and secrecy to complete his nuclear weapons ambitions.

She will stamp out the last of any independent medical care and smother a seventh of the economy with the mother of all bureaucracies.

She will crush the domestic oil industry making us totally dependent on the tender mercies of Hugo Chavez and Tehran's Ratman.

She will pack the Supreme Court with a coven of Ginsberg clones.

She will crank the rack until the taxpayer's back is broken, and crank it some more.

She will make the president's surveillance programs look like Mr. Rogers' saccharine and glutinous salutations.

She will destroy just about anyone who opposes her in this election, but she and her channeled guru Saul Alinsky will not be able to destroy Rudy Giuliani.

News flash: Republicans under Newt with his Contract defeated Hillary and took back the House without any mention of guns, gays or abortion.

It will be impossible to address the latter three issues should Hillary be elected.

Either she suspends further elections (she resents things that she doesn't initiate and control) or the Islamofascists will, having no strength in their way, lay waste to life as we know it and initiate sharia law.

With the aid and blessing of their friends the Democrats, the media, Russia and China.

There is some good news for single-issue voters: homosexuals will be sentenced to stoning under sharia law.

The bad news is so will most of those able to read and post here.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Lol, and now I'll bet a lot of them have now fallen on their swords in despair...once Rush fully gets on board it'll all be over except for the whimphering and the straitjackets.

[o-n-money]

Rudy vs. Hillary and we have to choose between two New Yorkers. Yuck! It's too revolting even to think about it.

Hillary is not a New Yorker. I don't know where Carpetbaggers get their start.

[EternalVigilance]

There is some good news for single-issue voters: homosexuals will be sentenced to stoning under sharia law.

Offensive DU-level disrespectful-of-conservatives crap. Garbage.

[onyx]

You have FR mail. Please don't let the bashing, trashing and slashing upset you very much. This is pre-primary season and it's ugly.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

I think Shrillary was actually born in Illinois.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Yeah, I'm just waiting for Rush to get on board. LOL

Not a matter of if, but when.

I remember Rush back in 2000 when he said he wasn't thrilled with the choices we had either, but he backed George W. Bush the moment he was nominated, and I vividly remember he was ticked off when all that garbage was dumped on the Thursday before the election to try to tilt the momentum toward Gore.

[Blackirish]

Rudy vs. Hillary and we have to choose between two New Yorkers. Yuck! It's too revolting even to think about it.

---

Wrong ...Rudy is the man the men in th caves don't want to bee prez. They would love to see hillary..fresh meat for the kill.

[onyx]

There you are tattling again. Will you please grow up? It's absolutely amazing that you delight in bashing GOP candidates, but take offense when Hillary is bashed and mocked.