[Dat Mon]

Excellent post, and thanks for the ping.

Its nice to see someone think through and lay things out as you have done...this is the kind of FR stuff that puts this place on the notable political Internet sites...one that other analysts and commentators go to for 'raw material'.

Id like to add some more fuel to the fire. ;0)

Ive seen others such as dirtboy question Guiliani's 'judgment', and Spiff and Liz lay out Guilianis real record on abortion, most notably partial birth abortion, an act of brutality and barbarism that cannot, IMHO, be tolerated nor countenanced by an aware moral person.

There's a number of these valid questions...but let me take it one step further.

I question his psychology, and his character to be President....and this is coming from someone who was a big fan of Rudy back in 2000 when he initially ran against Hillary.

I dont question his ability to be....

An effective Federal prosecutor..he was one.

An effective mayor of the largest and most complex city in the US...he was one.

A successful business partner and leader...he apparently is one.

In fact...I dont question his leadership qualities per se, he wrote a book about it.

Let me also put aside, for arguments sake only, other specifics as to whether he is a liberal, the strict constructionist issue, 2nd amendment rights etc...what it comes down to ...for me...

I don't think he has that 'special skill set'; i.e, that peculiar combination of qualities of leadership, toughness, experience base, intelligence, AND...those personal and moral qualities that we need at this time, to lead this country through some potentially very tough times ahead.

I think a hard fought primary and general election campaign, whereby all of Rudy's dirty laundry gets aired, and where he has to perform and compete up against Duncan Hunter, Mitt Romney, and Newt, and then whomever the Dems nominate, will convince other people of this; enough, in fact, so as to make him unelectable.

Nobody's perfect in all categories (except perhaps Washington!), I could compromise in some areas if I absolutely have to..but I think basic character, integrity, and judgment issues are nonnegotiable for me.

An honest man can change his positions over time, happens all the time, a DISHONEST man WILL change his positions in time, (when it is required in order to get what he really wants), but a person cannot easily and readily change who they really are .

[b9]

BUMP ~ wonderful post

[George W. Bush]

An effective Federal prosecutor..he was one.

I never vote for former prosecutors. Too sleazy, expedient.

[Liz]

.......basic character, integrity, and judgment issues are non-negotiable for me. An honest man can change his positions over time, happens all the time, a DISHONEST man WILL change his positions in time, (when it is required in order to get what he really wants), but a person cannot easily and readily change who they really are....

Worth repeating.

Voters expect candidates to fine-tune their positions as an elections approaches.

However, we don't accept candidates lying to us about crucial issues.

In Giuliani's case, it appears he is being cued by his handlers to make measured statements to hike his poll numbers.

The name of the game for Giuliani is to stay ahead no matter what he has to say to do it.

Most offensive are Giuliani's phony "Come to Jesus" moments that pander to conservatives.

Luckily these temporary blackouts of his don't last long. He soon reverts to type.

[Alberta's Child]

Thanks, Dat Mon . . . good post there.