I too was inspired by his words after 9/11. And I think he was a good mayor for New York City. And in some ways, I wouldn’t mind him being president. I don’t think he is evil incarnate.
I just don’t equate the feeling he gave me after 9/11 with actual leadership. It FELT like it, but when I objectively examine his record, I see it was all feeling and emotion for me, not anything he actually did or accomplished.
That’s not an “indictment” of him, I don’t think there was something he was supposed to accomplish that he didn’t or anything, I just don’t see him as really special or especially suited for being the leader of the war on terror.
When the fights first broke out here with Rudy people, I was on the pro-rudy side, NOT because I was going to vote for him, but because I didn’t like the attacks on Rudy, who I figured might well be our nominee. I don’t like us tearing apart our own people (I’m still defensive of all the other candidates we have, I’ve even been known to say nice things about Hagel and McCain).
But while defending him, I started realising I didn’t like the company I was keeping. As infantile as the anti-rudy people were from time to time, I found myself agreeing with their sentiment while decrying their words. And the rudy posters I was agreeing with were very unagreeable, very smug, ill-prepared to defend their candidate, full of words of fear and defeat.
And at some point, I decided that at least he had enough people fighting to keep him viable, and I decided I’d rather fight for a candidate I felt more in tune with. So I joined another hopeless cause, trying to defend Mitt Romney against those who said he was too liberal to support here. (Given the number of people who say that about Mitt, who’s way more conservative than Rudy, I think the Rudy people have nothing to complain about).
I’d be happy to vote for Mitt Romney, but I don’t think he’s going to win the primary. Heck, I’d love to have President Duncan Hunter, but I don’t expect that either. But I defend Romney because I think he’s a good man who is overly maligned out of fear he is lying to us, which I don’t think he is. But I’m not married to Mitt, he could lose my support as I learn more.
My guess is I’ll end up supporting Fred Thompson, because he’ll be viable and conservative. If I were in charge and it was the day to vote, I’d love to vote for a Thompson/Romney ticket.
Anyway, that’s how I feel about all this. I thank you for your opinions.
You’re welcome and thank you, too.
I don’t know enough about Romney and nothing about Hunter to even voice an opinion. I like reading here because I’ve learned quite a bit, read articles I never would have seen, etc. I know just enough about boards/posting/the internet to know it’s dangerous but there’s a tiny part of me that still believes it’s not all bad (re disagreeable posters, unpleasant people, etc.). Hell, I have a personal stalker (kills me to even admit it, sorta takes the wind out of my toughness) and it carried over into my real life because I was a stupid adult that knew nothing about the internet and its dangers. It’s something that will hang over my head my entire life and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. It’s like the terrorists (not as severe of course, just making a comparison to the helplessness, and I hate helplessness). I reacted and got screwed. I trusted and got screwed and it’s all my fault. I never imagined that an online stalker would carry over into my real life and threaten, or what I know in my gut to be a real threat, so I try not to tick anyone off. It’s something that will hang over my head for the rest of my life so they won. Again, per your comment about aligning with the rudy or whomever supporters, and again, I only have good thoughts about this site so far but I’ve read a few threads that do get personal. It’s something I will never understand. I’m probably a moron for continually posting when I have to be extra careful since I put my family in danger by my stupidity - fortunately, I own a gun and know how to use it. It sucks not knowing one’s enemy and though I compare it to what our world is like now, I know my danger is minor compared to what our troops face daily.
Off the tangent now :), I do equate his words and actions as real leadership. Despite what I feel about his stand on gun control (just found out because of here) and his abortion stand. Personally, I don’t understand how anyone could support abortion/murder but that’s just me. I don’t see what he did during 9-11 as just feeling. He acted. He lead. Bush said a lot of words, from the heart and mind imo and acted on them and still does. Bush lead this country during 9-11 and afterward. He’s leading it now but the feel good sentiment of half the country left his side. I’m still on his side. I’m still on Rudy’s side when it comes to 9-11 and his ability as mayor of NYC. His leadship and actions as mayor and during 9-11 is something I can’t argue with. I hate his abortion opinion but I hate what a lot of people think and feel about it. I hate his gun control (my opinion, gun control only works on those that follow the law anyway and means nothing to criminals).
He was a true leader during 9-11 because he motivated (me anyway)and spoke about not surrendering, he was there in the World Trade Center as chaos ensued as he should have been as the Mayor. He attended all those funerals and it didn’t come off to me as just a publicity shot like so many in politics during that time. None of this means I’ll vote for him in the primary. Just like the guts of it all comes out during the ads with all of them and their facade crumples, the debates and what they respond to on the spot shows the cracks, we’ll see it about all of them or what the MSM wants us to see.
Like my mom always said, and moms are always right - lol, think with your head, feel with your heart, but go with your gut.
I’m not in tune with any of the repub candidates yet. I’m sure one will stick out or hit me eventually, or at least I hope one does. I need to know more about all of them. I know way too much about the dem frontrunners and possible candidates and none are to my liking at all.