Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
I was a diehard Rudy supporter for years leading up to '08. I felt burned by his embarrassing performance in the primaries after a year as the frontrunner, so, frankly, I hate to admit that I felt a spark of excitement upon seeing this story.
For anyone else in despair over the current field I suggest you take a moment to reconsider Rudy Giuliani. Yes, he has baggage. If you're worried about personal baggage then you can take Romney, who has only political baggage. Also, put aside 9-11. Its a shame he got tagged as a one issue candidate, because Rudy has, by far, the most impressive actual record of successful conservative governance of anyone in - or rumored to be in - the race. Mayor of NYC may be the most challenging executive gig in the nation aside from the presidency - especially back in the early 90s. He has an outstanding fiscal record of cutting spending and taxes in a leftist stronghold. Again, the tag of "Mr. 9-11" overshadowed his lasting achievements as mayor. Here's a guy who was able stand film and push through genuine, Thatcherite economic reform in a city of unrepentant Marxists.
Yes, he is more moderate on social issues, but, in contrast to Romney, Giuliani has acknowledged these differences and given forthright answers on how he would handle such issues as president. In 2008, before his candidacy crashed, Rudy was even winning the support of prominent Evangelicals.
We already know he's a born leader. We know he has a firm grasp on foreign policy.
Giuliani would also clean Obama's clock in a debate.
After the '08 debacle he shouldn't have a chance, but, given the alternatives, could Giuliani become a serious option?
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Aug '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
I would definitely give Rudy another look. He's one of the smartest and most well-tested candidates on the American scene.
Sep '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
Guiliani got "tagged" as the 9/11 hero by Time (Warner) Magazine because they didn't want to give any credit whatsoever to Bush. But Rudy kept the idea alive, so much so that he started a security consulting firm and part of his every utterance for a time was, "When I was managing the aftermath of 9/11..."
He finally, after much ridicule stopped - but it was too late. In 2008 no one wanted to hear it. In Giuliani we have another out-of-touch elite who looks backwards. And now he is too old and he hasn't much passion. He won't energize anyone on our side. He's a Catholic - but not really, he's a squish on immigration, he doesn't push back hard enough on the left-wing schemes of cap and trade and climate change. And I believe I'm speaking for a whole bunch of libertarian-minded conservatives when I say we are sick of these prosecutorial law-and-order types. While our country is moving toward leftism these Republicans are all too happy to put more laws on the books and empowering the police state.
Oct '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
he should join the primaries.
May '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
No, no, no.
How many times do we need to re-learn the lesson that Republicans who cave on the social issues are unreliable in all the others before we believe it?
Just look at today's Scott Brown news.
Aug '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
katievs: No, no, no.
How many times do we need to re-learn the lesson that Republicans who cave on the social issues are unreliable in all the others before we believe it?
Just look at today's Scott Brown news. · May 24 at 6:06am
While I would prefer a candidate who is passionate about conservative social issues, I don't think it's mandatory in a good president. Ronaldus Magnus wasn't. Giuliani could win, and I think he would do the will of the American majority, which is conservative on social issues.
It's not fair to compare Rudy Giuliani to Scott Brown, who has no record of accomplishment and nothing like the IQ - emotional and intellectual - of Rudy.
May '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
What do you mean Reagan wasn't passionate on the social issues? He could hardly have been more so. He reluctantly signed a pro-abortion bill as gov. of California, then regretted it painfully for the rest of his life as his worst error of judgment. As President, he authored the first book ever published by a sitting President: Abortion and the Conscience of a Nation. He took every opportunity to stress the indispensable value of faith, the sanctity of life, and the importance of marriage and family...
Pro-choice Republicans invariably look down on the conservative majority as "extreme" and backward. They see themselves as moving their party in a more enlightened, sophisticated direction when they push it toward accepting abortion and gay "marriage". See Arnold Schwartzenegger. See Arlen Specter.
Look at Republicans in Congress. The ones that are strongest fiscally tend to be the most ardently pro-life. The social issue squishes also tend to be the worst "compromisers" on fiscal questions.
Rudy did some great things for NYC--city of my birth. But I would hate, hate, hate to see him jump in the race and exacerbate the tensions already existing between establishment republicans and the grassroots.
Nov '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
To say that Rudy Giuliani has "baggage" is a major understatement. How, exactly, would his campaign "explain away" photographs showing Rudy in drag?
I am a New Yorker-- and I love Rudy Giuliani. He is, in fact, a proven leader who did an amazing job as the Mayor of NYC. Yes, on social issues, he is decidedly liberal. But he is a true fiscal conservative. And his foreign policy positions should warm the hearts of most conservatives.
Personally, I am not at all troubled by the fact that Rudy is one of the more prominent cross-dressers in America. Maybe this is because I am a New Yorker, and we tend to take such things in stride. But it is hard for me to imagine that the Republican party, as a whole, would be comfortable nominating a man who clearly loves to dress like a woman.
I wonder which is the greater liability: Giuliani's personal proclivities, or Mitt Romney's Mormon faith?
Dec '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
Yes, we need Giuliani to run -- for Senate.
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
In keeping with my new Matthew Gilley "Relax Ricochet" posture, I say, "Hey, let's hear what he has to say and wait to see how it goes."
Aug '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
He'll be 68 years old in 2012.
He's a cancer survivor, which means he's "at risk" for a relapse.
(Aside: His father died of cancer at the age of 71, but that was back in 1981 and cancer treatments have advanced by leaps and bounds since then, so that may not be relevant.)
Question: Do these age and/or health issues make a difference?
Even if the reality is that Giuliani is healthy as a horse, there's the question of optics and television-friendliness.
I'm imagining a future debate with tall, young, vibrant, athletic Obama standing next to short, old, bald, slightly-shaky-on-his-feet Giuliani. The optics kinda scare me.
I hate that this stuff matters, but it does.
Sep '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
I wonder which is the greater liability: Giuliani's personal proclivities, or Mitt Romney's Mormon faith?
Reminds me of my favorite Mark Steyn line: "How come the only guy in this race with one wife is the Mormon candidate?"
Mar '11
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
Uh, no.
Jul '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
I disagree. One of the great benefits of the conservative blogosphere is that prospective candidates can no longer sweep their past under the rug while telling us what they think we want to hear.
Consider Tim Pawlenty: does anyone believe he would have renounced his previous stances on cap and trade and ethanol if those hadn't become hot-button issues on the conservative side of the Web?
And it surely wasn't the Sunday talk shows that held Mitt Romney's feet to the fire on Romneycare.
No, no...the more information, the more discussion, the more debate, the better. No one is forced to participate - we offer plenty of other fluffy diversions.
As for Rudy Giuliani, he was a magnificent leader of a city with a GDP nearly three times that of a state whose social conservative Twitter diva couldn't even stick it out for a full term.
Edited on May 24, 2011 at 11:00amDec '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
Kenneth, let it go.
May '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
It really is 2008 all over again. =/
Jul '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
I, too, was strongly for Rudy in '08, but putting all his chips on Florida in the primaries was such a huge mistake. That strategic folly, more than any other factor, cost him any chance of the nomination. Now that Mitch isn't around and I'm having trouble getting excited about T-Paw, I've been rethinking my "read my lips: no former losers" policy. I've been rethinking Romney, and since Peter King was found to be commenting on it, I've been rethinking Rudy as well. I can't say for sure yet whether I'd like to see his name on a presidential ballot, but I do know that he should have been the one gunning for Kirsten Gillibrand's seat in the Senate. Now that that ship has sailed, he can either wait it out and take Cuomo's job in three years, or he can run for the White House. As much as I love him and would love to have a New Yorker in the White House, I am seriously on the fence about Rudy.
Oct '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
katievs: No, no, no.
How many times do we need to re-learn the lesson that Republicans who cave on the social issues are unreliable in all the others before we believe it?
Just look at today's Scott Brown news. · May 24 at 6:06am
Is it really "caving" to maintain steadfastly one's views? He may be a social moderate but if he's always been faithful to those views, then isn't that a positive thing?
I may not agree with him on x, y, or z but because he's always been consistent in his views on x, y, and z, I can trust him when he says a, b, and c.
I'm not looking for a candidate with whom I agree on everything. I'm looking for a candidate whom I can trust on everything.
Mar '11
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
Yes, I am also trying that out - twas very good advice.
I would have no problem at all with Giuliani, even though he sometimes wears dresses...
Edited on May 24, 2011 at 11:33amJul '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
Why would I? Since Palin is the social conservatives' banner-carrier, it's fair to compare her to a candidate who is the subject of their brickbats.
Dec '10
Re: Could Our Unlikely Savior Be ... Giuliani?
No it hasn't. That was for an abbreviated term. Gillibrand is up again in 2012 for a full six-year term.