Rudy Guiliani, the Fascist according to Chrissy, is running for President according to all the news today and LGF found the YouTube vid’s of his interview with Sean Hannity tonight:
There are many issues I disagree with him over, but as I tell my wife over and over you cannot choose the perfect President. Very rarely will you come across a person who you agree with 100%. Just doesn’t happen. But so far Rudy sure seems to be one of the front runners who can win. That’s an important point, one who can win. After seeing this interview I may have become a fan of Rudy’s. We shall see.
All I know is that this is the man who booted Arafat out of the Lincoln Center:
Ten years ago this week, the UN was marking its fiftieth anniversary with a series of events around New York City, including an Oct. 23 invitation-only Lincoln Center concert performed by the New York Philharmonic for a glittering list of dignitaries and diplomats. When Rudy Giuliani spotted Yasser Arafat and his entourage making their way to a private box seat near the stage that evening, the mayor immediately ordered the Palestinian leader off the premises.
The man in the street cheered the mayor’s gutsy move, but the city’s liberal elite was appalled. "The proper role of New York, as the UN’s home city," sniffed The New York Times, "is to play gracious host to all of the 140 or so world leaders present for the organization’s gala 50th birthday celebrations."
A spokesman for the Clinton administration, which had done so much to build up Arafat’s reputation as a statesman, termed Giuliani’s action "an embarrassment to everyone associated with diplomacy."
Former mayors David Dinkins and Ed Koch held a joint press conference to denounce Giuliani. "Mayor Giuliani has behavioral problems dealing with other people," Koch told reporters.
Two days after the concert an unrepentant Giuliani said, "I would not invite Yasser Arafat to anything, anywhere, anytime, anyplace. I don’t forget."
He is ok in my book.
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Of the three stooges (Guiliani, McCain, and Romney), Guiliani is the best choice. What makes me nervous about him is not his stand on abortion rights or gay marriage, but the fact that he is a gun grabber. Otherwise, Guiliani is the only choice (so far) for conservatives when it comes to federal issues (budget, taxes, federal regulation, etc.) McCain and Romney have either taken stances that make them bad choices for President (McCain) or are just spineless jelly fish (Romney). At least Guiliani has been consistent and unwavering from his principles, even if I don’t agree with them all.
Yeah he’s okay, for a guy that’s pretty liberal (social policy-wise) and pretty anti-gun.
At least he’s not McCain…
Well, as a great mind once schooled me, why be worried by a President who can’t really change any of those issues such as gun control and abortion. The only way he can is with Justices and he has said repeatedly he wants strict constructionists. In the interview above he says he would leave it up to the states as far as gun control, one place may need it while another does not. Another plus in my book, less government.
My main worry with any future President is will he be tough on foreign policy and with Rudy I have no doubt.
While not perfect, of all the candidates out there I think he is our best shot. He can run all over Hillary and Co. in any debate, he brings in many moderates, and he is tough on foreign policy.
You’re right that the President has very little control over the abortion issue, but gun control is a different story. A President Guiliani with a Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid can pass laws like the assault weapons ban. If congress can pass the AWB and SCOTUS doesn’t consider it unconstitutional, what about hand guns? I’m not an absolutist (why would a citizen need a howitzer to protect his life and property?), but the AWB did not ban just battle rifles, it banned scary looking guns.
If my choices are only between Guiliani, McCain, and Romney, then Guiliani is my man. That doesn’t mean I don’t have reservations.
Since I just plugged the video in this post at Chatterbox Chronicles: http://chatterboxchronicles.blogspot.com/2007/02/rudy-is-in.html
I’m sure you’ll forgive me for repeating what I said there:
I lived in New York before he was elected and it was a mess. Garbage blew down the concrete canyons. Graffiti covered everything. Panhandlers didn’t ASK for money, they DEMANDED it.
Rudy gave New York back it’s soul. Was he the perfect mayor? No. But as we have already discussed on these comment streams, there is no perfect human being, let alone a perfect politican.
His performance on Hannity and Cholmes was masterful. He’s talking about LEADING conservatives, not simply pandering to them.
It’s too early for me to make any kind of endorsement and God knows I don’t begrudge anyone who prefers another candidate (if only we could get Newt elected).
But no matter what the outcome, Giuliani will challenge all other candidates to behave like leaders.
And that’s a good thing.