Rudy's biggest flaw
I've been very supportive of Rudy Giuliani's candidacy ever since people first began talking about it. But nobody's perfect, of course, and this, in my opinion, is Rudy's biggest flaw.
Rudy Giuliani addressed a potentially troublesome issue with conservative voters, saying his policies as mayor to get handguns off the street helped reduce crime in New York."I used gun control as mayor," he said at a news conference Saturday during a swing through California. But "I understand the Second Amendment. I understand the right to bear arms."
No, Mr. Mayor, you don't. If you did, you wouldn't have followed those comments with this:
He said what he did as mayor would have no effect on hunting.
God, deliver us from Northeasterners who seem to believe that pheasant hunting was so important to the founders that they enshrined it in the Constitution. I hate that!
Anyway, I still find Rudy to be an attractive package overall -- socially liberal, fiscally conservative, and hawkish on defense. A successful Giuliani candidacy would convincingly destroy the stranglehold the religious right currently holds on the GOP. Reasonable Democrats and Republicans alike should welcome that.
Also from what I've heard, Rudy played very well in California, precisely because he's not Bill Frist or Sam Brownback. Think about it -- a popular Republican candidate who could turn both New York and California into battlegrounds. Mind you, he doesn't even have to win either state, but if he forces the Democrats to spend time, energy and money in two huge, vote-rich states that they're accustomed to taking for granted, it would be disastrous for their chances of winning the White House.
Comments
I believe it was reported that Giuliani also said that New York's strict gun control wouldn't be appropriate everywhere.
He's good on taxes, good on race/gender preferences, anti-crime and he understands that terrorism is a military, not a criminal justice problem.
The gun control issue (really a sanction on violent self-defense is troubling)and so is his G W-like stance on immigration (favoring a "guest worker program") but I'd expect him to downplay both those positions, as well as his gay rights stance.
Recently he's said he "never supported gay marriage, but Civil Unions for domestic partners."
He's one of the candidates that really gets the WoT, that's why even though I like Newt Gingrich a LOT more, I could easily support Rudy in the current climate.
Anti-terrorism/the WoT is THE issue right now, at least in my view, and nothing else really comes close.
Posted by: JMK | February 12, 2007 11:46 AM
I like his social liberalism, but I'm not a fan of his "hawkish" views on defense. In my opinion, the biggest issue this country faces is not terrorism, but the lack of affordable health insurance and the absurd rise in the cost of health care. Many more people have been affected by this than were ever hurt by international terrorism.
That's why I'm liking Edwards' campaign. He supports issues that are close to my heart. Of course, he's running a weak third now behind Clinton and Obama in most polls, but strangely enough I think he is more electable as U.S. President because of the unfortunate predjudices that still exist againt a woman or minority becoming President.
Posted by: Tracy Miller | February 12, 2007 02:25 PM
Giuliani, like most Republicans, supports gun control in "minority" areas -- and it works.
We can have guns in the suburbs and rural areas, but in the heavily minority and Democratic urban areas we need gun control.
Inner city people aren't patriotic. They live off government handouts stolen from suburban taxpayers. They are never going to use a gun to defend themselves against the government -- that would be crazy. How would they get their welfare checks, food stamps, and free heating and cooling coupons?
Posted by: BaileyHankins | February 12, 2007 03:27 PM
Actually over 80% of Americans are covered by employer contributed health plans, Tracy.
One of the biggest groups uncovered is illegal aliens, but a friend of mine is largely right, "They're young and strong and even thought they tend to be of smalle stature they love to work hard."
In that regard health insurance iszn't really an issue for them....PLUS, they DON'T belong here, so this (uncovered "undocumented workers") isn't really "an American problem."
It's way too early to get a real picture of the 2008 race - I think HRC's negatives are huge, Obama is an extreme Liberal, so much so that he makes the very Liberal Edwards look almost moderate.
If I had to guess, I'd say an Edwards/Obama ticket looks like it could be the Dems ticket in '08.
Posted by: JMK | February 12, 2007 07:46 PM