Redstate

Posted at 11:13am on Nov. 9, 2007 Is Michigan's early primary dead? Mark Brewer and John Edwards sure hope so...

By RightMichigan.com

Cross-posted on Right Michigan at www.RightMichigan.com.

Just a quick note on the save-the-primary process...

The Senate yesterday overwhelmingly approved an updated bill that would save the January 15 joint primary but there's a catch.  Without a procedural move granting the bill "immediate effect" it won't go into effect until March.  Kinda late, don't you think?

The Dems all walked away from the immediate effect vote.  That way they can claim they voted for the joint primary, that they didn't WANT to disenfranchise millions of Michigan voters and that they aren't really in the pocket of Big Labor when in reality they are.  

Posted in Breaking News | Clinton | Edwards | Fred | Michigan | Paul | Presidential Primary | Romney | Rudy — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 9:16am on Nov. 5, 2007 Giuliani No Better Than Hillary On Abortion? I Don't Think So ...

The Choice Here For Pro-Lifers Is Ultimately Between More Abortions & Less Abortions.

By Martin A. Knight

For what it's worth, I'm already on record as not a Primary supporter of Rudy (even if this is my second somewhat "pro-Rudy" post in as many weeks), but in the general, I would happily pull the lever for the man because he will be many times better than the alternative. Even on life issues. Believe it or not, the truth is, from all indications, I don't think Rudy gives that much of a damn about abortion. That makes him much easier to sway than someone who passionately upholds it as a sacrament (Hillary). And if, as he must, he picks a pro-lifer to be his Vice President, when his term(s) is/are done, we will have successor in line for the White House who is pro-life.

Will we get that with Hillary? Does anybody believe that the Press Corps will do anything that will jeopardize President Hillary being succeeded by her equally rabidly pro-abortion Vice President? Understand this, the Press now knows from 2006 that they can control the mushy middle (not by building up Democrats, but by tearing down Republicans) and they're going to make sure she has an eight year honeymoon if she wins - corruption and scandals are going to be spun, covered up and even pinned on Republicans, until her successor is safely inaugurated.

Never forget this; defeat does indeed have consequences. And they could last decades. Upon decades. Imagine three (or more) 40 year old Ginsburgs and Breyers on the Court - and one of them could be replacing Justice Scalia.

More below ...

Posted in 2008 | Abortion | Archived | election | giuliani | Rudy | unity — Comments (21)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 9:53am on Jun. 4, 2007 Rudy Made New York Governable and Safe

By Joe Lhota

We're pleased to welcome former Deputy Mayor for Operations of the City of New York Joe Lhota to the front page. Erick.

In the early nineties, New York City was said to be ungovernable, out of control, beyond reversal. Tourists no longer felt safe visiting the Big Apple and leaders refused to take action against crime. In 1993, there were almost 2,000 murders, and each week more than 11,000 major crimes were committed.

When Rudy Giuliani became Mayor of New York City in 1994, he helped refocus the NYPD’s efforts by launching a revolutionary program named CompStat that helped make New York City the safest large city in the United States. Mayor Giuliani proposed attacking crime by making the NYPD accountable for crime levels in every precinct using performance-based measures.

CompStat employed four main crime-fighting principles: timely and accurate gathering of information; effective solutions; efficient deployment of personnel; and constant reassessment. CompStat was not just an analytical tool – it was a revolutionary new way to think about crime.

Read on . . .

Posted in 2008 | Rudy — Comments (52)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 9:49am on May 23, 2007 Mike Gerson Zaps Giuliani on the Life Issue

Why Personal Opposition/Public Legality Doesn't Add Up Here

By Hunter Baker

The Washington Post has a piece up by the former top Bush speechwriter Mike Gerson in which the wordsmith takes on Giuliani's abortion stance known by many as the "Cuomo position."

Take a peek:

In early debates and statements, he has set out his views on this topic with all the order and symmetry of a freeway pileup. His argument comes down to this: "I hate abortion," which is "morally wrong." But "people ultimately have to make that choice. If a woman chooses that, that's her choice, not mine. That's her morality, not mine."

This is a variant of the position developed by New York Gov. Mario Cuomo in 1985. In this view, the Catholic Church's belief in the immorality of abortion is correct, in the same sense that its belief in the Immaculate Conception is correct. Both beliefs are religious, private and should not be enforced by government.

But the question naturally arises: Why does Giuliani "hate" abortion? No one feels moral outrage about an appendectomy. Clearly he is implying his support for the Catholic belief that an innocent life is being taken. And here the problems begin.

How can the violation of a fundamental human right be viewed as a private matter? Not everything that is viewed as immoral should be illegal; there are no compelling public reasons to restrict adultery, for example, or to outlaw sodomy. But when morality demands respect for the rights of a human being, those protections become a matter of social justice, not just personal or religious preference.

END.

Posted in 2008 | Life Issues | Rudy — Comments (11)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 7:11pm on May 17, 2007 We Must Put Forward Rudy

By Gov. Bob Ehrlich

It is clear that Rudy Giuliani is the right man at the right time. Rudy is already showing the leadership skills of a President and it is still early on the campaign. In the Fox News debate, Rudy stressed to the American people that we as a nation must focus on the terrorists’ war against us and our economy. Those are the defining issues of our time, and we need a strong leader like Rudy who is focused on defending this country against terrorism and growing our economy.

Rudy’s answers on foreign policy issues show that he will not let this country fall back into a pre-9/11 mentality. He has seen first hand what happens if we do not stay on offense against the terrorists, and he will use his power as President to keep the country on offense.

On growing the economy, just this week, Club for Growth President Pat Toomey said “It is impossible to ignore Giuliani's overall commitment to a pro-growth philosophy and his executive talent for implementing that philosophy in a hostile political environment.” The Club for Growth praised Mayor Giuliani’s record of cutting taxes and drastically cutting spending. His proven record as a fiscal conservative in New York City makes him the ideal candidate to clean up Washington’s nonstop spending.

Read on . . .

Posted in 2008 | Rudy — Comments (55)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 1:48pm on May 11, 2007 The End of Rudy

Rudy gives the final speech of his campaign in Houston

By Ben Domenech

In 1960, a certain Catholic politician from the Northeast came to Houston to speak to a group of Protestant leaders. John F. Kennedy spoke confidently and eloquently about his faith, the importance of bridging the gap between Protestants and Catholics. He convinced many supporters to join him that day, and he went on to win the White House.

Today, from the front row at Houston Baptist University, Rudy Giuliani seemed far less confident than JFK. He was more nervous and unsettled than we've ever seen him. He seemed to lose his place in his prepared remarks, and quickly abandoned them. He mopped his brow repeatedly. As soon as he said his piece on abortion, he was visibly relieved.

What he had to say was not what any pro-life American would hope for. He is resolutely holding to the position of John F. Kerry - personally opposed, politically in favor.

We should appreciate the Mayor's honesty. But that is all we should appreciate.

Rudy Giuliani is an honorable man, and an inspiring man. He has been an exceptional leader. He saved New York City from more than one tragedy, and helped it recover from another. I personally have an enormous amount of respect for the man, and I believe we all owe him our respect. But to understand the gravity of his speech this morning at Houston Baptist University is to understand why Rudy Giuliani should never be the President of the United States.

Given the nature of the times - when for the first time, a majority of Americans agree with the idea that abortions should not be allowed as an unlimited choice; when we are possibly one seat away from the reversal of regimes of Roe and Doe; when the forces for abortion are on the losing side of so many battles - Rudy Giuliani wants the Republican Party to endorse a man who holds virtually the same opinion on the abortion issue as Hillary Clinton. He is unwavering from a morally incoherent position that speaks of a conscience that recognizes wrong, but is unwilling to prevent that wrong.

Rudy Giuliani may have won a few people to his side today. But personal charisma alone won't get past the simple fact that the argument he is making is no different from the one we've heard from years from pro-abortion Catholic Democrats. As HBU President Robert Sloan noted in his opening introduction, the old rules of the 1960s have changed, and today Catholics and Protestants are united on issue after issue - particularly on the issue of the value of each and every human life.

For his part, Rudy Giuliani should be relieved. Houston was his last opportunity to show a willingness to embrace the majority of his party and his country on the defining moral issue of our time, or at the very least, allow for the idea that he could move on the issue to a point where a pro-life citizen could vote for him in good conscience.

Rudy made his choice. He should be happy with it. His campaign is over. He can go back to the speaking tour now.

Posted in 2008 | Abortion | Rudy — Comments (119)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 2:18pm on May 3, 2007 Rudy Giuliani: Right Man. Right Time.

By Steve Forbes

I think Rudy Giuliani will be a superb president. There are many reasons I support Mayor Giuliani's candidacy – his leadership after September 11th, his turning around of New York City and his fight against crime – but what I most admire is his record of fiscal conservatism.

As Mayor, Rudy Giuliani cut taxes 23 times while turning a $2.3 billion dollar deficit into a $2.9 billion surplus. He saved taxpayers more than $11 billion by controlling the projected growth of city-funded spending, and he created a smaller, more efficient government by cutting the number of full-time city-funded jobs by nearly 20%, excluding cops on the street and teachers in the classroom.

When Americans choose their next president they need a proven leader who can get things done. Rudy Giuliani is that leader. Like I mentioned in a recent op-ed I wrote, Rudy Giuliani is not afraid of trying to do big things. He successfully tackled the welfare mess in New York City, even before the Welfare Reform Act of 1996. By the time he was through, welfare rolls had been cut nearly 60%.  It's clear Rudy Giuliani is not afraid to pursue major structural changes, even in the face of the conventional wisdom and an entrenched status quo political establishment.

Moreover, Rudy Giuliani realizes no issue is more important to our nation's security than winning the terrorists war on us. He is the man to keep our country on offense, not defense.

Tonight, as Americans watch all the Republican candidates come together for the first GOP debate of this election cycle they will hear many plans for moving the country forward. There is no doubt that this country needs to elect a Republican President to keep our nation secure and fiscally sound. Rudy Giuliani will be the kind of President to do just that. I encourage you to visit Rudy's site at JoinRudy2008.com and sign up to be a part of his team. I'm confident that once you read about his record and his optimistic vision for the future you will agree with me that he is the right man at the right time.

Posted in 2008 | Rudy — Comments (44)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 10:21pm on Apr. 9, 2007 Rudy's Disingenuous Spin

I Hate Being Disappointed In Someone I Like So Much

By Erick

UPDATED: Be sure to read this over at NRO. The Giuliani campaign makes the bold claim that "Abortions declined by 16.8 percent in New York City during the Giuliani administration, according to the Center for Disease Control. And University of Alabama political scientist Michael New told your publication, 'The decline in abortions in New York City under Giuliani was greater than the national decline.' As NRO points out, the same Professor New "cannot attribute this decline to any actual policy Giuliani implemented." Likewise, even with the fall, New York's abortion rate was still much higher than the national average. Giuliani is upset that he was excerpted on the speech cited in my post below. Yet, to defend himself, he has to excerpt himself.

Today's backpedaling by the Giuliani campaign is one of the most disingenuous pieces of spin thus far in the GOP primary.  They are relying on the Hotline to try to convince us that what he said was somehow not what he meant, even though it was clearly what he meant.

I'm talking about this Hotline post.  In it, we discover that part of a sentence Giuliani uttered in 1989 was left out of a clip.  Well, not really.  It's just he got interrupted by applause and the original clip stopped at the applause.  It seems like there was nothing really sinister about it.  There was no "editing" or "splicing."  We got the point and the additional five words don't really change anything.

What Giuliani was alleged to have said was "I have also stated that I disagree with President Bush's veto last week of public funding for abortion."  What he actually said, once the applause subsided was, "I have also stated that I disagree with President Bush's veto last week of public funding for abortions for rape or incest victims."  That last bit was added.

The Hotline then writes, "A single sentence makes a world of difference."  Actually, it does not.  Giuliani made two separate points in his speech.  They were not one thought.  That is clear from the audio, from the transcript, and from his interview on CNN just the other day.  His two points were, in his own words:

Read on . . .

Posted in 2008 | Rudy — Comments (46)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 8:50pm on Apr. 4, 2007 Rudy: "I Support Taxpayer Funded Handguns for Poor People"

So Much For Strict Construction

By Erick

Be sure to scroll down to here and check out Rob's interview with Gov. Ehrlich about Rudy.

Rudy Giuliani announced to CNN today that he supports taxpayer purchased handguns for poor people. It's certainly a novel reading of the constitution. According to Rudy, because the 2nd Amendment is a personal right affirmed by a recent federal court decision in Washington, D.C., the government should fund a citizen's ability to take advantage of that right when the citizen cannot afford to do so on his own.

Well, okay now, not really. But Rudy did say we should pay for taxpayer funded abortions for poor people because they have a constitutional right. And this is not old news, it is today's news in his own words. I realize Rudy is doing damage control by saying he would "not seek to change current law as described in the Hyde Amendment," and thinks it is a state by state issue.

But Rudy is a politician and he is clever. Someone might need to ask this question:
"You've said you won't change the Hyde Amendment, but if a Democrat Congress sought 'to change current law as described in the Hyde Amendment,' would you veto it?"

And then we need to realize a lot of us have criticized Romney for evolving on the position of abortion, yet Rudy today says

"Ultimately, it's a constitutional right, and therefore if it's a constitutional right, ultimately, even if you do it on a state by state basis, you have to make sure people are protected."

Oh, and if lawyer Rudy "I want strict constructionist judges" Giuliani has found a previously invisible "taxpayer subsidization of constitutional rights" provision in the Constitution, we might be allowed to wonder if he might find some invisible streak of strict constructionism in some visibly weak constructionist judicial nominees.

At some point, you just have to ask yourself if selling out your core conservative principles because Rudy makes you feel safe is really a smart thing to do or is some version of Stockholm syndrome setting in.

Posted in 2008 | Rudy — Comments (35)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 11:47am on Mar. 21, 2007 My favorite Giuliani story

What's to like?

By krempasky

There's a lot to dislike about Rudy Giuliani from a conservative perspective. Much has been said here at RS about that. At the same time, there's much to like about Rudy as a leader and a politician. Dan McLaughlin did, I think the best job of outlining those reasons here.

But my favorite Rudy story dates all the way back to 1995, and involves Yassar Arafat, the Clinton White House, a fawning UN community, and a theater.

" A day after Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani expelled Yasir Arafat from a concert for world leaders at Lincoln Center, the Clinton Administration sharply criticized the Mayor yesterday for what Washington officials called an embarrassing breach of international diplomacy.

Mr. Giuliani, clearly relishing the controversy, insisted that he could never forgive and play host to Mr. Arafat even though the Palestinian leader has been embraced as a peacemaker by the Israeli and United States Governments. "

Read on.

Posted in 2008 | arafat | giuliani | Rudy | terrorism — Comments (27)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 2:25pm on Mar. 8, 2007 While I Admire Rudy Giuliani . . .

By Erick

It is stuff like this that makes me say I can't vote for the man.

Posted in 2008 | Rudy — Comments (56)/ Email this page » / Read More »