Of course Giuliani has a problem on the social issues, but Giuliani would likely run a far more conventionally conservative presidency across the board than McCain. McCain delights liberals and loves to work with them. Giuliani infuriates liberals and if anything loves sticking it to them. That means that momentum aside, Giuliani will likely cut seriously into McCain’s lead on Super-Tuesday.
Color me skeptical. The liberal-hating Giuliani infuriated Republicans by endorsing Mario Cuomo for re-election (Cuomo lost to Pataki). Giuliani is the most liberal Republican by far on social issues. McCain's tarred as an immigration squish, but Giuliani's record is no better than McCain's. McCain's great strength is the sense people have that he's a man of deep character and honor; Rudy Giuliani is on his third wife, employs a priest who's been substantively accused of pederasty, and has the whole Kerik thing to deal with. And Giuliani has virtually disappeared from the media map. Given how crazy this GOP race has been, I wouldn't count him out at all. But anybody hoping that Rudy can whip McCain as a conservative is setting themselves up for a big disappointment.
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Scott,
I know that you aren't alone in saying that you wouldn't vote for McCain, and I think you are right that there is a certain percentage of Republicans who are this way with one candidate or the other.
But I'm puzzled by those who take this view on McCain. Is there one specific issue that is a deal-breaker for you with McCain? What is it that turns you off so much to him?
I won't argue with you that he is a perfect candidate, but at this point I hope he wins the nomination because he is conservative enough on the issues that matter to me and I think he is the best shot the party has at beating the Democrats.
For me, abortion is a deal-breaking issue because I believe it is murder. The Republicans running someone who is pro-abortion or can't be trusted to do the right thing would be a deep betrayal to me, possibly causing me to leave them for good. I wouldn't vote for Giullani in the general election, and I deeply distrust Romney.
So what is it about McCain for you? Is there one issue that does it for you with McCain like it does it for me with Rudy?
rr
Is there one issue that does it for you with McCain like it does it for me with Rudy?
Actually, there are three. 1)McCain-Feingold is an assualt on the First Amendment; 2) McCain is an immigration enthusiast: he'll never properly secure the borders because his heart is just not in it; and 3) McCain was the original Surge booster. Our job was finished there in late '03 or early '04. Since then, it's been all "nation building", and to a very ungrateful nation at that, an illegitimate, impractical, and mind-bogglingly expensive use of our Armed Forces.
And I don't mind saying he's too old to be Prez. That's four.
Scott,
Well, I guess the problem is that Republicans simply have different lists with all this. I somewhat agree with the things you've mentioned, but those are more secondary issues on my list.
rr
"Stanley Kurtz sees it coming"...
well...
if he sees the Republican race "quite possibly unresolved till convention time"...
he seems to be all but saying BROKERED CONVENTION...
Giuliani, Huckabee, Romney, McCain, perhaps Thompson...
no one knows now who will be viable after Super Tuesday...
but...
it seems quite possible that the race will go through Super Tuesday with FOUR candidates each accumulating 15 to 25 percent of available delegates...
then...
they're all in it for good up to the Convention...
Rod...
no blogging about a possible Brokered Convention?
without it, you're behind in the blog polls...
vote faith hope love joy peace to all...
by the way...
Republican Party Rule 40...
how any candidate with at least FIVE primary wins is eligible for gaining the nomination at a Brokered Convention...
so...
today's scorecard...
Huckabee 1
Romney 1
McCain 1
Giuliani 0
Thompson 0
...
it seems likely that at least 4 of those men get their five wins...
hmmmm...
a wild guess...
in the Brokered Convention...
McCain bargains with Huckabee and...
the ticket is McCain/Huckabee(VP)...
vote faith hope love joy peace to all...
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