MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy

The Conservative case against Rudy Giuliani - Beth’s take

• Posted by Beth on August 30th, 2006 filed in General, Politics    

Tags: Rudy Giuliani, 2008, elections, primaries, GOP

First, read Martin’s take on it.

I think many underestimate the passion of the single-issue voters (abortion, immigration, gun control, etc.) and, although John Hawkins (inexplicably) claims he isn’t one, social conservatives. Hawkins is right about this:

Put yet another way, one of the biggest mistakes any Republican politician can make is to fall into the — “What are they going to do if I make them unhappy? Vote for the other guy?” — mentality. Because once you take that attitude and abandon your base on important issues in order to reach out to the middle, conservatives will abandon you right back. They won’t contribute to your campaign or show up at the voting booth and they’ll complain incessantly. Next thing you know, you’re George Bush with poll numbers mired in the high thirties and low forties because the loss of Republican support has shaved 6-8 points off of your approval rating (and yes, depending on the polling data you look at, he has lost that much REPUBLICAN support since 2004).

Those of you who know me know I HATE this, but he’s right. I’m one of those who will never, ever “punish” the GOP and surrender to the Dhimmicrats to “teach them a lesson.” The very idea infuriates me. Remember not so long ago when immigration was the issue being discussed everywhere? I’m still pissed off about the people who said (and still say) they’re staying home/going third party/whatever. Very pissed.

I agree with Martin completely that the war is BY FAR the most important issue–if not the only issue–and it’s why I don’t cringe at the thought of Rudy Giuliani as President. But other than the war (which does trump everything else), there’s no way I’d vote for him.

I’m still not comfortable with supporting him in the primaries, for (most of, but not all) the reasons Hawkins outlined. But since I’m a devout follower of the 11th Commandment, you won’t see me tearing him down, either. I’d hate to have to change my tune, as Hawkins will likely have to do if Giuliani does get the nomination. I’d much rather see a “conservative case” for a preferred candidate than against the competition within the party.

Of course, you know me: I’ll vote for almost anyone the party nominates, period. The alternative is simply unacceptable. It’s getting TO the nomination that’s the real battle for him.

I think, ironically, Republicans are/will be more willing to overlook his very real personal issues than Dhimmicrats will be come the general election. I know they’ll bludgeon him with those problems, regardless of the obvious hypocrisy. And let’s not forget that plenty of us said, “if Clinton’s own wife can’t trust him, how can we?” Granted, it was easier to say that then, because we weren’t at war–and Clinton’s recklessness while in the White House would be far more disturbing during wartime (remember the silly “wag the dog” accusations?–imagine if that were now) than an ugly divorce that involved adultery in the past. Also remember that Giuliani is a cancer survivor. Think that’s irrelevant? It’s not. “Adversity builds character” isn’t just a cliché. But don’t underestimate how badly the left wants to win. Just look at how deranged they are now, and how mainstream that derangement has become on the left. I expect ‘08 will be even uglier than we’ve ever seen, no matter who is the nominee.

Hey, while we’re talking about primaries, how about taking the August straw poll?