Comments on: Is Rudy A Conservative? http://informedspeculation.com/2007/01/25/is-rudy-a-conservative/ Refunds Cheerfully Given To All Who Disagree Sat, 07 Apr 2012 09:00:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Dennis http://informedspeculation.com/2007/01/25/is-rudy-a-conservative/comment-page-1/#comment-212128 Dennis Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:42:45 +0000 http://decision08.net/2007/01/25/is-rudy-a-conservative/#comment-212128 Excellent point, Aaron. There's been some speculation that now that the Democrats have the Senate, Justice Stevens might retire. If so, I suspect whomever President Bush nominates the first time around will get Borked, just as a muscle-flexing exercise. Excellent point, Aaron. There’s been some speculation that now that the Democrats have the Senate, Justice Stevens might retire. If so, I suspect whomever President Bush nominates the first time around will get Borked, just as a muscle-flexing exercise.

]]> By: Aaron http://informedspeculation.com/2007/01/25/is-rudy-a-conservative/comment-page-1/#comment-212093 Aaron Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:30:19 +0000 http://decision08.net/2007/01/25/is-rudy-a-conservative/#comment-212093 As far as SCOTUS appointments, it depends, for a large part, on who is in control of the Senate and by what margin. Unless the GOP picks up more seats in 2008, not even Sam Brownback or Newt Gingrich could get another Roberts or Alito through. And if the GOP has a majority in the Senate, they could probably get Rudy to appoint a conservative justice as they did with Bush over Miers. As far as SCOTUS appointments, it depends, for a large part, on who is in control of the Senate and by what margin. Unless the GOP picks up more seats in 2008, not even Sam Brownback or Newt Gingrich could get another Roberts or Alito through. And if the GOP has a majority in the Senate, they could probably get Rudy to appoint a conservative justice as they did with Bush over Miers.

]]> By: Dennis http://informedspeculation.com/2007/01/25/is-rudy-a-conservative/comment-page-1/#comment-211906 Dennis Thu, 25 Jan 2007 18:17:41 +0000 http://decision08.net/2007/01/25/is-rudy-a-conservative/#comment-211906 Excellent essay. The longer version is Fred Siegel's book <i>The Prince of the City,</i> which gave a great overview of the environment Giuliani faced coming into office, and what he accomplished. His doggedness against entrenched interests is probably the biggest reason why I'm eager to see him run for president. The man certainly isn't perfect; he's got a history of showy ego displays, which I can only hope have been quieted by his experience of the aftermath of Sept. 11, but usually a leopard doesn't change his spots. But I'll take some self-absorption if it goes along with his tenacity. I suspect gay marriage won't be the issue people think it is, because I think it's more of a headline issue than something most people really get upset about. My guess is he'll probably survive the gun rights issue by more or less ignoring it, which is what Democrats have done. The end result would be no new gun laws. Abortion is far trickier, and if anything trips him up, it's this. I'd like to think that most people will be content with his promise to appoint justices like Roberts and Alito, but I don't know. I'm admittedly in the mushy middle on the topic, myself. But ultimately, politicians write their own stories, so Giuliani doesn't have to be prisoner to discussing God, gays and guns. Giuliani's got a great story to tell with what he did with New York. Since we've got a country that seems down on all politicians right now, I think a man who comes in with a real pedigree at taking on entrenched bureaucrats and a permanent political class will strike a strong chord with the public. And from a practical point of view, if the Republicans nominate a guy who has a real shot at taking places like New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, any Democractic nominee will be in a real fix. Excellent essay. The longer version is Fred Siegel’s book The Prince of the City, which gave a great overview of the environment Giuliani faced coming into office, and what he accomplished. His doggedness against entrenched interests is probably the biggest reason why I’m eager to see him run for president.

The man certainly isn’t perfect; he’s got a history of showy ego displays, which I can only hope have been quieted by his experience of the aftermath of Sept. 11, but usually a leopard doesn’t change his spots. But I’ll take some self-absorption if it goes along with his tenacity.

I suspect gay marriage won’t be the issue people think it is, because I think it’s more of a headline issue than something most people really get upset about. My guess is he’ll probably survive the gun rights issue by more or less ignoring it, which is what Democrats have done. The end result would be no new gun laws.

Abortion is far trickier, and if anything trips him up, it’s this. I’d like to think that most people will be content with his promise to appoint justices like Roberts and Alito, but I don’t know. I’m admittedly in the mushy middle on the topic, myself.

But ultimately, politicians write their own stories, so Giuliani doesn’t have to be prisoner to discussing God, gays and guns. Giuliani’s got a great story to tell with what he did with New York. Since we’ve got a country that seems down on all politicians right now, I think a man who comes in with a real pedigree at taking on entrenched bureaucrats and a permanent political class will strike a strong chord with the public.

And from a practical point of view, if the Republicans nominate a guy who has a real shot at taking places like New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, any Democractic nominee will be in a real fix.

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