RE: Southern Strategy. What if Rudy Guilliani ran for VP and then Prez?

[Armstead]

Just some food for thought here. One of the names that has been floated as possible VP successor to Cheney in Mayor Rudy. And he's even been mentioned as a possible Prez candidate in 08.

Mayor Rudy is a popular figure among conservatives, laregely because of his handling of 9-11 (which was quite admirable). Plus he is seen as a law and order guy and a good Republican conservative in many ways.

But he's also the classic New Yawker, a northerner, and despite his facistic tendencies on some issues somewhat of a social liberal.

What if Rudy made a really good showing in a national campaign? What if he even got elected? Would that undermine the notion of a "Southern Strategy" in which it is assumed that the Souith would never vote for a Yankee?

Or what about Arnold? Suppose he -- as unlike a southerner as possible -- ran for president?

I wonder these things in light of the Democratic fear of nominating a Yankee for President.

All of this is just speculation and hypothesis. But I'mwondering what others think. Are the Democrats too willing to stay in that box that our candidates have to speak with a southern accent?

(This is not candidate-bait. Just wonder in principle.)

[asjr]

1. guiliani

He still is a Republican.

[sangh0]

2. Never happen

The RNC will not support a Repuke who supports immigration, gun control, and abortion rights

[Frodo]

3. That isn't the "Southern Strategy"

The theory is that the South won't vote for a yankee Democrat. Just like the Northeast still voted for Carter/Clinton/Gore even though they were all Southern, the South would continue to vote largely for the more conservative candidate (unless Rudy ran against a Southern Democrat).

What this really is? A "Northeastern Strategy" on the part of Republicans. Rudy would put NY and much of New England in play without losing a comparable number of EVs in the south.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

4. How was Guiliani's handling of 911 admirable exactly?

He even admitted he didn't really know what he was doing. You can thank the police and fire chiefs for keeping the city alive, Rudy made some nice TV speeches. I guess that's all "leaders" have to do nowadays.

[Tatiana]

6. I don't get it either.

He did his job. I think it was just a very emotional time and the media, as well as some Americans wanted to have someone to look up to: Giuliani and Bush.

[sangh0]

7. He made some very compassionate remarks

about the tragedy. Though I despise Giuliani, I have to admit that his words were helpful on 9/11, and that is a part of his job. It's not like anyone expected him to run into the WTC and carry bodies out.

In fact, 9/11 was the only day Giuliani did his job.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

8. If it's true that Guiliani was storing fuel in WTC7

Then he is responsible for that building coming down and those people being killed.

His remarks didn't do shite for me, personally.

[sangh0]

10. The fuel was in another building

It was 7 WTC, not 1 or 2 WTC. IIRC, no one died in 7 WTC.

His remarks didn't do shite for me, personally.

Nor me, but they were appropriate and appreciated, for good reason.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

12. WTC7 is what I said

No one died in WTC7? I am positive that firefighters died dealing with WTC7, but I will admit, I don't know the whole story about why 7 was destroyed the way it was. If it's true Guliani was storing fuel there illegally, as reported by the NYC author, than he has some explaining to do.

I don't think Guliani did anything that anyone else wouldn't have done, and I will not sit idly by while he exploits 911 to crawl his way to the top of the Republican party.

The way Republicans Guliani and Bush were praised by the media for reading speeches on TV, as if they were heros, sickens me. The firefighters union are the heros, not a bunch of suits reading platitudes.

[Isome]

5. What exactly "admirable" about Guilliani's performace?

I never understood that? What did he do or say that was so wonderful, or moving, or insightful? I saw him, I saw *... neither one moved me in any way? They gave incredibly pedestrian feel good, we're all in this together speeches. What did you see that I didn't?!

There's a distinct difference in the way speeches & speakers are perceived by various groups of people. I've come to realize I'm in the group that doesn't reduce Al Sharpton's biting wit & focused speaking style to "entertaining" or "funny", and cannot elevate the dry, trite monotones of * & Guilliani to "admirable" or any other such balderdash.

[jsw_81]

9. No way

Giuliani is pro-choice, pro-gay rights and the religious right would NEVER accept him. They'd probably bolt the GOP and unite behind Pat Buchanan or some other wingnut.

But if the Republicans were smart they would support a moderate Republican like Giuliani (or Pataki, Romney etc.) and probably win a landslide. A Giuliani/Santorum ticket would be an absolute nightmare for our side. But thankfully it will never happen.

[loudsue]

11. Guilliani was our "pres-for-a-day" while the chimp ran & hid....

And on an emotional level -- and ONLY on an emotional level -- I was grateful for that.

On 9/11 I was stuck --ALONE -- in a 6' x 12' hotel room in NOME (??? of all places), Alaska....not the end of the world, but you could certainly SEE it from there.

I watched the horror of the towers being hit, and then the towers coming down, people jumping from the towers, people in a panic... and all the while the chimp was hopping from here to there...obviously trying to get together with his buddies at the air base, who were going to benefit so greatly from the tragedy.

Rudy was the only person "in charge" that day...and he was a "face". I, personally, needed to see a "face" that day. All I saw from bush was ass & elbows...running away.

Rudy's still a repug, but he was a "face" for me on that day.

I would join the repuke party to vote for him in a primary against the shrub....but short of that...I wouldn't vote repug for any reason whatsoever.

:kick:

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