January 31, 2008
Thank You Letter from Rudy
Dear Aron,
Over the past year, as I traveled around the country, people from all walks of life welcomed me into their homes and communities with open arms. From house parties to parades to town halls and rallies, I have shared in some wonderful moments with you all and for that I am eternally grateful.
Thank you for sharing your concerns with me. Thank you for working with me to provide our children with a brighter and more prosperous future. Thank you for your support and trust and faith. And thank you for being a part of this wonderful journey.
A New York Republican named Teddy Roosevelt once said “aggressive fighting for the right is the noblest sport the world affords.” Like most Americans, I love competition. I don’t back down from a principled fight.
But there must always be a larger purpose.
Elections are about more than just a candidate. Elections are about fighting for a cause larger than ourselves. They are about identifying the great challenges of our time and proposing new solutions. Most of all, they are about handing our nation to the next generation better than it was handed to us.
Although we were unsuccessful in our endeavor, the fight to strengthen America goes on. Our nation’s next President must understand and make a commitment to keep us on offense in the Terrorists’ War on Us. He must understand that stimulating our economy requires cutting taxes, because you make better decisions with your money than Washington bureaucrats. He must be committed to ending illegal immigration and securing our borders. And he must use free-market principles to make health care more affordable for all Americans.
I believe John McCain is that man. He is the right leader to move us forward, unite our party and transform Washington. I hope that you will join me in supporting him to be the next President of the United States.
As I look forward to the road ahead, I am optimistic because I believe America’s best days are still to come. Our country has a bright future, but we must work together to ensure that our shared prosperity creates new and better opportunities for us all.
Best Wishes,
Rudy Giuliani
http://race42008.com/2008/01/31/thank-you-letter-from-rudy/trackback/
January 31st, 2008 at 12:04 am
I hope Rudy is regretting this after McCain twice attacked capitalism in the debate, and demonstrated he has precious few ideas to offer.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:05 am
I put as much stock into Rudy’s endorsement of McCain as I did into his campaign strategy.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:09 am
Wow, after seeing mccain show how much he hates capitalism there is absolutely 0 chance he gets my vote in the general. I woudl rather have a democrat go after capitalism under the banner of liberalism then mccain go after it under the banner of conservatism.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:13 am
#3, exactly. And more specifically, Republicans in capitalism will stand up to populism from a Democratic President, reinvigorating economic conservatism. But whey will be cowed by a Republican President pushing the same things, and this economic conservatism will die for a decade.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:20 am
Transcript of GOP debate at Reagan Library
http://cnn.site.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Transcript+of+GOP+debate+at+Reagan+Library+-+CNN.com&expire=-1&urlID=26205382&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2008%2FPOLITICS%2F01%2F30%2FGOPdebate.transcript%2F&partnerID=211911
January 31st, 2008 at 12:23 am
thank you to everyone who gave me money, even though i didnt do anything with it, and never really tried to take down john mccain. same goes for fred and huck. at least people who gave money to mitt know that he tried his very hardest, and was willing to fight the fight. mitt rudy and huck just bowed down at the feet of saint mccain. how do you explain that to your supporters who donated to your campaign?
January 31st, 2008 at 12:24 am
in post #6 replace “mitt” with “fred” . sorry i am watching scrubs while typing
January 31st, 2008 at 12:27 am
thanks for nothing, Rudy…
January 31st, 2008 at 12:40 am
sigh…..
We had Mitt, Thompson, and Rudy
What did Republicans do?? They chose McCain and a possible VP for Huck hahaha man ridiculous
January 31st, 2008 at 12:42 am
I may have missed, but… Metro - have officially thrown your support behind one of the other candidate now that Rudy is out? All I can see is that your definitely not for McCain.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:44 am
I really disagree with the idea that McCain attacked capitalism. He wasn’t attacking capitalism as an idea at all - he was merely using it (perhaps clumsily, I’ll give you that) as a stick to beat Romney with.
I hardly see how that can be held against him.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:46 am
Nate G, no, but when I was pissed at McCain during the debate I said I would root for anything to hurt him, including lying sleazebag Romney to do well.
On the other hand, my best outcome is for McCain to name Rudy as his VP and for Rudy to end up as President at some point.
I made another comment during the debate about McCain and Romney being two giant assholes leading the GOP down a black …hole. That’s probably the most accurate summary of what I’m thinking now.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:47 am
metro doesn’t like anyone not named Rudy
January 31st, 2008 at 12:47 am
Patrick, if it were out of character, fine. But it’s CONSISTENT with who the man has been for YEARS. He also attacked Wall Street crooks in this debate. Why is he looking for crooks on Wall Street, a la Edwards, when 99.9% of them are heroes?
Look, Patrick, he’s been pulling this anti-capitalist crap for years. And you damned well know it.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:47 am
As another note, McCain’s “poor” debate performance has done nothing to hurt his Intrade probabilities.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:48 am
Tarheel, I’ve always liked Fred.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:52 am
Dear Rudy,
I questioned if you were a real candidate or not when you boycotted the Iowa straw pole simultaneously with McCain. Then came your “wait until Florida strategy”. Yea right. Have you been colluding with McCain from the beginning? Shame on you for leading your fans on if you have.
Sincerely,
No Rudy, No McCain
January 31st, 2008 at 12:53 am
Metro,
Again, I disagree with the basic premise. I hope you realize that I find most of your analyses very well considered and informed, but I disagree strongly with your opinion on McCain. The CNN “people-meter” ate the Wall Street line up. The average person has no idea how the economy works, and it helps to put things in terms they understand. Is that necessarily right? Of course not, but that’s the way it is and I’m sure you realize that.
I believe that McCain will govern as both a fiscal AND economic conservative. Yes, he’ll do some things that you won’t like such as cap-and-trade, but (and I know this is clichéd at this point) don’t forget he does have some pretty heavy-weight supply-siders who will no doubt be in his cabinet. I can’t imagine guys like Jack Kemp and Phil Gramm etc will keep quiet. I think McCain will actually rely fairly heavily on guys like that - and no doubt guys like Rudy. Rudy may not be VP, but can there really be any doubt that he WON’T be part of a McCain administration? Of course he will!
I honestly think that McCain’s class-warfare rhetoric is just that: rhetoric. Is that the definition of straight talk? No, but this is a presidential campaign and no one is perfect.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:53 am
eptx, that makes no sense. Rudy and McCain had the most overlap, so there’s no way Rudy being in the race could help McCain.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:54 am
Patrick, obviously, you have not followed McCain for the last 8 years.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:55 am
Metro,
I have, believe me. But I’m willing to overlook some issues due to the character of the man.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:57 am
19.
Good overlap is exactly why an “understanding” between them makes since. Rudy draws the attention and heat until McCain can build momentum and take the lead while Rudy bails out–just like team cycling.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:57 am
The better his character, the better his ability to gain a following and destroy economic conservatism. Makes him even more dangerous.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:59 am
Patrick: McCain had his opportunity last night and tonight to reach out to economic conservatives. I felt like he was going to, especially teaming up with Rudy. First thing he does? Proves to us he is exactly who we thought he was by attacking capitalism twice in 15 minutes. He’s a Goddamned traitor to our principles — as he has been for years.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:01 am
Metro:
Where do you think Rudy goes from here?
January 31st, 2008 at 1:02 am
I think you McCainiacs are in for an ugly surprise come the general election. Comments on this blog and others should provide ample evidence that a good chunk of activist Republicans will be working to destroy your man.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:03 am
Mike: I’d like to see him become the Benjamin Netanyahu of the U.S.: The #1 talking head arguing for a more aggressive course against Islamism.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:03 am
Actually, Chairman of the GOP would be a nice job for Rudy. I felt like he was aiming at that in his concession speech.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:03 am
Metro:
I think that will happen to any person that won the Republican primary, not just McCain.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:05 am
Mccainiacs aren’t going to know what hits them when the media turns on them and the right wing blogosphere/talk radio don’t defend mccain
January 31st, 2008 at 1:05 am
Mike: Not Fred.
And Rudy offered a lot to the SoCons, like judges, doing no harm to their agenda, and a major push for vouchers.
This was McCain’s moment to offer an olive branch, a big massive hearty olive branch, to economic conservatives — and instead he just pissed all over us.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:06 am
# 30 great point. I’m looking forward to the medio showing the picture of McCain hugging Bush like he is his dad.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:07 am
What we need to do is organize a 3rd party effort as a protest vote against McCain. So that it’s not split between stay-at-homes, Libertarians, Constitution, write-ins, etc. That all the anti-McCain Republicans vote for the same person, as a statement.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:08 am
# 30. Do you think the right will blogopshere and talk radio will still give McCain the cold shoulder if faced with a Hillary victory as the other option?
January 31st, 2008 at 1:09 am
Mike, yes. A Hillary Presidency wouldn’t be nearly as bad as an Obama one. See #27 in the previous thread.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:12 am
34,
Yes
January 31st, 2008 at 1:13 am
McCain is NOT the right man to be president.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:14 am
I did not watch the debate but I just read some of the transcript. Why does McCain say the following…
“We need to make the Bush tax cuts permanent, which I voted for twice to do so.”
Did he vote for them twice after he voted against them twice? I am not trying to sound funny or like the Kerry attacks, just curious if I am missing something.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:14 am
We don’t really need to draft someone. Someone influential like Rush simply needs to start a movement for everybody who wants to sabotage McCain to vote for X, whether X be the Libertarian candidate, or whomever.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:14 am
Mike, apparently.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:15 am
Mccainiacs can wave the hillary card all you want, but it won’t sway us. Theres a BIG difference between guys like rudy and mccain. Rudy wasn’t as conservative as i would like, but he was still a true economic conservative. He believed in the power of free markets and capitalism. He also didn’t go around giving me the middle finger on issues we disagreed with. Mccain is the complete opposite.
Hostile to free markets, hostile to capitalism, and hostile to conservatism.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:16 am
I haven’t followed the democrat side very carefully. Who is likely to win that?
January 31st, 2008 at 1:17 am
McCain came across tonight as a very dull and uninspiring candidate. Romney didn’t attack like maybe he needed to, but at least he can be gracious and very articulate in debating differences. McCain may be a scrappy politician but I’m not buying his new conservative double-speak. He is anything but a straight talker and his credentials at leading this country through the economic instability we face are downright scary. Here is to hoping Romney draws this fight out past Feb 5th.
And Metro… your guy lost (I’m sorry) — but your principles still have a chance of winning. Swallow your pride and endorse the candidate who best represents the conservative principles you admire.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:19 am
#41 EXACTLY, on Rudy vs. McCain.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:20 am
the other Ryan, economic conservatism would not be well-served by being associated with a smarmy phony like Romney. It would turn off independents to those ideas, whereas Rudy could’ve educated them and won enough of them over — like he did in NYC.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:25 am
I dont know how mccain expects us to trust him when he pulls little stunts like this showing his contempt of economic conservatism.
Not to mention he has the audacity to call himself a fiscal conservative while supporting his bogus global warming legislation that would KILL our economy.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:26 am
Metro — by smarmy phony do you mean the guy that actually has a record or economic conservatism throughout his life. The only charge I think that really resonates may be that he changed his mind on abortion. Hey, Romney is not an entertainer. He is a salesman. It served him well in the business world. If he wasn’t a Mormon, he would probably already be the nominee. Romney is not a phony when it comes to economic conservatism, last I checked. He doesn’t have the 10 year record of Rudy and he didn’t cut taxes as much, but he also didn’t leave a spending deficit. He left a surplus.
Metro, You said yourself that at one time you supported Romney early on. Did the Iowa caucuses change your mind? What exactly happened?
January 31st, 2008 at 1:29 am
SDGOP — Romney hit the global warming discussion out of the park. He knows how to dissect the issues. Yeah, global warming may be important but enact it at the global basis. Otherwise business will move overseas where there is no caps.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:30 am
Well, when everyone but mccain talks about global warming, they have no intention of crippling our economy like mccain does. Granted, i don’t buy into global warming, but i know that no mainstream gop candidate will deny global warming.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:32 am
the other Ryan, I BELIEVE Romney IS an economic conservative. That’s not the problem. He comes off as a phony salesman, like the guy saying “What can I do to put you in a BMW today?” At least to a large section of the population he comes across that way. He thus becomes the butt of jokes and doesn’t have RESPECT from the middle. It takes respect to get elected or to get an agenda through.
Of course a Mormon is unelectable. We just screwed our whole primary thinking a Mormon was electable, because no pundits would say otherwise for fear of being called a bigot.
Hugh Hewitt and the Mormons have really screwed us over by giving us McCain. Rudy would’ve beated McCain in a 2-man race, whereas Romney’s screwed it all up.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:34 am
I’m not a fan of any “stop McCain” conservative movements in the general election. I still think even McCain would be better then Hillary or Obama, but ultimately I think McCain will stop himself. He’s a singularly unlikable guy, and while I’ll vote for him, I won’t be terribly disappointed when he loses.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:40 am
One thing for sure, Rudy would be the strongest and most active VP in American history. I couldn’t imagine Rudy not pushing for a huge tax cut & with Forbes on board also and maybe that’s how McCain would strengthen his prior stance on the Bush taxe cuts.
As Mayor of NY, Rudy was doing daily press conferences each morning and was always on tv in the public pushing plans to clean up the City, reduce welfare, cut taxes, argue with the liberal NY Times, etc.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:40 am
Metro, Oh sure…blame the Mormons. Yawn.
Look, I’m trying to have an open mind here…but I just don’t see Romney as a phony or smarmy. Executive stroke yes, but he just isn’t that “slick” of a politician. He’s a smart guy (albeit on the nerdy side at times) with good conservative principles and track record. Maybe not a perfect record but pretty good by comparison to the field.
Maybe the nerdiness is what is less appealing to the middle. McCain is the brash, cocky, bully, jock type who would be peeking of Romney’s test in high school and trying to outcool him in public.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:42 am
What would anyone say about a Bloomberg/Gingrich 3rd party?
January 31st, 2008 at 1:43 am
eptx, I don’t buy that, because I was the geek in high school and hated bullies more than anything. I do not see Mitt Romney in such a position. In fact, I see HIM as the bully. He’s the one who has smeared all the other candidates’ positions, which is why all the other candidates hate him and none of them will endorse him.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:44 am
Metro, I agree. The thing is that Romney had to flip flop as a social conservative because he does not have record Rudy has from NYC; successful U.S. Attorney; former 3rd man in the Justice Dept.
I hate to say it, but a segment of the Republican party is/was bigoted against Rudy and therefore Romney gained enough (with help from the media as well) to help get McCain elected.
There is no doubt that McCain knows that Rudy is the number 1 executive in the entire race.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:46 am
I should say was.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:46 am
Kevin: Bloomberg is very liberal, except he likes markets. Think Bill Clinton.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:49 am
Metro — Unfortunately being a competent American that has found success in the private sector, the volunteer sector, and the government sector may not be enough (still a bit too early to tell). But one thing I’m proud that Mitt Romney is not, a smarmy politician who will say anything and do anything and sacrifice his principles to get elected. If he comes off as slick, it’s just because he is wicked smart and wicked experienced. He doesn’t just talk a good game, his life record speaks for itself.
Unfortunately Rudy did himself in — he said he learned a lot about himself. I did too. He was a hero on 9-11 but he learned that you can’t just rest on your laurels. You have to have a message that resonates and connects with voters. He just didn’t get that message out. It is his own fault — not Mitt’s.
Mitt Romney is a man of character and he will not back down from this fight. His campaign message has been entirely consistent since the beginning of this race. The other candidates have had to bob and weave but his message of a conservative coalition remains consistent. Either conservatives will get on board or they will get McCain in November.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:50 am
Is Bloomberg more liberal than Obama or Clinton? Or even McCain for that matter?
January 31st, 2008 at 1:52 am
Kevin O, good question. If you’re posing him as a protest vote, he doesn’t represent what McCain lacks, so it’s not a good protest vote.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:53 am
Metro, I’m glad to hear you say he smeared candidates positions rather than candidates character. You may be right about Romney playing bully too. Seems he was throwing rocks at Ann when they first met. I just seems that now, comparing McCain and Romney side by side, well, McCain taunts and Romney reasons. And they both are very good at what they do.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:54 am
Yogi — Rudy did himself in — He may the fatal mistake of ignoring the opinion of IA, NH, MI, SC, NV, and WY. 9/11 Identity politics didn’t win the day. He had to campaign hard and fight hard even if it meant losing some hard fought battles. The only reason Romney is still in this is because even though he lost IA, NH, and FL, — he fought hard and came is 2nd place. Momentum was overrated but not competing was suicide. Rudy did himself in.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:00 am
At the end of the day — either we support a candidate that shares our values or we don’t. If we don’t, why? Get over the religion… get over the electibility argument (still too early to tell true match-ups in November)… get over the MSM endorsements… look at the record and the experience… look at the personal values… grow a spine… and vote your conscience.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:01 am
Ryan: Even if that is true, which i reserve disagreement on, Romney doesn’t get anywhere in this race & the Republican party has McCain. The Republican party has Iowa, New Hap and South Carolina go in the beginning when Iowa has religious votes for Huck and New Hamp & S. Carolina have independent votes for McCain.
If the primary was held in 1 day alone, Rudy would have won in a landslide.
Instead, you have a McCain come from behind victory & Romney losing 50-100 million of his personal money.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:02 am
I really wish Rudy would have competed in the early states. I thought he had plenty of money, a good message, and likable presence? But the spark just went out in his eyes. I thought health issues may have resurfaced. Was it really just a bad strategy? Sorry, back to my collusion theory thinking he’s been covering for McCain. I’m just really disappointed in his lack of fight.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:10 am
the other Ryan,
So if a candidate doesn’t meet basic, minimum-standards criteria, a “no-vote” is the best use of your vote or do you just pick the closest match from who is left?
January 31st, 2008 at 2:12 am
McCain’s VP List?
(in no real order)
-Crist (possible)
-Sanford (possible)
-Giuliani (semi-possible)
-Palin (not sure…better chance if Hillary is nominated)
-Pawlenty (best chance)
-Barbour (semi-possible)
-Coburn (not sure but Coburn is a very conservative senator)
-Huckabee (possible)
-Daniels (not very likely)
January 31st, 2008 at 2:13 am
It is possible that McCain is the only Republican that could win the general election. And at least McCain would surround himself with an above excellent Cabinet. And a McCain victory would keep Edwards out of the U.S. Attorney General position. The country would really be in shambles with an Edwards AG, etc. McCain will keep us on the offensive against terrorism and something tells me he is serious about tax cuts by surrounding himself with economic conservatives such as Rudy & Forbes. It could wind up being a superb White House. Hec, offer Cabinet positions to the Republican field who have run in the primaries & kick Billary’s but.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:27 am
I just wanted to provide Jason B. with a link to his truth crusader Jeffrey Toobin where he accuses Rudy of being a ‘Militaristic Authoritarian’. Why? Rudy got a preposition wrong when he endorsed McCain on Wednesday.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brad-wilmouth/2008/01/31/cnns-toobin-finds-militaristic-authoritarian-giulianis-words-pretty-o
What a petty man this Toobin character is turning out to be.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:45 am
I have been a McCain fan for a number of years, but last night he gave me reason to rethink that support. The McCain at the debate will be the McCain we send against the dem nominee and who we might see as president and it was not pretty and sometimes it wasn’t coherent. He was terribly arrogant and cynical, often smiling while taking shots at Romney. He had the air of a man who knew the nomination was his and instead of being gracious he was petty.
He may have been in Reagan’s library, but he was acting like Bush at his most unattractive.
But it was more than just his attitude and personality that were inappropriate. He managed to say almost nothing substantive and certainly nothing new or fresh. The seminal moment was when he was asked if he had a “plan” to deal with the foreclosures. His answer was pure gobbleygook. He spoke about “help” but did not define it and then said the tax cuts need to be made permanent. I was waiting for Romney to ask him how tax cuts were a plan to stop foreclosures. To me it reflected McCain’s lack of interest in economic issues.
The McCain at the debate is not the best person to send against the dem this Fall. His arrogant, dismissive demeanor will turn off women and independents and his lack of substance will make him look ill-prepared and, dare I say it, old.
One final observation. McCain tossed around his military service last night as an answer to everything. No one is going to say it publicly, but privately many of us are thinking “we know, we know!” Whatever potency his service has will be greatly diminished by the Fall and I don’t see it being useful much against a woman who could not have served in Vietnam or a man too young to have served.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:01 am
The McCain that showed up last night was the same McCain in every debate. The problem in the other debates, was that there were too many candidates. McCain wasn’t pulling out many of his dirty tricks and many of the questions in other debates were stupid and didn’t expose the real McCain. Romney was also being two or three timed by the other candidates and the MSM. We finally had a debate that didn’t give either Huckabee or Romney a religion question. How quaint. In the last two debates they actually asked questions that exposed the fact the McCain can only talk about two subjects, the war (military) and his friends.
There was no straight talk going on last night and the 100 year war in Iraq is a guarantee win for Dems.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:19 am
This clip sums up the debate nicely
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROxgEqw29II
January 31st, 2008 at 8:33 am
On the short list for VP, everyone seems to forget John Thune, who for a long time, was the concensus for who McCain would pick.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:25 am
#70
I was watching that live and I wanted to smack the shit out of this toobin guy his comment. What a stretch!!
Complete and utter D BAG!!
January 31st, 2008 at 9:50 am
Hey, I heard Rudy’s endorsement announcement–it sounds like he will be campaigning harder for McCain than he did for himself.
After watching McCain’s performance last night, I am wondering if Arnold & Rudy are having second thoughts about their endorsements.
Are we seeing patronage in action. I think the status quo Republicans need to be forced out and I’m disappointed in Rudy jumping on board this sinking ship. His line about McCain’s honor and integrity (”and you can underline both of those”) in the midst of McCain’s fabricated attack on Romney is enough to evoke cognitive dissonance.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:11 am
PA - you forgot Lieberman, Feingold, & Kennedy.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:21 am
Rudy would have been much better than McCain. Fiscal/economic conservative, solid on foreign policy, education and immigration.
Honestly, what is McCain’s appeal to conservatives, other than his stance on the war?