Political Football

(Rudy Now!)

I have been asked by Democrats, Independents and Republicans why I am writing this blog and why I support Rudy Giuliani for President. Actually it’s pretty simple. I agree with Rudy on almost every philosophical point, but let me sort through them.

This is what I believe.

Prosecution of the Global War on Terror. Democrats and now the UK (did ya’ read that?) want to ban the use of that phrase; I think they are nuts. I believe they (most of the rest of the political world) are in some type of denial. I defined “they” as the “political world” because I don’t believe the majority of the people in the world believe in their political leaders. They live in fear and nuclear family insulation from the real world (isolation is almost impossible in today’s world).

If America loses its WILL to be a world leader; America will stop BEING a world leader. The fact that our Democrat leaders think our military is only the poor “children” from urban areas that have no other job prospects and are fighting against their will, is just plain nuts. Rudy Giuliani is a leader, and believes in a strong volunteer military. Rudy also understands America needs to be on offense.

Most of the world thinks this war will go away if we just wish it so.

Strong economy. Rudy understands lower taxes stimulates growth. He’s practiced what he preaches – ‘nuf said.

Limited role of government. Strictly speaking our founding fathers wanted the national government ONLY to provide for the “common good” related to national defense infrastructure (roads, etc) and some management of commerce between the states. A good logic model is the tragedy at Virginia Tech. “Gun Grabbers” think that removing all guns from citizens will eliminate the crazy things that happen like Columbine, the University of Iowa in 1991 and Virginia Tech this week. nonsense. There is sound evidence that our legal system failed us in the case of the latest tragedy. Several professionals sounded a loud call of concern about this student but they were ignored. Our legal system protects the intruder into our civil liberties more than our law enforcement can protect us from that intruder. You can link this issue to the Global War on Terror as well as 2nd amendment rights.

States Rights. I believe in States Rights. I believe the national government has taken too much power from the states. I believe keeping the presidential electoral system (which protects the voice of the smaller states) is critical for this republic. When this country was founded, there were large and small states, manufacturing and agricultural states. Each state deserves a level of independence in judging what is good “For the People, By the People”. The national government has become a burden on it’s citizens. Rudy believes in smaller government as well as fiscal responsibility and understands what works in one state may not work in another.

Right to Life. This has been a horribly divisive issue since the 1960s. At some level it’s tearing the country apart, and keeping focus off real priorities like health care. The vitriol has diminished the message. I believe abortion is wrong, but I don’t believe the government should legislate these types of personal issues. The people who use the phrase incendiary phrase “baby killer” associated with those who support limited government intrusion in personal affairs, miss the larger point.  Rudy believes creating a national referendum on Roe v Wade is not useful or practical legally.

This dialog does not belong in courtrooms or congress, or most especially the Supreme Court. A phrase I’ve used for years is “you can’t legislate morality”. I understand the hopes and prayers of those who believe they are fighting the good fight; but I also believe this fight has not served their cause well. What has this vitriol accomplished? I feel the same way about gay issues; it’s not my concern. But, committed couples deserve the same insurance protection, etc. as married couples. Rudy is about results and he cares about human life in all forms. Glass Houses…. stones…. think…

2nd Amendment Rights. Our Founding Fathers were smarter than us, of that I am sure. If you read any books on the writing of the founding documents that still guide us today, you will marvel at their foresight and prescience. The second amendment was written by a group of men who where used to handling guns and saw a time when a larger government may want to control its population militarily. These protection issues bothered our founding fathers. Now, I’m not as much for guns as I am against legislation to control people’s lives. The government’s message seems to be that they need to protect us from ourselves. nonsense. Rudy believes in strict gun control in New York City. Rudy has stated publicly that he would not be the “gun grabber” some people accuse him of being as President. He recognizes “what is right for New York City would not be right for Montana”. Rudy thinks this a states rights issue, has a track record of reducing crime and that is a good thing.

School vouchers, yes (Rudy too) “Parents should be able to pick the school their child attends”. (Rudy quote in DM on 4/14/07)

Health Care. Rudy spoke a lot about health care when he was in Des Moines last week. He thinks our system is the best in the world but has a lot of weaknesses, mostly caused by the government’s stifling (catching a consistent thread here?) good business practices. It is lunacy to look at the failing or failed systems in western Europe and Canada and want to emulate them. Haven’t we already proven to thinking people that socialism does not work? So why do we want to socialize medicine. That said, we do need a plan to provide more and better heath benefits for those who do not have insurance. One thing we know, the free market place works, let it work; stop tying it up with red tape.

Global Climate Change. read my blog. Where he agrees there is a climate change happening he does not buy into the hype.

Immigration. THIS is quite possibly our toughest issue after the GWoT and it can be connected to each issue above in some way. We’re going to have to be creative here. Rules of the 20th century will not work in the 21st. In this country of entitlements that stifle business growth and burden taxpayers, noncitizens should not get a free ride. Is it not fascinating to you that as much as people across the globe think America is an evil country – very few leave our country (even when they threaten to, as during the 2004 election – yes you Alec) and more people pour into this “evil” country today than we can handle? Evil, my fat Aunt Harriet.

Constructionist Judges. Rudy is a lawyer. He’s fought corruption in government and he’s fought organized crime and won. He says Alito and Roberts are exactly he type of judges he would nominate, not judges who will interpret (read – rewrite) the law of the land.

Rudy has had a history of working with both of those men. This is where the conservative right needs to keep their faith. Without good judges all is lost – and I don’t believe this statement is too strong. Democrats will elect judges that will legislate from the bench and that could be very scary.

So there you have it. Rudy’s my guy.

Now you might say, look at the baggage he’s bringing with him with the dysfunctional family and three marriages. I have two answers – 1) let’s see what a good campaign housecleaning turns up for all the candidate’s before we start isolating Rudy as unfit for the Presidency. 2) I want him as the leader of the free world; he’s not running for Pope.

And about his fitness because he was only a city mayor? New York City would be the 10th biggest state by population and the 11th biggest state when measured by economy (gross state product)… you’ll find that sourced in a Rudy post on this blog somewhere.

Democrats like to claim a mandate with the 2006 election results. I think that’s wrong. I think people voted against republicans not for democrats. I think Republicans did dumb things like perpetuate big government and they had their share of scandals, with Mark Foley and more. I blame media bias on a lot of this (compare treatments of Senators William Jefferson versus Tom Delay and Sandy Berger versus Scooter Libby for biased treatments) and you can find that also documented throughout this blog. I would like to see conservatives that continue to create litmus tests for candidates related to social issues take their energy outside national politics.

I liked the President’s “Faith Based Initiatives” early in his first term. I’m not sure why that lost steam other than the Democrats dogging a perceived problem with separation of church and state. I thought there were good controls in place to use Christian Fellowship and support without trying to convert people. I think stronger religious organizations reaching out in communities helping build a strong family base, accountability with a support system, would see better results than picketing an abortion clinic or creating divisions in the Republican Party. Morality isn’t Catholic, Jewish, Protestant or Muslim, etc. Again, look toward where results CAN be achieved apply energy there.

I believe in the politics of personal responsibility with understanding that we will all be accountable for our actions to a higher authority some day. We have a great opportunity and responsibility to nurture the next generation of Americans and to show we are not the evil people the rest of the world seems to believe we are. (oh yeah, not relying on foreign energy sources needs to be a national defense policy – high priority! but for now? Drill ANWAR damn it!)

I believe Rudy is the best man out there that I’ve seen to lead the way.

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