Giuliani 2008: Stuck between a rock and a hard place

Freedom4All · #1

Early polls show Giuliani to be the front runner for the GOP in '08. I saw a bit of an interview (Sean Hannity, I believe) with him where he states that he is for required testing in order for one to be allowed to own any firearm. If one passes the test then one could own a firearm. Would a majority dem Congress gladly hand him that legislation to sign? This would essentially put the government (at some point or another) in a position to have the say in who can own firearms. I just feel that this can't be what the founding fathers intended.

If he ends up being the '08 GOP candidate then what? There is no way I could vote for a dem and voting libertarian would essentially be for naught.

I can only hope that he does not get the nod from the GOP base. I know, I know, it's still early.

flintknapper · #2

He will only pull votes from more desirable candidates IMO.

I would not vote for him for a variety of reasons.

nitrogen · #3

Jeez. At least John Kerry attempted (poorly) to pander to gun owners and hunters with that duck hunting photo

jhutto · #4

Is that the photo of him with his finger on the trigger for some reason??
I frowned when I saw that picture. I know he was NOT prepared to fire that gun.

txinvestigator · #5

Guiliani is also a believer in states rights. Texas Congressman Pete Sessions has publicly stated that Guiliani wants states to decide issues like Guns, Gay Marriage, Abortion, etc.

That said, I would have to hear it from the man's mouth.

I also need to know where he stands on terrorism and illegal immigration.

One thing for sure, it is going to be an interesting 2 years.

nitrogen · #6

jhutto wrote:Is that the photo of him with his finger on the trigger for some reason??
I frowned when I saw that picture. I know he was NOT prepared to fire that gun.

It was a picture like this one, only he was pointing teh shotgun directly at the dog.

KBCraig · #7

As mayor, Giuliani sued 26 gun manufacturers in 2000.

Here are some of his opinions issued as mayor, right from the horse's mouth:

http://home2.nyc.gov/html/records/rwg/h ... y0626.html
New York City Sues Gun Industry
By Mayor Rudy Giuliani

On June 20th, I was pleased to announce that the City of New York filed a lawsuit against two dozen major gun manufacturers and distributors. This is an industry which profits from the suffering of innocent people. The lawsuit is intended to end the free pass that the gun industry has enjoyed for a very long time, which has resulted in too many avoidable deaths.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/rwg/htm ... 70302.html
Archives of Rudolph W. Giuliani
MAYOR'S MESSAGE
Mayor's WINS Address
Sunday, March 2, 1997

Good morning. It has been a week since the terrible tragedy that happened last Sunday at the Empire State Building. And even as we grieve for the families and our hearts and prayers go out to them, perhaps we can use this senseless tragedy to re-energize the fight for gun control.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/rwg/html/97a/ccc.html
As a private citizen, as a prosecutor, as a Mayoral candidate and as Mayor, I have advocated for more regulated and more uniform gun licensing regulations, similar to those for a drivers license.

hi-power · #8

I figured he'd have some 'splainin to do, but you really can't put even a mildly conservative spin on those statements.

This will be an interesting race, but I don't believe he has much of a chance pulling off the Republican nomination. The real conservatives will eat him alive. Too bad, though. He does have some very good leadership qualities.

txinvestigator · #9

KBCraig wrote:As mayor, Giuliani sued 26 gun manufacturers in 2000.

Here are some of his opinions issued as mayor, right from the horse's mouth:

Great info.

flintknapper · #10

KBCraig wrote:As mayor, Giuliani sued 26 gun manufacturers in 2000.
.[/b]

Yup,

Good memory, Thank You Sir!

KBCraig · #11

I can't take credit for the info, although I knew he was anti-gun. Over on a collector's mailing list, another fellow provided the same links; I just fleshed them out and formatted them for folks here.

Kevin

Freedom4All · #12

KBCraig wrote:As mayor, Giuliani sued 26 gun manufacturers in 2000.
...

KBCraig, great info. Thanks for posting it here.

stroo · #13

Unfortunately the choices in 2008 are going to stink. Unless Gingrich can somehow pull ahead and he probably isn't electable anyway, Guiliani, McCain and Romney all have significant weaknesses. While Guiliani would be good on the War on Terrorism, maybe court appointments and maybe taxes, he stinks on RKBA and abortion. McCain just isn't trustworthy and his assault on the First Amendment is deplorable. Who knows what Romney really believes. However, I would vote for any of them before Hilary, Obama or any of the other Democratic candidates. They will be even worse on RKBA than any of the Republicans. This is probably going to be an election where I have hold my nose when I go into the voting booth.

KBCraig · #14

The answer is: Ron Paul!

stroo · #15

Sorry, but I am a religious conservative, not a libertarian. Often we end up in the same place on issues, like RKBA, but I have seen too many times when Paul's positions were seriously at odds with my views. Having said that, I have the same type of conflict with all the Republican candidates, other than maybe Gingrich. So if the choice were Paul or Hillary, I would vote Paul. That won't be the choice however and I would rather vote for an electable Republican than an unelectable libertarian.