Rudy's A Man With A Plan

Weekly Standard: Giuliani's List Of Committments Reflect His Policies, Political Realities

(Weekly Standard)  Giuliani has been meeting with policy wonks since last Christmas. He's deeply interested in policy and takes the lead role in staff briefings with outside experts. One of Giuliani's major fundraisers, private equity magnate T. Boone Pickens, speaks frequently with the former mayor about energy. Another large influence is Thomas P. Barnett, the strategist whose book "The Pentagon's New Map" was a major bestseller. Giuliani read it, loved it, and met with Barnett. One of Barnett's themes is expanding the sphere of American economic interaction with the rest of the world. Giuliani alludes to this idea in his 12th commitment, and it will likely play a large part in the mayor's forthcoming Foreign Affairs essay, slated for publication this fall.

Two myths have sprung up about the 12 commitments. The first is that the list is incomplete or evasive because Iraq goes unmentioned. But Giuliani has said he considers the war in Iraq a part of the overall war on terror, so remaining there in some capacity is implied in his prescription to stay "on offense."

The second myth is that Giuliani's list lacks substance. "His so-called 'commitments' are nothing more than empty rhetoric," Democratic National Committee communications director Karen Finney said last week. If that's the case, why did Finney feel the need to release a four-page e-mail attacking them?

Fact is, while the one-sentence commitments are light on detail, Giuliani added specifics to each in his Bedford address and in subsequent interviews. "Offense" against terror means enforcing the Patriot Act, continuing NSA surveillance of terrorist phone calls into the United States, maintaining the current policy on interrogations, and creating ten new combat brigades for the military, as well as the creation of a "stabilization and reconstruction corps," made up of military and civilian personnel, that would specialize in nation-building. "We may very well need more," Giuliani said in Bedford, "but that's an appropriate way to start."

Ending illegal immigration means an ID card for every noncitizen in the United States, a database tracking them, a one-strike policy for noncitizens convicted of crimes, physical and virtual border fencing, and a BorderStat program to study progress in enforcement. There's also an Americanization component, requiring new citizens to speak, read and write English.

Energy independence means building new nuclear plants, subsidizing ethanol and biodiesel, and allowing new oil exploration in American coastal areas. Introducing free-market health care reforms means a $15,000 tax deduction for private insurance, health savings accounts, and medical malpractice reform. The list goes on, but there's an underlying message. "Government is about real issues," Giuliani said, "and if you don't have an agenda, you can't march into the future. The future takes control of you."

As for the immediate future, Giuliani plans to spend the summer rolling out his 12 commitments. Each will be the subject of an individual speech. And these speeches will keep the mayor in the news as the primary campaign hits the summer doldrums. Who knows? They might even steal some attention from Fred Thompson.

[glennc7-]

CBS, the Weekly Standard and the rest of the MSM are continually trying to foist off their chosen candidates with setup pieces like this. It's called perception management. And where is Ron Paul? Not even mentioned. I am a registered Republican and very few Repubs I know choose any of the so-called "top tier" candidates. None of these top tier guys is a real conservative, they%u2019re all RINOs. Look at Rudy Giuliani, he%u2019s pro-gun control, pro-abortion, why he%u2019d be a liberal Democrat in most places.

[clestes-2009]

As usual, Weekly Standard way off the track. What does Rudy G offer as experience in the way of being president????

He is the mayor of a city. PLEASEEEEE!!!! He not qualified to lead this country and if Bush had not made such a HASH of things, better qualified candidates would be willing to run.

Rudy is a JOKE as a candidate for president.

[fredgrad2000]

The GOP has a SMALL chance in 2008 (unless there is a miracle in Iraq - like al-Maliki and the others catch a clue); it should be ZERO, but luckily the Dems can be counted on to always nominate the wrong person; in 2008 it will be the MoveOn.org-approved candidate who will have run so far to the left that on anything OTHER than Iraq, the GOP candidate will be mainstream (particularly if they're smart and nominate Guiliani or McCain who are viewed, except on this left-wing board, as moderate and independent-minded). They have more than one unbeatable candidate, that could win a number of usually "red" states, but both of them are only "second tier". In addition, any congressional landslides will be mitigated by who the Dems have leading them - perfect example being Harry Reid, who can't go a week without a major gaffe and who ALWAYS looks in over his head and weak ("They're not illegal aliens, they're undocumented Americans" - Do you think he was "fed" that in his daily MoveOn.org conference call where the looney left feed him and other Dem leaders their daily talking points?).

[fredgrad2000]

"When he said "cut taxes", it's time to rule him out."

With a Dem Congress, I'm sure that's "off the table" anyhow...but to the often talked about middle class the 2001 tax cuts meant, generally, a cut from 28% to 25% in federal income tax rates and cut in taxes on gains from the sale of long-term investments, which most middle-class people have at least some of. That there are other pressures that have hurt the Middle Class; I am in complete agreement, but NONE of them would be fixed by raising taxes!! And to the other point made; spending MUST be cut, but every study has shown that tax revenues actually INCREASE with lower fixed tax rates!! WHY? Because higher taxes are a DIS-incentive to work and investment; which drive revenues and new business growth; and therefore, the based upon which taxes are taken!! 34% of $2B is far better than 39% of $1B!! Raising taxes does not solve our nation's problems or those of the middle class; it will simply push people into the unemployment line.

[qacjet]

Seems like the burning issue among the GOP candidates is which one is least decrepit. If only they could come up with someone to stand up to Mike Gravel's health and vigor.

[imnho]

Unless the Iraq situation improves between now and the election I thik anyone who gets the democratic nomination and does not have any major mistakes or scandals are sure to win.

Iraq becomes a bigger milstone around the republicans neck with each passing moment. GWB is also to arrogant to admit that he is in over his head. This is sure to lead to a disaster in the future.

[hypnotoad72]

Konabike - I hear ya, completely.

[hypnotoad72]

When he said "cut taxes", it's time to rule him out.

People who look at their paychecks have not seen much difference due to existing tax cuts.

Assuming people have jobs; offshoring is quite a fad right now... which, again, seems odd that it's a migration of jobs rather than expanding into other countries, but what do I know? Only what the media's been saying and none of that is adding up. So we're left to wait and see.

Still, any politician is going to HAVE to address the national debt. We cannot continue making tax cuts that have done few people any good... or we could add American jobs, decent paying ones, that would level the tax burden on everybody, pay the national debt, and so on.

Also, don't forget, "government subsidy" (corporate welfare) and our assisting other nations - perhaps these should be looked at in terms of cost control too?

And globalizing our cost of living to match that of India and China - after all, politicians on both sides talk of making America "competitive" - so unless there's another answer, I just gave one that actually does make America competitive again.

[konabike]

I've been aRepublican voter for long time. Rudy is a nut!

[walt1944-2009]

Among Rudy's plans are to strip search every 10th person (no matter what they have or haven't done), pardon everyone that Emperor Bush may have missed, get married 4 more times so that he can have a different "First Lady" for every day of the week (Mitt Romney, take notice), and build a statue to George W. Bush twice the size of the statue of Saddam Hussein that got torn down in Bagdad when the city fell. He intends on building it in front of the Capital with the words "Thank God, Bush was our president" carved in its base.

All this and more assuming that George Bush will not declare a national emergency and take over the government, which, children, is a very unsettling possibility.

Now all good Republicans, right-wingers, neocons, and supposed independants who are fans of Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Savage, and Coulteir, lets stand straight and tall and raise that right arm in salute:

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!

[johnshaft4]

Rudy and Rush (as VP)...the "Oxycontin couple".

[johnshaft4]

Repubs do not even have a snow ball's chance in hell of surviving the next elections. But, even so, Rudy would be going from "really" bad to "much" worse. All we need is a corrupt, vile, immoral Fed prosecutor.

[jeanneke-2009]

Rudys' a jackass

[connellybarn]

I hear the mainstream media is intentionally ignoring him and you guys seem to be complaining about the GOP supporting the Iraq War, so if you haven't checked him out yet see Ron Paul. Actually, I just felt the need to like everyone else online repeat the name Ron Paul endlessly: Ron Paul, Ron Paul, Ron Paul, Ron Paul, Ron Paul, .... He has low ratings currently in the polls across America (no one knows who he is) but more Internet traffic than just about any candidate and 1:7 odds for winning the GOP at some Vegas sites, so things are kind of in flux for him at the moment.

[sparks224]

Rudy's A Man With A Plan?
What a joke!
It's the same neo-Con plan W has been using.

more Cr@p from The Weakly Substandard.

[harp1963]

Another slick talking Republican ready to break it off in your "rear end" so people who already have 100 million in the bank can have more.

[ubrew12]

So Giuliani will keep America "on offense" in the war on terror (AKA increase the defense budget) cut taxes AND cut spending?

Was he aware that the American Society of Civil Engineers recently graded America's civil infrastructure (roads, bridges, dam, levees, sewer systems, etc) a D-, and estimated that $1.6 trillion would be needed in immediate spending just to bring this infrastructure UP TO CODE after 30 years of supply-side economics and zero 'peace dividend' following the Cold War? That 40 million Americans have no health insurance? That our currency just fell by 35% against the euro? Folks, MORE OF THE SAME is going to bankrupt this nation!

Giuliani is arguing for more Katrina events, not less.

[sjc_1]

"Energy independence means building new nuclear plants,...and allowing new oil exploration in American coastal areas"

This automatically rules this guy out as far as I am concerned. It seems like Republicans have brought us nothing but WAR and DEBT, now this one wants to bring us nukes and offshore drilling...no way.

[ioweign]

Rudy's A Man with a Plan - Hmmm.... Let me guess, he has Nixon's campaign manager. Nixon had a secret plan for Viet Nam too. Or will he give Bush and Cheney a pardon to help 'heal' the nation? I think tar and feathering will be much more therapeutic!!

[elz523]

Mushroom clouds are coming? Have we stepped back into 2003 when the American people were scared into the stupid war in Iraq. I remember talk by D/i/c/k "last throes" Cheney about mushroom clouds. I remember lies about proof of weapons of mass destruction. I remember outing CIA officials to keep critics quiet. Today we see a destruction of civil liberties in the name of fear. Remember these instructive words from Benjamin Franklin " Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

I don't see any Democratic candidates saying "lets no go after the terrorists". What I see if people saying "lets think about how we do this" and "lets not do counterprodctive things that end up killing hundreds of thousands of people". I'm for that!

Fred Thompson has done nothing, Guiliani is a hypocrit who has done nothing, but be in the right place at the right time and competently run a city. That makes him an ok mayor, it doesn't make him a president.