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| Republicans Should Stay Optimistic and On Offense |
| 2006-11-05 |
| By Rudy Giuliani For the past six months, I've been traveling across the country campaigning for Republican candidates. Conventional wisdom from Washington predicts a tough year for the party. By playing offense, solidifying our ranks and reaching out to Reagan Democrats and Independents, I believe that Republicans have reason to be optimistic. Because on the big issues Americans care about - from national security to the economy to the Supreme Court - Republican leadership has delivered time and again on its promises. Republicans are united by our belief in going on offense to win the war on terror. Five years ago, our nation learned a painful lesson about the dangers of an inconsistent approach to dealing with the evil of terrorism. In his speech to Congress on September 20th, 2001, President Bush declared that we would go on offense against terrorists, and he has made good on that promise. Terrorists have been destabilized and put on defense around the world - including Afghanistan and Iraq. Americans should remember the positive impact of tax cuts on our economy. Most Republicans agree with Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush that tax cuts are a powerful stimulus to the economy - that's why I cut taxes 23 times as Mayor of New York. Most Democrats disagree with that philosophy - it's an honest disagreement. But let's look at the results: Today, we have a 4.4% unemployment rate in our country - lower than the average in the 70's, 80's and 90's. The stock market recently hit 12,000 - an all-time high. And the lower tax rate is generating more revenue than the higher rate did before - $250 billion more than last year. Republicans stand for lower taxes; Democrats stand for higher taxes - it's as simple as that. Finally, let's look at the Republican record on judges. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito are models of what judges should be in this country. They are principled individuals who can be trusted to defend the original intent of the Constitution rather than trying to legislate their own political beliefs from the bench. The successful appointments of Justices Roberts and Alito are signs of promises kept. But there is still more work to do: more promises that need to be kept. When I talk to people across America, I hear their frustration with the gridlock and scandals from Washington. As a former U.S. Attorney, I spent much of my career bringing corrupt government officials from both parties to justice. Neither party has a monopoly on virtue or vice - but we do have legitimate differences in terms of our ideas and vision for the future. And those principled differences should guide Americans' decisions on Election Day. The people I've been talking with on the campaign trail want to see government get serious about fiscal discipline by cutting wasteful spending. American families want to see a revitalized education system with accountability, putting the focus on the students, increased school choice and higher standards, so that the United States can continue to be economically competitive throughout the 21st Century. They want us to do more to secure our borders while working to ensure that the virtues of legal immigration and assimilation are respected. They want us to move more aggressively toward greater energy independence. But of course, the most important piece of unfinished business facing the nation is winning the war on terror. In the era of President Truman and President Eisenhower, people used to say that "Partisan politics should end at the waters' edge." But lately some influential political voices seem to have forgotten this American tradition. The war on terror is not about "red" versus "blue" states - it is about right versus wrong; it is about good overcoming evil. That's why these mid-term elections are so important. That's why we can't turn back. That is why Republicans need to solidify our ranks while reaching out with confidence. Because the issues that unite us as Republicans are the same issues that unite the vast majority of Americans: a commitment to winning the war on terror; a core belief in fiscal conservatism; and a faith in individual freedom. Advancing these principles, while staying on offense, can help keep the GOP a strong majority party in the United States. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #10 I will probably come Tuesday to watch with you the results of the elections. And I hope we will be able to drink some "champagne" over the Atlantic Ocean when the Republicans will be declared winners in both House and Congress ! |
| Posted by: Leroidavid 2006-11-05 23:14 |
| #9 Merci beaucoup for your good wishes, Leroidavid. Keep us company on Tuesday as we tear our hair out watching the exit polls during the day (even if hy won't even hint at the numbers of votes mailed in ahead of time) and the returns after the polls close starting around 8 pm Eastern Daylight Time. And if it's any comfort, George W. Bush will still be in the White House for two more years regardless of the result, and in both the House and Senate it will take more than a simple majority to override his vetos. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-11-05 22:26 |
| #8 Hello from Paris. I hope all you Rantburgers are going to rally all your friends for those thuesday elections. If they are not already convinced they have to vote Republican, convince them. Those elections are very important not only for America but for the rest of the world too. America and its allies have to win the War on Terror, and that's possible only with Republicans in power. I hope you will succeed in keeping both the Senate and the House. |
| Posted by: Leroidavid 2006-11-05 22:17 |
| #7 Giuliani would not be able to turn the gun laws against us. The lobbies are too strong and congress will never allow it. My bet is he will stay silent on gun issues and strong on WOT. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-11-05 17:45 |
| #6 Compare Giulani's reasoned, optimistic message about America to the inanities coming from the Left. |
| Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) 2006-11-05 11:29 |
| #5 An MSNBC poll has the Repubs keeping control of the Senate: In all, these key Senate races show the following: * Two Republican incumbents in serious trouble: Santorum and DeWine. Democrats could gain two seats. * Four Republican incumbents essentially tied with their challengers: Allen, Burns, Chafee and Talent. Four toss-ups that could turn into Democratic gains. * Three Democratic incumbents with leads: Cantwell, Menendez, and Stabenow. * One Republican incumbent ahead of his challenger: Kyl. * One Republican open seat with the Republican leading, Tennessee. * One open Democratic seat virtually tied: Maryland. In the House, 12 seats are leaning Dem and 16 races are tossups. So the House could go Dem (need 15 seats). The mitigating factor being polls have favored the Dems by a few points more than election totals. Battle for the House of Representatives For the second time I will vote straight Repub. The Repubs may not want to win the war against islam, but I'll be damned if I ever vote for the Dems who want to outright lose our civilization. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-11-05 11:28 |
| #4 Yes -- and the situation in Mexico is imploding, which (along with the Islamacist activity in Latin America) means the next President will have a huge security issue to deal with from that direction. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-11-05 10:59 |
| #3 Mr. Guiliani would be an asset in whatever role he chose to play. And let's not forget that he worked in Mexico as a security consultant after he stepped away from politics. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-11-05 10:58 |
| #2 I could vote for him if he reaffirmed individual gun rights. They are a deal breaker for me, either you acknowledge them or get your gun-grabbing ass off the ticket. McCain is not a lot better |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-11-05 10:56 |
| #1 Rudy in '08? Hmmm... |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2006-11-05 10:42 |