Rudy Giuliani was introduced as "A Great Conservative Leader." Emphasis was put on his history of crime and safety; his cutting of taxes; and his efforts with welfare reform.
He was met with a great deal of cheering and applause. He started out with a few things that "we believe:"
He believes that the Republican Party, when it is working right, gives people more freedom and responsibility. He wants to give more freedom to people in choosing their education. He supports expanding options for parents in education. And he believes that rights have duties.
Regarding the recent Democrat activity about the war on terror, he asked when in history that any force that was retreating gave a schedule of the retreat to the enemy.
It is bad judgment to retreat in face of this terrorist threat.
He is spending a bit of time talking about education. He does not support a reduction of spending in education, he says that since we're spending the money anyway, let's allow parents to select where to spend that money. He recognizes that the education system is a job protection system and he wants to make it about educating children.
More paraphrasing of his remarks:
The 2008 election will be about whether we will remain a private economy; or whether we will become a collectivist economy. "There is no question that they [Democrats] are marching us towards socialized medicine." They [Democrats] was bureaucrats making decisions, not doctors:
First of all, you should have a tax deduction [for health insurance] -- to encourage people to buy health insurance. We should expand the health savings accounts. Then, if we want to cover more poor people, we should give them vouchers. Then you get into legal reform and starting taking away this judgments and claims from trial lawyers.
Finally, one further thought on terrorism: Iraq is real important; and I think it's real important that we not retreat in Iraq. But it's not all about Iraq. The whole war on terror is not just about Iraq. If you focus just on Iraq, you can make mistakes -- like the Democrats are making. "This war on terror is a war against us."
Democrats won't admit that Islamic terrorists are dangerous. Islamic terrorists are dangerous to us. "They are planning to come here and kill us." The only way to deal with them is to remain on offense against them.
"The Constitution says that you have a personal right to carry arms." There can be restrictions, but they have to be reasonable. He agrees with the recent DC decision that prevented the ownership of arms. He agrees with restrictions such as mental illness; age; and conviction of crimes.
Developing...More notes and updates on this speech later this evening from Ogre.
This was an outstanding speech. He hit all the right notes. I am not a convert yet, but I am less convinced that he would be a disaster for the GOP.
He sure beats Romney in a walk.
Indeed, he said the right things. And someone asked him about those who disagree with him -- specifically conservative Christians. He suggested that those who disagree need to consider how much they disagree with him versus others. And how much they really do disagree with him -- because no one has the perfect candidate other than themselves.
where does it say in the constitution that you can not have arms in Washington DC that is a big problem when you go against the constitiution.
Certainly, it doesn't!