Giuliani 2008

I like Rudy Giuliani. As person who grew up on Long Island, I really liked that he cleaned up New York City when he was mayor.

But for some reason, I am not excited about him being President. Don't misunderstand me, its not like I would vote for a Democrat over him. It is just that there is no spark of excitement in voting for him.

The biggest reason I see for voting for Rudy, over other Republicans, would be his taking New York State in the election over the Democrat candidate. As a New Yorker, and former mayor of New York City, you would think that he would have a decent chance of winning the city, and with it the State and the country overall. After all, they did vote for him for mayor. Unfortunately, for some reason, poll numbers don't see this as a likely outcome.

In a hypothetical all-New York presidential race, Sen. Hillary Clinton wins with 43 percent of voters statewide, followed by former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani with 29 percent and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg with 16 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

In a head-to-head matchup, Sen. Clinton tops Giuliani 52 - 37 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. - Quinnipiac University, 20 June 2007

So, we can't depend on Rudy taking NY from Clinton, or from other Democrats according that that poll. That shows you how grateful the City is for all he did for them. Besides that, there are two huge negatives I see, the first being his position on gun control:

"My position for many years has been that just as a motorist must have a license, a gun owner should be required to have one as well. Anyone wanting to own a gun should have to pass a written exam that shows that they know how to use a gun, that they’re intelligent enough and responsible enough to handle a gun. Should both handgun and rifle owners be licensed...we’re talking about all dangerous weapons." - The Jawa Report

My basic position on guns is that they should be licensed in some way and that there are some people, like convicted criminals, who should not be allowed to own a gun. HOWEVER, I am completely against Federal licensing of guns, simply because the Government will royally F*ck it up. As it is, they can’t properly enforce existing gun laws. Rudy's position as he states it is a gift-wrapped load of bull. Take the following story about the process of getting a handgun in New York City:

I DIDN'T want to be Bernie Goetz. I just wanted a handgun. Legally. Something to keep at home. A move within Manhattan had taken me away from the comforts of doorman security (you know how it is). A little extra protection seemed prudent, 911 calls can take a while to answer, and Rudy isn't going to be mayor forever. Should be pretty straightforward, I thought. In my native Britain it would be impossible. But this is the United States, home of the Second Amendment, land of liberty.

Government knows its place. They do things differently in America.

But then there's New York City, a place where the old constitutional certainties have been replaced by the rules of the NYPD, License Division. If you believe that this is a local problem, a Big Apple nightmare that could never apply to you, think again. A dozen states already insist on handgun permits. Citing as always "the children," it is clear that Candidates Gore and Bradley want to expand on this at the federal level. The Brady Act was not enough. There's earnest talk of licensing, registration, additional checks to which, allegedly, only the unreasonable could object.

But the unreasonable have a point. New York City's licensing system has turned a right into a privilege. Like all privileges, it's enjoyed only by the few. There may be more than 7 million people in the five boroughs, but only 40,000 have valid handgun permits. Licensing isn't the thin end. It is the wedge. If you want to find out what that modest-sounding licensing requirement can mean in the hands of a bureaucracy that doesn't want you to have a handgun, come here, to the City. - National Review

Go read the whole story of his 8 month adventure into getting a gun.

A process that a President Giuliani would want to thrust upon all of us. Even if it was not an agenda of his, the Democrats in Congress will surely show up at his doorstep with a Federal handgun 'license' control bill that he would agree to sign. (And by the way, the application fee for a NYC handgun permit costs close to $500.)

Lets all be thankful that it is New York State, and not New York City that licenses NY drivers.

Guns aside, there is now his vow to end illegal immigration. I just don't see him as the one to do it, other than the traditional redefining of an illegal into a legal alien.

Now Fred Thompson is the type of candidate that I can get behind. I bet Fred can tackle the problem of illegal immigration. We just have to wait for him to declare his candidacy to get all the details. They better be good, as my expectations are high.