CNN: Giuliani vs. Palin in 2012?

Bring it on!
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Rudy Giuliani says he's actually "more likely" to run for president if Sarah Palin does:

In an interview on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight," Giuliani, who dropped out of the 2008 Republican presidential primary, said running against Palin for the 2012 GOP nomination would show him as a moderate Republican.

"The more Republicans in which I can show a contrast, probably the better chance, the better chance that I have," Giuliani told CNN's Piers Morgan in an interview set to air at 9 pm. ET Monday.

[...]

He also addressed Palin's use of the word "blood libel" that she used in a video following the Arizona shootings. The phrase traditionally refers to a long-standing anti-Semitic myth that Jews murdered children for religious rituals. In present times, the term has come to be understood by some as any false accusation of murder.

Palin used it to criticize many in the media who said her political rhetoric may have contributed to the shootings. She later said her critics were taking issue with the phrasing in hopes of derailing her overall message.

Giuliani said "except for the use of the word, (she was) absolutely right on."

Rudy is right about one thing -- there would certainly be a contrast between the two if both got into the race.

Giuliani has a pro-abortion record, including support of taxpayer-funded abortions and refusal to ban late-term abortions. He also supports the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. In a high profile case, he sued firearms manufacturers to try to hold them liable for gun violence. Rudy is also something of a flip-flopper, who praised RFK in his law school newspaper and bashed Barry Goldwater. While that can be chalked up to youthful ignorance, his pivot on school prayer is more problematic. Giuliani condemned a New York City public schoolteacher who led her class in prayer, but sent out fundraising letters in 1999 in which he portrayed himself as favoring of school prayer. He was for amnesty for illegal aliens before he was against it, and reissued Ed Koch's executive order making NYC a sanctuary city for illegals . He also opposed George H.W. Bush’s ban on gay marriage, but in his 2000 campaign for the Senate said that marriage should be between one man and one woman.

Gov. Palin is fiercely pro-life, has always believed marriage is defined as one man and one woman and opposes embryonic stem cell research. She has received a number of awards from the NRA for her support of the Second Amendment. Although she's not against some sort of path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, she rejects amnesty for them. Gov. Palin has always been suuportive of conservatives, from Goldwater to Jim DeMint and Paul Ryan. She has also been far more consistent on the issues than Giuliani. She has always supported school prayer and opposed gay marriage.

Yes, there are enough clear-cut differences between Rudy G and Gov. Palin on the issues that we say, Bring it on!

- JP

Rudy slams GOP establishment for dissing Gov. Palin

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"America's Mayor" Rudolph Giuliani appeared on Fox News to school his party's establishment for not observing Ronald Reagan's "Eleventh Commandment":

“Sarah Palin has every right to make her case to the Republican Party. How about we let the Republicans decide — not the so-called leaders — whether she is qualified or not? I think they are missing the whole point of what is going on in our electorate right now because that is the worst possible way to take that kind of a lesson out of this election. I think this time we have to have a Republican National Committee that disciplines Republicans who attack other Republicans. I see it starting already and it really disturbs me."

h/t: Melissa Clothier

- JP

Another Get Motivated! Event in Texas for Sarah Palin

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Peter and Tamara Lowe, the couple behind the The Get Motivated! seminars, must have been pleased with Sarah Palin's performance at their event in Houston earlier this month, because they've apparently booked her for an encore appearance in Beaumont in March.

The seminar comes to the Beaumont Civic Center Thursday, March 25, where the Get Motivated! organization says Gov. Palin will be part of a lineup of speakers that includes "America's Mayor" Rudy Giuliani. Those who will be content with watching the governor's speech on a big screen can do so in the Julie Rogers Theater, which is part of the Civic Center complex.  Those who will settle for nothing less than being in the same room with Gov. Palin will want to get the higher-priced tickets for the Civic Center Arena. 

The event will likely draw a crowd from the Golden Triangle area, which also includes Port Arthur and Orange, as well as from the Southwest Louisiana area around Lake Charles.

- JP

Rudy Guiliani: Sarah Palin has what it takes

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, in a CNN interview Wednesday, said that the GOP needs a strong leader who can focus the party on what he called "the most left-wing agenda - since Roosevelt." One possible such leader, Giuliani said, is former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin:

"I... took her to the Yankee game a couple of weeks ago... I was a little concerned about taking her to the Bronx -- big Democratic territory... She had a great reception... They all wanted to take a picture with her. They all wanted to get her autograph. They all wanted to talk to her. She sparks a tremendous amount of interest. So there is something unusual there."

Asked if Palin has what it takes to be president, Giuliani replied:

"I thought she did when I campaigned for her... Yes, I thought she was a really good governor. I thought she had done a really good job. There are a lot of questions because of all of the things that have been raised. She had the chance to answer them all. And I think she’s a real presence in our party."

- JP

Palins guests of Giulianis at Yankees game

Sarah Palin and the NY Yankees -- two of Carlos Echevarria's favorite subjects. Here's his write-up at Let's Get It Right. More on Sarah's Sunday from C4P.

Update: NY Daily News story here.

- JP

Gov. Palin may attend Yankees game with Giuliani

Politico reports on Gov. Palin's trip to New Work, and it appears there is at least a possibility that a couple of more stops could be added to her itenerary:

She’s expected to join former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani at a Yankee game. And though she riled Washington allies earlier this year by turning down an invitation to headline this week’s joint fundraiser of the House and Senate Republican campaign committees in Washington, she may now stop by the event, a source said, though [spokeswoman Meghan] Stapleton declined to comment on her schedule.

 Politico says the governor is taking a "low key" approach this weekend. She’s traveling (commercial flight) with a small group which includes husband Todd, daughter Willow, Gov. Palin's sister and nephew, spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton and two volunteer advance men. There will be no mass rallies, no major addresses and no attempt to play to the media this weekend.

Asked by Politico to comment on the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, the governor declined, except to say that she doesn't consider gender to be a litmus test:

"I would judge her on her credentials and on her record before I would comment on her gender."

Then there was this encounter in Seneca Falls:

Norma Grant, 71, emerged from a beauty parlor with a simple message: "Run, please run."

"Thank you - you are encouraging," Palin replied.

- JP