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Giuliani's Worst Nightmare (Part I)
Consider this the first installment in my “Presidential Campaign Managers' Worst Faith and Values Nightmare” series. (Your applause and shouted words of encouragement are richly appreciated, though not entirely necessary). The purpose of these experimental posts is to ask what types of mishaps involving religious issues might lead a political handler to turn to The Bottle, non-prescription drugs, “spirituality,” what have you.
Starting with the Republicans--who are, quite frankly, offering up more possibilities for fictional adaptation this election season than their dramatically underperforming counterparts--I ask myself what sort of misadventures lie ahead for Rudy Giuliani. Were I to be running the campaign of the GOP frontrunner, a few scenarios would deprive me of deep, restful REM sleep.
One fear is that somewhere between now and the Iowa Caucus (presently scheduled for January 3) any two of the following three candidates -- John McCain, Fred Thompson, or Mitt Romney -- drops out of the race. This would leave America’s Mayor in a one-on-one dance-off with a contender who, struttin’ his stuff for the conservative Christian masses, will play up his record on abortion and gay marriage. Evangelical leaders, sensing an opportunity to unify their fractured constituency would promptly ratchet up the anti-Rudy rhetoric to a deafening howl.
Then again, Mr. Giuliani polls solidly among traditional Protestants. For some pundits this is a statistical anomaly, one that will reverse itself come January. They advocate what I called “The Hee-Haw Theory of Evangelical Political Literacy.” This refers to the misguided belief that Evangelicals are countrified dimwits who don’t follow the news and know nothing about Giuliani’s stances on abortion and gay marriage.
The distinct possibility exists, however, that most are acutely aware of his positions and still plan on voting for him anyway. If this is indeed the case, than Conservative Christian leaders are the ones who will be experiencing nightmares—nightmares about being unable to lead.
Next up: Team Giuliani studies John Kerry’s 2004 campaign and shudders in fear.
By Jacques Berlinerblau |
October 18, 2007; 10:55 PM ET
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Previous: Is the Evangelical Vote Irrelevant? |
Next: Giuliani's Worst Nightmare (Part II)
Posted by: nighthawk | October 19, 2007 12:50 PM
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How deliciously ironic that the false-fat issue cooked up by rabid Kerry-hater Republicans should now come full-circle back to fry their leading candidate, Rudy G....maybe there is a God after all. Even better, of course, would be that the fallout from this spills over the evangelical-right who got the vicious rumors going, re: Kerry, and destroys their access to power as a voting bloc...how perfect.
Posted by: nighthawk | October 19, 2007 12:37 PM
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How deliciously ironic that the false-fat issue cooked up by rabid Kerry-hater Republicans should now come full-circle back to fry their leading candidate, Rudy G....maybe there is a God after all. Even better, of course, would be that the fallout from this spills over the evangelical-right who got the vicious rumors going, re: Kerry, and destroys their access to power as a voting bloc...how perfect.
Posted by: nighthawk | October 19, 2007 12:37 PM
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It is about time that Catholic politicians realize they cannot have it both ways. The days of "I personally oppose abortion but will not force anyone to believe the same way" are over. You take a stand or you lose. It's total hypocricy and people now see through that. I wish more priests would take stand, too. They are as hypocritical as the candidates, and I am a life long Catholic.
Posted by: Dolores | October 19, 2007 10:49 AM
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Evangelicals are coutrified dimwits who follow Faux news and know only about stances on gay marraige and abortion. Next question please.
Posted by: Mark Skudlarek, Planet Earth | October 19, 2007 9:59 AM
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Screw America's Mayor.
Screw America's Moron.
Screw America's Conservative Christians
The whole religious right phenomenon is about to get its just deserves.
Posted by: J.W. Miller | October 19, 2007 9:03 AM
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I think that if support for Giuliani holds, what the leaders of the Christian right dread the most is the realization on the part of the MSM that the great majority of citizens from Ohio to Nevada - the Heartland as pandering East-Coast journalists like to say - aren't actually obsessed with God, guns and gays (and abortion). The Christian right will be revealed as a paper tiger.
Posted by: James | October 18, 2007 11:06 PM
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Very good journalism. When you've read it, makes you wonder. The author says comment if you wish, but stay tuned for Part II. Senator McCain has sold his soul to the Baptists, who will Rudy sell his to?
Posted by: brian mcc, the arctic | October 18, 2007 9:12 PM
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ANON:
I presume you're talking about yourself, bowl of mice for breakfast. Ever since the evangelicals took over the government I haven't been able to afford anything that good, for dinner even, steady diet of mouse knuckles. Can't speak for Jacob Jozevz but it's my humble opinion he's not buying anything they have to feed him no matter how cheap they make it.
Methinks you make the fatal political miscalculation. Now you know how Jesus felt crying for help and none coming. When are the evangelicals going to make the scene? I for one can't wait. Has Pat Robertson announced the winner if the 2008 election yet? It's the Devil that gives him the outcome of future events, explaining why his predictions are so faulty.
Posted by: BGone | October 18, 2007 6:17 PM
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bgone, you and jacob need to stop drinking the juice. Your comments makes about as much sense as a bowl of mice for breakfast.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 18, 2007 6:00 PM
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Are you familiar with MAD, mutually assured destruction?
The evangelical strangle hold on the government of the Unites States of America is over, done, finished. You can forget it.
MAD http://www.hoax-buster.org
Before they push that button maybe they should take a peek at what the response will be. The ministry must defeat the "notion" that the Bible, their only claim of authority is a hoax BEFORE they launch any missiles.
http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul suggest a scenario based upon their own sacred scriptures that they cannot survive, the WMD of religion. It's one thing to lead folks in the worship of God and something altogether different to lead them in the worship Devil. Wait until they find out it's them that are paying Devil's fee for the souls of ministers.
Never forget: Calling Devil God does not make Devil God but does make Devil's representatives, evangelical ministers rich.
The Devil makes them do that. It's not the God vote. It's the Devil vote.
Posted by: BGone | October 18, 2007 12:39 PM
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Dear Jacques,
Read Part 1. Consider this applause and shouted words of encouragement. Please continue.
regards
rl
Posted by: richard lasater | October 18, 2007 11:33 AM
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jacob jozevz...what a marvelously erudite statement grounded in undeniably credible, scientifically proved...fact. Surely you are a man of the cloth and a much admired teacher and spiritual leader of your equally clear-thinking flock...but do not allow your shining light to be stifled by distributing it only in this forumn...get it out there for public viewing...be sure to mention that you are one of George W. Bush's rising stars...and a loyal Republican to the core. I think you have a real future on the political scene.