What's to finesse? It's a state issue.

Indeed, and it was predictable. Guns up next, get ready Lou!

Plus, the stories today are that he's just about ready to announce he's running, and his campaign floated intelapping McVain -- tho they left out Iowa and NH of course.

Further, I suspect that if McVain uses Bush's old bully boys against Rudy it will backfire. They can beat up Romney tho.

In the middle of that, it should say "internal polls showing he's lapping McVain . . . "

When have good hard attacks ever backfired?

No, it's whatever 5 guys on the Court say it is.

Thanks Jim. You have it.

The man is playing our song. Give us a few bars of the RKBA, and we're good to go.

Giuliani can go all the way with talk like that.

Thanks, Jim.

The man is definitely playing our song. Theow in a few bars of the RKBA, and we're good to go.

Thanks, Jim.

The man is definitely playing our song. Theow in a few bars of the RKBA, and we're good to go.

--He's a viable alternative to Maverick after an obligatory Come to Jesus moment.-

Hmmm, did someone else have a "come to Jesus" moment????

I caught his long interview with Sean Hannity tonight on FoxNews. He was confident and relaxed, and never hesitated or weaseled on the tough questions. Will stay in Iraq until we get it right - no talk of withdrawal or redeployment. Wants to secure the borders but a fence is not the entire answer; wants path to legal statue for current illegal residents with a requirement that they learn to speak and read English and know some American history. Thinks gun restrictions should be a local decision as long as it doesn't violate the 2nd Amendment. Thinks marriage should be solely between a man and woman, but also thinks there should be some type of domestic partnerships, decided on the state level. Will appoint judges like Roberts and Alito. Believes abortion questions should be decided at the state level.

It was a most impressive performance. He will emphasize his executive competence and leadership as mayor, his record of solving difficult problems, while projecting a sunny optimism and orientation toward the future reminiscent of Ronald Reagan. He will be formitable in debates, and will make McVain seem the old and dour politician that he is.

Dick Morris came after and revealed that his informal straw poll last weekend at a conservative event, only 1/4 thought McCain could overcome his negative perception by the base, but 3/4 felt Giuliani could satisfy them.

Reagan and both Bushs.

When the negative ads start flying the negatives about Rudy's past will stick harder than anything he can throw at McCain.

I just hope they don't damage each other too much. The real problem with all of the top 3 is the God, Gays, & Guns crowd (not intended as a perjorative). One would hope they could take the backseat for one cycle.

Can someone explain to me a viable scenario in which Newt makes his entrance. He's on record as saying he will evaluate the field in Sept or Oct of this year and determine his own candidacy. What type of scenario is he hoping for, to add his name to the race?
Secondly, why isn't anyone giving him any credit? He is about as innovative as any candidate could possibly be in this race. Rudy gets second place for innovation. Any chance for Rudy/Newt ticket?

Newt is a non-starter. The press would love nothing more than to kick him around again, he is a great idea guy but a lousy leader, and while Giuliani has 'personal' differences with the Right, Newt actually betrayed them.

Newt's best role will be as a kitchen cabinet kind of advisor.

His woman problems have come while he was a national GOP leader. That's deadly.

--When the negative ads start flying the negatives about Rudy's past will stick harder than anything he can throw at McCain.--

His divorces???

Muting "God, gins and gays" would involve either our activists sitting out or a third party. The Republicans cannnot dismount the tiger.

This is because of the finality of defeat. Once your gun is gone, it's gone. The gun culture is engaged in a constant struggle against regulation, expense, tort law and brainwashing. We have hung on and even prevailed for all these years by discipline and determination. This has included vast networks of grass-roots activism and communications. This cannot be turned off,even if it were a good idea to do so, which it is not.

When I show up at the "town meetings" the politicians give, I always see the same crown. AARP, NAACP, schoolteachers, government workers, and me. What usually happens is that one or more of the friends of big government puts in an anti-gun plug, just because that is part of the statist game plan. The other side is not giving up on the issue, even though the national Democrat party in in a stealth mode.

The same thing may be said for the God and gays parts of our voter coalition. Don't imagine that our side can give up major voter coalition components and stay in business. Go right or go home.

Over on the NRO Corner and in the NY Post Podhoretz is already whooping it up over Rudy's polls. He usually hedges with a comment about McCain, but he's sounding awful cocky right now. Funny thing: Derbyshire agrees with him in supporting Rudy, which is the only thing those guys have agreed on since...the Red Sox second-last Series win.

Rudy does great on TV, where McCain is a literal stiff. And Rudy at least makes nosies about taking the Repub base seriously, even if he disagrees with them on social issues. McCain always looks like he can't wait to laugh at conservs with his buddies at the NY Times.

Okay, maybe that's unfair to McCain. But a couple days ago Feingold - his partner in campaign-finance - said the grumpy guy from the desert would make a "great president". The kiss.

They all supported McCain because he was less socially conservative than W, so, of course, they bolt to Giuliani. But the Zeus worshipers got it wrong last time too.