Yesterday, Rudy Giuliani gave an ambitious, campaign-style speech at the American Enterprise Institute.
Touting his accomplishments as the mayor of New York City, Mr. Giuliani ran through the gamut of hot-button policy issues. He covered significant economic ground, relating the country’s unemployment rate to the disastrous situation he inherited when he was first elected as Mayor in 1993. But Giuliani framed his solutions in terms of what America, not New York, should do. Indeed, his speech included no references to the specific problems that his state faced, but instead incorporated a long section about the national sub-prime mortgage crisis. Even the title of the event, “Keeping America Competitive, Prosperous, Entrepreneurial, and Enterprising: Why Capitalism Works,” implies broader ambitions.
The former mayor’s speech spoke to conservative theme and values. He talked about how he had been won over by proponents of school choice. He decried current health care reform proposals before Congress, while claiming that the American system was “the best in the world.” On the issue of poverty, he reminded the audience of his commitment to workfare over welfare. He warned against the dangers of social democracy. Giuliani’s message seemed to be, “Conservatives: I’m one of you!”
This was a speech for a national, not a state audience. Could Rudy Giuliani be contemplating another presidential run?
A void has been left behind by the recent collapses of Senator Ensign and Governor Sanford. In addition, Giuliani is sure to have realized that his most formidable opponent, Mitt Romney, does not have the same sort of pro-life credentials that Senator McCain brandished in the last election cycle. In any 2012 matchup between Giuliani and Romney, their similar records on prominent social issues could well render those contentious questions electorally moot in the Republican primaries.
If the economy continues to worsen and the wheels fall off the Obama-wagon, Rudy Giuliani with his outstanding governance credentials and a full-throated conservative message may prove a more appealing choice for Republicans in 2012 than in 2008. The audience at AEI today may very well have been treated to the first speech of the Giuliani 2012 presidential campaign.
9 responses so far
1 Cforchange // Jul 23, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Well Tim, I hope you are correct. What more is there to say, still difficult to determine why “outstanding governance credentials” didn’t get him there before.
2 franco 2 // Jul 23, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Republicans would be INSANE to nominate this man for Prez. Sure he’s better than Obama but who wouldn’t be ?
Guiliani’s credentials are overrated. He became the media darling after 9/11 because they didn’t want to give focus to Bush – it was soooo obvious. The fact that Guilani believes this crap tells me he’s another out-of-touch elitist. I just can’t understand why some politicians act like they, and they alone can save us.
BTW What is a “full-throated conservative message” anyway?
3 barker13 // Jul 24, 2009 at 9:04 am
Are we back to deleting posts…???
(Or did I not hit “submit” earlier…???)
Anyway… to reiterate… TIM – include LINKS.
(I just can’t believe I need to tell him this… look at the kid’s “bio.” Educational standards have apparently slipped even further than I have in the past feared.) (*SIGH*)
BILL
4 Tim Mak // Jul 24, 2009 at 9:29 am
Bill – I’m really not quite sure what links you’re looking for. I was reporting from the event.
5 Morning Skim: Rudy Resurfaces, the Gates Case and More - The Opinionator Blog - NYTimes.com // Jul 24, 2009 at 10:00 am
[...] Majority: Tim Mak says that on Wednesday, “Rudy Giuliani gave an ambitious, campaign-style speech at the American Enterprise [...]
6 barker13 // Jul 24, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Re: TimM // Jul 24, 2009 at 9:29 am –
“I was reporting from the event.”
You failed to note that in your original post.
“I’m really not quite sure what links you’re looking for.”
A link to the actual text of the speech.
I tried to located one before, but the AEI website was down.
Always include links to what you’re referencing, Tim; that’s the lesson I’m trying to impart. (No charge!) (*WINK*)
BILL
7 aronscott // Jul 24, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Here’s the link to the video:
Keeping America Competitive, Prosperous, Entrepreneurial, and Enterprising: Why Capitalism Works
An Address by Rudy Giuliani
http://app2.capitalreach.com/esp1204/servlet/tc?cn=aei&c=10162&s=20271&e=10787&&espmt=2
8 barker13 // Jul 24, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Re: Aronscott // Jul 24, 2009 at 3:15 pm –
Thanks, Aron.
Apparently there’s no transcript. (*SIGH*) At least it hasn’t been posted at AEI yet.
See, this is the problem with “technology.” I don’t care about the video. I don’t care about the audio. Besides the fact I’m not going to commit an hour to the exercise of watch/listening, what am I supposed to do with an audio or video… transcribe it as I watch/listen?
(When I write *I* I’m really saying “interested parties, people in general.”
With a transcript I can cut/paste/cite for blogging purposes. What the heck use is a 60 minute video/audio if that’s my purpose. (Rhetorical question… the answer is “none.”)
Anyway… just my perspective. Others may disagree. Thanks again for providing the link to the video.
BILL
9 The Specials « Upset Patterns // Sep 6, 2009 at 1:21 am
[...] Giuliani in the news lately as he mulls over his potential political future as New York governor or recycled republican presidential candidate (as reported by my friend Tim Mak), I think it’s fitting to pay tribute to this Specials [...]
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