Will Giuliani replace Cheney in ’04? (MSNBC gossip)

[Cannikin]

By Jeannette Walls with Ashley Pearson
MSNBC
Updated: 2:56 a.m. ET Jan. 27, 2004Will there be a Bush/Giuliani ticket in '04?

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A well-placed source says that the president will “most likely” drop Dick Cheney from his re-election ticket and his first choice for a replacement is former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

“The issue of Cheney’s health will probably be given as the reason,” says the insider. “There’s a short list of possible replacements, and Rudy is at the top of the list.”

The source adds that the selection of the former New York mayor may be overridden by Bush advisors from the far right. “Giuliani has been pro-choice, pro-gay rights, and is pretty liberal on some other social issues, but the thinking is that he might broaden Bush’s appeal.”

If, however, Giuliani gets bumped from the ticket, says the source, “expect him to get a prime assignment in Washington as an consolation prize.”

Bush’s rep didn’t return calls, and a spokeswoman for Giuliani said, “Rudy Giuliani has been out in Iowa and New Hampshire talking about the incredible accomplishments of Vice President Dick Cheney with George Bush and working very hard to get them both re-elected.”

[jsw_81]

1. It won't happen

The anti-choice, anti-gay fundies would revolt and stay home on election day, just like they did in 1992.

[booniapolis]

4. you know what...

I think you both raise interesting points.
To jsw_81, you make a great point, even reps know that if they keep the debate to "God, Gays and Guns" (Jim Inhofe R-OK i believe, feel free to correct me).
To the original poster of the message, im sorry, I cant see your nickname right now, you bring up the issue of appealing to swinging voters.
Even through a crushing hangover, I'm going to go with "Watch this space" I think it's too early to make a prediction, but I will say that dropping your VP will look a bit suspect if its for "health reasons".

[jsw_81]

8. It's kind of funny

Because I think a Bush/Giuliani ticket would be extremely formidable; we would have no chance of winning the election without New York. But the rabid GOP conservatives are too stupid to understand that, and Giuliani will never get on the ticket. He might, however, run for Hillary's Senate seat in '06. I hope she's keeping her eye on him.

[dusty64]

9. I also believe

that "st. rudy" would be more than unacceptable to the American Taliban.

[bushwakker]

12. Rudy shacked up with his mistress

in the Gracie Mansion before his divorce probably won't help him with the Gary Bauer crowd. He will run vs Hillary in '06.

[rooboy]

2. Thom Hartmann speculated about this a few months ago... n/t

[kentuck]

3. That would release some of pressure off the NYC convention...

would it not? They would not feel like they need to escape to a huge passenger ship in the harbor. This might encourage them to actually walk down the streets of NYC and meet the people...

[Cannikin]

5. Most people think Cheney's running the show anyway...

I think Bush would be replaced before he would!

[Democat]

6. If Bush does this, the Democrats better have a plan to counter it

The most important thing will be to make sure that the far right understands that Rudy is a social liberal who supports gays and abortion.

If the far right is willing to happily accept socially liberal pro-gay pro-abortion candidates, then American might be making progress after all.

The Democrats should be in full planning mode right now, getting ready to take on Bush and Rudy or Bush and Cheney. Let's hope they don't get caught without a plan like the entire 2002 election.

[izzie]

7. This guys leaves me cold.

Also can he be controlled by Cheney?

[0007]

10. Giuliani? If so, it will only show how hard up this junior administration

is and fast it's going down.

[OKHRANA]

11. Even if Bush did do this, Rudy is not...

that good a campaigner. He got lucky to get the colon cancer excuse so he could withdraw from campaigning against Hillary in 2000 (man he was bad).

It's a grind and I don't think he's up to it. Plus he's gonna look like more a "compassionate conservative" than Bush and do you think Bush is willing to play second fiddle to Rudy or anyone?

If he does, the conservative "Taliban" will just go into a funk and stay home on election day.

No way, Rudy just wants something else that's why he's pulling some campaigning duty in New Hampshire (with no opposition, jeez I can do that).

[marie123]

13. I disagree

As you call it the " conservative Tali ban" will have no choice but to accept this. Rudy is very popular in the NE. He made NYC safe and beautiful and as I watch it go down hill again I so appreciate what Rudy did.

He truly would have given Hillary a run for her money, but she is and was very popular in NYC. It would have been a close race.

I would just like to say one thing, as a conservative, no I cant spell to save my life, but next to my grammar I look like I can. :-)
BUT
If you think for one minute that I am against two people loving each other and wanting to spend a life time together regardless of gender. Well you have us wrong or at least me and mine.

I truly do not want to get kicked off this board, but sometimes I get tired of being accused of being a bigot.

[jsw_81]

15. Not all conservatives are Talibornagains

But all Talibornagains are conservative.

[Minstrel Boy]

16. "He made NYC safe and beautiful"

I guess your clocks aren't set to Giuliani Time.

As he shoved the plunger into Mr. Louima's rectum, he told him, "This is Giuliani time, not Dinkins time."
http://www.ncew.org/pulitzer/pul4.html

[AlinPA]

14. It would be Powell. Forget that he lied at the UN. When the media

got this, it would be the only story for months.

[OKHRANA]

18. Oh man, Powell would be a scary choice...

you are right, Powell would be the only story for months (years actually), and because it would be the first Black on a national ticket, and a moderate one that conservatives would not be happy with, it would be an unbeatable ticket that would even get at least half the Black vote.

Conservatives would still vote for the ticket because Bush was in it, and a lot of Independents would too, as well as Blacks.

Powell would then be able to run as an incumbent in 2008. They say it is an established fact that Powell is not going to stay on as Secretary of State after this term is over next January.

[Minstrel Boy]

17. It would be a devilishly brilliant move.

Giuliani is a walking 9/11. And for some God knows what reason, the worst attack ever visited on American soil is Bush's greatest attribute.