Why Rudy?
Nancy Kruh surveys a group of pundits -- mostly conservative -- on why Rudy Giuliani maintains his lead, despite statements from Dobson and others that they will not support him. The question that is bandied about concerns whether the Social Conservatives have lost their clout -- some of that is true of course. The newer crop of leaders has a broader agenda, or at least they're open to a broader agenda. They're also seeing that the political stridency of the fading generation has not worked well among younger folks. All of this is true.
Still the question is: Why Rudy? His positions on abortion, homosexuality, and other social issues, together with his own past "indiscretions," make him a most unusual candidate for the trending rightward GOP. Romney has had his flip-flops, McCain his maverick streaks, and Thompson just doesn't seem to have the drive. The only other GOP candidates that have raised any excitement value are two very different souls -- Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee. Paul is the libertarian who opposes the war and the social agenda of the Right. Huckabee supports the war but is up front a social conservative. They draw excitement -- but they remain, at least for now, on the margins.
So, back to Rudy. I do believe the issue is war and fear. People are afraid. They don't like the way GW has handled things -- they see him as at best incompetent. But Rudy offers for some at least the sense of a sure hand. But what he offers most is a sense of authoritarianism that is attractive to many. Hitler, Stalin, Mao -- they were despicable characters, but they had their followers, many of whom saw in them a savior and a protector. I do think that many in this country are willing to exchange their freedoms for protection. Rudy promises them that -- though in the long run that could be more dangerous to the world and to the nation.
But Rudy isn't the first to use fear to gain the nation's attention. GW did it, Ronnie did it, indeed LBJ did it.
Consider:
Still the question is: Why Rudy? His positions on abortion, homosexuality, and other social issues, together with his own past "indiscretions," make him a most unusual candidate for the trending rightward GOP. Romney has had his flip-flops, McCain his maverick streaks, and Thompson just doesn't seem to have the drive. The only other GOP candidates that have raised any excitement value are two very different souls -- Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee. Paul is the libertarian who opposes the war and the social agenda of the Right. Huckabee supports the war but is up front a social conservative. They draw excitement -- but they remain, at least for now, on the margins.
So, back to Rudy. I do believe the issue is war and fear. People are afraid. They don't like the way GW has handled things -- they see him as at best incompetent. But Rudy offers for some at least the sense of a sure hand. But what he offers most is a sense of authoritarianism that is attractive to many. Hitler, Stalin, Mao -- they were despicable characters, but they had their followers, many of whom saw in them a savior and a protector. I do think that many in this country are willing to exchange their freedoms for protection. Rudy promises them that -- though in the long run that could be more dangerous to the world and to the nation.
But Rudy isn't the first to use fear to gain the nation's attention. GW did it, Ronnie did it, indeed LBJ did it.
Consider:
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