Giuliani?

For years prior to the 2008 primaries, Rudolph Giuliani, the thrice-married, cross-dressing, amnesty-supporting former mayor of New York, was breathlessly touted by neoconservatives as the sure bet to win the GOP nomination and the presidency. He won one delegate. Not surprisingly, Giuliani has hardly been mentioned among the possible GOP candidate in 2012. But now U.S. News tells us in a tone of certitude that Rudy is seriously planning a candidacy, and is focusing totally on New Hampshire, the state he famously ignored in 2008.

I’ll believe it when I see it.

- end of initial entry -

Carol Iannone writes:

Running for national office has become a ticket to wealth, most conspicuously, and most illegitimately, in the case of Sarah Palin. Putting out feelers as Giuliani may be doing could be to spruce up his profile, get higher speaking and consulting fees, and so forth.

It used to be, before Palin, that someone would put in a good substantial public career, and then, quite legitimately, seek book deals, speaking and consulting fees, and so forth. But she broke the mold by quitting in the middle of her first term of her only major public office, and cashing in like a character out of Jersey Shore. Now it has become increasingly the case that people run without being truly serious about it, while thinking of the extra benefits it may provide in the near future. In Giuliani’s case, he did have a good public career, on which he has already, legitimately, cashed in. But the well may be running a little dry at this point and he may be thinking of replenishing it with the prestige of a national run.

N. writes:

I suppose in an era where vanity press is readily available via the Internet (most blogs, for example), the vanity candidate is an inevitable feature of modern politics. Now, maybe it is just my own perception, but it appears that there are more vanity candidates around than usual. Gingrich is one, and Giuliani (if he really runs) would certainly be another.

Where’s Harold Stassen when we truly need him?

James N. writes:

“But she broke the mold by quitting in the middle of her first term of her only major public office, and cashing in like a character out of Jersey Shore.”

I guess Carol Iannone is not a believer.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at May 24, 2011 02:01 PM | Send