Giuliani Makes a Federalist Case
The former mayor speaking at the convention of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal organization. (Getty).
There are certain elements essential to a successful speech before The Federalist Society, and Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani hit just about all of them today before a standing-room-only crowd at the Mayflower Hotel.
He professed his affinity for judges who see the Constitution for "what it is, not what they want it to be.'' He denounced the Senate confirmation process that denied a Supreme Court seat to former Judge Robert Bork and became an "attempted character assassination'' of Justice Clarence Thomas. He promised to nominate justices such as Thomas--and Antonin Scalia, John G. Roberts Jr and Samuel A. Alito Jr.
It was a big turnout for Giuliani, larger even than the crowd that greeted Thomas the day before. Giuliani, who formerly worked in the Reagan administration Justice Department, moved early in the campaign to try to quiet fears he was too moderate by naming Federalist Society stalwart and former Solicitor General Theodore Olson to head his Justice Advisory Committee.
The members, he said, "advise me on everything.'' Seven of them had major roles at the organization's meeting here, including society co-founder Steven Calabresi. Michael Mukasey was another, until President Bush named him attorney general.
The former mayor said it was a pleasure to speak before a crowd "that shares my viewpoint. I didn't get that opportunity too much in New York.''
Federalist Society president Eugene Meyer said the top four Republican presidential candidates in the polls were invited--Mitt Romney, John McCain and Fred Thompson were the others. He said attributed their absence to scheduling issues, and said that McCain and Romney have addressed the group before.
Giuliani said Hillary Rodham Clinton should have been invited, since she is "one of the newest federalists." He was referring to what he said was her position that driver's licenses for illegal immigrants was something to be decided by each state.
"This is the only time in her career she's ever decided anything should be decided on a state by state basis," he said, to laughter from the crowd. "And you know something? She picked absolutely the wrong one.''
Giuliani told the conservative legal group that every presidential election is billed as the most important, but that there were "200 reasons'' why it is true this time--the average number of federal judges a president nominates in a four-year term.
He even used the media as evidence that he could be trusted to appoint conservatives to the bench, saying that MSNBC's Chris Matthews put the question to 12 of "the most cynical reporters in Washington,'' and all said they thought he would.
Giuliani drew his longest ovation when discussing the Federalist Society's theme for the convention, "American Exceptionalism'' and whether the country has a special mission in the world.
The former mayor said the country plays a "divinely inspired role'' motivated by "ideas and idealism.''
"It was this nation that saved the world from the two great tyrannies of the 20th Century--Nazism and communism," Giuliani said. "It's this country that is going to save civilzation from Islamic terrorism.''
He was not so sure-footed when discussing court decisions he disliked. Giuliani said he has searched the Constitution and found nothing that should remove "under God" from the Pledge of Allegience, or ban "mention of the Ten Amendments in a public square.'' He quickly amended: Ten Commandments.
--Robert Barnes
Posted at 5:26 PM ET on Nov 16, 2007
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Comments
Posted by: patbs | November 20, 2007 6:40 PM | Report abuse
Guliani, along with the rest of his gang of hypocritical, self-righteous idealogues, should look within their souls and pray for forgiveness for the immeasurable damage they have caused America. They want to continue the Reagan social transformation experiment...wipe out minorities unless they serve their white masters (a la Condi Rice & Clarence Thomas, Alberto Gonzalez), make the rich richer via tax cuts (i.e.welfare in sheep's clothes)demonize gays, "illegal aliens", and always, defend corporate America, especially in the Courts. Go ahead,pick your judges that will guarantee total immunity to those in power, and call it "tort reform"...YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE RULE OF LAW. YOU REPRESENT WHAT IS ROTTEN IN AMERICA! And, just in case, you really are a Christian (not just a christian in the photo op sense), maybe, maybe you can still save your soul.
Posted by: Yolanda1 | November 17, 2007 9:08 AM | Report abuse
"It's this country that is going to save civilzation from Islamic terrorism."
And enslave it with Judeo-Christian terrorism.
Posted by: kogejoe | November 17, 2007 12:14 AM | Report abuse
"This is the only time in her career she's ever decided anything should be decided on a state by state basis," he said, to laughter from the crowd. "And you know something? She picked absolutely the wrong one.''
The more I listen, the more the Republican field sounds like they're campaigning for student council. Pathetic, immature, mean children.
Posted by: zukermand | November 16, 2007 11:48 PM | Report abuse
"It was this nation that saved the world from the two great tyrannies of the 20th Century--Nazism and communism," Giuliani said. "It's this country that is going to save civilzation from Islamic terrorism.'' Only one question--Who is going to pay for all of this? China? Or are we just going to print the money---so our children and grandchildren can live the great american dream of serfdom. Guiliani's ideas are a LUXURY that we can't afford right now. It all sounds peachy--fight those islamofascists! until we're paying $5 a gal for gas and food (one of those other items conveniently not included in the CPI). We need to Wake Up before our country is toast.
Posted by: eaphilipp | November 16, 2007 11:35 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
Bring me your poor, your hungry, says the statue, not anymore, these guys changed all that to, let us send you our children to death, take our companies, come to america where the poor have no healthcare, up rooted mortgage homes, unaffordable education. Yea we are really making an impact on the world. Such an impact no one wants to live here anymore. These guys are tradors to the american people. They turn thier backs on the middle and lower class people of this country to line the pockets of thier friends corporations. A disgrace!!!