Rudi Spikes Betrayus Ad Back in MoveOn's Face

There is nothing in volleyball like a good spike. A giant player leaping with a full arm sweep arching down to blast the ball right in the opposing players face to score the point. Chalk one up for Rudi Giuliani for doing just that in the New York Times Ad war. We have read about the NYT granting a HUGE discount to MoveOn.oink in order to call General Petraeus a liar. When challenged about the favorable pricing and the damning link to liberal bias, the NYT eeked out some lame excuse about standby rates. Basically, you can get a heavy discount if you don't care what date the ad goes in and the paper ads it when there is no other advertisers to fill the space. Somehow MoveOn gets their ad in place the day that General Petraeus is testifying.

Rudi Giuliani then demands of the NYT to get the same rate in order to run a counter ad. Publicly the NYT grants the rate in a standby mode with no guarantee it will go in last Friday. Somehow, twice in the same week a standby full page ad goes in the NYT on the exact date requested. Somehow. Can you imagine the big stir if Rudi's ad did not go in after Oink's did?

Not only did Rudi score a major point in getting the NYT to give him the space and rate, the ad scored a double blow against MoveOn and Hillary Clinton. The full ad can be seen here. Rudi provides an impressive list describing the impeccable record of General Petraeus. It would have taken too much ink and space to show a countering list of Hillary Clinton's many shortcomings, so Rudi simply lets her name speak for itself by next asking:

Who should America listen to...

A decorated soldier's commitment to defending America, or Hillary Clinton's commitment to defending MoveOn.org?

With such a simple question Rudi clearly exposes the position of the Democrats as being bought and paid for by the far left groups like MoveOn. Dems like Hillary are so beholden to these groups and by their own screeching rhetoric over the last few years are so invested in defeat that they come out with claw and fang against a General who has done nothing to deserve such an attack except say something they do not like.

Rudi scores several points here. Those described above against Hillary and MoveOn. He also embodied what conservatives really wish that George W. Bush would do: respond to the screeching attacks directly and effectively. Instead of fighting by proxy and stealth, Rudi takes off his gloves and gives Hillary a bloody lip. The Dems have been engaging in no holds barred smashmouth politics since 2000. Only such direct responses as these clearly show the public the positions of both sides and will reveal a clear win of ideology. It is more important for ideas to win than for people or administrations to win. Bush should take a few lessons from Rudi on this one.

Presidential 2008 Election June 23, 2007 Snapshot

A month ago I began the first of planned periodic snapshots of the 2008 presidential election. I figure it is about time for another. While on the surface it does not seem that much has changed, underneath I can sense some rumblings that surely result in a new landscape by the time the summer apathy begins to wear off.

First, John McCain has very likely committed political suicide by supporting the immigration reform bill. His only hope is that the thing will pass to give the appearance of a political victory. However, by the time the dust settles most will remember that McCain-Feingold CFR was also a "political victory" but has since shown itself to be a dog. Creating law is only a victory if it is good for the people. I have seen reports that McCain's fundraising is really suffering. If this continues he could be the first to withdraw.

Last snapshot I predicted that Fred Thompson had peaked. In fact he has continued rising and is supposed to announce officially next week that he is in. As I have said, I think there are some good things about Thompson. I heard recently that people are not so much allured by Fred Thompson as they are by his TV character on Law and Order. I think this is right. That does not mean that Thompson is bad, it just means that we know more about his TV character and happen to like it. If upon getting to know Thompson, we find we like his true identity maybe he has a chance. So at this point I will change my opinion that he has peaked and say that he will have another growth spurt after announcing. I think his numbers will settle down by the end of summer. His strength of course will be the South. This will make him a very strong contender.

Rudy Giuliani will soon be toast. He has peaked and is slowly sinking. I think we know most of what there is to know about him and therefore his growth is not sustainable. I have not seen him or heard much from him in the media lately. Sure I hear mention of him on talk radio but nothing fresh and exciting. Nothing more hidden in the wings for just the right time either. Thompson has passed him in the polls and he will not get it back.

Mitt Romney is still my favorite to win. The more that is slowly revealed about him the stronger he appears. The Mormon thing may be a strike against him, however it also is one of the things that keeps the media reporting on him. There will be a fresh batch of coverage when the movie "September Dawn" is released. Thompson has the upperhand on him in the south but coming fresh off of Iowa and New Hampshire (which I think he will win), Romney will have momentum.

So that is this snapshot. Things could change very quickly and be a whole new race any time. Time will tell. The three major "I" factors going forward are immigration, income taxes and Iraq.