There goes my guy ....

Well ... time to look again.

After spending much of his money to finish a distant third in the Ames Straw Poll, Tim Pawlenty ended his presidential bid Sunday.

"We needed to get some lift to continue on and have a pathway forward and that didn't happen, so I'm announcing on your show that I'm ending my campaign for president," the former governor said on "This Week."

The Minnesota Republican revealed his decision on an early morning conference call with supporters, an aide told POLITICO.

"I wish it would have been different, but obviously the pathway forward for me doesn't really exist, so we're going to end the campaign," Pawlenty told ABC's Jake Tapper.

Back in 2008, at least my guy made it to the Primaries (Giuliani). Last time my #2 was Romney - but for now I am going to stay in my whaleboat for awhile until I decide which ship to shift my flag to.

My basic requirements, not that different than 2008:

- First, I need someone with a successful record as a leader and executive. That means a governor or mayor of a state-like city, re: NYC.
- Second, I need a fixer. Someone with a record of fixing existing problems lessor men/women would not fix.
- Third, I need someone with a thick skin who also realizes it isn't about him/her.

So, let's look at the rest.

Romney: meets all the criteria, but I don't know if I really trust him to stick to his guns. I like him, but I think his time may have passes.

Huntsman: only meets #1. When someone mentions country club Republican, he pops in my mind. I grew up in a country club; no thank you.

Bachmann: meets none of my requirements. More qualified than Obama was at this stage, but not really that much.

Paul: really? Now is not the time for the Republican Party to enjoy a hobby loss like this. Maybe the next generation.

Cain: should have concentrated to being elected to the legislative branch. Not ready for the job. Nice guy, but not ready.

Santorum: boutique candidate that meets none of my criteria. Next.

Gingrich: he isn't campaigning for President - he is on a book tour. He should play golf with Clinton or something. Anyway, someone in his middle-age who treats wives like a college junior treats girlfriends is all the I&W I need.

McCotter: I like him a lot, but only if we lived in a different country; he doesn't meet 2/3 of my criteria.

Perry: new kid on the block - but I say this as a Southerner - the next Republican candidate does not need a Texas accent. That being said, he meets 2.5 of my 3 criteria - that puts him at the top.

So, there I go - sitting there deciding which ship I can best fight from.

First Class: Romney, Perry.
Second Class: ungh. None.
Third Class: McCotter, Bachmann, Huntsman.
Others: yadda, yadda, yadda.

The answer is "YES," by Neptune's Trident "YES!"

As you may recall - he was my #1 pick last time. I think I said something about this nation needing a leader who will make tough choices and had executive experience ... maybe I was on to something .... from Politico,

... Rudy Giuliani just told me at City Hall at his portrait unveiling that "the door's not closed" on the possibility of him running for president again in 2012.

He said he won't think about anything until after the November midterm elections, and that he gets encouraged by people as he travels.

I asked, "So the door's not closed?" and he replied, "The door's not closed."

Giuliani-Pawlenty 2012; the unspellable ticket for unbearable times.

Why Giuliani was my #1 pick in '08

This quote should tell you a large reason why.

“Once you say something’s ungovernable,” Giuliani told me, “You remove accountability.”

He may be a SOB. He may be abrasive. He may be a gun grabber. I wouldn't want him to date my sister. He may be many things - but warts and all he is a scrappy leader with sharp elbows that gets things done. A street tough Romney.

New York would be blessed to have him Albany; I hope he ends up there.

I voted last week

I really didn't think I would post about this, as I know how divisive politics can be and from Tin Foil Hat Left to the Buchanan Brigades right; I really don't want to lose too many of my readers over who I do or do not vote for. That being said, I do throw some elbows here now and then, so I shouldn't be such a puss about rubb'n someone the wrong way. Good people can disagree and still get along - at least that is how I think.

I voted by absentee ballot in FL. I voted for Giuliani.

I know that isn't where the trend is, but he is where I wound up about three months ago and I see no reason to change. I disagree with him on many things, but I never demand perfection. Yes, he does have personal issues, but don't we all?

I do know the world I live in. I do know what the President can and cannot do. I do know the type of personality we need in office.

I won't spend a lot of time trying to sell Giuliani to you - each person must make up their own mind and Giuliani's policies on the Federal level are well known. I will, however, outline for you what prevented the other candidates from getting my vote. Except for Ron Paul, I could support them all against Clinton or Obama - but for now, my vote is what it is.

In order of place:
- Romney: Once my top pick. Very smart, but only confident in those areas I consider of second and third importance.

- McCain: Freedom of Speech. Taxes. Immigration Bill. Good in Iraq; but that doesn't make up for the rest compared to Giuliani.

- Thompson: He would make a fine Attny. General.

- Huckabee: As a Southern Baptist myself - I do not want a Pastor as President.

Oh, best VP for me? Duncan Hunter.

Like I said, I am not going to write in detail why I am a Giuliani fan. I feel the man speaks for himself. Just watch at the 1:39 point when the Moonbat interrupts the Gold Star Mother in Jacksonville. That should help you understand a bit where I am. That is why I decided to tell you who I voted for.

Thanks to Capt. Ed for the video.

Giuliani's NRA moment

As what some would call a "gun nut" with an extensive arsenal (though not by some standards) - and also someone who has significant problems with the likely Democrat nominee in '08, one thing that has bothered me the most Giuliani has been his history on gun rights. Bothers me because is stops me from fully supporting a man I think can defeat Clinton - but only if he keeps the base on his side. A large part of the base is pro-gun.

Well, here is his chance to build a bridge - a bridge he needs to win the Republican nomination.

Rudolph W. Giuliani will go before the rank and file of the National Rifle Association on Friday, seeking support for his Republican presidential campaign from a group he once likened to "extremists" for its efforts to repeal the ban on assault weapons.

But even as the former New York mayor strives to burnish his Second Amendment credentials at the gathering in Washington, a panel of federal judges in his home town will be hearing arguments on the lawsuit that Giuliani filed seven years ago aimed at punishing the nation's gun manufacturers for violent crimes involving firearms.

I hope he does this right. My brain tells me that he is one of the best chances to keep the Junior Senator from NY away from the Executive Branch.

I'm willing to give him a chance. BTW, if you don't think guns are going to be an issue in '08, check out this from PowerLine.

My law partner Tom Goldstein previews the upcoming Supreme Court term from a political perspective. Tom's piece should be read in its entirety, not summarized. His basic argument, though, is that the Supreme Court isn't really conservative, it just looked that way on the surface last term due to the nature of the high profile cases it happened to decide in June. This term, the same phenomenon (a small number of cases driving public perception of the Court) is likely to work the other way -- making the Court appear liberal instead of centrist. Moreover, this would occur just in time for the 2008 election, giving the Republican presidential nominee a potentially powerful issue.

As Tom puts it:

There is in fact the genuine prospect that the Court will hold (potentially by a five-to-four vote each time) that the government may ban the possession of pistols (possibly guns altogether, if there is no individual Second Amendment right), that child rapists cannot be executed, that certain federal legislation regulating child pornography is unconstitutional, that the Administration's treatment of alleged terrorists is unlawful, and that sentences for crack cocaine should be reduced. In that entirely realistic scenario, it is conservatives who will be aggressively using the Court as a rallying cry - in particular, the cry of the urgent need to move the Court a single seat to the right with the likely retirement of Justice Stevens - in the 2008 election.

Mark, Howard, and me

Talking Points at The Week summarizes the conventional wisdom on Ruddy.

When the word gets out that the man who stood tall in the rubble of the twin towers is also a thrice-married supporter of gay rights, gun control, and legal abortion, die-hard Republicans may find themselves less keen to make “America’s mayor” its president. His opponents’ negative TV ads will practically script themselves, said Michael Tomasky in The American Prospect Online. After Giuliani left his second wife, Donna Hanover, for his current wife, he briefly shared an apartment with a gay couple, Mark and Howard.

I think it misunderstimates the parts of the Rep. party that they simply do not understand. Let me explain; I am an Evangelical (albeit a dancing, drinking, cigar smoking, Libertarian leaning, exceptionally weak to my vices one), pro-gun guy. Gays don't bother me, so I don't bother them. Rudy's conflicted views on abortion are well known and shared by many. As a matter of fact - Rudy is a well known quantity. People know where he differs from them and I think are willing to not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Given the odds of a Clinton, Edwards, or Obama on the Dem ticket - I think Rudy will look like a winner even the SBC would endorse.

Though I still like Romney - I could vote for Rudy without blinking an eye. Perfect, no. A wartime leader who at least I know where he stands 90% of the time? Yes.

Lets be realistic here as well. A President only has real control over National Security, spending priorities through the executive branch and the veto pen, and Judicial appointments in general. On those major areas, Rudy is right. The social issues will be fought in the States and the Legislative Branch on balance.