Does Rudy Have What it Takes?

Next up on my analysis is Rudy. The famed Mayor of New York City.

He is the one candidate that I know pretty well. He was Mayor of one of the largest cities in the world, near to Long Island where I grew up.

I knew the City before Rudy as a kid and I can tell you it was a scary place. It was dirty, seedy, and was not place most people would want to go. There were places in the city where even the police would not respond. Rudy went to work on day one to change image and fundamentally change how the city operated.

There is no doubt, he was a controversial mayor at the time. The city was used to the status quo and decades of democratic rule. He, along with Police Commissioners at the time, instituted the ComStat System to track and analyze crime. It allowed the police to allocate appropriate resources to the areas where it was most needed.

Rudy took on a hostile City Council with only about 2 Republicans as members. He got major tax reform and more importantly welfare reform done. When you think about the Council had to deal with in his eight years as mayor, it really is astounding.

Then came 9/11. A day I for one will never forget, especially being from New York and having most of my family, friends and loved ones on Long Island. No escaped the effects of that day if you were a New Yorker. Rudy lead the city and the country during that time with a steely and calm we needed. He and his staff went about the daunting task before them with determination. He lost a lot of personal friends and yet knew he was the face of the city, and maybe the nation, so he could not let emotions get the better of him.

There is NO doubt Rudy has the executive leadership and crisis leadership that has been tested. He is a great leader. He knows how to get things done. In fact, at first he was my candidate 100%. He has released one the best tax reform plans because it is realistic and has a chance to be reality unlike the Huckabee Fair Tax Plan.

But, he does have weaknesses and the major one is IMMIGRATION. For me that is the second most important issue facing our nation. Rudy has now 'seen' the light and appears strong border security, but his past in allowing New York City to be a sanctuary city does give me some hesitation to pull the lever for him. Will he be quick to join with the likes of McCain to push Immigration reform? This is something I vehemently against.

He is also socially liberal, on abortion. I believe every life is sacred. I owe that to my friend Chris Bruzzi who discussed the issue all night long outside my dorm Fedigan Hall freshman year. Rudy believes in choice. The Presidency has little real influence on the issue other than the bully pulpit and in the judges that are appointed. Again, will he let his views influence his decision on pro-life judges that we desperately need on the bench? A question remains in my mind.

On the flip side, I know Rudy will appoint judges who will follow the law and NO create it. He has said he would select judges in the mold of Alito and Roberts. Both of these Bush appointees are great Justices.

He does have a lot of personal baggage that the other side will use against him. Three wives. This could depress the conservative turn out in the heartland and that is a big issue. But he also does put some states Republicans have not even had a chance in (i.e. Pennsylvania) in play.

Rudy - fiscally conservative, tested leadership, and strong on national defense, but socially moderate. He is at the top of my selection list. Flawed is some ways, great in other ways. But then again, no candidate can be 100%, Ronald Reagan was a once in a lifetime President. Rudy is formidable. Someone you should seriously consider. The positives do outweigh the negatives...but there are enough negatives to be concerned.