Austin Bay reports at Pajamas Media from inside a Rudy Giuliani fundraiser reception in Southern California.
Organized by a cross-section of the Los Angeles and southern California business, media, and entertainment community such as Bill Simon and John Liebman, the private fundraiser we attended attracted over 200 people interested in meeting this man who would be President; a man with a broad appeal that extends beyond his party. In introducing Giuliani Ambassador Schnabel cast him as “John Wayne with a soul, a heart, and a conviction….” It was a sentiment that resonated with the assembled. And Giuliani did not disappoint them.
Giuliani isn't Ronald Reagan, but his optimism and the way he states it is very Reaganesque:
"You must govern in America now from a sense of perspective,” Giuliani said. “The president of the United States needs a sense of perspective. The perspective you need is that this is a very very strong country. We’re not in terrible, terrible trouble. Gosh, if we’re in terrible trouble the world is gone.
“But we are not a country moving in the wrong direction or sliding down hill. The truth is we are the strongest country on earth, the strongest military power without a rival, the strongest economy on earth. The strongest democracy on earth. You have more freedom than anyone has ever had. No one has ever had more freedom than Americans. This is the greatest country in the world and the greatest country the world has ever known. We must be proud of that. We must solve our problems based on understanding our strengths, not our weaknesses.”
I know Giuliani's got big obstacles ahead stemming from his liberal social views that are out of step with the conservative GOP. But if he can figure out a way to calm their nerves and convince them that while he may not champion their causes he won't undermine them either, Giuliani's optimism and no-apologies love for America - the kind of optimism that made America fall in love with Reagan - he can win this thing.
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