OK. So I was wrong. Sue me.
Last November I went out on what I thought was a safe limb and endorsed a candidate that had been consistently leading in the national polls ever since he announced his candidacy for President. But after yesterday’s Florida Republican primary loss, it looks like Mr. Giuliani is toast. His strategy of waiting for the Florida primary backfired. Though he was leading the polls there until very recently, he could not overcome the momentum built up by his opponents.
How could he? The media was all about McCain versus Romney with a secondary emphasis on Huckabee. Giuliani was off the radar. By the time the Florida primary rolled around, he could no longer overcome that. Especially since the unthinkable happened: As an issue the war in Iraq kind of fell off the planet. Nobody is paying any attention to it now. And that was Giuliani’s greatest strength. Now it’s all about the economy. And with good reason.
I stand by what I said. Giuliani is still the best candidate for all the reasons I said he was. But unfortunately he is not in the game any more. McCain’s win and Giuliani’s poor showing in the Florida primary sealed his fate.
As important as the economy is, it is not the most important issue. The events taking place in Iraq and the reasons for them are still on top of the list. What can be more important than national security? …For us …for Israel…. for the entire world.
The enemy has not been defeated yet. The war against Islamo-fascism is raging. The theology behind it is still being taught in Madrosses all over the world. And the volunteers for suicide missions have not been depleted.
The reason that it is not front page news anymore is only in part because the down-turn in the economy. It is also because of the recent successes achieved in the war in Iraq. And because the US has successfully prevented another 9/11 event on its shores. The media isn’t focusing on it any more. People gave forgotten 9/11. But they shouldn’t.
And that’s why I still think Giuliani’s no nonsense approach is the right one. Too bad we’ll never see it implemented.
So… who now? To me the only logical choice is John McCain. Of all the candidates he has been the most consistent and open about his foreign policy views which includes understanding what the priorities are. He knows that Islamo-fascism is the number one concern for the American people and the world.
He of course realizes what everyone else does… that the economy is a high agenda item. But it is still secondary to foreign policy concerns. He has never lost sight of 9/11. And though I liked Giuliani better, McCain was always a close second. His pro-Israel support has been consistent. He is a true friend, who has always understood what is at stake there and supported Israel’s right to defend itself without equivocation. He has a track record to prove that.
It is also significant that independent Senator Joseph Lieberman - an observant Jew - has endorsed him. They are good friends and share a similar perspective on foreign policy concerns. There has even been talk about a vice presidential spot for him on the McCain ticket. I doubt that’s going to happen. But when one hears McCain talk about his friend Joe Lieberman as he often does, it is in the loftiest of terms. Perhaps it isn’t all that far-fetched.
But that’s not important. What is important is that he is a man of high integrity who served his country in uniform during a war in which he endured five and a half years as a prisoner, and which he was also tortured. He has been tested by fire. He knows what is at stake.
If integrity and honor is your measure, he is your candidate. And now because of that and because he’s right about foreign policy, he is my candidate too.
