Two articles today on Rudy Giuliani's unusual appeal to Republican groups. (And then I promise no more Giuliani posts from me today; I realize I've been on a Giuliani blitz lately. It should go without mentioning, but. . .my writing does not necessarily represent the views of Ace or the other cobloggers.)

First, he scored big donations from NASCAR movers and shakers (with my apologies for the shameful metaphor in the first paragraph):

Giuliani scored high-octane contributions from NASCAR giants Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, the No. 1 and No. 2 drivers in the nation, as well as 14th-ranked Casey Mears. They all poured maximum $2,300 contributions into Giuliani's tank.

In addition, a pack of NASCAR execs turbocharged his campaign with more than $20,000. Among them were NASCAR Chairman Brian France, as well as Rick Hendrick, head of Hendrick Motorsports, one of the circuit's most successful teams.

The unanswered question is whether the political choices of NASCAR superstars translates into votes from "NASCAR dads," a demographic that skews right, but is by no means monolithically Republican.

Second, Bob Novak's most recent article takes on the question of Giuliani's support from churchgoers.

But the situation is not a simple confrontation between the Christian right and Giuliani. The Gallup data suggest that Dobson and the Salt Lake City group may be out of touch with rank-and-file churchgoers. A well-known social conservative, who asked that his name not be used, is disturbed by Dobson saying he could not vote for Giuliani under any conditions. Apart from being the lesser of two evils against Sen. Hillary Clinton, Giuliani seems to be the positive choice of millions of religious Americans.

In an aggregation of 1,690 interviews with Republicans and Republican-leaning independents in four Gallup surveys during August and September, Giuliani led with 27 percent (to Fred Thompson's 24 percent) among those who said they attended church once a week. Even more startling was the result of interviews with adult voters without regard to party preference. Among churchgoing Catholics, Giuliani led with a plus-38 favorable rating (trailed by Sen. John McCain with a plus-29 and Clinton bringing up the rear with a minus-9).

Novak mentions the idea that Giuliani's support is merely owed to name recognition and will disappear as the voters get to know him. That may have been true six months ago, but the legacy media has been slamming Giuliani (and Romney) for their less than conservative positions and right-ward drift. Do Giuliani's opponents really think that churchgoing Republicans are really that ignorant?

The other comforting thing about Novak's article is that it appears James Dobson and his fellow purists are not as large or unified a group as some may fear.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 08:17 AM | Comments (151)
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But it was so popular with the NY Times and Democratic activists!

Nearly three-quarters of New Yorkers surveyed in a recent poll oppose Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s proposal to let illegal immigrants obtain New York state drivers’ licenses.

The objections come as the governor’s job performance rating sinks to its lowest level since Mr. Spitzer took office, according to a new Siena College Research Institute poll released Monday.

The governor’s job performance rating was 41% positive and 55% negative, versus 44% to 49% last month, and well below the 57%-to-36% high he received in May.

“In four short months, the voters’ view of Spitzer’s job performance has reversed itself. Four times as many voters think he’s doing a poor job as think he’s doing an excellent job,” said Siena poll spokesman Steven Greenberg in a statement.

Right now there’s essentially no Republican Party in NY but thanks to Eliot “The Steamroller” Spitzer and the impending return of Ace to the Empire State, there just might be some hope for one reemerging.

Yesterday, Spitzer’s DMV Commissioner was subjected to a 4 hour grilling by members of the state Senate who know a wounded bit of prey when they see it.

If Gov. Eliot Spitzer doesn't put the brakes on his plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal aliens, the Republican-controlled Senate may throw up a roadblock by withholding funding needed to put the new system in place.

…
In addition to repeating fears that granting licenses to illegal aliens could allow terrorists to obtain important documents that would allow them to move freely in the country, Republicans also excoriated the Spitzer camp for springing the plan on lawmakers and county clerks last month with no warning or input.

"It was not an intentional slight," Swarts said of the lack of notice.

"A pretty big one, don't you think?" replied Sen. Andrew Lanza, R-Staten Island.

"There seems to be a bit of arrogance here in jamming it down the public's throat and saying 'this is good for you,' " said Libous.

Sure hurting national security is bad but if you really want to get a reaction from politicians cut into their institutional prerogatives. That will definitely get a reaction.

Posted by: DrewM. at 08:02 AM | Comments (12)
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But it was so popular with the NY Times and Democratic activists!

Nearly three-quarters of New Yorkers surveyed in a recent poll oppose Gov. Eliot SpitzerÂ’s proposal to let illegal immigrants obtain New York state driversÂ’ licenses.

The objections come as the governorÂ’s job performance rating sinks to its lowest level since Mr. Spitzer took office, according to a new Siena College Research Institute poll released Monday.

The governorÂ’s job performance rating was 41% positive and 55% negative, versus 44% to 49% last month, and well below the 57%-to-36% high he received in May.

“In four short months, the voters’ view of Spitzer’s job performance has reversed itself. Four times as many voters think he’s doing a poor job as think he’s doing an excellent job,” said Siena poll spokesman Steven Greenberg in a statement.

Right now there’s essentially no Republican Party in NY but thanks to Eliot “The Steamroller” Spitzer and the impending return of Ace to the Empire State, there just might be some hope for one reemerging.

Yesterday, SpitzerÂ’s DMV Commissioner was subjected to a 4 hour grilling by members of the state Senate who know a wounded bit of prey when they see it.

If Gov. Eliot Spitzer doesn't put the brakes on his plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal aliens, the Republican-controlled Senate may throw up a roadblock by withholding funding needed to put the new system in place.

Â…
In addition to repeating fears that granting licenses to illegal aliens could allow terrorists to obtain important documents that would allow them to move freely in the country, Republicans also excoriated the Spitzer camp for springing the plan on lawmakers and county clerks last month with no warning or input.

"It was not an intentional slight," Swarts said of the lack of notice.

"A pretty big one, don't you think?" replied Sen. Andrew Lanza, R-Staten Island.

"There seems to be a bit of arrogance here in jamming it down the public's throat and saying 'this is good for you,' " said Libous.

Sure hurting national security is bad but if you really want to get a reaction from politicians cut into their institutional prerogatives. That will definitely get a reaction.

Posted by: DrewM at 08:02 AM | Comments (15)
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You make the call.

Before you do, though, you need to know this important fact: the person in question is Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Illinois).

The Hill newspaper ran a feature today in which random Members of Congress were asked to name the "best looking Presidential candidate." The following is the answer Rep. Jackson provided:

"I don't know. Because I'm a serious heterosexual I would have to say Hillary-who else would I say?"

Sen. Larry "Hetero is my middle name" Craig could not be reached for comments, although inside sources say that he believes Sen. John Edwards has a "purty mouth".

Other interesting answers:

Rep. Charlie Rangle (D- NY) wins the "No matter what I'm going to make this a race issue, you judgmental bigots" award for the following:

"You have to determine whether you're using European or African standards. In order to talk about best looking...you have to determine who determines that. It's a very awkward question."

Rep. James Clyburn D-NC wins the "I ain't no gawd-damned faggot, son" award for his answer:

"There is only one woman running. That's my answer."

Rep. Ray Lahood wins the "He's spent WAAAAAAY too much time thinking about this award" for his selection:

"Mitt Romney, bar none. His hair is dyed absolutely perfectly to show the right amount of gray and black."

and finally....

Rep. David Davis (R-TN) wins the "Will someone take this stick out of my ass, please...maybe with a douchetool?" award for his selection:

"You know, I don't think about those issues. I'm deeper than that. I think about substance."

Posted by: Jack M. at 07:33 AM | Comments (26)
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Picked up late yesterday in Henderson NV, pulled over driving a car with no license plate.

Related: California court OKs continued sweeps by parole agents for sex offenders living too close to schools and parks after their release from prison. Part of "Jessica's Law", which passed last November with 70% voter support.

Posted by: Dave In Texas at 05:52 AM | Comments (21)
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Just one month ago, the Administration was taking a beating over the situation at Justice. AG Gonzales had announced his plan to resign and speculation about his replacement focused on just how much Bush was going to have to compromise and how much trouble Congressional Democrats were going to make.

Things have changed. Michael Mukasey's confirmation hearings start on Wednesday and Chuck Schumer has already rolled over. Of course, now that Democrats have decided not to put up a fuss, they're saying that they were fine with Mukasey all along.

Given the vigorous discussion in the comments around here recently, I was struck by this from USA Today:

To political Washington, Mukasey embodies middle ground.

New York political scientist Doug Muzzio said many New York Republicans — Mukasey included — develop a hybrid conservatism that is a product of the city’s culture.

As New York’s mayor, Giuliani — Mukasey’s longtime friend — exemplified the moderate Republican, although he has become more conservative as a presidential candidate, said Muzzio, a professor at Baruch College, part of the City University of New York.

“I think there are nuanced differences about what a conservative is in New York, and, say, Arkansas,” Muzzio said. “In fact, it’s difficult to define what a New York Republican is because they are a rare breed.”

This is what the venom in the comments section is about: "New York conservatives" and "Arkansas conservatives." We're going to have to work it out if we want to win. Then we're going to have to somehow explain it to the purists.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 09:46 PM | Comments (44)
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I know its a real shocker the NYT doing something to help out al-Qaeda, being genuine true blue unimpeachable patriots and all. Hit the link, Rusty has the scoop. It also appears the blogosphere's investigative capabilities are pretty darn good since he knew all the particulars about this guy (name, address, auto licence plate number, etc) before the NYT blew his name in the press.

Naturally, pleas with the NYT to sit on outing the guy fell on deaf ears.

The New York Times -- All The News That Helps al-Qaeda

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 08:26 PM | Comments (10)
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Having recently discovered the drawer of pens marked "veto", Bush says he's ready to throw down with Congress over the multiple spending bills.

Well goodness gracious.

"You're fixin' to see what they call a fiscal showdown in Washington," Bush told a friendly audience in this northwest Arkansas community.

"Fixin to" is what we say when we're about to screw your sister and steal your checkbook, and also kick your dog and throw firecrackers into your mailbox.

It's serious shit.

See, it confuses you cause it doesn't really mean anything.

damn.

Posted by: Dave In Texas at 05:30 PM | Comments (33)
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We see this WaPo story about anti-war protesters waxing paranoid about being spied on by some sort of govt skunkworks spybots in the form of dragonflies. As if anybody gives a shit about their protests...

..."I'd never seen anything like it in my life," the Washington lawyer said. "They were large for dragonflies. I thought, 'Is that mechanical, or is that alive?' "

That is just one of the questions hovering over a handful of similar sightings at political events in Washington and New York. Some suspect the insectlike drones are high-tech surveillance tools, perhaps deployed by the Department of Homeland Security...

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 04:22 PM | Comments (53)
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Pretty low-key but good, I guess.

Via Hot Air, which notes that Giuliani fires back by once again citing taxes, welfare reform, and crime. Which is all well and good -- he was quite conservative on those issues -- but it doesn't speak to the other conservative issues he's not terribly good on.

Posted by: Ace at 03:24 PM | Comments (86)
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