"Dangerous All By Himself" ....................... (Rudy & Bush)

[KoKo]

Dangerous All By Himself
By Josh Marshall

Check out David Greenberg's piece on Giuliani in tomorrow's Post. The basic point is a simple but very accurate one: the talk of Rudy as too moderate or liberal for the GOP is malarkey. Rudy's reputation for liberalism is based on three factors -- abortion rights, gay rights and serial adultery. In which order, I'm not certain. But those basically cover it. On most other key issues Rudy is fundamentally an authoritarian, and thus a right-winger on the key issues of the day. And that's a product Republicans are buying.

I've discussed at some length the group of fanatics and warmongers that Rudy has surrounded himself with as advisors on foreign policy. But there's a point that's important to take note of here. In their book American Unbound: The Bush Revolution in Foreign Policy, Ivo Daalder and James Lindsay make an important point about President Bush's foreign policy and the influence of his advisors -- the so-called "vulcans." They argued that it is a mistake to believe that because President Bush had no experience or deep knowledge of foreign affairs that his policies were just the work of his advisors, as though he were a blank slate or an empty vessel into which they could simply pour their agenda.

The advisors were key. But Bush didn't end up with these advisors by accident. And as we've gotten to know President Bush over the last eight years it has become clear that the key aspects of his policies -- petulant unilateralism, a reliance on force, inflexibility and more -- are rooted in the president's personality. They cohere with a world view that he clearly brings to the table.

I think the same is the case with Rudy. Yes, Podhoretz and Pipes and Rubin and the rest of them are nuts. But it's no accident he's gravitating toward them and vice versa. He has a deeply authoritarian personality. And his approach to governing is heavy on bullying and what in domestic affairs amount to appeals to force. Soften the words a bit and I think even his fans would agree to that description as the root of his success.

more...with links to articles mentioned........at
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/057164.php

[KoKo]

1. Kick! Because if it ends up Hillary vs. Giuliani...we need to know what we are up against. n/t