À SON AISE DANS SA PEAU!

If you do nothing else "political" this week, view and listen carefully to this video:

http://www.schotline.com/

It is a video of an interview of Rudy by Will Folks in South Carolina! It's all interesting, but the "must see" part is approximately the last half of the 7-minute piece. When asked how he would "present himself" to S.C. voters, he gives essentially a presentation of his "campaign stance" that I think is absolutely spot-on -- at once both honest and politically astute.

Whether or not someone supports Rudy for President, I don't see how anyone cannot like and respect him as a candidate. When compared to almost all other politicians, at least at the Presidential level, he comes across as a giant among pygmies! Rather than flip-flop, fudge, shade, obfuscate, cover-up, he takes a straightforward approach, essentially (I paraphrase): "This is what I believe. Now, let's focus on those things we agree on, and discuss those things on which we don't agree." He doesn't back off one inch on who he is and what he believes. As the French put it, he is “at ease in his own skin" ("à son aise dans sa peau").

He asks people only that they evaluate him “as a whole person, and as someone who will be honest with you” in judging him as a candidate. The only sad part is that our political discourse has sunk to such a level that Rudy, or any candidate, would feel it necessary to make this request. While not backing off, Rudy does point out, however, that the differences between his positions and those of social-conservative voters are not as great as his opponents have made them out to be. Surprise, surprise! Here again, I must quote the wisdom of Ed Koch: "If you agree with me on 9 out of 12 issues, vote for me! If you agree with me on 12 out of 12, see a psychiatrist!"

Now, a personal note: I wish I could take some small measure of credit for Rudy's presentation, but alas I cannot! I can say, however, that what he says is almost exactly what I have been saying he should say until I have become blue in the face. The positions he takes are virtually exactly identical to those that I have sussed out that he would hold, based on my knowledge of him as a public figure for almost 25 years, and more importantly because of how I have judged him as a man! For proof, read my postings in this space since July!

My ultimate conclusion: Run Rudy Run!