[Morrigoon]

The thing that speech made me realize is why I'm attracted to him as a candidate. (Which I've wondered, given that I am not exactly the most liberal person on this board)

Part of the reason I was so for Giuliani was because I'd seen a speech he gave on C-Span (yes, people actually watch that channel... sometimes). It wasn't a historically significant speech, just one of many on the campaign trail for the then-running candidate. But in it, he'd addressed some issues head on, rather than sidestepping as so many candidates do. He'd been asked if his actions as mayor of NY (something related to offering health and education services to children of illegals) were inconsistent with his stance against illegal immigration. He basically took it head on and explained there was no inconsistency at all, that immigration is a federal issue, for the feds to handle, and his job as mayor of NYC was to see to the health, safety, and general welfare of the city's residents. That everyone was affected by sick people walking the streets (diseases are just as contagious to citizens), and that if there were children of illegals in the city anyway (the Feds failing to curtail the population), would it be better for those kids to be in school, learning how to be productive members of society, or to be left alone all day to hang out in the streets and committing crimes.

Apparently I dig a candidate who takes this stuff head on. More importantly, I look to be impressed with the substance of their response. I had that in Rudy, and we seem to have that in Barack.