Townhall.com, Where Your Opinion Counts
Talk Radio:   Bill Bennett   Mike Gallagher   Dennis Prager   Michael Medved   Hugh Hewitt   
BREAKING NEWS  LeftArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican   RightArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican  
Columns, funnies & more in your inbox!
  • Check the boxes and send us your email address to receveive your free newsletter
  • Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
  • Townhall.com’s weekly inside scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes in the world of politics. When news breaks, we report.
  • Signup to receive the latest daily Townhall cartoons
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Mike Gallagher :: Townhall.com Columnist
Riding with Rudy Into the Pepsi Center
by Mike Gallagher
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
[+] Text [-]
 
Poll
Was the Copenhagen Global Warming Summit Walk-Out a Win for the U.S.?


Doing a radio show from a political convention's "radio row" is always an amazing experience. My visit here this week to Denver for the DNC is the 11th political convention I've been privileged to attend. And there is always one defining moment that makes the weeklong affair one I'll always remember.

That moment came for me yesterday when I traveled with Rudy Giuliani into the Pepsi Center.

Mayor Giuliani is in town as part of the "loyal opposition" contingent. The RNC holds a number of off-site press conferences featuring prominent Republicans like Rudy and Mitt Romney who articulate, on a daily basis, the vast differences between the two parties.

As you might imagine, these folks wouldn't exactly be given the red carpet treatment in a city overrun by passionate Democrats.

In fact, when I landed at Stapleton International Airport Sunday afternoon, I was greeted by a pair of young college kids who were working for Fox News and assigned the task of handing out media credentials to the guests and pundits who would be appearing on the cable TV news giant.

They stood outside the security perimeter with huge "Fox News Channel" signs so those of us who needed to pick up our passes could easily spot them.

Of course, that meant they were also easily spotted by the Democrat delegates and supporters who were also flying into Stapleton.

In five short minutes, I heard more profanity, jeers and angry shouting directed at those two poor kids than is ever heard at a cage match between two professional wrestlers.

As they nervously handed me my badges, one crazy looking man with frizzy hair standing straight up spotted me and started screaming, "That's that Mike Gallagher jerk -- F*****g neo-con! Neo-con! Neo-con!"

It was impossible for me to keep from laughing.

I sort of felt like the humans who got spotted by the zombies in the movie "Invasion of the Body Snatchers."

So when I rode with Rudy yesterday, it was hard to imagine what kind of reception he would receive. In fact, we had to get out of the motorcade and walk the final mile into the security checkpoint because of traffic tie-ups.

Rudy was up to the challenge.

But he needn't worry. I couldn't believe my eyes and ears, but literally every single Democrat -- many of them with badges indicating their delegate status -- cheered for him, shook his hand, posed for pictures, and told him how much they loved him.

I was fairly stunned.

It made me think about what a powerful vice-presidential running mate he would make for John McCain.

Besides Rudy's extraordinary bi-partisian popularity, he would give Hillary supporters a big reason to vote for McCain. I don't agree with his pro-choice position, but McCain is staunchly pro-life and Rudy's position would bring a ton of Democrats to the dance.

I know it's not conventional wisdom these days -- but John McCain could do a whole lot worse than picking Rudy.

Share:
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
 
About The Author

Mike Gallagher is a nationally syndicated radio host, Fox News Channel contributor and guest host and author of Surrounded by Idiots: Fighting Liberal Lunacy in America.

Be the first to read Mike Gallagher's column. Sign up today and receive Townhall.com delivered each morning to your inbox.

Libs are charming
Actually I would think Rudy would be welcomed warmly by many Coloradans. I mean half the state is Republican.

Which airport?
Stapleton has been closed for years.

Mr. McCain, are you listening?
Dear Sen. McCain: Having nearly succeeded in destroying the Republican Party in May of 2007 with your attempt to ram-rod that infamous immigration bill past us all---would you perhaps now listen to us?

Personally, I'd rather have Fred at the top of the ticket, but that's now no longer relevant. For the next four years, we need Nos. 1 & 2 to be the two people most likely to strike raw FEAR into the hearts of the Islamic fascists, the Russians, the Mugabes of the world.

How would YOU like to be Bin-Laden in the cave, knowing that Rudy was second-in-command in the US?

We need someone with attitude, smarts, and the ability to get things done.

And we sure as shootin' don't need Obama and his Kool-Aid drinkers at the helm.

Excellent VP choice!!!!
Definitely think your advice, Mike, is RIGHT ON!
Rudy was originally my choice for president and I did vote for him in Florida's primary.
He is the best choice of all the candidates from whom John McCain has to choose.
It would be such justice for all the Sept 11th victims to have Rudy Giuliani out there hunting down UBL along w/John McCain. We do need someone w/ attitude, smarts, and the ability to get things done! GO McCAIN----GO RUDY!!!

Suggestions for GOP convention
For the GOP convention, I would like to see the following (and would not be surprised to see them) as additional keynote speakers: McCain’s vice president (for obvious reasons), Pres. George W. Bush, Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, Colin Powell, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rudy Giuliani, and other former Rep. presidential contenders including Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and/or Fred Thompson. Some other individuals to consider as keynote speakers or major participants: Cindy McCain and their children; McCain’s sons currently serving in the military; Sen. Joe Lieberman; Dr. James and/or Shirley Dobson or another high profile Evangelical leader; and, a Vietnam war veteran, preferably one who served alongside McCain. I would also like to see a biography similar to the one featured about Obama, though it would have more substance since McCain has had more life experience and a more compelling life story! The message should focus on McCain’s long history of public service and experience, his conservative Republican or traditional American values while remaining a “maverick,” his qualifications to be commander-in-chief and his ability to get things done while working with both sides of the political aisle. When Pres. Bush or former NY major Giuliani gets on stage, I hope he emphasizes the fact that this nation has remained safe from another major terrorist attack and that McCain is the best candidate to take on that monumental job of protecting this country.

Rudy as VP?
Two adulterers on one ticket. Is that what the party of family values has become?

Add in Rudy's support for gun control and abortion and you really will see the death of the GOP this year.

A McCain / Rudy ticket would put the two people in the presidential race most despised by conservatives as the GOP's standard bearers. McCain isn't that stupid I hope.

So much for those "vast differences"
between the parties huh Mr. Gallagher. Wow, the GOP is so "vastly different" that they are looking for Democrat voters to win.

What a joke. The truth is there is very little difference between the elitists in both parties. I think your article makes it very clear that for you and apparently for the majority of the GOP it's not about principle, it's just about winning.

Stop with the "we are vastly different" BS.

shame on them
The tolerant Left strikes again.

Politics...crap!
Political pundits are rude animals in the disguise of being human beings. You have to feel sorry for people that have no life, no mind of their own, who must wallow in the slime of the super-ambitious, moralless, dishonorable politicians that once every four years degrade themselves and the country.

Mike and the brave "neocons"

Commendations to Mike and the other Conservatives who have the guts to go into the DNC Snake Pit for the real scoop.

Unfortunately, the profane verbal abuse of those two FOX News young people at the airport is characteristic of Lowlife Lib Nutroots.
Yeah, Mike, I'd feel better hanging with Rudy, too, since he is known & respected for his low tolerance of thugs & anarchists, etc.. Still, I doubt that Rudy will be McCains VP pick.

Take care, Mike.. just don't get too mesmorized by the Messianic Coronation at Obama's outdoor Grecian Temple of the gods..



Lately,I am finding that I disagree with
Mr. Gallagher more often than I agree. And I find it hard to believe he wanted to laugh at the airport name-calling, f-bumb throwing, loudmouth. Then again, maybe he is used to hearing this kind of behavior from other public places.

To say, "Besides Rudy's extraordinary bi-partisian popularity, he would give Hillary supporters a big reason to vote for McCain. I don't agree with his pro-choice position, but McCain is staunchly pro-life and Rudy's position would bring a ton of Democrats to the dance" is just ignorant.

Mike, I don't WANT the Republican party becoming more Democrat. They already are practically twins as it is. If Democrat ideology is so great, then explain why Democrats who run on conservative platforms (Blue Dog Dems) end up winning legislative seats over RINOs. Conservatism works! And just because Dem delegates wanted pictures, autographs, etc. does NOT mean they would actually vote for the guy. Just look at all those Hillary screamers who, in the end, will pull the lever for Obama in the name of the Democrat party.


I agree
Even though I'm pro-life, Rudy's experience and record (an utterly matchless record) make him an excellent VP and (perhaps someday) president.

But Mike, Rudy: Can't we do something other than the "in your face" foreign policy we deliver to 1.4 billion Muslims? Is this prudent? More fairness, more balance is needed. More long term energy security is needed.

And I agree with Rudy that one of our approaches should be nuclear energy.

yo boy!
I have been talking about Rudi G. as a potential veep for weeks.

He's a strong law and order type. Yes he is pro-choice but the veep has little impact of SCOTUS appointments.

His debate performances were very strong. His campaign strategy was weak.

Moderates will like him. Disenfranchised Hillary voters may swing for him.

McCain could pick Rudi without offending Mitt or Huck supporters.

Personally I am a Mitt man, but I am confident McCain will give Mitt a cabinet post. He may be more effective there anyway.

Mitt for Secretary of Defense!
I know this sounds odd, but Romney has huge experience evaluating and running large, complicated organizations efficiently and within tight budgets.

No organization is larger than the United States Department of Defense. The new emphasis on smaller more tactical military units would benefit from Romney's organizational experience.

Never Giuliani
Mr. B, you are deluded. Note, that I am a Huckabee supporter, and I will go third party should McCain pick Giuliani. The VP is a heartbeat away from the Presidency, and essentially the future annointed leader of the party. If it is someone who believes in keeping open the baby butcheries, I want nothing to do with them.

No Ridge, no Lieberman, and no Giuliani.

Mac & Rudy
Wow. Rudy can take a hike on abortion but otherwise I think it's a team that would work well for us. Boy could Rudy kick Pelosi's **** when given the opportunity.

It's true Rudy has too much attitude at times but it's reached the point where a little attitude might be helpful.

Go for it McCain...
Then the GOP will implode like it should and we can get back to a real conservative party, like the Constitution Party.

Chuck Baldwin '08

Exactly Dave
Why doesn't he just recruit Hillary and ensure a victory.

The truth for me is: It doesn't matter whom he picks, the Republicrats aren't getting my vote any more.

We gave them the House, Senate and POTUS and the spending grew more than with the DEMs in control.

Fool me once, shame on you. It won't happen again.

I agree Chuck Baldwin 08. GOP merge with the DEMs and get it over with.

McCain/Giuliani = 2 adulterers

What the heck is wrong with you Mr. Gallagher?

Republican Party is supposed to stand FOR family values like honesty, integity and fidelity. Not dishonesty, shameful behaviour, and adultery.

Giuliani would be the WORST pick for VP.
Lieberman is a NOT an adulterer at least.

How about Eric Cantor?
or Sarah Palin?

Anybody but Rudy
Gotta be kidding, man. Get a grip. If Bill dirtied the Oval Office, Rudy would throw the Vice-presidency back to oblivion after he got through with it.

Rudy
I love Rudy. But, no pro-choice, no Dem can be the Pub VP. It would collapse the good feelings some conservs now have for Sen. McCain. He cannot afford to lose those voters. Rudy would make a fine A.Gen. or Sec. of Defense. And sometime after 2012, he might again run for Prez. Polls show that abortion is about no. 10 on important issues nation-wide. But, with the Messiah's views on infanticide, Pelosi's fanatical anti-Catholic views on church theology, pro life is now coming to the fore again. John cannot just spit at the wind because he is a maverick. If he wants to actually win electorally, and actually cut House and Senate loses down, he will have to listen to the real BASE of the Party. (kgkkaty)

Independent and moderates all feel
the same way about Rudy. They don't like him. He even gets booed at Yankees games now. His stock was severely damaged during the campaign when the general politic found out what the people of NY already knew he is morally and politically corupt. He cheated on his wife and used politic funds to pay for hotel rooms and apartments for his mistress. He then told his wife that he was divorcing her on live TV.

The National GOP goes "California"!

Nothing else matters. The GOP has totally caved in on any claim to be anything other than a "moderate" wing of the Democrats.

Read about the new party platform here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080827/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_gop_pla tform

Read an analysis here:

http://viewfromtheisland.blogtownhall.com/default.aspx

Anyone who's not a flaming liberal should be outraged, and demand an open convention next week.

Liberal Courtesy
Although the main thrust of this article was Guiliani, I feel compelled to address the airport incident with Gallagher and the college kids working for Fox News Channel. I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I hear about something like this. I constantly hear how meanspirited and nasty we conservatives are and yet when incidents like this happen almost always the instigators are liberals. Whatever happened to common decency? You can disagree with someone's politics without cursing and namecalling in public. I have no respect with people who act this way. Of course if the Republicans or other conservatives acted this way the MSM would be all over it in a heartbeat. You can't have it both ways folks. Either common courtesy and decency are for everyone or for no one.

Obama==PUPPET OF DNC/MARXISTS
The only thing to know about Obama for the moment is this: He is an Empty Suit, With A Very Questionable Backgroud and When It does get Questioned, the MSM and their Propaganda Machine, make sure it is not reported on. Believe nothing you hear on the MSM News or other programs concerning politics.

Obama was Hand Picked By The DNC, their Backers who are every Radical Organization in America, and especially the Labor Unions and Radical Environmentalists, and for Communists the world over.

They know Obama does not possess the Knowledge, Intellect, nor experience in Domestic or International Affairs, beyond Marxist/Mob Chicago style politics. They also know Obama is a Narcissist who loves to see his reflection in the mirror and especially on TV.

So, the DNC, in selecting Obama knew that they had a Know-Nothing Narcissist, who would Read Anything They Put on A Teleprompter, with no regard for what he says as long as he is getting to perform in front of a camera.

They know that if were to become President, that he would support anything he Was Told To Support and would never read any proposals, as he could not understand them even if he read them to begin with.

The Perfect Puppet is Obama. And He Who Pulls The Strings Of the Puppet is Called The Puppet Master. The Puppet Masters of Obama are Liberal Democrat Congressmen and women who promote their perversion agenda, Marxists from Labor Unions, such as the National Association of Mis-Educators (NAE), Abortion Advocates, and every Socialist Nation in the United Nations.
With Obama as President, your freedoms and rights would be vastly curtailed almost immediately, as the Liberal Congress would waste no time in getting every Radical Piece of Legislation passed as soon as is possible, before Americans could even tell what was going on.

This is the most critical election in the History of Our Country.

Hey Mike! No way will
John McCain be helped by selecting a pro-abortion Veep. BTW! You landed at Denver International Airport. Stapleton has been converted to a high scale residential neighborhood.

No pro-choice nominee
The only pro-choice nominee I could think of that the GOP convention might swallow is Lieberman. They would do it just to infuriate the Democrats out of spite--the reverse of Jeffords defecting to the Democrats years ago.

Otherwise the evangelicals will walk out. Lieberman they will be nice to, because he's a Jew.



Rudy
Cabinet post-yes (AG would be excellent).
Veep- No

To' Not ashamed to be right'
I agree very much with your post. You said it - I don't want the republican party to be more democrat either. Big mistake.
I also don't agree with Mike Gallagher on very much. He's probably a really good guy, but I find him blustery, overemotional and impulsive. He gets a bad idea a runs with it. Like this one.
Sign Up to Post Your CommentsSign Up to Post Your Comments
If you are already registered, click here to login. Otherwise, please take a few seconds to register with Townhall.com. Once you sign up, you’ll be able to post your comments immediately, use the action center, get podcasts, and more!
Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
Salutation:
First Name:
*
Last Name:
*
Email:
*
Nickname:
*
Note: Nick name will be shown when you post comments.
Address 1:
*
Address 2:
City:
*
State:
*
Zip:
*
Phone:
      
Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
(Bi-Weekly) We highlight the best opportunities from our partners for surveys, action items and more.