The Monkey Wrench

Just when you think things are going smoothly... just when Bush and the GOP's numbers are so far down the crapper that they're posting extra Secret Service guys to watch out for mutant sewer alligators... just when you think that pretty much any progressive candidate could walk away with the White House in 2008 without breaking a sweat...

Rudy Giuliani starts making noise.

After four years of enjoying private life, former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani is taking several steps that could lay the groundwork for a presidential bid, strengthening alliances with Republicans nationwide and especially with conservative leaders of the party.

Mr. Giuliani's advisers say he will decide around the end of the year whether to seek the Republican nomination for president in 2008.

It is a decision that will not be made easily: Mr. Giuliani believes that his support for abortion rights, gay rights and gun control would make winning the nomination difficult, according to several friends and former City Hall aides. Some of those people, who were granted anonymity to describe conversations with the former mayor, say they have told him not to give up his comfortable new way of life for a campaign that might end in failure.

Under normal circumstances, (and by "normal" I mean pre-2004 election) the Republican party couldn't possibly consider nominating Giuliani. He's a full blown RINO in the eyes of the base... pro-choice, pro-gun control, "soft" on gay rights issues. But what do you expect? He's a New York Republican, and we grow them kind of weird out here.

But Rudy is beloved and his poll numbers are always huge. He took the national spotlight after the 9/11 attacks as a real leader, and he's pretty popular everywhere he goes. He's also raising money for other GOP pols like a madman to strengthen his hand.

If the GOP is really so far on the ropes (which they seem to be) that they truly fear losing the 2008 presidential election to virtually any Democrat, it just might make them desperate enough to put up a RINO like Rudy. And if they do?

Let's remember. Given the current political divide in this country (and it's been this way for quite a while, really) there is still simply no way that ANY Democratic candidate for President can win without taking New York, California and Illinois. And you know what?

Rudy could take New York, even if Hillary is the Democratic nominee. It's not in the bag, but he would definitely be a force to be reckoned with.

Stay tuned, sports fans. It's going to be a rocky ride these next two and a half years.