CAN THE EXTREME RIGHT STOP GIULIANI FROM GETTING THE GOP NOMINATION? THEY'RE GIVING IT A TRY

So far I've met exactly one person who supports Giuliani, my friend Matt, and he just likes him because he's a fellow Italian and "it's our turn." For any progressives who might be harboring any second thoughts about Giuliani-- maybe because they figure someone who parties down in drag so much can't be all bad or, more likely, someone who heard that he appointed a bunch of liberals and moderates to judgeships in New York, locking out the extreme wingnuts. Yesterday's Des Moines Register carries a story about Giuliani promising to only appoint "strict constructionists" if he's elected, naming the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse, "John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia, and Clarence Thomas as models." Feh!

And although Giuliani sleep-walks through a litany of right-wing gospel at every stop-- "cutting taxes and a strong national defense... the death sentence to the death tax, the base, at least in Iowa, ain;t buying it. Jim Field, Cass County Republican chairman told the Omaha World Herals yesterday that Giuliani's stands "on the social issues rub against traditional conservative beliefs." And he was being polite!

Tom McMillin, a Christian Coalition loon, isn't. He's busy as a little right-wing beaver circulation the CDI (Conservative Declaration of Independence asking Iowa conservative Republicans to vow to not support Giuliani if he wins the GOP nomination. McMillin crows: "Make no mistake, the response from Iowa conservatives has been very anti-Giuliani in the leadup to his first trip to Iowa. As conservatives in Iowa learn that Giuliani supports government funded abortion, partial birth abortion, homosexual marriage, and gun registration they quickly agree that we need this Declaration of Independence... [and signers] agree that we are Conservatives first and Republicans second, [and that Giuliani's] "liberal record the conduct of his personal life make it impossible for us to support his candidacy under any circumstances."

Giuliani explained to 350 people at a West Des Moines high school auditorium that the reason he likes getting dressed up in drag is because "I enjoy having fun." I have a feeling Mr. McMillin may have gotten quite a few signers on the spot.

Meanwhile puppeteers on the far right fringe of the party-- who had planned to run Macacawitz or Santorum, 2 wingnut extremists who were retired by voters last November-- will do anything to stop Giuliani-- anything except embraced the hated McCain or the flip-flopping Mormon interloper. They'd love to foist Gingrich off on the American people but no one seems to buy buying that package of toxic goods. Their latest offering: actor Fred Thompson. It looks like the big money forces are coalescing around him while the religionists-- led by Dobson (who declared that Thompson isn't a "real" Christian)-- still want to hod out for Newt.