Opinion: Giuliani’s new tune?

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Rudy Giuliani has notably refrained from the Bush-bashing that is becoming commonplace among some of his fellow Republican presidential contenders, but that may be changing, based on a campaign appearance he made today.

The Associated Press leads its story on Giuliani’s stop at a Flag Day rally in Wilmington, Del., by saying the former New York mayor took ‘an indirect swipe at President Bush’ in commenting on negative attitudes about the nation’s direction.

‘What we’re lacking is strong, aggressive, bold leadership like we had with Ronald Reagan,’ Giuliani said.

This is the same Giuliani who not too long ago, at the first GOP debate, made a point of praising Bush for putting the U.S. ‘on the offense against terrorists.’ He added: ‘I think history will remember him for that, and I think we as Republicans should remind people of that.’

Two polls released this week underscored the pervasive public pessimism that spurred Giuiliani’s remarks. A Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg survey reported that 71% view the country as on the wrong track, with just 21% saying it’s headed in the right direction. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll out today came up with virtually the same numbers --- wrong track: 69%; right direction: 19%.

Based on the various poll numbers, the Journal’s story focuses on what it describes as the Republican Party’s ‘weak state heading into the 2008 election.’

-- Don Frederick