A Question of Competence

POLITICAL commentators are scrambling to explain the extraordinary rise of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani in the 2008 GOPnomination contest. The conventional explanation is that, buoyed by his 9/11 heroism and accomplishments as mayor, he is riding a wave among Republican voters relatively unburdened by knowledge of his chaotic personal life and liberal social views. This is certainly true. But the Giuliani wave has been lent extra force by another factor shaping the political environment: the Bush administration’s increasing association with executive dysfunction.

The administration’s stumbles have created an implicit “competence primary” in the Republican race, one in which Giuliani—with his success running the fourth-largest government in the country-is particularly suited to thrive. The importance of this aspect of the race is another early drag on the candidacy of Arizona senator John McCain, who is: the only major Republican candidate currently in Washington, D.C.-as always, the focus of disgust with the federal government; the only major candidate without any executive experience whatsoever; and the major candidate-ironically enough-most closely associated with George W. Bush.

About the Author

Rich Lowry

Rich Lowry is the editor in chief of National Review.

Featured Tags

Presidential Election

POLITICAL commentators are scrambling to explain the extraordinary rise of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani in the 2008 GOPnomination contest. The conventional explanation is that, buoyed by his 9/11 heroism and accomplishments as mayor, he is riding a wave among Republican voters relatively unburdened by knowledge of his chaotic personal life and liberal social views. This is certainly true. But the Giuliani wave has been lent extra force by another factor shaping the political environment: the Bush administration’s increasing association with executive dysfunction.

The administration’s stumbles have created an implicit “competence primary” in the Republican race, one in which Giuliani—with his success running the fourth-largest government in the country-is particularly suited to thrive. The importance of this aspect of the race is another early drag on the candidacy of Arizona senator John McCain, who is: the only major Republican candidate currently in Washington, D.C.-as always, the focus of disgust with the federal government; the only major candidate without any executive experience whatsoever; and the major candidate-ironically enough-most closely associated with George W. Bush.