Q&A with Duncan Hunter, a former Sali backer now fundraising with candidate Vaughn Ward

Idaho Statesman ^ | 10/6/09 | Dan Popkey

[pissant]

Former GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter was in Boise on Tuesday raising money for 1st District candidate Vaughn Ward.

Hunter, who represented a San Diego district for 18 years, had campaigned for former Rep. Bill Sali in the past. Hunter said he phoned Sali to tell him he wants Ward to face Democrat Walt Minnick in 2010.

Before the $100 per person event at the Arid Club, the former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and 2008 presidential candidate sat down with the Idaho Statesman.

Q: You have supported Bill Sali. Why the change?

A: "I explained to Bill that I think Vaughn has a quality that is extremely important to the nation right now because we're at war. And that is he is one of the few combat veterans running for Congress."

Hunter said Sali told him Tuesday morning that he hadn't decided whether to try to reclaim a seat he held from 2007 to 2009. Sali did not return phone calls Tuesday.

Q: Iran recently disclosed it has a second uranium enrichment site, at Qom. How should the U.S. respond?

A: "It is now clear that the Iranians intend to produce nuclear weapons. Either they voluntarily dismantle these sites and stop the centrifuges or we destroy them."

Q: How?

A: "You take them out with conventional (non-nuclear bombs). ... If we're going to compare this to a shooting gallery, the larger ducks are going by right now. Once they produce enough material to build a couple of bombs, they can apply the conventional components and trigger mechanisms and weaponize it in a very small, secret, hidden place."

Q: Is bombing necessary within a matter of months?

A: "I don't know, but I would say this: Typically

[pissant]

Hunter/DeMint 2012!!

[pissant]

ping. An interview from the Idaho Statesman

[RasterMaster]

"Either they voluntarily dismantle these sites and stop the centrifuges or we destroy them."

AMEN!

[pissant]

No tiptoeing for Hunter. He’ll scare the little freak sh*tless in Iran. We won’t have to fire a shot.

[cripplecreek]

Sweet.

[pissant]

He’s supposed to call me for an interview tonight. But he’s out in bumstick Idaho on a hunting trip.

[freekitty]

How I wish

[cripplecreek]

Tell him that at least one Freeper would still like to see him as GOP chair if he doesn’t want to make another run at the White House.

[pissant]

He wouldn’t take it. He doesn’t have much respect for that positition from what I gather.

[pissant]

That’s my goal.

[RasterMaster]

The very reason the RINOs and the JACKASS party quaked in thier boots at the thought of him running.

[cripplecreek]

LOL I don’t have much respect for the position these days myself.

[freekitty]

Duncan Hunter will always be my number 1 candidate.

[RasterMaster]

SECONDED! If he runs again, he’s got my vote and support!

[freekitty]

I sure wish he would.

[pissant]

Hope he runs. If not, he’s still going to be very active in getting CONSERVATIVES elected.

[pissant]

I think it was his position on China - properly identifying them as a real and dangerous threat - that had the GOPers afraid of him.

[Just A Nobody]

Thanks for the ping!

Hunter, who represented a San Diego district for 18 years

I'm sure you will conduct a much better interview and get the basic facts correct. ;*)

[Just A Nobody]

He’s supposed to call me for an interview tonight.

Did he call yet? Did he? Huh?

LOL! Anxiously awaiting an update. ;*)

[Just A Nobody]

GOP chair

Really? What a waste of talent that would be.

[freekitty]

I agree

[Just A Nobody]

Duncan Hunter will always be my number 1 candidate.

Major MEGA Dittos, freekitty! I'll give him every thing available to me to support and campaign for him!

[cripplecreek]

I see it as more of a means of getting on a national stage with the ability to clearly lay out the party platform and to stand up to the democrats on the national stage.

[Just A Nobody]

OHHHhhhhhhhh! Okay, that makes sense. Put him in there now for a year or 2 until the 2012 campaign begins in ernest. ;*)

[pissant]

He would certainly be infinitely better than the current occupant at the RNC, but he might have to learn to use a computer or blackberry or something.

[pissant]

nuttin yet.

[Just A Nobody]

During a long phone conversation this morning, in regard to some local political issues, out of the clear blue sky the guy said; "What we need right now is Duncan Hunter! He should be in the WH now, but he needs to run again and start campaigning now!"

It was kind of weird, as the only mention of national politics was made when I said local politics is fine, but with what's going on in DC right now, we don't have 10 years to retake every city council and township trustee postion as a way to stop the communism.

[Just A Nobody]

;*(

BTW, did you read the comments from some of the nut jobs at the link? Whew! Dumb as a bag of hammers.

[sharkshooting]

I believe Duncan is setting his son up to run. You would think that a lack of experience would be a knock against Duncan D. Hunter but, look who we have now.

I think he (son) would be a great dark horse candidate. It would be an interesting move.

[pissant]

Duncan D won’t run anytime soon. I think he is only 32.

[pissant]

We need to do both. We need give the marxists at every level a swift exit.

[freekitty]

I can understand that. He should be POTUS.

[freekitty]

Read some of those comments. They have no idea who Hunter is.

[pissant]

28, probably felt like 38.

[DakotaRed]

I bet Hunter would have decided to reinforce our Troops in Afghanistan weeks ago, and not be dragging his feet and wringing his hands as Dear Leader is today.

It’s great to hear someone who can make command decisions.

[Kevmo]

I’m a fan of Hunter and Sali, so this one isn’t much fun to read. At any rate, B4DH.

[sasportas]

the guy said; “What we need right now is Duncan Hunter! He should be in the WH now, but he needs to run again and start campaigning now!”

Spot on. We have the sort of times that only someone like Hunter can fill the bill. Somebody tough as nails. I pray that he would “feel the call.”

[Just A Nobody]

We need to do both

Agreed, but my point was a time frame thingy.

[Just A Nobody]

He should be POTUS

AMEN!

[Just A Nobody]

They have no idea who Hunter is.

Exactly! I'm waiting for confirmation of my registration (still not there this AM) so as to "educate" them. Not that I think they are open to fact-based posts.

[Just A Nobody]

We have the sort of times that only someone like Hunter can fill the bill.

Just exactly right! This is what I thought at this time last year and it appears many are jumping on the band wagon now. They didn't know what we had in Hunter last year, but seem to know plenty about him this year!

[pissant]

Ward, a young conservative, has entered the race. Sali hasn’t even decided he was going to run. Hunter’s brother is friends with Ward. Why wouldn’t Hunter support Ward?

[WalterSkinner]

BTTT

[AuntB]

BTT!