Duncan Hunter On the Issues

Duncan Hunter for Congress ^ | 11/20/06 | Jwalsh07

[jwalsh07]

Congressman Duncan Hunter represents the 52nd Congressional District of California, encompassing eastern and northern San Diego County. First elected in 1980, the voters in the 52nd district re-elected him in 2004 with over 69% of the vote. A Vietnam veteran, he served in the 173rd Airborne and 75th Army Rangers. Hunter utilized the G.I. Bill to attend Western State University Law School in San Diego and, while completing his degree, he supplemented his income by working in farming and construction. After graduating, the new attorney opened a storefront legal office where he served many in the Hispanic community, often without compensation. In 1980, he was asked to mount a challenge for the Congressional seat held by an 18-year incumbent, Lionel Van Deerlin. Despite the district having a 2-to-1 Democrat registration, Hunter won the seat in an upset.

Coming to Washington, the new Congressman immediately sought a seat on the House Armed Services Committee where he could work on America’s national security needs. Hunter became Chairman of the full committee in 2002. As Chairman, Hunter oversees a $532 billion defense budget and focuses his efforts on providing President Bush with the necessary resources to win our nation’s military conflicts, protecting our men and women in uniform, and developing modernization initiatives that will move new and more effective technologies into the field of battle.

Since his election, Hunter has made securing the California-Mexico border a top priority. Congressman Hunter works tirelessly to ensure that the region is safe for communities on both sides of the border and to put a stop to illegal immigration and drug trafficking. His efforts have yielded over 59 miles of fencing and border infrastructure to date, including continued construction of the Southwest Border Fence Project. His provision to extend the San Diego Fence for 700 miles across Arizona, New Mexico and Texas is now law.

Congressman Hunter’s other legislative priorities include retaining and increasing jobs in the 52nd District and across this nation, providing tax relief to hard-working families, keeping our promises to America’s veterans, protecting Social Security for present and future generations, and continued cleanup efforts at the New River and Salton Sea in Imperial County, an area he represented for 20 years.

In response to the needs of his district, Hunter continues working to secure funding for local projects. Accomplishments include funding for the Mission Valley East Light Rail extension and continued funding for the widening of I-15 and adding more managed lanes to meet San Diego’s growing transportation needs. Also, funds were provided for enhanced emergency care at Grossmont Hospital Emergency Department and Edgemore Hospital. Youth recreational and handicapped facilities were built throughout San Diego County at the Junior Seau Sports Complex and the Sweetwater and Loveland Reservoirs. To ensure the safety of students attending Shoal Creek Elementary School in Scripps Ranch, funds were allocated for the construction of a new pedestrian bridge. Congressman Hunter worked to provide funding for the new Boys and Girls Club in Santee, the YMCA in Rancho San Diego, La Maestra Clinic in El Cajon, which provides healthcare for low-income citizens, and Phoenix House, where drug users (particularly methamphetamine) are treated. Hunter’s legislation saved the Mt. Soledad Memorial by making it a national memorial.

Congressman Hunter is residing in El Cajon with his wife, Lynne. Like many of his constituents, he is in the process of re-building his Alpine home after losing it in the October 2003 wildfires. In 2006, Duncan and Lynne celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary. They have two sons, Duncan Duane, honorably discharged from the Marines Corps and now president of Boise Hunter Homes, and Sam Hunter, a business student at San Diego State University. Duncan D. and his wife, Margaret, have three children, Duncan Lee, Elizabeth Grace and Sarah Louise and reside in Boise, Idaho. Sam was married on Valentine’s Day 2004 to the former Theresa Heger of Jamul and they are expecting their first child.

Duncan Hunter on the issues.

[Young Scholar]

It's better for America as a whole to specialize in products or services for which we have the comparative advantage (which, for economically advanced countries, are usually knowledge-based services). Unfortunately, it does push the wages of unskilled American workers closer to world levels, and though this loss is partially offset by the falling prices this globalization allows, some workers may lose out. But the country as a whole gains, and in the long run, everyone would be worse off under protectionism.

And there is no such thing as "America's manufacturing jobs"; there are jobs created by American industrialists, but they, not "America" as a whole, own the capital that allowed those jobs, and they can move that capital if they choose.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

"I got news for the National Review types who think this is a race between McCain and Giuliani"

Good. I think we can do better than McCain and Rudy.

I am not making any decision on who to fully back at this point. I want to see who else throws their hat into the ring. That said, I do like the vast majority of what Duncan Hunter stands for. He is no McCain. He is no Rudy. He is a real possibility.

[Old_Mil]

I'd like to know more about Congressman Hunter, specifically on the issues of:

- borders
- illegals
- abortion
- gay marriage
- spending
- taxation
- the War against Islam

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

"It's not socialist, it's based on the recognition that the free market is not only great for the rich, it provides enormous opportunity for many of the world's poorest people. The market lets everyone compete (with their products, labor, etc.) with each other, and thus promotes greater equility, as well as prosperity, than systems of government protectionism and market constraint."

Are you saying that US citizens should have to buy what other countries are selling, even if it creates job losses here, and even if the quality of the products are less, and even if what the "world's poorest people" are selling is not wanted here, just because the products came from poor people? That is not "free trade", nor is it "fair trade". It is socialism.

On the other hand, maybe you were making presumptions about what US markets are creating and selling, and what the "world's poorest people" are creating and selling. You might want to clarify your statement. Please do so.

[Young Scholar]

Are you saying that US citizens should have to buy what other countries are selling, even if it creates job losses here, and even if the quality of the products are less, and even if what the "world's poorest people" are selling is not wanted here, just because the products came from poor people?

No one should be forced to buy any products. But US consumers should be allowed to buy imports if they want, and the fact that there is demand for these products indicates that many people disagree with your assessment of their value and desirability.

[dixiechick2000]

He announced his intention to run earlier this month.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1732632/posts

I think his announcement was overshadowed by the election.

I was very happy to see him do this so early in the election cycle.
Hopefully, by the time the primaries roll around, most folks will know him.

IMO, he's the most attractive candidate thus far.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

"And there is no such thing as "America's manufacturing jobs"; there are jobs created by American industrialists, but they, not "America" as a whole, own the capital that allowed those jobs, and they can move that capital if they choose."

I can tell you are young. You have no concept of quality.

I used to think like that also. I have learned from experience that I can throw good money after bad on lousy products and spend all my time and money constantly replacing low quality products, or I can invest in quality.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

"But US consumers should be allowed to buy imports if they want, and the fact that there is demand for these products indicates that many people disagree with your assessment of their value and desirability."

If US consumers wanted to buy the products you are referring to, US consumers would buy the products you are referring to. You made a presumption that US consumers wanted to buy products that US consumers do not want to buy. That is why those products are not being sold. The market has decided that the products you think there is a demand for, does not have a demand. The markets have decided and they decided NO.

[Young Scholar]

You have no idea how I feel about quality. I despise wasting money on cheap products, and will usually delay a purchase if I'm not able to buy something high-quality.

But that has very little to do with the economics of free trade. Sure, many products made in China are cheap, but so were Japanese products a few decades ago. Free trade, by itself, allows consumers to choose the products they consider best in the world market. If some choose price over quality, that's their decision, and they should be allowed to make it. Frequently, though, an import is at least as high quality as a domestically produced product.

[Young Scholar]

What, exactly, did I say should be sold that currently isn't because of a lack of demand? Where did I say this? All I said is that free trade allows Americans to buy imports when it is economically more efficient for another country to produce these products than for them to be produced domestically.

[jwalsh07]

Ducan Hunter on the issues

[Dead Corpse]

All that and teh Gun Owners of America gives him an "A" rating.

I could vote for this guy easily.

[WatchingInAmazement]

See post #18

[janetgreen]

The following site tells where Duncan Hunter stands on the issues:

http://www.ontheissues.org/CA/Duncan_Hunter.htm

[Old_Mil]

Thanks for the link. Duncan Hunter sounds like a Republican candidate that I could vote for. Has he declared yet?

[jwalsh07]

There seems to be conflicting reports "officially". All I can tell you is that I heard Duncan say he is running.

[Uriah_lost]

Such realism is not to be tolerated! Boo Hiss!
heh

[Uriah_lost]

It's easier to repeat the falsehood than to actually learn the facts...I've lost the fire for arguing with the "America Firsters". I can't be the remedial education service for everybody that can't grasp basic economics but I wish you well with your seemingly Quixotic task.

[deadhead]

Duncan Hunter 2008

Emailed Timmy about Duncan Hunter a few weeks ago.
You can add two in your YES column for Duncan Hunter
from two fans of the Grateful Dead :-)

[jwalsh07]

:-}