Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Rep Randy "Duke" Cunningham Won't Seek Re-Election
Fox News' Web Site ^ | 7/15/05 | AP (via Fox News)

Posted on 07/15/2005 6:21:53 AM PDT by MplsSteve

SAN MARCOS, Calif. — A California congressman who is under federal investigation for his dealings with a defense contractor announced Thursday that he will not seek re-election.

U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (search) made the disclosure at a hastily arranged news conference.

"The time has come for me to conclude the public chapter in my life," the eight-term San Diego-area Republican said, reading from a brief written statement. "Quite simply, right now I may not be the strongest candidate."

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: 109th; dukecunningham; randycunningham; retirement
As I see it, this is not a surprise and probably the right move for Cunningham to make.

It's a shame that it had to come to this but Cunningham should have tried harder to avoid conflict of interests. If he had, he wouldn't be where he is now.

Opinions anyone?

1 posted on 07/15/2005 6:21:53 AM PDT by MplsSteve
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MplsSteve
Smart move on his part.


2 posted on 07/15/2005 6:23:28 AM PDT by darkwing104 (Let's get dangerous)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MplsSteve

"boo hoo hoo, i'm the victim of evil democrats!", he said at cal state san marcos, a socialist college campus.

he didn't look or sound like the vietnam hero he once was.

he knew the rules on the african veld, violated them, and some democrat lionesses took him down.

roger hedgecock said the dems gave the story to the sdut. whadda we know about the sdut? they're socialists and feminists.


3 posted on 07/15/2005 6:25:29 AM PDT by ken21 (it takes a village to brainwash your child + to steal your property! /s)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MplsSteve

I wouldn't have voted for him again. He committed political suicide. What a stupid move on his part.

I'm so disappointed in him. I expected much more.


4 posted on 07/15/2005 6:31:14 AM PDT by SnarlinCubBear (VISUALIZE WHIRLED PEAS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ken21

I have to agree, to sell is house to a contractor he does business with and that contract is trying to get government bids is one thing but when he bought it back from the same guy for 700,000 less - no one working for me in government should be allowed to be that stupid.

I understand he was TOP GUN pilot, war hero, etc.

Too bad.


5 posted on 07/15/2005 6:32:28 AM PDT by edcoil (Reality doesn't say much - doesn't need too)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: edcoil

i used to live in his district, voted for him until my zipcode was moved to darryl issa's. i visited duke's escondido office a couple of times, was treated well, and looked over his vietnam photos and awards, etc.

i lost respect for him when he went up to boston and pleaded with a judge for leniency in the case of his son, a drug dealer. power corrupts.

later, his son was found with cocaine while on probation.


6 posted on 07/15/2005 6:35:54 AM PDT by ken21 (it takes a village to brainwash your child + to steal your property! /s)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: ken21

"roger hedgecock said the dems gave the story to the sdut. whadda we know about the sdut? they're socialists and feminists."

Who cares where they got the story? It's true. Cunningham is corrupt. Blaming the paper is another form of sheltering the crook.

Good riddance. We don't need Congressmen who sell their office in the Republican Party. Save that for the Dims.


7 posted on 07/15/2005 6:41:47 AM PDT by highball ("I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." -- Thomas Jefferson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ken21

Dear ken21,

"i lost respect for him when he went up to boston and pleaded with a judge for leniency in the case of his son, a drug dealer. power corrupts."

I don't think that's a sign of the corruption brought about by power, but the natural inclination of a father. Whether he was right or wrong to plead for leniency, it would be a terribly difficult thing NOT to so plead for one's own child.

I pray that I will never be placed in such a situation, please dear God, spare me that. However, if I were placed in that circumstance, I pray that I would have the strength to see things more clear-eyed, and not just give in to the natural instinct to try to protect my own beloved child by sheltering him from all the consequences of his own evil actions.

That being said, I can't condemn a man who pleads for leniency for his own child, even if it's inappropriate.


sitetest


8 posted on 07/15/2005 6:42:00 AM PDT by sitetest (If Roe is not overturned, no unborn child will ever be protected in law.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: MplsSteve
It's a shame that it had to come to this but Cunningham should have tried harder to avoid conflict of interests.

What it appears he actually did was try very hard to be bribed. He succeeded for awhile, but his hubris finally caught up with him. Like John Milton (Al Pacino) says in The Devil's Advocate: "Vanity. Definitely my favorite sin."
9 posted on 07/15/2005 6:42:28 AM PDT by drjimmy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MplsSteve

Exit stage left. Might as well leave one step ahead of the law.


10 posted on 07/15/2005 6:43:50 AM PDT by csvset
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sitetest

You are right though. Power does corrupt, especially in Washington. It takes good Americans and turns them into politicians.


11 posted on 07/15/2005 6:46:23 AM PDT by ampat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: sitetest

You are right though. Power does corrupt, especially in Washington. It takes good Americans and turns them into politicians.


12 posted on 07/15/2005 6:46:38 AM PDT by ampat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: MplsSteve
Shows you how corrupt the process is...

Bill and Hillary are still flying high....

What Duke did was/is wrong...but where is the justice for the victims of the Clinton blood trail from Mena to the White House..

Not even the Pubbies were/are clean enough to give the Clinton's victims justice

If a guy like 'Duke' can't stand...

who can? imo

13 posted on 07/15/2005 7:19:34 AM PDT by joesnuffy (Does the Red Crescent have falafel dollies?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: joesnuffy
If a guy like 'Duke' can't stand... who can? imo

I know how you feel. Duke was a genuine war hero. It's dissapointing to see this happen. The guy succumbed to the sin of greed and avarice. Sad.

I was always mystified by John Glenn. Also a very brave man who associated with dishonorable politicians and politics.

14 posted on 07/15/2005 10:40:45 AM PDT by Donald Rumsfeld Fan ("Memos on Bush Are Fake but Accurate". NYTimes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: MplsSteve
"The time has come for me to conclude the public chapter in my life," the eight-term San Diego-area Republican said, reading from a brief written statement. "Quite simply, right now I may not be the strongest candidate."

Captain Obvious strikes again...

15 posted on 07/15/2005 10:44:33 AM PDT by Ol' Dan Tucker ("There ought to be limits to freedom" --George W. Bush, May 26, 1999)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson