Political analyst says [Duncan] Hunter can move into GOP top tier

Hunter for President website ^ | 1/31/07 | OneNewsNow.com

[Antoninus]

Political analyst and former Democrat insider Keith Thompson says even though Duncan Hunter is considered a long-shot for the White House, the California congressman could move into the top tier of GOP hopefuls as the 2008 presidential campaign progresses.

Hunter officially entered the 2008 presidential "sweepstakes" last week, Thompson notes. He says the candidate, as the former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has a strong conservative voting record working in his favor; and he is particularly known for his support of the military and his opposition to illegal immigration.

For these reasons, Thompson feels the California representative is at the top of the second tier of Republican hopefuls right now and is capable of moving up. Hunter has "a fairly decent financial base right now [and] some key supporters who are helping him get his campaign to the next level," the political analyst points out; "so I think he could come right into that first tier very quickly and be a significant candidate for the nomination."

Hunter's biggest problem is name recognition, Thompson acknowledges. He says that is one advantage early GOP favorites John McCain and Rudy Giuliani have over the California lawmaker.

But even though Hunter does not come in with the years of exposure that those virtually "mythological figures" have, Thompson observes, he says "the name recognition factor could change," and Hunter could become a force to be reckoned with in the coming 2008 presidential campaign.

[Cold Heat]

Normally I would be PO'd at just how dense you appear to be, but not tonight.

It's unfortunate that the data base on how to win national elections does not belong to either extreme from either party. The knowledge is in the center.

Your issues are nothing but baggage in a national election. Hunter's work on immigration is important to the anti-immigration crowd, but a anchor on the national scene. A real heavy anchor.

Even the fact he is from California is problematic these days in the South and he has none of the required necessities to make a serious National run.

You don't know this, because you don't want to know, and neither does Duncan, who I admire as a Congressman, but would never vote for as president. No more than I would vote for Ron Paul, probably the most irritating libertarian on the planet.

To understand the presidential political requirements you have to understand that the President is the President of everyone. Not just your particular political persuasion, and to get someone elected, they have to appeal to the bulk of the country's numerous political ideology's.

To fail to do so, means embarrassment, and loss. Plus it's a complete waste of time and money.

[mkjessup]

"Maybe if you guys just talked about what is new and what your candidate is doing and saying instead of posting all this "the MSM media is very afraid" or even Dem strategists admit that Hunter could be a strong candidate. That kind of stupidity just screams for a slap down"

Well Dave, if you actually had constructive criticism, comments and ideas that could help Duncan Hunter's campaign, that would be one thing. As for comments of the members of this ping list "screaming for a slap down", who in Hell do you think YOU are to be trying to "slap down" anybody?

The posters on this ping list are enthusiastic about their candidate, they are naturally going to "accentuate the positive" and the only stupidity I see is the kind of stupidity on display when you have to wade into these threads with your own bullying arrogance, contributing nothing, and sullying anything beneficial that these posters (of which I am one) are trying to accomplish.

The majority (if not all) of your posts regarding Duncan Hunter are nothing but sophomoric sneers, slams and insults, and by your own admission, you are 'angry' about Republicans losing the Congress, and I submit that your anger has blinded you and makes you unable to offer anything useful in the way of commentary regarding the candidate this ping list supports.

And Dave, we are already IN the real world, and we don't need you, or Howlin (who you mentioned) to serve as some self-appointed critics against Duncan Hunter. The Democrats are already gearing up to attack our candidate because he represents the same kind of political threat to them that Ronald Reagan represented, and perhaps your anger prevents you from seeing it, but Reagan and Hunter were cut from the same cloth.

Your bitterness and negative attitude belongs somewhere, but not on this ping list.

[Old_Mil]

Dave, my boy, you sound utterly idiotic when you make comments criticizing Duncan Hunter's qualificiations. You want to put the country's future in the hands of a mayor for pete's sake. It would be one thing if you admitted to liking Rudy and disliking Duncan Hunter because you're a liberal and a President Hunter would be too conservative for your tastes. That's a position that - though I may disagree - I can respect. The lines of attack that you've been taking just sound stupid. Ah well, it's not like you 12%ers are going to have a say in how this thing turns out anyway.

[Old_Mil]

And, if possible, could someone sign me up for the Hunter ping list?

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Normally I would be PO'd...

I was a W-5. Nothing scares me...

Turning the general election into a second Democrat primary is a sure loser.

[skr]

Thank you for the links.

[Cold Heat]

Turning the general election into a second Democrat primary is a sure loser.

If every Conservative in this country all voted for the same man, the loss would still be the biggest Republican loss in history.

You have spent the last four years or so, pissing off every moderate and centrist in the electorate.

Now you assume they will come out and vote for a conservative???

Har, Har, Har!

Not only is that idea wrong, but it comes from hubris and ignorance of presidential politics.

If that is the common thinking, going into 2008, we will lose by the greatest margins ever recorded.

It's not the way I want it to be, but it is the way it is and I will continue to try and point this little fact out to anyone willing to listen.

[Old_Mil]

I do believe that our little presidential poll is being freeped.

I've actually noticed this in several recent polls. Conservative viewpoints jump out to a big lead over a week or so, and then the following two or three weeks show a 2%-4% liberal creep as non-member votes are cast for the liberal choice (in this case Rudy).

Curious.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

I will continue to try and point this little fact...

Oh, it is no fact, you are simply delusional...

[Cold Heat]

No.........You are.

[mkjessup]

No.....You are.

If that's all you got, you might as well write in Harold Stassen for President come November '08.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

yeah, yeah, yeah... run along...

[Cold Heat]

That's not all.....There is a thousand posts regarding the mob mentality of the conservative base as it has become.

It is the reason we lost last November, and will continue to lose.

The Dem's have their own mob, but they were not hurt nearly as much, as a direct result of being the minority. But they will begin to feel the effects of their mob as political mistakes begin to pile up like cord wood. by 2014, they should be ready for a political defeat again.

The answer to longevity politically is to regain control over the mob mentality and return to political compromise. This will strengthen the base and lead to winning.

Anything short of that will guarantee more failures, and believe me when I say that you have not yet felt the pain that will come if this crap does not stop. I think it may be far to late to save 2008, but I still hang on to a bit of hope that some force or event will intervene to change the dynamic.

Having said that, nothing can change permanently without the understanding that the party brought defeat on it's self. And it is still doing it.

[ElPatriota]

...unless Hillary gets caught having sex with a horse the day before the election [Insiders tell me that she is planning this in order to assure the Jockey vote.]...

ROLF... :)))))))....:))))))) THIS IS FUNNNNNNYYYY! :)

You know, i never understood why a woman who puts up with a womanizer FOR YEARS AND YEARS!!!!... Who practically shared her husbanbs' D*** with the neighborhood, somehow... all of the sudden... that gives her sainthood status or something... When according to the Feminists, it should be the OTHER WAY AROUND... OR NOT? - LOL.

[mkjessup]

You know, you can talk about this base, or that base, or liberals vs. conservatives, or any combination whatsoever, but the bottom line for voters is going to be whether or not their elected officials keep their word, deliver on their promises made during the campaign, and whether or not they live up to the principles and standards they claim to stand for. And I believe that voters are going to put all those factors together next year, judge each candidate, and because national security is THE issue, the candidate with the best experience in that area, is going to have the best shot at being elected President.

If this were peacetime, and all was quiet in the world, even I would be saying that Duncan Hunter probably doesn't have much chance of being elected.

But America is, and will continue to be at War, and whether we want to admit it or not, our national survival is going to depend on how we prosecute this War against Islamofascism.

Unfortunately for America, the entrenched liberal media (aka 'the MSM') continues to play the role of the '12th man on the field' and does anything and everything possible to tilt elections in their direction, in favor of their left-of-center beliefs and ideologies, and from the New York Slimes to the L.A. Rhymes, the majority of the mass media is NO friend of America, NO friend of our armed forces, and they have more in common with the former editorial staff of Pravda and Tass, than with We The People of the United States, believe you me.

We can dissect any and every political party you wish, but it still comes back to a very basic and fundemental issue:

America is at war, which candidate for President is most likely to lead us to victory?

In my view, Duncan Hunter wins hands down.

[ElPatriota]

...But America is, and will continue to be at War, and whether we want to admit it or not, our national survival is going to depend on how we prosecute this War against Islamofascism....

Wow... I could have never said what you said the way you said it! :)

I KNOW on thing... Wait... that something actually happens in the U.S. You all know what I am talking about. We have been lucky so far and/or the President and the agencies are doing a Fantastic job. Probably both but we don't know...

Bottom line: The equation could change radically and quickly.

Let's look what is happening in England and learn... So we better get some one who understand the dangers...

For that reason I think the Rats won't be long in power... But we should take advantage and prepare... with good candidates, solid candidates... not a lot of the crap that we have been electing up to now... Or the ones that the left is pushing right now. (I can't wait to see Specter and Warner (I won't vote for him again) Gone.

[Cold Heat]

There is a divide between local and national politics. You cannot mix them together.

Two years is not enough time for Hunter to gain national recognition, and he will not be able to do so. You have to start with something. God could not win a National election with Hunter's resume. War, or no war.....It does not matter as Hunter is not a General. He only has opinions, like Gingrich, Paul or any of the other interesting but impossible candidates. It takes way more than opinions to become president.

[mkjessup]

There is a divide between local and national politics. You cannot mix them together.

Where did I attempt to do any such thing?

Two years is not enough time for Hunter to gain national recognition, and he will not be able to do so. You have to start with something. God could not win a National election with Hunter's resume. War, or no war.....It does not matter as Hunter is not a General. He only has opinions, like Gingrich, Paul or any of the other interesting but impossible candidates. It takes way more than opinions to become president.

26 years on the House Armed Services Committee, including chairman, including combat experience as an Army Ranger in Vietnam? Ohhhh pardon me, Duncan Hunter didn't get promoted all the way up to General.

Neither did Ronald Reagan, and HIS opinions and policies were instrumental in winning the Cold War.

So what candidate are YOU behind, eh?

Let's hear it.

[Cold Heat]

I have already voiced my support of Romney.

[mkjessup]

Ohhhh of course. General Romney. Hero of the Olympic Rescue Mission.

I remember him.