Posted on 01/31/2007 8:46:24 AM PST by 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.
Done deal? Are you kidding me?
Between amnesty and Arnold wanting to give medical insurance to illegals, this will just open the floodgates. Whoever is president come 2009 will have to deal with the issue again soon enough.
You apparently think that rewarding illegal behavior will bring an end to it, when logic dictates otherwise.
You will be happy too, since all you nuckle draggers like to do is complain anyway. You never did want to govern.
Hint - if you are gonna do insult someone's intelligence, make sure your spelling is correct first.
And when it comes to illegal immigration, the problem is that the Bush Admin HAS NOT GOVERNED. They have not done their job.
And Rudy has helped in that department as well with his rabid defense of NYC's sanctuary city status. Some law-and-order type.
Yeah if your party is considered weak on defense, its a help. Cheney dont need no vet resume. Bush didnt win because of guarding the skys of Texas and Alabama. The Dems last time had a general running and he didnt even get the nomination. What battle did Hunter win? Did he lead the charge up Pork Chop Hill? Was he commander at Khe Sang when it was overrun by the North Vietnamese? Did he engineer the invasion of Normandy? Did he lead troops in the Pacific and in Korea?
And Hunter's chairmanship will show that he was MORE than a 'backbencher' in Congress. He is in a leadership role and especially on defense issues.
Pork distributor. If you think congressional committee chairmanships do much for a resume these days you are mistaken, especially if an R follows your names. The Republicans didnt get voted out because they were too liberal. They got voted out because they didnt care about solving national problems, just taking care of getting reelected and staying in power. How did that work out?
Hunter is also an outstanding communicator.
Then where was he for the last couple of years when at least one intelligent voice was needed in the Republican congress? Heck the President wasnt going to convince anyone about anything and all the guys on the talk shows were constantly talking to themselves about process rather than substance and patting themselves on the back and saying give us another chance and this time we will do for you what we said we would do back in '94.
It didnt hurt that he was the highly acclaimed and successful two time governor of the third largest state in the Country.
I guess if Hunter wasn't in a famous battle, it isn't a big deal in your book.
I really don't care how you express what you think about Hunter politically. But I find your downplaying a military combat vet's experience in such a manner pretty pathetic.
Let's see the "pork" that Hunter is distributing. He, unlike other Congresscritters, published his earmarks:
There was also $8 million for the DP-2 "vectored thrust aircraft," made by DuPont Aerospace, another southern California firm. The plane's testing was delayed because of what this year's Navy budget justification called "a nozzle box failure" in late 2004.
Hunter also requested $1.7 million to develop a skin disease test for troops in Iraq and $1 million for a wound dressing that includes pure oxygen.
$210 million to try and counter roadside bombs. Boy, that sure is pure, unprincipled porking out. All of this is defense related. I don't see any nonsense.
Care to embarass yourself any further?
Dont get pissy with me. Get on Bush for refusing to unleash our military to end this thing decisively. Driving around patrolling in humvees serving as targets is not my idea of taking the fight to the enemy. Fabricate if we have to, but come up with an excuse to go in and level Sadr City and whereever else the Mahdi army has support. If people mass in the streets to protest, bring out AC-130 gunships and empty the streets. Make it a capital offense to be found with anything larger than a handgun and a couple clips of amo. Bring in a couple divisions of Kurds to do the policing in Baghdad. I'm sure they would show everyone the proper courtesy. Mine the frickin borders with Syria, Jordan, and Iran. Shot anything that moves along the border at night and force all entering the country to go through the kind of search we are forced to take at the airports. Also find out where the varous Iraqi leaders get their money (oil or whatever, and cut it off..maybe have some bank funds disappear). Convince them that if they dont get with the program, they as well as their power can disappear as well.
Obviously I will support whoever has an R behind his name. If and I emphasize the word IF Duncan Hunter should pull a miracle and get the nomination, then yes I would vote for him. Oops take that back. I would not vote for Tancredo. Period. The guy reminds me of Nixon and Huey Long. Dangerous to the Republic.
NO, John Frickin Kerry, you butthead. I go back to the Truman days so screw you, young tyke. When you get out of your diapers I will explain all.
Are you really sure about Alaska and Nebraska? Hagel comes from Nebraska.
Or maybe that he thinks he's special and doesnt have to live by the same rules as the rest of us.
It's not a reason to vote for someone for President.
It's a distinct positive for a candidate to have military experience when we're at war. You don't have to downplay Hunter's combat experience to try and drag down a particular qualification.
How many earmarks did he allow other members to attach to the defense appropriation bill for their support on one issue or another?
Gawd, give it a rest. Hunter published his earmarks, unlike other congresscritters - so we can see his. Do you have a problem with ANY OF THEM as they pertain to improving military readiness?
Look how much good it's done you. Talk about acting like a little girl, go cry moma, moma and run to the moderators. How are you guys going to deal with a real campaign.
Dave, trashing ANY U.S. military veteran with combat experience (as you have done in this thread), deserves at the least to be reported to the mods, and if you had an ounce of decency you would apologize for your pathetic behavior. I know you've heard of that book and movie 'The Ugly American'?
Congratulations Dave, you have become 'The Ugly Freeper'.
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