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.
That is one of my points. The gop didn't pass any immigration legislation, or did i miss something? [You are missing the implication of the House defeats. It was no secret that the House and Senate differed drastically over immigration. It is also a fact that the House conservatives who prevented the Senate bill from passing were removed from office ALONG with those in the Senate who had voted against the bill. This was well publicized.
Now had the House been maintained and the Senate liberals/moderates lost then your point would be valid. However, the OPPOSITE happened. This is a loser for the GOP as currently promoted.]
Conservativism/Conservatives face the same kind of craftyness and duplicity such as you described every election. It is not the reason Conservatives were decimated. But your discussion verifies what I have been saying: conservatives have been demonized as "extremists" by the RAT media. Who but an "extremist" would not want Michael J. Fox to walk?
We cannot afford to nominate people who cannot handle this kind of thing. That is one of Guiliani's strengths and I a major reason I consider him, at this point, to be the strongest candidate we could put up against the RAT.
Who are you backing?
Another point. The majority of these elections were lost by 5000 votes or less. That election could have went either way. The fact that GWB is horrible at articulating his point on anything didn't help gop with swing votes. The change in rumsfeld after the election and on and on. I won't be suprised if some of these seats are won back.
They are only there because they are the ONLY names that have been consistently fed to the masses. [They have been in the media more because they are NEWSMAKERS. Most of the coverage while Guiliani was mayor was whining about the tough steps he took to rein the city in. People who are not NEWSMAKERS are not in the news.]
So, of course, those with 'name recognition' are going to get the most attention and mention in polls to begin with.
[This does not always remain the case and name recognition has never been enough to win a nomination (at least in modern times). But the point is HOW they came to that name recognition in the first place. Some are like Obama who has done NOTHING but the RAT media feel in love with him. Some have done LOTS, like Guiliani or even Romney and McCain and the RAT media has a mixed view of them because certainly cannot be accused of being in love with them as it is with Obama and Hillary.]
It is fanatical and dangerous that you are consumed by all this panic in the thought that Duncan Hunter might actually make an impact, as you obviously are in your repeated posts in these threads and you are extremely condescending. [Don't lie about me or my actions. I am, in no way, "panicked" by Hunter though I find it amusing that you believed anyone not a True Believer takes him seriously enough to panic over him. What kind of baby would be panicked by a 1% following in the polls? As for getting out of line I suggest you clean up the acts of Hunter's followers here before criticizing others for lesser ones.]
white washed text book robotic response. [If that is what you believed my response is then I would like to see that textbook.]
Strong family-parents have the right to know what their kids are up to. None of this planned parenthood government assisted abortion without the family being able to know about it. Giving out free condoms and all this other nonsense [Many non-conservatives feel the same way.]
#3 Less government regulation on business [That was actually something that started under Jimmy Carter.]
#4 low taxes [Bush has fought hard to bring this about and has been punished for it ever since.]
#5 A welfare program that holds people accountable [This was done under Clinton.]
#6 A SMALLER GOVERNMENT [This can only be done when the people see a need for it. It will never be that small in a large, complex society which faces major security threats.]
You leave the definition of conservatism up to the people who are running things. [I gave you MY idea of what it means now so I have no idea what your sentence could possibly mean.] You determine who runs things by voting. [Right, hence you cannot be too far Left or Right and expect to get the votes of the majority of Americans.]
This is the primary, you are paranoid. Lets just let the same old nuckle heads get the vote for the sake of being nuckle heads. Sorry I don't buy it.
It looks like Keith Thompson also possibly lurks on the conservative blog sites. He may have seen the present Freeper poll of '08 Republican Presidential contenders. What's truly the best way to get a majority of conservatives throughout the U.S. to get excited about and to fully support Rep. Duncan Hunter's '08 Presidential run? Many conservatives are already comparing Rep. Duncan Hunter to Bob Dole, and they say that Hunter is about as exciting as watching paint dry. How can Hunter overcome this comparison to watching paint dry?
With your strategy you just let the center slide so far to the left that the right dissolves. Give an inch and lose a yard, no thanks not interested
Once is enough, thanks! :)
Right now I believe Guiliani would be the candidate with the best chance of winning. I will vote for any Republican against the Democrats.
My willingness to get into this discussion is to allow comparisons, REAL honest comparisons not silly pictures or things said a decade ago, to be made. My choice in the Illinois primary will be decided upon who is running here and how they stand at the time.
For example, I voted for Keyes in the last one because Bush had a commanding lead and I wanted to show pressure from the right. Had it been very close I would have voted Bush. If Guiliani has a huge lead then I would consider voting for Hunter or another to his right if on the ballot.
Who is they? Is it to hard to come out and say what you think anymore.
How am I paranoid? I am not one claiming a vast media conspiracy to elect Rudy.
"Lets just let the same old nuckle heads get the vote for the sake of being nuckle heads." What Knuckle head is running that fits that catagory? Hunter has run more races than ANY of his competition. That doesn't make him a knuckle head. Only McCain has run for president before.
What kind of programs do you think Rudy will push if elected?
Rep. Duncan Hunter also needs to do all that he can do to also get plenty of non-conservative voters to really want to vote for him. By the way, Hunter's Presidential website doesn't also have any way that people throughout the U.S. can contact his campaign and add their comments/feedback through an e-mail address. Hunter's regular Congressional website does have a "contact me" e-mail section, but it only applies to his constituents. Hunter also needs a way that people all over the world can e-mail his campaign more than just to donate money to his campaign.
Another point. The majority of these elections were lost by 5000 votes or less. That election could have went either way. [That is fairly typical of American elections. Landslides are pretty rare. It does not change my point either.
Some of those seats may well be won back. Tom Delay's shenanigans lost his seat out of sheer idiocy. Had he stepped down before the primary rather than after it would have remained GOP. What the hell was he thinking? However winning most will be hard since the voters do not hold the RATS to any standards of competence, accountability or honesty. Things that get Republicans thrown out only draw larger vote totals for the Party of Treason.]
With your strategy you just let the center slide so far to the left that the right dissolves. Give an inch and lose a yard, no thanks not interested. [No that is not the way things work. And courting sure defeat will NEVER advance conservative interests or policies.]
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