Posted on 02/06/2007 11:01:57 AM PST by Antoninus
Saying he's "more of a Reaganite than Ronald Reagan," a group of military veterans are backing the presidential candidacy of U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter, (R-Calif.)
Hunter has served 13 terms in the House representing the San Diego area, home to a major navy base, and was chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. He remains the ranking Republican member. Hunter announced his race for the presidency earlier this week in South Carolina.
Larry Bailey, a retired U.S. Navy Seal, is behind the push by his fellow veterans.
"Duncan has been a friend for 20 years," Bailey said. "He was in the 173rd Airborne Brigade (and the 75th Army Rangers), and saw some tough, tough times. He was an enlisted guy, and he received a Bronze Star."
Hunter has been ahead of the pack with his support for the military and national security, Bailey said.
"When it comes to safeguarding satellite intelligence for troops in Iraq -- the issue that prompted him to waylay the White House-backed bill -- he has an unusually personal interest," The Washington Post reported recently. Hunter's son, a Marine lieutenant who has served two tours in Iraq, phoned him from embattled Fallujah and 'told me to hang in there on the intel thing,' the congressman said in a (recent) interview. 'A lot of military people have told me that,' he added, but his accounts of his son, Duncan Duane Hunter, have proved especially moving to his House colleagues, several said."
"Fifteen years ago, Duncan asked if we should deploy our military on the border because he was so against illegal immigration," he said. "He's correct on social issues, stem cell research, abortion, economics - he's for a totally free market. His brother is a rocket scientist; his dad got his start raising cattle in the Shenandoah Valley (in Virginia), and then later moved to California and went into real estate."
Hunter not only was concerned about illegal immigrants, but he was the moving force behind building a fence to separate Mexico from the California border, said Mike Bradley, another veteran. Hunter was with Bradley in Florida on Feb. 1 to meet with vets and to do interviews on several Florida radio stations. He has been a frequent guest lately on Fox News Channel.
Border enforcement is one of Hunter's major priorities. In 1988, he authored legislation making the military the lead agency in illegal drug interdiction and was successful in obtaining military units for building roads and fencing along the U.S. in California. Over 40 miles of fencing and border infrastructure are standing today. Additionally, he pushed through legislation in 1995 to authorize an additional 5,000 border patrol agents in response to the Clinton administration's budget, which attempted to cut agency resources.
"They instantly cut down on drug smuggling, immigrant smuggling, illegal aliens - by 90 percent," Bradley said. "The fence was designed with three rows, but Hunter said to build it with two rows and see how it works. They had no breeches."
U.S. Veteran Dispatch Publisher Ted Sampley, a former Green Beret and Vietnam veteran, has placed his name and the endorsement of this Web site behind the Hunter campaign.
"He's conservative, pro-defense and his basic belief is that if you want peace, you have to pursue it through strength," Sampley said. "He knows what the American people want. We're trying to set up a 1-million-vet Web page for people to sign up for Hunter and declare their support."
Hunter's other legislative priorities include fulfilling promises to U.S. veterans, providing tax relief to America's working families, and continuing cleanup efforts at the New River and Salton Sea in Imperial County, which he previously represented for 20 years.
Hunter is a long time congressional supporter of America’s missing in action and their families. In 1987, he was one of 21 Republican congressmen who offered a 2.5 million dollar reward to be paid to any citizen or group of citizens of Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia who would deliver an American prisoner of war back into U.S. custody.
A Hunter's Warriors Web site also is on the way, Bailey said.
"The Web really enhances our ability to contact people," he said. "We're expecting a real groundswell. The Rolling Thunder guys are behind him, and we're working with another guy whose son was killed in Iraq and he wants to do a rally in Washington to counter (Jane) Fonda and (Cindy) Sheehan."
Hunter and his wife Lynne live in Alpine, Calif. They have two sons, Duncan Duane and Sam, and two grandchildren.
Done !
*This is really not a serious conversation.*
Perhaps because you are not a serious person.
Duncan Hunter really pumps me up. People we gotta burn the midnight hours to win this one.
Three vets for Hunter here at my house and more spread across the country who are part of both clans. We donate, we vote.
I'm not a veterinarian ... but I'll still support DH.
BTTT
"ditto" :-)
Excellent! Hunter's the man to get behind.
Just some background info on Hunter and his outspoken nature to go where not many(I don't think any) Republicans go with their spineless nature.
Hunter on Abu Ghraib(courtesyhttp://www.larouchepub.com/other/2004/3128goss_hunter_block.html : )
Probably the single loudest obstructionist voice in the House of Representatives in support of the Cheneyac "Beastman" policy in Iraq has been Armed Services Committee chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.). Hunter has been able to use his position to block any meaningful inquiry into the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and at every public opportunity, has railed against those who are demanding such an investigation. He even went after his GOP counterpart in the Senate, John Warner (Va.), for holding three hearings in two weeks on the scandal, practically accusing Warner of treason.
Under great public pressure, Hunter has since held one hearing, for part of one day, and has no intention of having any more. During debate on the Fiscal Year 2005 Defense Authorization bill, on May 19, Hunter declared, "We have had enormous publicity the last number of days about the mess at Abu Ghraib. I estimated we have probably devoted as much media attention to that mess involving now, as identified, some seven personnel, as we did to the Normandy invasion. And that is an imbalance. It is time to refocus." What did he want to refocus on? "The 135,000 great personnel doing their job in Iraq."
On June 14, when the committee took up a resolution of inquiry sponsored by some 40 Democrats, demanding the Pentagon be more forthcoming with documents relating to the prison scandal, Hunter placed the 6,000 pages of the report on the abuse and torture of prisoners filed by U.S. Army General Anthony Taguba (the Taguba Report) on a table at the head of the hearing room and railed at the Democrats, "Isn't that enough for you?"
Hunter on Guantanamo(courtesy http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050613-033125-4935r.htm:)
California Republican Duncan Hunter held a press conference to discuss the treatment of detainees at the island jail, and spent his opening statement going over a daily menu for prisoners that included oven-fried chicken and fresh fruit.
"This is what Osama bin Laden's bodyguards will eat several times a week. Lemon chicken, rice, broccoli, carrots, bread and two types of fruit," Hunter said, inviting a reporter to come eat with him.
Hunter was digging himself out of small hole he got into over the weekend when he said on a news program that the White House is divided over whether to close the jail.
"I think they've come to the conclusion, some members of the White House have come to the conclusion that the legend now, that the legend is different than the fact, and when that's the case you go with the legend that somehow Guantanamo has been a place of abuse and you close it down and you shorten the stories, you shorten the heated debate and you get it off the table and you move on," he said.
http://www.gohunter08.com is his official campaign site and where you want to donate to his campaign.
You seem to be forgetting Sandra Day O'Conner. And I think Reagan failed in the Beirut bombing of the Marine barracks. Reagan had his own faults and was not perfect, you know.
He's just panicked that Hunter will pick up more and more support! It's always clear in those anti-Hunter, other candidate supporter posts.
He's been Chairman and now ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee. See post 88.
The article mentioned how a "Hunter's Warriors" website is on the way so I'm assuming it will be at hunterswarriors.com?
"But we've got to work to get Hunter's name out there beyond the FR echo-chamber if we want to have a chance."
Hey! (hey...hey...hey...) RINO! (Rudy...Rudy...Rudy...)
"But we've got to work to get Hunter's name out there beyond the FR echo-chamber if we want to have a chance."
***One way is to approach Dick Cheney and ask him to resign for health reasons. Then President Bush could appoint whomever is his heir apparent to get a running start on the 2008 race with the VP name recognition and various privileges afforded. I would hope that slot could go to Duncan Hunter, who has use for this lame duck position whereas the current resident will go hunting as soon as his obligation is fulfilled.
So what is the "peacethroughstrengthpac.org" for ..??
When Hugh Hewitt was interviewing him .. he listed the "peace" site.
Also, you should never underestimate the power of a simple e-mail. I sent out an email telling my friends and families that Guiliani and McCain are not their only choices and that there was a man who has already officially entered in the race that they should start researching because the choice we will have to make in '08 is too important not to begin researching all possibilities.
I put a link to Hunter's campaign site and a copy of his announcement speech. I've already received responses indicating that people have forwarded my email on to their friends and family. An e-mail chain can be far-reaching.
I sure am hoping and praying it will be Duncan Hunter. I would be so proud to vote for him.
For furthering the issues he cares about. The money that goes solely to his campaign and his official site for his presidential run is at http://www.gohunter08.com
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