Posted on 02/08/2007 1:49:38 PM PST by GulfBreeze
California Congressman Duncan Hunter announced in October that he would be seeking the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. He recently made his candidacy official. Now in his 14th term in the House, Hunter's district includes portions of San Diego. From 2003 through 2006, he was chairman of the powerful House Armed Services Committee, a role he had to relinquish in January due to the Democratic takeover of the House.
Hunter prides himself on being in the mold and tradition of Ronald Reagan, who was first elected President the same year Hunter was first elected to Congress. Although many believe he came in on Reagan's coattails (pulling an upset victory over an incumbent Democrat by a narrow margin), he has won reelection by wide margins ever since. In addition, he continues to be popular with ''Reagan Democrats," consistently getting over 70% of the total Democratic vote.
Hunter is a socially conservative Baptist who is very popular with evangelicals and the far right. He strongly opposes abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and gay marriage. In addition, he favors a crackdown on illegal immigration and the construction of a fence along the entire border between the U.S. and Mexico. In spite of this, he usually draws around 60% of the Hispanic vote in his district. His continued unwavering support of the war in Iraq also makes him popular with neoconservatives.
He will likely have to compete with Mitt Romney, Sam Brownback, Mike Huckabee, and Tom Tancredo for social conservative votes in the primaries. In order to be successful, he will need to convince voters in Iowa and New Hampshire that he is the most genuine and most viable social conservative in the race. So far, he is the only Republican candidate who has purchased TV time in New Hampshire. This is obviously an attempt to build up some early name recognition, of which he currently has little or none.
Although a tremendous long-shot, there is a scenario in which he could conceivably win the nomination. He would first have to come out of Iowa and New Hampshire as the leading or possibly only social conservative still in the race. At a minimum, he would need to put Huckabee away in those two early states. Otherwise, the former Arkansas Governor would likely lock him out of the southern conservative vote, effectively ending his candidacy when the southern block of primaries is held. However, with Huckabee gone and Hunter the top social conservative contender remaining in the pack, he would be poised to perform well in the South, as well as his native West. Winning the South is obviously part of Hunter's required scenario for capturing the nomination. It was no accident that he made his official announcement in South Carolina.
Well, if that's the way you feel about conservatives, I guess that tells us all we need to know about your judgment regarding their electability.
And he came back sane.Went to law school, and the rest.
Duncan Hunter served in the 173rd Airborne and 75th Army Rangers, F Company, 58th Infanty. This is very significant.
What is an LRRP?
You can see that here:
http://www.ranger.org/rangerHistoryVietnamWar.html
Duncan Hunter stands head and shoulders OVER any other candidate as far as I am concerned. *************************************
Ranger companies of the 75th Infantry conducted combat Ranger missions and operations for three years and seven months, every day of the year while in Vietnam, and companies A,B, and 0 performed Ranger missions state side for five years and eight months. Like the original unit from whence their lineage as Neo Marauders was drawn, 75th Rangers came from the Infantry, Artillery, Engineers, Signal Medical Military Police, Food Service, Parachute Riggers and other Army units. They were joined by former adversaries, the Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army soldiers who became "Kit Carson Scouts" and fought alongside the Rangers against their former units and comrades.
Unlike Rangers of other eras in the 20th century who trained in the United States or in friendly nations overseas, Rangers in Vietnam were activated, trained and fought in the same geographical areas, a high speed approach to training. Training was a combat mission for volunteers. Volunteers were assigned and not accepted in the various Ranger companies until after a series of patrols by which the volunteer had passed the acid test of a Ranger, combat, and was accepted by his peers. Following peer acceptance, the volunteer was allowed to wear the black beret and red, white and black scroll shoulder sleeve insignia bearing his Ranger company identity. All Ranger companies were authorized parachute pay.
Modus operandi for patrol insertion varied, however the helicopter was the primary means for insertion and ex-filtration of enemy rear areas. Other methods included foot, wheeled, tracked vehicles, airboats, Navy swift boats and stay behind missions where the Rangers stayed in place as a larger tactical unit withdrew. False insertions by helicopter was a means of security from ever present enemy trail watchers. General missions consisted of locating the enemy bases and lines of communication. Special missions included wiretap, prisoner snatch, Platoon and Company size Raid missions and Bomb Damage Assessments (BDA's) following B-52 Arc Light missions as well as the ambush mission that was common after the Ranger team had performed its primary mission.
Staffed principally by graduates of the US Army Ranger School Paratroopers and Special Forces trained men, the bulk of the Ranger volunteers came from the soldiers who had no chance to attend the school, but carried the fight to the enemy. Rangers in the grade of E-4 to E-6 controlled fires from the USS New Jersey's 16 inch guns in addition to helicopter gun ships, piston engine and high performance aircraft while frequently operating far beyond conventional artillery and infiltrated enemy base camps, captured prisoners or conducted other covert operations. The six man Ranger team was standard and a twelve man team was used for combat patrols in most instances, however some units operated occasionally in two man teams in order to accomplish the mission.
The Vietnam Rangers of the 75th Infantry were awarded the title of Neo Marauders by the Secretary of the Army, Stanley Resor, for having lived up to the standards set by the original Marauders during World War II. Army Chief of Staff Creighton Abrams who observed the 75th Ranger operations in Vietnam as commander for all US forces there selected the 75th Rangers as the role model for the first US Army Ranger units formed in peacetime in the history of the United States Army. Today, the modern Rangers of the 75th Ranger Regiment continue the tradition of being the premier fighting element of the active army. The traditions and dedication to their fellow RANGERS continues!!
Better check the warranty on your crystal ball....it's cracked. The MSM is well pleased with your choices of two RINOs and a liberal.
"Hunter the top social conservative contender remaining in the pack"
***Already happening.
would stay home
That is not the representation of the majority of Hunter supporters. If a couple think that way, that is not our thinking.
We would support the Republican candidate.
A home or third party vote is the same as voting Democrat.
Hunter is the best all around candidate with experience with National Security, Military, Illegals, and social conservative values.
Former Chairman of the Armed Services Comm.
Vietnam war vet, his son 2 tours in Iraq and
also authored the border fence bill
OOPS! Almost forgot -
PING!
Is free trade really free if governmental bodies manipulate the competitive price of goods through tariffs, tax breaks, and or government subsidized programs, in order to protect certain sectors, when the free market would not impose such a situation?
With no trade laws regulating "free trade" how is a company with no governmental voice, or power to decree law capable of competing with a state owned and operated business that is free to, at will, manipulate it's tax code and economic infrastructure for advantage in the market?
OG,
I support Duncan Hunter 100%. However, if he loses in the primary (he won't!) then I will back ANY republican over the Dem's.
Ronald Reagan said it when I heard it first:
"A rising tide lifts all ships. When you lose the presidency the whole cause goes backward.Daniel had to serve a wicked king at the command of God.
I will support the GOP nominee and I will support the President.
As long as he is in the race I will work like hell to make sure that in both cases, that is Duncan Hunter...
Duncan Hunter BTTT
Here is some work product from the "obsessively well-informed" at FR. Stuff like this is a huge waste of time and is a distraction, as far as promoting good alternative candidates.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1781776/posts
With all due respect, I think your optimism exceeds your judgement regarding the influence of readers and writers on political websites.
Hunter has very good issue and policy positions. But that is far from enough.
He needs name recognition, and thus far he shows no propensity for getting same. Big money would help, but his disdain for free trade would indicate little corporate interest in him.
Reagan was a rare joining of policy positions with natural charisma in an already very well known person. The main reason McCain and Guiliani are tops now is recognition.
It will take some big events to knock them out. In 2008 when the primaries begin and one or two are tops, there will be no chance for a pure conservative to move up.
I happen to think McCain is too old, possibly too unhealthy. Guiliani is fine with me, since his social positions don't bother me. He states he would appoint conservatives to the SC.
Romney is also okay with me, but I'm guessing the Mormon thing won't fly--although it is fine with me.
Newt would be okay with me.
I see the President as Commander-in-Chief, not Pastor-in-Chief.
With no trade laws regulating "free trade" how is a company with no governmental voice, or power to decree law capable of competing with a state owned and operated business that is free to, at will, manipulate it's tax code and economic infrastructure for advantage in the market?
That's my point. Free trade isn't possible with many countries. Some so called free traders, oppose Hunter's fair trade position but the only alternative is to continue allowing China to take unfair advantage.
Thinking, "Mia must've just overlooked my ping".
Giuliani is a gun grabber.
McCain is too psycho to trust with nukes.
Romney instituted socialized medicine.
None of those candidates are as "electable" as you think because the base won't turn out for another pack of lies. There's plenty of time for a candidate like Hunter to get name recognition, especially if people like you blow off the fear mongering.
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.
It will be a delight to watch that first debate in April. There's no doubt who will come across as presidential and Hunter will only gain support.
Considering I am from this hellhole state known as NY and stuck with Hillary as our Senator, I'd like to *thank* Rudy for passing up the opportunity to take the old hag on TWICE. And he only did that because he WAS NOT GOING TO WIN in this liberal hellhole. It would be awfully hard on anyone to have Duncan Hunter as veep because he would make them look foolish. Hunter is presidential in every way and is more than ready for a national campaign because it is most important the GOP sticks to its conservative principles when it will need every vote from its base in this important election and Hunter is an exceedingly warm personality that can communicate in a straight forward, no nonsense way and it's going to take that in the next election. He would destroy Hillary, Obama, etc. because he is excellent at taking the issues and talking point propaganda on.
Say, Hunter supporters who haven't voted in the weekly pajamasmedia.com poll need to get over there. Our guy has been trailing Fred Thompson, and has just fallen behind Tancredo.
Hunter is so on top of the issues and comes across so well and has a good Commander-in-Chief look to him that I pray to see him against Hillary. Can you imagine them talking national security and the war on terrorism?! And Hunter is just great at getting to the point and not letting the media/Demonrats pull any BS-notice how he went after Murtha and made the Demonrats take a vote? He's just great and really what the GOP/conservatives need.
Reagan signed a bill allowing abortion in cases of rape, incest and for the life of the mother. Does that show serious character flaws?
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