Posted on 02/10/2007 7:54:35 PM PST by seanmerc
“Peace Through Strength” are three words that, when uttered with conviction by a man of principle and great leadership, and backed up by decisive action, had the power to free hundreds of millions of people from the oppression of communism and saved this country from the specter of “mutually assured destruction.”
It was in a speech entitled, “A Time for Choosing”, that Ronald Reagan ignited the conservative movement in America and began the death knell of communism. “Peace Through Strength” became our charge. I firmly believe that it will take continued, unwavering dedication to that same calling to achieve victory against the evil terrorist threat we now confront.
I was swept into office by that Reagan revolution, arriving in Congress the same year Reagan arrived in Washington. He ushered in a new era of peace and prosperity by cutting taxes, limiting government and winning the Cold War.
It is a time for choosing again. Do we as a people choose appeasement in the name of tolerance and political correctness? If so, then we are saying to the world that what we are really willing to tolerate is evil in the World. Or, instead, do we stand firm in our resolve that this nation shall remain a beacon of freedom to people of goodwill everywhere?
Do we as a people choose dependence on a bigger, and ever-more-intrusive government? Or do we choose self-reliance, recognizing that we know better than government how to spend our money, raise our children, provide for our families.
I am confident you agree with me that we Americans have the self-reliance and the character to remain free. We choose for this nation to remain free by remaining strong; through military strength, economic strength and, in addition, through strength of character.
How?
A Strong Military and Secure Borders
Support our U.S. Military Men and Women As Chairman of the Armed Services Committee in the U.S House of Representatives I have dedicated the resources necessary to rebuild our military into the strongest and most effective fighting force in the world, after years of the Clinton Administration slashing our Armed Forces through budget cuts and troop reductions,
Our best national security asset is the U.S. soldier. Through their patriotism, dedication and sacrifice, America is more secure. We must continue to ensure their access to superior training and resources so they can meet the challenges ahead.
Field a National Missile Defense With Iran and North Korea blatantly ignoring international pressure to stop their efforts to build and field nuclear weapons, we must aggressively pursue a missile defense system that will protect our communities and families from the whims of rogue nations.
Target Terrorists Our national intelligence and defense communities must be given the tools necessary to identify, track, stop and prosecute terrorists before they have a chance to strike. Provide for Border Enforcement Homeland security begins at our nation’s borders. Knowing who and what are entering our country is critical to our efforts to secure our communities and protect our families. Building fences in strategic locations along our international borders is a proven method of keeping America safe.
We must have a Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement corps with sufficient strength to secure our borders and provide for interior enforcement throughout the country.
We must field the manpower and technology at our national ports of entry to allow all cargo coming into the United States to be screened and inspected in a thorough and efficient manner.
We proved the double border fence works in my home district of San Diego. I wrote the Border Fence Provision, signed into law by President Bush, which mandates the construction of the fence across 700 miles of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. There will be attempts made to undo the funding for it. You have my commitment that I will do everything in my power to maintain that funding and build that fence.
Economic Strength
Keep American Industry and Jobs in the U.S. American workers are the most productive and innovative labor force in the world. Unfortunately, they are asked to compete in an unfair environment against other workers who make only a fraction of a living wage and are employed by companies that face few, if any, responsibilities to the environment or to the long-term prospects of their employees. In addition, our domestic manufacturers are forced to compete against foreign companies that benefit from their country’s currency and/or regulatory regimes. International trade has the ability to lead to global prosperity, but it cannot come at the expense of the American worker and their families.
Reduce the Tax Burden Our small businesses and families face a significant tax burden that hinders their ability to plan, prepare and invest in their future. Reducing that burden will spur economic activity and enable families to have a secure future.
Strength of Character:
Honoring the Sanctity of Human Life
The life of the unborn child deserves the same rights and protections as any citizen of the United States. I have sponsored many pieces of pro-life legislation and have a clear and consistent record of fighting for the rights of our most vulnerable Americans.
Protecting Children from Predators Our children must be protected from those who would seek to do them harm. We need to implement stronger protections against: inappropriate on-line contacts with minors; pornographic materials that target children; and predators who avoid jail and strike again.
Defending the Institution of Marriage Marriage is the foundational building block of our society. It is under threat by activist judges throughout the country. It must be clearly defined as the unity of one man with one woman.
Preserving Our Religious Heritage Groups like the ACLU have waged a relentless battle to remove any mention of God from public life in America. This strikes at our very foundations. That is why I took action to save the Mt. Soledad Memorial in San Diego, CA, when it was threatened. That is why on the Armed Services Committee, we successfully defended our military chaplains and preserved their right to pray without fear of censorship by military commanders.
Religious symbols like the words “Under God” in our pledge, “In God We Trust” on our currency and countless examples on monuments across our nation’s capitol are historically significant and honor those who came before us. They must be protected for future generations. They are an important part of our history and targeting their removal dishonors us all.
Protecting Our Second Amendment Liberties
It seems every election year, some liberal politician dons an NRA cap and grabs a shotgun for a hunting photo-op, as if that means they support our right as Americans to keep and bear arms. I, myself, thoroughly enjoy hunting, having just recently spent a great weekend hunting elk in Arizona. But, the second amendment is not about hunting. It is about the right of you and me to be secure in our homes. We must vigorously defend against all attempts to chip away at the Second Amendment. You know as well as I do that there is one thing criminals prefer over any other: unarmed victims.
Standing Firm with our Allies and Freedom Loving People Everywhere
The whole world looks to United States of America as that “shining city on a hill” that Ronald Reagan called upon us to be. Enemies of freedom will find no more powerful foe than a strong America. Friends of liberty will find no greater ally.
_________
These are issues of pressing concern. Thank you for allowing me to share them with you. I thank you for what you do within our Republican party to uphold our conservative ideals. It is indeed a time for choosing – for choosing what kind of America we will pass on to our children and grandchildren.
My life’s work and the work of our party is to pass on to our posterity a secure America, strong and free.
Sincerely,
Duncan Hunter
There are a few potential precedents this time...First Mormon, first woman, first black, first mayor, first Hispanic.
We are deeply endebted to Newt for the Contract with America that put Republicans in power in the Congress for the first time in a long time.
And Newt is a terrific idea man. I do love listening to him.
Dear patriciaruth,
"So, if Rudy gets the nomination, it will be a big precedent."
But where are all the cries of, "No one who served only as mayor was ever elected president! It would be foolish to try to nominate someone like that!" ?
One good non sequitur deserves another.
sitetest
Better hairy legs than a hairy chest! Hahahahaha!
Check my tagline ping!
Rudy has a record of accomplishment...cleaning up NYC and getting 600,000 off its welfare roles.
He has also been tested under fire.
If Duncan Hunter could boast as much, I'd be more interested in him.
Now if we could inject some of Duncan into Rudy or vice versa then maybe we'd have a candidate we all could be more pleased with.
Is he the ranking Republican now of the House Ways & Means Committee? Why do you ask?
I love Rumsfeld! He has served his country with honor and integrity, and we owe him a debt of gratitude. I think that Rumsfeld has earned the right to retire and enjoy the rest of his life. Let someone else do the heavy lifting for awhile!
Dear patriciaruth,
"Rudy has a record of accomplishment...cleaning up NYC and getting 600,000 off its welfare roles.
"He has also been tested under fire.
"If Duncan Hunter could boast as much, I'd be more interested in him."
That's a much different argument than "sitting US Representatives can't get elected."
It's still one non sequitur up against another.
sitetest
I didn't write ""sitting US Representatives can't get elected."
So, I'm a bit baffled why you are biting my heels on this.
Really now.
You must find something a bit larger than a phone booth.
Perhaps something the size of Texas.
So sorry we don't have first single black female in the race, too.
Dear patriciaruth,
Because that was the point I was making in the post to which you originally replied. Look at my post to which you originally replied, and the post to which I was replying.
I wasn't looking to make any other point at this time.
Especially because it's getting so late for me, that I'm not sure that I could coherently move to address any other points right now. ;-)
Good night!
sitetest
I concede that Duncan Hunter is the most popular by far amongst the Freepers, but he won't mean squat if he can get money. If you guys want him, then I encourage to donate the maximum to his campaign. In fact, if you are truly serious about him, then I would expect the Freepers to organize a concentrated effort to solicit money for him like crazy.
Now, if this kind of activity does not materialize for Duncan Hunter, then I will keep him regulated to the second tier (a really good second stringer mind you)
I was implying that people outside of another state don't know too much about a politician from another.
His constituents like him and trust hin enough to keep reelect since '81.
Only when they step out into the limelight do we learn about a politician from another state.
We reelectd McCreary in Nov. Good decent man.
How many people outside of Arkansas knew who Bill Clinton was back in February of '90?
Not too many.
Feb. of '90 had the dems ready to concede the WH because Bush Sr. had such high approval numbers! Many prominent dem's choose not to run for fear of being labeled a loser!
With todays technology it is easier now than ever to get the message out and to spread the word.
Frankly, Hunter's conservative credentials notwithstanding, I still lean toward a more experienced individual - meaning someone with Gubernatorial leadership, and a high profile among the centrist/conservative folk in the GOP, someone who is a proven fundraiser, and an established party loyalist - maybe even with a military record.
I am specifically thinking of {former} two term Montana Governor Marc Racicot. As a former Army Cap't., and past Atty General before taking the Governor's post, he is a definite law and order type. Not to mention he is a staunchly Pro--life Catholic who would {I believe}rightly garner the support of every Pro-Life Catholic in the US.
Think of all the votes such a candidate could poach from the East-coast Catholic pro-life Dems who felt conflicted about voting for J eFfin' Kerry...
Having a candidate who meets a key array of conservative litmus tests is important and potentially valuable, but having someone recognizeable that has enough high office experience is even moreso. Hunter may look good, or even great right now to a GOP that is hungering for a credible and principled conservative, but he is not and should not be electable, absent that experience.
To the point, I will not vote for him in a statewide primary -- unless he is the ONLY GOP candidate on the slate who even resembles a conservative. It is not a reflection upon his character, only an understanding of the political realities of our time.
Every single conservative voter on this thread ought to ask themselves this reality check question:
WHO was the last man elected to the Presidency that was not first the Governor of a state, previous Vice President, or US Senator? {Bush, Clinton, Bush 41, Reagan, Carter, Nixon, Kennedy..}
Yep General Dwight D. Eisenhower - who had an inarguably higher profile in the U.S. after his WWII service as Supreme Allied Commander.
Not a good subject for comparison for purposes of pointing to a modern political precedent. I didn't know Dwight D. Eisenhower, but I feel comfortable in asserting, ala Lloyd Bentsen to Dan Quayle, that Duncan Hunter is "No Ike..."
McCain has been too shifty for me, Giuliani is not acceptable whatsoever, Romney is a good man, but seems calculated and time has yet to tell. Brownback alarms me, Tancredo is viewed as an extremist by even "centrist" Dems {is there such a thing in the DemoRat party?} and would be vilified by the MSM..
Huckabee of Arkansas is worth consideration, but whether he can generate enough interest [read: campaign donations] is an open question. That almost defaults to Racicot, my personal favorite - and not only because I have met and spoken with him on several occasions at statewide GOP events.
Racicot has been a tireless and enormously effective fundraiser for the National GOP, a party and GW Bush loyalist...
The one wildcard would be whether or not Dick Cheney, after surveying the primary landscape, throws his hat into the ring. He has the benefit of being a sitting Vice-President and having been the Wyoming Gov. Heck - many of the "Black helicopter" DhimmiRats think he has been the "real" President the past seven years anyway...
Why not make it "official"?! That would really bring on gnashing teeth, foaming mouths, and full-blown radical- lefty-rioting in the streets, anti-Halliburton dementia!!
LOL!
Problem is - a good ticket needs to cut across electoral/ regional lines, so two Rocky Mountain western state Governors on the ticket would not be ideal.
IMHO, the best option would be Cheney/Huckabee, Racicot/Huckabee, or perhaps Racicot/Hunter/ or Racicot/Pence...
Any of the above pairings would be plausible, viable in more ways than one, and befitting the true nature of the GOP
Good point. Is Duncan Hunter as intelligent and affably engaging a candidate as Bill Clinton was?
Bill Clinton could talk real purty. Can Duncan?
Meanwhile, it's pouring outside here now!! Yippee! Some of the orange trees may be able to bloom after all.
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