Posted on 02/14/2007 9:42:51 PM PST by Antoninus
WASHINGTON -- When Bob Hunter, a Riverside, Calif., businessman, would hear of a conservative's campaign that needed volunteers, he would pile his family into the station wagon and drive off to ring doorbells. Hunter's son Duncan grew up believing in retail politics.
When Hunter returned home after serving as an alternate Goldwater delegate at the 1964 Republican convention in San Francisco, he told Duncan about chatting with another alternate, an amiable fellow, some actor, named Reagan. Who two years later was elected governor. Duncan learned early on about rapid upward mobility in politics.
In 1969, he dropped out of college, joined the army and was sent to Vietnam. From there he mailed his pay to a friend who purchased for him an island in Idaho's Snake River, where Duncan farmed after his discharge. Then another friend said a San Diego law school would admit him without a college degree. In 1980 he was a lawyer with a storefront office in San Diego's Hispanic community when his father walked in and told him he could be a congressman. Never mind, his father said, that this district was only 29 percent Republican. Reagan was at the top of the ticket.
Duncan says his Baptist minister, respecting the separation of church and state, told parishioners they should vote for the Reagan of their choice. They distributed 400,000 Duncan brochures. Today Duncan is in his 14th term representing eastern San Diego County. Three weeks ago he formally launched his presidential candidacy.
Why does he think he can become the first House member elected president since James Garfield in 1880? Why does he think he can do better than the two strongest House candidates in recent elections?...
"For some candidates,'' Hunter says, "the conservative constituency is an inconvenience. For me, it is my hope.''
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
People are starting to take notice.
Long ways to the Election
Thanks for the new tagline, Rep. Hunter!
This will be one campaign I'll be proud to work for!
"An avalanche starts with a single snowflake...'
...and doesn't last very long.
Hillary did the nation a disservice by declaring so early, and maybe herself. I'm not the only one burned out on politics.
When you are interested in something you do it only when it is convenient.
When you are committed, you accept only results, not excuses.
Ken Blanchard
Paying attention to Duncan Hunter.
If it wasnt for Duncan Hunter, Id already be burned out too.
I think he's more like a spark and once he really gets out there hes going to take off like a wild fire:-)
Go Hunter!!!
It sure is nice being able to support someone for president who doesn't have to become a conservative but has been one his whole life!
Don't know much about his wife, but I like her sense of humor.
What happens because of the compressed primaries if a candidate is nominated and the base angrily rise up in protest? Like what happened with Harriet Meiers?
Last time I bumped you to the top, I got reamed........
so I merely concur with you : )
Another thing! Did George Will have this column ghostwriten by someone else? I understood all the words!
My one boss is basically a socialist/democrat. He listens to Air America just about all day long. He's not psyched for Obama or Hillary.
I asked him, "Do you know who Duncan Hunter is?" He said, "yeah, the chair of the Armed Services guy. Seems very common sense. Knowledgable on defense issues."
He knew more about Hunter than me, and despite Hunter's conservative credentials, he seemed to like him because he has common sense, and talks straight. I almost fell out of my chair.
And please note, that I had nothing to do with getting this thread started.
It has been tough not doing any bashing. I've used the time to get to know my family better-- my but my boys have grown! Luckily, March 1 will be here soon enough. My only worry is that (according to the article) with DH's candidacy having only so far raised a mere $300,000 in "pledges", that by March 1st there may not be any campaign left for me on to bash! ;-)
I would think that a socialist/democrat and commonsense would be mutually exclusive!
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