Duncan Hunter's conservative hope (2008)

The North County Times ^ | February 17, 2007 | George Will

[Clintonfatigued]

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?

[Clintonfatigued]

"For some candidates," Hunter says, "the conservative constituency is an inconvenience. For me, it is my hope."

Words worth repeating. Who knows? Maybe he can catch on.

[ConservatismNow]

Best of luck to him!

[Clintonfatigued]

Duncan Hunter is admirable personally. Whether that makes him viable remains to be seen, but he is worth a look. Particularly for undecided conservatives.

[smartymarty]

I am interested in finding out more about this guy.
Can someone send me some info on him?
Thanks

[kinoxi]

He's my pick so far.

[MadelineZapeezda]

IMO, title should read "Duncan Hunter...Conservatives' hope!

[motzman]

"I kind of know what I stand for" so "I don't need consultants..."

So Duncan "Lou Dobbs" Hunter has never ran for national office, and he thinks he doesn't need consultants.

Wow.

[Clintonfatigued]

"IMO, title should read "Duncan Hunter...Conservatives' hope!"

That's George Will's fault. He wrote it.

[Antoninus]

Ask and you shall receive...



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[LIConFem]

"Duncan says his Baptist minister, respecting the separation of church and state, told parishioners they should vote for the Reagan of their choice."

LOL!! I love it!

[Registered]

Nice screenname. I might change mine to Hunterfatigued.

The guy doesn't have a chance.

[RegulatorCountry]

"... never ran for national office"

And your current favorite has?

[mickeylee]

That has to be one of the most poorly written articles I have ever read! But I LOVE Hunter! I believe that he is the most sincere candidate running. In 1994 my boyfriend and I were at Costco and we decided to have a piece of pizza. We sat down at the only two available seats at a table where a man was sitting by himself. We talked for a while and he eventually said "I'm your congressman, Duncan Hunter". My friend was in law enforcement and we went on to have a long and very informative conversation. We were VERY impressed with him. I hope and pray he gets the attention that he deserves!

[motzman]

And your current favorite has?

He's already "America's Mayor"---is Duncan "America's Congressman"?

Rudy has a national army of consultants, pollsters, activists, etc--you the stuff you need to have to actually run a decent campaign. Mayor of NYC is unlike any other job out there; in many ways it is a national office.

[Registered]

[kinoxi]

The guy doesn't have a chance.

That's an interesting statement. Why do you think that?

[Registered]

That's an interesting statement. Why do you think that?

What an enormous question to ask. I acknowledge he has fine conservative credentials. That won't win him the highest office in the land, no matter how many threads or people come here on FR to support him.

So, for starters:

1) He's served an eternity in Congress. He has no governing experience whatsoever. When was the last Congresscritter elected as President of the United States? How often does the Hale Bop swing by our planet?

2) Reality is image is important these days, and voters won't take seriously anyone that looks like they are wearing clothes picked out of a used car salesman's dirty clothes hamper.

3) He lacks charisma, totally. He reminds people of the angry neighbor that would yell at kids and kick them out of his yard.

Find a conservative candidate that has "IT". This one doesn't have "IT".

[zarf]

That's an interesting statement. Why do you think that?

He has the personality of a spatula?