Yes, Duncan Hunter has served well and most admirably in congress for 25+ years. If memory serves me correctly he's been on the Armed Services Committee for most of that time, but forgive me for not seeing the correlation to John Wayne. Now the Duke did play Davey Crockett in The Alamo, and Crockett was a United States Congressman, but he was from Tennessee of all places. I'll leave the remainder of that argument and logical conclusion to you.
Your statement that Hunter has actually served and been an influential member of Congress doesn't sway me too much. I'm not quite sure that being one out of 435 congressmen wields much more power than that of a United States Senator. You also seem to slight Thompson for being in government since 1973 as counsel to many congressional and senate committees, governors etc., and even the fact that he was a sitting US Senator for nine years. To insinuate that a man that has been playing hardball politics inside the beltway since before you were even born, isn't as qualified as a congressman sounds a bit silly to me. The man was the special counsel to the Watergate Commission and hardball politics aren't played any faster than the first coup d'état in United States History.
You said that Hunter is nice looking and commands respect and the type women will look to as keeping our country safe. Well I'm a man and really have no opinion here other than to say that Fred does have a bloodhound look about him, but realize this... television is all about ratings and Thompson is on a long running very successful prime time show.
I have no idea how big Hunter is but I do know that John Wayne is 6'4" and Fred Thompson is 6'6". I'll trust that you know he's a big man and believe you. However, I fail to see your syllogism that's connects Hunter to Wayne because of height and not Thompson to Wayne.
You mentioned; Oh yes, how could I forget this 'slovenly' argument??!! I suggest you shouldn't forget it, at least not without peril. Steve Buscemi is a much better actor than George Clooney. Which of these two is likely to be a leading man in a movie this year? I don't make the rules. I just play by them.
I want to finish by explaining to you that I have no particular problem at all with Duncan Hunter, nor do I have a big problem with any of the candidates for the GOP nomination. I will support the candidate that my party puts forward next year period. Hell, I'd be proud to support Congressman Hunter. He's just simply going to have to contact a tailor and hire Senator Thompsons wife. She's a political media consultant at Verner Liipfert law firm in Washington, and works/worked for the Senate Republican Conference and Republican National Committee.
Your bias talks as well as mine but I am most encouraged to know that the vast majority that see Hunter come away impressed and liking the guy. He's a man's man and when people inevitably look at "did they or their child serve?" as that IS the question especially in these times when the Republican candidate has to sell the war, they clearly see that his image matches his Airborne Army Ranger service and his son's Marine service in Iraq. And, yes, I continue to compare Hunter's looks and REAL persona to that of John Wayne with the reality of his service record as you deride him as being 'sloppy'. The only comparison to Thompson is that they are both actors. Thompson doesn't even come close to Wayne there as he is limited in being recognized as a very obscure actor or near the stature.
"Only one of 435 Congressman" hit doesn't have any standing to truth as being CHAIRMAN of the Armed Services Committee is more than just your average, noninfluential Congressman. Hunter has made defense and border/illegal immigration issues his major causes and had impact. Thompson was briefly a Senator and really the only thing that would stand out about him is that he showed a lack of going after the Clintoon administration on their improprieties and he is an actor. He was not particularly memorable or as influential and stand out, other than being the actor. It's odd you'd want to point out he was on the Watergate Commission when he showed more vigor in going after a scandal about breaking in to DNC headquarters than for US weapons going off to China!
You just pointed out that the main attraction you people have to Fred Thompson is that he is on Law and Order. As a female, I'll continue to say he is ugly and even with Law and Order, in a country of about 300 million people now that is nothing and people are going to ask more if they have served their country than if they are on a tv show at this time.
Thompson has the height issue, I'll still take the Airborne Army Ranger anyday.
As for leading actors, Thompson is NOWHERE NEAR being a George Clooney in looks. And he is NOWHERE NEAR attracting the people because he is on Law and Order.
And obviously Thompson is acceptable over Rudy but I don't think he's going to be strong to the general population in bringing over voters because he's an actor. People really don't give a damn about that, especially now with this war. Hunter is the FAR BETTER candidate in the way he is able to communicate and get to the heart of the issue and his and his son's service will do more than their part to pick up more votes than Thompson with his acting.