Posted on 09/01/2007 11:18:33 PM PDT by anymouse
The Texas Straw Poll is one for the history books. The failure of the legislature to move up the Texas primary date, the scheduling of the event on Labor Day weekend and the first day of dove-hunting season, the limiting of participants to past convention delegates rather than Republican primary voters, and the lack of participation by the leading candidates all contributed to an extremely low turnout.
The event ended up being a showcase for Texas Congressman Ron Paul and California Congressman Duncan Hunter. Expectations were high for Ron Paul, and no doubt his supporters are disappointed by his third place showing. But Duncan Hunter, despite his lack of standing in the polls, gave an inspiring speech. And the fact that he took on the border problem in San Diego, got a wall built on the border to stem the tide of illegal immigrants, and was instrumental in the Secure Fence Border Act (which has yet to be implemented) made him a favorite with the grassroots of Texas. Here in Texas, the immigration issue rules. Memo to the other candidates: If you want to fire up the base, commit to securing our borders and our ports. Ordinary Americans are concerned about our national security. Congressman Hunter is right on this issue, and if he had the funding and the organization, he would go far. He also focused on the war on terror and the trade imbalance with China. The fact that China continues to capitalize on the trade imbalance and invests so heavily in military buildup is another national security issue, and one that needs to be addressed.
It is always good theater to attend a political event such as this, and the speeches of all five of the candidates were interesting. The fact that Senator Fred Thompson came in second and, since he is not yet an official candidate, did absolutely nothing to try to win this straw poll, demonstrates his undeniable appeal to the party faithful. And I would recommend that, as he officially launches his candidacy, he follow the example of Congressman Duncan Hunter and be a strong proponent of the Secure Fence Act. Those who say it will only be climbed over or tunneled under are missing the point. We have to close our borders, and a wall is the starting point. No system is perfect, but we must do something. It has helped curb terrorism in Israel, and it will help slow the illegal traffic of both humans, drugs, and terrorists into the United States. Just ask Duncan Hunter. It has worked in San Diego. And if you build it, Republicans will turn out to vote..
Denise McNamara Republican National Committee Texas
What’s a “Bushbot”?
Answer: Sombody who thinks that George W Bush has a better chance of being elected President in 2008 than Duncan Hunter.
Now that all those pathetic candidates of both parties have displayed their colossal ignorance and incompetence......only Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo stand apart as viable possibilities.
Read it and weep.
Ah, you fell for the old Numbers USA distortion. Get with the program. That’s been debunked for at least 2 months.
The event ended up being a showcase for Texas Congressman Ron Paul and California Congressman Duncan Hunter. Expectations were high for Ron Paul, and no doubt his supporters are disappointed by his third place showing.
But the bottom line of this event is that it represents the Republican Primary voter and that election outcome about like an apple represents an orange. The two are vastly different.
be prepared...once the Fredheads got a good look at his voting record on NumbersUSA, it is no longer considered a “legitimate” site. Don’t you know, the entire world is out to “trash” poor ole Fred ;)
But also know this...many of the Fredheads are perfectly FINE with his awful immigration record because they’re also pro-illegal/pro-amnesty/pro-NAFTA. It’s not p.c. so they’re just hoping nobody will notice.
DH PING
I think that’s what it comes down to...there’s a percentage of Republicans who love America’s currency more than they love America’s people, and to such people, maintaining unrestrained trade with China to artificially prop up short term profit margins is essential. They find Duncan Hunter problematic and want a guy like Fred who will let the poisonings continue.
I have yet to see how much Hunter has raised. I thought this information was supposed to be released in mid-June?
Unless Fred Thompson stumbles . . . then the next president of the United States will be Hillary Clinton, Rudy Guilianni, Mitt Romney or the longest shot Barrack Obama. This means that you put all your eggs in one basket if you don’t build up Duncan Hunter.
The Texas Straw Poll:
Hunter 534
Thompson 266
Paul 217
Huckabee 83
Guilliani 78
Romney 61
McKinney 28
Cox 10
McCain 8
Brownback 6
Tancredo 6
I still won’t get excited by a guy who ISN”T in the race yet. When he declares then I will look at his record and pay attention to him, but until then my fav is Duncan Hunter. With more than 6 months till the primary I can see a”Howard Dean scream” happening and things can change drastically.
But I LOVE the McCain rating. After CFR I don’t trust him with my liberty.
One thing you can say for Ron Paul he will go with the Constitution EVERY time.
But anyone who is thinking that there is a snowball’s chance in hedoubleell that he can get the nomination is simply indulging a delusion.
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Your guy (whoever he is) didn’t win Texas (Hunter did). Your guy didn’t win Arizona (Hunter did). At a certain point you have to take notice that the active Republicans like Hunter the best. He doesn’t match up to what the corporate donors are looking for so he hasn’t gathered tons of money . . . but . . . to write him off as going nowhere the day after he wins a straw poll in a huge state is overstating things.
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Huh? Kimberly, that's completely untrue. I hope you can realize the real harm you're doing to your candidate with this kind of remark, as it reflects badly on him as well as you.
They love Her.
The Texas straw poll became even more of a non-event than straw polls usually are when the 1st-tier candidates dropped out 2-3 weeks ago. Straw polls are nothing more than fund-raising events for the local/state political party organizations. The only one that seems to carry even a modicum of significance is the Iowa poll—and that’s because the MSM ballyhoos it.
What do you mean by "viable"?
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