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
I’d be extraordinarily pleased if Hunter could start getting some traction. It would help all conservatives as it would help get the conservative message out. Even though I still don’t think it will happen, I wish him well.
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Then why not support Hunter in public rather than try to say he doesn’t have a chance? You say you want him to gain traction but what you do is exactly opposite to that desire.
Some people are so over-dosed on their own venom that they don’t realize that they’ve lost all objectivity.
Prove it, with original sources please. Numbers USA has no ax to grind with a true champion of national sovereignty.
Without sovereignty and border integrity, representititve government is an illusion.
LOL
or the top tier candidates saw the writing on the wall 2 - 3 weeks ago....so to the media this is a non-event?
The only one that seems to carry even a modicum of significance is the Iowa poll—and that’s because the MSM ballyhoos it.
I think I see a pattern here... LOL......
An Acorn.....please excuse, me blind swine......jmho
Thompson's in the CFR.
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Evidently so. Some are so over the top one wonders where their real loyalties lie, since they aren't doing their candidate any good at all.
I’ve found Numbers USA to be credible. How can you distort a voting record? Fred is not strong on immigration and he supported McCain-Fiengold restrictions on free speech. It’s enough to make me a Hunter supporter.
I was pretty surprised to hear Barnes and Kondracke say that Fred is in trouble. Usually they have their panties in the tightest bunch over the so called “top tier”.
BTW, I didn't say that I thought Numbers USA had "an axe to grind." When collecting data, it's often hard to categorize it correctly.
Yes, he will.
The straw polls show where the party faithful are because that is who attends.
Taken out of context.
Yeah I know it. Actually the beltloop boys was filmed before the results came in.
You owe me a keyboard.....for that one.....LOL
Pretty small number of faithful, then, wouldn’t you say, given total attendance and the total number of Republicans in Texas?
How about the faithful who work, who live too far away, who can’t be involved at such an active level because of their circumstances? I couldn’t be at the straw poll, but, as it’s worked out, I’ve voted Republican and donated Repub since Richard Nixon was elected the first time. Am I not “party faithful”? What about the millions like me? Are they not “party faithful”?
Not gonna happen, and for two reasons:
1. Actual debates and appearances will reveal him as the poor public speaker that he is. There's just no executive energy there.
2.His health will ultimately stop him from pursuing any kind of sustained campaigning. He looks like a corpse already; what do you think 8-9 months on the road will do?
I was pretty surprised to hear Barnes and Kondracke say that Fred is in trouble. Usually they have their panties in the tightest bunch over the so called “top tier”.
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If Thompson stumbles our next President will be Guilianni, Hillary or Romney. People really need to wrap thier minds around that. Then they need to realize that $100 or $1000 to Hunter will mean more to creating an alternative to that possibility than anything else they can do. It’s 133 days until the Iowa Caucuses. 133 days! Plenty of time, plenty, to build a grass roots movement that swamps the country club party . . .
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