Posted on 12/29/2007 2:30:30 PM PST by AuntB
"If men of wisdom and knowledge ... and true republican simplicity of manners ... are chosen to fill the seats of government, we may expect that our affairs will rest on a solid and permanent foundation." --Samuel Adams
The consensus among the chattering class is that this presidential cycle features no clear heir to the Reagan mantle. Yet of the declared candidates, conservatives outnumber the media-dubbed triumvirate of Giuliani, McCain and Romney. Most notable among them is Duncan Hunter, the California representative who hails from The Gipper's lucky city of San Diego.
Hunter earned his congressional seat in 1980, in a 2-to-1 Democrat-dominated district. He did so with a winning combination of determination, shoe leather, integrity and a clear conservative philosophy as espoused by GOP presidential candidate [Ronald Reagan. |http://Reagan2020.US/] Certain sectors of the San Diego establishment have never forgiven Hunter for ousting nine-term Demo Rep. Lionel Van Deerlin, now a columnist for The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Hunter is a decorated Vietnam veteran who served with the 173rd Airborne Division and the 75th Army Rangers. After returning home, he attended law school and opened offices in San Diego's Hispanic Barrio Logan, often offering legal services at no charge. Last October, before the Republican congressional losses, Hunter announced his simultaneous retirement from Congress and his presidential candidacy. In other words, he is serious about this campaign.
The National Journal recently assessed political placement of declared presidential candidates based on a gamut of congressional votes. While this obviously applies only to legislators, Hunter achieved the most conservative score -- 82.5 of a possible 99 -- edging Sam Brownback. Both are well ahead of the rest of the pack. Indeed, Hunter has a lengthy list of conservative bona fides.
Most notably, in more than two decades on the House Armed Services Committee, where he is the former chairman and current ranking member, Hunter steadfastly advocated a victory strategy in both the Cold War and the global war with Jihadistan. He also did much to blunt the dismantling of the U.S. military by Bill Clinton. As chairman of Armed Services, Hunter oversaw the nation's $532-billion defense budget in the first years of America's war on Islamic terrorism.
On the immigration front, he sponsored the controversial Secure Fence Act for improved border control and was personally responsible for 59 miles of border fencing now in place along San Diego County's border with Mexico.
When it comes to constitutional issues, he does not subscribe to the adulterated "Living Constitution" oft-referenced by the Left. Instead, he is a constitutional constructionist and abides by the letter of the Constitution he has sworn to uphold.
Hunter's presidential bid is centered on three core national-security principles: Effective prosecution of the campaign against jihadi terrorism, strict border and immigration enforcement and a focus on our own economic security in the global economy.
What kind of campaign must the GOP wage to win? Top presidential contenders among the Democrats have over twice the money and nearly twice the donors of the Republicans' big three. Moreover, if Hillary wins the Demo primary, she will decline federal matching funds -- freeing herself of the restrictions attached to those funds.
A Republican ticket will need a lot of bang for the buck, cutting a significant swath into the Democrats' base -- without losses on the right. In his Demo-dominated district, Hunter has proven he can win Democrats' votes without waffling on conservative principles.
In the contests where he has actively campaigned, Hunter has performed best on that measure.
In the March South Carolina contest, he drew to a statistical tie, at 22 percent each, with John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. "We were outspent 10 to 1," he remarked, going against an "army of consultants." Running the effort was his son, a Marine captain and OIF veteran. Of this, candidate Hunter quipped, "You know, that's a pretty good match-up: one Marine versus 550 consultants. We did have the advantage."
Every characteristic touted as a distinguisher for another candidate is one Hunter also demonstrates. He combines the military service and acumen of McCain with the border-security stances of Tom Tancredo, he's been a consistent defender of human life and traditional families in law and he has a firm grasp of the principles of constitutional law. He has as much or more experience as a legislator than most of his primary contenders.
A true Patriot, Hunter proclaims, "America is a great nation because America is a good nation. God still loves this nation. We are still a people of character and strength and kindness. And so with faith in God, with confidence in the goodness of the American people, let's win this race for the United States presidency."
A veteran of the 1980 congressional "Class of Reagan," Duncan Hunter is a standout worthy of serious consideration by conservative voters, not only because of his aforementioned qualifications, but because one has to spend only a minute with him to know what achievement he counts above all others -- his 33 years of marriage to his wife, Lynne, and the two sons and four grandchildren that are the product of that marriage. Duncan is a family man above all.
"(The Patriot Post has endorsed the candidacy of Duncan Hunter. Read the Hunter endorsement)"
This original article was published April, 2007.
I wonder how many posts before I have to repost the words of Michael Reagan to defend Hunter against the tired old “protectionist” smear.
THIS is something I did not realize. Any innuendo or outright lie about Hunter always comes from this source. Now I see why. That explains a lot, eh?
Ping the list please. Thanks!
Did you hear what Mike Reagan said about Paul yesterday?
“I would for Hillary or Obama first....My father would not for vote him. I would not vote for him. I don’t want a nut job in the White House”
http://towncriernews.blogspot.com/
I like Hunter. But he doesn’t seem to be able to gain any traction. Somehow I think it’s simply over for him, and I wonder who he will end up supporting. Not being able to crack 5% in any individual state or national poll is devastating after all this time.
Hunter 2008
Thank you Aunt B.
Trust me, "the media".......and by that I guess you mean the MSM, has nothing to do with it.
Hunter is a great man, I like him a lot, but he hasn't gained any traction. Period. So he's not very likely to win.
Sorry about that, but it's true.
If he suddenly surges, I'll gladly support him, but that's not likely to happen.
Hunter also came in first in the Texas straw poll.
*Sigh*
Good luck though, I really wouldn't mind if he suddenly had a big groundwell, but it just doesn't appear to be happening.
Duncan Hunter would make a fine president.
I always find it interesting that people who say its Hunter’s own fault that he isn’t well known are aware of polls he did poorly in but don’t know about polls he’s done well in.
Courtesy BUMP
You are a fine gentleman! Remind me of that the next time I give you a bad time, will ya?
*If he suddenly surges, I’ll gladly support him*
Your argument is circular
He surges by people voting for him.
It is like saying, the car isn’t moving when you haven’t started it up yet.
Fred is still in this, and at this time he is gaining, and I support him for now.....until such time as he is beaten.
I will end up supporting anyone against the hag......
It's exasperating to read the many posts which read like yours. If all the people who said "I like Hunter but...." got off their tails, made a contribution, or otherwise supported him, maybe he would "get traction." Hunter and Thompson dominate polls here at FR. Are FR people a bunch of passive defeatists, or what? You would think we were the types who were activists and got things done, instead of letting the Leftmedia and the other big-money elements who despise conservatives stick us with Romney, Rudy, or some other unprincipled "moderate" again.
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