The only rational choice for President
would be Congressman Kucinich.
Posted on 01/23/2008 6:20:43 PM PST by jdm
This presidential cycle has seen a series of odd endorsements, such as Pat Robertson's support for Rudy Giuliani or Sam Brownback's endorsement of John McCain. Today brought another, this one from conservative stalwart Duncan Hunter, who recently withdrew from the race. Hunter endorsed Mike Huckabee, who has taken considerable criticism from conservatives on immigration and fiscal policy:
California Rep. Duncan Hunter, a former presidential candidate, announced Wednesday he is endorsing Mike Huckabee's White House bid.“I got to know Governor Huckabee well on the campaign trail,” Huckabee said in a statement. “Of the remaining candidates I feel that he is strongly committed to strengthening national defense, constructing the border fence and meeting the challenge of China’s emergence as a military superpower that is taking large portions of America’s industrial base.
"Along with these issues of national security, border enforcement and protecting the U.S. industrial base, I see another quality of Mike Huckabee’s candidacy that compels my endorsement," he added. "Mike Huckabee is a man of outstanding character and integrity. I saw that character over the last year of campaigning and was greatly impressed. The other Republican candidates have many strengths and I wish them all well."
I don't find this anywhere near as shocking as other Republicans, although I admit to being surprised when I first heard it. Hunter's biggest issues in the race were immigration and trade, and he took a more protectionist tack on the latter. In that sense, Hunter's instincts are closer to Huckabee than any of the other candidates, who tend towards the free-market policies that typify Republicans.
On immigration, Huckabee would seem to be the second-oddest partner for Hunter apart from John McCain. Huckabee has tried to put out a tough line on immigration with only moderate success in convincing the base. Obviously, Huckabee hopes this has to help, and it might, at least on immigration and border security issues. However, Huckabee's populism won't get a better reception just because Hunter endorsed him.
This isn't the strangest endorsement of this cycle, but it is a little odd, and I wonder why Hunter didn't take his gracious words to their logical conclusion and just skip choosing a single candidate altogether.
He forgot to mention Tom Tancredo’s endorsement of Mitt Romney.
It was stupid and a nice finish to the end of Hunter’s career which ended in a bonehead campaign.
An interesting discussion topic would be, who ran the dumbest campaign, Hunter or Thompson?
Right now, I’d say Hunter, because he finished it off with endorsing someone who won’t win the nomination who is an anethema to his own supporters.
It’s almost like he means this as his suicide note, and it sure is politically.
Hard to say but I suspect that Hunter will clarify his reasons in coming days. He’s had time to sit down and talk to the Huckster. I’ll trust Hunter’s instincts enough to find out why but it still doesn’t mean I’ll vote for Huck, only that I’ll hear him out.
Tancredo’s endorsement was very reasoned.
Hopefully Fred - and Rush - will endorse nobody, at least in the primary.
That would be smart in my estimate. - and perhaps just the right thing to do.
So Duncan endorses Jimmy Carter II only a lot sleazier......interesting.........bwhahahahahahahahahahahaha!
If Rush endorses no one after the convention, the Rat will win.
It doesn’t matter who we support here; that’s the truth.
Perhaps he doesn’t take rejection well. Although if he really wanted to dump on his supporters, he could have endorsed Hillary or McPain.
Sarcastic enough?
His reason was posted last night. He said willard owner and/or did business with a Chinese company that was dangerous to the united states military.
Not surprising. Hunter trolled for the “Fair Tax”, just like the Huckster. Hunter also supports protectionism and government interference in trade, just like Huck. Not surprising that he endorsed Huck, actually.
That was before the China problem. If Hunter was so intelligent he should have known that.
I thought the one most odd, although not from a former candidate, was Tom Coburn’s enthusiastic endorsement of McCain.
Read real slow, if you have a problem with what hunter said take it up with hunter. I told the guy what he said that was all. Now take your willard and stick it.
The only rational choice for President
would be Congressman Kucinich.
Can’t disagree with that.
Aside from Bush himself, there has not been even one politician that I have backed on FR who ever made it, let alone got the backing of the party bigwigs, from Harris to Santorum to Fred.
The GOP is going in it’s own direction now, and leaving me behind, much like the democrat party did to me 30 years ago.
Only Rush knows what he will do, but I suspect that he will endorse somebody sometime after the primary, even if only to keep himself relevant during the election cycle.
Well said, DG.
My respect for him, since he endorsed Huckster, has just went out the window.
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