FreeRepublic Opinion Poll #177 - (Duncan Hunter vs Fred Thompson) - Question for FR Staff

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[davidosborne]

Free Republic Opinion Poll: Who do you support in the GOP presidential primaries?

Composite Opinion
Fred Thompson	43.8%		3,311
Duncan Hunter	12.1%		912
Rudy Giuliani	10.6%		802
Newt Gingrich	10.1%		767
Ron Paul	6.8%		512
Tom Tancredo	5.5%		414
Mit Romney	4.6%		351
Undecided/pass	4.2%		315
Other	1.3%		99
John McCain	1.0%		76
	100.0%		7,559
Member Opinion
Fred Thompson	45.6%		1,474
Duncan Hunter	15.0%		484
Rudy Giuliani	10.0%		322
Newt Gingrich	9.5%		307
Undecided/pass	5.4%		173
Mit Romney	4.8%		154
Tom Tancredo	4.1%		132
Ron Paul	3.9%		126
Other	1.2%		39
John McCain	0.6%		20
	100.1%		3,231
Non-Member Opinion
Fred Thompson	42.4%		1,837
Rudy Giuliani	11.1%		480
Newt Gingrich	10.6%		460
Duncan Hunter	9.9%		428
Ron Paul	8.9%		386
Tom Tancredo	6.5%		282
Mit Romney	4.6%		197
Undecided/pass	3.3%		142
Other	1.4%		60
John McCain	1.3%		56
	100.0%		4,328

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[davidosborne]

Is it possible to add an additional "filter" for FR members who have been "active" for 4 or more years.. I believe the results would be more accurate.. my hunch is that a LOT of the votes are being cast by new members.. I also find it interesting to note how much "better" Giuliani / Newt are doing among NON-MEMBERS...

[davidosborne]

Any poll analyst out there that can help me out on this one?

[raybbr]

Give it up. We have almost a year to go. This is crazy.

[davidosborne]

Give what up? I don’t think I am the only one curious about how cadidates are “polling” this early in the game... Is that not a fair question?

[DB]

Look at McCain’s numbers.

That’s a good thing.

[Dacb]

Why not just request a Hunter Vs. Thompson only poll?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I wonder, how many posters didn’t vote in the poll?

[davidosborne]

I doubt that I am the only “number cruncher” out there.. especially when the only arguments I hear against Duncan Hunter is that he can’t win because no one knows who he is.. to which I say it is too early to make THAT argument.. but it is NOT too early to discuss which way folks are leaning this early in the game... IMHO..

[davidosborne]

Thats sounds like a GREAT idea.. anyone have “access” to FR staff to make that happen...

[Man50D]

I don’t think I am the only one curious about how cadidates are “polling” this early in the game... Is that not a fair question?

Polls at this this point in time are useless. It is far too soon for any poll to have any accuracy.

[Sun]

“..the only arguments I hear against Duncan Hunter is that he can’t win because no one knows who he is..”

We can get his name out to thousands or millions, if we call a talk show (depending on the show).

I’m getting my thoughts together, and am going to call a show.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Hunter is unknown. Once people listen to him, I think his numbers will go way up. He has plenty of time. Don’t waste your support on a “can win vote” before voters have even had a chance to take a look at the candidates. No one can win without their core party support. What you see now are the votes of strategists. They are not always right.

[leadpenny]

my hunch is that a LOT of the votes are being cast by new members..

Oh the horror!

I think the filter should be for those who have been here over eight years.

David, you have way too much time on hour hands.

[larryjohnson]

I often vote logged off

[hadaclueonce]

Gee, the only Duncan I have ever heard about here in Texas is the one that made yo-yo’s.

[larryjohnson]

I often vote logged off.Or on.

[davidosborne]

Hunter is unknown. Once people listen to him, I think his numbers will go way up. He has plenty of time. Don’t waste your support on a “can win vote” before voters have even had a chance to take a look at the candidates.

A point that I have made several times myself... Unfortunantly the only folks I can reach out and touch in Baghdad are other soldiers, most of whom tell me that they WILL vote for Duncan Hunter, but only after I asked them to take a look at him.. some of the "older folks" still tell me "He can't win because no one knows who he is" to which I reply well the primary is a year away and YOU know who is, and YOUR in Baghdad just like me.. Don't you think the folks at "home" are more informed than you are? LOL

FReegards,

David

[jammer]

David, you make, or at least imply, an excellent point about the "early adopters" of FR. I'd like to see that also (although my dividing line would be pre/post-9/11). Even if a lot of the pre-9/11 people are gone, I think there is a huge difference in the average attitude and tolerance for "RINOism" among the oldsters.

I also think the results might be even more conservative and against Guiliani or whomever than you do. But there's only one way to find out! Excellent idea.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[hadaclueonce]

Gee, the only Duncan I have ever heard about here in Texas is the one that made yo-yo’s.”

No one outside FR has ever heard the name Duncan Hunter. If he is running, first thing he needs to do is get a new press agent.

[#1CTYankee]

"I think the filter should be for those who have been here over eight years."

That's ridiculous, nine at least. ;-D

[Man50D]

That's ridiculous, nine at least. ;-D

Why not filter out everyone except Jim Robinson? ;o)

[leadpenny]

I’d love to know what you do but I don’t have access to any secrets or secret emails.

I just thought the four year suggestion was - shall we say - funny.

Really, polls are fun, but it’s way to early to take any of it seriously.

[leadpenny]

:)

You’d be filtered until June.

[PJ-Comix]

Is it possible to add an additional "filter" for FR members who have been "active" for 4 or more years..

I can provide a filter for FR members who have been active for 4 or more years and also use cream in their coffee, sleep on the right side of their beds, and pick their feet in Poughkeepsie. If you want, I can also add the "stare at their navel" option to the filter as well.

[#1CTYankee]

"Why not filter out everyone except Jim Robinson? ;o)"

Brilliant idea! BTW do we know who Jimrob likes best? Maybe we can have him cast all our votes as a block, that way I can sleep in election day. ;-D

[nctexan]

"Hunter is unknown. Once people listen to him, I think his numbers will go way up.

With 26+ years in congress, why is Hunter this unknown?

I've been "paying attention" for quite a while. The only thing that I knew about him five months ago was that he was a congressmen from somewhere that had a Marine son in Iraq.

[#1CTYankee]

"You’d be filtered until June."

Curses! foiled again.

[davidosborne]

Sorry I was a little too quick with the trigger on that one.. I have asked the mod to delete that comment.. I thought you were suggesting that I did not have a “real job” and was wasting my time on FR.. I took offense to that and “reacted”.. my apologies...

[leadpenny]

No offense taken . . . really.

[Sun]

Getting to know him.........

Duncan Hunter has been more effective on controlling our borders than even Tancredo. Hunter had a fence built on the Mexican border at a strategic place, and crime went down tremendously in San Diego.

---

by John Hawkins

I can tell you from talking to Hunter that he is VERY PASSIONATE about building a fence on the border and about any and all things related to the military.

snip
John Hawkins: Would you like to see Roe v. Wade overturned?
Duncan Hunter: Yes. You know, I’m the author of the personhood-at-conception bill which right now has over 100 co-sponsors ...that would define personhood as moment of conception, so, it would allow us to have a reversal of the effects of Roe v. Wade without a constitutional amendment.
AND MORE at............................
http://www.rightnation.us/forums/index.php?showtopic=114155
*******
DUNCAN HUNTER QUOTE: “Not only do we have a bad trade deal with China but they’re cheating on the one we do have. China is cheating on trade and they’re using our trade dollars to buy ships, planes and missiles. They’re becoming a super power and stepping into the shoes of the Soviet Union.”
*******
Click below for Duncan Hunter’s voting record:
http://www.issues2002.org/CA/Duncan_Hunter.htm
excerpts are:
Duncan Hunter on Abortion
Voted NO on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. (May 2005)
Voted YES on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions. (Apr 2005)
Voted YES on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime. (Feb 2004)
Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life. (Oct 2003)
Voted YES on forbidding human cloning for reproduction & medical research. (Feb 2003)
Voted YES on funding for health providers who don’t provide abortion info. (Sep 2002)
Voted YES on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad. (May 2001)
Voted YES on federal crime to harm fetus while committing other crimes. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortions. (Apr 2000)
Voted YES on barring transporting minors to get an abortion. (Jun 1999)
Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
Duncan Hunter on Gun Control
Voted YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers. (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse. (Apr 2003)
Voted YES on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1. (Jun 1999)
Rated A+ by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record. (Dec 2003)
Duncan Hunter on Foreign Policy
Voted YES on deterring foreign arms transfers to China. (Jul 2005)
Voted YES on reforming the UN by restricting US funding. (Jun 2005)
Voted NO on keeping Cuba travel ban until political prisoners released. (Jul 2001)
Voted NO on $156M to IMF for 3rd-world debt reduction. (Jul 2000)
Voted NO on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China. (May 2000)
Voted NO on $15.2 billion for foreign operations. (Nov 1999)
*******

[traderrob6]

Fiscally fisking the 2008 contenders
As a strong fiscal conservative, I’ve long awaited a comprehensive analysis that sizes up the ‘08 field on both taxes AND spending. Thanks to the National Taxpayers Union, we now have some idea of where the candidates on both sides of the aisle stand on economic growth and size-and-scope of government issues. NTU has released a nifty scorecard that ranks all of the presidential contenders with legislative records on these issues, meaning that, unfortunately, we don’t get to see where candidates with only executive experience fit into the overall snapshot. Still, the results are enlightening, and in some cases, a bit surprising.

Each year, NTU assigns a grade to each Member of Congress w/r/t his or her votes on legislation related to taxes, debt, regulation, and spending. The NTU looks both at the percentage of the time the legislator voted for the taxpayer, and at the importance of each of those votes, weighing each vote accordingly. This prevents, for example, a congresscritter voting in favor of several small tax credits but against a huge tax cut from earning a higher score than a legislator who did the opposite, thus presenting a more accurate picture of where the candidates stand on fiscal issues than would a raw vote count. According to NTU, here are the ‘08 candidates’ most recent grades:

NTU Congressional Rating (most recent legislative year)

John McCain: A (88%)
Ron Paul: A (84%)
Sam Brownback: A (84%)
Newt Gingrich: A (79%)
Tom Tancredo: A (76%)
Fred Thompson: A (73%)
Chuck Hagel: B+ (82%)
Duncan Hunter: B (62%)
Bill Richardson: F (33%)
John Edwards: F (22%)
Dennis Kucinich: F (22%)
Hillary Clinton: F (17%)
Barack Obama: F (16%)
Joe Biden: F (11%)
Chris Dodd: F (10%)

Two things. First, this explains why Duncan Hunter isn’t gaining any traction; his record on fiscal issues is that of something other than a conservative. Secondly, Bill Richardson appears to be the most fiscally conservative Democrat in the field, though that’s not saying much. In order to avoid making inferences based on what may be an anomalous year on the part of some candidates, let’s now take a look at the percentage of legislative years during which each candidate received an “A” grade from the NTU:

Percent of “A” Grades

Ron Paul: 100%
Tom Tancredo: 100%
Fred Thompson: 88%
John McCain: 67%
Newt Gingrich: 57%
Sam Brownback: 50%
Chuck Hagel: 30%
Duncan Hunter: 6%
All Democrats: 0%

McCain is likely hurt by his opposition to the Bush tax cuts earlier in the decade. Thompson, interestingly, received an A from the NTU almost every year he was in the Senate, bested only by Ron Paul and Tom Tancredo. And, finally, NTU has determined just how much of your money each of these candidates would like to spend. By parsing the legislative agenda of each of the ‘08 candidates, and by subtracting the amount each candidate’s agenda would cut government from the amount each agenda would increase the cost of government, NTU has revealed just which of our ‘08 candidates truly are committed to small government. The results are a bit surprising:

Net cost of legislative agenda for most recent legislative year

Bill Richardson: -$1.6 billion
Fred Thompson: $3.1 billion
Newt Gingrich: $4.5 billion
Barack Obama: $11.7 billion
Tom Tancredo: $13.7 billion
Duncan Hunter: $15.8 billion
Sam Brownback: $19 billion
Ron Paul: $34 billion
John McCain: $36.9 billion
Chuck Hagel: $86.7 billion
Joe Biden: $90 billion
John Edwards: $103.5 billion
Chris Dodd: $224 billion
Hillary Clinton: $378.2 billion
Dennis Kucinich: $1.87 trillion

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson’s legislative agenda would actually have led to net cuts in government. If Bill Richardson were the prototypical Democrat, I would likely have to rethink my party affiliation. And if anyone is the heir to Bill Clinton in the Democratic field, it’s Barack Obama, with his tax-and-don’t-spend policies, which are very similar to the former president’s agenda, and which is far more Clintonian than Ms. Rodham’s tax-and-spend liberalism. In fact, Hillary’s attempts to grow government dwarf those of every Republican and most Democrats in the field, proving Dick Morris right when he postulated that Hillary would be our first European-style socialist president.

On the Republican side, Fred Thompson’s record on spending puts the rest of the field to shame, and is even more conservative than that of Newt Gingrich. Perhaps Thompson’s supposed lack of accomplishments in the Senate are the result of a legislator who erred on the side of ensuring that government didn’t grow, didn’t spend more, didn’t meddle more in people’s lives, and generally left Americans alone. In an age of two big-governnment parties, it isn’t surprising that such a candidate is garnering interest.

[SE Mom]

On the Republican side, Fred Thompson’s record on spending puts the rest of the field to shame, and is even more conservative than that of Newt Gingrich. Perhaps Thompson’s supposed lack of accomplishments in the Senate are the result of a legislator who erred on the side of ensuring that government didn’t grow, didn’t spend more, didn’t meddle more in people’s lives, and generally left Americans alone. In an age of two big-governnment parties, it isn’t surprising that such a candidate is garnering interest.

---

BINGO!!!!

[SW6906]

I didn't vote because I didn't see it until now - and I have been on FR daily since 1998. FR is my home page on Firefox........

Thompson, BTW.

[Sun]

Thanks for the stats, but please know that Duncan Hunter spends on our defense and equipment for our troops, and that’s the way it should be.

“John Hawkins: Missile defense shield.

Duncan Hunter: Yes, and I’ve been a strong supporter of that. I’ve put in the initial money for missile defense when it first started, I supported it strongly then, and I supported missile defense for Israel, very strongly. Incidentally, under my watch, we’ve actually deployed missile defense. We have our first missiles that are now deployed in Alaska and the west coast which had limited capability to intercept incoming ballistic missiles.”

http://www.rightnation.us/forums/index.php?showtopic=114155

STATEMENT OF REP. HUNTER IN VOTING AGAINST
THE TRANSPORTATION BILL

The House and Senate approved a $218 billion transportation funding bill which included billions of dollars in questionable, non-transportation funding. A list of some of those projects follows Rep. Duncan Hunter’s (R-CA) statement.

“At a time when the Army faces a shortage of $1.7 billion in basic ammunition and our Marines are short $193 million, the highway bill contains $9 billion in funding for such things as a botanical garden, museum exhibits and a film on ‘infrastructure awareness.’

“While I support funding to build and repair our highways and this bill has many good projects, I could not in good conscience vote for legislation which overspends the balanced budget and will possibly take money away from our national defense.”

http://www.house.gov/hunter/news_prior_2006/hiway.htm

An example of fiscal restraint.

---

But MOST IMPORTANTLY, I’d like to say that there is more to being a conservative than being a fiscal conservative. As Mark Levin put it, conservatism is a way of life.

I’ve done much research, and Duncan Hunter is the most conservative GOP presidential hopeful, and the most effective. He gets things done.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I didn’t vote either.

I don’t understand why FR has a poll.

Some seem to think results make FR monolithic and a reason why people shouldn't post stories about other candidates.

I thought FR was a meeting place for conservatives and others to discuss politics and other societal issues.

I find discussion and disagreement between FReepers a good thing but lately many want no disagreement just consensus. How childish, boring and wasteful.

I have no problem with having a poll but when others use it to restrict comment and participation, then it stinks.

[ZULU]

I like both Hunter and Thompson.

I would support either one.

[Josh Painter]

davidosborne wrote: “...the only arguments I hear against Duncan Hunter is that he can’t win because no one knows who he is.”

*

Duncan Hunter has also taken some heat from the National Taxpayers Union, which ranked him dead last among the GOP presidential hopefuls for fiscal restraint (Fred Thompson was ranked first).

http://race42008.com/2007/03/24/fiscally-fisking-the-2008-contenders/

*

If Hunter were to be nominated, the Demoncrats will try to paint him as unethical, claiming that he accepted nearly a quarter million dollars in campaign contributions from missile defense contractors over the past five years, including $46,000 from un-indicted co-conspirators implicated in bribing Hunter’s friend and San Diego colleague, Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who resigned from Congress after pleading guilty. Cunnningham is now serving time in prison for influence peddling.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Congressman_tied_to_contractors_bribery_coconspirators_1214.html

*

Are these charges fair? No. Aren’t the Dims using guilt by association to smear Hunter? Absolutely. They’re Demoncrats, afer all. This is what they do, and they have the drive-by media in their pockets to help them do it. Just ask former Virginia Senator George F. Allen how effective the Dims are at it.

[SW6906]

Ditto.

[Beagle8U]

“If Hunter were to be nominated, the Demoncrats will try to paint him as unethical, claiming that he accepted nearly a quarter million dollars in campaign contributions from missile defense contractors over the past five years, including $46,000 from un-indicted co-conspirators implicated in bribing Hunter’s friend and San Diego colleague, Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who resigned from Congress after pleading guilty. Cunnningham is now serving time in prison for influence peddling.”

I’m not so sure the Rats would try to smear Hunter with that. If you check into it you’ll find that the defense contractor in question donated far more to top Demonrats and in fact every single member of the armed services committee received campaign funds from him.

The investigation into any possible wrong doing found none on any of them.

The Rats would be foolish to try to play that game.

[showme_the_Glory]

I have no problem with having a poll but when others use it to restrict comment and participation, then it stinks.

like having a forum for conservatives that gets over run by NY liberals, I agree.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thanks for the enlightening discussion.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

Do you get to wear shirts like this?

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Well at least he has a voting record, one that the liberal media hasn't wanted to promote so he hasn't made headlines.

Here is the deal, a majority of Republicans are looking for a candidate just like Hunter. At least give them a chance to vote before you decide he cannot win. I'm convinced our election outcomes have more to do with whatever con argument the party strategist sold to voters than it does about true representation of the people's values.

[Born to Conserve]

Why are there no evil newbies voting for McPain?

Face it, for whatever reason, and for what it’s worth this early, Fred is whooping rear end.

[brothers4thID]

If a FR member doesn’t know about Duncan Hunter, at this point, it is through willful ignorance. There’s something like 15 threads per day about him. You can lead an elephant to water...

[darkwing104]

Unless I have a breakdown of who voted it's hard to tell.

Fred Thompson has name recognition. Duncan Hunter is still unknown to a majority of conservatives. Most Republicans I work with never heard of him.

[davidosborne]

Most Republicans I work with never heard of him.

Same here.. BUT but EVERY conservative that I have asked to "take a look at Duncan Hunter" has told me 2 things

1. Thanks for letting me know.. and
2., I had no idea we had such a GREAT candidate in the race, I will seriously consider voting for him in the primary

What more can Duncan Hunter supporters ask for...

[Josh Painter]

Beagle8U wrote: “The Rats would be foolish to try to play that game.”

They’re already playing it. Just google “Duncan Hunter Randy Cunningham” and you’ll see what I’m talking about. And it’s not just CommieRat hate sites, either. It’s USA TODAY, Sign On San Diego, The WaPo (which was so effective in destroiying George Allen), etc.

Duke Cunningham is the albatross that Hunter will forever have around his neck, just as Fred’s friendship with McCain is extra weight for Thompson to carry.