Rep. Duncan Hunter on Pundit Review Radio (excellent 30 minute audio interview)

Pundit Review ^ | Monday February 19th, 2008 | Kevin

[ajolympian2004]

Last night we welcomed Congressman Duncan Hunter, (R-CA), to Pundit Review Radio. Rep. Hunter is one of the leading conservative candidates running for President.

Rep. Hunter was incredibly generous with his time, spending more than 30 minutes with us discussing a wide range of topics. Of course, we asked him about the anti-surge, non-binding resolution that was passed this weekend. He had some pointed criticism of his colleagues, and questioned how much they understood about the surge, from a tactical level. According to the Rep. Hunter, it is all about politics, and has little to do with the surge itself.

We also talked about immigration, as Hunter has one of the toughest stances on this issue in Congress. He spoke of the fence that runs along the San Diego border and how effective it has been. We also asked him what should be done about the Border Agents who have been thrown in jail for a dozen years for shooting a drug smuggler. We took some great calls from WRKO listeners who asked what separated Hunter from the leaders in the GOP race, like McCain, Rudy and Romney.

My favorite part of the interview was when Rep. Hunter opened up about his own family, he talked eloquently about his father and how the call to military service was passed to him, and now, on to his son. Speaking of his son, Congressman Hunter told a great story about his son’s decision to join the military on 9-11, it is incredibly inspirational.

This guy is solid and deserves strong consideration for your vote for president in the Republican primaries. To learn more about his campaign, click here. We look forward to having him back on Pundit Review Radio as the campaign heats up in the coming weeks.

This interview is also available for download at iTunes and Podcast Alley.

Audio here - (look for the player at the bottom of the article)
http://www.punditreview.com/2007/02/19/rep-duncan-hunter-on-pundit-review-radio-2/

[Antoninus]

It doesn't make sense; Rudy can hire the best. Either they don't know any better than to put stronger people here (which I doubt) or they're trying a series of talking points to see which ones fly long enough to get past the general public.

I think "Team-Rudy" is focus-grouping FR--trying out talking points to see which are the most effective. Trouble is, when you've basically got a choice between calling someone stupid and calling them a narrowminded, single-issue bigot, your chances of getting a positive response are not good.

I think they'll just settle on out-right lying about Giuliani's record and rope in as many conservatives as possible with the phony "it could be worse/he's the *only* one who can win" rhetoric.

It won't work. Conservatives have this annoying tendency to think for ourselves. It's a lot tougher to herd us than it is the sheeple on the Democrat side.

[Antoninus]

I am on this thread to explain WHY he can't win to people that actually believe he has a chance, which he does not.

That's your opinion. It's been noted. I disagree.

When you win by selling out your principles, what have you won, really? If you hold true to your principles and lose nonetheless, you can at least look yourself in the mirror in the morning and know you're not a phony.

[mkjessup]

If you've been reading (lurking) on FR for a year, you would be VERY familiar with the cautious skeptism members have with new posters (potential TROLLS). Not to mention some who have been around a little longer. Welcome to FR.

Absolutely correct. If one joins FR to engage in legitimate and sincere discussion, one will never find a warmer place to reside, however if one is indeed a troll, they will find their life expectancy quite limited:

[Plateau]

Thanks for the welcome. Personally, I don't care if someone is a troll or just expressing their point of view. If I disagree with them, I will disagree. I am not into investigating their motives. I will be the first to criticize Rudy, his past words and deeds prove more than anything said recently. I have said the same thing several times on the pro-Rudy type threads. I guess I am just not into belittling people. By the way, who decides how long a person has to post before he is above suspicion of being a troll,dwarf,elf,gnome,hobbit, or munchkin? Duncan Hunter lacks name recognition and it is going to be an uphill battle to get his message out there. I wish Fred Thompson would run but not gonna get my hopes up.

[showme_the_Glory]

see post 163

[Registered]

When you win by selling out your principles

You're like that character Ado Annie in the musical Oklahoma, you go around singing "with me, it's all er nothing, it's all er nothing with me". That tune only works on Broadway.

Everyone here knows that you won't be voting or you will go 3rd party if someone other than Duncan gets the nod (and someone else will, and I think you really know this). It's better to have some of your cards on the table than none, that is the political reality of democratically elected positions. Boo hoo. Go home and take your toys with you.

[Antoninus]

You're like that character Ado Annie in the musical Oklahoma, you go around singing "with me, it's all er nothing, it's all er nothing with me".

No, that's not me. Jeez, Reg. Broadway musicals? Hunter's wardrobe? His physical appearance? All these criticisms are starting to sound a little "gay".

Everyone here knows that you won't be voting or you will go 3rd party if someone other than Duncan gets the nod

I've never said any such thing. I'm willing to vote for most of the GOP field at present -- only Rudy and Romney are definite "no-can-dos." Everyone else ranges from "nose-holder" to "support with enthusiasm." I'd appreciate if you'd stop putting words in my mouth--and retract your false statement.

It's better to have some of your cards on the table than none, that is the political reality of democratically elected positions. Boo hoo. Go home and take your toys with you.

You must have done a study of that new book, How to Make Enemies and Antagonize People 'cause you're doing a fine job of it.

[mkjessup]

First of all, my apologies if my welcoming words didn't seem very warm, unfortunately the posts of the dearly departed 'politicalman' have been nuked, as his account has been banned/suspended. As for how to identify trolls? Sometimes it's not easy, but in the case of p-man, he registers on Saturday and by this afternoon he's got more pro-Rudy/pro-RINO posts out here then some posters have in a month. And he never effectively answered any challenges to his statements. My first suspicion of him was based on some bizarre private messages he sent me regarding the Scooty Libby trial, comments that were completely out of line (IMHO), and sure enough, he began that downward spiral that trolls tend to get into, and by the time he was calling ME a 'traitor' to the GOP if I didn't vote for Rudy as the nominee, the die was cast. He was mercifully spared the embarrassment of trying to explain how I was a traitor if I didn't vote for Rudy as the GOP candidate, but Rudy was NOT a traitor because he supported Mario Cuomo instead of the GOP gubernatorial candidate George Pataki.

Guess he got lucky at the end.

Now I will be the first to admit (and I think most pro-Hunter folks will too) that Duncan Hunter has a tough row to hoe to get into the primaries, gain some traction, win enough delegates to make him impossible to ignore, and then somehow, someway find that proverbial 'lightning in a bottle' and unleash it, ALL of it.

I think that Hunter's disadvantage as an underdog and a long shot may turn into an advantage because Americans traditionally pull for that underdog, they admire someone with the guts to defy the conventional wisdom, get into the ring, and start swingin'.

Look at Howard Dean in '04. That idjit managed to generate enough support online and then into the primaries and nobody expected him to get as far as he did, and he got that far mostly on bluster and bombast, Congressman Duncan Hunter is not a ranter or screamer like Dean, but he certainly has more in the credentials department, and if Dean got as far as he did, I've no doubt that Hunter can do the same and more.

In all fairness, in the past I had some favorable things to say about Rudy, but unfortunately after educating myself on the substance of him as a candidate, the only favorable thing I can say now is that he gave one helluva speech at the '04 GOP convention, but that's it, we need more than a cheerleader, we need a man with military and national security experience and in my book, Duncan Hunter is that man. He won't back down, he won't give up, he will give it his all, and if elected President, he will lead America to victory in the war on terror.

Believe that.

[Kevmo]

Thank you for posting that. It's the first I've heard any dirt on Duncan Hunter. Pinging Antoninus for a heads up and possible response.

[Kevmo]

3 strikes and he's outta here. I wonder if Rudy is still a baseball fan after that.

[Kevmo]

Thanks for that, Dirtboy. Where can Hunter supporters go to read up on this thing?

[Jake The Goose]

I want to be careful - I am not making accusations - I like Duncan Hunter - but these issues are out there - and they will surface again.

We cannot pretend no one knows about these things.

It's going to come up.

[Plateau]

Theres one thing that bothers me about Mr. Hunter and all other candidates that propose building a fence. I think it is BS. Why spend millions to build a fence and millions to maintain it when the real answer is to stop the jobs for illegals. Why not fine businesses who hire illegals. I do not believe we can STOP illegal aliens short of drying up the jobs. It seems perfectly obvious to me. I guess the conservative in me would rather see a meaningful solution rather than throwing my hard earned tax dollars at a solution that is not a solution.

[Kevmo]

What a waste of time. It's all teasin' and no pleasin'.

[mkjessup]

Theres one thing that bothers me about Mr. Hunter and all other candidates that propose building a fence. I think it is BS. Why spend millions to build a fence and millions to maintain it when the real answer is to stop the jobs for illegals. Why not fine businesses who hire illegals. I do not believe we can STOP illegal aliens short of drying up the jobs. It seems perfectly obvious to me. I guess the conservative in me would rather see a meaningful solution rather than throwing my hard earned tax dollars at a solution that is not a solution.

Those are good points and good ideas. I have always believed that the way to eliminate unauthorized employment of illegals is to make the fines for employing them high enough to deter employers from taking that risk. Now sometimes employers will be snookered by exceptionally well prepared (but fraudulent) documents, but in many cases it is a 'wink and a nod' which allows illegals to work for employers who are not concerned about obeying the law any more than the illegals are.

Having said that, I think that building a barrier between the United States and Mexico has more value as a national security measure, with inhibiting illegal immigration as a secondary benefit.

It has been proven that our southern border remains porous, that it is possible for illegals of Middle Eastern descent to get into the United States due to their similar pigmentation with Mexicans, and there is nothing racist about that, it is a simple statement of fact.

If al Qaeda was to move a nuclear device into the U.S., you can bet that our southern border would be near (if not at) the top of their list for preferred entry points.

For that reason alone, our border with Mexico should be sealed, access points should be tightly controlled, and deadly force should be authorized for ANYONE sneaking across the damn border, no exceptions. If we apply the same standards to the integrity of our southern border as we apply to nuclear weapon facilities and installations, you can be sure there will not be very many (if any) breaches of security.

But you are correct, we need to hold employers responsible for any illegals they have in their employ, and the best way to deter that sort of nonsense is to levy *gigantic* fines.

[TAdams8591]

"It is going to take a candidate with unique ability to win this."

Very much agreed. We just disagree that it's Guiliani.

[TAdams8591]

"Duncan Hunter isn't going to win the primary."

We agree there too. Duncan may believe the "RIGHT stuff" he just hasn't got the "RIGHT stuff." It is a pity, but reality is what it is.

[ajolympian2004]

Dean Barnett links to Duncan Hunter's interview at Hugh Hewitt's Townhall site here -

http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/g/c7782c51-4233-4ae7-808d-8d82fa2ff918

[Fireone]

The election is almost two years away. If enough people of
right mind spread the word about our candidate, I'm confident
he has time to rise. The issues are what is on people's minds.
All the rest of the posturing is Hollywood propaganda. I still believe most people will vote the issues. In that regard, Duncan Hunter is our fastest horse.

[dirtboy]

Why spend millions to build a fence and millions to maintain it when the real answer is to stop the jobs for illegals.

Except that Ahnold wants to give health care to illegals. And illegals get education and other bennies as well.

Like all invasions, this needs to be fought in depth. A fence is just the first line. But it is an integral part of multiple lines of defense.