Duncan Hunter's conservative hope (2008)

The North County Times ^ | February 17, 2007 | George Will

[Clintonfatigued]

When Bob Hunter, a Riverside, Calif., businessman, would hear of a conservative's campaign that needed volunteers, he would pile his family into the station wagon and drive off to ring doorbells. Hunter's son Duncan grew up believing in retail politics.

When Hunter returned home after serving as an alternate Goldwater delegate at the 1964 Republican convention in San Francisco, he told Duncan about chatting with another alternate, an amiable fellow, some actor, named Reagan. Who two years later was elected governor. Duncan learned early on about rapid upward mobility in politics.

In 1969, he dropped out of college, joined the army and was sent to Vietnam. From there he mailed his pay to a friend who purchased for him an island in Idaho's Snake River, where Duncan farmed after his discharge. Then another friend said a San Diego law school would admit him without a college degree. In 1980 he was a lawyer with a storefront office in San Diego's Hispanic community when his father walked in and told him he could be a congressman. Never mind, his father said, that this district was only 29 percent Republican. Reagan was at the top of the ticket.

Duncan says his Baptist minister, respecting the separation of church and state, told parishioners they should vote for the Reagan of their choice. They distributed 400,000 Duncan brochures. Today Duncan is in his 14th term representing eastern San Diego County. Three weeks ago he formally launched his presidential candidacy.

Why does he think he can become the first House member elected president since James Garfield in 1880? Why does he think he can do better than the two strongest House candidates in recent elections?

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

I'll vote with my feet like Ronald Reagan suggested...

[motzman]

No more than governor of California, a far more important job, is a national office. Ever notice how that doesn't actually convince anyone? Ask Jerry Brown or Pete Wilson.

Well, that's up for debate, I think Mayor of NYC is the second most important job in the world.

Comparing someone of Rudy's stature to Pete Wilson or Moonbeam Brown is laughable.

[SDGOP]

Was the it the costco in carmel mountain?

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Pete Wilson was a Marine...

Jerry Brown and Julie-Annie weren't...

[Antoninus]

Sorry, but Rudy's governing and turning around the city of New York and his leadership in handling the aftermath of 9-11 speaks volumes compared to Hunter's zillion years in Congress.

Reg, have you ever lived in NYC? Nearby? I'll wager you haven't. What Rudy did in NYC wasn't that much different than what Ed Rendell did in Philadelphia. Rendell also cleaned up the city and lowered taxes. Am I to imagine you'd support Fast Eddie, too over a conservative congressman?

Don't drink the Rudy-flavored Koolaid. I've observed Giuliani for 15 years from within the NY media market. They WANT him as the GOP nominee because they know they can eat him alive. He's a sacrificial victim to whoever the Democrats run.

[George W. Bush]

This goes beyond "personally". The man has professional CHARISMA problems. He projects a poor image.

I'm supporting him. But your remarks are not without merit.

He needs better wardrobe. Cleaner grooming. A media consultant and a good PR man.

I saw an interview recently where his suit looked tacky. Probably a nice and a pricy suit. But a wardrobe guy and media consultant would have vetoed it because the colors didn't work especially well and the subtle striping on the suit was distorted by the camera and looked bad.

Some might think I'm saying he's needs an Al Gore makeover. No, I'm saying he needs to pay attention to grooming and wardrobe and image issues like Ronald Reagan did. You never saw Reagan before the cameras looking less than well-groomed or with a hair out of place. His suits were pretty impeccable.

On image, Giuliani is so-so on image and his looks trends strongly toward NYC standards, an asset in the northeast and a liability in other parts of the country.

Romney is the guy with the carbon-copy Reagan perfection of image issues. Flawless taste, good assets in physique, chiseled features, teeth and hair. Don't laugh. You don't know how shallow some voters really are.

McStain dresses and looks like his undertaker was measuring him for a coffin. He shouldn't change a thing.

Man, I'm shallow!

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

I think Mayor of NYC is the second most important job in the world.

Especially when they can't figure out where to put all of the city's garbage...

[Grunthor]

"Maybe he can catch on."

For his sake and the sake of the conservative movement within the Republican Party, I sure hope so.

[George W. Bush]

He was a VP.

A VP, in the post-smoky-room era, is essentially appointed by the presidential candidate. A VP is an appointee and almost no one votes for or against the ticket because of that person.

George Herbert Walker Bush was a congressman. Then he became president after some intermediate appointed positions.

[Registered]

Your comments are exactly on spot. If conservatives want a candidate to rally behind, they need to find another horse, because Duncan Hunter looks like a mule.

[Registered]

A VP is an appointee and almost no one votes for or against the ticket because of that person.

I beg to differ. People vote for the ticket. The VP has to run for the office along with the Presidential candidate, and then after running and winning has a hand in governing the country. That is SOLID experience. Hunter has NONE of that. NONE, ZIP, ZILCH.

[XR7]

Reality is image is important these days, and voters won't take seriously anyone that looks like they are wearing clothes picked out of a used car salesman's dirty clothes hamper.

LOL
Quote of the week.

[George W. Bush]

Well, that's up for debate, I think Mayor of NYC is the second most important job in the world.

Oh, come on. Are you one of those New Yorkers who has no drivers' license and has never been out of the city at all?

[motzman]

Oh, come on. Are you one of those New Yorkers who has no drivers' license and has never been out of the city at all?

Nah, Jersey. I said it was debatable--just my personal opinion about NYC.

[motzman]

Pete Wilson was a Marine...

Murtha

[Registered]

HE IS A SLOB!! HE DOESN'T EVEN BOTHER TO BUTTON HIS SUIT COAT WHILE INSPECTING THE TROOPS!!!!

[George W. Bush]

If conservatives want a candidate to rally behind, they need to find another horse, because Duncan Hunter looks like a mule.

A good media consultant and drop twenty pounds? Takes a month. But candidates need to deal with these issues early on in the primary season. Not pull an Owl Gore and remake themselves in the middle.

Hunter has a decent physique and features and not much extra weight. He probably needs more time in front of diverse audiences and work on how to come across to more people. Again, he needs to copy more of how Reagan presented himself and related to people. He has the conservative Reagan-era policies. Now he needs the look and the "smooth".

[George W. Bush]

1880.

And the our first Republican president, Honest Abe, was also only a former congressman.

[Registered]

Get off of my yard kid!!!

[dirtboy]

Better than Bush and Rudy making this country safe for illegal immigrants.