The "proposals" refer to what was in the Senate bill and is currently in the House bill (which Duncan Hunter apparently is co-sponsoring). And the 1997 pilot program has been an abysmal failure. (Go ahead and read the testimony. It's not very long.) We're in pretty bad shape if this thing becomes mandatory.
Anyway, pissant, I've enjoyed the exchange. Thanks for giving me a chance to lay out my concerns. I'll step aside and let you take your thread back to topic. Cheers!
From Post #1:
“#11. What are the significant differences as you see them, to recommend you over Fred Thompson, another conservative candidate who will likely be the front runner when/if he enters the race?
Hunter: I’ll have to let Fred Thompson speak for himself, as I am not closely familiar with his record yet, but I do know that all of the Senators presently running for president, including Mr. Thompson, Brownback and McCain voted for Permanent Most Favored Nation status for Communist China, which I strongly oppose. I voted aginst PMFN with Red China because the chinese are clearly using US trade dollars to buy ships, warplanes and missiles, some of which are clearly targeted on American forces and interests. With respect to the rest of the Republican field, major differences are manifest in my support of fair, not free, trade. The industrial base of the United States is being pushed to China, India and other nations as a result of our acquiescence to extremely unfair trading rules that result in U.S. manufacturers being double-taxed and our competitors being subsidized.
Also, I believe I am the only candidate in the field besides John McCain who is a Vietnam Veteran and the only candidate with a son (Duncan D.) who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. (McCain’s’ sons may have deployed at this date). In this era of difficult wars, it will be increasingly important to have a commander-in-chief who has shared in the burden of military service.
I also know that none of the candidates have been as consistent on border and immigration enforcement as I have, in fact some have worked for the opposite result, or recently flip flopped on this vital issue. Please reference my 1986 vote against Amnesty. Also I’m the only candidate who has actually built a border fence (through directive legislation and directed appropriation). The San Diego Fence represents my ability to get things done, no simply take positions. Lastly, as Chairmen of the Armed Services committee, I increased the size of the US Marine Corps and added hundreds of millions of dollars to the defense budget to give better protection to our troops in Iraq and Afganistan through additional body armor, armored vehicles, and jammers to protect against roadside bombs (as well as many other types of combat equipment)”
Fair enough. It was a worthwhile exchange. I look forward to Hunter’s comments.