The Conservative Case for Duncan Hunter

TownHall.com ^ | 2/2/07 | John Hawkins

[babygene]

"And who is your candidate??"

I ask him that, he won't answer... Probably Hilary!

[bilhosty]

The last long shot to win the GOP nod was Wendell Wilkie in 1940. The only other long shot in the last 100 years was Harding. You would have to go back to Gov Romney (not this one, his dad)to find a front runner who lost and that was 40 years ago. Nope, History is seriously against Hunter. I think it will actually be harder this year as Newt is already sucking the oxygen out of the also runs while not having a chance him self.

[upsdriver]

You remind me of my own daughter. She doesn't suffer fools gladly, either. I'm proud of you!

[spikeytx86]

The entire industrial revolution was able to happen here due to protectionist tariffs enacted by republicans during reconstruction. Without those tariffs the infant industries would have been pulverized by the might of protected industries in Europe.

And btw, I am not against free trade in all cases. If it is with countries who are have comparative economies like Japan, Europe, Canada, AUS/NZ, Israel, Switzerland, etc. then I am fine with it. I guess my main problems are with trade in China and Latin America. They put up barriers against our own goods, even if they didn't most are way to poor to buy our goods, and in china's case are a potential enemy. All I am saying is a little common sense when it comes to a trade pact. We are a free trade nation in a would of protectionist and our trade balance reflects that.

"Boo-f'ing-hoo! Plan your life better. And when things go wrong, man up and do what it takes to care for your family... even if it means swallowing your pride and finally going to get that degree like you should have done at 18. "

Let me guess your a self made man who pulled himself up by his boot straps worked 12 jobs at a time, walked uphill both ways to school, and am now uber millionaire that always posts these holier then thou posts. Who says he didn't get formal education in a skill. I never said this guy worked the assembly line he could be a skilled worker with a trade in which should have provided very well for him and his family when he went to say vocational school 25 years ago. I sure hope that what ever field your in is a secure one and that something like this does not happen to you. But if it does I hope your fellow countrymen treat you better then what you posted.

I will debate you any time any where my only demand is mutual respect. If your response is going to be condescending or malicious then take your attitude elsewhere.

[spikeytx86]

For one, structural unemployment is fluid as it depends on the skill sets of the population. We have had peace time unemployment in the 1 - 1.5% range in the late 20's and as low as 3.3% in the sixties all periods with tariffs and barriers that were much much higher then today. What those times including today had in common were periods following Tax Cuts (Coolidge slashing taxes down from 77% to 25%, Kennedy Tax Cut from 94% to 70%, and The Bush Tax Cuts).

Just so I know how serious you are, are we going to have a debate or are you going to just call me a retard?

[Antoninus]

Duncan Hunter is great guy but his supporters need to face the fact that as a Presidential candidate he is nothing more than Newt without the name recognition, grass roots support, or fundraising ability.

No, he's not. Newt is not a decorated war veteran. Hunter also has none of the marriage/family baggage that Newt has.

And don't forget--a lot of Newt's name recognition is extremely negative.

That said, I really like Newt and would love to see him get behind a guy like Hunter. That would be BIG.

[upsdriver]

What our country needs is more people who describe themselves that way. The last thing we need to do is give up to the godless among us.

[Antoninus]

Please give us a modicum of credit. We understand the long hard road facing Duncan Hunter. But we are willing to work for him during this primary season. Isn't that what politics is about and especially the primary season. To find a candidate you believe in and give him your support.

During the general elections, we're told that the time to hash all this stuff out is during the primaries.

During the primaries, we're told our candidates can't win and that we're foolish for not supporting the moderate (read, liberal) candidates endorsed by the party establishment and the media.

What it comes down to is that the party-over-principles crowd thinks we're stupid. Are we?

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Well, I've noticed the past couple of weeks that various operatives and partisans for one Republican candidate or the other (Romney, Giuliani, Newt, etc...) have been raiding each others threads trying throw cold water on other potential contenders such as Hunter. I'm sure that the occasional DU troll has been busy stirring up the pot around here too, so everyone needs to keep their guard up and keep everything in perspective. Remember what Reagan said about never speaking ill of another Republican...

[GulfBreeze]

Denier...

[James Ewell Brown Stuart]

No, we aren't stupid. We are different. Be different and be damned is how the expression goes, I think.

[GulfBreeze]

It's not protectionist to retaliate to 'other' governments meddling in the trade process.

Do you oppose the US government 'protecting' american booze markets by preventing illegal drugs from coming to the US?

[Carry_Okie]

I don't like his protectionist trade ideas.

Being against giving away the store is not protectionism. Neither is making certain this nation retains the ability to sustain itself independently.

[Antoninus]

I don't care how good his views might be. When you consider that he wrote over $100,000 in bad checks, during the "House Bank Scandal" it becomes clear the doesn't have the character we need in a President.

That seems like the best hammer to beat Hunter with. Trouble is, it's inaccurate. He didn't write any bad checks--they were all covered by the House Bank. Overdraft protection was a perk offered to the members and one, thankfully, that Newt and the GOP wave in 1994 abolished.

That said, what Hunter did was not illegal. No one ever received a dishonored check and he was cleared of any wrong-doing. And to the best of my knowledge he paid off all his debt to the House Bank. Do you have evidence to the contrary? If so, please present it.

[James Ewell Brown Stuart]

I have noticed it too.

You must tell me - what is a Virginia Ridgerunner?

[M-cubed]

if u were a race horse....we'd need to put blinders on ya...too easily spooked....lol

[GulfBreeze]

Would you detail why you say he is pro-earmarks or is that just a weak arguement you are grasping for now that he is gaining traction.

[Carry_Okie]

He's a protectionist and would ruin the economy.

My, how deep. What he would "ruin" is exposing the underlying inflation that both Clinton and Bush have let run amok by papering it over with foreign currency manipulation.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

You must tell me - what is a Virginia Ridgerunner?

A hillbilly from Virginia who's pretty fast on his feet. ;)