Duncan Hunter to make “major announcement” at 2 p.m.; Update: Hunter’s still in
posted at 12:54 pm on January 7, 2008 by Allahpundit
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
The other “true conservative” in the race bids us a fond adieu within the hour. With Fred staggering into South Carolina, it may well be that first three Republicans out of the pool as primary season heats up are … Tancredo, Hunter, and Thompson. RINOmania!
Even sadder is the fact that Hunter’s carrying such a low percentage that his endorsement almost doesn’t matter — except maybe to Mitt, since that will give him a vote of confidence on immigration from another border-enforcing stalwart. Anyone betting another way?
Update: MM wonders why Hunter never caught fire. Too much anonymity in a field of Giulianis and McCains and not enough charisma in a field with Huckabee, I think. Switch his bankroll with Romney’s and each of them would probably be polling where the other is now.
Update: False alarm. All he wanted to do is criticize ABC and Fox for excluding him from the debates; he’s still in the race, for reasons I’m sure I just don’t know.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 3 Next »
Gee, wonder what that could be. :)
Im Bald and its Bushs fault on January 7, 2008 at 12:55 PM
The amnesty outrage was a waste of energy. Just open the borders and learn Spanish!
The Race Card on January 7, 2008 at 12:57 PM
I’m headed over to Fred’s site to give him more money now. If he drops out, and not conservative is left, I’ll go into depression.
Jay on January 7, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Yet the conclusion on Fred is laziness? Why so absolute with Thompson and a mystery with regards to Hunter?
geckomon on January 7, 2008 at 12:58 PM
By the way, of course I’m hoping his endorsement goes to Fred, whether it counts for much or not.
Jay on January 7, 2008 at 12:58 PM
If it comes today, it must play into NH. That means Mitt or McCain. As a national security guy I’d guess he’d go McCain. As a conservative, I’d guess he’d go Romney. Seeing he has trumpeted the fence over and over and over (good for him) even more than Iraq, I’m going to say Mitt. But I honestly don’t know. If it were Fred, I think he’d wait until SC.
Spirit of 1776 on January 7, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Is a Hunter endorsement coming in a few days?
csdeven on January 7, 2008 at 12:58 PM
That’s the process, for you. I like Hunter. Sad to see him go.
Tesson on January 7, 2008 at 12:58 PM
The fact that McCain is doing so well is not good. He was still pushing immigration sob stories in the most recent debate.
Bienvenidos a Los Estados Unidos de Mexamerica!
The Race Card on January 7, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Spirit is right, I would think Fred, but me might go the Tancredo route and go Mitt, which I think hels slightly.
JVelez on January 7, 2008 at 12:59 PM
I might be willing to bet the other way. Huckabee has already flown out the idea of Hunter as his Secretary of Defense.
irish_infidel on January 7, 2008 at 12:59 PM
If he’s smart, he will endorse today while he still has some clout
bnelson44 on January 7, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Duncan’s a good man, and may yet end up in the new GOP administration (god willing).
Like Tancredo, the problem was that he didnt have a broad enough message and he wasnt able to differentiate his qualifications to be POTUS, as opposed to his qualifications to head a Cabinet post.
I cant see him supporting Maverick or Huckster,so its likely to be Mitt. If its good enough for Tancredo…
Always Right on January 7, 2008 at 1:01 PM
Hopefully he will send his votes along with Fred. South Carolina is coming soon and if Fred got this boost it just might put him out there in front. Who knows?
geminicontender on January 7, 2008 at 1:01 PM
Talking about major announcements, what happened to that scandal that was suppose to break today?
bnelson44 on January 7, 2008 at 1:01 PM
Let it be noted that he still received one delegate to the RNC, which is one more than T-2 captured during his abortive bid for the presidency.
Gerard on January 7, 2008 at 1:01 PM
SECONDNO MORE LOOK FOR DUNCAN HUNTERThat really is a shame. Hopefully the nominee will make him a high level cabinet appointment.
wardrobedoor on January 7, 2008 at 1:02 PM
That’s why I think in a few days. But you’re right. An endorsement today works into the NH votes. It is very unlikely, BUT it could go to Fred. ANY help Fred gets, helps him.
I wonder why we haven’t seen more of Sheriff Joe. He should be shilling Mitt, and against his states senator McCain, as better in the fight against illegal immigration.
csdeven on January 7, 2008 at 1:02 PM
It’s meaningless. McCain has a history of winning New Hampshire and it’s never gone any further than that. There’s nothing different this year, but for some reason people want to pretend he’s suddenly popular.
Give him his one primary and then watch him vanish from sight.
Gregor on January 7, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Bummer. At least the Chargers won.
Drum on January 7, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Maybe Huckabee will pray for him.
Drum on January 7, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Yes, because Fred got into the race with a decent start only because he’s from Hollyweird and had star power and name recognition. He then proceeded to squander those advantages and prove to basically everyone he’s more interested in poking the media dragon in the eye and whining about unfairness then actually running his campaign.
If Hunter started with Fred’s starpower, he’d probably be sitting pretty high right now.
BKennedy on January 7, 2008 at 1:03 PM
To the degree that it will help anyone, it’s gotta help Fred the most.
Christoph on January 7, 2008 at 1:03 PM
When are the RINOs going to start dropping out? I’d like to see Huckabee, Rudy and McCain drop out.
Frank DiGiorgio on January 7, 2008 at 1:04 PM
LOL! And Huckabee also said Bolton was his advisor. Huckabee lies through his teeth and there’s absolutely no chance Hunter would have anything to do with the fraud.
Gregor on January 7, 2008 at 1:04 PM
I was most aligned with Duncan Hunter on the issues. He would make an excellent VP candidate.
MarkB on January 7, 2008 at 1:04 PM
That seems a bit weak. I know you aren’t a Fred supporter, but that doesn’t make sense.
geckomon on January 7, 2008 at 1:05 PM
Please God let the endorsement be Fred!, we really need it.
Donate here.
John_Locke on January 7, 2008 at 1:06 PM
FIRST LOOK AT HUNTER FOR DHS SECRETARY!
You are a good man, Duncan. A proud nation owes you their gratitude.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on January 7, 2008 at 1:07 PM
I wonder whether the MSM decides who catches-on, or if the majority of the voters in this country are just in the middle. There’s no explanation for Hunter’s numbers. Like Joe Leiberman, he’s one of the finest public servants we have and, for some reason, he doesn’t get the recoginition or respect he deserves. Of course, the voters will get the RINO they deserve at the end of the day.
Thompson is our last hope with maybe Romney as a “settle for” candidate. I hope that Hunter endorses one of them.
orlandocajun on January 7, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Huck’ll have to clear it with Jesus first. And then preach a sermon on it. And then lay hands on him. And then ask Calderon if it’ll be OK with him.
Drum on January 7, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Welcome to the world of BKennedy, where reality is not important.
Gregor on January 7, 2008 at 1:07 PM
bummer. i guess there’s always a future run in the works. here’s hoping for a senatorial seat, although this is admittedly a long shot in the independent republic of california…
Tacitus on January 7, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Honestly, I don’t know what you people are whining about. There’s still a real conservative in the race. His name is Ron Paul. I disagree with him on his foreign policy, but he is spot on when it comes to domestic policy, and that’s what I’ll vote for come April 22nd and the PA primary. Not that it won’t be decided by then, and one of the socialists will get the nomination, (Romney, Mccain or the Huckster) but I’ll vote nevertheless.
RWLA on January 7, 2008 at 1:08 PM
I have mucho respect for Hunter. I’d like to see him as SecDef in a GOP administration. I hope he endorses Thompson.
CP on January 7, 2008 at 1:09 PM
What a shame. He’s done a great job here in San Diego on the fence, and has been consistently conservative on almost every issue. If only he had more charisma, then he might have had a chance.
SDnocoen on January 7, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Well, now it’s up to Fred to carry the water for the “true” conservatives among us.
We don’t need another RINO in the White House. We have had one for over seven years now.
Dave R. on January 7, 2008 at 1:10 PM
It would be very smart for Romney to consider breaking convention and court Hunter as VP and name him before the end of the primary season. It would make a diehard Fredhead like me reconsider Mitt.
Bill C on January 7, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Huckabee has already flown out the idea of Hunter as his Secretary of Defense.
Huck’ll have to clear it with Jesus first. And then preach a sermon on it. And then lay hands on him.
Now wait a minute. I thought Huckabee was Baptist, not Catholic. And isn’t Hunter a little old to be confused for a schoolboy?
RWLA on January 7, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Yeah and been a Baptist minister who enjoys amnesty for illegal aliens.
Drum on January 7, 2008 at 1:10 PM
…it’s gotta help Fred the most.
You would think so.
Then again, you would have thought Steve King’s backing of Romney would make a difference in Iowa. Or that Jim DeMint’s support of his candidacy would boost his standing in South Carolina.
So far this is not shaping up to be a good year for those of us Philistines who don’t want to welcome our invaders with open arms and free dental.
Gerard on January 7, 2008 at 1:10 PM
This is no joke – just a little late, but better before the announcement than after!
I have contributed to Tancredo, Hunter, and Thompson, in that order. I guess I better not head to the craps table.
fred5678 on January 7, 2008 at 1:10 PM
LOL!
Drum on January 7, 2008 at 1:11 PM
To clarify, what you proposed is mere speculation. It still doesn’t speak to why Michelle is all out of answers for Hunter’s situation, yet is steadfast on Fred’s laziness is the reason for his lower numbers.
geckomon on January 7, 2008 at 1:11 PM
Sheriff Joe is too busy racially profiling the illegal alien protesters at Pruitt’s to endorse anyone right now.
/snark
Actually, I think Joe is holding his cards close to his chest until the field thins out a bit. Maybe after Super Tuesday we will hear something from him. Hope it’s Fred!, but most likely Romney.
I like Joe as our Sheriff, but does an endorsement from Joe help or hurt?
Timothy S. Carlson on January 7, 2008 at 1:11 PM
My guy was Trancredo first, Hunter second, Mitt third.
The reasons were immigration followed by defense.
The only guy left for me after Hunter bows out is Mitt Romney. Yes, I know he’s changed positions but for the right reasons – he’s listening to RR whispering in his ear and the thundering of he conservative base.
If Rudy and McCain are the eventual nominee, I stay home and let an honest Marxist win. I figure 4 years of that and all 10 of my grandkids vote conservative in ‘12.
I had a brief infatuation with Fred, but I need to see desire and passion and he falls short in both areas.
Onager on January 7, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Here’s my exit question:
Why did this campaign tank like it did? With Hunter’s experience and credentials, I’d have expected to see him at least get 5% in the polls.
Could he have done more? My one criticism I can lodge is that he didn’t seem to get himself in the limelight as much as he could have. In his entire campain, I have not seen one television ad from him. And all the debates in the past few months have barely asked him any questions. He ran a campaign free of publicity stunts, and anything that would grab the media’s immediate attention.
Maybe, in the end, that was the problem.
Hawkins1701 on January 7, 2008 at 1:13 PM
BTW, is that east coast time, stupid redneck time, weirdo, hairy mountain dude time, or hippie, freak time?
Bill C on January 7, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Geckomon, I think the answer is based on relative position, but you bring up an interesting point.
When Fred came in there was already clamour for him and he entered as a top-tier candidate. It’s like the Fibonacci sequence, if you will. If you are starting at the bottom it is a much longer climb to big numbers then if you already start in the teens. And every step you take near the bottom is less significant than ones above it.
He came in with a lot of anticipation, and I don’t think he really built on that and I think the polls show that. But I think campaigns are about temporal summation and think he has failed in that regard and the blame cannot be placed on his supporters, which are enthusiastic by anyone’s measure.
And Huck, if brought up as a counter-argument, is a bit of a special case because he has a pre-established network with the evangelical community.
Spirit of 1776 on January 7, 2008 at 1:14 PM
EST
geckomon on January 7, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Well unfortunately Rudy and Romney are also complete and total frauds. McCain isn’t he was open about wanting to give illegals citizenship. I don’t think Thompson has much of a chance. Huckabee may just be pandering but he actually does have a really good immigration plan. And if he makes a deal with Hunter to tap him for Secretary of Defense then I could definately see it happening.
irish_infidel on January 7, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Fred could use this kind of boost. It’s time the Conservatives wake up and start backing principles, not personalities.
frode on January 7, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Here’s why Fred’s supporters are better off if McCain wins NH:
http://www.spectator.org/blogger.asp?BlogID=10409
bnelson44 on January 7, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Why did this campaign tank like it did? With Hunter’s experience and credentials, I’d have expected to see him at least get 5% in the polls.
If experience and credentials meant anything to doofus America, would Obama be leading the Dems?
RWLA on January 7, 2008 at 1:15 PM
This should help Fred and/or Mitt with the 1-2% he was carrying. I could see him playing a role in a Romney or Thompson administration.
malan89 on January 7, 2008 at 1:15 PM
I may be wrong, but he’s pretty darn principled and quiet and has never been bought — unlike the once honorable Duke Cunningham.
Drum on January 7, 2008 at 1:16 PM
Fred has the most to gain from this
ConservativePartyNow on January 7, 2008 at 1:17 PM
I can see that as a theory for why he may be polling poorly, but where does laziness come into play? Or a perceived lack of enthusiasm? How does one conclude that?
geckomon on January 7, 2008 at 1:17 PM
I hope Duncan wont throw his support behind Romney simply because he thinks he has the best chance of winning right now. He always came off as a man of principle to me and that would mean throwing his support behind the other conservative — Fred Thompson
UKFB2 on January 7, 2008 at 1:17 PM
Steve King backed Fred, right?? Or am I in an alternate universe?
I think Fred would have finished 4th without the endorsement.
fred5678 on January 7, 2008 at 1:18 PM
Sure it does. Fred entered the race, as Spirit of 1776 says, as a top-tier candidate. He has star power and created a ton of buzz in the media and with conservatives. He had the opportunity, but didn’t use it to its potential.
Hunter, on the other hand, entered and remains a third-tier candidate fighting for every dollar he can get.
Essentially, Hunter had to work his way up from the third/second to top-tier. Fred just had to stay in the top-tier.
amerpundit on January 7, 2008 at 1:18 PM
Yea, and he dost have the Host of Heaven — the Army of the Lord — ‘neath him as well.
Drum on January 7, 2008 at 1:19 PM
I thought Joe endorsed Romney a few days ago.
csdeven on January 7, 2008 at 1:19 PM
I would be surprised if he endorses Thompson. As someone else stated above, because he is doing it in NH, he is more than likely to go the Tancredo route and endorse Romney. I guess this leaves all of his supporters to go the way of the Tancredo supporters as well and join up with Fred.
I think Fred is more in line with his views, however, I get the feeling that illegal immigration isn’t really a huge deal in NH. Either that, or they just really love Johnny Mac there.
RobTN on January 7, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Ron Paul is not a conservative. He’s a libertarian anarchist. Big difference.
Gregor on January 7, 2008 at 1:20 PM
He tanked because boring never win election. Great idea’s. A good running mate for Mitt.
inchdeep on January 7, 2008 at 1:21 PM
With respect to Fred or Duncan?
Spirit of 1776 on January 7, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Rush just said that the NH NEA endorsed Huckabee. That is the way I spell toast.
Onager on January 7, 2008 at 1:22 PM
I really liked Duncan Hunter. He was great on the issues, except on free trade. I hope he runs for governor or Senate some day.
Frank T.J Mackey on January 7, 2008 at 1:23 PM
They endorsed him back on December 5th.
amerpundit on January 7, 2008 at 1:23 PM
Fred.
geckomon on January 7, 2008 at 1:27 PM
He’ll endorse Romney, and then his supporters will go for Fred….
dean_acheson on January 7, 2008 at 1:27 PM
Now AP gives a neutral explanation for Hunter.
I’m thinking the high expectations are not Fred’s fault, but our own. Are there any data as to when previous candidates from past races announced their runs? Like what is the norm? And if Fred came in too late, why is everyone making a fuss if Bloomberg comes in the campaign? Won’t he be too late also?
geckomon on January 7, 2008 at 1:27 PM
That’s what they said about Huckabee when he was polling at 5% just a few months ago.
Huckabee may just be pandering but he actually does have a really good immigration plan.
You mean the one he copy and pasted to sucker voters into thinking he had a tough plan?
Huckabee’s immigration stance is to pretend to want illegal aliens stopped. What his history shows, and what his words show, is that he’ll do absolutely nothing to stop it and in fact, will most likely give even more free handouts to illegals.
Hunter is fully aware of this and there’s absolutely no chance he’ll support Huckafraud.
To do so would make Hunter a laughing stock and anger every person who’s ever supported him. Don’t believe me? Take a look at what happened to Jim Gilchrist when he endorsed him. He was bombarded by hate mail for weeks.
Gregor on January 7, 2008 at 1:27 PM
Ugh.
Another reason to hope for McCain’s defeat tomorrow?
Slublog on January 7, 2008 at 1:28 PM
King did back Fred-my bad.
Just goes to show you how evanescent these highly-sought endorsements are.
Huckabee may just be pandering but he actually does have a really good immigration plan.
Yes, good thing one of his staffers was nimble enough to plagiarize Mark Krikorian and the CIS website before the Iowa Caucus.
Gerard on January 7, 2008 at 1:29 PM
All my friends (an admittedly biased sample!) in NH think
that illegal immigration IS a big deal. Someone is even driving a van around the state following the McCain group – the van has “Amnesty = McCain” on the side.
Howie Carr radio show in Boston (heard all over NH) has been on the case for 7 years and it is the most requested topic. NH has very little homeless and illegal problem because of NO BENEFITS for them. They want to keep it that way. Illegal immigration is not a current big problem because they have discouraged it, and I don’t think they want to have it start being a problem.
fred5678 on January 7, 2008 at 1:30 PM
NO one inside the campaign thinks he’s dropping out. My phone has been ringing off the hook. Most of my volunteer infrastructure in Texas got this media alert, and everyone is holding their breath. No panic yet, just a collective tension.
Hunter is incredibly popular here in Texas – you know he swept our straw poll in a big way. So we’ve got a seasoned campaign corps that is reading betweem the lines on this. So much for grabbing any lunch today. ;) Guess we’ll know for sure in half an hour.
Redhead Infidel on January 7, 2008 at 1:30 PM
geckoman,
Those are good points, but it’s ok for Bloomberg to do it, since he’s a ‘maverick’ and a ‘uniter’ which means ‘I used to be a Republican, but have since seen the light.’
dean_acheson on January 7, 2008 at 1:31 PM
Ah, you are correct, sir. On January 2.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio Backs Mitt Romney: An Endorsement That Might Matter
Funny – I can’t seem to find this news by way of the Arizona Repugnant. I wonder why…
Timothy S. Carlson on January 7, 2008 at 1:31 PM
So what should he have done? Was he polling high? What does top tier mean? Hollywood backing? I know lots of people that don’t know who Fred Thompson the actor is. I don’t think he was A-list.
geckomon on January 7, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Huckabee is only pandering but he actually does have a really good plan – probably written in chalk, for easy modification, ya’ know.
fred5678 on January 7, 2008 at 1:33 PM
I very much like Duncan Hunter and agree with him politically on just about everything.
There is just something about Duncan that is not Presidential but I can’t for the life of me put my finger on it. I guess it is the “X” factor.
I do think Duncan Hunter would make a very fine Senator from California and will send money his way should he decide to go that route.
EJDolbow on January 7, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Well I think the main factor is that he announced then seemed to disappear to craft his policy positions. Before he entered you could read his blog posts on ABC and hear him on the radio. I liked him quite a bit at the time. But he delayed entering the race for media reasons and that allowed the built up buzz to wear down considerably. I think if he had altered the order, ie, sat down crafted his positions, then announced he could have come up guns blazing.
Now he is stuck trying to make up for lost time (said yesterday in clip posted here NH would be good for his message if he had more time). Can’t really blame anyone but himself for that. He deserves a lot of credit for his 5 a days in Iowa, but he could have done 1 a days in NH before that. And he gets a lot of the laziness tag from his apparent preference not to talk/shake hands with a lot of the people on the campaign trail. Some of that may be false – but it’s been reported on both sides of the aisle.
Spirit of 1776 on January 7, 2008 at 1:36 PM
Not that his endorsement matters…
but I hope he endorses Romney. I just can’t see him endorsing Huck or McCain.
CABE on January 7, 2008 at 1:38 PM
The word inside the campaign is that he’s going to address the NH debate debacle, not quit. I don’t know what to think.
Redhead Infidel on January 7, 2008 at 1:38 PM
How doesn’t it? Check the threads from this July though September. Everyone thought Fred would be a superstar, he came in riding above 20 percent. Fred’s problem was that he thought this was a coronation, not a campaign, and ever since all he’s done is babble about policies he’s never even tried to implement, hoping that his 20 percent would just stay static.
From the very beginning he fumbled and bungled. Consider his announcement date. He chooses the day of a New Hampshire debate to announce on Leno while running an ad at the event. Fred could have capitalized on the situation by announcing either the day before or at the actual event, and be led in by a whoop of cheers as he made his way to the podium.
However, he decided to blow off a early primary state to please his own ego and his buddy Leno. Then his organization fell into dissaray, with pro-amnesty and gwot squishes gaining prominent positions in his campaign. His numbers fell while he was reorganizing it, but he kept up the same “all meat and potatoes, no ice cream” kind of campaign. He’d promise to fill you up with substance but he’d never offer a sweet incentive to go with him over another candidate. He’d just post a white paper up on his site, then say to go to the site and be enlightened by his sagious wisdom.
Fred’s problem isn’t substance, it’s that he’s failed to do what anyone who even wants to be considered for president has to do: communicate his message early, often, and everywhere with vigor and enthusiasm. Fred banked on primary voters not paying attention until two weeks before a caucus or primary and his strategy is failing miserably. By the time everyone else had already lined up support and resources for their candidate, Fred was just starting to get his message out. Why he thought campaigning on the slogan “the clear conservative choice” would get him anywhere while the other candidates had already solidified their image I don’t know, but it’s just another classic Fred misstep.
He started his drive in the early states too late, screwed up one at the very beginning of his campaign permanently, and he’s been trying to play catch-up ever since by shouting like an overexcited newsboy with a headline. “Extra Extra! Fred Thompson is the clear conservative choice! Drop your preferred candidate that you’ve spent months listening to, hearing from, and researching for the new guy in town!”
BKennedy on January 7, 2008 at 1:39 PM
McCain gets credit for honesty. He very openly wants to give all illegals now here (and the 30 million to follow in the next 3 years if he gets his way) a “pathway to citizenship.” That’s where his heart is. And that’s where Huckster’s and Rudy’s hearts are, also. The only difference is Rudy is pretty open about “accommodating” illegals, while Huck is lying about his core beliefs.
All three – McCain, Rudy, and Huck – want to give reward the robber with stolen jewelry, as long as he pays a fine to keep the ill-gotten goods!
A fine means no amnesty by definition – McCain et al, are WORSE! Their fine is just a delayed bribe, no different than if an illegal alien gave $3000 to a BP agent on the way across the border. They just want to collect the bribe a little later – on the installment plan. It is still a BRIBE to get precious American citizenship.
Fred, then Romney, are the best choices on this issue, now with Hunter out of it.
fred5678 on January 7, 2008 at 1:41 PM
If you can’t understand why the estimable congressman’s campaign never took off, and indeed never had a chance, then maybe you’re completely immune to the notion that leadership of a great nation requires more than an appeal to reason and issues. Even if it did, Hunter would have been rather far to the right for even the mass Republican electorate, but, really, you can’t listen to him for longer than fifteen seconds without realizing he’s no president. Dismissing this failure on the level of inspiration, charisma, emotional resonance, speaking ability, whatever you want to call it as shallow is itself shallow: It betrays a lack of understanding of the role of the presidency as both head of government and head of state. He’d no doubt be a great military leader somewhere below top General, and there are probably hundreds of other Reps and more than a few Senators that he towers above, but, as the polls happen to have shown consistently from day 1, he doesn’t inspire devotion and affection except among a tiny percentage of the electorate.
Charisma is as charisma does. It comes in different forms, or, in the case of very good men like Hunter, sometimes not at all. He’d have to be an infernal Machiavellian genius at political organization and tactics to make up for such a gaping deficiency, and, even then, he’d probably choose someone else to be his figurehead.
CK MacLeod on January 7, 2008 at 1:44 PM
Ron Paul is not a conservative. He’s a libertarian anarchist. Big difference.
Anarchist? Where do you get that? He IS a libertarian, but anarchist?
RWLA on January 7, 2008 at 1:44 PM
Well, if you knew he was the clear conservative in the beginning, why did that change? If he was then, should’nt he be now? is this all about Leno? It was one debate and quite honestly, I don’t believe in forming my opinions about candidates from scripted so called debates.
You said his problem isn’t substance. So it’s style? Your argument is not in focus. I don’t want a slick president. We had one portray this kind in the 90’s. I want a president with substance.
Did you have early enthusiasm for him also? If so, does this mean you have resentment towards him personally for not coming into play when you wanted him to?
geckomon on January 7, 2008 at 1:46 PM
Please!
Legalize drugs. No FBI. No CIA. No Homeland Security. No IRS.
What part of anarchist don’t you get?
Gregor on January 7, 2008 at 1:47 PM
So was he or wasn’t he enthusiastic?
geckomon on January 7, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Maybe a joint announcement with Fred or Romney????
Maybe declare as VP for one of them now???
If Romney, then he can claim the 2 strongest candidates (Tancredo and Hunter) against amnesty on his side, and that would hopefully guarantee beating McCain in NH, and therefore nationally.
Hunter is strong in TX (where he won an earlier straw poll, as I remember) plus NV and San Diego.
fred5678 on January 7, 2008 at 1:50 PM
BKennedy, your arguments are deteriorating rapidly. You and csdeven made some good points yesterday about Fred which gave me some things to think about, but now you’ve sort of reneged. You suggested yesterday that Fredheads are blindly sticking with a candidate despite his faults, now you suggest that everyone else is and that’s ok because Fred came into the race late.
joewm315 on January 7, 2008 at 1:51 PM
That’s a great question. I try to keep my cool when “conservatives” on blogs such as this say stupid things such as RP being an anarchist. What this betrays is an ignorance of conservatism so deep as to be beyond regrettable. One may not support or agree with RP, but he is no anarchist. And as a conservative, I recommend a book by conservative Robert Nisbet (RIP) about real anarchy, called The Present Age: Progress and Anarchy in Modern America.
It’s like Albert Brooks describing the antichrist in Broadcast News, describing him not as someone with horns and a tail, but rather someone looking like William Hurt. Similarly, anarchy in America will not come by less government and less law, but rather by men who believe themselves above the law and who cloak their tyranny in the Bible and the Flag.
Drum on January 7, 2008 at 1:51 PM
I don’t care where he got it from as long as he enforces it. He has the strongest immigration plan of anyone still in the race. Thompsons immigration plan is a joke look at his site his plan is about 4 sentences long and only talks in vague general terms and its no different than anything McCain or Bush would back.
irish_infidel on January 7, 2008 at 1:52 PM
Rush just said it to a caller..
“What about Fred Thompson if you want a true conservative?”
Was anyone else listening?
stlpatriot on January 7, 2008 at 1:53 PM
My, at the risk of exposing myself as part of that tiny percentage of devotees, I have to strenuously disagree, MacLeod. I personally know Duncan Hunter and am well acquainted with his effect on people when they meet him.
Why do you think he swept the Texas Straw Poll? Because he was here, people got to meet him, and they could measure him up for themselves without the idiocy of media editorial commentary.
Hunter is impressive, he’s knowledgeable, he’s visionary, he’s sincere, and he’s strong. Too bad you’re so reliant upon the media to frame your celebrities for you. Because Hunter was the best choice we as conservatives had.
Redhead Infidel on January 7, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Comment pages: 1 2 3 Next »