Hoo-ah: Army Honors John Warner & Duncan Hunter

Hat Tip to a
Great Oklahoma Blogger RED STATER

SecArmy hosts retirement for
Armed Services Committee chairmen

BY Alex McVeighARLINGTON, Va. (Army News Service, Sept. 25, 2008) -- Secretary of the Army Pete Geren hosted an Armed Forces retirement ceremony Wednesday afternoon for former chairmen of both the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, Sen. John Warner of Virginia and Congressman Duncan Hunter of California.

The two men worked together on many defense bills, officials said, that contributed to strengthening America's armed forces into what they are today.

Ceremonial units from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard were present, along with the U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own," who performed a brief pre-ceremony concert.

With the downtown Washington D.C. skyline behind them and a billowing American flag above them, the joint services color guard slowly marched onto the field just prior to the arrival of the official party.

Geren started off the ceremony by speaking volumes about what both men had accomplished in their years of service.

Between their military time and their legislative careers, their combined years of service was over three quarters of a century, Geren said.

"These leaders have served our nation over many decades, in and out of uniform, in times of war and times of peace," he said. "It is a privilege and a pleasure to honor them today, and to celebrate the partnership between our military and our congress, a partnership that has served our nation well."

Hunter served in the Army beginning in 1969, and served in Vietnam with the Army Rangers' 75th Regiment. He participated in 24 helicopter assaults, and was awarded the bronze star among other achievements.

Hunter has been in the House of Representatives since 1980, when he defeated an 18-year incumbent. He served as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee from 2003-2007.

Warner served in both the Navy and the Marines, enlisting in the Navy at 17. After his Naval service was complete, he attended college at Washington and Lee University. After graduation, he began to study law at the University of Virginia.

When the Korean War began in 1950, Warner took a hiatus from his law studies to serve as an officer in the Marine Corps, where he eventually reached the rank of Captain.

Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke after Geren, and he too extolled the virtues of the two men.

"Both men carried [their military service] not as challenges, but as opportunities," he said. "Opportunities to make a difference, to define service and to define quality of service in a way that marks them forever."

In their responses, both men began with a tribute to each other, saying that they made it possible together what they were able to accomplish.

Warner concluded his remarks by saying that his military experiences were what gave him the ability to serve as long as he had, and he is grateful for that.

"I stand here, filled with honor and a great sense of humility, only because of what I learned by way of training and discipline," he said.

The ceremony concluded with a joint service medley played by Pershing's Own, but more than their music, the closing words of Geren were what attendees took away.

"Senator Warner and Congressman Hunter will be missed by all who had the privilege to serve with them, and every Soldier Sailor, Marine and Airmen who may serve," he said.

A joint services color guard marches onto
Fort Myer’s Whipple field at the start of the ceremony.

Hunter takes GOP primary

Marine Corps reservist will face
retired SEAL

By Michele Clock
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Duncan D. Hunter defeated a field of Republicans by a landslide yesterday in the primary election to replace his father, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, in a sprawling East County congressional district.

The competition for the only open congressional seat in the county has led to a showdown this fall between two candidates leaning on their military credentials. Hunter, a Marine Corps Reserve captain, will face Mike Lumpkin, a retired Navy SEAL who defeated Vickie Butcher in the Democratic primary.

During the campaign, Hunter emphasized national security and border issues. Last night, he attributed his victory to his conservative ideals that “resonated with the people of East County.”

Lumpkin interpreted his showing as a sign that he focused on the issues 52nd Congressional District voters care most about, such as the economy and border security.

“It is a clear signal that the voters are saying it's time to end the divisive partisan politics and to start talking about the real issues that affect Americans every day,” Lumpkin said.

Libertarian Michael Benoit, who ran unopposed, will also be on the November ballot.

Hunter, 31, held a considerable lead in both fundraising and polls in the heavily Republican district, but his GOP rivals pushed hard until the end, mailing stacks of campaign literature, recording automated calls and waving street signs during morning rush hours. His father, who made an ill-fated bid for the Republican presidential nomination, is retiring from Congress.

Brian Jones, 39, a Santee city councilman and a former minister, sought to attract GOP voters largely with mailers that kept with his social conservative themes. One that attracted attention featured a photo of Jones and his 13-year-old son holding a rifle, with a caption explaining that the candidate was giving his son gun-safety lessons. Jones had pledged to “vigorously support gun rights and fight liberal judges, special interest groups and politicians who want to take away our liberties.”
Last-minute efforts, including an infusion of outside cash, helped Bob Watkins, 65, a businessman and president of the San Diego County Board of Education.

Watkins' bid benefited from at least $223,000 worth of advertising – TV ads, radio ads, mailers – from an independent campaign waged by William R. Bradley, according to campaign finance records. Watkins' campaign said they did not know Bradley, nor did they have anything to do with the ads. However, Bradley had contributed to the Watkins campaign last year.

On the Democratic side, Butcher, 66, a nonprofit executive, emphasized her opposition to the war in Iraq and support for universal health care in radio ads, while Lumpkin, 43, played up his 21 years of service in the Navy while vowing to fight deficit spending and secure the borders. Lumpkin collected endorsements from many of the local Democratic clubs and far outspent Butcher.

Michele Clock: (619) 593-4964; michele.clock@uniontrib.com

HOO-AH: Duncan Hunter Tribute

We honor you Duncan,
May God Bless You and You Family
and thank you
HOO-AH !

I first meet Duncan, after my Ranger Bn. (1/75th) came back from Operation Urgent Fury (The Invasion of Grenada, 25 October 1983).

He ran for US President because he loves America and he sees what corrupt politicians in DC are doing to destroy it. He didn't lose because he wasn't worthy. He lost because the media is chosing our leaders. They never gave him equal time.

The People of the United States have a lot of work to do in tearing down this media stronghold on our elections. Over the next four years, we need to TEAR IT DOWN. It is controlling us -- controlling the People. Good men like this can't even begin to run for President -- and all we're getting is sell outs and fakes. Our media is a joke -- a bunch of biased liars. Changing the MEDIA should the be first "change" we make.





H/T to RED S TATER

HOO-AH: Hunter Gets Yet Another Key Endorsement!

Congressman JD Hayworth, author of Whatever It Takes: Illegal Immigration, Border Security and the War on Terror endorses Hunter!

Hayworth bucks the milquetoast trend of the GOP party-establishment to marginalize the immigration issue and tuck it out of the way of the current crop of amnesty candidates.

Instead, he's voting for the last remaining border security hawk in the race: Duncan Hunter.

Congressman Hayworth writes:

"To base a primary vote on 'electability' instead of ideas and principles seems to me a reduction of your rights via rationalization.

No one will ever completely agree with every position that a candidate takes…as Sharon put it, 'there is no perfect candidate,' but I believe my vote should go to the candidate who comes closest to espousing the philosophy I share.

That brings me back to Duncan Hunter.

No, he won't be on the stage tonight in the South Carolina GOP Debate, and his name appears nowhere near the top of the polls…but he supported tax cuts, did a masterful job as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and stands for 'enforcement first' on illegal immigration.

That's why he'll get my vote and my support for as long as he is in it…even if he doesn't win it!"

As we all know, other candidates are getting credit for the positions they've taken that are identical to Duncan Hunter's.

Huckabee is the "man of faith".

Giuliani is the "anti-terrorism" candidate, by virtue of his high profile on 9/11.

Romney is the guy who can handle finances.

Fred is the Second Amendment champion.

But, Duncan Hunter is all of those and more!

So we've started asking a simple question to people we meet who say they're supporting one of these men.

"Where do your core beliefs come from?"

"Do the things you're passionate about, the things that are important to you, come from what's popular, or do they come from what is right?"

We don't wait for an answer. Those questions deserve to be asked and answered in the privacy of each man and woman's heart.

We're not supporting Duncan Hunter because he's the front-runner in
the race.

We're not supporting him because of how well he polls.

We're not supporting him because he's this week's media darling.

We're supporting him because he is right!

Help us help the right man for the job!

He's right on every issue we hold dear. If we're honest with ourselves, and if we think it's important to elect the right person this November, we need to ask ourselves and those around us: "Where do our core beliefs come from?"

The answer we come up with leads us to one candidate only. The complete conservative: Duncan Hunter.

Open Letter to the Iowa GOP – Choose Wisely, Choose Hunter

Open Letter to the Iowa GOP – Choose Wisely, Choose Hunter

Guest Editorial

Alexander J. Madison - December 31, 2007

Dear Iowegians,

Every presidential election season, your state has the opportunity to help shape the election going forward. Unfortunately, too many times, you have selected a dud during the Iowa Caucuses. In 1976, you picked Gerald Ford, proponent of the ERA and abortion rights, over a very conservative Ronald Reagan. In 1980, you chose a very moderate Bush over Reagan. And twice you picked a milquetoast named Bob Dole. Granted, the choices are sometimes between dud and duddier, but this year is different. This year you have a chance to select a rock-ribbed conservative Reaganite to make up for not choosing the original Reaganite when you had the chance. The name is Duncan Hunter.

Congressman Duncan Hunter is a representative from California's 52nd legislative district.

Mr. Hunter put his college career on hold to volunteer with the 173rd Airborne Rangers to fight the communists in Vietnam. Like Reagan, Hunter believes that war was not only very winnable, but was indeed a "noble cause". And the killing fields that followed our departure from that conflict are a bold testament to their vision over the head-in-the-sand lack of vision (which continues to this day) from the defeatist democrats and RINOs.

Duncan Hunter also entered office with Reagan in 1981, at the ripe old age of 32. He immediately was able to join the Armed Services Committee in Congress, where he has remained to this day, as former Chairmen, and current Ranking Republican. It was in large part due to Mr. Hunter's efforts, teaming with folks like Jack Kemp and Henry Hyde, that Reagan was able to ramrod our historic military buildup through Congress in the 80s, which revitalized every branch of our Armed Services. Jack Kemp even credits Hunter with being the go-to guy for strong-arming the very controversial 'Star Wars' Strategic Defense Initiative through the House. The results of that persistence and vision is paying off in spades, despite the howls of leftists worldwide, as we today have working missile defense systems either in field, or soon to be fielded; including laser based systems for which Reagan was mercilessly ridiculed by the ignorant 'academics' and the press. Hunter was and is perhaps the staunchest anti-communist to sit in Congress. He was the leader most responsible, aside from Reagan, for stemming the commie-creep in Central America during the 1980s, and his disdain for communism has never ebbed.

Duncan Hunter is the ONLY candidate that realizes what China is up to, both militarily with its rapid armament increases, and economically, with its long term strategy to undermine the United States' industrial base. Hunter is dead set against the 'one-way', idiotic trade deal we have with the Chinese, will put a quick end to further technology transfers to the communist nation, and will build up our own military to the point that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be nothing short of a quick suicide mission for communism. All the other candidates tip toe around the issue of China. Hunter plans to step on their throat.

When it comes to the 2nd Amendment, the 10th Amendment, lowering taxes, fighting the ACLU and political correctness, standing firm against the gay agenda, and sweeping out useless bureaucrats and bureaucracies from the federal government, Duncan Hunter is the only choice.

Unlike John McCain and Mitt Romney, Hunter won't find anything in the Constitution to justify supporting a ban on 'assault weapons' or 'cheap handguns'. Hunter has a perfect lifetime record with the NRA and the Gun Owners of America. Both Mitt and McCain are liberals in this arena.

Unlike Fred Thompson, Hunter won't have to lie about previous pro-choice sympathies. Unlike Fred, Hunter has a perfectly consistent record on the life of the unborn, and has sponsored legislation for many, many years to give full constitutional protection to the unborn – legislation that Fred does not support.

Unlike McCain and Thompson, Hunter certainly will not run roughshod over the 1st Amendment for the sake of 'campaign finance reform'. And Hunter will work to ditch the last vestiges of McCain-Feingold-Thompson, if the courts don't do it first.

Unlike Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson, Hunter did not and does not buy into the global warming nonsense in any way, shape or form. The only guarantee we have of avoiding a binding, sovereignty usurping, international treaty on global warming is to place a President in power who does not believe the GW alarmism and does not believe in sovereignty usurping international treaties.

Unlike Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, Hunter does not have some convoluted explanation for why the socialized medicine experiments in Massachusetts (RomneyCare) and Arkansas (ARKids) are a good thing that deserves replication nationally. Indeed, Hunter wants to get government out of the way and reduce the regulations on health insurance by killing off mandates and regulations.

Unlike Mike Huckabee, Hunter will not be contemplating how to mandate and enforce a nationwide ban on smoking in public places, nor will he be scheming to introduce more arts and music and healthy snacks into the nation's public schools. The NEA, who apparently like Mr. Huckabee, despise Congressman Hunter – a genuine supporter of school choice.

Unlike Rudy Giuliani, Hunter does not have to pretend he is a conservative. A man who sued 26 firearms manufacturers to essentially put them out of business has no business seeking the office of the Presidency on the GOP ticket, unless gun control, abortion rights, gay 'rights', and eminent domain abuse are now part of the GOP platform.

Unlike Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Fred Thompson, John McCain, and Mitt Romney, Hunter does not have to lie through his teeth when it comes to his record on illegal immigration. While it is hilarious to see these guys try to 'Out –Tancredo Tancredo' on the issue, only one guy truly does out-Tancredo the Colorado Congressman. While Duncan Hunter has sponsored or cosponsored 85 bills and amendments to stop illegal immigration in this country dead in its tracks, not one of these others lifted a finger during their careers, and range from bad to worse on the issue. While 'The Road to Des Moines' and last springs citizen revolt led these supposed conservatives to finally see the light – at least in rhetoric, Hunter has been fighting the RINOS and dems on this for 27 years. Hunter wrote the border fence bill (recently defanged by the RINOS), and Hunter is the ONLY one who has vowed to actively deport those currently squatting here illegally.

And finally, Duncan Hunter is the most experienced in warfare, defense systems, foreign policy and the security of our nation. If we are intent on defeating the islamists ASAP- without worrying about offending anyone, keeping terrorists out of our country, and rising to meet the future threats posed by the China-Russia-Iran-Venezuela axis, then we better elect a Reaganite this time around.

If not, we may have to put up with an idiot who thinks we need to close Gitmo and end waterboarding because the world disapproves (Huckabee, McCain), or someone who thinks we just need to be more humble and accommodating on the world stage (Huckabee), or someone who can't figure out that enriching China is a fools errand (Fred, Mitt, McCain), or someone who has no clue about our military needs and capabilities and would not know an IED from an IUD (Rudy, Huckabee, Mitt).

The choice is clearer than it has been since 1980. Don't let history pass you by….again.


Most Sincerely,

Alexander J. Madison

Hunter Fights Fence Reduction

Washington, D.C. - Presidential candidate Congressman Duncan Hunter returned to Washington this morning to immediately begin his efforts to overturn provisions contained in a Democratic spending bill that eliminates current legal requirements for double-layered border fencing. Congress last year passed legislation authored by Hunter, the Secure Fence Act, mandating double-layered fencing and related infrastructure at strategic entry points along the Southwest border.

"Now is the time when those who take the threat to our nation's borders seriously stand up and be counted," said Hunter. "Last year, Congress successfully passed legislation that mandated a double fence requirement based on the success of the border fence we've built in San Diego. The Democrat majority in this Congress has taken it upon themselves to overturn federal law to pursue a policy that does nothing but harm our border enforcement capabilities. This is not leadership, it is irresponsibility.

"Border enforcement is too serious of an issue to pursue only when politically convenient at election time. If Congress is to reverse its border stance after just one year, what message does that send to illegal immigrants and drug smugglers who are watching to see how serious we are about protecting America's borders? I believe we must uphold our nation's immigration laws, support our agents serving on the border and protect our border communities and I am going to make every effort to overturn the damage this Democrat leadership has caused."

H.R. 2764, a bill that provides funding for several federal departments and agencies, was brought to the House floor and passed late last evening by the Democratic leadership. Not only does the bill contain provisions removing all specific locations as outlined by the Secure Fence Act; it also removes all requirements to construct any fencing or physical barriers along the border. This action basically repeals the Secure Fence Act and undermines past efforts to secure our nation's border.

H.R. 2764 has been referred to the Senate for consideration and then will be returning to the House with any changes in the form of a conference report. Congressman Hunter is working with his colleagues in both the House and Senate to ensure that these dangerous provisions do not remain in the final version of the funding bill.

HUNTER CALLS ON ROMNEY TO OPPOSE BAIN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHINESE COMPANY


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 2, 2007

CONTACT: Gary Becks (619) 334-1655, dlhunter08@yahoo.com

San Diego, CA - - - Presidential candidate and current Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Duncan Hunter, today called on former Governor Mitt Romney to send a "clear statement" to the leadership of the company he founded, Bain Capital, to terminate a proposed business deal with a controversial Chinese corporation seeking to acquire U.S. defense contractor 3COM. Bain Capital is attempting to form a business arrangement with Huawei Corporation, a Chinese corporation founded by an officer of the Peoples Liberation Army of Communist China, which faces allegations of assisting Saddam Hussein in the targeting of U.S. aircraft and in helping the Taliban develop surveillance equipment.

"I am extremely concerned that Governor Romney's company would tout a highly suspect Chinese corporation as a strategic partner," stated Hunter. "Forming a business partnership with a corporation known to have direct ties with terrorists and dictators while, at the same time, openly seeking to acquire a major U.S. corporation that performs vital cyber security work for the Department of Defense, can only be characterized as irresponsible."

A resolution has been introduced in Congress, H.Res. 730, which states; "The preponderance of publicly available evidence clearly suggests that as currently structured, the proposed transaction involving Huawei threatens the national security of the United States and should not be approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States ." A copy of this resolution is provided.

Hunter stated in his letter to Governor Romney, "…while it is true that you no longer control Bain Capital, the contributions you have received from its principals as its founding member indicate that your influence within the company remains strong.

"Further, while the Committee on Foreign Investment has yet to rule on the Huawei transaction, this corporation's connection to Saddam Hussein, the Taliban and the Army of Communist China should clearly disqualify them from becoming, in the words of your former company, "a strategic partner" in acquiring a U.S. firm such as 3COM, which performs vital cyber-security work for the U.S. Department of Defense.

"This letter is a request that you immediately issue a statement of policy that this transaction should be terminated on the grounds of national security. Please let me know what you intend to do."

A copy of Congressman Hunter's letter, as well as two articles regarding Huawei acquisition efforts are provided. Media are encouraged to contact Gary Becks at (619) 334-1655 for additional information or to arrange an interview with Hunter.

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