Duncan Hunter, Presidential Candidate

Let's see...hmm....there's Dunkin Donuts, Duncan Hines, and Duncan Hunter. The last is a Republican candidate for president. Don't fall off of your seat because I'm writing about a Republican. (Actually, I have myself strapped to my chair, so "I" won't fall off.)

First, a little history. When I was younger, the press would refer to some Democrats as "Scoop Jackson Democrats." For those of you who are too young, or unaware, "Scoop" Jackson was a Democratic senator from Washington, the state of Washington, that is. What exactly did the press mean by the terminology they used? Well, Jackson was seen as being tough on foreign policy and defense matters, and more moderate to liberal on domestic issues. During those times (the 1960s and 70s), Democrats were increasingly seen as being "soft" on defense and foreign policy and as catering too much to the "welfare state," which to many people, meant giving money to people who didn't want to work. Increasingly, Republicans began to get support from the "Scoop Jackson Democrats." When Ronald Reagan was elected in 1980, the press eventually coined a new term for these Democrats, "Reagan Democrats." These voters helped to make the Republicans heavy presidential election favorites for many years thereafter. In 1992 and 1996, Bill Clinton was able to get back some, but not all, of these wayward Democrats (remember, Clinton NEVER received a majority of the vote in either election), but in the interim, in the congressional election of 1994, these voters went heavily into the Republican column, giving Republicans control of both houses of Congress. As Republicans pushed more and more of a pro-business agenda over the years, many of these Democrats began to return to the fold, something Duncan Hunter has seen, and wants to do something about, unlike many of his Republican brethren, who seemingly need a brick wall to fall on their heads (as if the 2006 election results didn't get their attention).

I just read an article about Hunter, who seems to "get it." According to the article, Hunter feels that his party has been taken over by the "free traders." (And I would argue, by the "free marketers," who never met a price gouge to the public they didn't like.) Hunter wants to scrutinize trade deals and actually says he wants the U.S. to REGAIN good paying manufacturing jobs, and he fears that the tremendous trade imbalance we've been running (not just under Republicans) is fueling military build-ups by countries benefiting from these trade deals. He also wants the U.S. border secured!!! He also has called our industrial foundation, now beleaguered, as "the arsenal of democracy." (Okay, he stole that term, but hey, at least he understands what's been going on here.) Further, it seems that Hunter feels,correctly, in my always so humble opinion, that many in his party have shunned working class people. He's tough on defense, interested in working Americans, and seems less interested in "cushioning" the backsides of the ass-sitting class. Hmm, looks like a "Scoop Jackson Democrat" to me!