In just about any race for office, the endorsement of the incumbent politician who is retired is usually coveted. Clearly one race where NO ONE wants the endorsement of the former incumbent is in the Special Election taking place in San Diego — after all, former Congressman Duke Cunningham is serving time in the federal pen for using his office to make millions to line his own pockets, while doling out government funds in returns.
One of the candidates in the race has managed to reach back to the conservative Congressman who represented the area BEFORE Cunningham — retired Congressman Ron Packard (pictured). Packard’s biggest claim to fame is that he actually won his first election as a write-in candidate. Now that is no longer recent history — as a matter of fact, it has been a long time since Packard served in Congress as all (though he served nearly two decades).
Anyways, Packard has endorsed businessman Eric Roach for this seat, and you can hear the Congressman tell you why in his own words by clicking the link below to hear his radio spot.
Packard hits Brian Bilbray hard, saying that the race is down to three candidates, Francine Busby, Brian Bilbray and Eric Roach — and that Roach is the only conservative of the three…
April 10th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Let me get this stright, we attack Bilbray for being a lobbiest, but praise Roach when another lobbiest (Packard) endorse him.
April 10th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Yeah, talk about hypocritical. And just FYI, in case you haven’t looked at a map lately. Packard represented ISSA’S district before he retired. ISSA replaced him in 2000, after Duke had been in Congress, oh about 9-10 years already. Duke beat Lowrey in the primary in 1992 when he moved to North County from South Bay. But anyway, congrats to Roach for his second endorsement (his wallet was his first until recently). I’m glad he finally got a lobbyist (who often secured appropriations for clients from the Duke-stir himself) to back him.
April 10th, 2006 at 12:00 am
I don’t think that Bilbray being a lobbyist makes him a bad person, I think that his profession makes him quite vulnerable to Busby in a run-off.
My reason for not prefering Bilbray over his competitors is that Bilbray is a moderate, and this district should elect someone who is a solid conservative on all of our issues. Someone who will take the GOP leadership in the House to task for their failure to either (1) curb the size and scope of the federal government (spending is up over 33% since the GOP took control) or (2) force enough up and down votes on achieving our policy goals to expose the moderate GOPers that they say – behind the scenes – are the reason that we have not achieved the primary goal.
If someone could convince me that Bilbray would be a rock-solid RSC conservative – then I would have a different opinion. But I am assuming based on his endorsements that he will be yet another “go along to get along” part of the “comfortable presiding over big government” GOP majority in the House.
April 10th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Duke was never in the RSC. I didn’t hear you complaining so loudly about that back when. This strategy of how conservatives should act in the House sounds awfully close to the playbook that has made us a perpetual minority in our own state.
April 10th, 2006 at 12:00 am
We are about to be made a minority in the Congress precisely because the GOP Congress has grown spending 30% across the board. If you can’t see the disaster heading for us this November Nate because of this then you go ahead and keep your head in the sand. The Democrats may have no message, but we’re worse because we say we want to reduce government and we haven’t followed through on any promises to reduce government. The voters are going to punish the Republicans this November unless we get off our ass and start following through on some sort of conservative agenda.
April 10th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Allan, you know that in order for Roach to effectively block legislation as a member of the RSC, he would have to show up for votes, right?
April 10th, 2006 at 12:00 am
What about Republicans showing up for votes and then voting to grow the government Nate? Does that count in your book? You mean those kinds of votes? Your guy Bilbray is a prototypical grow the government Republican. No thanks.
April 10th, 2006 at 12:00 am
I remember Bilbray voting for a balanced budget amendment. Can you name a vote where he “grew the government?”
April 10th, 2006 at 12:00 am
One of his biggest announced reasons for running is that he said he will be able “to bring home the bacon for San Diego” Nate. What does that phrase mean to you? Does it mean he wants to go to DC and get aggressive on reducing government? Please stop this nonsense. Bilbray is a classic big government Republican. He talks a decent game like most others of his ilk, but when the rubber hits the road to cut spending, he will be useless.
April 10th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Hmm something vague and anecdotal, just as I suspected you would come up with! Are you saying Roach will NOT bring home the fair share of Federal dollars to San Diego voters? Hope all the folks sitting in traffic right now know that this is Roach’s position. But thanks for the “big government Republican” label with no actual evidence to back it up. Really ads weight to your argument. But at least we know Roach won’t be a reliable “yes” vote on budget and appropriations bills! (won’t really be a reliable “no” vote either…or “present” vote…or any “vote”..)
April 10th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Nate, I think you missed Mr. Roach’s position: He wants ALL the money to stay in San Diego. Why should we send our gas tax money to Washington so the politicians can fight over who gets credit?