RIP Kemp

When I pick a primary candidate, he rarely wins.

Last year, I picked Duncan Hunter as the candidate who, of all parties, but the most right on the most issues, was a serious man who had the capacity to serve as president. Have you heard of Duncan Hunter? Didn't think so.

This was after I abandoned support of Brownback because he was wrong on the issue of illegal immigration.

After Hunter dropped out, I looked briefly at Fred Thompson, but he dropped out two days later. So I picked Ron Paul as the best of the remaining candidates.

This is not even the latest example. I endorsed Roseanna Pulido for Congress, and she was soundly beaten (although she did win the primary).

This trend for me goes all the way back to 1988, when I concluded that Congressman Jack Kemp was a much better choice for president than Vice President Bush. I still think so. Kemp had been a leader in Congress for the Reagan tax cuts. He lost the primary that year, but not for lack of my vote. He is the first person, other than Ronald Reagan, for whom I voted for president.

Kemp was later nominated by the GOP to be Bob Dole's running mate, a young conservative running mate for elderly moderate candidate who couldn't energize himself or his campaign. Sound familiar?

Jack Kemp died yesterday. May he rest in peace.