Anyone remember Randy "Duke" Cunningham?

[gratuitous]

Republican representative from California. He got busted for corruption and sentenced to eight years in the federal pokey. Well, he's up for release in December, and there's something on his mind. Yup, getting a gun. Unfortunately, people convicted of federal crimes tend to lose their Second Amendment rights, so old Duke is writing the judge who sentenced him to help a guy out a little. The judge can't really help him, but referred him to the Secretary of the Treasury. Doubly unfortunate for Duke, the Bureau of ATF doesn't have the funds to review petitions from prisoners for restoration of their gun rights, so the judge isn't too hopeful on Duke's behalf.

The exchange is captured at Talking Points Memo:

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/05/randy_duke_cunningham_gun_rights_restore_atf.php?ref=fpblg

I recommend to your attention the letter wot Randy wrote all by hisself. He was a member of the House Intelligence Committee.

[MADem]

1. Yes, I do remember that despicable nitwit.

I remember him well, I remember his blow-hardiness when he was in Congress, I remember how he ran roughshod over a lot of people who were both civilian and military. Shameless, disgraceful asshole.

I think his circumstances are more than well deserved...couldn't have happened to a 'nicer' guy.

[freshwest]

3. +1. He was a particularly loathsome variety of the GOPig species.

My apologies to all honest swine.

[Warpy]

6. Nitwit is right. His letter was barely legible.

He was just another total ignoramus the GOP stuffed into a slot so he could cast the votes his masters told him to and sign whatever they shoved under his nose.

And no, I don't feel a bit sorry for him. Undoubtedly, he thinks he's the sharpest tool in the shed and that selling his country out was a good deal.

[tularetom]

2. Karma is really turning out to be a bitch for the Duke

I haven't checked but I'll bet he voted against the restoration of firearms ownership to felons at every opportunity while serving in Congress.

Given the guy's military record, I feel sort of sorry for him, but I can't ignore the fact that he was a particularly egregious offender and frankly, a thief. He's no better than the criminals he wanted to punish while a congresscritter.

And that letter - jeezus effing christ. That was pathetic. Frankly I question whether anyone who can't express themselves any better than that should be allowed within a mile of a firearm.

[jberryhill]

4. That letter is a hoot

I would deny his request on that letter alone.

He needs a gun to earn money? How? He's going to mug people.

But the "I flew aircraft that could disintegrate your building with a half second burst" line?

Are you fucking kidding me? What people say is an indication of the types of things on their mind. And if he has fantasies of disintegrating a federal courthouse with automatic arms fire, he is not of a mind that suggests he be given a kitchen knife, let alone a gun.

[JDPriestly]

16. I agree. I hope the judge has a gun permit. Because judges are the kinds of people

who need them. Most of us don't. And certainly, if that letter is any indication, Duke Cunningham does not need and should not have one.

That's my opinion.

And, while we are at it, $1700 per month is more than the average Social Security monthly benefit. So, Cunningham will not be living any worse than many other 71-year-old Americans.

[brewens]

5. Sounds like they fined that bastard right down to it's last shit stained

pair of underwear! No guns for you!

[EFerrari]

7. Would you believe --

During his service, Cunningham and his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) "Irish" Driscoll became the only Navy aces in the Vietnam War, flying an F-4 Phantom II from aboard aircraft carriers, and recording five confirmed kills. He was one of the early graduates of the Navy's TOPGUN school that taught dog fighting techniques to F-4 Phantom pilots and RIOs.

[cascadiance]

15. Supposedly he was the inspiration for Tom Cruise's role in Top Gun

which had Tom Cruise in effect play two notable Republican figures from that time period (Duke Cunningham in "Top Gun" and one of the "fired" attorneys, David Iglesias, in "A Few Good Men&quot .

If I were Cruise, I'd rather point more proudly at playing Iglesias's role than Cunningham's, even if "Top Gun" is probably a more popular film than the other.

Cunningham was my rep too for a while before he went down in San Diego. Unfortunately, Bilbray replacing him wasn't much better, and I've heard some "stories" about him too as a beach lifeguard there that weren't very complimentary too.

Also, another not too well known tidbit about Cunningham that he was said to be yet another closet gay that worked against gay rights...

http://politicsplusstuff.blogspot.com/2006/04/duke-cunningham-was-bi-sexual.html

Pretty despicable hypocrite on many levels.

[Misskittycat]

8. Yes, I remember him; he was my Congress Critter.

[suffragette]

9. He's complaining that he'll only have $1700 month

That makes him one of the few Republicans who will feel the impact of living on the minimal amount many people receive for Social Security.

And no surprise, he received a zero rating by ARA.

http://www.ontheissues.org/CA/Duke_Cunningham.htm
Rated 0% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. Plenty of people live on lots less that that

He should be grateful he's getting that much.

[suffragette]

31. Yes, much less and in much higher cost places

He should be grateful, especially given the corruption and crime. Speaking of that, whatever happened to his buddy, Foggo? And what about Monica Goodling? Wasn't she involved in some way as well?

[sadbear]

10. He's not going to let something as trivial as the law from keeping him from owning a gun

[baldguy]

20. "But," - as the gunners would say - "He's a law-abiding citizen!"

"Why shouldn't he be able to own a gun illegally?"

[slackmaster]

22. Actually, baldguy, we know with certainty that Cunningham is NOT a law-abiding citizen

He's a convicted felon.

So your statement is wrong.

[baldguy]

25. Three words: Gun Show Loophole

A major system of distribution for weapons manufacturers - and a major source of illegal weapons - has been set up for the sole purpose of circumventing the law. Nobody who engages in this scheme, or defends it, is a "law abiding citizen".

[slackmaster]

26. There is no difference in laws at a gun show vs. outside of one. If Cunningham is willing...

...to break the law, he wouldn't have any trouble obtaining firearms even in California where the "loophole" has been closed by requiring most private-party transfers to be done through a dealer.

...set up for the sole purpose of circumventing the law. Nobody who engages in this scheme, or defends it, is a "law abiding citizen".

Unsupported claim. Obviously plenty of perfectly lawful activity happens at gun shows.

[baldguy]

30. Thank you for proving my point.

[slackmaster]

41. Yes, criminals break laws.

By definition.

[baldguy]

44. And some people work very hard to ensure criminals can commit thier crimes w/ a gun in their hand.

If Randy Cunningham - as a convicted felon - wanted to get a gun now, legally or illegally, it would be through the efforts of the NRA, the radical RW, the gun lobby & most of the so-called "gun enthusiasts" here on DU (misguided as they are) that he'd be able to get one.

[BiggJawn]

34. Uh-Uh.

You think gun owners are so gawd-damn STOOPID we don't understand that a convicted felon is unable to legally possess a firearm?

[baldguy]

39. Oh, I think you understand the law alright.

I just don't think you care about it all that much - seeing as gunners usually support such nefarious institutions as gun shows, and jump to the defense of murderers like Randy Weaver and George Zimmerman - people who most sane people agree should never have been allowed near a gun in the first place.

[BiggJawn]

43. Well, I'm glad you count me amongst the "sane".

Because I don't defend Weaver OR Zimmerman.

[baldguy]

45. Then you'd support background checks, licensing restrictions, limits on gun sales,

having a national registration of guns, and outright bans on certain kinds of firearms. Right?

Right?

[BiggJawn]

47. Sorry.

If that's your idea of "sane", I'd rather be fucking nuts.

Outright bans on what KIND of firearms? Oh, let me guess: Evil-looking BLACK rifles with bayonet lugs, and flash hiders, and black nylon slings and 20-round clips, right?

More laws, that's you anti-gunner's answer to everything. Convicted felons carrying guns? why, there ought to be a LAW!

Funny thing, there's already plenty of laws. seems you can't legislate respect and compliance for the law. And the answer is *NOT* MORE laws.

What you people fail to get through your dense skulls is that more laws, background checks, sales limits, etc. does absolutely NOTHING to the criminal element's ability to acquire firearms. It only places an unreasonable burden on lawful gun owners.

And, if by some miracle you were able to rid this nation of private ownership of firearms, our criminals would just take a page from their British brethren and acquire baseball bats and knives.

[gratuitous]

12. Angry?

No; more like amused. You really should get out more if you can't tell the difference.

[EFerrari]

13. Boo!

lol

[Lugnut]

14. He's going to write a book?

Seriously?

I wish I had $1700 a month to live on.

[leveymg]

17. Surprised no one mentioned that Duke was tied in with Rove's shakedown operation

Last edited Tue May 29, 2012, 04:52 AM - Edit history (1)

Practically the entire House GOP leadership along with the Appropriations, Armed Services and Intel Committes went down during that period. Massive foreign influence-buying campaign. When you factor in the interlinked Goss/Foggo/MZM Iraq War intel falsification operation, and Rove's ties to multiple criminal investigations, almost the entire government was fundamentally corrupt or engaged in state crimes. Most of them are out now, including Abramoff, looking to make a buck and rehabilitate themselves as Great American Patriots.

How soon we forget. Just in case, please see, http://journals.democraticunderground.com/leveymg/308

[BlueIris]

18. Beware cougars and bears of Arkansas.

And again, screw you AND Brent Wilkes, Mr. Cunningham.

[sandiling0746]

19. Spam deleted by OKNancy (MIR Team)

[Scurrilous]

21. Kick

[slackmaster]

23. I'm not at all qualified to diagnose dementia by reading a single letter that someone wrote,

But I suspect that Cunningham is suffering from dementia.

The prohibition of felons having firearms does not apply to primitive weapons, such as muzzle-loaders. I suggest that Cunningham arm himself with something like a Howdah Hunter pistol. Dixie Gun Works is a great source for black-powder weapons and accessories.

[Johnny Rico]

33. I'm actuAlly toying with the idea of picking up a Howdah.

The idea of a 20 gauge double barreled pistol...amuses me.

[slackmaster]

37. .60 caliber soft lead balls pack a wallop

A person carrying such a weapon is well-armed for defonse. The DGW Howdah makes a great club too.

[Johnny Rico]

40. If I were to be restricted to primitive firearms, I'd aquire a LeMat revolver.

9 .44 caliber shots in the cylinder, and a single shot 16 Ga. shotgun under the top barrel!

[maveric56]

24. Living in San Diego for the past 32 years...

I've had to endure both him and his crooked buddy Duncan Hunter.
Never a defense contractor they didn't like.

[slackmaster]

27. From the very beginning I have thought of Cunningham as a shameless carpet-bagger

It started when he and his wife bought a condo in Mission Valley for the obvious purpose of establishing residency in a heavily Republican district.

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. "Cunningham has been a prolific writer in prison"

[pinboy3niner]

32. Obvious misspelling. They meant "pathetic."

[BiggJawn]

35. Oh, that letter was pathetic...

THIS many commanded an F-4 Phantom? Guess he took no composition courses in college...

Well, Randy, ol' boy, sure sucks being a convicted felon, don't it?

[lonestarnot]

36. Jeeze, how pitiful, a racist w/o a gun, imagine that.

[GoneOffShore]

38. No guns for "Randy" because they make him randy.

[Ganja Ninja]

42. This guy will probably be a lobbyist for aerospace and aircraft industry the minute he gets out.

He's a former fighter ace and I seriously doubt he will not be able to find employment or speaking gigs. The idea that he's going to be living Unabomber style in the backwoods of Arkansas is laughable.

[rustydog]

46. So sorry Randal "Duke", You AND your GOP pushed ex-felon anti-gun laws

Why are you so special? Why shouldn't your laws apply to felonious you? Your letter shows absolutely NO remorse for the crimes you were tried and convicted of...you have cancer? so does my brother. You have only 1700 a month to live on? Thousands upon thousands of AMERICAN children live in poverty every fucking day, mostly due to the hateful laws you and your GOP forced upon the masses...Why should we cry for a hateful, bigoted unrepentant Randall "Duke" Cunningham?
Get help from Newt, he was in this with you. The Lord helps those who help themselves...remember

[jmowreader]

48. I could live pretty fucking well on $1700 per month

Not sure of the cost of living in Pig's Knuckle, Arkansas, where Randy is moving to because it's the only place in America they never heard of him before, but he can make it without having to run around in the woods shooting his own food.