I see both Mark Halperin and Ben Smith have gone all gaga over Jon Huntsman this morning and his

speech in SC.
Granted I don't know very much about him, but who is he supposed to appeal to? Will Republican's really vote for someone who worked for and praised Obama?
And am I the only one who sees this as such a disloyal move, wouldn't even Independents view him with suspicion?

Is he such a great campaigner he can get past that?
It sure seems the media loves him.

They have to pump up a republican and nobody at this point is very exciting. It won't amount to anything in the end. Huntsman will disappear.

At this time four years ago, they were all having orgasms over future president Fred Thompson.

He could say that he respected Obama as a person but strongly disagreed with many policies etc. It could really be seen as a willingness to serve his country and work across party lines that he took position to begin with... make him more attractive in the general.

Is he right wing enough for the primaries? Or charismatic enough to pull enough sane republicans to get out and vote for him in primary

I haven't heard him speak but have read only good things about him in the past
I think I read that he is also Mormon and that was seen as a bit of a drawback since Romney has so many of the rich Mormon contributors already... and the usual about less enthusiasm from fundies on right... but that he is a much more appealing candidate than Romney.

Did they say anything about the tone of his speech. Like avoiding the crazy or sounding more right wing or level of Obama bashing or Obama as socialist?

movement? Sure sound like that to me.

First I imagine a Dem forum would be a silly place to do that
and making things up here to make him sound bad would not hurt his campaign

If someone asks something hear I figure we should answer as honestly as we can so I did. Like I said I haven't heard him speak or looked into him but he was talked about a lot when he was made ambassador to China. It was first time I heard of him and he was often brought up as "was it a move to stop a 2012 opponent". They'd laugh but then go on to talk about why he was such a good choice for position (like speaking Chinese) and a bit about what he was like

As far as guessing how working for Obama would be viewed... again... are you kidding? What is more obvious than it will hurt him in primary if he isn't wing nutty but Independents would probably like it.
I hope he can't get through the primary. I don't know that he'd actually be a threat to Obama but all the other candidates have such really clear down sides that I don't think they could win if nominated.

Honestly if you aren't joking I don't know where you are coming from

is not a chance of any Repub winning this time around. They can then show how open-minded and "non-prejudice" they are by nominating a black man.

the Republicans are in the ditch so to speak.
Cong. Polls for Republicans are down. They
do not have a strong candidate at the moment.

We do not have a Media with a strong knowledge
background. (A few with knowledge) However
it is easier to have "Horse Race Coverage"
of elections rather than covering issues, and
how they effect people's lives. Covering Issues
requires a lot of work and the Media standing
up to candidates (Right or Left) and forcing the
truth. They threw away the Search for Truth years
ago.

When you have a horse race, the horses have to be
prepared and at the gate.

The Media then goes to the aid of the one needing
most help in order to get them ready to run.

Go back, they did a lot of supporting Obama when he
first ran.

They are going to help the Republicans right now
so they can get a viable candidate to the gate.

Huntsman is not known so they will highlight him
so America can take a close look. They will follow
the lead of the Republicans as they finally decide
who their candidate will be. They will ga ga over
him or her until they decide a fair race can be run.

To be fair to the Media, they turned flps for Pres.
Obama when he was first running.

When the curtain falls, me thinks Mitch Daniels
will be the Candidate for the Republican party.

Right now Huntsman is the least known so he will
have some time in the sun. Who knows he may break
out and eclipse all the others.

Never worry about things like he worked for Obama ADM.
The Republicans have a much better organized party.
If they see he does well with Independents and some
Democrats their party will fall in line and get behind
him. GWB was questioned by the rank and file but
once the party decided they got behind him and kept
him in office 2 terms. If they see Huntsmen has appeal
all these piddling points will not matter.

Otherwise, Mitch Daniels is their man, IMO.

Red meat, hate, intolerance and ignorance works with their base. He doesn't seem like that type (he has a degree from an Ivy League school). That will disqualify him when the republicans in SC, WV, TN, OK, KS, MS, GA, AL, MO, OH find out about it.

seems to have more cache than the others. He may be in the long run the dark horse to be played much closer to the election. The Republican list out there now looks like victims of a B movie. Of course, he may be far too sophisticated for the run-of-the-mill voter. May need to have a translator for some in this country.

To run the next time. I can't believe he actually thinks he could beat a man he's worked for and praised

He supports civil unions, apologised to China about the AZ immigration law, is concerned about global warming and worked for and gushed about Obama. He has no fucking chance next year if he runs, unless literally all of his opponents implode.

2016 is more interesting though - if Obama wins and the economy continues to improve over the course of his second term we may have a situation in which the far-flung lunatics are ushered towards the exit of the GOP asylum with a moderate seen as the only chance they have. In that event Huntsman may be seen by many as a fine replacement for an outgoing popular President - Ironically, his ties to President Obama could help rather than hinder him four years down the line.

The guy looks like an actual candidate instead of a loon, who could actually be a threat in a general election.

The non-loon part doesn't play well in Red America right now, though.

He's polling at around 1% nationally and will probably stay around that level for the remainder of the summer. He's just not a very exciting candidate and lacks the buzz needed to move up the polls (like a Trump).

because he is the least nuts of the group? Or the least known. I don't recall if any of them mentioned he's another Morman? He's another son of a millionaire, of a drug company. Just another Mitt.

But you're right. He's a Mormon and was born into a mega-rich family.

Unlike Mitt, I don't think Huntsman will sell his soul to run for president. He's also taken some difficult stands in the past (supports civil unions, believes in global warming). What's interesting is that even though Romney is NOT from Utah and has less ties to the state, he trounces Huntsman in a theoretical 2012 Republican poll.

Huntsman is a moderate Republican in the truest sense. Romney is a poser.

Never.

--imm

He's the least nuts of the group.

In fact, I am forced to admit that if we had a strong Democratic Congress, I would...be somewhat OK with Huntsman as President (assuming, of course, he didn't tack hard right in office). I wouldn't vote for him, of course, but his nomination might force the Overton window back left. He'd claim more of the center, so Democrats would be forced to move left.

But I guess somebody has to! (evil maniacal laughter)

in '16 either. It seems the parties just don't get excited about an "also ran". Were I him, I'd keep my powder dry until '16. But as I'm not his campaign chair, I say go for it!

FWIW, in '16, I see a Bush/Rubio ticket. :puke:

Uh, no. And you know why. ;-)

;)

They'd get excited over just about anyone new right now.

suppose to be more mainstream but I think his Utah religion is a point against him I think. Depends how desparate the repbulicans are. I wouldn't count him out just yet.