Rachel Maddow asks why everyone takes Jon Huntsman seriously...

[madinmaryland]

It's because he worked for President Obama.

[elleng]

1. Right, mad, and ain't no flake.

[Safetykitten]

2. Because he's white, rich and he IS pals with Obama.

[aikoaiko]

3. I had to google Jon Hunstman.

I've been too busy with work these days.

[Shagbark Hickory]

4. He's the one to watch.

You heard it here first.

[gkhouston]

5. He's got a bad case of the dulls. I expect him to drop out before

the end of the primary season.

[cordelia]

8. You may be right. Just a hunch on my part. n/t

[Shagbark Hickory]

9. He hasn't been soiled or tainted yet like the others. Nice and fresh.

Nobody's even been paying any attention to him til now.
Heck the above reply-er said he's dull.
Need I say more?

[Auggie]

29. Didn't Jimmy Carter seemingly come out of nowhere? Nice and fresh too, as I recall.

[customerserviceguy]

18. No way

Yes way, if by some miracle he got the Rethug nomination. But as "Mitt Romney Lite" he's not going to attract the country-clubbers that love Mitt, or the fundies who hate Mormons.

He's toast, and only a favorite of a few media elites.

[Shagbark Hickory]

22. A few media elites? What more could you ask for?

These elections aren't about who the most people want.
It's about who the seemingly least objectionable candidate is who can get the most amount of money and favorable coverage.

[customerserviceguy]

24. It's also about who the people in a particular party don't want

when it comes time to choosing their own nominee. Huntsman is unappealing to both the country clubbers and the bible thumpers, and we're going to see that in NH.

[Shagbark Hickory]

26. Are there any country clubs or babbles in nh?

Even if they are, I do believe it will be the least objectionable candidate they will favor.

[customerserviceguy]

27. Agreed

But why choose Mitt Romney Lite, when you have the real thing on the ballot?

[Kat45]

20. Someone on Facebook also said that recently.

Now I'm hearing it again. I'll have to find out more about him

[TroglodyteScholar]

6. I'd say she's making a mistake in asserting that "everyone" takes that dipshit seriously. n/t

[Fumesucker]

16. The Village Is Everyone..

The DC Village takes Huntsman seriously, that is all that matters.

[TroglodyteScholar]

21. The DC Village can take a flying fuck at a rolling donut, to borrow a phrase from K Vonnegut Jr. n/t

[Mudoria]

7. He's not extreme enough to get the nomination

[Oasis_]

11. If the powers that be

Within the GOP are able to convince the far right that a "half loaf" (Huntsman) is better than nothing at all (Obama re-elected) he may be able to secure the nomination.

Remember, GWB was perceived as fairly moderate by many Republicans before and during the primaries. Many righties really, really disliked and failed to embrace the whole "compassionate conservative" message--yet voted for him anyway.

It's the Independents that are in play here (as is usually the case). Huntsman has the potential to be a VERY formidable challenger. We underestimate his national electability at our own peril.

If the economy continues on the treadmill, the GOP will take the Senate in '12. The last thing we need is a galvanized right and far right wing to coalesce and come out in full force. We could easily once again be looking down the barrel of a GOP controlled Legislative and Executive.

It can happen. We cannot take Huntsman lightly.

Oasis

[itsrobert]

10. She is the one that took 10 minutes at the start of her show on him

Maybe she should look in a mirror? I don't know why she spent 10 minutes on him.

[justiceischeap]

14. She was pointing out how screwed up his campaign launch was

then went on to question why the rest of the media see him as an underdog... Plus, just because he's not a Dem, doesn't mean she shouldn't cover the news and it is news.

[tritsofme]

12. I don't necessarily agree, even taking away his service in the Obama administration

Being a former governor in itself seems to be a qualifying factor for this GOP field.

His candidacy in the GOP primary would in fact be much more compelling if he did not serve in the Obama administration.

I would say Huntsman is at least as relevant as Pawlenty, (which isn't exactly a ringing endorsement) with or without having been ambassador.

[customerserviceguy]

19. "Huntsman is at least as relevant as Pawlenty"

That's like arguing whether Moe or Larry is the 'smart' Stooge.

[liberalmuse]

13. He's not like the rest of 'them'.

He has moments of sanity. I lived in Utah for a spell and liked the guy. That scares me, because I normally loathe Republican politicians. I'd also feared he'd run because he could get the Indie and crossover votes.

[loyalsister]

28. I think he's the least bad

if the worst comes true. I'm hearing that from other dems as well. We should watch out for him because of all the candidates he is the most moderate and he actually could court right leaning Democrats along with Independents. If they were to band together with a singular intent to win, he could be a real threat.

[Taverner]

15. Because Americans are stupid perhaps???

Perhaps we're actually dumber than boxes of rockses just like we are accused of being???

And in fact the only reason we have H1B visas is because most Americans are too stupid to do anything than flip burgers....

[Fumesucker]

17. First, he looks the part...

Second, at the moment his feet seem to be remarkably free of gaping bullet wounds, particularly for a Republican.

Third, called Obama boss (this for or against, depending).

Fourth, Jon Huntsman is a Presidential Name, particularly after our current POTUS.

I'm done.

[Shagbark Hickory]

23. Fifth, full head o' hair. nt

[GentryDixon]

25. The sad fact is

this man had a soul before he decided to get into the fray that is the Republican race to the White House.

All of his liberal polices he espoused during his tenure as Governor of Utah have been tossed overboard. Shame on him. He was more liberal than our so called "Democratic" Rep Jim Matheson. The Utah repubs hated him. He could have been a good Dem candidate in later years. Now he has tarnished his image with all but the media at this point.

[blm]

30. It's because Huntsman and his father are longtime allies of Poppy Bush, and why he was tapped for

China role, most likely through the urgings of the Clinton wing of the party flexing their 'experience' muscles in the early days of the Obama WH.