Get ready to hear a lot about John Hunstman.

[Marr]

I heard a long report on NPR about Republican John Huntsman, speculating as to his chances of winning the Republican nomination. The piece had all the markings of a promotional puff piece with talking points from a Republican think tank. Judging solely from that one report, I expect Huntsman is the GOP establishment's choice-- kind of a Republican Obama. He's taken some more liberal stances on social issues, while consistently supporting big business and outsourcing.

[DCBob]

1. The conservative base will be royally pissed.

But they would be wrong because Huntsman would probably have the best chance of winning at least among the losers out there now.

[patrice]

2. Watch for a bid for "Labor", something that corelates with certain kinds of jobs, maybe?

What do you think?

[tularetom]

3. Flavor of the day

They keep trotting out these names to see if any of them catch on.

In 3 months nobody will remember John Huntsman and there will be a new hero on the horizon.

All I can think of is the big Fred Thompson love fest before the 2008 primaries.

Everybody was swooning over how presidential he seemed. Even tweety was having orgasms over him. Then he opened his mouth and proved he was a moran.

Now he's doing commercials for reverse mortgages. Like the Fonz and Pat Boone.

[LiberalAndProud]

5. Really, reverse mortgage ads?

Did you make that up or is that a joke? (Asked, because I'm happily tv free.)

[blondeatlast]

6. Really. He and Pat Boone (not together). nt

[tularetom]

10. No joke, them ads are dripping with phony sincerity for seniors

In fact I think it is a perfect test for presidential candidates.

Can you imagine (name of candidate) doing ads for reverse mortgages?

Obama - no effin way

McCain - probably not

Palin - in a second

Romney - he's loaded so likely not

Huckleberry - yeah, I can see that

Newt - are you kidding me, he'd probably find a way to blame the Dems while he did the ad

Bachmann - yup

Trump - he's a whore and I don't think he has anywhere near the dough he pretends to have, so yes.

[Marr]

7. Maybe. You should've heard this though.

The man apparently dropped out of high school and never got his diploma (his father was filthy rich), but this piece repeatedly cited that fact as an example of Huntsman's rugged, 'go it my own way' approach. It had Madison avenue preemptive spin dripping off it.

[Hamlette]

11. He dropped out of HS to play keyboard in a rock band. He went back, got his degree and a BA degree

[Marr]

15. He eventually got his high school diploma?

They didn't mention that in the report, and after looking around a little bit online, I can't find any flat statement to that effect. There are references to his 'eventually resuming his studies', and of course, his college education. One could assume the high school diploma was prerequisite to going to a university, but then, I suspect I've had to jump through a lot of hoops that men with wealthy fathers don't have to jump through.

[Hamlette]

17. you are right, he did not get his HS diploma, he entered college first as a nonmatriculated student

http://www.usnews.com/news/campaign-2008/articles/2008/05/22/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-jon-huntsman-jr

I'm not sure his father's wealth or position got him into college. Not sure Sr was such a hot shot in 1978. There are several programs here to get into state college without a HS diploma (and law school w/o a bachelor's like hubby).

Maybe its where you come from but for me, a button down Mormon GOP type dropping out of HS in his senior year to play in a rock and roll band is not as big a strike as it might be for others. He apparently went back to school that summer and prolly spent more time in school his senior year and I did (and I graduated).

[Ship of Fools]

19. produce the high school diploma, dammit! heh heh heh

[blondeatlast]

4. I remember way back in the day when I logged into DU and a lot

of shiny fresh usernames were touting this Sarah Somebody as God's gift to everything.

I don't think all Astroturfers get paid; many of them do time as interns at the TAX-EXEMPT Heritage Foundation.

[asjr]

8. Probably emerge as the Republican

"dark horse" and little by little say just the right words to make people believe him. Low key at first to gain confidence. If he is molded correctly he might just give us a run for our money. I simply do not trust anyone with an R beside his or her name.

[blondeatlast]

9. Should get VERY interesting; two Mormons in the primary.

It will be interesting to see how the church leaders handle that.

[here_is_to_hope]

12. National Press for Republicans?

Not even Prairie Home Companion can save that operation.

[Hamlette]

13. Jon Huntsman is a great guy

I would never vote for him mind you but he was a great governor of Utah. He has a kind heart and an open mind which in Utah are very rare qualities. He's also smart and while his father is rich, if you ever get cancer, you will benefit from his money as he has donated much of his fortune to his cancer institute. Father and son are not empty suits. If they lived in any other state they would be dems.

When he was running for office I thought, like you, that he was/would be awful but having worked under him for a few years, I know why Obama picked him. He's a decent man and did more for the poor and "teh gays" in Utah than any other GOP governor has ever thought of doing.

[Marr]

16. Thanks for your perspective.

I'm not in Utah myself, and my only experience with the name was with prior references to his joining the Obama Administration, and the report I mentioned above which had, to me, the distinct smell of coordinated salesmanship.

[Hamlette]

21. I do not get why he's running

we all think its to gain name recognition for 2016 but we don't know. I work in the state office that administers unemployment and welfare benefits. Huntsman went to bat against the GOP legislature several times to save funding for several unpopular (with the GOP) programs that serve the most disadvantaged. And I'm not sure you meant it dismissively, but its a commonly held perspective among liberals who follows politics in Utah. He also took a very courageous stand against his church and the local GOP in support of gay rights.

And, really, if you make tons of money it doesn't mean you are necessarily evil (think Soros). His father's cancer institute, which he founded and supports, does amazing work. I am thankful it is here.

[OKNancy]

20. one of his problems is he has said a lot of nice things about Obama.

I've read that he is a decent fellow too.

[Terra Alta]

14. He's Mormon.

The evangelical right will never vote for him.. or Romney.. I don't expect either of them to make it out of the primary.

[Hamlette]

18. no, they won't, but of all in the field, he's by far the best

[xchrom]

22. I think he's the best contender they have. Nt

[sandyd921]

23. If you read or listen to

Washington-insider media anyway.

[bvar22]

24. Watch Out!!!

The Republicans are playing this well.
They are letting the clowns suck all the oxygen out of the room
while the serious candidates are flying under the radar and avoiding the negative publicity.

Tim Pawlenty was on Jon Stewart last month doing a good job of presenting himself as
a Resonable Populist who has heard the voices of Working Americans.

I'm not saying Pawlenty is The Guy,
but someone like him or a complete unknown...untarnished by the Freak Show...
could step up at the last minute with TONS of Corporate Money and a phony Populist Campaign.
He/She would seem like a reasonable, intelligent, moderate American compared to the Freak Show.

Remember,
very few people knew who Bill Clinton was before the convention.

2012 is NOT in the bag,
not by a long shot.
.
.
.
Especially if there is a 3rd party Pro-LABOR/Anti-WAR/Tax-the-Rich challenge from The Left.



"By their WORKS you will know them."