Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
Did you watch former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman's speech announcing he is running for the GOP nomination for president? The visuals were great. Huntsman walked with his beautiful wife and seven beautiful children across a field to the stage. The Statue of Liberty was in the background along with many flapping flags.
But wow was that speech boring. If you asked me what he said, I'd make that "wa waa wa waa wa waaa" sound that the adults make in the Peanuts television specials. It really sounded like he'd taken a tranquilizer about a 1/2 hour before the announcement.
And the only interesting part, really, was where he talked about how he only has minor disagreements with all other candidates, including President Barack Obama (note to Huntsman staff: this is probably not a great campaign strategy, but then again, you're the folks behind the brilliant McCain 2008 effort so who am I to say that?). So he said this or something very much like this:
"I don't think you need to run down someone's reputation to run for office. I respect my fellow Republican candidates and I respect the President of the United States."
Great. Good on you, Jon Huntsman. And when you figure out why you're running, be sure to let us know.
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Jun '10
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
Didn't see it. After Reagan's speech at the Statue, I knew this would disappoint. I remember Ronald Reagan, and Huntsman is no Reagan.
What Mollie saw is the real Huntsman. Generic Republican, rich, nice-looking family, great hair, good-looking tie, enunciates words correctly, in shape, and that's about it. But in political terms, there's no there there.
The only reason he became Utah's governor was to check off another box on his to-do list. Same for his current run.
As I've said here more than once, you may not like what you get in Mitt or Tim Pawlenty, but you do get something.
Feb '11
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
Who is ready for the MSM to let us know that Huntsman is the 'moderate' candidate who is here to balance out the field from all the 'far-right' candidates? You know, the conservative ones.
Apr '11
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
Mollie, I'm sure it sent a tingle up the President Obama's leg this time knowing this is the sort of challenger he will need to deal with.
One can only hope it will goad him into complacency since he already has enough arrogance.
Apr '11
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
I agree Antiphon he will be their champion by this time tomorrow and will be selling us on how this type of Republican is the true threat to depose President Obama.
Jul '10
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
"Hello, I'm Jon Huntsman - the other born-of-privilege, sort-of-Mormon-but-not-in-a-creepy-way Republican candidate for President.
My resume is just as impressive as that other guy's and I speak Mandarin.
Mandarin...it's Chinese.
Just look at my wife and kids! They could be genetically engineered...
I have good hair, too."
May '10
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
Y'know, he gave that speech about "never forget to rock'n'roll" at a graduation, and to my everlasting shame, I have forgotten to rock'n'roll many times since. Hopefully, now that he's official, not a day will pass that I forget to rock'n'roll.
Though honestly, I don't see how a guy who's blatantly, loudly, proudly not fiscally conservative gets a pass this election. He has woefully misread the mood. All we can hope for is that he saps enough votes from Romney to get a conservative elected.
Apr '11
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
Does anyone wonder just how much money is available in our country to fund all these candidates? I mean they can't run on Ethanol, Natural gas, oil, solar power or wind can they?
But there are lobbyists so maybe they really do "run" on these things...
Jan '11
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
When I vote, it's so that I can express myself politically. This is a once every two year chance to make a statement about what I think ought to be done. Voting is a chance for the voters to express themselves.
So what is it that Huntsman thinks a voter would be saying if he voted for Huntsman? Oh, I understand why Huntsman wants me to vote for him. I see what he gets out of it. But what does a voter express by voting for Huntsman?
He's a moderate.
The irony is that voting for a moderate is that it doesn't say anything positive. A moderate is always negative: all it means is that he isn't extreme. It doesn't give a voter anything to specific to express. So, Huntsman wants me to spend my two years of political expression to say ... what? That we should do ... what? Not be extreme? There's no substance to that.
Oct '10
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
A cross between Mitt Romney and John McCain. Ugh.
Sep '10
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
This whole thing is fishy. There is no groundswell of support. The GOP already has a Mormon centrist ex-governor in the race. Romney is tested and he doesn't make mistakes, so there shouldn't be much hope in the Huntsman camp that Romney will self-destruct. The best he can do is nibble around the edges of Romney's support.
Somehow Hunstman has McCain's team running his campaign. If Huntsman is such a model executive, why did he hire these losers? If there ever was a poorly run campaign the McCain/Palin ticket has to be in the top 5 of the last 50 years.
My suspicion is that the campaign is a media creation. Hunstman is the harmless Republican the MSM can hold up as being "serious", "practical", a "grown-up" and use his "civility' as a cudgel against other more plain-spoken Republicans. They could do this with Romney, -somewhat anyway - but they fear Romney could gain too much from that position.
Touting Huntsman is harmless because he's not going to win the nomination.
The Huntsman campaign is the medias staging area for attacks on conservative candidates. This game is getting old.
Feb '11
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
I'd love to see the moderator in the next debate as Huntsman and Romney who has the most important hair. You know, since we're at that level of debate questioning.
Jul '10
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
Antiphon
I'd love to see the moderator in the next debate as Huntsman and Romney who has the most important hair. You know, since we're at that level of debate questioning. · Jun 21 at 8:59am
I'd like to see them in single hair-combat, like moose.
Dec '10
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
Well, if he's as sure of himself about foreign and domestic policy as he seems to be about his mormon faith, then surely we are in for interesting times.
Incidentally, since this seems to be working at the moment, I'd like to pile on the comment yesterday about having difficulty signing in, staying signed in, and posting comments. It's been awful. I've emailed support, but haven't heard back. I commented yesterday, but I had to log in about 4 times before it 'took.' Today, I had to log in again, as it had forgotten who I was. Is this a known problem, and is someone looking at it, or is it just me? Thanks.
Jun '10
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
Kenneth: "Hello, I'm Jon Huntsman - the other born-of-privilege, sort-of-Mormon-but-not-in-a-creepy-way Republican candidate for President.
My resume is just as impressive as that other guy's and I speak Mandarin.
Mandarin...it's Chinese.
Just look at my wife and kids! They could be genetically engineered...
I have good hair, too." · Jun 21 at 8:10am
And I have an expensive tie with a beautiful knot.
Jun '10
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
Franco:
Somehow Hunstman has McCain's team running his campaign. If Huntsman is such a model executive, why did he hire these losers? If there ever was a poorly run campaign the McCain/Palin ticket has to be in the top 5 of the last 50 years.
There is a story in there somewhere. Four years ago, one would have thought that Huntsman would have been in the Romney camp (they certainly know each other, both are Mormons, both with Utah roots), but Huntsman came out very early for McCain.
Someone has stepped on someone else's toes along the way. Anyone know the skinny on this one?
Jun '10
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
See my post above. Huntsman and Romney are Mormons and have good hair. Other than that, they are very different men. Mitt has his problems with the base, but he's got a lot more that would make his a good president than Huntsman.
Huntsman's really a McCain with hair, and without McCain's laudable war record.
Feb '11
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
Kenneth
Antiphon
I'd love to see the moderator in the next debate as Huntsman and Romney who has the most important hair. You know, since we're at that level of debate questioning. · Jun 21 at 8:59am
I'd like to see them in single hair-combat, like moose. · Jun 21 at 9:07am
Trump still isn't in the race, so why am I having visions of Bill Murray in Kingpin?
Oct '10
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
Come on John Bolton!
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
We should never underestimate the capacity of the Republican Party to do something really stupid. Did you notice that Huntsman won the straw poll at the recent Republican Leadership Conference? The delegates apparently liked his wife, who is exceptionally presentable. I kid you not. That was the reason given -- and let's face it: it is the only conceivable reason that could be given for backing this man, and it is good is enough for most Republicans.
Huntsman and Romney are the perfect country-club Republicans. Neither represents any sort of break with the past.
Apr '11
Re: Can You Feel The Excitement? Huntsman's In!
“He and I have a difference of opinion on how to help the country we both love,” said John Huntsman. “But the question each of us wants the voters to answer is who will be the better President; not who’s the better American.”
Mr. Huntsman is an idiot.
You don't have a difference of opinion with Obama.
You believe in America and her people, don't you? He doesn't .
You believe in Providence. Obama believes in Chaos and Destruction.
You believe in balancing budgets and economic growth; Obama believes in unbalanced budgets and destroying the private sector.
This isn't a difference of opinion. You want to lead America forward; Obama wants to play snap-the-whip and watch the rest of the country DIE.
Channeling Sam Kinison: SAY IT! HE'S A BAD PRESIDENT! HE'S DESTROYING AMERICA! IT APPEARS HE'S DOING IT ON PURPOSE!
We can support these statements with FACTS.
You only get my vote with this pantywaist attitude toward competition if you can fool enough of the other people who know they have to vote Republican this year if they want the country to survive.
My leader-board:
Pawlenty
Romney
Huntsman