Confirmed: Jon Huntsman is a wanker

[oxcoug]

I was just saying that given certain assumptions, I can see how people might think he is cynical.
[/IMG]

Absolutely. JL, I think it's reaching if you want to contend that it's not valid to think that Huntsman's public handling of his religion looks cynical and opportunistic.

While he was governor he gave every sign of being an active, fully engaged member and of course there's a political benefit in Utah to being seen up on the stand in GC. Now that he's not and he's trying to go national it's convenient to distance himself so he's making cagey comments and defaulting to the classic bullshit "I'm not religious, I'm spiritual" thing.

Personally, I don't care either way - I'd just like to see him own something.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Absolutely. JL, I think it's reaching if you want to contend that it's not valid to think that Huntsman's public handling of his religion looks cynical and opportunistic.

While he was governor he gave every sign of being an active, fully engaged member and of course there's a political benefit in Utah to being seen up on the stand in GC. Now that he's not and he's trying to go national it's convenient to distance himself so he's making cagey comments and defaulting to the classic bullshit "I'm not religious, I'm spiritual" thing.

Personally, I don't care either way - I'd just like to see him own something.

I think there are some perfectly valid criticisms of Huntsman (Cap and Trade, etc.) but this one is mean-spirited and wrong, IMO.

[oxcoug]

I think there are some perfectly valid criticisms of Huntsman (Cap and Trade, etc.) but this one is mean-spirited and wrong, IMO.

Nothing mean-spirited about it - the man is asking to be elected President of the United States, the highest single responsibility in the world - I and other voters are entitled to critically examine behavior that suggests character issues.

Everything I know about Huntsman suggests a guy who likes to wake up in the morning and smell the power and the prestige that comes with it and that's why he's in politics. His dodgy, evasive way of handling this subject confirms that tendency, in my view.

[wally]

I care about as much about Huntsman's religious ambiguity as I do about Mitt tying the family dog to the roof of the car for a family vacation.

[YOhio]

I care about as much about Huntsman's religious ambiguity as I do about Mitt tying the family dog to the roof of the car for a family vacation.

Soooo...you care a lot?

[il Padrino Ute]

Soooo...you care a lot?

Wally is Faith No More.

[Viking]

I think Huntsman is the only Republican that can do battle with Obama...he's very moderate (frankly, he's a democrat), he's very comfortable in his own skin and he's got the best foreign relations pedigree of any of the group...and where it counts, too (China).

[RobinFinderson]

I think Huntsman is the only Republican that can do battle with Obama...he's very moderate (frankly, he's a democrat), he's very comfortable in his own skin and he's got the best foreign relations pedigree of any of the group...and where it counts, too (China).

Right. This is what I don't understand. I know very little about the man, except that he was a very popular governor, and that his experience made him a top choice for one of the most critical ambassadorships we have. And while I can appreciate the arguments for and against Capi'in Trade, it seems like that is the only policy that anyone has talked about, and his position (assuming he would still have it in a presidential run) hardly seems to merit 'wanker' status.

Compared to the other GOP candidates, he cleans up a lot better, and comes off as less milquetoast than Mitch, Mitt and Tim; less crazy than Bachman and Palin; and he has way fewer negatives compare to Gingrich. I don't know where Herman would fit in here.

[Viking]

Right. This is what I don't understand. I know very little about the man, except that he was a very popular governor, and that his experience made him a top choice for one of the most critical ambassadorships we have. And while I can appreciate the arguments for and against Capi'in Trade, it seems like that is the only policy that anyone has talked about, and his position (assuming he would still have it in a presidential run) hardly seems to merit 'wanker' status.

Compared to the other GOP candidates, he cleans up a lot better, and comes off as less milquetoast than Mitch, Mitt and Tim; less crazy than Bachman and Palin; and he has way fewer negatives compare to Gingrich. I don't know where Herman would fit in here.

Huntsman would be the only Republican presidential candidate I've ever voted for. I abstained last cycle (America, did you feel my protest vote? Take that!).

I think Ox is being a little too strong herein.

By the way, your pandering to be in the secret nerd society on this site is highly disappointing to me. I mourn for you.

[RobinFinderson]

By the way, your pandering to be in the secret nerd society on this site is highly disappointing to me. I mourn for you.

It really isn't such a big deal, but I appreciate the depth of feeling you have about the issue, which I can only interpret as a kind of love.

[Viking]

It really isn't such a big deal, but I appreciate the depth of feeling you have about the issue, which I can only interpret as a kind of love.

Wanker.

[frank ryan]

I'd really consider voting for Huntsman against Obama. The man is a pragmatist

[tooblue]

I'd really consider voting for Huntsman against Obama. The man is a pragmatist

I don't think either Huntsman or Romney, let alone any other candidate, has a real chance of defeating Obama. Regardless, my vote would go to the individual who is best prepared to fix the financial woes and adress heath care in a pragmatic fashion. To me that is Romney.

[frank ryan]

I don't think either Huntsman or Romney, let alone any other candidate, has a real chance of defeating Obama. Regardless, my vote would go to the individual who is best prepared to fix the financial woes and adress heath care in a pragmatic fashion. To me that is Romney.

romney did on a state level what obama did on a national level re. healthcare

[LA Ute]

romney did on a state level what obama did on a national level re. healthcare

There are some similarities but they are superficial.