Huntsman

Jon Huntsman was easily my favorite candidate in the 2012 GOP Primary.  His realistic worldview and pragmatic solutions were a welcome contrast to the ideological buffoonery to which American politicians have made us all grow accustomed.  As a candidate, Jon Huntsman’s ideas were all grounded in reality and informed by his ideological views.  Looking  at the other candidates, I saw ideologues desperately trying to clinging to their political dogma, distorting reality to pretend their tired, old ideas even applied to today’s world.  When other candidates where sticking to talking points and pandering for applause, Huntsman was speaking truth to power, no matter how unpopular.  The people I talked to, at least the ones that knew of him, agreed with me.  What confused me most about Huntsman’s failure to gain traction with the Republican party was the face that he had already gained so much traction with independents and Democrats.  If there was one guy who had a chance to take voters away from President Obama, it was Jon Huntsman.  Even the hacky, liberal blogger that is me was thinking, “I hope I get a chance to vote for this guy.”  It’s a sad day when the man with the best ideas not only loses but loses so badly that he doesn’t finish the race.

After joining the Ford Motor Company’s board of directors and fairly low profile (for a guy who just ran for president), Huntsman continued to support the GOP (he still does), but when they disinvited him from a Florida fundraiser, took a moment to remind us why he’s so awesome:

“This is what they do in China on party matters if you talk off script,”

“A guy named Michael Moore who went on television and said ‘That Huntsman guy. He’s a Republican I think I could support’ to be followed up by Jimmy Carter who said ‘This Huntsman guy: I think he’s somebody I could support’ to be followed up by Bill Clinton, who went on television and said ‘He seems pretty un-hidebound. He’s a Republican I think I could’ — we were so toast in Iowa by then.”

What got him disinvited?  He said it would be good if a third party candidate entered the race.

Republicans, you had the chance to save your party and nominate a man that seems to be the second coming of Eisenhower.  Instead, you chose Mitt Romney.

Huntsman says praise from Moore, Carter, Clinton sank his GOP presidential ambitions – Election 2012 – The Washington Post

Huntsman compares GOP communist China – POLITICO.com