Jon Huntsman banks on his 'Reagan moment' in New Hampshire

[h=1]Jon Huntsman banks on his 'Reagan moment' in New Hampshire [/h]

On Sunday, Huntsman returned to that exchange at his first opportunity.
“I was criticized last night by Governor Romney for putting my country first,” he said. “He criticized me, while he was out raising money, for serving my country in China – yes, under a Democrat, like my two sons are doing in the United States Navy. They’re not asking who … [or] what political affiliation the president is. And I want to be very clear with the people here in New Hampshire and this country: I will always put my country first.”

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I loved the moment. He put the leader Romney in his place. Mitt came off looking like a real tool.

I'll give this guy a serious look if he gets the nomination.

I would love to see Huntsman debate with Obama.

Romney thought it was a cute jab stating that Huntsman as an ambassador served Obama. But coming back at Romney about Huntsman's two sons serving in the Navy under a Democrat was priceless as there has never been a Romney to wear the American military uniform under either party.

Crosscheck said:

I would love to see Huntsman debate with Obama.

Romney thought it was a cute jab stating that Huntsman as an ambassador served Obama. But coming back at Romney about Huntsman's two sons serving in the Navy under a Democrat was priceless as there has never been a Romney to wear the American military uniform under either party.

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Fortunate Sons vs. the rest of us.

Well done, Jon Huntsman, Bravo!

Crosscheck said:

I would love to see Huntsman debate with Obama.

Romney thought it was a cute jab stating that Huntsman as an ambassador served Obama. But coming back at Romney about Huntsman's two sons serving in the Navy under a Democrat was priceless as there has never been a Romney to wear the American military uniform under either party.

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Not to mention he was also a cabinet member under Bush 43, an Ambassador I believe under Bush 41, and a staffer under Reagan. But somehow that continued record of serving his country should be disregarded because he did it once with a guy that had a (D) next to his name.

Zyphlin said:

Not to mention he was also a cabinet member under Bush 43, an Ambassador I believe under Bush 41, and a staffer under Reagan. But somehow that continued record of serving his country should be disregarded because he did it once with a guy that had a (D) next to his name.

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meh... Romney is just saying Obama and using Huntsman in the same sentence to fabricate red meat to throw at the partisan stooges. Glad it back-fired.

Zyphlin said:

Not to mention he was also a cabinet member under Bush 43, an Ambassador I believe under Bush 41, and a staffer under Reagan. But somehow that continued record of serving his country should be disregarded because he did it once with a guy that had a (D) next to his name.

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It's just plain sad, with a record like Huntsmans why aren't the GOP voters giving him a look?

He's easily the best candidate in the GOP race... why do so many voters keep looking to idiots like Santorum, Cain and Gingrich?

Jetboogieman said:

It's just plain sad, with a record like Huntsmans why aren't the GOP voters giving him a look?

He's easily the best candidate in the GOP race... why do so many voters keep looking to idiots like Santorum, Cain and Gingrich?

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Because its a primary and he throws the least amount of red meat. When the unemployment numbers came out last week and it fell to 8.5% all the candidates were screaming and bending over backwards to say how it was bad, in between all the times of them calling Obama a socialists. Huntsman however basically said something like, "Good employment news is good news" and left it at that.

That flies in a general election when you are chasing votes from all sides, but it doesn't fly so well in a primary where they are trying to appeal to the wing-nut fringe of one side.

Jetboogieman said:

It's just plain sad, with a record like Huntsmans why aren't the GOP voters giving him a look?

He's easily the best candidate in the GOP race... why do so many voters keep looking to idiots like Santorum, Cain and Gingrich?

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American Conservatives as a political entity haven't liked well educated men who do not wear cowboy hats and play the religious bumpkin role since Reagan came along. It's a fact. EVERY "Conservative" President since Reagan has employed this look to better "fit in" with the new Republican demographic:







Sure, one could argue that some Democrats have embraced the country bumpkin attitude(Carter) however for the most part, the Republican/Conservative establishment for the latter half of the 20th century has chosen the proverbial "manly man" who gets his hands dirty and, to quote Bill Maher, "****s his wife".

Hatuey said:

American Conservatives as a political entity haven't liked well educated men who do not wear cowboy hats and play the religious bumpkin role since Reagan came along. It's a fact. EVERY "Conservative" President since Reagan has employed this look to better "fit in" with the new Republican demographic:

Sure, one could argue that some Democrats have embraced the country bumpkin attitude(Carter) however for the most part, the Republican/Conservative establishment for the latter half of the 20th century has chosen the proverbial "manly man" who gets his hands dirty and, to quote Bill Maher, "****s his wife".

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Three cowboy hats there. One from California and two from Connecticut.

As they say... All hat, no cattle.

Crosscheck said:

I would love to see Huntsman debate with Obama.

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Agreed.

Finally, two intelligent people, discussing policy in detail, not in broad bullet points/talking points.

They could do an un-moderated debate in which they ask each other questions.

I have to say, there was a time when I would have liked to see Romney debate Obama. In the early days of 2009, Romney was on Fox and Friends, and he shot down their moronic anti-Obama loaded questions, put the specific issue (which was CEO bonuses) in context and even said Obama should have gone farther. But Mitt has decided to appeal to the far-right base with overly partisan attacks against the President--non-specific, broad, talking points.

I want to hear specifics. He was a moderate Governor who invented the individual mandate. Tell us how you would modify the health care bill to make it work better. Tell us specifically how you would modify the tax code to PAY DOWN the debt. And stop with the "let's go to war" b.s. No one wants another unfunded long term war in the middle east. He's wealthy like Mayor Bloomberg and understands the economy, but his clinging to the misguided far-right mantras is disappointing.

Jetboogieman said:

It's just plain sad, with a record like Huntsmans why aren't the GOP voters giving him a look?

He's easily the best candidate in the GOP race... why do so many voters keep looking to idiots like Santorum, Cain and Gingrich?

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I blame Sarah Palin--she introduced the idea that you don't have to be exceptional to be seriously considered for the highest offices in Washington D.C. The GOP base embraces this anti-intellectuall 'just like me' mentality.

Yes, this is why Mitt Romney has been the front runner throughout and how Newt surged for a good period of time...because Sarah Palin made the GOP embrace a "just like me" mentality and buck exceptionalism and intellectuals :roll:

Or you just wanted to take a swipe at Sarah Palin as you typically do.

Huntsman's not getting a look because he's ran a horrible campaign, has not stood out in any of the debates, has been pushed by the media as a "moderate" despite his record, was embraced by the Media which gives pause to the base, and done nothing to distinguish himself to the average primary voter. Sarah Palin is responsible for at most 0.01% of why he's not gotten a significant look yet.

Zyphlin said:

Yes, this is why Mitt Romney has been the front runner throughout and how Newt surged for a good period of time...because Sarah Palin made the GOP embrace a "just like me" mentality and buck exceptionalism and intellectuals :roll:

Or you just wanted to take a swipe at Sarah Palin as you typically do.

Huntsman's not getting a look because he's ran a horrible campaign, has not stood out in any of the debates, has been pushed by the media as a "moderate" despite his record, was embraced by the Media which gives pause to the base, and done nothing to distinguish himself to the average primary voter. Sarah Palin is responsible for at most 0.01% of why he's not gotten a significant look yet.

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Right, so now the ever-maleable Romney is trying to morph himself into an anti-intellectual toad in order to appeal to the masses. :roll:

I don't think this qualifies as a "I'm paying for this microphone" kind of moment, but it was pretty sweet.

Zyphlin said:

Yes, this is why Mitt Romney has been the front runner throughout and how Newt surged for a good period of time...because Sarah Palin made the GOP embrace a "just like me" mentality and buck exceptionalism and intellectuals :roll:

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I think a good number of GOPers have woken up and remembered that we like to send exceptional people to DC. That's why Newt's numbers are falling. His history is as bad as Glenn Beck's.

Re: Palin -- in 2008, I knew a lot of conservative women friends who loved Palin because she was "down to earth" and "spoke their language". I remembered reading somewhere that most people in the U.S. read at about 9th grade level. Popular fiction, newspapers, and other media are produced so that people with a 9th grade reading level can easily comprehend the material.

IMO, Palin represents a big step backwards for America. We must not let party power brokers pick our leaders. When people like Palin and Bush get promoted and supported for office, it's because they're of average intelligence and easily manipulated by the people who put them in power. But we've been making heros out of functionally illiterate professional athletes for years. So, maybe we are headed toward the Idiocracy.

I'll remain an optimist that we continue to strive toward best and the brightest in DC.

Huntsman v Obama debate would be great--Sunday morning discussion moves to prime time.

President Obama has gotten very adept at calling out Fox-Con-talking points. The new Romney would get gutted by Obama in a debate.

hazlnut said:

[h=1]Jon Huntsman banks on his 'Reagan moment' in New Hampshire [/h]

I loved the moment. He put the leader Romney in his place. Mitt came off looking like a real tool.

I'll give this guy a serious look if he gets the nomination.

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And you could tell by the look on his face that Romney KNEW he had just been pwned! :lamo

Loved it!!!

Huntsman would be the only candidate, dem or GOP that I would vote for. I don't see that as being an option...but he is the only one that demonstrates fiscal sense, responsible and effective spending, and realistic and intelligent foreign policy ideas.

VanceMack said:

Huntsman would be the only candidate, dem or GOP that I would vote for. I don't see that as being an option...but he is the only one that demonstrates fiscal sense, responsible and effective spending, and realistic and intelligent foreign policy ideas.

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He's not flashy or charismatic or anything like that. Ok, he's kind of boring.

Maybe we need boring. I'm ok with that.