Comments about ‘Huntsman invited to address South Carolina politicos’

Sorry, Lisa Roskelley, but you dont build the Republican Party by trying to be a Democrat. Thats precisely what reduced Republicans to minority status in Washington, and, judging from this article, they still havent learned. Governor Huntsmans political stances and leadership style are not leadership. Rather, he throws his principles out the window, and follows the winds of political correctness to try to make himself popular with the most people. Its pretty pathetic.

I supported Jonnie in his first race and his second, but I will not support him in a national race since he is already selling off his morals by supporting gay marriage. If he felt that way, why didn't he say so before filing for office.

Can't trust him.

I hope Huntsman loses every election he enters. Since he has turned against Utah values, he doesn't deserve to be governor. Huntsman should admit he is a democrat and resign his office as he doesn't represent Utah. Like Rocky Anderson, I am very ashamed to admit these people are from Utah.

You've got to admire people who see hope where there is NONE.

Gov. Huntsman will waste his money (which could be used to alleviate real suffering in this world) but he will instead use it to become Mitt Romney The Second.

Those who know of his "testing the waters" are surely already sharpening their knives.

Let the Mormon Bashing Begin. (Again)

(IN GOV. HUNTSMAN'S DEFENSE, maybe THAT IS his TRUE reason for this ploy--not because he wants to be President and not because he thinks he can get very far down this path--but just to keep the LDS Church on the Front Page, and in the minds of people--and keep giving bigots, evangelicals, so-called journalists, and Mormo-phobs chances to show their true colors. In that case, GO GOVERNOR!!)

Mitt didn't get any traction despite gobs of money and why does Huntsman think it will be any different for him? Face it, the Republican party does not want a Mormon or a moderate. Period.

For the life of me, I cannot see why Mormons are so enamored by the Republican party after what happened to Mitt Romney. Give it up, they don't want us!

I applaud much of what Huntsman has done recently (civil unions for gays, health care for the poor)--those are necessary things. I'm not gay nor do I support gay marriage but I think he's right on with regard to both of these issues. But the right wing won't like them, trust me. Give it up, they don't want us!

That is exactly what Huntsman is--deluded. He has zero chance of becoming president. He would not even have the support of his home state. After his comments of late, however, he may be able to catch a job with the department of sanitation.

Jon you are not seriously considering running for president. You think you can do what Romney could not. Dream on. You do have less baggage. There is one upside of this. You will not be governor of Utah anymore and that is a huge plus.

Sure, why not. He's got his daddy's money behind him. He plays both sides of the fence. If he's been tapped by the same people who tapped him for position in the CFR, then it seems he's obligated. I certainly wouldn't vote for him.

Huntsman is no Republican. He is a self serving left wing Democrat posing as a Republican. I am convinced he has lost touch with his position. He is to represent the people of Utah not his own self serving political ambitions.

Anyone who knows him should not be shocked at this prospect. It's been his stated goal for a lifetime.

Amen to the above - Huntsman is a democrat and as such has forever lost my support. I will never vote for this guy again for anything. He is a sellout to the popularity of the moment and not to be trusted. His values, if he has any, that are coming out of the closet now in no way reflect my views. This guy is a disgrace to the State, his family and the Church - and especially to himself.

Wow... when I left Utah two years ago it seemed Huntsman was on top of the Utah political world. What happened? Is this how the majority of Utahns think or are you just bitter because he supported McCain over Romney in 08'?

Everything he has done in his adult life has been made possible by his father.

He was appointed to political office in Washington because of his father's contributions to the Republican Party. This was especially true for his ambassadorship. It was common knowledge in Washington that anyone who contributed large amounts to the Republican Party during the first Bush Presidency (1989-1993) could be an ambassador, or could name a family member to be an ambassador. That's what happened with the Huntsmans. He defends himself by saying that he was approved by the full Senate, but that is true of most such appointments.

With his father's name recognition and his appointed positions, he was easily elected as Governor of Utah. But that will not be true of with any presidential aspiration. He won't hold up under close scrutiny by the national press.

With the popularity of Barack Obama it seems a bit futile to start posing as a candidate already. The Republican party is in such a state of disarray that it is highly unlikely that any Republican will be elected in the near future. I can't believe that one month after Obama was sworn in, somebody is testing the waters. Do your job as governor, not campaigner for a higher office.

Please, let us have a few months or even a couple of years without campaigns for President.

Jon,

A recent thoughtful analysis of national trends by columnist Patrick Buchanan raised serious doubts as to whether a Republican will, ever again, be able to win, in the foreseeable future, a presidential election.

Prospects are extremely grim for 2012. And the situation isn't likely to be very different in 2016 or even 2020.

For a Republican such as yourself, who, like the rest of us, isn't getting any younger, those are hard realities.

But as a Republican delegate who has watched you up close from the beginning of your career, and who knows from conversations with members of your trusted inner circle how badly you want to move up and out of Utah, I know that you are up to the challenge. Because you're just as skilled at self-reinvention as any Republican in this country. (Remember how you bested the competition at the 2004 State GOP Convention by out-vouchering the other six candidates?)

And as a former member of the Council and Foreign Relations (your dad too, right?) you know there's nothing necessarily permanent about a party affiliation right?

So think on this for a minute....

He is still very popular (80%) - the comments on the des news blogs come from hannity-loving limbaugh-drone right-wing nut jobs who can't see past their tunneled visioned world of happiness and purity.

Huntsman supported civil unions...he was nice to human beings and that will turn of 90% of the Des News comment crowd. Good news is they are a dying breed.

Jon,

Hopefully PART ONE of my letter to you made it out.

[Continuing]

Okay, let's state the obvious:

In 21st Century America, with religion on the decline and first and second-generation immigrant populations accounting for a larger and larger percentage of the population, there's just no getting to where you want to be in that Mormon Republican clunker you're driving.

Now one can't just change one's religion like one changes a pair of shoes; we know this.

But who says you can't change your party affiliation, or even your core beliefs, on a dime?

I mean, without a doubt, you have the philosophical switcharoo thing down cold, as your latest bold reinvention in the matter of civil unions demonstrates.

But Romney proved that changing your beliefs to reach out to core Republicans is a strategy fraught with risks.

The question isn't what would Mitt do?

It's what would JASON do.

And remember, there's no hurry. Because you don't want them to see you coming until it's too late to stop you.

Imagine the Headline:

November 5th 2016: Utah Mormon Democrat Billionaire Captures White House!

Cool.

J Huntsman does have what it takes to win the Presidency. Did you support McCain, Huckabee, Ron Paul or Romney? Did any of them even come close to winning? NO - not even close.

While you may have some differences with Huntsman - you know, a prophet seems to have no honour in his own country - he has all the abilities of a Presidential winner.

No candidate is going to be perfect for any of you, unless you yourself become one. Take a broader view here.

so many of my fellow Mormons are so quick to cast Huntsman aside. There is much about his politics I don't like, but his stance on CIVIL UNIONS for gays and lesbians is to be commended.

Folks, do you realize that your hetero union must be sanctioned by the government first, then you go through the temple for the sealing? I want G&L to have the same responsibility to their significant others that heterosexuals do. As it currently stands, there is no responsibility for each other, and I believe they won't feel responsible for each other until their unions are recognized.

I don't agree with their lifestyle, but they certainly deserve the same respect and state rights we as heteros get.