The Republican Debate 11/12/11

The Viking wrote:

Arlen wrote:

Conservation Voice wrote: I'm all for positive campaigns (that's why I like Huntsman) but what part of blaming Perry for the leak about the sexual harassment story is positive? If not attacking other candidates is one of the reasons for a poll surge, why isn't Huntsman surging?

Here are some reviews of the debate, if you're interested in reading other viewpoints:

Mother Jones:

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/ ... highlights

Slate:

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_ ... ingle.html

Huntsman is a RINO. He is not conservative.

I watched the debate. Cain held his own.

People are asking why Huntsman isn't running as a Democrat. He totally is one. He is not even close to a RINO. And most the media is saying Cain kinda hurt himself and was the worst on the stage last night. But we will see what the voters say.

Science Chic wrote:

Joe wrote: So back on topic,

Why isn't Huntsman more popular in the polls? Seems like alot of people have a positive view of him?

Because he's too moderate and conservatives see that as a weakness, even though us independents/liberals would be willing to vote for him. Also, he's done a crappy job of getting himself out there.

Here's his website
His Facebook page
His Twitter page

According to the NY Times, Huntsman is the most electable, i.e. has the best chance of defeating Obama.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011 ... f=magazine
What Are the Chances for Republicans?

How would the strength of the economy next year affect each candidate’s chances of defeating President Barack Obama? Nate Silver models the likelihood of each candidate winning the popular vote based on 2012 G.D.P. growth, President Obama’s current approval rating and the ideology of the candidate. Use the slider to see how changes in G.D.P. affect the model.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2 ... idate.html
Jon Huntsman, Tea Party Darling?
With Herman Cain flailing and Rick Perry failing, the Tea Party is looking for a new anti-Romney candidate. Could it be Jon Huntsman? McKay Coppins asks the movement’s leaders.
Nov 9, 2011 4:45 AM EST

Erickson, a CNN contributor who runs the influential right-wing blog RedState.com, had come to a grim epiphany. If someone new didn’t step up soon, Mitt Romney was going to win the nomination—and kill American conservatism in the process.

“My God,” he told his friends. “I think I might have to eat my ‘never ever vote for Jon Huntsman’ post.” They laughed, but Erickson tells The Daily Beast, “they’d come to the exact same conclusion.” The barroom bull session was the genesis of a pair of RedState posts on Tuesday that argued it might be time for Tea Partiers to give Huntsman a second look. Those searching for a viable anti-Romney candidate are running out of options, he argued: Michele Bachmann flamed out long ago, Rick Perry’s dismal debate performances have all but sunk his campaign, and by the time Cain emerges from this mess of scandals, he’ll likely be too battered to maintain frontrunner status.

So could Huntsman be the Tea Party’s savior?

“If Jon Huntsman shakes up his campaign, gets rid of John Weaver, and really begins an aggressive push on his economic agenda, which is actually the most free-market of any of the plans out there, including Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 plan,” says Erickson, “I think a lot of conservatives would have to give a second look to this guy.” “Frankly,” he continues, “conservatives didn’t really look at him the first time. They said, ‘The media likes him too much and he sounds like a liberal, so I don’t want to have anything to do with him.’”

“Lots of people in the race talk the conservative talk, but Jon Huntsman has a record to back it up,” campaign spokesman Tim Miller tells The Daily Beast. “He balanced the budget, tripled the state’s rainy-day fund, and signed a flat tax. Unlike Mitt Romney, who has taken whatever position is politically convenient, Jon Huntsman is someone all voters—including Tea Party members—can trust.”

http://articles.businessinsider.com/201 ... orporation
What Ever Happened To Jon Huntsman?
Frank Newport|October 27, 2011

One of the interesting outcomes of this year’s Republican election process has been the fate of Jon Huntsman. Huntsman, as you may know, is on paper a potentially appealing presidential candidate. He is the former governor of Utah, the former ambassador to China (albeit an ambassador appointed by a Democratic president), speaks fluent Chinese, served in the administration of both Presidents Bush, has at least some business experience as part of his family’s Huntsman Corporation, and has been actively campaigning for the nomination all year. At one point he was considered by at least to some observers to have a real shot at the nomination.

Yet his campaign has gone nowhere.

Let’s look at where this comes from. Just 50% of Republicans nationally recognize Huntsman. This is the lowest recognition value of any of the eight candidates we are tracking. Among those Republicans who know Huntsman, 46% have a generally favorable opinion of him, while 36% have a generally unfavorable opinion (the rest don’t have an opinion, even though they said they recognized him). Basically, Huntsman has not been able to penetrate the consciousness of rank-and-file Republicans around the country.

http://theweek.com/bullpen/column/21995 ... other-look
5 reasons the GOP should give Jon Huntsman another look
posted on October 6, 2011

No one really thinks the moderate former Utah governor has a shot — but there's plenty of evidence that he deserves one

Science Chic wrote:

The Viking wrote:

Arlen wrote:

Conservation Voice wrote: I'm all for positive campaigns (that's why I like Huntsman) but what part of blaming Perry for the leak about the sexual harassment story is positive? If not attacking other candidates is one of the reasons for a poll surge, why isn't Huntsman surging?

Here are some reviews of the debate, if you're interested in reading other viewpoints:

Mother Jones:

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/ ... highlights

Slate:

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_ ... ingle.html

Huntsman is a RINO. He is not conservative.

I watched the debate. Cain held his own.

People are asking why Huntsman isn't running as a Democrat. He totally is one. He is not even close to a RINO. And most the media is saying Cain kinda hurt himself and was the worst on the stage last night. But we will see what the voters say.

May I ask what it is about Huntsman that makes him a Democrat or RINO? I've been looking at his record, and his website, and he seems far from it to me.

From my previous post about him in the Why I support a certain candidate thread:

Science Chic wrote:

Joe wrote: So back on topic,

Why isn't Huntsman more popular in the polls? Seems like alot of people have a positive view of him?

Because he's too moderate and conservatives see that as a weakness, even though us independents/liberals would be willing to vote for him. Also, he's done a crappy job of getting himself out there.

Here's his website
His Facebook page
His Twitter page

According to the NY Times, Huntsman is the most electable, i.e. has the best chance of defeating Obama.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011 ... f=magazine
What Are the Chances for Republicans?

How would the strength of the economy next year affect each candidate’s chances of defeating President Barack Obama? Nate Silver models the likelihood of each candidate winning the popular vote based on 2012 G.D.P. growth, President Obama’s current approval rating and the ideology of the candidate. Use the slider to see how changes in G.D.P. affect the model.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2 ... idate.html
Jon Huntsman, Tea Party Darling?
With Herman Cain flailing and Rick Perry failing, the Tea Party is looking for a new anti-Romney candidate. Could it be Jon Huntsman? McKay Coppins asks the movement’s leaders.
Nov 9, 2011 4:45 AM EST

Erickson, a CNN contributor who runs the influential right-wing blog RedState.com, had come to a grim epiphany. If someone new didn’t step up soon, Mitt Romney was going to win the nomination—and kill American conservatism in the process.

“My God,” he told his friends. “I think I might have to eat my ‘never ever vote for Jon Huntsman’ post.” They laughed, but Erickson tells The Daily Beast, “they’d come to the exact same conclusion.” The barroom bull session was the genesis of a pair of RedState posts on Tuesday that argued it might be time for Tea Partiers to give Huntsman a second look. Those searching for a viable anti-Romney candidate are running out of options, he argued: Michele Bachmann flamed out long ago, Rick Perry’s dismal debate performances have all but sunk his campaign, and by the time Cain emerges from this mess of scandals, he’ll likely be too battered to maintain frontrunner status.

So could Huntsman be the Tea Party’s savior?

“If Jon Huntsman shakes up his campaign, gets rid of John Weaver, and really begins an aggressive push on his economic agenda, which is actually the most free-market of any of the plans out there , including Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 plan,” says Erickson, “I think a lot of conservatives would have to give a second look to this guy.” “Frankly,” he continues, “conservatives didn’t really look at him the first time. They said, ‘The media likes him too much and he sounds like a liberal, so I don’t want to have anything to do with him.’”

“Lots of people in the race talk the conservative talk, but Jon Huntsman has a record to back it up, ” campaign spokesman Tim Miller tells The Daily Beast. “He balanced the budget, tripled the state’s rainy-day fund, and signed a flat tax. Unlike Mitt Romney, who has taken whatever position is politically convenient, Jon Huntsman is someone all voters—including Tea Party members—can trust.”

http://articles.businessinsider.com/201 ... orporation
What Ever Happened To Jon Huntsman?
Frank Newport|October 27, 2011

One of the interesting outcomes of this year’s Republican election process has been the fate of Jon Huntsman. Huntsman, as you may know, is on paper a potentially appealing presidential candidate. He is the former governor of Utah, the former ambassador to China (albeit an ambassador appointed by a Democratic president), speaks fluent Chinese, served in the administration of both Presidents Bush, has at least some business experience as part of his family’s Huntsman Corporation, and has been actively campaigning for the nomination all year. At one point he was considered by at least to some observers to have a real shot at the nomination.

Yet his campaign has gone nowhere.

Let’s look at where this comes from. Just 50% of Republicans nationally recognize Huntsman. This is the lowest recognition value of any of the eight candidates we are tracking. Among those Republicans who know Huntsman, 46% have a generally favorable opinion of him, while 36% have a generally unfavorable opinion (the rest don’t have an opinion, even though they said they recognized him). Basically, Huntsman has not been able to penetrate the consciousness of rank-and-file Republicans around the country.

http://theweek.com/bullpen/column/21995 ... other-look
5 reasons the GOP should give Jon Huntsman another look
posted on October 6, 2011

No one really thinks the moderate former Utah governor has a shot — but there's plenty of evidence that he deserves one