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Shock: Barack Obama co-opts top 2012 Republican to be his ambassador to China
Telegraph Blogs (U.K.) ^ | May 16, 2009 | Toby Harnden

Posted on 05/17/2009 12:42:35 AM PDT by Schnucki

This is a very clever move by President Barack Obama. He's chosen Governor Jon Huntsman of Utah as his ambassador to China.

A Republican, former ambassador to Singapore and fluent Mandarin speaker, Huntsman has recently staked out centrist stances on gay rights, climate change and stimulus spending. He'd made clear his contempt for the Republican congressional leadership, saying: "I have not met them. I don't listen or read whatever it is they say because it is inconsequential - completely."

That made him the best-placed moderate Republican to challenge for the 2012 presidential nomination. By any analysis, at this stage a 2012 Republican victory looks like an uphill struggle. Mitt Romney - a former moderate who's now positioned himself firmly on the Right - is probably the front runner with governors Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota also likely to run.

Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana appears to be biding his time until 2016 while the soap opera storyline of Sarah Palin;s family and her virtual estrangement from the national GOP make her look a long shot.

Huntsman probably calculated that he would not win in 2012 even if he did manage to secure the nomination. Much better, he would have reasoned, to wait out 2012, gain some major foreign policy experience while not being linked to Obama's domestic policies and have a chance in 2016.

Like the Conservative party in Britain after 1997, it looks to be a long road back for Republicans so taking a time out is likely to be a shrewd decision for someone like Huntsman.

What does Obama gain? It's a concrete example of bipartisanship, he peels off a Republican moderate and therefore shifts the party's centre of gravity further to the Right - which is where Democrats want it),

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Politics
KEYWORDS: 2012; 2012gopprimary; agenda; bhochina; china; huntsman; obama; palin; rino; rinoromney; romney; romneyisking; utah
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To: ModelBreaker
My thoughts exactly! Good riddance to another RINO!
61 posted on 05/17/2009 2:19:52 AM PDT by srmorton (Chose life!)
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To: SoCalPol
You are a bit paranoid re zotts

Well, let's see: last fall most Freepers were crying for my virtual head because I refused to support that RINO POS McCain. And you wonder why I'm "paranoid" about zots. *hmph*

62 posted on 05/17/2009 2:20:52 AM PDT by rabscuttle385 ("If this be treason, then make the most of it!" —Patrick Henry)
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To: rabscuttle385
IMO, the war against militant Islam is the most important issue of our time. Ron Paul was WRONG about it. Besides, when you have troops in harms way, you do not criticize the mission they are risking their lives to perform.
63 posted on 05/17/2009 2:29:30 AM PDT by srmorton (Chose life!)
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To: srmorton
IMO, the war against militant Islam is the most important issue of our time.

I beg to differ.

The most important issue, not just of our time, but of the last century, has been the expansion of size and scope of our Federal Government beyond its Constitutional boundaries.

A bankrupt nation will be unable to defend itself against enemies.

It's too bad that both parties aided and abetted the growth of Government...and that, at times, conservatives just stood by and applauded.

64 posted on 05/17/2009 2:36:17 AM PDT by rabscuttle385 ("If this be treason, then make the most of it!" —Patrick Henry)
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To: Schnucki

That made him the best-placed moderate Republican to challenge for the 2012 presidential nomination.

HUH?
Are you insane. NOMODERATE in 2010 or2012.If the GOPis towin any elections they have to return tobe REAL AMERICANS and not EUROPEAN LITE SOCIALIST...


65 posted on 05/17/2009 3:15:33 AM PDT by SECURE AMERICA (Coming to You From the Front Lines of Occupied America)
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To: Schnucki

Huntsman is also a member of LDS (a Mormon), as is Romney, as we all know.

And since Romney’s religion was such a huge topic in ‘08 (not to me, but to “the masses”, apparently), what makes the MSM think that Huntsman’s would have been any less of an issue? How could they possibly deem him a frontrunner?

If the guy is such a RINO that he accepted 0’s job offer for this ambassadorship, then good riddance! Even Judd Craig had the sense to turn down an appointment to an administration that is so far to the left.


66 posted on 05/17/2009 3:22:36 AM PDT by Joann37
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To: Arguendo

I don’t know if Duncan Hunter was a great candidate per se, but he would have been the best POTUS!


67 posted on 05/17/2009 3:24:37 AM PDT by Joann37
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To: Schnucki
So according to this Romney is the #1 candidate,
and his chief supporter from Utah is the #2 GOP candidate.

GOP looks over bought to me.

68 posted on 05/17/2009 3:28:55 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: indianrightwinger
I was excited about her too when she was picked as the VP candidate. Don’t get me wrong. She was treated unfairly and all that. However, I won’t be voting for her in the GOP primary battle.

So, who would you vote for? Another Democrat in a conservative costume? Look at what that has gotten us. I guess it's true - conservatives are stupid enough to espouse conservative values, but not to vote like they mean it.

Palin would make a great conservative president.

69 posted on 05/17/2009 3:52:46 AM PDT by trebb ("I am the way... no one comes to the Father, but by me..." - Jesus in John 14:6 (RSV))
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To: Schnucki
the ones that leave their republican elected positions for Obama??

we are well free of them.

70 posted on 05/17/2009 4:57:43 AM PDT by Vaquero ("an armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: indianrightwinger
[Sarah Palin] is not a strong conservative policy wonk. There are many stronger candidate alternatives.

What do you think someone has to be, to be a "stronger candidate alternative"? What are you looking for here? A minimum of a master's degree in poli sci from Georgetown?

Do you let ink-stained wretches of the partisan press tell you who can be a candidate?

71 posted on 05/17/2009 5:11:32 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus
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To: Schnucki

He selected a ‘moderate’ (stands for nothing) to be HIS ambassador. Did you hear the gushing acceptance speech by the good governor? It was sickening.


72 posted on 05/17/2009 5:12:34 AM PDT by IbJensen (If Catholics voted based upon the teachings of the church, there would be no abortion and no Obomba.)
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To: Schnucki
That made him the best-placed moderate Republican to challenge for the 2012 presidential nomination.

Thank you Obama! We have moderate Republicans on sale now for a dime a dozen. Take 30 or 40 dozen, PLEASE!

73 posted on 05/17/2009 5:15:06 AM PDT by listenhillary (Rahm Emmanuel slip - A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.)
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To: indianrightwinger

I don’t know whether you are right about her winning or not, but I don’t think her supporters are delusional—and I am certain that a wonk—who is almost always devoid of charisma—isn’t winning the Presidency.


74 posted on 05/17/2009 5:17:51 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: ModelBreaker
By any analysis, at this stage a 2012 Republican victory looks like an uphill struggle.

This guy must be drinking Obama's bong water.

Cheers!

75 posted on 05/17/2009 5:19:41 AM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: rabscuttle385
You should've done what I did:

vote for the GOP ticket to give Palin a leg up.

If you think Palin is a long shot, Paul doesn't have a chance in Hell.

Cheers!

76 posted on 05/17/2009 5:24:17 AM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: indianrightwinger; SoCalPol; fieldmarshaldj
(For irw, re post 10:)

Troll, troll, troll your post
Gently down the thread
You haven't said who you support
What was that you said?

77 posted on 05/17/2009 5:26:38 AM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Arguendo

“Many on here, however, are living in their own little world where Palin is somehow popular with not just conservatives but most Americans.”

Neither was Reagan, prior to the Summer of 1980 - he was considered a reactionary who would start World War 3. If fact the Democrats were praying for him to win the nomination...so Carter could walk into a second term.

The media did everything possible to assure Reagan would lose...but they still couldn’t overcome Carter.


78 posted on 05/17/2009 6:06:06 AM PDT by BobL (Drop a comment: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2180357/posts)
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To: Schnucki

Thank you, Barack. Keep picking off the RINOs.


79 posted on 05/17/2009 6:10:20 AM PDT by rabidralph
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To: Schnucki

“Top Republican?”

yet one more Rino, like Romney, like Harry Reed. They breed
Rinos out there on the Midwestern plains...


80 posted on 05/17/2009 6:16:09 AM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion ("I, El Rushbo -- and I say this happily -- have hijacked Obama's honeymoon.")
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