Huntsman strategist: If Palin and Limbaugh dominate, GOP 'headed for a blowout' in 2012

Washington Examiner ^ | 05/18/09 | Byron York

[redk]

The Republican strategist who helped Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman prepare for a possible presidential run says the Republican party is in for a devastating defeat if its guiding lights are Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney. "If it's 2012 and our party is defined by Palin and Limbaugh and Cheney, then we're headed for a blowout," says strategist John Weaver, who advised Huntsman and was for years a close adviser to Sen. John McCain. "That's just the truth."

Huntsman, a favorite of GOP moderates, left the Republican presidential race last week after accepting President Obama's offer to become U.S. ambassador to China. Before that, Huntsman appeared to be working hard on preparations for 2012. "He had not made a decision to run for president, but he had made a decision to prepare to run," says Weaver. "We were probably a month away from announcing the formation of a political action committee, so we were pretty far down the road."

[VRWC For Truth]

If Palin wasn't on the ticket, McLOSER would have been CRUSHED. Purge the RINOs now.

[bilhosty]

By then Reagan was an attractive and accomplished incumbent. He had more going for him at that time than just conservatives. He also won moderates who have now left the party. That was before massive immigration and a sharp increase in black voting. that was also when people including moderates were concerned about the Soviet Union, welfare abuse. Having their children bussed into an inner city school. they were more concerned about crime. Taxes were higher and other things that are now declining or dead issues. It is a different world. you have to appeal to moderates and their issues and your conservative base. Conservatives now have to find ways to deal with things like the high cost of health care in ways that are compatible with their principles or have a hard time. It is now harder to find common ground because so many have now left he party.

[Big_Monkey]

"By then Reagan was an attractive and accomplished incumbent.

I think many here are suffering from head-in-the-sand-itis. What Reagan did for the conservative movement, Obama could very well do for the progressives in 2012. If the economy is the same, or just a little bit better, Obama could easily match Reagan's performance in 1984.

2010 will be the canary in the coal mine. If we don't pick up 30+ seats in the house and at least a few in the Senate, 2012 will be a bloodbath.

[dennisw]

Even the Mormons have gone squishy soft and multi-culti. This whole country has gone left since Reagan-Bush.

[bilhosty]

you might be right. I am a bit less pessmistic though by no means optimistic. I don’t see us accomplishing either. But, you never know.

[Cacique]

btt

[gwilhelm56]

By then, Reaganomics was already beginning to work. And Thank GOD for that. As I remember ALL TOO WELL, Carter’s 70% top marginal tax rate. Moderates have left the party???? I haven’t heard of a mass migration to the DEMOCRAPS, or even to Indi. The only ones who’ve left the party are the true Conservatives, because the party has left us.

Assinine LIBERALS... always back to HEALTHCARE... you think Healthcare is going to be cheaper when Fuhrer Obama takes over???
Simple ... get govt out of Healthcare to the greatest degree Possible. As for the different world... EFF the Moderates and the Big tent they crawled out from Under. Moderates are nothing but LIBERALS that don’t have the Brains or the GUTS to admit it.

[gwilhelm56]

take a little time and line up a few of FUHRER OBAMA’s LIES, FRAUDS, and BS.. If it boils down to a choice of Romney and NOBAMA... Romney got my vote!!!

[HailReagan78]

If unemployment is hovering at 10% while Obama & the dems push the amnesty crap, white voters will be majorly pissed...Its just enough for the GOP to stand their ground on the right side of this issue.

As far as Republicans picking up X number of seats in 2010, I’m not as concerned about that. Look, either way the country is going to suffer major pain over the next several yrs. The GOP isnt reclaiming the majority in the next election....If we soften our tone to placate centrists and the MSM, we might pick up a few extra seats here and there but still will be left with weak representation in congress. I’d take a gain of 10 solid conservatives with brass balls over a gain of 30 big tent moderates.

The Dems are going to get their way in the near future, regardless, because elections have consequences. We dont have the votes to stop them right now. Its up to the GOP to stand on the side of right vs wrong, so that as things continue to collapse around us, sane voters will return to their senses and reject the Left. It will be clear to most real Americans as to where to point the blame.

[Diogenesis]

The latest threats or innuendo of the RomneyBOTs to throw Election2012
to the DNC, just like they did in Election2008, if
pi$$poor economist, backstabber and socialist
Romney is not wrongly annointed, is gross.

Please don’t let the door hit you and Romney on your way out
of conservative areas.

[bilhosty]

” I haven’t heard of a mass migration to the DEMOCRAPS”

What do you call New jersey, California, Oregon, Washington, Delaware and the Philly suburbs, Upstate New York, New Hampshire, Illinois, Iowa and other areas?

[Leisler]

Not one Romney since they came to America from England, before the Civil War, has ever served in the Military. Have you ever heard of a family like that? He’s got five sons, post 9/11 not one joined up.

Why? Romney family values.

Thanks, but no thanks, keep making money and, so far, a single, political offices.

[carmody]

I have no evidence to present to the jury.

But I think the analogy and imagery of a “Big Tent” sounds like a circus. And a circus makes you think of circus performers and freak shows. I don’t think it communicates to the public a clear message. Are they talking about color & religion? sexual preferences? Conservatives and Socialists?

“Our big tent is big enough for freedom lovers and communists! High Tax Low Tax! Makes not difference to us! All are welcome under the big tent!”

What is a big tent and who is supposed to be under it? There is no foundation to a circus tent. You can tear it down and move it. GOP needs a better analogy for whatever message they are trying to convey. I honestly don’t know what they believe and the problem is it seems they don’t either.

[MeekOneGOP]

Ping! Bump! Ping!

[meandog]

Of course, one thing has absolutely nothing to do with the other. But shucking, jiving, straw men and misdirection is what you do, because you’re here to serve a political purpose. Presume what you like. Anyone with rudimentary reading comprehension skills can see through your game like shrink wrap.

...and, of course, you're pretending not to serve any political purpose, LOL. My original posting wasn't even to you; you butted in where you weren't invited with an attack on me for my support of John McCain. Next time why don't you mind your own business so you don't get your feelings bruised.

[meandog]

I like Sarah Palin and worked hard campaigning for her. I believe her to be a person of high integrity, guts and someone who will stick to her guns in a political fight. But as a national candidate I believe she also proved she's a bit unpolished when it comes to sparring with the eastern media (Katie Curic on the “Bush Doctrine” question). The MSM will never give any conservative a fair shake and it will take someone (like Reagan) who has a penchant for quick witted answers. Unfortunately, we're in an instant informational age where politicians are, rightly or wrongly, judged on their ability to communicate so I really hope that, if she does indeed plan a 2012 run, she gets some good media consultants to bolster her bid.

[CPT Clay]

hey Huntsman, wanna bet?

[gwilhelm56]

If you are referring to the last election, those weren’t even Moderates (to my understanding of the term). That is not a MIGRATION... the whining, sniveling McCainiacs are still in the party... those GOPERS that did not vote for McLAME are ...Conservatives who refused to vote Liberal OR Liberal Lite. As for the REST that you see as a MIGRATION.. were a bunch of whining WHITE FOLK that gonna show they not Racist by voting for the JIVE TURKEY!!

[bilhosty]

McCain has conservative ratings on his record from conservative organizations. He is not a moderate nor a liberal he is an establishment, corporate back stabber. someone who possess's conservative instincts but somehow stabs you in the back at every occasion. I think they can be called country clubbers. The only thing they are interested in is their taxes and money and everything else is up for negotiation(although their instincts are conservative). Most people thought he was a moderate and he passed for that, which is one reason why he was the only GOP candidate (as polls plainly showed) who had a chance. They had to run a “moderate” as Bush and his country clubber backstabbers broke the conservative brand as well as the Republican brand. Arlan Spector was a moderate version of a back stabber.

[Eva]

Huntsman is the choice of the Obama administration to be the new head of the Republican Party. I have actually seen it stated that Huntsman had been identified as the “greatest threat” to the Obama administration. What they meant was actually just the opposite.