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."

[fishtank]

He’s the new Ronmey.

[Hostage]

I can hear Ronald Reagan saying here’s another that needs to be taken to the woodshed for a spanking.

Conservative principles win and win by a landslide.

Conservative principles took down the USSR.

Conservative principles gave us the biggest economic expansion in history.

Conservative principles brought back pride to our military members.

Everytime we have compromised our conservatism, we have lost period end-of-story.

[McGruff]

...says strategist John Weaver, who advised Huntsman and was for years a close adviser to Sen. John McCain...

Loooooser!

[meandog]

The trouble with the three-headed monster (Palin, Limbaugh and Cheney) is perceived hypocrisy (IMO) when it comes to morality and patriotism. I loved Palin as a voice for morality and motherhood, but she was done in by her pregnant, unwed daughter. Thrice divorced Limbaugh was hurt by his failed marriages and became a target because of his oxycontin abuse and his 4-F draft status, and Cheney has always been plagued by his five student deferments during Vietnam.

[Just A Nobody]

Stop posting this commie propaganda.

I agree! No more commie propaganda from the NYSlimes, WaCOMpost etc. We need to post more blogs and FReeper vanities! They make more sense, are well thought out and are usually sourced.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

If conservatives lead “moderates” will follow.

By and large, moderates don't even exist. It's a ruse fabricated by the MSM and Dems to get the GOP to water down their principles and be a near clone of the Dem candidate so that conservatives stay home and the rest of the voters will vote for the real thing.

[DManA]

Let’s nominate Harry Reid as the Republican Presidential Nominee. Is that enough to win?

[NeoCaveman]

Who the hell is Huntsman?

I'll explain him. If Mitt Romney and Charlie Crist had a child, it would be Huntsman.

[roses of sharon]

Because the Washington Examiner needed some hits to it’s web site? Because York needed a story? Because the only ones in the GOP that have access to national media are the weak and spineless?

[Sans-Culotte]

Bennett, a moralizing gambler who is wrong on education, wrong on guns, and wrong on Palin.

There was a time when I liked Bennett.

He just comes across as a befuddled old man now.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Just another liberal Democrat a$$hole who bought the GOP nomination for office, you know how that goes. Bloomberg, Slick Willard, (C)huntsman.

[wombtotomb]

Agreed! Anyone who listens to the opposition to build our strategy will experience the same results we had when they convinced people to vote for McCain for our nominee. Definition of insanity will ensue.

[Some hope remaining.]

I know it was founded by his father but I had thought Jr. was later CEO. I think I misinterpreted this line:

Huntsman served as an executive for the Huntsman Corporation, the Huntsman Cancer Foundation and CEO of Huntsman Family Holdings Company.

[ontap]

John Weaver, who advised Huntsman and was for years a close adviser to Sen. John McCain.

This is all you need to know. He did such a good job on McCain!

[ansel12]

The trouble with the three-headed monster (Palin, Limbaugh and Cheney) is perceived hypocrisy (IMO) when it comes to morality and patriotism.

How does Sarah Palin fall short in either morality or patriotism?

[Diogenesis]

Another threat against the GOP from the Romney Dictatorship.

"Peeking Out From the McCain Wreckage: Mitt Romney"

"Someone's got to say it: IS MITT ROMNEY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBAMA'S VICTORY?"

"Vanity: Team Romney Sabotaged Palin and Continuing to Do So?"

"Romney Supporters Trashing Palin"

"Romney advisors sniping at Palin?"

---

Poor sport spoiler Romney attacks other GOP candidatesn:

Novak: "Fred Thompson drop-out rumors traced to Romney campaign"

Said Novak: "The rumors were traced in part to Mitt Romney's campaign,
trying to stir up strife between McCain and Thompson."

"Despite outspending his rivals by huge margins throughout the primaries,
(Mitt Romney, Carpetbagger UT,CA,MA,NH,Mexico) lost Iowa, South Carolina, Florida and California.
The only primaries he won were in Michigan, where Dad was governor; LDS states;
and a few states on Super Tuesday in which his California-obsessed rivals
couldn't spare the cash to advertise.
Only John Connolly in 1968 had a worse cash-to-delegates ratio.
And John McCain rightly did not like Romney's tactics during the primaries.
(W)hen (Romney's early leads) started slipping away, he resorted to unfair,
distorted, scorched-earth negative ads, betting that his opponents couldn't
afford to spend enough for the truth to catch up to his charges."
[Romney: A Mistake for McCain, 7/23/2008, Dick Morris]

[Just A Nobody]

Palin and Hunter

My $$$ went directly to the Hunter campaign and directly to a few others running for CONgre$$.
I only bothered to vote because Palin was on the ballot.

[Clint N. Suhks]

By and large, moderates don't even exist.

The MSM had their "moderates", McLame, Grahamnesty, Dole, et al. They are out there. My point is they cannot be leaders, they should only be followers. If it takes a temporary purging of them so be it. They will come back to us as long as we keep our values inflexible because their's are.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Really? So the Pubbies need to establish a platform that is defined and handed to them by the Dhimmicrats?

Who are you, Michael Steele?

[libh8er]

The trouble with the three-headed monster(PLC)..

They may have had personal failings in their lives, though in the case of Palin that's debatable, but that does not mean they cannot stand up for what is right. You don't always have to be perfect and lead by example to lead. That's the liberal argument - since we as humans aren't perfect, we should all embrace moral and cultural depravity.