John Huntsman?

[Lieutenant Governor Clinton1996]

He's been talking a lot of smack about Romney and the Party lately. He made a bi-partisan comment and the blocked him from a role at some GOP event. His daughter also teased of a party switch. And I heard he may speak at he Democratic National Convention 2012. Anyone else? Could he be crossing-over?

[Cobbler]

I could see it happening, but I hope it doesn't. I'd love for him to run in 2016, and while he isn't on great terms with the party right now, I think he could rebuild those bridges over the next few years. This would be the end of the road for him if he did this.

[Politico]

Jon Huntsman is more than welcome to fill the role vacated by John Edwards.

[NHI]

I could see it happening, but I hope it doesn't. I'd love for him to run in 2016, and while he isn't on great terms with the party right now, I think he could rebuild those bridges over the next few years. This would be the end of the road for him if he did this.

Agreed. If he played his cards right he could have a future in 2016, but not if he keeps doing these types of antics.

[Lieutenant Governor Clinton1996]

I could see it happening, but I hope it doesn't. I'd love for him to run in 2016, and while he isn't on great terms with the party right now, I think he could rebuild those bridges over the next few years. This would be the end of the road for him if he did this.

Agreed. If he played his cards right he could have a future in 2016, but not if he keeps doing these types of antics.

I still think he's kinda burned his bridges with the party. If Romney loses, the GOP will just claim he wasn't "conservative enough", and go with someone further to the right and crazier. So I doubt he'll have a chance 4 years from now. Huntsman was probably the MOST Conservative, with a big C, person running for the nomination. But he carried himself and the media treated him like a moderate. That's why primary voters didn't like him. They say he was the candidate that Obama was most afraid of, that's why they gave him an administration post to turn off Republicans. It's said that there were portraits of 3 candidates hanging in the Chicago Obama HQ; Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, and Jon Huntsman.

[Chareth Cutestory]

Blegh...I have a soft spot for Huntsman if only because he's such an annoyance to the Republicans, but if he were to join the Democrats I would lose all respect for him. That's just a clown move at this point. Desperate and completely pointless. I hope he just leaves the Republicans and ends there.

[NHI]

I could see it happening, but I hope it doesn't. I'd love for him to run in 2016, and while he isn't on great terms with the party right now, I think he could rebuild those bridges over the next few years. This would be the end of the road for him if he did this.

Agreed. If he played his cards right he could have a future in 2016, but not if he keeps doing these types of antics.

I still think he's kinda burned his bridges with the party. If Romney loses, the GOP will just claim he wasn't "conservative enough", and go with someone further to the right and crazier. So I doubt he'll have a chance 4 years from now. Huntsman was probably the MOST Conservative, with a big C, person running for the nomination. But he carried himself and the media treated him like a moderate. That's why primary voters didn't like him. They say he was the candidate that Obama was most afraid of, that's why they gave him an administration post to turn off Republicans. It's said that there were portraits of 3 candidates hanging in the Chicago Obama HQ; Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, and Jon Huntsman.

You're assessment hit the nail on the head. Huntsman was the most conservative candidate in the race, but his post in Obama's Administration sadly doomed him. Huntsman was my second choice in the race, and always felt he and Romney were the only one capable to beat Obama, and lately I feeling the latter is now unlikely to beat him.

[pepper11]

Yeah he is speaking there....At least the Dems will be bored to death as we were during his debates.

[ChairmanSanchez]

He won't dare-2016 is his year.

[Simfan34]

I could see it happening, but I hope it doesn't. I'd love for him to run in 2016, and while he isn't on great terms with the party right now, I think he could rebuild those bridges over the next few years. This would be the enwd of the road for him if he did this.

Agreed. If he played his cards right he could have a future in 2016, but not if he keeps doing these types of antics.

I still think he's kinda burned his bridges with the party. If Romney loses, the GOP will just claim he wasn't "conservative enough", and go with someone further to the right and crazier. So I doubt he'll have a chance 4 years from now. Huntsman was probably the MOST Conservative, with a big C, person running for the nomination. But he carried himself and the media treated him like a moderate. That's why primary voters didn't like him. They say he was the candidate that Obama was most afraid of, that's why they gave him an administration post to turn off Republicans. It's said that there were portraits of 3 candidates hanging in the Chicago Obama HQ; Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, and Jon Huntsman.

You're assessment hit the nail on the head. Huntsman was the most conservative candidate in the race, but his post in Obama's Administration sadly doomed him. Huntsman was my second choice in the race, and always felt he and Romney were the only one capabl to beat Obama, and lately I feeling the latter is now unlikely to beat him.

Really? I thought you disliked him.

[Proud Lieberal from Northeast]

Huntsman was the most conservative candidate in the race

[milhouse24]

I don't think Huntsman will win in 2016, especially if Jeb, Rubio, Thune, etc. get in the race.

Also, having back-to-back Mormon candidates would really upset the GOP evangelicals.

Romney barely "won" Iowa, and I don't see Huntsman doing much better if Jeb and Thune run in the primaries. 

I think Huntsman is just waiting for Orrin Hatch to croak, and then run for his Senate seat.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

He's really another Chuck Hagel. Right-wing Republican who sometimes says something sane.

[shua]

You really think someone who praised the Ryan budget is going to speak at the DNC?

[Gravis Marketing]

I wonder if these rumors are floated by Republicans angry at Huntsmans talking about Romney's not paying taxes.

[Rhodie]

To be honest, I think the Republican Party is doomed if it doesn't start nominating candidates like Huntsman, I mean for god sakes, he opposes same-sex marriage, cut taxes whilst he was Governor, supports tougher immigration laws and restricted access to abortions. I mean, if he's not conservative, then quite frankly who is. The Republican Party is being destroyed by the irrational cancer that comprises the Bachmann/West/Perry/Norquist wing, who insist that every candidate must conform to what they see as conservative on every issue, 100% of the time. I mean I doubt even Ronald Reagan could have won a GOP nomination now, as they would have seen him as too willing to compromise. The stage the party has reached of the religious right and Tea Party having a virtual veto power over the choice of candidate is really bad for the Republican Party. The Party won't ever win back the Presidency in any meaningful way unless this situation changes.

Rant over

[pbrower2a]

Jon Huntsman is more than welcome to fill the role vacated by John Edwards.

..except that John Edwards had some loose ends in his personal life.

President Obama knew what he was doing when he appointed him as Ambassador to the People's Republic of China. You want your competent opponents developing their reputations but not at your expense. He may have been the only Republican who could have defeated President Obama in 2012... by running as an independent and keeping a clear distance from Karl Rogue and Grover Norquist. But keeping a distance from Karl Rogue and Grover Norquist was not the way to get the nomination.

President Obama does not need an outright endorsement from Jon Huntsman... but a denunciation of Rove and Norquist as unelected Party bosses who control the politicians would be extremely welcome. There will be House and Senate seats up for grabs, and that is nearly as important to President Obama as is getting re-elected.

 

[TJ in Wisco]

To be honest, I think the Republican Party is doomed if it doesn't start nominating candidates like Huntsman, I mean for god sakes, he opposes same-sex marriage, cut taxes whilst he was Governor, supports tougher immigration laws and restricted access to abortions. I mean, if he's not conservative, then quite frankly who is. The Republican Party is being destroyed by the irrational cancer that comprises the Bachmann/West/Perry/Norquist wing, who insist that every candidate must conform to what they see as conservative on every issue, 100% of the time. I mean I doubt even Ronald Reagan could have won a GOP nomination now, as they would have seen him as too willing to compromise. The stage the party has reached of the religious right and Tea Party having a virtual veto power over the choice of candidate is really bad for the Republican Party. The Party won't ever win back the Presidency in any meaningful way unless this situation changes.

Rant over

To be honest I think Huntsman could have done much better in the Republican primary with the exact same positions he held if he attempted to identify himself as a conservative and when he disagreed with the generic conservative position on something worded his dissent a little softer. It wasn't so much his positions that did him in as much as it was him sounding like was poking the GOP in the eye.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

To be honest, I think the Republican Party is doomed if it doesn't start nominating candidates like Huntsman, I mean for god sakes, he opposes same-sex marriage, cut taxes whilst he was Governor, supports tougher immigration laws and restricted access to abortions. I mean, if he's not conservative, then quite frankly who is. The Republican Party is being destroyed by the irrational cancer that comprises the Bachmann/West/Perry/Norquist wing, who insist that every candidate must conform to what they see as conservative on every issue, 100% of the time. I mean I doubt even Ronald Reagan could have won a GOP nomination now, as they would have seen him as too willing to compromise. The stage the party has reached of the religious right and Tea Party having a virtual veto power over the choice of candidate is really bad for the Republican Party. The Party won't ever win back the Presidency in any meaningful way unless this situation changes.

Rant over

To be honest I think Huntsman could have done much better in the Republican primary with the exact same positions he held if he attempted to identify himself as a conservative and when he disagreed with the generic conservative position on something worded his dissent a little softer. It wasn't so much his positions that did him in as much as it was him sounding like was poking the GOP in the eye.

Yes, he came off as someone who was more interested in pleasing a particular crowed of people hostile to conservatives at their expense. You don't purposely antagonize the group that would most certainly be your base if nominated  even if you disagree with them strongly one a particular group of issues. Huntsman choose to pursue political correctness over actually being a legitimate contender. One of several reasons that I don't much care for him as a politician.