What do you guys ACTUALLY know about Jon Huntsman?

[The Mikado]

Because I barely know anything about the governor other than that he's just starting his second term, is about to turn 49, and is "moderate," whatever that means.

Where does the excitement come from? =

[Keystone Phil]

and is "moderate," whatever that means.

Well, we've come to learn that being for civil unions and acting on climate change = OMG MODERATE!

Which means that I guess I'm a moderate now.

[Bacon King]

Not really part of his excitement, or whatever, but I do recall that he speaks fluent Mandarin.

[© Tweed the Younger]

he believes that black people have dark skin because they refused to take part in the fraternal dispute between Jesus and Lucifer in the spirit world and that Jesus came to America after he was resurrected.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Which means that I guess I'm a moderate now.

Welcome!  That makes four of us... Governor Rockefeller would be so proud.  Your "Specter 2010" materials are in the mail.

[Tender Branson]

Basically he's positioning himself to run as a moderate Republican in 2012, and yes, people are going OMG MODERATE!  Never mind that moderates never dictate policy and are always caught in the middle of the ongoing liberal/conservative debate, because they're too stupid and/or spineless to come up with an ideology of their own.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Never mind that moderates never dictate policy

Are you kidding me?  Moderates are always having to come up with policy.  They do the heavy lifting while the ideologues just spout off about how much they are adhering to some sort of "principles" rather than using facts, logic, or reason.

and are always caught in the middle of the ongoing liberal/conservative debate, because they're too stupid and/or spineless to come up with an ideology of their own.

Because being a "dittohead" shows so much more backbone.

[Keystone Phil]

Which means that I guess I'm a moderate now.

Welcome!  That makes four of us... Governor Rockefeller would be so proud.  Your "Specter 2010" materials are in the mail.

Uh huh.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Apparently, in today's Republican party, using common logic and not bowing to James Dobson and Rush Limbaugh, makes you a moderate.

Pretty sad for a party that gave us not only Abraham Lincoln, but also Teddy Roosevelt.

[12th Doctor]

Because I barely know anything about the governor other than that he's just starting his second term, is about to turn 49, and is "moderate," whatever that means.

Where does the excitement come from? =

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Huntsman_Jr

I like almost everything that article says about him.

[Lunar]

I know a lot, but I've done a fair bit of background research on him.  I like that he's forward thinking (was pro-environment before it was cool, is now pro-civil unions), a successful businessman, has international experience, speaks Mandarin, and has two adopted Asian daughters.  He just looks like he's be good at governing, even if I disagree with him on a set of issues.

[Rob]

My Huntsman Knowledge

(1) He's a Mormon
(2) He's a Republican
(3) He's from Utah

[Ogre Mage]

The default public perception of a Utah Republican is that they are in the extremist right-wing of their party.  It appears that Huntsman's latest moves are an attempt to position himself as a mainstream Republican, more in tune with Kay Bailey Hutchison and Judd Gregg rather than Jim DeMint. 

As for Huntsman being a moderate, Olympia Snowe could not be elected statewide in Utah.

[Lunar]

The default public perception of a Utah Republican is that they are in the extremist right-wing of their party.  It appears that Huntsman's latest moves are an attempt to position himself as a mainstream Republican, more in tune with Kay Bailey Hutchison and Judd Gregg rather than Jim DeMint. 

As for Huntsman being a moderate, Olympia Snowe could not be elected statewide in Utah.

I don't know of anyone who thinks he's a moderate.  He's merely what I called "forward thinking" - basically meaning that he's not isolated in his own doctrine or far-right constituency or what have you.  Like McCain, Huntsman was pro-environment because it was cool.

[Nixon in '80]

1. Sensible center of the Republican Party
2. Business experience
3. Diplomatic experience
4. Good job managing Utah
5. Young, fresh, seemingly no skeletons.

That's basically why people are going apesh**t over him... and compared to the rest of the field, can you really blame us?

[Lunar]

He reminds me of a younger, fresher McCain that is more international, modern, and economic.  Plus, he has twice as many adopted Asian daughters as McCain but half the divorces.

I mean, I wouldn't vote for him over Obama yet or anything, but I wouldn't be sad to see him win.