Some points to consider:

(1) Huntsman's gubernatorial term ends in '12, so he's probably I assume never had intentions of running for a 3rd term if he had Presidential plans.

(1) Huntsman has had diplomatic experience before, as Singapore Ambassador under Bush Sr. and Deputy Trade Representative under Dubya, so he's apparently qualified for the position.

(3) Ambassadorship to China is one of the great important plumb jobs in the State Department, same appointment that Chuck Hagel turned down. I mean if you're gonna tempt a successful politician with such a gig, Beijing is good.

(4) We've had U.S. Presidents who previously were Ambassadors, from John Quincy Adams (Portugal/Netherlands/Prussia) to Bush Sr. (United Nations/Envoy to China).

(5) Huntsman probably realized that with the current GOP environment, especially the fringe elements running the asylum, why waste a possible year or two for a campaign you don't think you can win, much less win over a base that already is against you.

(6) So in '12, let the wingnuts get their base candidate, i.e. Palin or Huckabee or perhaps even Romney, and let them get crash into the brick wall, i.e. Mondale in 1984. Let them decapitate themselves, and allow more sane options to run in '16, like Crist or Huntsman or whatever. To march through a jungle, you have to cut the vines.

 (7) Hunstman, like me and most of RFO I assume, probably thinks that none of the supposed leading '12 GOP contenders can probably defeat Obama.

(8) Plouffe publicly claimed that Huntsman "scared him," and I'm reminded of when Dick Morris (back when he was Clinton's top campaign advisor, not basher) claimed the 1996 GOP candidate they feared worst in campaigning against was Lamar Alexander....who ultimately amount to squat in the primaries. Same with Huntsman if he had run in '12, but in '16 he could have had momentum like Gary Hart in '88 (minus the candidancy-killing affair)

(9) Obama sure is weeding out any possible GOP rivals, isn't he? Huntsman is working for the Administration now, Crist is running for Senate instead, Palin is deconstructing on her own without any help, Jindal/Sanford/Perry and other GOP Governors still tainted by publicly opposing the Stimulus, and Crist still tarred with the base for supporting it.

And Romney/Huckabee should just get into a steel cage match and get it over with to become the Anti-Palin candidate. And Newt...who cares what he thinks anymore? He's stale 1990s this side of Spud McKenzie, except Spud at least was a cute mascot.

Yes, I intentionally ignored Pawlenty. He's a VP or Cabinet guy, not a Commander-In-Chief, you know?

(10) Back to point #8, Obama is trying his best to pick his opponent for '12, much like Nixon (w/ Plumbers) did in 1972 by helping to sabotage Muskie, get McGovern the fringe leftie nominated, and pound him like a drum in November.

(11) And he'll probably get her.

This will actually look great for Huntman's resume and help a 2016 run for President, especially if Pres. Obama has a great 8 years.

BTW: He unfortunately is the kind of moderate republican that the GOP is kicking out of the party....

What a shame....

 

 I will not throw the first punch but I wil certainly throw the last.....President Barack Obama.

I just can't imagine that Huntsman would do this unless it was something he really wanted to do, and I suspect that the current climate against anybody who isn't hard right helped him make this decision.

Andrew never disappoints.  His blog is one of the best out there.  He is a very astute columnist/blogger.

And I certainly agree:  Never underestimate Barack Obama....if you do it is  to your own peril.

 

 I will not throw the first punch but I wil certainly throw the last.....President Barack Obama.

Not sure if we featured it here, but did you see that Graham was heckled for suggesting a welcoming of Moderate Republicans? It seems all but certain the GOP will run an ultra- conservative and seems determined to self-destruct. I'd certainly consider Huntsman for 2016. I wonder what Dem will be in line to run at that point? How about Michelle Obama? That would be our sneaky way to keep Obama's agenda going. With so much to fix, he needs lots of time!

I hated Hillary, but at least she was elected twice to the U.S. Senate. What resume does Michelle hold? If anything, she's rehabilitated her image from a polarizing figure last year to a very much loved First Lady because she's avoided any real political statements or actions. No hating on her or the sleeveless arms, just...the reality? As for Graham, the guy is conservative...even possibly a closet-case hypocrite, but that's besides the point, which is that even he knows the facts, yet the rest of his party wants to ignore those facts and make up some of their own. Thats probably why I want a Palin or a similar base fringe candidate to be utterly decimated in '12, so give the GOP moderates a chance to retake the party, and climb out of the cliff those folks drove off. A McGovern or Mondale whipping would be sufficient.

I also forgot to mention in my Talking Points, but besides Bush Sr. and John Quincy Adams, we've had four other Presidents who previously were Ambassadors: Martin Van Buren, James Madison, James Buchanan, and John Adams.

Those 4, plus Quincy Adams, were at one time or another Ambassador to the UK.

My comment about Michelle was said more in humor. However, she is very intelligent, and will certainly gain much experience in her role as first lady. I think she is doing a terrific job. Does that help her resume? Yes. Presidential material? Not sure. I just thought it would be fun to float the idea. After seeing what her husband went through during the campaign, I am doubtful this would be her aspiration!

The only thing I wonder is: what was Huntsman's role in the McCain campaign? He does not seem like the type who would be thrilled with the negative route-did he advise against it? What was his reaction to the Palin pick and the sharp right turn? With his intelligence it must have been so painful to watch Palin struggle with foreign policy, etc.