The Russia Ambassadorship is kind of a steamy pile to plunge into, right now. Is he stupid? Brave? Dirty?
I havenāt followed John that closely but I thought he was the best of the bunch in 2012 Republican primaries (admittedly a low bar). Seems sane and capable. Not a fit at all for this admin. Not sure why he would take job either unless Ben Carson did some surgery on him. My assessment, Trump could have, and certainly already has, done worse.
āIn October, he called on Trump to drop out of the race after a leaked āAccess Hollywoodā tape showed Trump bragging about being able to grope and kiss women without their consent due to his fame.ā
Jonās a pious man, but heās forgiven Donald since then.
I think his scripture says, āLet him without political ambition for a plumb ambassadorship cast the first stoneā.
Or something.
I thought Huntsman had more sense to accept a job with this shitty administration.
Looks like I was wrong.
Full disclosure: While I did not vote to elect Jon Hunstman for governor, I did vote to reelect him. The guy ran a tight ship and stayed away from the usual Right Wing wedge issues. He was a good governor. Plus, he keeps progressive rock on his iPod and he showed up at a Return to Forever concert a few years back.
That saidā¦
It says a lot about this train wreck of an administration that they picked for the job of ambassador to Russia a man who speaks fluent Mandarin.
Itās just how these clowns roll.
He was one of the few Republican candidates I actually liked as a person.
This is going to hurt his āno labelsā party!
I donāt know much about Huntsman, but apparently he is a member of a pro-Russian think tank called the Center for the National Interest (CNI). Evidently a number of people in Trumpās Russia orbit are connected with CNI, so itās not an accident that Huntsman was chosen.
From his run in '12:
Military spending: In a break with many of his fellow Republican candidates, Huntsman recommends cutting defense spending by eliminating waste. āWe still have remnants of a top-heavy, post-Cold War infrastructure,ā
Immigration/borders: Huntsman suggests the United States first secure its borders and then offer illegal immigrants already in the country ā who he thinks canāt realistically be deported ā a pathway that ābrings them into some safer statusā if they pay fines and learn English. Although he recommends erecting a fence, heās not thrilled about it.
Russia: Huntsman says the Obama administrationās reset of U.S.-Russia relations is like a āPotemkin village in which we pretend the Kremlin is more of a partner than it is, more of a democracy than it is, more respectful of human rights than it is, and less threatening to its neighbors than it is.ā
āThe U.S. must be prepared for this worst-case scenario and back our Central European partners (Romania, Poland) who continue to support U.S. missile defense policy,ā he adds.
No problem Jon. Iām sure you wonāt be back tracking at all.
[quote=āalcaray, post:2, topic:52715ā]
Is he stupid? Brave? Dirty?
[/quote]Desperate? Merely lonely? Early onset Alzheimers?
And especially with DTās assessment of him in 2012 and Huntsmanās call for DT to drop out after the grabbing tape reveal, I am surprised Huntsman would want anything to do with this.
I rather liked Huntsman. Until now.
If all things Russian shake out the way they appear to be heading, this could be a career ender for Huntsman. Iām always disconsolate when a seemingly reasonable Republican effectively kills his chances of ever running for office again. Iām sobbing uncontrollably. Can you hear it?
Anyone who climbs aboard now must already have a lifeboat lined up.
Fascinating
Immaterial?
If the Trump-Putin stories are true then the US ambassador to Russia is effectively redundant.
When copping flak for accepting the China posting from Obama, Huntsman said words to the effect of: āWhen the President asks you to serve, you serve.ā
Trump needs to have an ambassador to Russia for the optics of it. Even better if its someone with a bit of integrity and general admired. Huntsman is as close to a true bipartisan co-operative player as they come these days.
So why not ask him, since heāll feel obliged to say yes. Gives Trump some cover.
Perhaps since all bets are now off, concerning conflicts of interest, Huntsman Corp. is looking to make investments in Russia. How better to get assets than to be an ambassador with a large checkbook?
Russia is pretty hard on Mormons and Mormon missionaries. Perhaps Huntsman sees this as an opportunity to get Putin to ease up.
Mormon missionaries will remain in Russia despite the countryās new anti-terrorism law, which will put greater restrictions on religious work starting later this month.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said missionaries will respect a measure that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law this week.
Well I, for one, welcome any quantum of intelligence or decency to this administration. They sorely need a few more quanta in those departments. But unless Huntsman knows something we donāt, I canāt see how it will end well for him. I agree with Mr.Neutron in this regard but Iāll hold off on the tears.
Baffled.
Why would any sane and solvent individual with a respectable record of public service get into bed with these mangy and treasonous curs? Huntsman stands to gain nothing from associating with Trump but disgrace and opprobrium.