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AP
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (R)
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Scenes of internal tensions, tears and disorganization within Jon Huntsman's campaign spilled into plain view before dawn this morning, with a new report from Jonathan Martin at Politico detailing internal discord among senior staffers and campaign strategist John Weaver.
According to Politico, David Fischer (a long-time family friend of Huntsman and Huntsman's father) who was asked to exit the campaign by Weaver, said Huntsman's early failures were rooted in Weaver's problematic management style and "verbal abuse." Fischer recounted worry among family and staffers at Florida headquarters and disclosed previously unknown staff resignations.
When NBC News asked about overall campaign strategy here yesterday, Huntsman said it is not his responsibility.
"Listen I am not going to get into strategy," Huntsman said. "I don't do strategy for a living; I am the candidate. I have a message and I have a vision, and that's my job."
This morning, spokesman Tim Miller called the new developments mere "inside-the-beltway banter."
"Gov. Huntsman is very confident in the campaign's leadership, including John Weaver," Miller told NBC News in an email and phone conversation. "The campaign is on a path to victory with trusted advisers, the right message, and most importantly, the most-prepared and most-accomplished candidate in the field. He's focused on solving this nation's problems, not inside-the-beltway banter."
Today, Huntsman continues campaigning through New Hampshire with a meeting at the Salem Chamber of Commerce and a speech to the Derry Republican Committee.
*** UPDATE *** Miller contacted First Read to clarify that Huntsman is confident in the campaign's leadership and that includes Weaver.
*** CORRECTION *** Miller did not misspell John Weaver's name. That was First Read's mistake.
Leave a Comment:
Chum... Chum... Chum...
Who doesn't LOVE watching piranha's? lol
They sure are entertaining little critters...
The GOP/TP not only likes taking "Hostages" it appears they like to "eat their own as well".
FOOD FIGHT!
GOP self destruction continues as planned....
Bluto: They took the bar! The whole f#cking bar!
CLASSIC... lol
Ever rowdy no matter where they are.
Strategy? I'm not into Strategy! Who needs it? I don't plan on winning.
Apparently the message stinks!
Mr. Obama is it to late to ask for my old job back?
Campaign organizations are usually hothouses in which conflicts flourish. When the candidate either micro-manages, or takes little active role in the operations, the result is usually collapse and resignations. Of the two unfortunate sorts of candidates, the micro-manager is worse.
Huntsman's bid was probably doomed from the git-go, as is Gingrich's. So far, the entire GOP presidential field is a circus clown car. Where, if anywhere, will the GOP find a credible candidate to put up?
They think this is the guy:
http://bilweeler.newsvine.com/_news/2011/08/04/7251091-credit-where-its-duechris-christie-defends-muslim-judge-appointment
Their finger licking good! or is it good to the last drop? Eh, who cares they all suck wind. or is they all blow hot air? or is it...
The question is, do they go with the honey-mustard or sweet & sour dipping sauce on the side? ;o)
Rave on, libbies. This guy never was a meaningful candidate, and we righties are as amused as you are at his joke of a camapign.
The Honorable Senator Blutosky. Hey maybe the GOTP could draft him at their convention!
This falls into the giant "who cares?" useless First Read articles.
Nice to see they avoided reporting on Obama's spending binge yesterday. 100% of the GDP, most spent in one day....nice job Mr. President. Way to go on that cutting spending.
Liar.
Raid anyone?
Bluto: Christ. Seven years of college down the drain. Might as well join the f#cking Peace Corps
Bluto has much in common with the Wasilla Hillbilly!
Devie, I keep a can of the stuff right by the KB especially for Spider. You can tell when he's around, the monitor is suddenly draped with the disorganized web of a venomous insect.
Hey, Housekeeping! There's a dead spider in the corner again.
"I don't do strategy". What an odd remark by Huntsman. While candidates trust their manager and advisors, I've never heard of one who just turned over the whole process to the staff without having any input into how best to get the "vision" out, without having any say in how that candidate is presented to the public. That's not smart. No wonder Huntsman doesn't register on the wannabe president meter.
A candidate is the glue in a campaign. Too much involvement in managing is as bad as too little--not bothering is even worse.
C'mon, people, Jon Huntsman would be a good Republican candidate. He has a fine record and no apparent ties to the "Tea Party." Is his candidacy realistic? Maybe not, but all this jeering and gloating kinda got under my skin.
........climbing up on my soap box.............
The only way for this country to be healthy is for both parties to field candidates with integrity! Vote for your own guy, but cheer for the opposition as well.
.............soap box collapses under the weight of reality.............
That's the issue Mark - Huntsman is the ONLY candidate in the game who's even remotely rational...
Therefore, he's not going anywhere...
Until sanity is restored to the once GOP!
It's sad when you think about it...
Sad indeed, Feisty. What is sad is when reason is over-run by extremes. The unfortunate fact is the reasonable are generally more soft-spoken than the extremists and have a tendency to be drowned out - voices of reason lost is a cacophony of noise.
Out of all of the GOP candidates - Huntsman seemed to be the most rational person out there.
Looking forward to the upcoming debate next week. Would have liked to see how Perry handles himself - but he hasn't said the word yet.
Elise, Huntsman is barely a Republican, the Libs liked him cause he was so weak.
Not really Wag-net. Barely a Republican? You are or you aren't.
Tea Bags and the Neo Nuts don't like anyone unless they are rigid uncompromising fools who sign pledges with some washed up never been elected to any public office blowhard instead of honoring their oath to uphold the Constitution.
Huntsman can't control his own people but he wants to be responsible for the United States of America?
In choosing a president we should look to the quality of the decisions of candidates for that office, as insight into their future decision making ability as president. This includes those he/she hires as campaign staff. Sen. John McCain's pick of an obscure and unqualified VP running mate doomed his presidential credibility with the majority of Americans. All candidates should learn the lessons offered by such mistakes. It appears that Mr. Huntsman may not be doing his recent history homework.
http://nymag.com/news/politics/jon-huntsman-mitt-romney-2011-8/
I always thought that the way a candidate ran his campaign was an idication of how he would do in Office. Considering the problems that have already started to bubble up, it is beginning to look like several of the GOP hopefuls will be out before the end of the year. First Trump, Gingrich, Pawlenty, Huntsman. I notice that we have not heard much out of Santoreum lately. Even Perry is having trouble getting out of the starting gate. He is going to look really foolish standing in a stadium that holds ovef 70,000 and all that they have so far is around 8,000.
Not really that good of an indicator fayse. Obama ran a great campaign........
JC ### - meet brick wall! How about some help from you lovely Repubs. We're all in this together and the GOP/TPers would ruin this country in order not to help us all!
Cathy - that is patently absurd. You may not agree with the direction that the GOP or TP would go, but they certainly are not trying to ruin the country. Pure hyperbole (not that most everything on this site isn't).
But, what does that have to do with whether or not running a good campaign is an indication of whether someone will be good in the position? I think, in President Obama's case, he appears to have done much better as a candidate than he does as an executive. He had much too little experience when he was elected - and it shows.
Um, actually JC, it is patently obvious. The Tea Party currently runs the House, yet the Dems control the Senate and Presidency. They demanded that the Dems give up everything to avoid default, gave up nothing of their own, are the minority on virtually every issue in the debt deal with the Public; and were willing to collapse the American and World economies if they didn't get their way.
Tyranny of the minority and the enemy of the Constitution, thy name is Tea Party. And yes, as they named themselves, they sure have "teabagged Congress".
And yes JC, I am terribly disappointed in Obama's leadership. He is far to civil and, dare I call him--gentlemanly--to deal with his enemies. I did not misspeak, the Republicans and Tea Partiers (well, there is no difference today between the two) have treated the President with such disdain and disrespect that they are enemies, not opposition. What we need is someone who could kick these @#!$ers in the groin, and we have someone who will always compromise his agenda with nothing in return to always appear the adult.
Fayse, isn't it spelled Rick "Sanatorium" (It should be. The guy's one sick dude ...or is that dud?)
Of all the Republican candidates, I like Huntsman the best. I think he represents the "normal" Republican party. Not right wing extremists who are better represented by Bachmann and Caine and Santorum and soon "Perry". It is too bad he is having internal campaign issues. If he has a cancer in his campaign, as it seems he does, then he needs to be a leader and get rid of the cancer. If he chooses to ignore it he is doomed, because it is a reflection of leadership abilities. After all, let us not forget McCain and his choice of Palin for VP. That was a direct reflection on McCain and it was a poor reflection of him.
Ana:
You are spot on...he's the top of the class, but they're all still in middle school. He is probably too moderate to be nominated...the base will treat him like a leper.
But if he were nominated...well...it would be a much closer election next November.
bilweeler
FOOD FIGHT!
GOP self destruction continues as planned....
It's good brain food for the mentally deficient Tealibans when they need to replenish. It's as they call it "ransom".
Huntsman has always struck me as a little weird.
Aren't all of these GOP canidates a tad bit creepy?
devie,
yes, each in their own, special way.
Speaking of creepy and special since everyone seems to be throwing their hat in the ring. When is Pat "your boy" Buchanan going to get serious and throw his in? Now that would complete the field of GOTP loons.
Huntsman is the best and smartest GOP candidate in the field but he is not a moderate; it's just that the GOP has moved so far to the right that he appears moderate. He is pragmatic, realistic and more inclined to compromise which are good characteristics. His trouble is the same as Mitt Romney's--the Tea Party.
@Jody - and the sad part of that is that they have managed in their tactics to pull us all over to the extreme right where we cannot stand our ground as Democrats with our policies and our platforms. It's a shame we've (the voters) let that happen. It should be a good motivator to get out the vote. But will it? If we don't do our jobs, how can the President do his? Those who did not vote in 2010 allowed this to happen. We need to start pulling back to the left where we belong. Because the center is not the center any longer, it is extreme right.
Then he runs in good company, Huntsman, Romney, and the People of the United States, ALL have to overcome the Tea Party, in the interest of good, multi-dimensional government.
There was more hype than susbstance. If he had something special to propel his campaign, country has not seen it. He should drop out and support Romney. That way if Romney wins, he migh be in for good slot like Secretary of State and that might bne good training ground and prove his International credential vis a vis Hillary.
raj@chicagoman.com
Yes, they are wasting valueless time...
Obama's assault on the Constitution of which he claims to be a professor and which he swore an oath to uphold - and his massive addition to our national debt - and his continuation of and profligation of more unjust wars, will be his undoing. Disenchanted Democrats & Independents are searching for a candidate they can TRUST. But they won't go with any Neo-cons or Tea-o-Cons. Romney's just like Obama, they even have the same major campaign donor, Goldman Sachs, and his record proves he's a flip-flopper galore. Nope! Herman Cain is in favor of NAFTA, CAFTA, TARP, and is former Chairman of the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas. Nope! Michelle Bachmann believes you can Bejesus the gay out of people, and wants all porn outlawed. Nope! Gingrich. Nope! Sarah Palin is a gimmick. She quit on Alaska, she quit on her own dang bus tour. Nope! Rudy Giu911ani? Nope! Huntsman is endorsed by Lady Lynn Forester de Rothchild. Nope! Gary Johnson's great, but it's not his time. I suggest you get to know Ron Paul.
Hmmm! Not quite sure what the assault on the Constitution is in that the Supreme Court is the arbiter of such issues per the very Constitution of which you speak and they have yet to determine such. Obama did more than "claim" to be a professor of Constitutional Law. He was in fact a professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago, a very prestigious institution. And, there is no Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas as Kansas has no Federal Reserve Bank. There IS a Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and that institution is in the state of Missouri, not Kansas. The people of Missouri would be quite irritated to hear their FRB was in Kansas. And, Romney certainly is not just like Obama. Other than the Obama Care/Romney Care issue, they have virtually nothing in common.
Nevertheless, your points are well taken in my opinion. Obama has not been effective in solving our biggest problems. Unfortunately, our only real alternative is probably going to hand it all back to the fools who caused them in the first place. That is not a very comforting choice. As for Ron Paul, he's the guy that wants to return us to the Gold standard. That little deal really worked out quite well last time, didn't it? It's shaping up like we'll have a pair of Republican candidates from Texas. I've lived through the Presidencies of two Texans, one a Democrat and one a Republican. I hope I NEVER see another President from Texas! Gov. Rick Perry once suggested Texas leave the Union. That little deal sure worked out well the last time they did it. Frankly, I never considered Texas a state to begin with. They do produce some really great football players though. They should stay out of the President business and focus on what they do right. Football.
BREAKING NEWS - Lockdown at Virginia Tech following a report of a possible gunman.
I know we all just can't wait to get a name so we can start searching for the suspect's religion and/or political affiliation.
bloomberg thinks its a Tea Party patriot, no doubt.
Any dissension in the Obama ranks, First Read? I am sure we will read it here first.....NOT.
There never seems to be dissension in President Obama's administration or campaign, does there? No real scandals, no tears, no disgruntled staffers running to tell their side...what do you suppose that means? Could it be, President Obama is great at generating loyalty in his staff, or is he gifted at managing employees, or is that he is so good at hiring competent people?
I'm sorry Amy, I was resisting writing regarding all the very clever, witty (although sophomoric) comments being made by libloons but you've crossed the line. "Great at generating loyalty in his staff???" Is that why his whole economic team bailed before his first term was barely half finished? Something about "rats and sinking ships" comes to mind. Keep drinking the (cherry) Kool Aid......you're starting to look like the "Joker," literally and figuratively.
Nicely said, Amy.
The Anti-Lib, I'll take Kool Aid any day over Whack-o Tea. Go take a look at the Bush staff who left before his first term ended--the numbers are similar. The truth is, and both conservatives and liberals know it, that working in the White House and as Secretary of State, etc., are all-encompassing positions, they are nearly 24/7. They have very little homelife and it takes a toll on people, right or left.
The more of these comments I read the more I realize liberals have no common sense and a majority of them are simple minded. That is why the elites love them, so easy to lead the sheep.
Sorry Amy,
Nothing could be further from the truth.
My nephew left a kick-butt job in Chicago to join the Obama team in D.C. shortly after the election.He is a very talented young guy who was smitten by the 'hope and change' message.(In fact, when the Pres. did the Thanksgiving 'pardon' of the official turkey, you can see him standing opposite the podium onthe news videos)
Anyway, to make a long story short, within 15 months he resigned his job in the White House to return to Chicago. The problem? The clueless people the President had surrounded himself with scavenged all of his work, so they could suck up to the 'big guy'.
The young man's firm was ecstatic to have him back in Chicago, but his enthusiasm for Obama and the 'team' was reset to 'ZERO'. Absolutely true story.
Sorry, but your guy has surrounded himself with a bunch of self serving vultures.
It seems that ever since the elder Bush's pleade for a kinder and gentler America, it has been the opposite. Whether it is internicene bickering or outright hostility of the tea party, it is a mean, angry world they are making for our children. It is quite different than the golden rule.
Skip,
Do you believe that 'mean and angry' only comes from the TEA party? Really? You must be new to this vine (or a libbie) becasue anyone that has been here for more than a day (and can speak objectively) would have to admint that the 'mean and angry' talk comes as much from the left as it does from the right.
Really.
There is no left in this country. There is only the right, the further right, and the waaaaay the f*** over there right.
That ridiculous comment tells us all just how waaaaaaay the f****** over there left YOU ARE!
(and proves my point, perfectly! Thanks!)
It was still funny.
This campaign will fail.
Looks to me like will should be changed to has. I admit ignorance of Huntsman's campaign, but I wonder what the article "early failures" the article was referring to?
No strategy. Nice. And you WANT people to vote for you? "Oh, I just do what people tell me and try to look pretty", what a moron.
Hey, but he looks good doing it... Being the Corporate Mouth Piece takes teamwork!
No Goodlookinfella, he is a mormon, not a moron.
there must be dissension in such a failed administration as Obama's, but the fact you never hear about it is related to two things:
1) Rahm Emanual would send any leaker a "dead fish" ;
2) the mainstream media is in the tank for Obama
Bob-1887910
Dear moonbat, the only place you'll never hear facts/truth are the almost collapsing News Corp owned news media e.g Faux News, TRUE OR FALSE
He also fires people who are problems immediately! I give him an A+ for that - F on Economy and listening to his advisors.
He also fires people who are problems immediately! I give him an A+ for that - F on Economy and listening to his advisors.
Jennifer, New York
how many times are going to post that? when Liberals like me, call GOP/TP a rowdy crowd, you goons go nut. Liberate space for others to use.
Hey Pius.... you want us to free up space for VALUABLE comments like this one?
It is quite valuable. The only reason I read all these posts is to be entertained and a lot of the posters here do a good job at making me laugh.
I'm too sexy for this strategy. Too sexy for that job. I'm so sexy it hurts!
No one to "comment" to.
Give it up, Huntsman, you are a nothing.
Amy what planet are you on? What is creepy the so called leader of the US is arttending fund raisers(at 45K a plate wonder how many corporate jets parked at the airport) while the US economy implodes, maybe you haven't looked but the dow has lost over a 1000 points in one week. If real unemployment numbers get posted it will be 16% and oh by the way we are headed into a depression. Hiring good people? You mean like I don't need to pay my taxes Geitner?
He also attended a $50 per ticket fundraising. What, Robert #'s, you don't think the GOPTPers are holding fundraisers? Do you give Congress a pass for their 5-week campaigning vacation while the FAA remains partially shut down and thousands have been furloughed and laid off? Give it a rest, President Bush did the same thing.
Robert, do you really think that Obama is the first sitting president to do big money fundraisers? Every single one of them has!
If any sitting President were doing the job right he would not need to have any fundraisers! We need someone that we all can get behind.
Terry, I really wished it works that way; but, it doesn't. Money talks and I've read it takes a billion dollars to get someone elected these days...sitting president or not.
The real shame is that Huntsman is the smartest Republican in the room, but he hasn't got a shot because the rest of his Party has gone koo-koo.
Just a week ago, the libs hated Huntsman and thought he was a dumb ass because he is a Mormon. Now you think he is smart because he goes RINO. You libs are very predictable. My liberal friends all wanted McCain to get the nomination because he was the easiest to beat. They loved McCain but they would never vote for him. The GOP strategy should be to nominate the candidate whom the libs hate the most. That would guarantee a GOP victory.
Road Warrior--where do you get that any liberals thought Huntsman was dumb for any reason, much less, because he's Morman? As for McCain, I used to really respect him...until he sold his soul and his integrity for an election...now he's just like all the rest of the politicians. In fact, in the beginning of the last campaign when everyone assumed Hillary would be the democratic nominee, I said that if McCain got the republican nomination, between the two of them, I'd probably vote for him....of course, that was before he inflicted Sarah Palin on us.
Apparently the buck would never stop at his desk in his Administration. Not my Yob [sic] man!
The only republican I have any respect for and could vote for is Olympia Snowe.
that has to be sarcasm, or a severe sign of mental illness.
[that has to be sarcasm, or a severe sign of mental illness.]
Actually, conservatism is a mental disorder mitchell j...and the Teabaggers are coming in at a close second.
Sorry Mickey - the correct title of the book is "Liberalism is a Mental Disorder". Nice try though.
Huntsman? Not a snowball's chance in hell (but still better than Romney's chances.)
dow dropping like a stone, no mention in MSDNC top ten political stories.
guess gotta get the latest WH propaganda release first:
1. Bush's fault
2. Tea Party Terrorists fault
3. all of the above.
gotta hand it to bam bam, thought he was going to tax our 401k/IRA accounts, instead he will simply wipe them out. brilliant.
Well for goodness sake it can't be the liberal spendig spree and the free of the health care bill. I can't be rediculous regulations. It has to be someone else's fault.
The debt ceiling deal is the real reason for the Dow plunging. GOP/TP manufactured the "crisis", then decided to fix the wrong problem at the wrong time! Sure, long term the national debt needs to be dealt with, but draconian cuts will only put a slowly recovering economy into reverse. This was probably the Republican/Tea Party plan all along. Remember, number one goal is to make Obama a one-term president, and how better to do that than assure that the economy and the job situation gets worse, or at least does not recover too much. The cuts will only throw many more people out of work. I must say that I am way disappointed with the way Obama and the Democrats caved to nearly all the demand of the other side, but then they didn't have too much choice because the other side would not give an inch. On the other hand, when it comes to the next election, I will still vote for Obama. I can never, in good concience, ever vote for a Republican.
I love it when dem libbies say "draconian"...
If you want to place direct blame on the drop on the debt deal (although there are many additional factors that have had a bigger influence) then the only one you could possibly blame are the Republicans. Afterall, it was Boehner who proudly exclaimed "I got 98% of what I wanted!!!"
'Cause that's what we need...a president who doesn't do strategy. That's up there with McCain not knowing economics!
I agree with you mitch! where's the story on Harry Reid crying "i wanna go home see my
trees, i been here 3 weeks" boohoohoo...you cry baby...nobody asked you to run for office!
you've been in too long anyway. go back and have your poetry contest and let somebody
who knows what their doing or CARES have your position! but they reported on the speaker
crying when he was given the gavel weren't they?
Ervin, you're right. I'm on the left side of things these days; but, when I saw that clip I wanted to scream. I wonder if he, or any other politician--left or right, realizes how many Americans would want a job that kept them away from home...or any other job. Do they know how many Americans have lost their homes and would give anything to be able to go back to them......we need a place to get our news that covers both sides of the story and while I like MSNBC...nobody does just news any more---it's all opinion, slant and spin.
To all you liberal democratic morons: Not a problem as Huntsman is not the guy we want anyway. If you voted for Obama because it was historic or to prove you're not a racist, then how about voting against him this time just to prove you're not stupid!
Yo Steelman! I voted for Obama the last time around because he stood for the things that I believe in. I will vote for him again because that has not changed, even though I am grossly disappointed at how he has caved too many times to the unreasonable demands of the polititians you happen to support, and I happen to disagree with. That just means that we disagree. It doesn't make me a moron any more than it makes you one, and I will not resort to stupid name calling. In the next election, I am voting to take MY country back from those who have moved so far to the right that Ronald Reagan now looks like a liberal to them.
PhilZZZ---well said!...Steelman, your post is JPR--just plain rude.
The right-wing-nuts can't even work together how are they ever going to work with Dems to get things done.
mac-2427995: The right-wingers are planning on doing some additional "shellacking" of the leftist loons in 2012. Then they can rule the roost without any interference. How's that for a wonderful, uplifting scenario? And then we have Obama.... He will be kicked out on his fanny from the White House as well. What a day that will be!