Biography of Huntsman

The other day I did a post on Huntsman, of whom until then I had no knowledge, so I have been curious. The New York Times did another article on him, written by Jim Rutenberg on 23 June, in which they too asked: "Who is this guy? Utah, right?"
So I was not alone in my thoughts on this man who would be prez. Up in Exeter, N.H., where he went to canvass, a Leona Nelson was quoted as saying: "I didn't know anything about him when he came in today." He was in South Carolina on Wednesday, and folks there did not know much more about him either.
But in GOP circles it seems he has some explaining to do; Rutenberg ends his piece on this note, alluding to his role as US Ambassador to China under Obama. This does not do him a lot of good and does not get him the crossover votes that Ron Paul would have along with staunch GOP votes. Rather, it confuses the picture. And his term in Asia was not noted for anything significant; but neither was Bush's, who had that post and became prez; but not without also being head of the Republican Party, and a head of the CIA, and also a Congressman; from Texas. Which is where we hope another US president will be from in 2012.
But getting back to the contender, Jon M. Huntsman Jr., he is the eldest son of Jon M. Huntsman (once an acknowledged member of the Forbes 400, where he was ranked the 47th richest man alive) who started the Huntsman Corporation, a multi-billion dollar chemical and synthetic dye company, somewhat along the lines of the Du Pont Corp; even their logo is similar, "better lives through innovation". The Huntsmans are Mormons who previously supported Mitt Romney for president. Huntsman Jr. was elected governor of Utah in 2004, later became ambassador to China. His brother Peter R. Huntsman, Sr., took over as CEO of the Huntsman Corporation in 2000.
So there. He does not seem a bad choice, but just not quite what it takes to get into the Oval Office, and looking ahead, I could see him as a VP or in some top cabinet post, maybe Secretary of State. Just not as president, at least not yet.

The Hunt for Red November

Tuesday this week a Utah pol appeared in front of the Statue of Liberty here in NYC and threw his hat in the ring for GOP presidential candidate. The New York Times, along with a piece on his presentation, wrote an article about how some GOP candidates are chasing down money; and a third on Gingrich, whose aides are quitting faster than leaves from the trees in November. Which month he hopes to be his. But it won't. He may end up simply chasing down aides, or fallen leaves in the snow.
But back to Huntsman, Jon M. He is the former governor of Utah, which is news to me and I consider myself rather well informed. No slight to the state of Utah, but just what does its former governor stand for? I mean, I can recall lots about the former gov of Minnesota, that navy seal/WWF wrestler and investigator, and even more about the former governor of Texas, who went on to become 43, and about the former gov of NY, actually a number of those, and about those of California....and let's not forget the former, as in quit, governor of Alaska. But of the former first citizen of Utah, who was NY this week, there is no file, good or bad. Which does not say he is bad. It's just that he seems a little optimistic in his aims.
So I'm not out to knock him, this site is for Ron Paul of course, but it is not a mudslinging contest. It is, however, a bit of a test of name recognition, and with all due respect, I doubt that Jon M. will fare well in  that regard. Knowing so little about him I am merely curious...will post a bit more when I check out his record.
Ron Paul, meanwhile, seems to be pacing himself well, he is not getting as much publicity as the other contenders, but maybe because his staff is a long serving body out doing their work and he is not getting into any scandals or outlandish photo ops - what that says is he will impart an air of dignity to the Oval Office, where he belongs.