Republican Jon Huntsman resigns as China ambassador

[CHIMO]

Source: BBC

US ambassador to China Jon Huntsman has stepped down from the post, fuelling speculation he is preparing a 2012 White House bid.

The Republican former Utah governor was tapped by President Barack Obama for Beijing envoy in 2009.

The White House declined to speculate on Mr Huntsman's plans.

With the first Republican presidential primary elections less than a year away, no clear favourites have emerged in the race, analysts say.



Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12331130

[PassingFair]

1. Another Mormon!

:wtf:

[24601]

2. And one who has Obama for a fan - unless his appointment was

just a ploy to keep him out of the race.

"He's no f'in good - that's why I made him my Ambassador!

[emulatorloo]

3. Obama joked that it is not going to help him with Republican Primary Voters

that he worked for Obama.

[24601]

5. Pres Obama appointed him, but he worked for us and the oath he

took was to the Constitution.

[customerserviceguy]

8. President Obama wasn't worried about Huntsman

He's a nobody outside of Utah. The fact that he even worked for this Administration in any capacity is the kiss of death for him other than in that state, and maybe even there. The Tea Party has totally taken over even in that bastion of establishment Republiconism.

[Zambero]

4. Jon who?

Hardly a household name just yet, but never mind, any Republican with a name like that will have the NRA keeping his campaign coffers full to the brim!

[Dawson Leery]

6. After serving in the Obama administration,

plus his position on Stem Cell research makes his chances of success highly unlikely.

[KamaAina]

10. Not only that, he strayed off the reservation on No Child Left Behind

by any reasonable standard, Utah public schools are among the best in the nation: high test scores, low dropout rates, etc. The one area in which they fail to measure up to the new standards is class size. Think about it. Large Mormon families --> large class sizes. Kind of a no-brainer. But not to the NCLB folks, who proceeded to punish Utah simply for failing to meet the standards for class size -- even though, as mentioned, they're doing a good job educating kids anyway! Gov. Huntsman rightly objected to this and even sued the Bush* Education Department, a fact his repuke primary opponents will surely seize upon with undisguised glee.

[Roland99]

11. Like that won't change in a heartbeat? Look at the twists and turns Romney took.

[Dawson Leery]

12. The teaparties and their kind to NOT want Romney.

Seeing the teanuts carry such massive influence within the political right, Mittens will have to climb a mountain to get the nomination.

[msongs]

7. yet another bonus for the bipartisan at any price strategy lol nt

[Ian David]

9. He wants to spend more time oursourcing with his family. n/t