Keep an eye on Huntsman

Most Americans now believe the American Dream is slipping away. And while we know that the nation is not headed in a direction that gives hope to our children, most of us have failed to recognize that our own sloth and greed lie at the core of the problem. Once a proud nation of savers and investors, America has become a complaining nation of spenders and debtors.

Thus, we should not be surprised that our political leaders have become a reflection of our own self-indulgent excesses.

If President Obama wins a second term, and he remains the favorite, he’ll have nobody to thank more for it than the Republicans.

The GOP contest thus far is a grotesque caricature of Baskin Robbins “flavor of the month.” The parade of GOP hopefuls who have melted over the past months is nothing short of laughable.

Palin, Bachmann, Perry, Cain, and now Gingrich all have a couple of things in common. None of them is qualified to be President of the United States, and, if nominated, none of them is electable. But their ephemeral popularity is significant in that it illuminates the GOP’s visceral distrust of their presumptive nominee, Mitt Romney.

And while it is a shame that far more qualified Republicans like Governors Christie, Daniels, and Bush have stayed on the sidelines, there remains one person in the GOP field who is qualified and, if nominated, could win — Jon Huntsman.

Jon Huntsman is smart, serious, wealthy, youthful, and politically skilled. He has ably served four presidents, including Reagan and both Bushes, and was nominated and served as Ambassador to China by President Obama. Huntsman was twice elected Governor of Utah in 2004 and 2008. He is a right-center Republican who is articulate, but unlike his flavor-of-the-month opponents, he’s not a “Foam at the Mouth” Wingnut.

Yet thus far his candidacy has gone nowhere. He’s been lucky to capture more than 3 percent in the polling of the GOP aspirants. Most of the media and the political class in Washington have written him off.

I don’t buy it. His newly released financial reform plan is a breath of fresh air when contrasted to the pandering from his GOP rivals and President Obama. Huntsman would end “Too Big To Fail’’ on Wall Street, mandate transparency in derivative trading, end Wall Street’s reliance on excessive short-term leverage, repeal the incomprehensible Dodd-Frank legislation, and shut down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

If Huntsman breaks through in the New Hampshire primary, watch out.

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