Republican Strategist Mark McKinnon said:
"Keep your friends close and your enemies in China."
I like this pick based on politics alone, but it's a good one on merit as well. Huntsman is generally regarded as a capable person, and he knows the culture well. Back on the p
Are you trying to suggest no other previous ambassador was 'qualified' merely because he could not speak a relatively obscure language?
Wait, Mandarin is an obscure language?
Speaking the local lingo is a definite advantage. To suggest otherwise is ridiculous. It's not a requirement, but it creates options, lessens difficulties, and generally makes things go smooth.
Well, yeah, politics would certainly lead the last as to why their culture is now quite different...
Policy differences are something that can be learned easily, cultural differences are something that isn't easily learned. Despite wildly diverging policy, the culture is similar enough that this is an excellent appointment.
How exactly is appointing him to a prime ambassadorship doing that[keep him out of the 2012 election]?
It's pretty basic politics. In order to run a national campaign, you need to lay the groundwork early. Remember, this cycle everyone announced in early '07, and they started prepping even earlier. You don't go be ambassador for 1.5/2 years, than head home. In all likelihood, Huntsman had to make a gentleman's agreement not to involve himself in the 2012 races.
I guess your crystal ball has a lot farther range than my own if you think you know who is going to win the presidency in 2012, much less 2016.
A month is a long time in politics, but we can make basic prognostications. Obama is the favorite in 2012, simply because the economy should turn around by then. If he can win 2012, his successor is in a good position for the next cycle. Huntsman could be a very serious threat, but the trick is to deal with what's in front of you.
In Utah. I wouldn't exactly characterize that as being mainstream, especially from a Democrat perspective...
Huntsman is a confirmed moderate. Not quite Charlie Crist moderate, but still definitively on the moderate end. Disparaging that because it doesn't fit your lovely stereotypes about Utah or religious folks doesn't change the moderate voting record.
No, it is along the line of thinking that you don't send a cultural extremist to represent the American people in a country where his background could be considered to be extremely offensive.
I love the weasel words. Your assuming that because the laws here and there are different, there's going to be a huge cultural divide. You don't know, but it fits well into your world view. In reality, Chinese people have as much appreciation for large families as every tradition anywhere. Top down demographic decisions do not make bottom up cultural changes.
That's an excellent example. We never sent a political figure from the opposing party to represent US interests during the Cold War. We sent seasoned diplomats instead.
Wait, what does his political party have to do with his service? Politics ends at the water's edge. That's pretty basic policy. We've picked plenty of non-diplomats for the USSR position, such as Thomas Watson, William Harriman, and Robert Strauss.
Nylan said:
So you're suggesting a knowledge of culture, customs, agendas, and language is irrelevant to the position of ambassador to China. Well then, what is?
Let's not forget administrative skill, negotiation ability, and political prominence.
I guess your crystal ball has a lot farther range than my own if you think you know who is going to win the presidency in 2012, much less 2016.
