Quote-O'-The-Day: Jon Huntsman edition

By GottaLaff

Via Taegan:

"Keep your friends close and your enemies in China."

-- GOP strategist Mark McKinnon, quoted by Politico, on the appointment of Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (R) to be ambassador to China.

Obama picks Republican Gov. Huntsman as China envoy

Well isn't this a nice nugget of intrigue. I like John's take on this.

BEIJING (Reuters) – President Barack Obama has chosen Mandarin-speaking Jon Huntsman, the Republican governor of Utah, to be the next U.S. ambassador to China, a diplomat said on Saturday.

The diplomat, who declined to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media, confirmed news reports from Utah that Huntsman, 48, had accepted the job.

The reports said an official announcement from Washington was likely on Saturday.

Thanks but no thanks: Palin pulls out of White House correspondents' dinner

By GottaLaff

Okay, so it's for a legitimate reason... for once. Her communications office actually got something right:

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will miss a chance to chat up President Obama this weekend because she's cancelling plans to attend the White House Correspondents' dinner, but she's got a good excuse.

Palin on Wednesday declared a state of emergency because of record flooding in Eagle, Alaska. "It's basically wiped out a town," Bill McAllister, Palin's communications director, told CNN.

Palin was slated to be a guest of Fox News at the annual dinner.

What, Keith and Rachel didn't invite her? That's not very inclusive of them.

The former Republican presidential candidate has also pulled out of co-hosting a Friday night dinner for the Republican Governors Association with South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford. The dinner is a thank you to donors who have contributed at least $25,000 to the group. The dinner for 50 will be held at the Virginia home of Fred Malek, a major Republican fundraiser.

Next on the list was Tim Pawlenty, but he couldn't wangle it. How does it feel to be third choice, Jon:

The RGA is now hoping Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, another hot property in Republican circles, can attend instead.

Nick Ayers, executive director of the RGA, said, "We'll have a good group there." Nick needs to work on his acting skills. He didn't convince me at all.

Local GOP cancel speech by Utah governor-- too moderate

By GottaLaff

Well isn't that just like the Rushpublics? I may have to start calling them the Tushpublics:

Joanne Voorhees, the chairwoman of the Kent County Republican party in Michigan, has "abruptly canceled" an upcoming fundraiser with Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. (R). Voorhees "said that hosting the moderate Utah governor would mean abandoning the party's conservative principles." [...] Huntsman sharply criticizes the national GOP leadership, giving them an "incomplete" grade on their first 100 days as an opposition party to President Obama. "Instead of just kind of grousing and complaining, it would do us all a whole lot of good if we actually started engaging directly in finding compromises and common ground and shared solutions," said Hunstman."

Huntsman should think about changing teams right about now...

H/t: Pigboy