The Dodgy Weaver

by Smitty (h/t American Glob)

Emphasis mine:

The Republican strategist who helped Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman prepare for a possible presidential run says the Republican party is in for a devastating defeat if its guiding lights are Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney. "If it's 2012 and our party is defined by Palin and Limbaugh and Cheney, then we're headed for a blowout," says strategist John Weaver, who advised Huntsman and was for years a close adviser to Sen. John McCain. "That's just the truth."

Dear John,
  Nominating Governor Palin was your former advisee's Denton moment. My opinion is that JSM realized his years of beltway confinement, listening to lefties in moderate clothing (of which ilk you may be an example) had rendered him ineffective to alter the socialist course of the country. So he sent the strongest possible signal.
  Why didn't you tell JSM to take a term off from the Senate after the 2000 election, and re-connect with a Constitutional, federalist, CONSERVATIVE view? His 2008 campaign might have appeared other than rudderless, in that case.

Huntsman, a favorite of GOP moderates

  LOL to ol' tool. John, understand that in the eyes of many, moderate==lefty. You are either interested in a Constitutional approach, or you're going to have grief heaped upon you from both the right and the left. Think of the the American political landscape as a valley, with moderates milling about in the middle, which is also a no-man's land, and the ridges on the left and right are populated by some deeply committed partisans. John, you have no friends, and you're likely to be more welcome on the left ridge than the right, with the rest of the lousy sell-outs. I'm guessing you have enough dodge/weave skills to survive. As for the right ridge: Tea Party.
  Cheers,
Chris