Do you remember that the primary system has changed?
Nearly half the states now have open or semi-open primaries (fairvote.org). To be honest, I wasn't thinking of that when I repeated the conventional wisdom about the impossibility of a moderate making it through the whackjob primaries.
I think what you're trying to say with the snarky little comment is that the Tea Party is invincible and it's a waste of time to even consider Huntsman. But you may be wrong about that. Hell, in 2012 I could vote for him in California's primary.
Just as I voted for John McCain in 2000. History would be very different, I think, if help from Democrats had put McCain in the White House instead of Bush. The law was changed, then changed back, and it's possible once again.