It's clear that I and most others discussing this are more enamored of the idea of Huntsman than his reality. It would seem to back up the "theory of widespread dissatisfaction".

Like Old Faithful, of course you're questioning my motives and patriotism and that of anybody who might back a moderate in a Republican primary. How you can you claim to not be an extremist if you think moderating the GOP is sabotage?

As convinced as you are of my essential wickedness, I may as well torment you some more. If I were to pitch the idea to a wider audience, it might go something like this:

Friends, the Republican Party has a problem, and I want to make the case that it would be an expression of a higher form of patriotism if we Democrats helped them out.

The problem is, of course, the bug-fuq-crazy infestation they're suffering, AKA "The Tea Party". I understand that it's tempting to let the fever run its course, to let them swing in the wind, and watch as the Republicans throw the 2012 election by running a whackjob against Barack Obama.

But let's be honest, none of us is really happy with Obama, for a whole host of reasons. And I, for one, would feel a little cheated--that democracy had been cheated--if Obama doesn't have a truly worthy opponent in the general election. Somebody who won't waste a precious election by keeping the focus on doomed extremist positions, but will hew to the reasonable middle and allow real nuanced debate of the real things that threaten us.

Here's what I suggest:

In 2012, almost half the states will hold a "nontraditional" primary, one that's not winner-take-all--and thus weighted toward producing extremist candidates--in favor of alternatives such as fully open or partially open primaries, or "top-two" preferential voting like in California. These nontraditional forms are all attempts to accomplish one vital reform: To change the dynamic from a stampede to extremes, to one that favors the middle and a more thoughtful political discourse. To produce general election candidates who occupy the center of American politics and not its fringes.

That's the theory. Now here's an opportunity to try it out, by using these new forms as intended. Democrats, vote in the Republican primaries. Don't vote just to sabotage them, vote to produce a worthy alternative to Barack Obama, one who can't be used by cynical politicians to scare you into voting for Obama even if you'd really rather not. Vote in the Republican primaries to keep choice alive, and to push back against the professional politicians who think they have us figured out and divided up into nice pliant herds.

Thank you for listening.

I know, it's bombastic and a bit over the top. But I do honestly think that there's a moral case to be made for Democrats voting in the Republican primaries for the good of the country. Only a partisan sees everything as a partisan conspiracy.