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Feature

Sam’s Club President

By from the March 2011 issue

Runner-up to Sarah Palin in 2008, blue-state budget-balancer Tim Pawlenty has his eyes on a bigger prize. 

(Page 2 of 2)

PAWLENTY HAS BEEN METHODICALLY doing everything that would be expected of someone planning a presidential campaign. Over the last two years, he has steadily increased his appearances on cable and radio talk shows, from Dennis Miller to CNN. Since last year he’s been traversing the country promoting his new political action committee, Freedom First. Despite his efforts, his attendance at such events as last year’s early presidential CPAC cattle call left attendees mostly unimpressed. It didn’t help when he urged the CPAC crowd to emulate Tiger Woods’s estranged wife and “take a nine-iron to big government.” On being asked about that episode, Pawlenty merely shrugs it off. “It was just a joke,” he says. “Some people have to lighten up.” (One assumes that his higher profile will win him a more admiring reception at this year’s CPAC, which will gather right after this issue goes to press.)

Those who know Pawlenty say his sense of humor is one of his biggest assets. Steve Sviggum, the current commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry and one of Pawlenty’s closest friends, appreciated the levity Pawlenty brought when they served together in the state legislature, remembering that “[Tim] would start a speech on the House floor with a Peter, Paul and Mary song.”

It was there in the Minnesota House, between rounds of playing cards, basketball, and foosball-“He’s a dynamite foosball player,” Sviggum says-Pawlenty began pruning Minnesota’s liberal branches, hoping to uncover conservative undergrowth. The friends spent “hundreds of negotiation and strategy sessions” with their Democratic peers. “When I first came to the House we were fighting a lot of history, bias in favor of liberal perspective, the establishment in Minnesota,” Sviggum recalls. “We were fighting an uphill battle and making progress.” The melee failed to tire Pawlenty; if anything, he found hope in those five terms in the House. “I could see what the state needed, at least in my view, and was inspired by that,” Pawlenty says. “Even though the hours were long and the work was difficult, I was energized by that.”

Can Pawlenty find success in taking his show on the road? Freedom First raised $1.9 million in its first six months and came to the aid of competitive Republican candidates in the 2010 cycle. Under Freedom First’s auspices, Pawlenty began to assemble the nucleus for a top-notch presidential campaign team. Alex Conant, Freedom First’s communications director, was the spokesman for the Republican National Committee in 2009. Freedom First employs conservative Internet operations powerhouses, including online strategists Patrick Ruffini and Mindy Finn. Before he started his own political media firm, Engage, Ruffini was the Republican National Committee’s go-to guy for anything online-the Sergey Brin of the GOP. He says Freedom First’s online strategy and website are leading the way when it comes to conservative politics and the Internet. “We haven’t seen anything else, at least in this particular way, of allowing people to give feedback of what races they think are important and to really give their opinion.”

Liz Mair, along with Patrick Hynes of Hynes Communications, handles online communications for Pawlenty’s outfit, particularly online media outreach and blogger engagement. She appreciates Pawlenty’s persona; his attractive qualities make her job easier. He mingles among groups with ease, and converses with approachable, yet reassuring, authority. Mair chuckles when she remembers the blogger happy hour they organized at CPAC. “After Pawlenty walked in the room I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. He was talking about all manner of things with the bloggers. Politics. Football. He’s comfortable.”

Indeed, the staff of Freedom First is primed for a 2012 run: Sara Taylor is the former White House political director; Phil Musser is the former executive director of the Republican Governors Association; and Terry Nelson is the former Republican National Committee political director. As one longtime Minnesota political observer told me: “Pawlenty has left the building, so to speak. He’s all but shed his Minnesota operatives for a new cast from D.C. He’s running for VP now.”

Or perhaps something higher. “Pawlenty is doing the things that would be necessary to put him in the position to run for president if he wants to,” says Vin Weber, a former Minnesota congressman and longtime conservative activist who co-chairs Freedom First. Weber calls Pawlenty “one of the most genuine people you’ll come across in politics.”

Which is why Pawlenty can pull off lines like: “My parents didn’t have PhDs from an academic institution but they had PhDs in the stuff of life” — a typically homespun quip. “They lived life with good, basic common sense. The country needs this too. When I talk about this issue, it helps people to say I’ve walked in your shoes.”

Whether that’s enough to make Pawlenty presidential material is anyone’s guess. Being the down-to-earth nice guy who’s eager to balance budgets truly isn’t much of a schtick, especially in the charisma-oriented Age of Obama. But the country doesn’t need a schtick — it needs a balanced budget. 

Page:   12

About the Author

Nicole Russell writes from Northern Virginia.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (109) |

btims| 3.24.11 @ 6:41AM

Pawlenty is a fine fellow but frankly, he has zero magnetism.

Personally I prefer Palin but she has been so damanged through a media campaign, I doubt she could garner more than 40% of the electorate.

Palin is so bad? Oh really? What have the "intellectual", Beltway, Ivy League Boys done for us in many, many years?

Do you need to be an intellectual to be president? Hardly, in fact, I prefer if a candidate isn't. An intellectual is someone with usually no experience in anything other than talking about ideas.

All it takes to be an effective office holder is common sense and a solid ideology/philosophy of a little more limited government, more liberty at the state and individual level - the devolution of power to the lower level.

Palin is anti "central planning", in fact, she just said that in India last weekend. That's good enough for me.

gsr| 3.24.11 @ 7:01AM

It's gonna be hard to beat Barry the Messiah. Incumbants have the advantage and since he has nearly universal support from the news and entertainment media, it will be hard to beat him.

On the other hand, we've had one major election during Barry's reign and he got shellacked.

I guess it comes down to the demographics of the electorate. Roughly 75% of registered voters a caucasianand Barry's approval rating among them lags in the low to mid 30's.

Simple, just change the electorate!

Time to bring in more voters from south of the border, Asian, Africa and the Mohammedan world!

Alan Brooks| 3.24.11 @ 10:02AM

Reagan's generation is on the Endangered Species list, all those born in Reagan's time are very old, or not with us anymore. Think of the joke about the big schtick, that is this generation's talk-- not the Gipper's. Now, Palin does have a chance at the Brass ring of 1600 Pennsylvania; but it will be awhile until she would be accepted. It took Reagan 14 years after he was elected Gov of CA before he got the Big Office. Next year? I could see Romney running: Mormons are good at business,, but I think Obama will be re-elcted and I am voting for him. I voted GOP in the '80s-- but that wont happen again.

gsr| 3.24.11 @ 12:29PM

Your comments are just plain foolish. You're either a lib/progressive, which means Nanny Government or you just like to post comments because you are unemployed due to Obamanomics, i.e., you don't work for the govt.

Alan Brooks| 3.24.11 @ 6:23PM

I post comments because I am paid to by SEIU, I lack the mental skills to intelligently post comments on my own. I merely post what my controllers tell me to.

Kreinke Weibchen| 3.24.11 @ 2:25PM

Reagan would be 100 years old if he were alive.

Less than a tenth of a percent of the US population live past 100, so it's quite accurate to say that few people of Reagan's generation are still with us.

My guess is that Obama will beat Romney in 2012.

Roy| 3.24.11 @ 2:56PM

Uhh, when Reagan was running for office most people that voted for him were younger than him, and a lot of those are still alive.

Occam's Tool| 3.24.11 @ 11:18PM

I was 18 when I cast my vote for the Gipper in 1980. Great decision.

For this one, I like West and Bolton. I'd also be happy with Bachmann or Palin. But West would be SOOOOOOO Cool!

George True| 3.24.11 @ 5:25PM

Alan, you surprise me. After all of your posts in which you decry the government usurpations of individual rights and freedoms on the part of both the left and the right, you would actually vote for Obama, the greatest abuser of Constitutional powers that we have seen in our lifetime? You do not make any sense.

Shamus| 3.24.11 @ 6:57AM

Pawlenty would be a good choice, but I doubt that voters will go for him. For whatever reason, he is not a crowd pleaser.

Occam's Tool| 3.24.11 @ 11:18PM

He doesn't have IT. Bachmann does, Palin and West have it in thousand tonne lots.

saleboter| 3.24.11 @ 7:52AM

It really doesn't matter who the pubbies nominate as long as he or she is not a complte disaster. This election will be about bambam and whether he deserves a second term. Pound that point home and they have a chance.

Donna| 3.24.11 @ 7:55AM

Nope-not for me. Too much RINO in his politics. He needs to come out slammin his fists and shouting from his pulpit about what he thinks about QE 1,2, and possibly 3, He needs to come down on the Admin about Freedom of Information Act and get the bailout docs, GM’s Board of Director’s meetings notes, explanation of why the government is still involved in banking decisions (re: disallowing the increase in dividends) and start supporting the other Governor’s who are making real hard decisions resulting in getting death threats, recalled proceeding, Federal Court injunctions. He’s not talking about the hard stuff we’re dealing with, he’s a RINO.

Richie| 3.24.11 @ 7:19PM

You said it. Mainstream media has been hyping the candidacies of Romney, Huckabee and lately Pawlenty. Why are doing that? Obviously, they
support Obama and want the Republicans to
nominate another RINO. If conservatives use
their heads, you already know who NOT TO VOTE FOR! That makes the choice easier when
the true conservative candidates and the best ones for the jobs come out to run! Let the liberal socialist Democrats believe their own BS then, we can surprise them when it counts----in the voting booths!

Seapuss| 3.24.11 @ 8:05AM

All I know about Pawlenty's governorship is that he signed into law a smoking ban passed by the nanny-state Democrats in the legislature--and that's got RINO written all over it.

Roy| 3.24.11 @ 2:57PM

Smoking ban = RINO? For pete's sake.

Seapuss| 3.30.11 @ 4:32PM

You bet. A smoking ban is a private property-destroying, nanny-state, big government solution to a “problem” that:

(a) doesn’t exist at all (there are plenty of scientific studies showing that secondhand smoke is NOT a health hazard); and/or

(b) the average citizen can easily avoid 100% of the time, without any intervention by the government, by simply avoiding smoker-friendly venues.

Smoking bans = private property-destroying, nanny-state, big government = RINO

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 3.24.11 @ 8:10AM

Not one candidate so far has any specifics.

The public will not buy into generalities and promises this time.

darcy| 3.24.11 @ 7:19PM

Here's a generality that sticks in the craw:

"In February of last year, at the height of the health care debate, Pawlenty took to the Washington Post's op-ed page to advertise Minnesota's health care reforms, which demand performance pay for health care providers and "measure and set performance metrics for providers and make the results public."

Excuse me, but "demand performance pay for healthcare providers"? This quote alone disqualifies Pawlenty for the Republican nomination. He does not seem to understand that once the government sets up transfers of payments -- always in the name of compassion, like for instance Medicaid -- then whomever is on the receiving end of the dollars is subject to control by the state. Physicians should NOT want to give up control over what is best for their patients. But they cast their lot with the totalitarians a long time ago, all in the name of "compassion." What an absolute lie. What's compassionate about the state dictating to you -- against your better judgment -- what is and what is not best for your patients, what is and what is not cost effective, or worthy of remuneration, and the amount of remuneration.

The GOVERNMENT, whether state or federal has no business dictating -- and I use that word deliberately -- what HEALTHCARE providers are to be paid, unless of course we're no longer a capitalist country with a free market economy.

That quote alone tells me that he is just peachy fine with government control of the healthcare industry. In fact, he's going to come along and make sure everything is fair and equal. What utter garbage!!!!!

Private charities should handle all aspects of indigent medical care. Oh, no, but then the feds wouldn't get kick-backs from their political cronies.

I do not care one whit that his "story" speaks to the promise of America, to the blessings of freedom -- in our past -- that have contributed to upward mobility and the potential for people to work hard and achieve great things. Nor do I care that Pawlenty has a mighty fine wife who has come along side him to propel him to spiritual wholeness and supported him in his professional endeavors. All fine and good. But we need more than that in this desperate hour.

We need a candidate who REJECTS statism absolutely, and in all its myriad facets. Pawlenty fails that test, IMO -- and in a major way.

Kingofthenet| 3.24.11 @ 7:47PM

Are you an idiot? NO ONE is REQUIRED to take a dime from the Federal Govt, but IF you want to see the millions of Seniors on Medicare, than you take your reimbursement and STFU.

darcy| 3.24.11 @ 9:17PM

The only idiot here is you.

Occam's Tool| 3.24.11 @ 11:19PM

Fewer and fewer MDs are participating in Medicare, King. If you can't make a profit, you can't.

Clint| 3.24.11 @ 8:18AM

"GOVERNOR PAWLENTY HAS SUPPORTED ethanol, mass transit, publicly financed stadiums, minimum wage increases, importation of price-controlled Canadian drugs, a “health impact” cigarette fee/tax, and a smoking ban. When the DFL proposed universal health care, his response was to expand the state’s child health care program. His health care task force recommended an individual mandate on residents to buy health insurance.

This is not the record of a small-government, free market conservative. A search of the Pawlenty record for guiding principles and core beliefs yields little beyond a desire to placate liberal critics and get re-elected. Last year, when vying for a spot on the McCain ticket, Pawlenty was a moderate. This year, preparing a Presidential run, Pawlenty turned right in both word and deed, as exhibited by his un-allotment action. Candidate Pawlenty sounds more conservative on the campaign trail that Gov. Pawlenty acts in office, something he has in common with our current President."

http://www.residualforces.com/.....not-apply/

Maxwell| 3.24.11 @ 9:00AM

Thank you Clint.

Occam's Tool| 3.24.11 @ 11:20PM

Can't disagree with Clint on this one. And, Clint, I am a Minnesotan.

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.24.11 @ 8:22AM

A lot of you may not be quite old enough to have been involved in Reagan's ascent. I had a ring-side seat.
"Grace under pressure" was one of his strongest suites.
Sarah has been through the fire and is tempered steel. I still pray earnestly that she runs.

David T| 3.24.11 @ 12:05PM

I like Sarah, too, but she quit when the going got tough.

hrh | 3.24.11 @ 1:12PM

Here's why:

http://www.alaskans4palin.com/.....itter.html

The situation in Alaska could NEVER be repeated on a national level or in ANY other state.

And not even in Alaska anymore, for that matter, since the laws have now been changed so that no Alaska governor will ever have to go through what Palin did.

Educate yourself before commenting, please.

vitadMD| 3.24.11 @ 2:04PM

People who are informed, who do their research, know that Gov. Palin did not "quit" because "the going got tough".

David T| 3.24.11 @ 4:46PM

To hrh and vitadMD--I'm well aware of the ethics charges and all the legal bills, etc., etc.--not anything too unusual in politics. I reiterate--I like her, but SHE QUIT. How would she respond under the pressure of the toughest job in the world?

George True| 3.24.11 @ 5:18PM

Assuming you are not just asking a rhetorical question.....I would say if she got elected president the chances of her quitting when the going got tough are exactly ZERO. As president, one is not subjected to dozens of bogus ethics charges that are all required to be treated as if they are not bogus, and all legal defense paid for out of one's own pocket.

By exploiting this unique, unfortunate, and rather bizarre loophole that existed in Alaska law at that time, the left was attempting to utterly destroy Sarah Palin, both professionally and personally. What had she done to deserve such an all-out attack on her very person? Nothing.

But had she stayed, she would most likely have been destroyed. Instead, she decided not to play by the left's rules, but by her own. Now THAT is the kind of leader that impresses me.

David T| 3.24.11 @ 9:01PM

Truly, George, it seems to me that she played right into the Left's hands by quitting. But she's young and smart and resilient. She has plenty of time to develop her manifold political talents and abilities like Churchill in the "wilderness years" and Reagan in the time after he was governor and before he became president.

Bob| 3.24.11 @ 8:23AM

When I read an article on the Gopher State Governor I yawn excessively, boring. He stands for nothing, he says nothing, he does nothing, nothing, I just yawned again.

Prester John| 3.24.11 @ 8:56AM

So far it seems to me that the only possibilities that are showing any sort of "oomph" are Barbour, Cain and Trump, but Barbour will be torn to pieces because of where he is from (not to mention his comments about his youth in Yazoo City), Cain is an unknown (I would highly suggest that everyone take a look at him--if nothing else he is sure is saying the right things and has a compelling personal story), and Trump is more full of himself than BHO is.

Demint of course would be wonderful but what are the chances of him getting in?

As for Palin, does anyone here honestly want to see what the Dems and MSM are going to do to her? It is going to be so dishonest, so ugly, so hateful, it will make what they did to Reagan look like child's play.

Oldefarte| 3.24.11 @ 11:59AM

I share his 'youth in Yazoo City' and can attest to his truthfulness concerning same. He will only be 'torn to pieces' by typical MORONS shouting RACISM, DISENFRANCHISEMENT, DISCRIMINATION, GENTRIFICATION, ETC [instead of displaying their inability to rationally argue against his polies]. I'd love to see him debate Obama one-on-one [Ole Miss law versus Harvard law], and I know who the winner would be in that contest!!!!

hrh | 3.24.11 @ 1:14PM

If she's willing to go through that for this country, then yes, I am willing to Stand With Sarah Palin.

I am Spartacus.

I am Sarah Palin.

Are you willing to stand as well? Is our country worthy enough for the fight?

Doctor Right| 3.24.11 @ 2:44PM

So we should pick a candidate based on how the Libs will respond??

Sorry, but that's the opposite of logic. And that's also what gave us McCain in 2008, and threatens to give us Romney in 2012.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why everyone is so worried about Obama; he's politically dead. ANY real Conservative who articulates REAL Conservative principles clearly and fearlessly will trounce him.

That's Sarah Palin...And the Left, despite their ridicule, are scared-to-death of her.

Prester John| 3.24.11 @ 3:32PM

"So we should pick a candidate based on how the Libs will respond??"

Doc, I was speaking in human (for lack of a better word), not political terms.

We all know what the MSM is going to do to any conservative, but what they will do to Palin will go far beyond anything I've seen in my lifetime (I'm 55).

So in terms of plain compassion, do we really want to witness what they are going to do to her?

She may be willing to go through it and I will certainly stand with her if she is the nominee, but do we have any right to ask or expect her to?

George True| 3.24.11 @ 5:34PM

No, I do not want to see what the satanic MSM will try to do to her. But the reason they howl like banshees over Sarah Palin is that she is like holding up a crucifix to a vampire. They cannot stand her because just in who she is, let alone what she says, she is a living rebuke to the left's total moral bankruptcy. They have been telling us for over two years now by their actions that she is the one they fear the most.

Come summertime of next year, whoever the Republican nominee is, if the left and their MSM expresses even modest "approval" for said nominee, you can consider the election already lost.

Occam's Tool| 3.24.11 @ 11:21PM

Palin, Bolton, West, Bachmann---all give the Liberals the brown trouser moments.

Richie| 3.24.11 @ 7:37PM

Well there is Governors Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie, Paul Ryan and you can include Scott Walker to the mix. All of these guys have the very good credentials and can beat Obama. I like Sarah Palin a lot and she is a true conservative. However, she is better remaining a fox contributor able to hit the liberals for their lies.
She would have been a very viable candidate but, McCain operatives destroyed her very image because they cannot stand that she was eclipsing their RINO guy McCain in all the rallies they attended! They made every effort to make her look like someone dumb and without any intelligence like the Katie Couric ambush interview they set her up with! Then, they dressed her up in designer clothes then implied that she bought expensive designer clothes! She never asked for those and again, it was another
set up! That is why I stopped and will NEVER AGAIN support the RNC directly. I will support individual conservative candidates to make sure that my donations ONLY GO TO REAL CONSERVATIVE candidates. We need to boot out all RINOs from the Republican Party for the
huge damage they have already caused courtesy of GW Bush and his ilk!

George True| 3.24.11 @ 8:17PM

I agree wholeheartedly with virtually everything you have said. I would suggest that you not buy into the false premise that Palin is not viable because of the media hatchet job on her. I bought into it for a while. I am now beginning to see that the left is desperate to keep Palin from getting the nomination (assuming she runs).

Richie| 3.24.11 @ 8:53PM

Let me be clear. While, I believe Sarah Palin has some problems PR wise with the media hatchet job done on her and with complicit approval of McCain operatives, if she is the Republican nominee----I will back her 100%. For one thing, she represents the values I believe in. If not her, I can support, Daniels, Christie, Bachmann, Ryan who are all true conservatives. RINOs will NOT GET my vote and financial support. The tea party has already won and put a number of real conservatives in office but, we need to continue and finish the job. Let us put a true conservative in the White House!

blackknights1802| 3.24.11 @ 9:03AM

Ms. Russell, with all due respect.

First of all John McCain chose Sarah Palin because he needed a conservative on the ticket. Everyone knows, including McCain, that conservatives were not happy with McCain’s record on many issues. And, as you stated, there is some question, from conservatives, about Pawlenty’s past record. The last thing he needed was another middle-of-the-road Republican on that ticket.

Secondly, why did Mr. Pawlenty feel it necessary to appear on Jon Stewart's show? Does he think any one of those half-dummy viewers would vote for him? Remember John McCain appeared on all the lefty shows, Larry King, CNN, MSNBC, Imus, Morning Joe and Jon Stewart. What did it get him?

If Mr. Pawlenty thinks he going to be successful by “reaching out to the other side”, they will eat him alive.

In my humble opinion, (I’ll put it to you in Jersey terms), he ain’t got it!

Anthony| 3.24.11 @ 9:35AM

Agreed. It was a conservative thing more than a woman thing for McLame, although the woman thing dovetailed nicely. It was a great two-fer, probably the best decision ever made by McLame in his entire pathetic political career.
As for those of you here who worry about how the LSM and the Obozo hacks will "deal" with Palin, should she run, I suggest you sit back and enjoy the fireworks. She'll have the LSM and Obozo begging for mercy. She'll have you doubters jumping from your chairs pumping fists and high fiving.
You'll not have witnessed a conservative tour de force since the great Ronald Reagan; Palin will leave a path of leftist destruction behind, the likes we've not seen. But the left knows this already, hoping we'll screw up once again, which, as we speak, looks like a good possibility.
In the meantime, speaking of tour de whimps, Mr. Boehner, please come out from your office closet, you've two weeks left and we ain't heard a thing from you.
Hello John, are you there?

hrh | 3.24.11 @ 1:16PM

Here's Governor Palin's 25-minute interview from Florida last night on Greta Van Susteren's show:

http://gretawire.blogs.foxnews.....-record-4/

Anyone think she's not itching to go after Obama in an official capacity?

Occam's Tool| 3.24.11 @ 11:24PM

As a Minnesota Republican, let me tell you---he ain't got it. The Dems ran Dayton, with a history of Mental Illness and a record as a Liberal Senator that TIME described as one of the five least effective Senators, and he barely beat a Republican with two DUIs and no charisma. Pawlenty would have stomped him---but he chose not to run.

Walking Horse| 3.24.11 @ 9:22AM

Mr. Pawlenty seems a decent enough sort, but I do not sense the warrior in him, and he seems too darned nice to bring forth the bluntness required to get people's attention.

All these folks earnestly want to be perceived as 'doing something', and it almost always boils down to elections, like the guys discussed here:

http://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=182825

If the political class cannot bring itself to be honest with the American people regarding our fiscal situation, it really doesn't matter who is president. We are going down:

http://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=182874

MacDaddy| 3.24.11 @ 9:26AM

The republican nominee's mantra in 2012: "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?" And repeat.....and again....and again....

Bubba Shawn| 3.24.11 @ 9:30AM

Great article! I like Pawlenty.

He can succeed with appealing to the "silent majority". Those folks -the Tea Party- are revitalizing conservative Republicans back from the President Bush "country club" bunch.

He knows how to win against the liberal Democrat irrepressible onslaught against freedom and liberty.

daboss| 3.24.11 @ 9:49AM

"He can succeed with appealing to the silent majority" because they will be sleeping during his speeches!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

palin has been thru the fire ... what more can the MSM toss at her? although i think she was wrong on lybia and the no-fly zone ...

hrh | 3.24.11 @ 1:18PM

Then how do you explain Al Franken stealing a Senate seat under Pawlenty's nose?

Where's the fight?

I doubt, for example, that Governor Scott Walker would have allowed Franken to steal the seat.

Doctor Right| 3.24.11 @ 9:48AM

Daniels...

Pawlenty...

Bland & Blander.

NONE of the media front-runners will be the nominee. It will have to be someone who motivates Conservatives and Tea Party-ers to get out and vote.

Otherwise, I'd seriously consider blowing-off the Presidential ticket and making sure that we have a House and Senate that can over-rule Barry and over-ride his veto.

As the song goes "We won't get fooled again!"

Richie| 3.24.11 @ 7:44PM

I am with you Doc. Will not vote for a RINO period. If they want Obama for a 2nd term then, so be it! I will be voting and supporting financially conservative candidates on the House and Senate.
Hopefully, majority of conservatives and the tea party will unite behind a true conservative candidate then, winning the presidency in 2012 would be easier! Everyone can see the lame stream media pushing the RINOs like Huckabee, Romney and Pawlenty of late! We conservatives know who not to vote for! The choices become easier because of it!

jon | 3.24.11 @ 10:02AM

The problem with using phrases like "party of Sam's Club" or "compassionate conservatism" is that it implies the standard brand of conservatism isn't those things.

Look at how often liberals make fun of Tea Party members for being NASCAR fans. These are the same people who say they're for "the little people."

NASCAR fans ARE the little people, and they're conservative. Conservatism isn't for the rich or for poor, they're for anyone who wants to take a shot in life, but realizes that not everyone comes out a millionaire. It's for those who are happy when being productive, not those who are only happy if they're rich.

Jon
www.gutfeelingbook.com - teaching conservatism

martin j smith| 3.24.11 @ 10:21AM

I have not followed Pawlenty much but I have a vague sense of him as not especially strong in personality. This is a BIG PROBLEM. To beat Obama we need a candidate who will confront Obama's Policies in a powerful way including helping the American people think about Obama's motives--without actually saying so. Like this: Why would a President not allow drilling for oil in our country when the economy is in trouble and get us from our dpendency on foreign oil. Why would a President go to a foreign country--Brazil--and support THEIR DRILLING for oil and not US ? Isn't that weird ? That is the kind of thing that should be said and asked of Obama !!!!!!!! I do not believe Pawlenty has it to do that.

Jose Can You See....| 3.24.11 @ 4:43PM

Although, we do know a person that would ask such direct questions of Obama's policies...and we all know her name.

By The Dawn's Early Light| 3.24.11 @ 5:11PM

"What so proudly she hailed.."

George True| 3.24.11 @ 6:17PM

"...and we all know her name."

Indeed, we do.

NaturalBorn Texican| 3.24.11 @ 10:53AM

I have watched Palin learn and grow through the last few years, through all the "storms" in her life and through all the ugly, shameful hate that has been spewed in her direction and at her family for so long by the nose-in-the-air liberals who have horrendously overblown visions of themselves.

It's almost like watching a sponge absorb knowledge, become savy, and develop character above and beyond what any one else in her position could possibly hope to achieve in a relatively short span of time.

I was hesitant...not sure if she could be ready for what's ahead just yet.

BUT. After watching her on election night as she analyzed info, made predictions, and especially when she was so gracious to Ms. Ferrero, I see in her a strength that is rare in some of the MEN I've admired over time.

She has been through the fire and come out as a serious contender, a worthy contender for the job of president. She says what she thinks, and is at the same time prudent and honest without being ugly and hateful.......more than I can say for mant.

I'm leaning strongly towards Palin for the good of America.


Anyone who shrugs her off as being a hick Alaskan and a

NaturalBorn Texican| 3.24.11 @ 10:55AM

(oops!)

an incompetent had better think again!

loulou| 3.24.11 @ 11:48AM

Pawlenty's problem, other than an unfortunate resemblance to Walder Mondull, is that he's a pantywaist.

He sat by and twiddled his thumbs while Al Franken stole the Senate seat.

I wish these GOP elites would stop pushing nonentities like Pawlenty, Daniels, Romney, etc. We need Cains, Bachmanns, Pences and Steve Kings. Not the go-alongs-to-get-alongs.

Oldefarte| 3.24.11 @ 12:02PM

I'd welcome Pawlenty as a candidate, since his political-professional-administrative capabilities would/should be a plus. His only drawback IMO would be in the environmental arena, which could possibly be acceptable!!!!!

BA Cyclone| 3.24.11 @ 2:09PM

Environmental stance is acceptable?

He supported cap-n-trade. Energy cuts across ALL sectors and socioeconomic classes. It is the classic grab for increased centralization of power. Where is the conservative in THAT?

NO THANKS T-Paw. Maybe you can be an ambassador somewhere.

David T| 3.24.11 @ 12:15PM

Candidate, yes, nominee, no. The "down-to-earth nice guy" would get shellacked by Barack Alinsky Obama.

carol| 3.24.11 @ 12:35PM

convince me....
the following make me think of MCain:
The huck
The rom

right now i want the girls

Russell C | 3.24.11 @ 12:45PM

Pawlenty has one major fault that he can fix himself, one that I wrote to his organization about just a couple of days ago: He must give a mea culpa for all to see on his prior position on global warming. While he was Minnesota's governor, he allowed the enviro-activist group The Center For Climate Strategies to set up his governor's commission on climate change, and he never questioned their motives or requirements that the underlying science of global warming must not be discussed - he condoned a form of censorship on the issue, in other words.

Paul Chesser reported on The Center for Climate Strategies right here at American Spectator in 2009: "Profiles in Cowardice" ( http://spectator.org/archives/.....-cowardice ), and there is no doubt that MN was involved with that organization when you read MN's own web page here: http://www.mnclimatechange.us/index.cfm

Habu| 3.24.11 @ 12:50PM

This is going to be a particularly difficult next year for the Rebublicans. We have brewing a TR type Bull Moose situtation with the Tea Party, and if it's one thing politicians will die for it may not be their country but their patch of turf.

The Republican pooh bahs are going to have to make some concessions to the seismic grass roots movement of the Tea Party. Likewise the Tea Party. Why?
Name recognition by the electorate as a whole. Right now what is left of the middle class nuclear family is fighting for exisitence, not upward mobility but simply treading water to remain whole. their focus is on food on the table and gas in the tank. Few are political wonks. They may ,and the polls show that we, as a nation headed in the wrong direction. So far this centuries understatement.
If the "conservatives" don't settle quickly on a candidate and get behind that candidate so that he or she is well known come election day it'll be civil war in this country if obama is reelected. Many of us can see that handwriting for we know this country will be totallly destroyed with four more years of obama-boy.
Finally it is an imperitive that we, the common citizen not allow our neighbors and friends to adopt an attitude of "it doesn't matter", because it does. If moral suasion can't move them then drop them as a friend for they are harming you and this nation...yes, it will be hard but the stakes have never been higher in our lifetime.

Judester| 3.24.11 @ 1:02PM

There will be a shellacking again the next election regardless of the tons of money the left will dump on their hero. The money didn't work in the last election because "Once fooled throughly schooled" is still working and the lies are getting very difficult to cover. We all have been educated more in the last two years than ever before in government lies.

somnolence| 3.24.11 @ 1:40PM

I've made my decision, and I've personally narrowed it down to four primary choices with my preferences being Palin, Cain, Bachmann, and Santorum in that order. Whichever one of those makes it to the Indiana primary gets my vote. The rest of the field can go to hell, and yeah, I'm prepared to stay home on Election Day 2012 even if it means returning Obama to the White House for further potential national demise and a remote possibility of Civil War.

BA Cyclone | 3.24.11 @ 2:12PM

Herman Cain is fantastic IMO. And I suspect he will be tops among your list that actually run for POTUS. I also like Santorum as a good 2nd choice.

http://www.thinkersvoice.com/

George True| 3.24.11 @ 5:44PM

Imagine a ticket of Palin/Cain, or Cain/Palin. Two conservative firebreathers on the same ticket.

Occam's Tool| 3.24.11 @ 11:26PM

Or, even better, Allen West with Palin. Butts would be kicked, Biden would stutter.

Richie| 3.24.11 @ 7:52PM

You can add Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie, Scott Walker and Paul Ryan to the mix. We have more than enough highly qualified candidates who can beat Obama in 2012! Just forget the RINOs. I will
not be voting for a RINO! However, I will support other Republican conservative candidates on the ballot!

Robin Corkery| 3.24.11 @ 2:12PM

Pawlenty is terrible on illegal immigration. His position is indistinguishable from that of Janet Napolitano, former governor of Arizona.

Alan| 3.24.11 @ 7:15PM

Pawlenty is the RINO Obama.

Lucy| 3.24.11 @ 2:19PM

Why don't you mention Pawlenty's cave in on Sharia Law? Fro Now The end Begins:In August of 2008, under then Governor Tim Pawlenty, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency along with the African Development Center created a special program so Muslims wouldn’t have to violate Sharia Law in purchasing a home. Sharia Law disallows Muslims from paying interest. So what the MHFA did was create a special program for the Muslims in order to accommodate their religious law. Gee, I could really see states doing this for Christians or Jews! In a nutshell, the state would buy the home at a higher price. They would then turn around and sell it to the Sharia compliant Muslim buyer with the monthly payments being agreed to at the current mortgage rates. There is no additional interest because the home was bought at a higher price thus it factors in what payments would have been with a traditional mortgage. The Muslims said they just couldn’t go against their Muslim beliefs. Then don’t buy in America. So as Christians, can we now say that we don’t want to pay our taxes because we don’t want our tax dollars going to Planned Parenthood which funds killing babies? That’s against my beliefs! I highly doubt the government would accommodate us in that regard!

Eighteen months after the implementation of the program and a few happy Muslim home buyers later, it shut down. No, not because the Sharia light bulb went off in the heads of those in the MHFA but because American citizens were outraged! Once again, Americans stepped up to the plate when government failed the people. ACT! For America (a Jihad watchdog group) went to the ends of the earth to bring this to the attention of radio shows and blogs. It worked. The problem is what if Americans didn’t show their outrage? What if it was never known that Minnesota was creating an entirely new program to accommodate Muslims? It would still be going on today. I know that many will say that Pawlenty had nothing to do with it. The argument has already been made that it was done by the housing agency. Ok, so what does that tell you about Pawlenty’s ability to know what is going on in his own state and under his own housing agency? If he can’t stop Sharia compliancy in his own state and is oblivious to their sneaky ways, how is he going to protect the United States? Don’t take the risk America. When it comes to Islamic law having any part in America, its one strike and you’re out with me!

jawin| 3.24.11 @ 2:36PM

GOOD INFORMATION, Lucy!!! I agree, any ground given to Muslims is an act of defeat and a blow against the US Constitution. For when Muslims gain more ground, they are closer to their stated goal of defeating America. If Muslims cannot abide by American laws, traditions, and culture, then please leave. America is still a free country.

BA Cyclone| 3.24.11 @ 2:19PM

Pawlenty basically supported cap-and-trade while Governor of Minnesota. This is diametrically opposed to basic tenets of conservatism. Automatic disqualifier.

On top of that he has his own semi-version of RomneyCare / ObamaCare to defend.

So, we send Pawlenty to the White House. How many of our basic liberties will HE negotiate away in the name of compromise and getting something done? NO THANKS.

There are too many better *conservative* options in the field to settle for that level of squish.

jawin| 3.24.11 @ 2:30PM

This is a nice little piece on Pawlenty. But if it is intended to inform us and perhaps persuade us of his qualifications for the US Presidency, it falls short. From this article, I do not get the impression Pawlenty is capable of being starightforward enough to call a socialist a socialist, or of describing anti-American policies as anti-American. And, should I be wrong and he is capable, would he pound it home the way it needs to be so the MSM and entertainment industry will not be capable of again fooling the American voters???

martin j smith| 3.24.11 @ 2:34PM

OK I can be a reasonable guy. Let Obama actually continue to DEFEAT HIMSELF but we need someone at very least who does not sound like GWB or a coward like John McC as McC behaved in the 08 election campaign--what campaign. Ok ?

George S| 3.24.11 @ 2:49PM

Not voting for the Republican in 2012 -- whoever it happens to be -- is an act of treason. In my humble opinion.

Alan| 3.24.11 @ 7:14PM

Pawlenty and Ron Paul are NOT Republicans, but a clear case can be said that they're just a good as Obama is - good for nothing. You'll be voting for Obama and the Dems if you vote for Timmy the coward.

Occam's Tool| 3.24.11 @ 11:28PM

Correct, Alan, and I would add Rand to that list. Ron Paul is the only guy farther to the Left than Obama on foreign policy issues on the Republican side. He votes with Kucinich---'nuff said.

Richie| 3.24.11 @ 7:57PM

McCain was a Democrat lite in 2008 and have we not learned anything from it? Republicans left in droves and abandoned McCain. You think it won't happen again? I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR A RINO! Vote for a true conservative candidate who believes in small government, low taxes and free markets and conservatives will come out in droves to support that candidate! RINOs need to be booted out of the Republican Party----they can join the Democrats because they have the same policies anyways!

Steve| 3.24.11 @ 2:55PM

I can never forgine him for not assuring and honest count and letting Franken steal the election. Without Franken, we would not have Obamacare.

Alan| 3.24.11 @ 7:13PM

BRAVO!

Delmar Jackson| 3.24.11 @ 3:03PM

Pawlenty beats Obama and ALL 2012 contenders when it comes to immigration VOTING!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pAW1SjOMN0

Durk Pearson| 3.24.11 @ 3:34PM

Unfortunately, Pawlenty is a corn ethanol fuel addict. Corn ethanol doesn't help energy independence, increases greenhouse gas emissions, and burns food - with taxpayers paying the bill. He is just another rent-seeker for political special interests. Newt Gingrich is just as bad in this respect.

Corn ethanol is a canary in the coal mine; any politician who favors subsidizing burning food is not worthy of our votes.

somnolence| 3.24.11 @ 3:41PM

All Palin would have to do with Chris Matthews is say, "you make me want to puke," he then gets red-faced, loses his faked composure anyway, and she wins the interview. I can't get over how defeatist and dense some of you people are; willing to follow every whim of the MSM. Do you know who is currently the MSM favorite Republican (like McCain was for a decade)? Trump, who is so full of himself and the media caricature he has molded, that Olbermann, Couric, Matthews, Kristol, Noonan, etc. would like nothing better than to Trump Palin or Cain. But guess what-----it ain't happening, at least in the latest poll Fox ran this morning.

somnolence| 3.24.11 @ 4:48PM

Whoever the candidate turns out to be, I believe we're all whistling past the graveyard if we don't think that the unregistered Hispanic votes in places like N.C. and Minnesota or Oklahoma aren't going to be a factor once again. I'm not sure even Rubio could counteract that, and maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea for the candidate to determinedly guarantee to kick Castro and his henchmen's collective asses out of Cuba.

l5j6| 3.24.11 @ 6:30PM

What does "unregistered Hispanic votes " mean?

Alan| 3.24.11 @ 7:12PM

This is the same Timmy Pawlenty who stayed silent for months while the Democrats in his state mounted a putsch against the clearly re-elected Norm Coleman in November 2008. He did nothing while Democratic Precinct workers drove around all night with ballot boxes in their cars, when the Democratic Secretary of HIS State all but pushed in Senator Stuart Smalley. He did nothing when Democratic Judges finally sealed Coleman's fate. Not a word - and not even in his self-serving "memoirs" about this debacle.

He claims he's against Obamacare. Well, guess what? By allowing the putsch that put Smalley aka FrankenStein in office, he guaranteed the passage of Obamacare.

The little Timmy is spineless. He is a RINO, not a Conservative. If he couldn't stand up for Norm Coleman, how is he going to stand up to the Democrats? Or worse yet, to North Korea or Iran in a crisis. A Republican Obama? Perhaps not, but he sure comes close.

Kingofthenet| 3.24.11 @ 7:32PM

You see the PROBLEM for ANY Conservative running is this, you have to actually have a plan for what you are going to do when you get elected. The standard Rethug ideas SOUND terrible on the stump, it goes something like this: To the Seniors i promise to cut ALL your Entitlements, to the Young people, no School aid for you, to the Poor, Yup, i am going to cut all your stuff too.To the Middle Class, you will work more and bring home less. To the Union Worker, I HATE you and your good paying job and benefits. Sounds like a winning strategy to me.

Richie| 3.24.11 @ 8:05PM

Since, you are obviously a liberal socialist Democrat, why does it concern you what the other side's strategy is? After all, by your own assertions, you are already guaranteed of winning so, what are you whining about? Your guy Obama might win ONLY IF the Republicans are stupid enough to nominate any of the RINO candidates being promoted by the liberal media. If the conservatives stick to the conservative candidates, it becomes easier as the tea party will be energized once more and will come out in droves to vote. That you can take to the bank!
You will be whining more in 2012 when you lose big time. The liberal socialist agenda has been exposed and majority of voters are conservative 42% versus 25% liberal so, we will be real stupid to stay home! Only a RINO candidate will make us stay home! That is why liberal media is working overtime to hype Romney, Huckabee and lately Pawlenty. No thanks, liberals we got better candidates running. Guess who?

Kingofthenet| 3.24.11 @ 8:22PM

Guess Who> I REALLY hope you mean Sarah. The thing is YOUR idea of Conservatism is not what most people want. Sure people want Govt. out of their lives, just until the Bridges start collapsing.

Richie| 3.24.11 @ 8:42PM

The exit polls in the last mid term elections show how many conservatives or people who consider themselves conservatives in the United States. That is 42% conservative and 25% liberals so, that pretty much explains why the Republicans got voted in en masse in the past mid term elections! You want your liberal policies then, wait for the Democrats to win the election and you will get what you want! Don't count on majority of Americans to support your candidate though. Whether it be Sarah Palin or any other true conservative who believes in free markets, low taxes and less government or some other qualified conservative candidate----I will be voting for that candidate and supporting that candidate 100%. RINOs and Democrats can campaign among their liberal supporters because I will NEVER VOTE for the Democrats and RINOs who are one and the same in policies!
Lastly, if people wanted the status quo which you would have us believe, why did they vote out the Democrats en masse in the November 2010 mid term elections? Obama himself called it a shellacking! Yes. Why did they get voted out if they were doing such a great job and people approved of their policies?

somnolence| 3.24.11 @ 8:36PM

"Unregistered" Hispanic votes means just that. Those of that ethnicity who are not registered to vote in their districts in which they reside. Don't try to play naive on the issue.

PCP Smoker| 3.24.11 @ 9:00PM

Jason has and is all over this guy. Pawlenty or TaxLenty is a McCLame minus the military record. Rinos and Beltway conservatives have been pushing creeps like these for a while.
Conservatives looking for a strong candidate are apt to look at that babe from Mn, Michelle Bachmann.

Craig| 3.24.11 @ 11:00PM

Pawlenty is exactly the type that the left hopes will capture the Republican nomination. Mostly witless and sometimes clueless, not afraid to agree with Democrats just so he can tout "bipartisonship", is only occasionally conservative, and probably duller than Mondale. Jason Lewis' fear of Pawlenty being a RINO is spot on. I can't see how Obama wins another term, unless Pawlenty is the opposition. Then, I would guarentee it. Obama would run circles around Pawlenty in debates, using lies and double speak, and Pawlenty will just stand there with a witless grin, unafraid to speak to truth. I also find the author white washing his tobacco TAX/FEE BS to be a bit cowardice, just like Pawlenty's stance. He may have been better then the alternative for Mn voters, but Pawlenty is probably not in the top 50 of people I would like to see nominated. Oh, btw the Minneapolis i35 bridge fell in 2007, not 2008

darcy| 3.25.11 @ 12:42AM

Craig: You got that right. "Bipartisanship" is in my opinion just the cover word for capitulation and appeasement. RINOs excel at it; Dems, not so much. Dems say "do it our way" or else.

RINOs saved us six whole Billion dollars last week while that same week our government added 72 Billion dollars to the debt.

What we need is a Terminator: one who is committed to ending the statist/progressive/Marxist project. Tweakers need not apply.

Yosemeti Sam| 3.25.11 @ 12:12AM

Yo - STOP all Republican held primaries from allowing crossover voting by Democrats.

Easy as pie to thereby winnow the Wheat from the Chaff Republicans.

Then we'll see the Peoples' Choice - and not that of a putative Republican 'winner' massaged by the Leftoid media (aka PEN1) and their shill pollsters.

A.Men| 3.25.11 @ 2:42AM

Joke. Increased his state's deficit over the previous Gov. Wrestler

The Duke| 3.25.11 @ 9:34PM

He didn`t balance the MN budget--he left a big fat deficit behind. You should go to MN and talk to the people there--Pawlenty would have a hard time getting re-elected today, he`s not popular there anymore. Now he`s trying to talk like a hillbilly southerner, trying to play up to the base. It`s just sad, really.

A conservative voter| 3.26.11 @ 10:09PM

Interesting article. Pawlenty is a nice guy. He is fiscal and social conservative like former late Pres. Reagan. He might be a good choice on the Republican Party ticket. He is better than Romney, Huckabee, Palin, Gingrich, Daniels, Barbour, Bachmann, Trump and Cain. His website is at www.timpawlenty.com

Neil| 3.27.11 @ 8:22PM

Any cretin can yell "hope and change." The voters needs a federal budget that doesn't confiscate every cent they have including the couch change.

Creative Recreation | 8.10.11 @ 11:28PM

is good

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