Thursday, October 1, 2009

UPDATED: YAWN! Pawlenty preps for 2012

We learn today that Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is working under the radar to start his 2012 campaign and started Freedom First Pac.

From Politico:

Pawlenty, under the radar of D.C.’s political community, has locked up some of the key operatives who engineered then-President George W. Bush’s reelection campaign — a significant feat for a little-known Midwestern politician.

The moves underscore, and will lend credence to, the emerging belief among many establishment Republicans that Pawlenty is becoming the sole viable alternative to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a potential Republican primary rival. The Minnesota governor has even gone so far as to contact some of Romney’s former supporters.

I sorry but I am having a very hard time getting excited about Tim Pawlenty. Even the people of Minnesota are not feeling a Pawlenty 2012 presidential run. To make matters worse Pawlenty supported a regional Cap and Trade scheme. Make no mistake, the conservative base will be going over resumes with a fine tooth comb in 2012 and supporting cap and trade schemes will be the kiss of death.

What is it about the GOP and these squishy milk toast RINOs? Pawlenty is going to do the classic 11th hour conversion to true conservatism just to make himself appealing in the primaries. Thanks but no thanks, we have been there and done that.

What the GOP needs for 2012 is a young Reagan-like scrappy street fighter. Who ever the 2012 candidate is had better be ready to get Palinized and had better offer something other than “I’m not Obama”. Quite frankly Pawlenty doesn't even come close to fitting that bill.

UPDATE:

Left Coast Rebel really does his homework on Pawlenty and gives a full rundown on Pawlenty's RINO activities.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Politico

Via: Star Tribune

Via: Minnesota Public Radio

Via: Left Coast Rebel

20 comments:

Left Coast Rebel said...

I agree, a total yawn, a RINO and not a good choice. We have a lot of work ahead.....

Left Coast Rebel said...

Thanks Cliff! Like I said, now that I know more about him, it will be interesting to see what the talking heads,(GOP), say about him. He is NOT a conservative.

Euripides said...

This guy just doesn't have what it takes to energize the Republicans, let alone the conservative independents. Thanks for the yawn.

smitty1e said...

I happen to like Pawlenty over Romney.
Is that saying much?

Left Coast Rebel said...

@ Smitty - That is saying a lot. And nothing. And that is politics.

Clifton B said...

LCR:

You are right we have our work cut out for us. We have to expose all the RINOs so they get rejected in the primaries.

You are welcome to the linkage, you did awesome work.

Clifton B said...

smitty1e:

I guess that is OK, but it is like choosing between tomato and toe-ma-toe.

Clifton B said...

Euripides:

I find reading old Fortran code more exciting than Pawlenty. The man is a total bore snore.

Fuzzy Slippers said...

I don't like either Romney or Pawlenty. Add my *yawn* to the list on this one. Your analysis is spot-on, we need someone to energize us, someone who offers a clear conservative platform, and maybe someone who until now has been a "real person" and not a politician. Any ideas? ;)

Clifton B said...

Fuzzy Slippers:

As far as conservative credentials goes first choice Palin, Thompson, Bachmann, Rubio

As far as fight goes I think DeMint would like a piece of Obama. I have to look at his history closer though.

Who are your picks?

Fuzzy Slippers said...

Honestly, Clifton, the only one that I would be comfortable casting my vote for would be Palin, but I think the left has done such a job on her that she's not electable. Not as things stand now, anyway, things can change.

I'd like to see someone come from the grassroots, someone like you maybe.

Clifton B said...

Fuzzy:

I think Palin is taking great strides to undo the damage. Her book hitting #1 in 48 hours without being released suggest to me, there are a lot more people interested in her than the conservative base.

Clifton B said...

Fuzzy:

I also do believe that one of use can emerge from the Tea Party, but it wont be me. Camera shy :-(

Euripides said...

I don't think Palin is electable because she doesn't have sufficient "charisma" to attract the center voters. If Tina Fey can bring her down so easily, Palin can't shake off that past. Her "hardline" conservatism (i.e., pro-life) won't attract the women's vote as it should and her "hick" language will kill off another chunk of voters.

I'd expect to see some folks emerge in 2010, maybe Arizona's other Senator, Jon Kyl, who is actually conservative instead of a neocon like McCain.

smitty1e said...

@Euripides,
I submit that you may over-credit Fey.
Also, sales of SP's book might be a good barometer.
The MSM really really really want to writer her off.
Screw them.

Euripides said...

@smitty1e:

It's not just Fey, it's the media. Consider that most of the voters last year actually thought Palin said "I can see Russia from my house" because of Fey and collusion with the media. Palin won't have any chance at all with a media that hates her so much, they'll do or say anything to bring her down. It has nothing to do with writing her off. It's all about destroying her and the principles she stands for.

smitty1e said...

@Euripides,
Thought experiment: when SP goes on a book tour, and every last stop on that tour turns into a Tea Party frenzy, what will be said?

I haven't read the book, but if it's even slightly Federalist in its outlook, I'll be supporting Sarah's platform heavily.

Fuzzy Slippers said...

I'm not sure that I agree that Palin's book sales are any barometer of her potential as a presidential candidate. First, many many many libs are going to be buying that book for the pure "fun" of tearing her down and lampooning it and her beliefs. Second, if book sales were all it takes, we'd have Bill O'Reilly or Glenn Beck as contenders (and I think they can do far more good for this country in their present roles).

I really agree with Euripides on this one; she's too polarizing at the moment. This may be turned around, but a lot of damage was done to Palin that can't be undone, and as Euripides notes, her hard line on abortion is not going to win her any swing or mod votes.

I can see it turning around for Palin if we can find a topic that liberals can get on board with. They have no idea how serious, for example, the threat is to actual book banning taking place in public schools and libraries across the nation. The recent attacks on teachers for teaching material with the word "God" in it is hugely problematic, and libs don't like the idea of book banning, not the every day lib. They fancy themselves intellectuals and what is more intellectually dishonest than limiting access to literature, history, the arts, science?

Going for mods is another thing that will help, and they, like us, are horrified by the huge amount of spending going on by this admin and by BO's unbelievable arrogance and naivete (Sarkozy calling him a narcissist hit the mods where they live, I believe).

Even with all this, Palin is still the only one that I would feel comfortable casting my vote for. I just hope that someone solid emerges or that she can turn it around (and she can, geez, if Hillary Clinton can win a NY Senate seat, anything is possible).

Anonymous said...

Gov Yawnlenty is a democrat in sheep's clothing.

Condoleeza Rice for President in 2012!

Anonymous said...

Definition of MILQUETOAST
: a timid, meek, or unassertive person

Origin of MILQUETOAST
Caspar Milquetoast, comic strip character created by H. T. Webster †1952 American cartoonist
First Known Use: 1935

Milk toast made me laugh.

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