MN Progressive Project - Tim Pawlenty

Timmy's Happy Trails 9/6/10

dan.burns — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:33:19 GMT

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty isn't doing any political out-of-state travel right now, that I know of. I'm just looking to get some items into the archives. He is heading to Asia, later this week.

Minnesota is taking federal money for teachers, despite whining coming from a predictable place.

Good stuff from MinnPost regarding his sex-ed funding calls.

The Huffington Post calls dissonance on his health care idiocy. The MN Chamber of Commerce has something to say, as well.

Duluth is used as an example of the realities of tax increases during Gutshot's reign.

It's looking like he probably won't block the $263M in 'Obamacare' funding. One suspects that at least part of his political computation is that a backlash, if he refused, could hurt state GOPers in November. Thereby hurting his own political stature - which is, in his own mind (though almost nowhere else, other than among MN corporate, and DC Beltway, media), considerable.

It's rare for frontpagers at Daily Kos to take note of Guv. BridgeFail, here and here. He's really not important, nationally, and there's little indication, so far, that he ever will be.

MN-GOP pulling out the big guns with Louisiana Governor.

Kevin P. Roberson — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 05:07:35 GMT

The Associated Press obtained a copy of an invitation sent out inviting Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal to help fund raise for MN-GOP candidates. The candidates include: Gov. Pawlenty, Tom Emmer, Rep. Michele Bachmann, and Erik Paulsen.

I look at this as a last ditch effort by the MN-GOP to win votes from people of color.

It all started after Pres. Obama was elected in '08 and the RNC appointed Michael S. Steele as chairman. The RNC knew that they were out of touch with issues concerning people of color and weren't going to be able to persuade them to vote for GOP candidates.

They came up with a game plan to even the playing field. They needed a new face, a Black face.

I don't know what Mr. Steele's agenda is. But with all the negative media coverage he has gotten over the past couple years it doesn't seem like he is on the same page as the RNC. Check out the latest headline on Mr. Steele's entrepreneurial endeavors.

Another major issue that didn't help the GOP's war on winning the vote of people of color, was the Arizona immigration law. It's not just effecting the GOP in Arizona, its being discussed nationally.

Check out this link on Arizona's immigration law. It is causing a ripple effect all over the nation for Latino's to stay clear of the GOP.

If you don't believe the interpretation of events that I have given, then just check out this interview that Gov. Jindal gave after Sen. McCain lost the presidential election. The proof is in the pudding.

People of color are being used by the GOP to pursued other people of color to vote for them. As a person of color, I find it easy to relate to another person of color. But, that doesn't mean that I'm dumb and I'm not going to do my research on candidates. The GOP is trying to create an illusion like they are for people of color and equality. They are parading around a couple of guys who are really an embarrassment amongst people of color.

Latest poll brings more hurt to Tim Pawlenty's presidential hopes

The Big E — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:03:00 GMT

New polling data came out today about lame duck Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty's anemic 2012 presidential campaign. Pawlenty's presidential hopes have never really gotten off the ground. He has continually polled in the lower single digits.

Keep in mind that this is the same flawed MPR/Humphrey Institute poll Joe dissected yesterday. In other words, because of the rightwards skewing of this poll, this news could be even worse.

Do you want the good news or the bad news first? What? Okay, but I'm going to give you the good news for Timmeh first.

...But Pawlenty easily beats former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, 59 to 24 percent.

Yup. That's right. The current sitting Governor of Minnesota whomps the Quittah from Wasilla. Timmeh wins today's tallest midget award for that one.

The rest of the news is bad.

...when it comes to whether Minnesotans would vote for Pawlenty for president, a majority, or 53 percent, consider that unlikely. Even nearly one in four Republicans, or 23 percent, say they've be unlikely to vote for him.

Ouch. A majority of Minnesotans wouldn't vote for him and nearly 1 our of 4 Republicans wouldn't support him in a primary contest.

Possibly even more stinging for the governor is a question about who would make a better president among potential Republican competitors. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney outpolls Pawlenty on that question, 45 percent to 32 percent.

He can't even beat Mittens the Mormon in his own backyard.

Is this good news that he finally got out of the lower single digits in a poll or is this a sign of the his campaign leaving the runway and hitting the first tree?

Federal Money Turndowns - Pawlenty Pique or Payoff?

Curmudgeon — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:38:08 GMT

Our beloved governor is an a rampage, ordering state departments to refuse any federal funds. After turning down well over $1 billion in federal funds, Timmy continues his reign of terror on the people of Minnesota. Turns out it's more than just scorn for Minnesotans, it's a payoff for his friends and benefactors, the insurance industry. TakeAction took action and interrupted the Friday Republican Hour on the Good Neighbor, our own WCCO.
link: http://theuptake.org/2010/08/2...
One of the requirements of the new health care act is that insurance rate increases have to have a public review. Our thoughtful insurers prefer to keep rate increase discussion in the dark room in the back, So Timmy gets 2 jollies with one act - he spits in the eyes of Minnesotans as he gives away money and he keeps his insurance buddies out of public view.
It's a win win for Tim.

Timmy's Happy Trails 8/31/10

dan.burns — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:09:49 GMT

Under our very noses, MN Governor Tim Pawlenty bounced out to Chicago yesterday for a fundraiser for the GOP candidate for Illinois governor, Bill Brady.

A spokesman for Pawlenty says Pawlenty's visit to Chicago was a "quick trip" and he was back in the state within a few hours.

Regarding TBag's literary effort, there was a contest here for providing alternate titles; game and popular winners have been selected. Here's an article comparing the cover to those of others in the genre.

Tim Pawlenty alternate book title contest

The Big E — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I had LOADS of submissions for my contest to determine an alternate title to lame duck MN Governor Tim Pawlenty's book that will be released the day the Governor's office door hits him where God split him. I like to thank everyone who participated.

I hope y'all had as much fun thinking them up as I had reading 'em.

So what are my criteria for determining the winner? What? You actually expected me to think that far ahead? Geesh ...

Okay ... here are the top 10:

Courage to Stand in an a Field in a Red Shirt under a Cloudy Sky and look Constipated, just like Sarah Palin did on the cover of her book, "Going Rogue
Political Rifts & Budget Shifts" My Presidential Ambition
The Courage to Pander, The TBag story
Courage to Stand Around while a State Crumbles
Kicking The Can Down The Road: The BridgeFail Story
A Man, A Plan, A Collapse... Minnesota
Holding Your Breath till you get your way -- Javier Morillo-Alicea wins an MPP tshirt
Courage to Stand on the Poor to Pander to the Rich -- @RickMons wins an MPP tshirt and the first issue of Bill Prendergast's Michele Bachmann comic
Courage to Stand. Bridges, Not So Much -- Robin Marty wins an MPP tshirt and the first two issues of Bill's comic.

And the winner is ... [drum roll, please] ...

I Ain't Go Time To Lead

Congratulations to Anders Thorstenson for his winning submission! You win a MPP tshirt and the first three issues of Bill Prendergast's Michele Bachmann comic book.

Pawlenty may still not accept $236 million in Medicaid aid

The Big E — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:01:00 GMT

You may have noted in a post I wrote about Tom Emmer, I mentioned that Minnesota could receive $263 million in aid to help pay for Medicaid (amount has since been revised to $236M). Tim Pawlenty, 2012 Republican presidential hopeful and lame duck Minnesota Governor, may have found yet another way to hurt out state (And you thought that with the legislative session over, there was little more damage he could do). Pawlenty could not request this grant money.

Democratic leaders in the Minnesota Legislature urged Gov. Tim Pawlenty Tuesday to apply for $236 million in federal health care money. In a letter to the governor, Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller and House Majority Leader Tony Sertich wrote that it would be "irresponsible" for the state to not seek the funds when many patients in Minnesota are struggling with the tough economy, adding, "You cannot let political ambition get in the way of doing what's right for Minnesota." They join the Minnesota Medical Association and the Mayo Clinic in calling for Pawlenty to secure the funds for Minnesota.
(Minnesota Independent)

Will Pawlenty join other Republican Governors who have railed against expanding the deficit and the government stimulus plan yet accept this money or play to the teabagger base? Unfortunately, the well-being of our state and it's citizens hangs in the balance. I'm not getting my hopes up.

Needed: Alternative title to Tim Pawlenty's forthcoming book (UPDATED)

The Big E — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:45:00 GMT

Word on the street is that lame-duck Governor Tim Pawlenty has a book coming out the day Minnesota is finally rid of him. For Minnesota's sake, the day can't come soon enough. So, in honor of his re-writing of MN history and his own history, I'm announcing a contest:

Best Alternative Title to TPaws Book Contest

Winner will receive a MPP tshirt.

Actual title is: Courage To Stand, An American Story

Contest ends Friday, August 27, 2010 at 5:00PM

-- UPDATE --

Submissions after the break...
Here are some submission from my Facebook (facebook.com/eric.pusey):

"Holding Your Breath till you get your way" -- goes with the sucked in gut in the book cover picture, no?
"Ready to Run (Away)"
"Discouraged to Stay" or "Crotch Stand"
The Courage to Stand (in the Place Where You Live)
Sacrificing Minnesota (for a shot in a million)
An anagram of "Courage to Stand: An American Story" is:
"Race to Undo Tim's Era: Or, A Stagnancy"

Here are some submission from my Twitter (@eric_pusey):

Political Rifts & Budget Shifts" My Presidential Ambition
Courage to do Nothing
Chicken soup for a failed Governorship
Dummies guide in how NOT to Govern
The Courage to Pander, The TBag story
Courage to Stand on the Dais with Real Governors"
Courage to Stand Around while a State Crumbles
Courage to Stand on the Poor to Pander to the Rich"
Courage to Run in Other States When Reallotments are Overturned
Nowhere To Be Found
Courage to Stand and Deny Children an Education and Sick People Healthcare
The Cowardice to Cut
Courage to Rogue
Courage to Stand. Bridges, Not So Much

Here my ideas:

How I screwed MN and parlayed this failure into a presidential bid.
The Scourge of Blandness, How I ruined my state
No Courage, So Bland .. the rewriting of his own history
The Courage to Pander, The TPaw story
Not crazy or dumb or under investigation, an American story
Courage to run despite polling in the lower single digits
Courage to stand nowhere near fallen bridges

Emmer's Budget Plan? "There is no spoon."

JoeDavis — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:09:30 GMT

Either Tom Emmer is still stuck on the first stage of grief because of his disastrous campaign to date, which recently voted several staffers off the island, or he thinks that he's campaigning to become governor of The Matrix. Tom Emmer's most recent "I have absolutely no budget plan" distraction technique unveiled today is the red pill inspired: "There is no spoon".

From Tom Emmer via MPR:

Where is the deficit? We talk about 'You got to raise taxes, government has to invest.' I'll say it again, government in the state of Minnesota is scheduled to get a 7 percent increase in the next biennium. Government will have more money to spend in the next two years than it is spending right now.

You see, Minnesotans? There is no spoon. Whoa. The deficit is all in your head! If the budget crisis doesn't exist --bam-- no plan needed.

Even with his attempt to melt our minds by going all Neo on us, no one is fooled. Despite Emmer's selective accounting, we know we're facing a historic budget crisis, and as Tom Scheck immediately points out, the major reason for the uptick in state spending cited by Emmer is that Tim Pawlenty's kicking of the budgetary can is coming home to roost. (Mixed metaphors win elections)

With over a billion in school shifts and half a billion in temporary cuts coming off the chopping block, many of the gimmicks bullied through the legislature by Tim Pawlenty--with the full support of Tom Emmer and House Republicans-- are putting the state in an even worse situation next year.

Instead of owning up to his role in the budget debacle we find ourselves in -- and provide us with what would actually be a "new direction" -- Tom Emmer has decided to try and confuse us. Whether it's mashing up $20 billion and 20%, or comparing Minnesota to a wagon full of Clydesdales, Tom Emmer is willing to say anything, except what he would actually do to the services we all use and rely on if he became governor.

The problem? It's pretty hard to dance around the fact that he introduced things like cutting the minimum wage while pushing for lower taxes on corporations. We wont forget that --when he bothered to show up to vote-- that he consistently sided with big businesses instead of working Minnesotans. For the new direction the Minnesota needs someone ready to make the hard decisions to move us forward. We need someone who can lay out a plan to get Minnesota back on track, not more Pawlenty-styled governing by press release.

This is cross-posted from Alliance for a Better Minnesota's blog, where I work. Come by for a visit real soon, ya hear?

Timmy's Happy Trails 8/20/10

dan.burns — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:27:42 GMT

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is still in Oregon this morning, but is headed to Las Vegas this evening for a fundraiser with Nevada Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Sandoval.

Minnesota is eligible for $263 million in federal health care funds, but the governor has to sign off on requesting them. He says he hasn't decided. I suppose he's in a pickle on this one, though there's little doubt that, personally, he'd like to refuse them, being the odious runt that he is. If he does decline, it could help him with teabaggers nationally, but the backlash in MN could hurt GOP electoral chances. Much of the federal funding is for care for the elderly - arguably the key demographic in midterm elections. Here's more on the issue.

A polling firm in Iowa re-ran presidential numbers, with some tweaking, and TBag's remained dismal.

Pawlenty fails Minnesota again

The Big E — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Minnesotans will experience higher health insurance costs because our lame duck Governor, Tim Pawlenty, is running for President. Pawlenty could have signed an application for a $1 million grant to help reduce health insurance premiums, but he chose not to. Pawlenty opposes health insurance reform because he needs to appeal to the Republican teabagger base who will decide who becomes the 2012 Republican nominee.

The grant, which was part of the federal health care legislation, was available to states to crack down on excessive health insurance premium increases. In response to questioning by Senator John Marty (DFL - Roseville), John Gross of the Department of Commerce said that department staff completed the grant paperwork, but that Governor Pawlenty had refused to sign the letter of application.
Senator Marty said, "If the governor signed the letter and submitted the already completed paperwork, the state would have been virtually guaranteed to receive the grant funding. Every state that applied received the money. It was a grant available simply for the asking."
Forty five states -- including most of the 21 states that are suing the federal government over health care reform -- took the money, Marty pointed out. "The money was to be used to protect consumers and the state from health insurers overcharging. The only people who might object to the state getting this money are insurance companies that don't want adequate oversight."
"This isn't a matter of whether one agrees with the federal reform or not; this was a matter of getting our share of federal dollars," Marty said. "It's not as if Minnesota has a surplus of money. Rather than sign a letter, Governor Pawlenty gave up a million dollars. That is inexcusable."
(From email statement from John Marty)

Timmy's Happy Trails 8/18/10

dan.burns — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:24:15 GMT

Today, tomorrow, and Friday, MN Governor Tim Pawlenty is in Oregon. He's attending a National Forum on Education Policy, produced by the Education Commission of the States. He's the chair of that organization, which I can only assume selects its chair with an eye to 'nonpartisanship;' that is, with little regard to its chairperson's actual performance on education issues. He's also appearing at a fundraiser for Oregon Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Dudley, who's tall.

Presumably because of his wretched, increasingly hopeless campaign, and a fixation on attracting even a nibble of the teabagger base, Timmy seems to be beginning to, in the vernacular, 'totally lose it.' As shown by this nice trifecta of recent diaries from Rachel Nygaard, here; Joe Bodell, here; and The Big E, here.

Pawlenty attacks Imam Bush used as envoy

The Big E — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:57:00 GMT

Tim Pawlenty desperately wants to get his 2012 Republican presidential campaign off the ground. After nearly a year of criss-crossing the country, our lame-duck Governor just can't poll higher than the low single digits in poll after poll. To improve his chances, he's commenting on any national issue to anyone who'll listen.

So Pawlenty decided to comment on the Muslim Community Center to be built several blocks away from Ground Zero in NYC.

Too close to hallowed ground, Pawlenty asserted. Only fast-food hamburger joints, tacky tourist trinket stalls and a strip joint are allowed that close. Anything less is unpatriotic.
And Cordoba's leader now doesn't pass T-Paw muster.
"To have him be the leader not just of this mosque but to hire him through the State Department and send him around the world on our behalf is ridiculous," T-Paw told Sean Hannity. "It is quite quite dangerous, quite concerning."
(City Pages Blotter)

There's only one small, little detail hypocritical with Pawlenty and the rest of the right wings fear-mongering:

When Bush adviser Karen Hughes was appointed Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy, the Bush Administration saw improving America's standing among Muslims abroad as a part of its national security strategy. And, as such, Hughes set up listening tours, attended meetings and worked with interfaith groups that -- shocking, by today's Republican standards -- included actual Muslims. One of those people was Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.
(Talking Points Memo, h/t City Pages Blotter)

Tim Pawlenty opposes the Constitution

Joe Bodell — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Let it be known that lame duck Governor Tim Pawlenty is on the record opposing the First Amendment to the United States Constitution:

Pawlenty, a presidential hopeful for 2012, appeared on Fox News' "Hannity" last night to decry Obama's support for the Islamic cultural center proposed by Rauf's Cordoba House at a site two blocks from Ground Zero. He also criticized the State Department for sending Rauf on a diplomatic mission to the Middle East, saying that was "disgusting" and "dangerous."
"To have him be the leader not just of this mosque but to hire him through the State Department and send him around the world on our behalf is ridiculous," Pawlenty told Sean Hannity. "It is quite quite dangerous, quite concerning."
But Pawlenty failed to mention a key fact (which TPM reported last week) that Rauf has been doing similar diplomatic work going back to George W. Bush's administration.
...
Last night, Pawlenty said Obama is "playing the role of law professor" by trying to argue about legal rights to build what critics are calling a "mosque." He said it should be about "basic decency, judgment, respect and appropriate recognition" of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

No, Mr. Pawlenty. It's not about judgment. It's about the law. Specifically, the Constitution of the United States of America, which you claim to respect and have sworn to uphold. That Constitution guarantees the right to free practice of religion, and on private property, in line with local building codes, a religious group can build whatever the hell they want to build.

You either support the Constitution and all the freedoms it guarantees or you don't. Mr. Pawlenty clearly falls into the latter group.

Pawlenty's presidential campaign isn't taking off

The Big E — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:03:00 GMT

How long is the runway?

Lame duck Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty had more bad news today. Pawlenty has 1% of Iowa Republicans supporting him. Pawlenty has consistently been unable to rise above the low single digits in 2012 presidential polling.

Pawlenty scored 1 percent in a poll of Republican presidential hopefuls released Monday by the Iowa Republican, putting him in a distant tie for sixth out of 10 candidates in the poll.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the 2008 Iowa caucuses, led at 22 percent, followed by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at 18 percent, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 14 percent and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at 11 percent.

As Pawlenty's presidential campaign trundles down the runway unable to achieve flight, I wonder how long the runway is and how long until his campaign loses its wings amongst the trees?