Posted on 07/28/2008 4:48:25 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
Announcement coming “very soon.” Geraghty notes that Pawlenty’s still scheduled to give a routine speech on Wednesday, but TNR noted over the weekend that he’s already pulled out of one event and his plans for this week are suddenly and suspiciously hazy. See this recent item from Marc Ambinder, too, passing along a rumor that McCain was planning to meet with his inner circle about VP yesterday. And then of course there’s that CNN item claiming an attendee at a fundraiser heard McCain say conservatives are “really going to like” Pawlenty. Put it all together and today’s scurrilous veep du jour meme seems a tad less scurrilous than usual.
Here’s a bullet-point argument, again from TNR, about why Pawlenty is a “slam dunk” pick. His working-class pedigree is all to the good, but between the lack of name recognition and the “boring old Republican white guy” effect, I’m underwhelmed. He doesn’t even have serious religious cred to reassure antsy evangelicals. Let’s hope the report’s wrong, although given the general savviness of McCain’s campaign these days, it probably isn’t.
Update (Ed): Well, I live in Pawlenty’s state and have met him on a couple of occasions, and this pick would not make me too glum at all. Pawlenty has a good center-right track record, especially on holding the line on taxes with a hostile Legislature. He demonstrated real leadership during the bridge collapse and its aftermath, keeping the gas-tax-increase advocates at bay and convincing the rest of the state to ignore them. He’s also pro-life, and a humble but telegenic man who will inject a little vigor into the campaign.
(Excerpt) Read more at hotair.com ...
You and me both. I am putting up a brave front. Any of the three you mention would be a great VP, especially Thompson or Romney....only because I don't know what sort of skeletons Palin might have in her closet. I've read a bit about her 'Troopergate' and I would hate to have any distractions. VPs never really help but they often hurt the candidate. I am worried about Pawlenty for the same reasons I am worried about Palin, but at least Palin brings some good conservative cred to the ticket.
I understand what you are saying...I live in California and there is not a chance in hell that Obama won't win big here, but I am still spear-heading Coulter's Get Drunk and Vote for McCain here because it gives me a chance to show the kids the way. We play the hand we are dealt. I know what every conservative who I respected and loved would tell me to do in this situation and it isn't quit. There are two parties and I'm not helping the evil one. My party is off track right now but I know what Ronald Reagan and my Dad, may they both rest in peace, would want me to teach my kids right now.
You nailed it. That said, the reason I have disdain for McCain (I wrote a poem!) is because he can't be trusted.
Gallup has him up over Obama in likely voters. What are you talking about?
I’m glad I missed it...I would’ve been sad all day. ;)
Yep, Palin would add the necessary zip to the ticket. This election will come down to turn out, and the Libs have much more incentive to turn out this year. It seems that the majority of the conservative base has already decided to sit this one out in protest against McCain’s nomination. Once we get to the conventions, the MSM and their allies are going to make Obama look the answer to everything. Then, they will make McCain and Pawlenty look like tired old Bush/Cheney/Haliburton/War-mongering/baby/elderly-kickers. We need something new and exciting...and Pawlenty ain’t it.
Pawlenty is my hero. He balanced a $4.3 billion deficit he inherited from Ventura without raising taxes and gave us conceal carry. I believe he is a lot more conservative than he lets on and since he has no baggage he is a safe bet for McCain. I picked Pawlenty back in January because I am great, aint that right NS?
I personally would be fine with Pawlenty, but would definitely prefer Mitt.
Why don’t you think Pawlenty could put McCain over the top in Minnesota? Polling in Minnesota has been all over the place... there was just a poll recently that had McCain down by only 3 points or something like that. A popular governor could be worth 5 points, couldn’t he?
No evidence whatsoever that this is happening.
Both.
Worth repeating.
I think I disagree... Ridge is pro abortion. I don’t know if I could deal with that, a lot of people couldn’t. It sounds like the only thing wrong with Pawlenty is that he’s a global warming sort of guy, but McCain already is too, so that’s not making the ticket any worse, IMHO. Adding a pro abortion politician to it would make it a harder pill to swallow. Pawlenty at least should not drive any voters away. I would be willing to give him a chance.
I don’t think McCain will ever catch up to Obama in the “excitement game,” I think he just needs to not say or do anything else stupid or risky and stop blurring the lines between him and the Democrats, and then people will come back and vote for him after Obama flames out (which I think he will.) If he does something idiotic like picking a Democrat for his VP then he’s toast. Picking a slightly boring Republican governor with no scandals doesn’t sound too awful to me.
Minnesota ping!
That having been said (and I've pointed this out in previous posts), there's nothing wrong with Pawlenty other than his recent conversion to the Global Warming hoax.
He fought (unsuccessfully) for the death penalty and parent notification on abortions, and (successfully) for concealed carry; all in a state that is so blue it's damn near purple.
He's not a lib.
My biggest concern about the guy is that he supported McCain back when most figured McCain didn't have a prayer.
Pawlenty would be a good pick for conservatism in general, but he's not going to put MN in the Republican column.
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I think I just threw up in my mouth after reading that headline!
Pawlenty is a phony! He’s nothing more than a younger version of John McCain.
I had (and have) a hell of a lot more respect for Bob Dole than I do for John McCain.
The problem is CM.
If you have paid any attention to MN politics, you know what I’m talking about.
Browsing through the polls over at RCP, I just see WAY too many 13-17 point leads for Obama in the last couple of months to make me feel comfortable with it.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/mn/minnesota_mccain_vs_obama-550.html#polls
And then there’s the state’s history. It hasn’t gone Republican in almost 40 years.
The majority? You've got to be kidding me. The majority of conservatives never miss an election. It is how you can spot us; we make up the minority of the registered voters but we still win a good part of the time because we always do our duty. We are responsible by nature.
And to be honest, he won’t even bring anything to the ticket anyway. He’s bland and from a state that garners only 10 electoral votes. 2 killers.
Also, did I mention his bland demeanor? (I think I did). That bland, milktoast demeanor may work in outstate Minnesota. He motivated the troops here and did a good job of it, but the rest of us spicy food eating, nightlifing, mind speaking Americans, the guy would be about as motivating as Ben Stein in a DMV line.
That being said, I don’t feel safe with this man being VP nor would I walk on fire to vote for him.
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