Posted on 08/28/2008 5:22:12 PM PDT by Fred
I'm confident enough to put this up now, but willing to be wrong.
Right now though, every sign, signal, and background chatter indicates John McCain will pick Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota's governor, as his running mate.
UPDATE: A source close to the campaign now confirms for me that it "more likely than not" is Pawlenty. He does, however, caution me that the campaign does not actually want to leak tonight lest the Obama camp get too much of a chance to play the victim card with a sympathetic media.
Below the fold, I've compiled data on Pawlenty that you might find useful. Protecting the Unborn
*
Recognized as a pro-life leader by “Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life” *
Has appointed judicial conservatives to the bench, and recently drew praise from pro-life advocates for his appointment of Eric Magnuson as Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court *
Fought for and signed pro-life measures including: Woman’s Right to Know (requiring 24 hour waiting period and required information be provided before an abortion), a fetal pain awareness act (requiring notice and information regarding pain experienced by fetuses) and positive alternatives to abortion act (providing funding and support for organizations promoting alternatives to abortion). *
Believes life begins at conception *
Strong desire to overturn Roe v. Wade *
Opposes embryonic stem-cell research while supporting adult stem cell research
Protecting the Taxpayer
*
Achieved long-standing state goal of moving Minnesota out of the top ten highest taxed states according to the U.S. Census Bureau *
In 2003, resolved the largest budget deficit in state history and the largest budget deficit in the nation at the time (as percent of state budget) without raising taxes *
Vetoed all bills which increased taxes, including setting single session record for vetoes (34) by a Minnesota Governor *
Supported Performance Pay for politicians, which would dock the pay of state office holders if a balanced budget is not passed by the constitutional deadline *
Has keep state employment roles essentially flat during his 5+ years in office. *
Proposed and signed into law welfare reform that requires able-bodied people to seek work *
As majority leader in Minnesota legislature, fought for and achieved historic tax cuts. *
Supports an Initiative and Referendum Amendment to the state constitution to empower citizens to make and repeal laws
Potecting Law Abiding Citizens
*
Cracked down on meth dealers and sex offenders with tougher penalties *
Required released sex offenders to wear GPS tracking bracelets *
Proposed re-introducing the death penalty in Minnesota *
Fought for and signed conceal-carry legislation *
Strongly supported and endorsed by the NRA
Fighting Illegal Immigration
*
Required visa expiration dates printed on driver licenses for legal resident aliens *
Blocked passage of the DREAM Act which would have allowed in-state tuition for illegal immigrants *
Fought Minneapolis and St. Paul ‘sanctuary’ laws, which prevent police and other city agencies from inquiring about immigrations status *
Proposed state law enforcement task force to crack down on illegal immigration *
Proposed state fines for the hiring of illegal workers *
Proposed increased penalties for using false identification documents
Protecting Marriage
* Strongly supports constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage and authored statutory changes supporting traditional marriage as a legislator
Promoting Faith-Based Solutions
* Established an office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to assist social organizations increase their effectiveness by gaining better access to the financial resources of state and federal governments
Accountability in Education
*
Developed and implemented nation-leading reforms in education, including performance pay for teachers. *
Strong supporter of school choice.
Baffled in Texas.
So basically another RINO? Sheesh.
I've said this all along too, a woman would have sealed it for McCain. I do think Obama will have a great chance of defeating McCain in Nov. if this is his pick!
Yes. I don't believe he really wants the job. He just wanted the nomination to feed his monstrous ego and assuage his sense of hurt from 2000.
Red State pulled this out of their a$$.
This whole thing has been too well orchestrated to end with Pawlenty.
McCain does not want the name leaked tonight and I don’t think it’s gonna be. From what I’m reading around all the blogs, it sounds like he’s picked someone that isn’t even on the radar, meaning Not the following:
NOT Pawlenty
Not Romney
Not Lieberman
Not Ridge
Sorry pissant, but I don’t know anything about him other than what I’ve read on that website. I just heard the guys name several days ago.
Agreed though that it is a bad choice. However, if it’s true, the silver lining is that he didn’t pick Slick Willard.
Speaking as a Minnesotan, he won’t deliver Minnesota; in two elections, never got more than a 46.7% plurality. Wouldn’t have won either one without a third party splitting the lib vote. He’s only a year older than Obama, too; doesn’t add much gravitas. He will look like Quayle in the debate.
Sounds good...now, how would he hold up in a debate against the verbosity of that Nimrod Biden?
“I do believe that our nation’s very survival is at stake.”
I believe the same. It’s frightening that so many people even voted for Obama in the primaries. But then, I think it’s frightening that so many people are registered Dems PERIOD.
Yeah, all these self-appointed gurus had Ruby Julie-Annie elected before the primary in 42 states...
Illegal aliens???
He's not going to get the Hillary Dems. I was checking out the PUMA site earlier & they have a new saying "Nothing at the top" in other words, do not punch anything on the ballot for President.
I also read some of their posts, many are saying they cannot vote for McCain, so they won't vote at all for the Presidential slot, only for Dem. senators!
Lovely Michelle Steele is on FoxNews.com
MS says Pawenty is a good choice and can take Biden
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
My work is done here...
Add Not Ridge, Not Palin to that. palin has a future to be sure, but if he is gonna take a chance on youth, Jindal was the one.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
MICHAEL Steele
Well, he wasn’t my first choice but I have to say, reading the above on him makes me feel a lot better. He appears to be a straight-line conservative, favors low taxes, strong on law-and-order, against homo marriage.
Again, not my first choice, but he’s a heck of a sight better than Lieberman, Ridge or Hutchison.
I guess this will offset the minority that will cut off their nose to spite their face from the GOP and not vote for McCain, we’ll see.
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