2012: Pawlenty nabbing big GOP names [McCainiacs flocking to Pawlenty] [ew]

The Hill, Washington, DC ^ | 2009-10-13 | Reid Wilson

[rabscuttle385]

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) has enlisted a number of GOP strategists from John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, another sign that he’s planning a run for president in 2012.

. . . . .

Among those interested in getting to know Pawlenty are Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Randy Scheunemann, two top policy advisers from the McCain presidential campaign who have joined the Minnesota governor’s host committee.

[Tarpon]

RINOS flocking, bridge out ahead. Get out of the water now.

So when does Palin ship her book?

Pawlenty, Minnesota RINO. Minnesota ... That blue ACORN state that he sat by and watched Al Franken and ACORN steal the election. Yep, that’s him.

[Oldexpat]

Pawlenty is another Rino idiot who thinks he can run down the left hand lane to the Presidency. Wrong.
My guess is that Palin will beat him in primaries...to the surprise and consternation of the Rino lead GOP.

[cripplecreek]

I think a 3rd party would need to run under the GOP brand until they prove viability. Then they could split off and run under their own name.

I do think they’ll need to keep some ties with the GOP.

[rhombus]

I sense a third party coming... I suggest some conservative Republicans get together and start a movement to derail this impending disaster.

Because that's worked so well in the past?

[Obadiah]

Great! I’m sure Steve (log cabin) Schmidt is all ove Pawlenty. So it - again - boils down to the establishment RINOs against the conservative base. Good for them. If it ends up like that again they can fund their entire election with the country club types. They can do all their own phone banking and all the door-to-door stuff. They’re on their own.

I don’t care if Obama get reelected. I ain’t helping the RINOs. No more Doles. No more McCains.

[RexBeach]

It seems the governor is about as prescient as Mr. McCain.

Another RINO going to the slaughter.

[SharpRightTurn]

There’s a pattern where the establishment boys try to get behind their CINO candidate early, establish money commitments, and force out conservative challengers.

We end up with Bob Dole, John McCain, and __________ (fill in the blank).

I won’t play the game. I don’t care if McCain, Bush, Ed Gillespie, Karl Rove, or whoever back Pawlenty or any other candidate. If anything, endorsement by Big Government Republicans will drive me away from their candidate.

[JRochelle]

Yes, he is a big Palin supporter.

I suspect he thinks she won’t run.

[seoul62]

I want a man’s man not a white bread and mayonaise wuss. I can’t help thinking when I see his mug, that he is a nice guy but a nice guy does not make a leader.

[Rummyfan]

Go McCainiacs go! In fact keep right on going and form your own Moderate Party. Your motto can be We're just like the Democrats!

[pepperdog]

I do not believe this is “the One” for us.

[Obadiah]

Because Pawlenty was so effective in helping Norm Coleman!

I remember hearing Pawlenty on the radio during the whole Coleman/Franken debacle. I was struck by Palenty sounding so ugly wishy-washy -- and that was before had any idea he had aspirations to run for president.

[Just A Nobody]

Pawlenty is pro-amnesty and believes in manmade global warming. His partnering with McCain raises real questions about his judgment and GOP credentials.

Hmmmmm, don't think it raises questions in regard to his GOP credentials, but it certainly proves he is no conservative.

[rhombus]

I do not believe this is “the One” for us.

Are we still waiting for "the One"? The One should be here right along with the Great Pumpkin.

[Oldpuppymax]

TWO THINGS WILL BE GUARANTEED: Pawlenty will own the allegiance of the “republican” party; he will lose any election he enters.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

From last night...

McCain team gets behind Tim Pawlenty

Does anybody get the sense that the GOP leadership is trying to force Pawlenty and Romney on us as fait accompli while desperately trying to separate Sarah Palin from her support base, i.e. us?

[Reagan69]

Good luck, Timmy. This conservative is voting for Sarah!

[tx_eggman]

Here are the results of McCain's 2008 run:

Here are the projected results of a Pawlenty run in 2012:

These idiots just don't get it.

[pepperdog]

So far the Great Pumpkin would probably do better with conservative voters than the RINOs and committed get-along, go-along politicians aspiring for the top job.

[dead]

There’s a pattern where the establishment boys try to get behind their CINO candidate early, establish money commitments, and force out conservative challengers. We end up with Bob Dole, John McCain, and __________ (fill in the blank).

That is the pattern that we're up against.

But the bottom line is that the establishment people can back whoever they want to back, if the Republican primary voters don't go with them, they lose.

Unfortunately, the Republican primary voters are just not as conservative as we'd like. Hopefully, the right conservative candidate will win over the mushy moderates in our own party first. Then the general population.