[OldDeckHand]

'Question is, is Pawlenty in it to win it"

I don't know. It sure doesn't seem like he has any fire in the belly, no passion whatsoever. I don't know if you have to mirror Obama's charisma, but you have to have at least some charisma, to be believable. Pawlenty has none.

[The Pack Knight]

I don't know. It sure doesn't seem like he has any fire in the belly, no passion whatsoever. I don't know if you have to mirror Obama's charisma, but you have to have at least some charisma, to be believable. Pawlenty has none.

Personally, I think we could use a President without passion or "fire in the belly". I think our Republic desperately needs to move away from the mystique and personality cult of the plebiscitary Presidency.

That said, I agree with you that it is probably not a good formula for beating Obama, and beating Obama is the most important thing right now. While I think the voters would appreciate more sober leadership than that offered by Obama, they probably aren't going to go for someone like Pawlenty who has all the flash and sizzle of a UPS truck.