Pawlenty's Record

WSJ ONLINE ^ | 23 FEBRUARY 2008 | WSJ

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

"The era of small government is over . . . government has to be more proactive, more aggressive."

But in 2005, signs of his "progressive" instincts emerged. In a quest for new revenue, Mr. Pawlenty supported a 75 cents per-pack cigarette tax. He called it a "health impact" fee. No one was fooled. User fees are generally charged to ensure that those who use a government service pay for the cost of providing that service. In this case, however, it was obvious that smokers were just being tapped to fund health-care entitlement programs.

Following the tax hike, the governor pushed through a state-wide smoking ban in workplaces, restaurants and bars. Aggressive, Nanny-state government seems to be big with Republican governors these days -- although policies such as smoking bans do little to stem the costly tide of state-run health care.

In 2006, liberal Democrats (there is no other kind here) proposed a universal health-care behemoth to cover all residents. Mr. Pawlenty responded with a more limited proposal to expand the state's child health-care program, Minnesota Care, to cover all children. More recently, the governor's Health Care Transformation Task Force recommended imposing a mandate -- à la Massachusetts -- on residents to buy health insurance.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Another milquetoast, statist, big-government compassionate RINO Republican.

[ken21]

no puslenty vote for me.

[petercooper]

Go away Timmy

[sickoflibs]

Not surprising given his state, but it’s hardly a record that tells us we could trust him in the WH.

[ASA Vet]

Timothy James Pawlenty

born November 27, 1960 in Saint Paul, MN (Meets the Jus Soli Requirement)

Parents were
Eugene Joseph Pawlenty, born MN
Virginia Frances Oldenburg, born MN

Both parents were US Citizens at the time of his birth (Meets the Jus Sanguinis Requirement)

Timothy Pawlenty is a NATURAL BORN CITIZEN unlike Barry Soetoro aka Barack Hussein Obama.

[org.whodat]

Timmy, yawn, pawl, yawn, enty, yawn, yawn

[Al B.]

Even liberal Republican Gov. Arne Carlson thinks Pawlenty is a tax & spender:

THE PRESIDENCY: A BIT SHORT IS PAWLENTY

[AnotherUnixGeek]

"The era of small government is over . . . government has to be more proactive, more aggressive."

Some politicians start out thinking like this, the others end up thinking like this once they realize that their power and influence depend entirely on the power and influence of government. Government attracts people who, at heart, crave power. Some sincerely believe that some greater good can be achieved by controlling others, but the common denominator in all politicians is a need to be in charge of the lives and destinies of other people.

Self-selection for the political world is not working. At this point I pretty much expect the worst from anyone who wants to run for public office.

[spodefly]

We NEED an opposition to Big Government spending and intrusions. A STRONG opposition, articulated well, and delivered without compromise.

That is NOT Pawlenty.

[wiggen]

Mind boggling. What is the current field of candidates telling us? Anyone thats conservative and a believer in small government feels they have no chance to win? This nation is in a disaster of it’s own making.

[Nervous Tick]

Some sincerely believe that some greater good can be achieved by controlling others, but the common denominator in all politicians is a need to be in charge of the lives and destinies of other people.

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." -- C. S. Lewis

[WOBBLY BOB]

Pawlenty signs bill increasing ethanol content in gasoline
by Laura McCallum, Minnesota Public Radio
May 10, 2005

Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Rep. Greg Davids celebrate the signing of the ethanol bill on Tuesday. (MPR Photo/Laura McCallum)
Minnesota is the first state with a law mandating 20-percent ethanol use by the year 2013.

http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/05/10_ap_ethanol/

I won’t forgive or forget.

[SeaHawkFan]

Will get him votes in Iowa but will kill everywhere else.

[Minn]

Whatever the indescribably despicable and world biggest POS Arnie Carlson is against is, by definition, a good thing.

[Tim n Texas]

“The era of small government is over . . . government has to be more proactive, more aggressive.”

He just addressed this quote on Rush...saying this is a quote from a David Brooks article. They’re not Pawlenty’s words. The reporter mistakenly attributed the quote to Pawlenty, and later printed a retraction.

[itsahoot]

Will get him votes in Iowa but will kill everywhere else.

He just kicked Iowa under the bus on Rush's show, called for an end to Ethanol subsidies. That could be called a flip, but I wont do it :)

[Captain Kirk]

Rush did not handle that well. He never asked WHY Palenty quoted Brooks at the time. Was Pawlenty indicating agreement or disagreement with Brooks’ statement? Pawlenty is shaping up as Rush’s annointed candidate as Romney was last time.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Bookmark for later use.

[newzjunkey]

"The era of small government is over . . .

Pawlenty defended himself on Rush today. This "quote" was actually him quoting another writer, not his own words.

[Captain Kirk]

Not the most important point. In quoting Brooks, was Pawlenty indicating agreement or disagreement? Unfortunately, Soft Ball Rush didn’t ask him.