Posted on 08/28/2008 4:50:31 PM PDT by Fred
Being on John McCain's short list for vice president makes Tim Pawlenty a busy guy.
One day last week began with a meeting on security for the upcoming Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn., where Gov. Pawlenty will play host. Then it was off to Farmfest, the state's biggest agricultural fair. Following that, a side trip to Iowa where, as national co-chair for Sen. McCain's presidential campaign, he passed out tire gauges as a way of poking fun at Barack Obama's suggestion the energy crisis be addressed by having Americans better inflate their cars.
The next day it was off to Washington, D.C., for a speech to GOPAC, a grass-roots conservative training academy, meetings with reporters, and a nationally televised speech at the National Press Club. If there is such a thing as campaigning to become somebody's vice president, Mr. Pawlenty is doing a good job in the auditions.
Not that he will countenance discussion of the subject. At the Press Club, he is asked what the most important qualities a vice presidential candidate should have. "Discretion," he quickly said and then sat down. But Mr. Pawlenty was anything but discrete about his vision for the Republican Party when I caught up with him recently in Colorado Springs, Colo., as he spoke to a group of business leaders and their families.
"I'm the son of a truck driver and a housewife from a meatpacking town," he introduced himself, "who wants to provide a better quality of life for ordinary folks without growing government." His audience stirred: This was clearly a different sales pitch than they were used to. "We must be the party of Sam's Club Republicans, not just country club Republicans," he continued.
In 2002, Mr. Pawlenty invented the term "Sam's Club
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Global Warming Believer
Too late now to have any influence on McCain’s decision.
Congestion charging supporter.
General half-a**ed Republican.
He would be a weak choice. I could not see him as President.
Really looking at Tim Pawlenty’s record reveals he is the candidate that McCain would feel most comfortable with.
I think he is McCain’s pick. Someone who won’t make any political waves, but in that regard won’t rock the boat either.
I think McCain saw the polls showing him tied or ahead of Obama, and decided he didn’t need a risky “game changer” like Lieberman, and likewise saw the polls showing he has pretty well already coalesced the Republican base around him, so he doesn’t need a “unity” ticket with Romney.
I saw him on Fox and Friends this morning, my impression: nice person, but dull in a white bread and mayonaise way. Let us draft Cheney again and I want to see him flatten the plugs in their debates./Just Asking - seoul62......
It’s OK if he is a weak choice as VP.
The problem it presents is the GOP would likely be locked in to him as McCain’s successor on a future ticket.
I think Pawlenty is no less credible as president than Obama, so I don’t think that is so much of an issue, though a lot of people have it in the back of their minds that the standard for McCain’s VP needs to be higher because he has a higher likelihood of having to step in.
I don’t think charges of Cheney running the show behind from behind the curtain as a “soft dictator” for life would be a good idea.
McCain/Pawlenty = Dole/Kemp
I think Dole/Kemp was better. And I shook Bob Dole’s, Bob Dole’s hand. :-)
That’s OK, because Obama/Biden = Stevenson/Sparkman
Dole was better and is/was a loyal Republican. I was thinking more of Jack Kemp’s dreadful debate performance.
What is political suicide?
Actually, I take that back.
Obama/Biden is McGovern/Eagleton.
As it turned out, Eagleton was the person behind the quote that McGovern was for “Amnesty, Abortion, and Acid.” Just as it was Joe Biden who said Obama was not ready to be president.
Just imagine having to watch Biden win a debate. Ohhhhhhhh. I tell ya that will make me really detest McCain. It’s going to be a long campaign now.
BTTT!
DJ, Pawlenty may not be a perfect VP for McCain, but I think he’s very good, and you must admit that he’s a far, far better choice than Romney, Ridge, Lieberman or Hutchison.
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