McCain's Vice President: Tim Pawlenty (redstate calling it for Pawlenty)

RedState ^ | Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 06:34PM | Erick Erickson

[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.

[flaglady47]

“From what I can tell about Sean Hannity, he prefers to wrap his mouth around a nice rare Mormon sausage.”

You know, I can come up with no legitimate reason why you haven’t been banned for your gross vulgarities on Freeper threads. You have such a low class mentality that you inflict on others. That was a disgusting thing to say about both Sean Hannity and Mitt Romney. Filth, that’s what you seem to thrive on. Come on moderator, nip this in the bud before he multiplies his postings.

[Fresh Wind]

He’s OK; but I think he would be smart to put a woman on the ticket.

The Rats would just accuse McCain of pandering (something THEY never do).

[gidget7]

Sun, I am shocked, stunned, and pleased with this VP pick! Soooooooo much better than any of the people on the short list! Who would have thought McCain would do this?

[fieldmarshaldj]

Methinks the loonie doth protest too much. I know you're just in a hissy because McCain didn't drink the Kool-Aid and choose that Socialist con-man fraud of yours for an important position of trust. So I only have one thing to add...

[Non-Sequitur]

OK you're batting zero for predictions on vice president for both parties, not to mention JoCo DA. Whaddya think of the choice?

And let me hasten to add I wasn't any more accurate on my veep predictions than you were.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I only made a prediction on the Dem side for VP, but it wasn’t a definitive one (that being the KS Governor). The choice of Biden was astonishingly stupid. Had he picked Gilligan-Sebelius, it would’ve taken the luster off McCain’s pick (and made McCain look desperate — indeed, KGS might’ve even curtailed Palin being picked). For the GOP side, I was hoping McCain would go for one of our top three most experienced Governors, but he chose Palin, one of our up-and-comers, instead, and fortunately for McCain, not a divisive choice.

McCain, of course, should be able to win now, but the race isn’t over, yet, and he still has a habit of making lots of gaffes. I’d put Palin out front and center more than himself. She combines looks, a pleasant personality AND an air of authority, too. If McCain wins, she may well find herself as President in less than 4 years, which I give better than 50% odds on.

[Clemenza]

I predicted Sebelius and Romney, and was wrong on both counts.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Fortunately you were wrong about the latter and that McCain was smart enough to have not chosen Slick Willard, but unfortunately for Obama, he was wrong not to have picked the former.