The top three are fine with me. I can support Pawlenty, Palin, or Romney, but think one or the other of the "P"s would be better.
Posted on 08/28/2008 5:22:12 PM PDT by 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.
Do you want a VP or a MILF?
His approval rating the other day was over 50%. For this state, and he being a Republican, that is pretty good.
If it is Pawlenty, I can live with that. He is my governor, and I think he can hold his own in a debate. He is very, very smart.
She’s fine, but she hasn’t been the Governor all that long, and what good does she do for McCain in the battleground states?
She’s fine, but she hasn’t been the Governor all that long, and what good does she do for McCain in the battleground states?
I don’t see Cantor on the list of speakers at the convention yet I do see Pawlenty, Palen and Romney as a scheduled speakers.
“What about Mitt!!???”
If it’s between Romney and Pawlenty, I’d rather have Pawlenty. Romney’s universal healthcare in MA scares me, and Romney wants a partnership with Red China.
Of course, my favorite would be Duncan Hunter, but Senator McCain would never pick anyone that conservative.
I do not think those are incompatible...
Well reasoned post. While I often overlook Hunter, I am looking for a conservative. Mitt Romney is about as much a conservative as Joe Lieberman.
Once this is behind us though, we have a serious battle ahead of us. nObama MUST be defeated. I do believe that our nation’s very survival is at stake.
“Wonder Bread” is putting it kindly. How about “crashing bore?” “Babyfaced nobody?” “Bush league obscurity?” “Wholly inadequate lightweight?” This guy could face down the Russians or the Iranians if McCain were incapacitated while in office? This guy has the gravitas to replace McCain? If he’s the selection, it’s because McCain has such an ego, he can’t risk the possibility of selecting someone who could potentially overshadow him such as Mitt Romney. This represents a monumental lack of judgment on McCain’s part. Another in a long line of foul ups that have characterized his political career. I won’t vote for him.
I’m so getting tired of this. IT WILL NOT BE A HARDCORE CONSERVATIVE. It can’t. Period. He wants to win and in order to win he needs Hillary Dems. What part of that don’t you understand. HE HAS TO WIN... HE HAS TO WIN...
Exactly!
I think it’s Pawlenty. Too bad the Romney fellators are already trashing the guy.
I will vote for this ticket. I just hope that Pawlenty isn’t as boring as some say.
Sounds like a northern version of Huckabee
I still think it’s going to be Mitt. I’ll believe that until I hear McCain say otherwise.
‘
I didn’t know anything about him. Here’s a website.
http://www.governor.state.mn.us/welcome/aboutgovernorpawlenty/index.htm
He definitely is qualified.
YoughZaaa!
Putting Palin on the ticket and being the first woman VP in history would breakthrough those 18000 cracks in the glass ceiling....Palin for President in 2012.
You have a stronger stomach than I.
Both.
Since the other thread is locked - I’d go for Sarah Palin.
Pawlenty isn’t credible.
Fabulous — another big government republican.
If you don’t mind a smoke nazi, Algorian VP with no military experience, I guess he’s qualified
Since the other thread is locked...
Don’t be an azzz. Hussein? You gotta be kiddin’
Pawlenty brings nothing to the ticket. A subpar squish who presided over a total wipeout of the MN GOP on his watch (ALL separately elected statewide GOP incumbents, a Congressmember, blowing the U.S. Senate race, loss of the MN House majority (from over 60% down to 36%) and losing 1/3rd of the State Senators). A disaster.
There’s no evidence he’ll put MN in the GOP column since he has NEVER won a majority of the vote in his runs for Governor. BAD choice (not as bad as Slick Willard, but still unacceptable).
No fecal matter, Holmes. Pity that more can't see that here.
Baffled in Texas.
So basically another RINO? Sheesh.
I've said this all along too, a woman would have sealed it for McCain. I do think Obama will have a great chance of defeating McCain in Nov. if this is his pick!
Yes. I don't believe he really wants the job. He just wanted the nomination to feed his monstrous ego and assuage his sense of hurt from 2000.
Red State pulled this out of their a$$.
This whole thing has been too well orchestrated to end with Pawlenty.
McCain does not want the name leaked tonight and I don’t think it’s gonna be. From what I’m reading around all the blogs, it sounds like he’s picked someone that isn’t even on the radar, meaning Not the following:
NOT Pawlenty
Not Romney
Not Lieberman
Not Ridge
Sorry pissant, but I don’t know anything about him other than what I’ve read on that website. I just heard the guys name several days ago.
Agreed though that it is a bad choice. However, if it’s true, the silver lining is that he didn’t pick Slick Willard.
Speaking as a Minnesotan, he won’t deliver Minnesota; in two elections, never got more than a 46.7% plurality. Wouldn’t have won either one without a third party splitting the lib vote. He’s only a year older than Obama, too; doesn’t add much gravitas. He will look like Quayle in the debate.
Sounds good...now, how would he hold up in a debate against the verbosity of that Nimrod Biden?
“I do believe that our nation’s very survival is at stake.”
I believe the same. It’s frightening that so many people even voted for Obama in the primaries. But then, I think it’s frightening that so many people are registered Dems PERIOD.
Yeah, all these self-appointed gurus had Ruby Julie-Annie elected before the primary in 42 states...
Illegal aliens???
He's not going to get the Hillary Dems. I was checking out the PUMA site earlier & they have a new saying "Nothing at the top" in other words, do not punch anything on the ballot for President.
I also read some of their posts, many are saying they cannot vote for McCain, so they won't vote at all for the Presidential slot, only for Dem. senators!
Lovely Michelle Steele is on FoxNews.com
MS says Pawenty is a good choice and can take Biden
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
My work is done here...
Add Not Ridge, Not Palin to that. palin has a future to be sure, but if he is gonna take a chance on youth, Jindal was the one.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
MICHAEL Steele
Well, he wasn’t my first choice but I have to say, reading the above on him makes me feel a lot better. He appears to be a straight-line conservative, favors low taxes, strong on law-and-order, against homo marriage.
Again, not my first choice, but he’s a heck of a sight better than Lieberman, Ridge or Hutchison.
I guess this will offset the minority that will cut off their nose to spite their face from the GOP and not vote for McCain, we’ll see.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.