PawletyUnlugged

Facts about Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty

Pawlenty Receives Award

Pawlenty O' Looniness

Perhaps tired of his polite, well-spoken, Opie Taylor persona, Governor Tim Pawlenty really took the muzzle off this year, even going so far as to drop an effenheimer over the P.A. system at the Minnesota Wild game.  But before that, he’d already treated Minnesotans’ ears and sensibilities to some decidedly un-politic zingers (when he wasn’t having nasty notes hand-delivered to Mike Hatch).  A summary:

• Calling the DFL’s tax proposal “profoundly stupid.”   Um, if it was that stupid, would it have needed pointing out?

• Suggesting, in a conversation about a new Twins stadium deal, that the state’s case for attracting the best and brightest can’t be “We’re going to tax the snot out of you, it’s cold and dark six months out of the year, and there’s nothing to do.”  We can see the new slogan now:  “Minnesota:  Potentially Mucus-Free!”


• Having rejected a request from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) that he prohibit the fishing of walleye, Pawlenty chestpoundingly declared, “Because of their letter, I’m going out for a walleye dinner tonight.”  The record did not show whether he added, “Na-na-na-na-boo-boo.”

• While photooppishly tooling around during the Minnesota ATV Association Convention, the guv’s ride ricocheted off a stump, shutting him down like a deadlocked government and giving new meaning to the term “out stumping.”  A DNR official said Pawlenty was probably going too fast for the rough terrain, but no citation was issued.

      

       Congratulations to the Governor on his 2005 Uncommon Loon Award.  Minnesota Monthly magazine, in its most recent issue, granted this honor to Pawlenty for his performance over the last year.  Here is Minnesota Monthly's take on the governor's performance.

3rd Annual Uncommon Loon Awards
by Tim Gihring, Minnesota Monthly, 12/2005