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PawletyUnlugged |
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Facts about Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty |
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1“Scramble Unfolds In Race For Governor,” Star Tribune, October 20, 2005. 2“Pawlenty Says He Won’t Run For Senate,” Associated Press, April 18, 2001. 3“Cheney Advises Pawlenty Not To Run For Senate,” Star Tribune, 1A, April 19, 2001. 4“Cheney: ‘Only Path To Safety Is A Path of Action,’” Associated Press, August 12, 2002. 5“Pawlenty To Get A Boost From Bush Aide Rove,” Star Tribune, Mach 31, 2005. 6“’Purple’ Minnesota In National Spotlight,” Star Tribune, April 8, 2005. 7“To the Governor: A Scolding Sequel,” Star Tribune, B2, March 2, 2005. 8“Pawlenty To Get A Boost From Bush Aide Rove,” Star Tribune, Mach 31, 2005. 9“There He Goes Again,” Star Tribune, May 1, 2005; “Presidential Buzz, Bumps At Home,” Star Tribune, March 13, 2005; “National Spotlight Finds Pawlenty,” Star Tribune, September 2, 2004. 10“’Nonpartisan’ Event Inspires Big Partisan Dreams,” Star Tribune, May 25, 2005. 11“Governor’s Web Site Links Questioned,” St. Paul Pioneer Press, March 16, 2005; “Cute Kid, But Does He Belong On Web?,” Star Tribune, March 16, 2005. |
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“MY FUTURE’S SO BRIGHT, I GOTTA WEAR SHADES” - Tim Pawlenty, or the band TimBuck3? |
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Pawlenty bows out of US Senate race on Cheney's demand to clear path for Norm Coleman |
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Governor Pawlenty says he would support President Bush even if his approval rating falls to two percent.1 The Governor realizes that Bush, Cheney, Rove & Company can do much to advance Pawlenty’s presidential ambitions with the neo-cons.
In 2002 Governor Pawlenty was planning to run for the Senate--until he got calls from Karl Rove and Dick Cheney. Just 90 minutes before Pawlenty was to announce his Senate candidacy, Cheney called and asked him not to run so that Norm Coleman could have an open shot in the primary. Pawlenty dutifully bowed out.2 (Paul Wellstone, who Pawlenty called “out of touch, ineffective, a voice of protest and of photo opportunities,” noted at the time: “The president and Dick Cheney may get to choose for the Republican Party who the nominee will be, but they don’t get to choose for Minnesota who their senator’s going to be.”)3
Cheney reciprocated the next year, throwing a fundraiser for Pawlenty’s campaign for governor in which the vice president bagged Pawlenty over $250,000.4 Last March, Rove too repaid the debt, throwing a big-buck fundraiser just for Pawlenty.5 Experts have suggested that Rove is shopping for another governor to add to his kennel.6
The Governor’s associates have reportedly let it be known that Pawlenty wants to be included on the short list of future presidential and vice presidential candidates.7 The Governor himself will not rule out his interest.8 It was reported last spring that the Governor was traveling to Washington DC at least once a month, and he has regularly been meeting with right-wing political powers on the East Coast.9 The Governor even had 35 right-wing “bloggers” over for drinks at the Governor’s mansion, where they gushed about having “access to the White House and the corridors of power” should Pawlenty become president in 2008.10
The volunteer who reserved the websites for Pawlenty’s gubernatorial campaign has already reserved a website for Pawlenty’s future presidential campaign, should it be needed: www.pawlentyforpresident.net. And Pawlenty has actively used his official government website for self-promotion, going so far as to post his baby pictures and route political webites to the state-financed web page.11
Our timid media need to press Pawlenty for a commitment that he would serve a full term if reelected in 2006, and not succumb to a case of Potomac Fever. Given the Governor’s proclivity for pledges, it will speak volumes if he refuses to commit to serve a full term if reelected. |
