Kingmaker’s Club Republicans

Governor Pawlenty loves to lecture Repbulicans that they mustn’t only be Country Club Republicans, but must also strive to be Sam’s Club Republicans. It’s a savvy attempt to win the votes of the all-important Buys Charmin By the Cubic Yard Moms.
Well recently Minnesota’s Governor in absentia has also been acting like a Kingmakers Club [...]

‘Freedom’ is just another word for nothing else to choose

Gov. Pawlenty has officially filed the paperwork to form his political action committee, and some folks, apparently entirely unsurprised by the presidential aspirations this indicates, are busy chattering about the name.
Freedom First PAC.
Really? It’s cliche. Lifeless. Uninspiring. Predictable. Why not just name it Eagles and Flags and Supporting the Troops and the Bible PAC? You [...]

Dr. Spin

Just because you have the opportunity to get lots of media attention doesn’t always mean it’s a good idea to get lots of media attention.
Case in point: With the President coming to Minnesota tomorrow, Governor Pawlenty could lay low for one day, but that would leave him out of the limelight. Or [...]

One Brief Shining Moment

“Don’t let it be forgot
That once there was a spot,
For one brief, shining moment
That was known as Unallot.”
Governor Pawlenty claims that he has the power to unallot billions of public dollars absent an unexpected emergency.  If that is true, Minnesota effectively has a democratic monarchy. That is, we have an elected [...]

Pawlenty Courts Lite Beer and Fat-Free Pizza Vote

Tim Pawlenty was burnishing his national reputation for folksiness on Sean Hannity’s Fox show yesterday. Yeah, he said the same stuff about not knowing if he’ll run for president, but then he ran. About not trying for a third term as governor, Hannity quoted him saying it’s better to leave a little too early than [...]

Pawlenty’s Fiscal Mullet

Is it possible for Governor Pawlenty to raise “fees” by about 21% while continuing to brag about keeping a no new “taxes” pledge?
As Minnesota 2020 notes: “While some fee increases may be necessary to pay for increased costs, it is clear that fee increases are also being used to back fill a hole [...]

A Mirror in the Crowd

About six months ago I posted a reflection on who was coming to the Crowd and what they were looking for (porn as it turns out).  With the election behind us and year-end being a time for looking back and summing up, I thought I’d take another look at our traffic patterns and the search [...]

Helmet Hair Homecoming?

With it, he was a popular Governor.
Without it, he was passed over in order to select the worst vice presidential candidate in memory.
Could the good luck Mississippi mudflap be coming back?
- Loveland

Mullet-Americans Rally Around Pawlenty

Mullet-Americans are “cautiously optimistic” about rumors that mulleted Minnesotan Tim Pawlenty may soon be named Senator John McCain’s vice presidential running mate.
“It would obviously be historic, and it could really balance the ticket, what with McCain’s embarassing lack of hair below the cervical vertebrae,” said mullet-American activist Billy Rae Cyrus.
Still reeling from the [...]

Another Data Point…Or Four

Quinnipiac, along with the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, has today released head-to-head survey results from four battleground states:

COLORADO: Obama 49 – McCain 44
MICHIGAN: Obama 48 – McCain 42
MINNESOTA: Obama 54 – McCain 37
WISCONSIN: Obama 52 – McCain 39

Interestingly, but not surprisingly, President Bush’s approve/disapprove ratings in those states are abysmal:

31 [...]