BREAKING NEWS: IT’S NEARLY OFFICIAL: PAWLENTY FOR VEEP
August 28th, 2008 at 05:55pm Leo Pusateri
I just got off the phone with Andy Barnett, who informs me that he just recently spoke with Pawlenty Press Secretary, Alex Carey. While Mr. Carey did not actually state that Pawlenty was the choice, there was excitement in his voice, and he did state that Governor Pawlenty “cleared his schedule” for the weekend.
Meanwhile, according to Barnett, a source very close to the Romney campaign stated that Governor Romney had not heard anything with regard to VP plans within this past hour.
…developing
Entry Filed under: Announcements, Campaign 2008
35 Comments
1. coulterfan | August 28th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
“T-Paw” really undermines the argument that Obama is not experienced enough to be President!
What kind of foreign policy experience does Pawlenty have? How many times has he been to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia? Since he’d be only a heartbeat away from the Presidency, how can McSame insist that “Obama” is not ready to lead and then choose Pawlenty?
The VP debates will be FUN to watch between lightweight “I-35 bridge collaspe” Pawlenty and Biden!
Does McSame honestly think this puts my state of MN in play? Pawlenty got 51% of the vote in 2006 and his approval ratings have fallen disastrously since the bridge collapse and the fact that he’s done NOTHING to address our crumbling infrastructure. And when is the last time MN went GOP in the GE? We voted for Carter, Dukakis, Mondale. . . I don’t think we’ve EVER gone Republican!
This is GREAT news! Congratulations Pawlenty and McSame!
2. Jonathan | August 28th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
If this is true, MN more-than-likely will be in play come Nov.
Downside is that McCain just pissed off his conservative base, again - this time by adding a pro-choice governor to his ticket, if the rumors are indeed true.
Can’t wait to read Matt and Mark’s backpedaling on this one!
3. coulterfan | August 28th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Truth be told, I was hoping for Multiple Choice Romney:
http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/the_beat/?p=161
But Pawlenty was my second choice!
(I think the smartest choice would be Ridge, but the Wingnuts won’t let THAT happen since Ridge is a “baby-killer”! Funny that all the “Babykillers” get primetime at the GOP conventions -Guiliani, Pataki, Romney, Schwartzenegger, etc)
4. coulterfan | August 28th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
>>If this is true, MN more-than-likely will be in play come Nov.
Downside is that McCain just pissed off his conservative base, again - this time by adding a pro-choice governor to his ticket, if the rumors are indeed true.<<
Wrong on both counts. MN is safe for Obama and Lightweight T-Paw is Pro-Life.
He will be eaten alive by Biden during the debates. . . A GOP strategist described such a debate as “unthinkable”!
LOL!!
5. SEW | August 28th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
The Blowhard won’t eat anyone alive. Pawlenty simply needs to let Joe go on and on. The best offense and defense against this loudmouth is allow him to destroy himself. And Joe will never back off of talktime.
6. coulterfan | August 28th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
>>Pawlenty simply needs to let Joe go on and on. The best offense and defense against this loudmouth is allow him to destroy himself. And Joe will never back off of talktime.<<
We’ll see! I look forward to hearing about all of Pawlenty’s national security and foreign relations experience!
7. Jonathan | August 28th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
coulterfan,
More Pawlenty Gems:
Pawlenty was also a supporter of Bush’s many failed polices, including No Child Left Behind.
Bush’s all talk, no action plan left over 6 million children behind. That’ll play well with educators and parents.
And you’re right - Pawlenty going up against Joe Biden in a VP debate??? That’ll be comedy at it’s finest.
8. Rich | August 28th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Coulterfan- Riddle me this. You think that Biden is so spectacular on foreign policy correct? So what was Biden’s vote on the Iraq war? Hmmm? I though the Iraq war issue was the biggest foreign policy decision we have ever faced?
9. neocon | August 28th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Better yet, what was Bidens vote on Gulf 1?
10. neocon | August 28th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Incidentally, I hope your wrong Leo. Of course after the Biden pick, we really have nothing to worry about.
11. chuckyj360 | August 28th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
If true Pawlenty could have cost McCain dearly… Why not at least Romney? If not Hutchinson…
But, I do admit I am not really up on Pawlenty and may be a fine pick, but as of right now until I research him… I hope it is someone else.
12. chuckyj360 | August 28th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I personally wanted a Darkhorse Candidate of JC WATTS, but I know for fact that unfourtanately will not happen.
13. Dennis | August 28th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Pawlenty, looking after the safety of his constituents in the wake of disaster…
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/26007474.html?location_refer=Editorials:highlightModules:3
July 28, 2008 - While a soaring new Interstate 35W bridge nears completion in Minneapolis, Saturday’s near-tragedy on its sister road, Interstate 35E, was a sobering, eerily timed reminder that we cannot let down our collective guard when it comes to the safety of the state’s and nation’s bridges.
Late Saturday afternoon in St. Paul, 1,200-pounds of concrete chunks fell from 35E’s Maryland Avenue overpass. The incident came less than a week before the one-year anniversary of the 35W collapse. Amazingly, no one was hurt, even though a concrete chunk hit a vehicle…
14. FmrMarine | August 28th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
WHO CARES?
we have a chicago affirmative action, loser running for the rats,
McCain will get my vote no matter who runs with him.
Im NOT voting for mccain, I am voting against the WORST candidate EVER i mean - EVER to be nominated.
He if elected will be LESS effective as jimmah cartah, and as crooked as marian berry.
15. FmrMarine | August 28th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
dennisdingdong;
So when ole oBOMBa was community organising in da chicago hood there was no crime? no problems?
when he was a state legislator there were no infrastructure problems?
Now when a bridge under construction is weakened, and overloaded by the contractor working on it it is the Governor’s fault?
Oh yeah kinda like ole katrina……rat gov, rat counclemen, rat mayor, all inept, all failed to act but it was the Presidents fault……..GOT it!
you rats are way to funny!
cheese anyone?
16. Magnum Serpentine | August 28th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Who is Pawlenty? another Cigar smoking big wig oil governor???
I think I will run for President. is there still time to sign up?
17. Dennis | August 28th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Fmrdingdong - Obama wasn’t the governor of the housing projects, or of Illinois. Pawlenty is the governor of Minnesota.
Once a catastrophic bridge collapse occurs the first thing that springs to mind is a thorough inspection of all other bridges, which would probably find crumbling concrete before it collapses onto cars with people in them.
18. MattM | August 28th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
DA HA HA HA!
McCain’s campaign suddenly metaphors very nicely with that Minnesota bridge.
19. yekepyt | August 28th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I think that folks like FmrMarine — who can’t even spell Marion Barry’s name correctly and yet feel free to spew rubbish about Obama being the beneficiary of affirmative action (he wasn’t) — are jealous of Obama.
Face it: Obama graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University. He lifted himself out of an impovished upbringing and now it’s looking like he’s going to be President of the United States.
Folks like FmrMarine, spouting off in their incoherent ways, just sound like they’re jealous of people who are smarter than they are, work harder than they do, and achieve more than they do.
20. chuckyj360 | August 28th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Well… 2 options may have just happened with his VP selection.
1) McCain sent them down there to try them out and see who was better. Romney or Pawlenty. McCain could have made up his mind with Romney and called off Pawlentys attack, because he already decided to go with Romney. May have wanted to save pawlentys attacks for Romney to use at the Ohio Rally.
or
2) After, seeing Romney in action something swayed him to go with Pawlenty. Then McCain decided to cancel his attacks and save them for the rally in Ohio.
I don’t really see the point of sending them both down to see how they handle themselves as attack machines then not allowing them to both attack.
2 things have happened today that could give the nod to either of the men. Pawlenty mysteriously cancels all speaches, but says he attends to visit Minn. State fair tomorrow or something like that.
And earlier in the day the Drudgereport was reporting that Romneys family was receiving security sweeps. And Romney was leaving Cali. where he was meeting with donors. This story disappered from the drudgereport mysteriously.
So who is it? I am one for hoping that it is Romney. I don’t think Pawlenty is known enough to push the ticket to a victory.
21. SEW | August 28th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
“Once a catastrophic bridge collapse occurs the first thing that springs to mind is a thorough inspection of all other bridges, which would probably find crumbling concrete before it collapses onto cars with people in them.”
dennis
That’s been done clown. And you blamed the Governor of Louisiana for the levies, correct?
22. yekepyt | August 28th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I think that there’s too much damning video of Romney either putting McCain down or just making a general fool of himself (”Who let the dogs out”, “the House that Clinton Hillary built”, etc.)
Pawlenty is the safer bet, but Biden will mop the floor with him. McCain is in a bind.
23. Rich | August 28th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
“Obama wasn’t the governor of the housing projects, or of Illinois”
That is correct. he was a failed community organizer and chairman for the Annenburg program. How did the Annenburg program work out Dennis? Millions spent and what was the outcome? Everything I have read shows it was a complete failure. So by your measure, Obama is a failure. P.S. Ayers served on that board with Obama.
24. gotbrains? | August 28th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Pawlenty - so much for “experience”.
25. Dennis | August 28th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Rich, all I know about the Annenberg project is that there was a competing program being pushed through the state legislature that caused the program ultimately to be ineffective, and Obama resigned from it in 1999. Not every project works and there is no better teacher than failure. It is what hones and refines your effort on subsequent projects.
Obama’s service for others has been a subtext of his entire adult life, from the Altgeld Gardens public housing project to his campaign fro the presidency of the United States. In all this he has not worked for his own enrichment but the enrichment of others.
I addressed the Ayers issue in post 29 on the “Remote” thread. Be glad nobody so far is looking into why the North Vietnamese nicknamed their special prisoner John McCain “the songbird.” Have you ever googled “mccain songbird”?
26. Rich | August 28th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Dennis- I have worked in the Chicago Public schools when I could have made more money elsewhere. I thought I was going to do good. It was the dumbest thing I have ever done. The CPS and Chicago institutions themseleves are the blackest hole of garbage and bullcrap you can find in the country. Believe me, I gained no insight or experience that would help me become CIC, and I don’t see what type of relevant experience Obama got handing out money on the southside. I also see you have stated the Annenburg project was a failure. Can you point out something concrete that Obama achieved in his activism?
27. Rich | August 28th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Gotbrains- So you agree that experience is important?
28. Retired Spook | August 28th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Dennis,
Out of the mouths of babes! What a great idea for a bumper sticker:
VOTE DEMOCRAT. THERE’S NO
BETTER TEACHER THAN FAILURE.
29. Dennis | August 28th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Spook, I couldn’t agree more. After eight years of Republican failure there could be no better reason to vote Democratic. Nice to see you coming to your senses.
30. Casper | August 28th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I think Pawlenty is a good choice. He will ad some balance to the ticket and he might even bring MN into play. I don’t know a lot about him yet, but I’m sure that will change over the next few weeks.
31. gotbrains? | August 28th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Old/Boring ‘08
Well, it’s already been “McCain - Puhlenty ‘08″ - but soon it will be “McCain - Enough Already ‘08″.
32. gotbrains? | August 28th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Rich -
“Gotbrains- So you agree that experience is important?”
I agree that Obama’s vast knowledge of foreign affairs and national security put old man McCain to shame.
I also agree that McCain, if elected, would likely die in office considering his advanced age and medical condition, leaving this nation in the hands of a dopey governor with absolutely no knowledge of foreign policy.
I agree that Joe Biden will make Pawlenty look like a fool.
Sleep well, “my friends” ;)
33. Timothy Horrigan | August 28th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Oops! Now the word is that it will be George Voinovich, Senator from Ohio. This is one reason why McCain is making his VP announcement in Ohio… the other reasonb being that Ohio is famous as the state which expemplifies the American tradition of fair, honest electoral Democracy.
This fiery midland populist undermines Obama’s key argument against McCain, the age issue…. Voinovich will make McCain seem youthful. But “the Big V” also undermines Obama’s status as the electoral juggernaut who knocked off the seemingly invincible Kucinich machine. Voinovich beat not one but TWO Kucinichs while running for Mayor of Cleveland: he def eated both Dennis AND Gary Kucinich.
34. Kurt | August 29th, 2008 at 3:16 am
Pawlenty will make a good candidate if it is indeed him. The Dems are underestimating him and overestimating Biden. Biden has run for President twice and flopped badly.
Pawlenty has twice run in a pretty liberal state and has won. For all those who think Biden would take Pawlenty in a debate, you need to look at his past debates and judge for yourself. I think he would do just fine. I also like Pawlenty’s proven ability to connect with working class voters.
35. Rich | August 29th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Palin? Please. Game, set. match.