E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSSOUTH ST. PAUL, MN -- Steve Sviggum remembers well the day in 2001 when Tim Pawlenty publicly embarrassed him.
Sviggum, then speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, was up to bat in a legislative softball game, and Pawlenty -- House majority leader at the time -- crept up behind him and yanked his pants down.
Two years later, a headline in the Minneapolis Star Tribune read, “Gov. Tim Pawlenty's brand of humor sets him apart as he treads the fine line between jest and jeer.”
“Tim Pawlenty is very much a prankster, a jokester,” Sviggum said.
He -- like many of the former governor’s colleagues and friends -- remembers Pawlenty as the funny and charismatic leader of Minnesota.
And, along with being entertaining, they remember him as the political figure who dominated this state’s politics for the past decade. He’s the Republican who won the governor’s mansion twice; he didn't raise taxes; and, in 2008, he set a state record for most vetoes in a year.
But eight days before his near make-or-break Ames Straw Poll contest, even Pawlenty’s biggest champions cannot put a finger on why the presidential candidate is seen as so unexciting. Or why the former governor’s conservative record is not gaining more traction with voters.
“In my cynical times, I would say there was a press person who didn’t like him and once labeled him bland, and everyone else just followed along,” Sviggum said.
Pawlenty is not running for “entertainer and chief,” as he said on “Meet The Press” last month. And his campaign slogan has been “Results, Not Rhetoric,” a seeming nod to voters to look at his record in Minnesota, not how he delivers his message. In a new mailer being sent to Iowa voters, his wife Mar, said her husband should appeal to voters “looking for someone who can do more than make soaring promises or give fiery speeches about what they hope they might do.”
But in the lead up to the Ames straw poll on Aug. 13, polls suggest Pawlenty’s take-me as-I-am strategy is not yet resonating with voters. The latest Gallup poll shows him garnering just 2% support nationally from Republicans.
Questions about Pawlenty’s attitude and demeanor are common during campaign stops throughout the Hawkeye State. Specifically, voters want to know why he did not go take the opportunity to go after Mitt Romney for the health-care legislation he signed into law as governor of Massachusetts.
“Tim would normally be very aggressive in a situation like that,” Sviggum said. But, he adds, Pawlenty had always been a “team player” -- which may have been the reason why he shied away from directly attacking a fellow Republican.
“This guy has serious talent,” said Larry Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota. It is the rise of what Jacobs calls “the politics of tweeting” -- the allure of short sound bites and quick criticisms -- that has put Pawlenty at a disadvantage.
“Part of it, frankly, is that thoughtful conservatism ... has lost its appeal,” Jacobs said.
As an outside observer, Daniel Wolter -- who worked as a speech writer for then-Gov. Pawlenty -- sees the disconnect between the politician he knew as governor and the one now running for president. “There’s a charisma factor that hasn’t broken through yet,” he said.
At the Crocian Hall in South St. Paul, where Pawlenty first announced he would run for governor in 2001, there is a common feeling -- he’s a nice guy, but not presidential timber.
“He’s just not politician enough,” said Striuder Goff, a Republican who knew Pawlenty's older brother growing up. “It’s too bad. I’d probably vote for him.”
*** CORRECTION *** Wolter, quoted above, worked for Pawlenty as a communications director, not speechwriter.
Leave a Comment:
Let's face it, he is the Al Gore of the republican party - stiff with little imagination. "Thoughtful conservatism" now that's an oxymoron if I ever heard one. He left his state on such fine financial footing, why shouldn't we all be enamored by Mr. Pawlenty?
Actually what's happening is... it's way too early. We already know that Obama has the democrat spotlight and we know what he's all about. For the opposition to Obama... the republicans are skeptical. They remember well what happened in the 08 election and their losing choice of McCain. Back then, it was a general consensus that Obama was unbeatable... but not anymore. Obama's personal brand of "destroy America" is shining brightly. Now the republicans want to make sure that there are no slip-ups this time... or at least we can hope so...
But of course this is all my opinion... I claim no links, nor any references. I just felt like adding my... what was it called earlier... rant? Happy now Americans First?
Don't blame me for your lecture.
While you are so worried that President Obama is going to destroy American.
Your rich friends are trying to slip out the back door with American under their arm. Ended that problem, no American left to destroy.
Oh, this is fun, what can we blame shift to Obama next?
How proud he must be of his veto record! The last thing this country needs is another power hungry politician telling us "his way or the highway". Frankly, I am so disgusted by the republican party that I wish they would all just go away.
I'd rather vote for a guy who is willing to keep trying different ways to compromise than one who has nothing but negative comments to make about everything.
It would be well to remember that as disastrous as GWBush's first term was he was reelected because John Kerry failed to offer an alternative sufficiently attractive to enough voters..
Brianb,
[Obama's personal brand of "destroy America" is shining brightly.]
C'mon man...you don't really believe that quote, do you? Honestly? I mean, really...think about it...what would he have to gain? Do you believe he is part of some "grand conspiracy"?
Really...no trick question here...civil debate...i'm truly interested in WHY you believe that quote.
Bush had a lot more going at the time. The economy was good, unemployment was running around 4.8%, people were more content with the economic conditions... The housing bubble was still 2-3 years away from happening. No matter how you view it, it was and always will be, the economy.
Presidents do not get re-elected when during their term unemployment goes from 7.2% to almost 10%. When 10% of the population is seeking work and can't find it... they blame the president. Even the staunchest of liberals will turn on a democrat president if they can't find work.
There hasn't been a modern president re-elected with an unemployment rate above 7.6%. Seems as though Obama has a lot of work to do between now and next November. I guess the "yes we can" chant needs to come more in focus for him. Just don't listen to it backwards. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqALdkTArqs
Bush had a lot more going. Yep he was busy digging our ecomony into a hole with unfunded tax cuts and then started two wars unfunded.
During the entire Obama presidency, our country has been saddled with the two worst decisions of the bush years with unfunded tax cuts and unfunded wars.
Then you pretend the republicans have done more than obstruct, that is except when they are manufacturing crisis threatening to destroy America to have their way.
I have yet to see an Obama presidency.
Obama 2012 Blue from sea to shining sea
Almost forgot, bush was also busy robbing the social security money and leaving I.O.U.'s. all the while leaving his little war off the books and the debt.
Such a busy guy.
HE NEEDS BETTER MARKETING AND SOME ENERGY DRINKS! His "take me as I am " needs to change to " I AM WHAT YOU NEED!!!" Because, he IS what is needed.
"There hasn't been a modern president re-elected with an unemployment rate above 7.6%."
False. When Reagan was reelected, the unemployment rate was approximately 8.5% and it was 8% even after he took office. See here: http://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet
Face it. He is just not guano crazy enough to be nominated. The Pubs/TBs are in a contest to see who is the furthest right, and religiously extreme.
Sharon Angle or Christine O'Donnell would stand a better chance. Now there is guano crazy.
Pawlenty & Bat-lady! do I need to say more!
Based on the first few sentences of the article, his lack of popularity might just come down to the fact that he's not a jokester, but a bit of a douche bag. On the other hand, he's not the first Republican that enjoys seeing men with their pants down.
@ KSABC123
Excellent.
Off-topic, sorry, but this was in another story about the jobless numbers:
"That offset the continuing shrinkage of federal, state and local government payrolls, which cut 37,000 positions in July, a ninth straight month of government job losses."
This must drive the teapublicans nuts. Government is losing employees, yet that helps the unemployment number stay higher. So, JAS1 and others- which is the sunny side of the street on this one?
Unemployment costs me less than their salary did. :)
Good news, the more government shrinks the better off the country is. Just need to get all that regulation passed over the past two years out of the way and let the private sector get back to business. Hopefully HCR and the financial reform bill can get repealed after the 2012 election so the economy can get back on track.
The financial reform bill has not even become effective yet, neither has about 90% of the ACA, so Va, Ind., you really don't have a clue.
Well, isn't that special? You and 300 million of the rest of us.
It costs you less, but it costs you less money for which no work at all is performed. Fair trade?
Well, then, just wait till you can't get your business done with the government because there is no one there to do it. And wait till you start wondering why you've lost a lot of your own business because there are no more government workers spending their paychecks at your store or for your services.
It may cost you less, but they'll have a lot less to spend, as well, won't they?
You'll certainly miss them then. And you'll no doubt turn around and blame the President for the decline in your own business caused by shooting yourself in your foot.
D@mn that government for making me so short-sighted and stupid.
Yep, it costs you less. And all of us more.
Anna:
[It costs you less, but it costs you less money for which no work at all is performed.]
I think the thought process is that those that buy into this theory, would indeed like to see hundreds of thousands more unemployed public servants, than to actually PAY them to do their job...
...but, as long as they aren't working, right...? Then they are "deadbeats" on the "gubment dole"...
Anna, Pawlenty loved the veto. He had a DFL Senate for the 8 years. His state cuts produced raises in property taxes on the county level even though houses were losing value each and every year. He gutted state aid to county/ ciities.
He is as exciting as a tuna hotdish!
LoL And only slightly less fishy. ;-)
"There's a charisma factor that hasn't broken through yet," Yep, that and a few other things seem to be dragging him down.....poor Timmy.
Exactly. If Minnesotans don't like Pawlenty, it's not because of his charisma or lack thereof. It's because his mismanagement forced Minnesota into an untenable fiscal situation that others have now had to step up to fix, and which forced a three-week shutdown of Minnesota government, causing an unwelcome and unnecessary layoff for many state workers, and heaven only knows how much damage to the Minnesota tourist industry, just to name one thing.
Robbing federal stimulus money to cover up your mistakes so that you can escape without detection, while you pass the bill back to the federal government and then complain about the size of the bill, isn't exactly what some of us would call charismatic.
It's a great thing DBO.
Governemt at all levels is far too big.
Pain in all sectors for a long time.
Just get used to it.
It's a shame you can't bottle 'charisma' - we could make a fortune!
I mean if Santorum can learn how to 'can' jam and all.... lol
Spanker,
The number of federal government employees is at it's lowest point since Nixon. Under Nixon there were 14.4 government employees per 1000 people. Ford had 13.2,Carter 12.9, Reagan 11.9, Bush 1 12.3, Clinton 11.1, Shrub 9.1 and President Obama comes in at 8.4. Seems he is doing a pretty good job of shrinking government as opposed to the rightwing uncommon wisdom of massive government growth.
Citation?
I couldn't find those exact statistics, but this graph supports the point about a general decline in public employment as a percentage of population through 2007. Since then, you'd have the burden to show that has changed.
http://www.truthfulpolitics.com/http:/truthfulpolitics.com/comments/federal-government-personnel-including-uniformed-military-employment-and-state-and-local-personnel-employment-as-a-percentage-to-the-total-u-s-population/
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, in its report today, specifically spoke of the continuing trend downward in government employment ....
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
As a percentage of the population.
Good one.
Like in the private sector, where the new buzz word is efficiency, it's time to get rid of at least 25% of the gov. workers.
wterry - there are millions more now than Nixon. You are just being silly.
But yes, let's do go with "he's shrinking the government."
Please.
Maybe, but there are also about three times as many people in the country as when Nixon was president.
And your your point?
Just look at the chart and read the BLS report. The trend is very clear, and for not looking at it before popping off, you're the one being silly.
If you don't believe it, come up with your own facts for a change, and with a credible source.
What a laugh THAT is.
Efficiency or productivity? Big difference. One has to do with actual performance, and the other has only to do with profit. YOU mean productivity, which increases as the number of workers shrink.
But I don't think that equates to true efficiency.
Prove it.
Silly? Words hurt AM.
Credible source you say?
Come on AM, surely you are not saying the government and its workers are productive or efficient.
Remember the SEC attys when the market collapsed in 2008? Porn, 8 hours a day, filling up their work computers so had to get additional ones.
Let's face the facts, many many government workers are gone. Just a fact. I know you don't like it, but there is a big price for insolvency.
And just imagine if they ever actually do address the debt, not just cutting new spending.
Schpanky,
[It's a great thing DBO. Governemt at all levels is far too big. Pain in all sectors for a long time. Just get used to it.]
Again, a big WAH!
Don't you have any other thought process other than an emotional, ideological response to something you have no control over?
Before you answer, remember my quote about "opinions" and "@!$%#s"...
You ARE going to finally answer, right Schpanky?
[I mean if Santorum can learn how to 'can' jam and all.... lol]
Ewww...or he could just have another photo op with his family and his dead baby...
Right Schpanky?
You like you some Santorum, don't you...
[Right Schpanky?
You like you some Santorum, don't you...]
OMG....ROTFLMFAO...I just realized what I wrote...sorry Schpanky...
Oh, by the way...I added you as a friend...you cool wit dat, right Homey?
You mean, like you hurt vwterry when you called him/her silly?
Yeah, words hurt. I wonder where I learned that.
[Yeah, words hurt.]
Anna, do you think I may have hurt Schpanky's feelings? He hasn't responded to any of my posts in quite a while...
*snif*
Don't worry Anna Molly, I didn't feel a thing, but thanks
Wasn't "Results, not rhetoric." Hillary's slogan in '08?
I expected to like Pawlenty, or at least not hate him because I heard he was a moderate and we all know Minnesotians are NICE, but the few times I've seen him on Meet The Press he yanked my chain like nobody's business. I think there is an undercurrent of nastiness underneath his prissy demeanor. What is it about these holy-than-thou types that makes Christians like me call themselves Buddhists?
Kind of makes you wonder, where did Christ spend a good 16 years of his life from age 12-28 ? Notice any parallels in his teachings and those of Buddhists ?
Amy--I have often felt the same way! Thank you for the smile. have a great weekend!
Yeah, DO NOT believe that TOTAL CRAP about t-paw being "moderate". He has ALWAYS been a member of the EXTREME right of the repub party in Minnesota, since his days as in the state legislature. He has ALWAYS supported the extremist rightwing social agenda and just sounds "moderate" because he doesn't drool and spew spittle like the majority of the extremist right. He is still fascist to the core.
Clueless posts. Tim Pawlenty did what he promise he would, if the Dem congress in MN tried to pass more tax increases and spending. Thank You T Pawlenty for doing what you stated. Something todays politicians have not been doing. Make the hard decisions and follow through.
Repeal the Great American Liar and his health care mess. The middle class can not afford it!!!!!!!!!!!!
Romney has the "darkside" supporting him, the corporations that know how to buy an election and have the money and connections to get it done, so why do the other Repub candidates even bother.
You forget we have two darksides and one of them wants Perry.(the we pretend we are christian, but hate poor people party)
Perry thinks that God has already voted for him and he is not as outwardly crazy as the other canidates God told to run.
I can't imagine Perry running due to all the skeletons in his closet, but he may roll the dice, if he does one of the other candidates will "crucify"(pun) him with his sorted history.
Wow Americans First.... I never thought of it in that light before...
If what you say is true.. and the Republicans are representative of the Dark Side... then the flip side to all this is Obama is Obie-Wan-Hussein. He couldn't be Barack Vader... although, to me, that's a more fitting moniker.
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there was this Jedi Master by the name of Obie-Wan-Hussein. The dark evil republicans were attempting to remove him from office by all methods available to them and their dark evil cause. Little did the dark evil republicans know that Obie-Wan-Hussein had a secret weapon. His light saber holds a secret compartment. In this compartment is a miniature teleprompter. Now, when Obie-Wan-Hussein gets into tight places, he can whip out the miniature teleprompter and be sure he always says the right thing to whatever crowd he is speaking in front of. He will never be caught off guard and will always be prepared. The loyal citizens that worship Obie-Wan-Hussein feel much better now they know he will soon defeat the dark evil republicans.
And here I thought you were independent. Oops.
Brianb,
Since you are an equal opportunity offender, and so graciously served up Obi-Wan-Hussein's teleprompter as fodder in your feeble attempt at humor, care to comment on Darth Rubio slamming Obama for using a teleprompter....while standing in front of TWO himself?
Check this out.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/18/rubio-slams-obamas-telepr_n_467180.html
Anna
Brian's only independent when he is trying to convince us we are not quite bright children for blaming the republicans for everything. That the whole thing was really no-body's fault. If you would only trust republicans life will get better. We hear that con quite often on here.
The rest of the time liberals are the problem.
Of course, if Rick Perry does decide to run, he will have to have everything come out of the closet, including the skeletons :)
I hear he's got a few, too, dirp. Along the lines of John Ensign and Newt Gingrich.
@ Americans First: The Republicans own it now. Boehner said so.
Anna, I wondered when he was sneering out that 98% line that it might come back and bite him.
It's the first time they have taken responsibility for something. I can hear them now claiming how they was tricked by the liberal media.
I don't know - Pawlenty as "Prankster-in-Chief" makes me think of a sequel to "The Office": Steve Carrell as Pawlenty in "The Oval Office"!
“He’s just not politician enough..."
That's reason enough for me to support him.
And, BTW, I am a Minnesotan.
If you are a Minnesotan then you have personally watched him raise the debt limit countless times and increase the States deficit to the tune of around $6 billion,,,,,,,,Sure, DC needs more like him, Hahahaha
Must be part of the same 35% of total r------ds that put Jesse in the governor's Mansion in '98.
t-paw wrecked Minnesota's budget, hell, the extremist moron couldn't even balance a budget during the HEIGHT of the repub housing bubble.
Pssh, most Minnesotans wouldn't vote for him, to be quite honest. He screwed our state over so badly with his "results"! That's likely why his campaign hasn't taken off - that and, let's face it, he's boring - if any voter with half a brain looked at his last few years in office here, they'd run away FAST.
Don't forget that because of third party candidates, Pawlenty got elected without getting 50% of the votes.
Trouble Pawlenty took a state that still sorta worked (even after the "Jesse Checks" from our wrestler governor depleted all the rainy-day funds a sensible business or government keeps) and ran it into the dumpster... no compromise, no vision, just cut cut cut while somehow running up a 6 billion dollar defecit for the next guy to deal with. oh, and appointed useless cronies to places like DOT, where the cut cut cut and ignore ignore ignore led to an interstate bridge collapse right after rush hour.
Trub... runs up the credit cards in the name of fiscal responsibility... pushes program costs to local governments without the income to pay them... shifts in the winds according to what "Texas money" wants to hear from politicians.
that's why he's a dud. "look at my record," he says. folks have.
Exactly, between that blowhard moron Jesse, who's greatest "accomplishment" was to lower the cost of his license tabs, and whose kids trashed the Governor's mansion with a kegger party, and the social fascist t-paw, who jacked up regressive property taxes in Minnesota by SEVERAL HUNDRED PERCENT, while stealing funds that were supposed to go toschools and counties and cities, Minnesota wnet from AAA bond ratings and surplus budgets and TWO HUNDRED MILLION in the bank to continual deficits and ZERO money in the bank.
Only the most inbred idiot would vote repub or Independent party in Minnesota.
Doesn't take more than 2 seconds to look up Pawlenty's record,,,,,,,,,How many times has he had to raise the debt ceiling for Minnesota because of his ignorance?
Same ol' Same ol' Republican BS,,,,,,,Take from the workingclass, Take from the poor, Give it to the rich in taxcuts and corporate subsidies hoping they will "help" you win the next election.
"he didn't raise taxes" he just raised "fees" and cooked the books (i.e. delaying of payments to education) to keep that not raising taxes republican mantra. what a bunch of BS.
...no, he didn't raise taxes... he just made it so that the counties had no other choice but to raise taxes after all of the funds were raided for political appointments and giveaways to Target, Cargill, 3M, Medtronics, medica, United Heath and others... nope, he did not raise taxes, he just left us $5 billion in debt.
It is so good to see some more Minnesotans on these threads. Bachmann and Pawlenty are giving our state a bad name, that and our 20 day state shutdowm. We all know that these right wing extemists are not what Republicans have been in our state history. Arnie Carlson, David Durenbergeretc.
God, I miss Wellstone these day. May he rest in peace.
Draft Chuck Hagl
I do believe it goes back to the "Romneycare" episode - he had the spotlight and an opportunity to position himself as tough on issues and other politicians (regardless of the party) and he appeared to wimp out. Lost opportunity = lost nomination chance.
I think people would take him more seriously if he had kept his mullet.
Pawlenty hasnt taken off because , like Romney, the emperor has no clothes!
yup - he's NAKED DAMMIT, NAKED!! (brainless and spineless, too - but that's a different story)
It has nothing to do with charisma. He was just a plain bad governor. And he would be the same running the country. If Minnesota would have flourished instead of floundered during Pawlenty's term as governor people would have noticed. But, the state went backwards for 8 years. People aren't looking for more of Bushism.
EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are 100% correct and right to the point! Hopefully the country sees it now too.... there may be hope after all.........
Who will the democrats nominate in the primaries to run against Pawlenty aren't the hard core Leftists currently in denial about Obama?
Although a primary challenge may wake the President up and perhaps shake up the Democratic party, it won't happen. We Dems tend to stick together. We don't faction out like the Rethuglicans.
madison, Only in your dreams!!! Obama in 2012
Well -- the reason why Pawlenty hasn't taken off could be because he's a Republican with the same answers Republicans have had for every problem for the last 32 years --- tax breaks and deregulation -- and those answers don't work.
Yes they do... haven't you watched FOX News?
you mean - "don't you BELIEVE Fuchs news?"
maybe because the man is an utter IDIOT?? just maybe...
Maybe you are.
Good one Jennifer.
Obama/Biden 2012!
uh... I was referring to the utter @!$%#ing IDIOT PAW-Lunky. I can't understand how he ever got elected - Minnesota BRAIN FREEZE during the long cold winters?
Well, part of the problem is that most elections occur during deer hunting season and that turns a lot of the populace into "bucks in rut". In other words their brains don't work too hot during elections.
He isn't stiff - if you watched his interviews one on one, he is a smart and engaging man. I'd vote for him.
But how does he plan to get Americans back to work?
Read my post about the type of MInnesotan who voted for t-paw.
Anna Molly agree with productivity and efficiency. I might add into this quality issues. I think we are all seeing this. Companies have been analyzing this for sure. Why hire more folks when you can just as well get folks to produce more, though quality goes to hell. Chinese style junk production has become the normal and the mode of operation. Look at the breaking point. Where quality gets to the point no one buys it. Make it marginally adequate and pocket the extra for more profit. Personally every time I find I've purchased something in this category I return it and ask why they believe I'm gonna support enormous profits for the piece of junk they are selling.
Back to the topic....Republicans have Michelle Bachmann to vote for. How could you possibly do better?.
He cant get any traction because he is a dink and a lier. The story says that he never raised taxes and Tim has said it himself , but its a lie. The raised the cigarette tax buy calling it by another name. He cut so much of everything that the counties had to raise the taxes, i had my property taxes raised 6 times, so essentially Tiny Tim DID raise taxes, all over the place, and still the state was 5.6 trill on the hole when he left. The guy cannot lead. The only thing he knows how to do is not get along with people and veto all of their bills.
When I hear these foolish comments about government being too big, it is the most outrageous fear monger lie that the Republicans have to offer. Only 3% of the public hold any government jobs. That would compare to having three teachers for every 100 students. That also means that only three people out of every hundred would be enforcing laws, accounting, regulating the market place, ensuring the safety of your foods and medicines, protecting the environment, staffing the courts, making sure that your safety is ensured, protecting you from industrialized hazards, and the list can go on for another hundred or so benefits that every american enjoys. The Republicans don't tell you that it isn't fair for you to pay 20 or even 30% annual increases in health care expense so a few big insurance companies have a better bottom line. They tell you the free enterprise system polices itself like when under the last Republican leadership those industries collapsed and we (that includes you and me) bailed them out and they are still in business. They don't tell you why we can spend over half our revenues on 1000 military posts across the planet, some of which have been there for over 65 years in countries that have reduced their military spending. They don't tell you that the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy cost a revenue loss of 4.6 trillion dollars and that 87% of all US Corporations don't pay any taxes and some even get negative tax rates for years to come. Now they tell us tax cuts creates jobs but since those tax cuts came into existence we have lost jobs created in the US. I say they told us about everything, don't you? It is their charisma that we all like. Ha!