Comments on Martin Andrade Blogs Here No More: Tim Pawlenty I know I not voting for the man in t...

Marty,I think these comments and the underlying pr...

2006-08-27T02:28:00.000Z

Marty,
I think these comments and the underlying premises in them will make a good topic this Sunday.

Thanks everyone, I'm putting another post together...

2006-08-22T17:19:00.000Z

Thanks everyone, I'm putting another post together on this topic which will go through some of the arguments made in this thread.

Marty, even though it seems you have already made ...

2006-08-22T03:28:00.000Z

Marty, even though it seems you have already made up you mind, I would ask yourself a few questions:

How much did income taxes go up under gov. Pawlenty?

How much did the gas tax go up?

How much did taxes on business go up?

How much in state spending was cut under Tim Pawlenty?

How quickly did gov. pawlenty sign tort reform, eminant domain reform, and repealing profiles of learning?

How pro-second amendment is gov. pawlenty?

How strongly has gov. pawlenty supported pro-life legislation?

How strongly has gov. pawlenty supported the marriage amendment?

Now consider the basics of state government. In order to become law, a bill must pass both the House and the Senate, and it must be signed by the governor. So the biggest question shouldn't be why more wasn't done, but rather how in the world was so much done in the face of a hostile DFL state Senate, and 2 years of a razor slim house majority?

Wanting and wishing for things never accomplishes anything. The facts of the world and our state get in the way.

But I'm pretty sure that all of that won't make a difference to you, since Sue Jeffers makes such a great bar owner. And what's managing the most conservative shift in our state's history as house majority leader and as governor compared to a bunch of rhetoric, a hopeless legal fight, and chosing whether to put the "fuzzy navel" or the "grape ape" on special.

Without a doubt, Tim Pawlenty is the most conservative governor our state has ever seen, fiscally and socially. Spit at that if you want, but this Irishman thanks the heavens every day that we have Governor Pawlenty.

Thanks for the compliment. I have a strong desire...

2006-08-21T21:55:00.000Z

Thanks for the compliment. I have a strong desire to start blogging about politics again and plan on returning to it when I'm not as busy.

I think I have been clear in my assessment of Pawl...

2006-08-21T19:31:00.000Z

I think I have been clear in my assessment of Pawlenty. Social conservatives should have little or no qualms with him. Fiscal conservatives...there is not a case that can be made, really, to vote FOR Pawlenty.

So the question for the social conservatives is this: Is what you will gain in the "social" pespective over the next 4 years likely to outweigh what you give up on the fiscal side? If so, then there is no question. If not...well, then what again is the reason for voting for Pawlenty? (The challenge to answering that question is, can you make a case FOR Pawlenty, not against anyone else?)

Pawlenty has been a staunch supporter of conservat...

2006-08-21T18:14:00.000Z

Pawlenty has been a staunch supporter of conservative social issues. We can quibble about a "fee" vs. a "tax" but one can easily dismiss his goo-gooism under pragmatic pretenses.

Kyle, it's interesting that you're trying to talk ...

2006-08-21T17:38:00.000Z

Kyle, it's interesting that you're trying to talk me into voting for Pawlenty. I take it as more proof of your intellectual honesty and will add that to the many reasons you should start blogging again (about politics).

"tons of hints to the conservative base that he's ...

2006-08-21T17:03:00.000Z

"tons of hints to the conservative base that he's not abandoning you guys this year"
1) There were a large number of people at the convention who were either considering Jeffers to begin with or are upset enough to eventually consider Jeffers. He had to throw those hint in for their appeasment. But, it is hard to run on 'won't abandon you' when the past 2 years he has abandoned the fiscal conservatives.
2) Hints of non-abandonment are a bit hard to accept when blatant abandonment is the discourse.

Personally, I think this is all just a campaign st...

2006-08-21T16:24:00.000Z

Personally, I think this is all just a campaign strategy. You see running from the right in most of the major candidates this year. Pawlenty is just doing it in a more substanative and less flashy way. He's trying to sound more like a Democrat instead of just putting his arm around them.

His speech accepting the GOP's nomination this year was filled with tons of hints to the conservative base that he's not abandoning you guys this year.

Marty,Even if not supporting Pawlenty in the gener...

2006-08-21T16:16:00.000Z

Marty,

Even if not supporting Pawlenty in the general election will lead to a Hatch victory, that's not necessarily a disaster. Indeed I find the name "Governor Hatch" as distressing as the next guy, but it would do two things.

1. Create an administration whose liberal agenda can be openly opposed and fought against by conservatives (instead of Pawlenty's liberal agenda which Republicans are expected to accept).

2. Punish these Republicans who sell out their conservative base.

Hopefully it won’t be an issue though. If Sue Jeffers was ever going to have a chance in hell, that article gave it to her.

Marty,Beware...not picking a rotten candidate thro...

2006-08-21T15:51:00.000Z

Marty,
Beware...not picking a rotten candidate thrown up by the GOP is not permitted within the GOP. Such abuse of your free will and individual choice is disallowed by partisans.

That said, the right to vote is something that should not just be given to any politician, especially when the politician has proven himself to not uphold the positions you initially voted him in for.

Should the choice after the primary be Pawlenty and Hatch (and whatever others) you have the perfectly legitimate choice of "abstain". It is "not choosing", but instead affirms that neither candidate was worthy of your RIGHT to vote.

Sure, some will say that not voting for Pawlenty is like voting for Hatch. No, that is not true. Only in the broken reasoning of accepting voting-against-someone can this even make sense. You would be voting for noone. And the blame falls squarely on those who put the candidates on the ballot: the GOP and the DFL (and the other parties, of course).

I commend you for being thoughtful in the process.

Given the choice between two alternatives, I choos...

2006-08-21T14:47:00.000Z

Given the choice between two alternatives, I choose the best of the two. What does Marty do? Not choose at all.

Marty- We've ALL had the same reaction you had th...

2006-08-21T13:21:00.000Z

Marty- We've ALL had the same reaction you had this weekend, to that article.

But keep volunteering for Sue. We could use your help at the State Fair. Let me know when you're available. Fair is open 9-9 and we're hoping for at least 3 hour shifts....admission IS expensive!

Thanks.

We're very fortunate that Sue Jeffers stepped into...

2006-08-21T05:23:00.000Z

We're very fortunate that Sue Jeffers stepped into this race. We still have a shot at hanging on to conservativism. We must nominate Sue Jeffers on September 12th. Some have termed her, "Pawlenty's Jeffers problem." Sue Jeffers isn't a problem. She's the solution.