Robert Novak says the NGA Meetings didn’t help Tim Pawlenty’s VP Chances:
It was a less favorable NGA meeting for the organization’s chairman, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. His carbon-emissions proposal was shot down by bipartisan opposition from the coal-oil bloc of governors, and that did not help his vice presidential aspirations.
Man, Timmy missed the override vote for that?
Update: This wasn’t the only political hit Pawlenty took this week this quest to be his party’s nominee for Vice President. The veto override made him look weak at best or fiscaly impure at worst. What do I mean when I say fiscally impure? Pawlenty’s strength in the Veepstakes is that he can credibly claim that he checks all the conservative boxes. He’s got both a socially and fiscally conservative record. He has even done the requisite ammount of immigrant bashing, notable given that he is Governor of Minnesota (and not, well, any state with a huge illegal immigrant population). But if reports like this one from Mary LaHammer are true, T-Paw’s rep as a no new taxes stalwart might take a hit:
It appears an override attempt in the House is going to go through today. The biggest news may be that the governor appears to have let Republicans off the hook. Last week we reported that Gov. Pawlenty visited the House Republican caucus. According to a leading House Republican, the governor told House Republicans if 5-10 of them had to override than they were supposed to just do it on the first attempt. Some caucus members said if they knew the governor was going to say that they wouldn’t have invited him. Some of the Republicans who voted for the bill are saying they’re doing this for the governor because the bridge collapse and the fact “he’s boxed himself in on transportation.”
Grover wouldn’t be happy to read that. Or this…
Republican lawmakers were annoyed Pawlenty was gone in D.C. for days during the critical override. Sure, he worked the phones. But on those phone calls the recipients say it was a pretty soft sell, telling them to just “vote their conscience.” Then there’s the now famous comment in caucus that if some Republicans did decide to override to do it on the first attempt. With a fierce tone the governor made it clear he didn’t mean that to let Republicans off the hook. Republican lawmakers felt otherwise.
Ouch.
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I guess we can look at the bright side…Carol Molnau won’t be Governor…:)
So wait, is TPaw not being VP a good thing OR a bad thing? Which is it? If he is picked VP - my guess is you’ll bitch about it. If not…you’ll hammer him for it. Which is it?
By the way..might want to read that transportation bill a 2nd time. Looks like there might be some surprises in it for vulnerable Democrats that their leadership didn’t mention! HA!
Maybe a tax increase in the fall will spur the economy now. I know I’m going to buy my new car sooner rather than later…
I want Gimmicky Timmy to run for VP. It will be great fun sniping at him from Minnesota…He has some stupid in his background that would be fun to air. Plus he and his Aw Shucks personality is just not ready for prime time media.
I’ll be watching from the gallery tomorrow around noon when Timmy gets his next Whack and Molnau gets the very much deserved boot.
#4: MN GOP does not support McCain in the Caucus
#3: Veto override
#2: Less than impressive NGA success
But, the #1 reason T Paw won’t be running for VP — no one in the national GOP, and that has to include McCain, and Pawlenty himself for that matter, wants to draw any more attention to Transportation Commissioner Carol (you know, she was in charge when that bridge went down, but she was basically invisible) Molnau than necessary.
It’ll take about 16 seconds for any creibility Pawlenty has to be disregarded when the spotlight shines on that relationship, her abilities, and that, if McCain wins, she (the disappearing act lady) would be in charge of the state. Who in Minnesota votes for Molnau to Governor? And even though no one votes for the underside of the ticket, who outside of Minnesota votes for a Vice President who made such a poor decision?
Pawlenty on the ticket does not bring Minnesota to the GOP, and it hurts the overall ticket in other places. T Paw will not be the VP candidate.
I seriously wonder about a Republican Party where Pawlenty isn’t conservative enough! Sheesh!