Pawlenty is Done, Part II

While at the Minnesota State Fair last week, I stopped by the State Republican booth. I asked each of the three volunteers working there, "So, who is the Republican party going to run for governor next election?". Despite the Tim Pawlenty posters, literature and buttons everywhere in the booth, each volunteer gave me essentially the same answer: a shrug, and then, "I don't know, maybe Brian Sullivan?".

These are the party faithful, the grass roots, the bedrock of the party. And even they have lost faith in our current governor. In the disastrous 2005 legislative session, we got higher taxes, more restrictive laws, and more business regulation. And we got what in return? Pawlenty broke his pledge to hold the line on taxes (never mind actual tax cuts); the already dreadful business climate in the state was made even worse; road problems weren't addressed; and school choice? That wasn't even brought up.

So, Pawlenty is finished politically. Liberals won't vote for him because they mistake him for a conservative, and conservatives won't vote for him because he's become barely distinguishable from a liberal. It's time for a real conservative to throw his or her hat into the ring and mount a primary challenge to Pawlenty next time around. Maybe Phil Krinkie, maybe Steve Sviggum, or maybe... Brian Sullivan, are you still out there?
- posted by Tom Pick @ 7:05 AM