Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
From the "Washington Wire" in today's Wall Street Journal:
Mr. Pawlenty has gone back and forth all week over how aggressive to be in his criticism of Mr. Romney, who has begun to build a sizable lead in recent national polls.
First Mr. Pawlenty swung at Mr. Romney on “Fox News Sunday,” calling Mr. Obama’s health-care overhaul “ObamaneyCare.” But then he immediately backed off [refusing to attack Mr. Romney during last week’s debate]….
Then, in Round Two, Mr. Pawlenty opted on Thursday to take a virtual swipe at Mr. Romney—on Twitter. Conceding he’d flubbed up during the debate, Mr. Pawlenty wrote: “On seizing debate opportunity re: healthcare: Me 0, Mitt 1. On doing healthcare reform the right way as governor: Me 1, Mitt 0.”
Over the last couple of weeks I've found myself more and more impressed by Pawlenty, but this? Not good enough. Not even close.
Republican primary voters, the rich people who write checks to underwrite campaigns, the American people themselves--all can see that Tim Pawlenty's a lovely human being. What they still don't know is whether he's capable of fighting. If he can't take on Mitt Romney, how will he do against Nancy Pelosi? Or, for that matter, against Bashar el-Assad?
My sense? Time for Tim Pawlenty is already running out. He's nowhere in the polls. Michele Bachman is coming on strong. He needs to sit down this weekend, decide whether he wants the presidency enough to fight for it--and then, beginning next week, prove it to the rest of us. Ronald Reagan was a lovely human being, too, after all, but he was also capable of this:
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May '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
Mr. Robinson, I truly like Gov. Pawlenty. But I think he has too much Midwestern Nice/Walter Mondale in him to be a successful Presidential candidate--not fair, but still true.
Edited on Jun 17, 2011 at 10:29amJun '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
Apparently, he didn't understand that the improvising stops when you step out in public. He should've just said that he overshot the target, overstated the similarity, and he'll speak more carefully next time. You either own it and defend it, or apologize.
May '11
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
I think that when Romney refused to apologize for Romneycare, Pawlenty decided that he would apologize for any non-conservative act or thought he ever had to establish contrast with Romney. He immediately apologized for flirting with cap and trade and he is apologizing for not going after Romney in the debate. I saw a soundbite of a conversation with Hannity that was fairly persuasive but for me, enough already. We already have an Apologist-in-chief although of a much different nature.
Apr '11
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
Good God save us from pastel colors!
Oct '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
Governor Tim Pawlenty is a coward. He is the office gossip that undercuts his boss at the watercooler. He’s the “mean girl” that denigrated your outfit and hairstyle behind your back.
The Presidential primaries are not strictly referendums on policy prescriptions and attitudes. They are the opportunity for voters to take measure of the political instincts and character of the candidates in order to evaluate our comfort level of envisioning that person in the oval office of the White House.
Pawlenty attacked Romney on the Massachusetts healthcare reforms during the Sunday morning political shows the day before the CNN Republican primary debate. During the actual debate, despite being presented with three golden opportunities to confront Romney face to face on the same stage, Pawlenty neglected to present his arguments that Romneycare served as a model for Obamacare. Now a few days later, he goes on Twitter in a passive-aggressive, “Weiner-esque” electronic manner. Last night on the Sean Hannity show, he admits that the missed opportunity to attack Romneycare was a screw up.
To paraphrase Peter Robinson, Tim Pawlenty is toast!
May '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
Which is worse: not attacking when you should, or not attacking, and then admitting you have (which he did)?
In fairness to Pawlenty, he, and really, all the other candidates attempted to better Mitt Romney have a very hard row to hoe.
People think Romney is at some kind of disadvantage because to lost to the guy who lost. But I disagree that's a negative: that McCain lost, and that Obama is a catastrophe really means that "we" were (1) wrong in electing Obama, and (2) choosing McCain; Romney comes out the winner in this calculus.
By the way, I think the above explains better why Romney, or Reagan won/will win the nomination than the lame "it's his turn" theory (even if the two theories correlate to a high degree).
Edited on Jun 17, 2011 at 11:06amJul '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
Say what you will about Ron Paul, but when I look at that photo and ask who's the real deal, it's easy to choose. Paul is authentic; Pawlenty and Romney are posers.
Edited on Jun 17, 2011 at 10:54amDec '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
An acquaintance posted this on Facebook yesterday and I've been looking for an opportunity to share it on Ricochet. It's another video of RR, but this time he's commenting on campaigning against the other side.
Dec '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
The quality you're looking for, Peter, isn't combativeness: it's decisiveness. Pawlenty, having decided to go on the attack with "Obamney" on Fox News Sunday, should have known that he was committed to that course -- committed in the eyes of the voters. His reluctance to press that line of attack shows not that he's "too nice" or "too unconfrontational," but that he's not willing to stick to a course of action that he himself chose.
Ironically, Pawlenty said the right things in the debate Monday night in response to that question. He just said them in the wrong order -- he put the defense of his word "ObamneyCare" into his second response, seeming evasive, rather than up front, seeming decisive -- and he behaved as if the question hit him totally by surprise.
I'm sure he wants the Presidency badly enough. He just may not have the skills and temperament to win it.
May '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
I agree with Peter that Pawlenty's time may be running out, but less because of the factors described than because the base is more interested in sparks than substance, hence all the enthusiasms for Christie and Bachmann (she is a fine person, and at least one step better than Christine O'Donnell); the Ron Paul stuff is fantasy. ParisParamus is closest in his comments; Kenneth's and Ken Sweeney's (must be the first name, I guess) are based on never digging any deeper than TV images. The best recent description of the dilemma is John Hinderaker's: http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/06/029262.php
"To thine own self be true" is the watchword- decide who the real opponent is, and be yourself. Pawlenty, who has an extensive iron-hand-velvet-glove-while smiling track record, has clearly determined that the main thing is to *beat Obama*, so he concentrates all of his fire on Obama, rather than engaging in the internecine warfare that damages in the general election- as when Gore killed Dukakis in 1988 and Clinton tried to nail Obama in 2008, etc.
Now, instead of serious discussions of differing positions on policy, relevant experience, and performance, we are as far into TV soundbites and image as are the Democrats.
Edited on Jun 17, 2011 at 11:45amJul '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
Thanks for the egregious insult. I've been contributing to Ron Paul's congressional campaigns since the 1980's. I've met the man, have followed his career and his votes closely - and I don't own a television.
Dec '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
Duane Oyen:
"To thine own self be true" is the watchword- decide who the real opponent is, and be yourself. Pawlenty, who has an extensive iron-hand-velvet-glove-while smiling track record, has clearly determined that the main thing is to *beat Obama*, so he concentrates all of his fire on Obama, rather than engaging in the internecine warfare that damages in the general election- as when Gore killed Dukakis in 1988 and Clinton tried to nail Obama in 2008, etc.
That's patently incorrect. Pawlenty took a shot at Romney the day before the debate with his coinage "ObamneyCare." It was a valid first step toward a strategy of differentiating himself from Romney and positioning himself as the best candidate to oppose all of Obama's policies. Pawlenty's dire mistake was seeming to disown his very own coinage and strategy, rather than using a golden opportunity to press the attack.
By contrast, Romney certainly has focused all of his fire on Obama, specifically the Obama economy, but hasn't explicitly made the case for voting for him as the challenger to Obama.
Jun '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
I can never get enough of Reagan's Nashua Moment. I think it's why there has been so much attraction to Chris Christie...because, like Reagan, he exhibits the same passion and fire and won't stand for unfounded attacks or idiocy.
Actually, Bachmann has a bit of this as well, and it would be interesting to see her really get fired up. Ron Paul does too but too often comes off as just a grumpy old man endlessly carping about the Fed rather than someone whose rhetoric inspires.
Reagan was still the master and had the full palette of rhetorical skills to draw from...but he also had the fire in the belly!
For months I've been railing about Romney's lack of passion (amongst his other issues) but who knew that Pawlenty could outdo him on this front and present an even wimpier demeanor?
If one is going to take on the strident, extreme and in-your-face Left, one better display the fire and intensity to take them on. This ain't no garden party with little, crustless cucumber sandwiches and polite chit chat.
Jan '11
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
HotAir refers to it as Chris Christie porn, but this is gold.
This is what we're looking for.
Jul '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
KC Mulville: HotAir refers to it as Chris Christie porn, but this is gold.
This is what we're looking for. · Jun 17 at 12:19pm
Yeah, if you're looking for a guy who is a staunch advocate of gun control, supports the Ground Zero mosque, defends a radical Imam against deportation and uses a New Jersey State Trooper helicopter to get to his son's baseball game, I guess he fits the bill.
Jan '11
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
Kenneth
KC Mulville: HotAir refers to it as Chris Christie porn, but this is gold.
This is what we're looking for. · Jun 17 at 12:19pm
Yeah, if you're looking for a guy who is a staunch advocate of gun control, supports the Ground Zero mosque, defends a radical Imam against deportation and uses a New Jersey State Trooper helicopter to get to his son's baseball game, I guess he fits the bill. · Jun 17 at 12:29pm
This is what we're looking for. Whether it's who we're looking for is, I suppose, open to debate.
Oct '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
We are in a battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party against the statist, beltway establishment Republicans and "Bush" Republicans. If Pawlenty can't make the case against big government Republicans to their faces, then he isn't my choice for President.
May '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
We are in a battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party against the statist, beltway establishment Republicans and "Bush" Republicans.
Really. Really? Just how does Romney fit this mold? Romney is a statist? Because he was governor of MA? You think he has a natural affinity for Goldman-Sacks, or something? I like Mark Levin, but at least when it comes to Romney, this is a cheap, slander (I first heard the term "statist" from Levin, and assume that's from who you took it)
Romney who was, officially, a politician for four years and in the private sector the rest,, and never in DC, is more of a statist than who? And why? Because he ran and worked for businesses larger than mom and pop operations?
And if you're not talking about Romney, who are you talking about?
Edited on Jun 17, 2011 at 1:34pmDec '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
ParisParamus:
Romney who was, officially, a politician for four years and in the private sector the rest,, and never in DC, is more of a statist than who? And why? Because he ran and worked for businesses larger than mom and pop operations?
More of a statist than Pawlenty, according to Pawlenty, because Romney countenanced the creation of RomneyCare with its government-imposed mandate.
May '10
Re: Memo to Tim Pawlenty: Take a Look at the Gipper, Then Decide Whether You're Serious
Sorry, but for better and worse, it's hard to serve one term as a governor and be branded "STATIST."