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Annnnnnd Tim Pawlenty’s in, with ‘A Time for Truth.’ [UPDATE!]

By: Moe Lane (Diary)  |  May 23rd, 2011 at 09:30 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

[UPDATE]  Whoa, whoa, WHOA.  Tim Pawlenty’s going to start off his candidacy by ‘speaking truthfully about farm subsidies‘?

Speaking truthfully about farm subsidies?

In IOWA?

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty released this video (“A Time For Truth”) last night:

…and he’s going to be formally announcing his candidacy at a town hall today in Iowa.  My basic take from both the video above, and the excerpts from his planned speech that I’ve seen: Pawlenty’s going to be focused primarily on going after the President, and not worry quite so much about his fellow-Republican candidates.  At least, that’s the impression that I get from him taking the opportunity in both to essentially call the President a liar…

“President Obama’s policies have failed.  But more than that, he won’t even tell us the truth about what it’s really going to take to get out of the mess we’re in. … I’m going to take a different approach.  I am going to tell you the truth.”

Not to mention, a coward.

“We need a President who understands that our problems are deep and who has the courage to face them.  President Obama doesn’t.”

All of which at least feels like it’s already more hard-hitting than Sen. John McCain ever managed in the last election cycle*.  But possibly I’m just allowing my natural optimism to show.  Or, possibly, I’m still remembering all the screaming that we did in 2008 behind the scenes, begging that campaign to come out swinging…

Moe Lane (crosspost)

*Yes, I know that’s a kind of depressing statement, really.

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  • paramedichess

    This is a very well done campaign video, and if this proves to be the tone of his campaign, I think we can expect great things. This is a guy that conservatives can and should rally behind.

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    He refused to say anything about Romney when asked. He’s already focused on the target, which is where the focus needs to be.

    Maybe we’ll have a primary campaign on the issues, and who is best equipped and has the best ideas to lead us forward for a change? One can hope…

    pun intended

  • Goldwater_Conservative

    need to get a second (or actually their first direct look) at him. Dont go by the mantra you have heard.

  • gpclaw

    because he will need to use the same federalism argument, to defend some of his own actions as governor, as Mitt is using to defend RomneyCare.

    Pawlenty created a commission to look into universal health care in MN. One of their recommendations was an individual mandate. He was smart,because he didn’t go down that road, but why open that door for Romney to eventually use against him.

    Besides, every time Pawlenty takes a shot at ObamaCare, he is in effect taking a shot at RomneyCare, without having to sling mud at Romney.

  • Goldwater_Conservative

    no reason to snipe at Romney, there will be others in this race that will attack him mercilessly. Pawlenty can look like the good guy and keep his nose dry on Romeny

  • akafroman

    If he were going up against John Kerry, Pawlenty would be a perfect candidate, but he is going up against one of the most telegenic presidents in modern history (even though Obama is completely prepackaged, we have to “know thy enemy” and not underestimate his one talent= running for office…also= a billion dollars).

    I tried to be objective when I watched Pawlenty on “Huckabee”, but I just don’t know how he can compete against a telegenic incumbent president with a complicit media.

    Judge for yourself:

  • sundaycombo

    It’s hard to see him hitting Obama on the economy when he left office with his State facing a 6.2 billion deficit. I just read that the legislature is most likely to be called back for a special session by Gov Drayton to deal with it.

    For those of us who know the 2012 election will come down a referendum on Obama’s handling of the economy, that fact is not very inspiring, He also criticized the Obama stimulus (correct call!) and then took the money anyway and put it toward the budget deficit. How many times would Obama bring that up in a debate if the two went head to head? He also raised taxes on cigarettes statewide.

  • http://jhpruitt.blogtownhall.com/ kipling

    I have never found Mr. Obama particularly engaging as a communicator. He is just your typical demagog.

    The power of his speeches evaporate at the gas pump and the unemployment line.

  • rememberthealamo

    Glad he has a nice video. But really, that isn’t impressive since you shoot videos over and over until they are “good.”

    I don’t see TPaw going toe to toe with Obama on the campaign trail, in debates and interviews. He’s a “great governor” – of a liberal state. How about a great Governor of a solidly conservative state, who has also served as Ag Commish for 8 years and was a family rancher before politics. Perry.

    Can TPaw talk corn and wheat with Iowa farmers – from first person experience? Rick Perry can.

    Try this Electoral College math – Perry/Rubio 2012

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    People are tired of having sunshine blown up their skirt with no substance.

  • http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

    This is his first shot. Nothing more, nothing less. It’s the beginning of TPaw laying a foundation for his candidacy so we can make a rational judgment about whether he should be our candidate or not.

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    If he’s smart, he doesn’t.

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    Going onto non-[Candidate X] threads and trying to pump up [Candidate X] as a potential/better/theoretical candidate has been, historically speaking, a counterproductive exercise. What generally happens is that people who get irritated by such behavior start to associate that irritation with [Candidate X].

  • dajeeps

    However, I think a belief that Fedzilla can and will reform itself before we go over the cliff, things will magically turn to like they were in 1989 and we can all go back to sleep again is nothing more than wishful thinking. This election, I believe is likely our last chance for reform, if it is even possible, before we find ourselvess buried in the wreckage of the nanny state.

    I’d like to suggest caution that whomever we nominate to replace Obama needs to have a solid commitment to return the police power taken from the states over the last several decades, rather than use it in order to try to manipulate us in another way – because that can always be undone or bastardized into something horrific such as the supposed “Free-market solution” to housing. or many other things done with the best of intentions that turn malign, like turning Medicare and Medicaid into rationing and death panels. We owe it to posterity to put a stop to the madness of the nanny state, return to genuine free market capitalism and ensure that if we cannot do that, that no Republican will be anywhere near the wreckage when we finally hit the bottom.

    I lost count regarding how many times I have wished that GW had not been president when the financial system hit the wall and that John McCain, not a good crisis guy, had not been our nominee. It really doesn’t matter since there is very little use in crying over spilled milk, but it does provide useful information for the future.

  • Ausonius

    Imagine the Thin-Skinned One in a debate, where his own words – lying, contradictory, hypocritical words – are quoted at him!

    Any candidate will have almost 4 years of verbal ammunition against BIG BRObama, including the most recent duplicitous speech on Israel’s 1967 borders. Besides plans for ever-increasing taxation, the litany of taxes and fees already raised on everyone, the promise of higher energy costs, the odds are that unemployment will not budge much (unfortunately).

    I have some very talented 8th Graders whom I would trust in the White House more than this doublethinking dictator wannabe. :)

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    Comparing someone that implemented universal healthcare to someone that created a commission to look into it and then rejected it…

    I don’t see how Romney could ever use that against him.

  • YnotNOW

    And Pawlenty is showing some courage by promoting the unvarnished truth about agriculture subsidies, and avoiding the temptation to waffle on this conservative principle because Iowa has a disproportionate leverage on the primary schedule.

    Courage on subsidy issues. Focus on the correct target (Obama) rather than fellow Republicans. Freely admitting past mistakes and firmly moving to correct (i.e. cap-and-trade). This is a strategy for success.

    I think T-Paw is definitely off to a good start.

  • YnotNOW

    so we should not expect. We should expect them to be good, on balance. Hopefully better than the competition. But not perfect.

  • urherex

    and if he does get it I’d Love to see him (or anyone)
    pick Liz Cheney for V.P.

  • Michael Dugas

    Universal Health Care and the individual mandate and decided against it saying it wasn’t for the citizens of MN nor America?

  • Marcus_Traianus

    And what’s with T-Paw? Is that supposed to sound tough- like T-Pain or TI?

    More like J-Lo; lot’s of dancing and giggles.

  • averagevoterdotcom

    he has a great shot.
    he wants it.
    his management of campaign is great so far.
    he is on the attack.
    I think if he stays consistently aggressive, he will likely be potus.
    he must do this to overcome milktoast aura.

  • gpclaw

    It’s foolish to think that the federal government will ever solve the problem of federal over reach. To put the power of the feds back in the box, it’s going to take strong government at the state level, to stand up and challenge the power of the feds. I would argue that the state elections are as important, if not more important than the national elections.

    Like I said before, the feds aren’t going to solve the problem, but we can at least get people elected at the fed level, who won’t put up a fight when the states try to take their Constitutional power back.

  • gpclaw

    but if he argues too effectively, he could unintentionally take the burden of RomneyCare off of Mitt’s shoulders.

    In the years leading up to RomneyCare, a number of GOP Governor’s, and other elected officials, were looking at the idea of an individual mandate. As I said before, the issue doesn’t hurt Pawlenty, but while explaining why he at least considered it, Mitt can make his point that he simply implemented the same policy that a majority of the party was considering, it was a mistake, and for the same reason’s Pawlenty decided it was bad Policy, now Mitt believes the same.

    That’s why it’s just best for T-Paw to let the issue lie, and let others make the case against RomneyCare.

  • gpclaw

    too aggressively, than Mitt can tear into Pawlenty’s renewable energy mandates, and make the case that they both passed aggressive legislation, that later became very unpopular liberal policy goals.

    That conversation doesn’t help Pawlenty, and in the act of defending his record, he inadvertently helps lift some of the burden off Romney.

    As it stands now, no one is really talking about any Pawlenty legilative albatrosses. Why should Pawlenty risk exposing a potential weakness of his own, to attack Romney’s weakness, when their are plenty of others already doing a good enough job at attacking RomneyCare?

  • gpclaw

    I find him very inspiring. I have heard a few interviews from T-Paw, where he has incorporated his own spin on the Chris Christie’s “adult conversation” mode. He comes off blunt, and too the point. It’s only when he goes into “politician” mode, when he sounds dopey.

    Less SC GOP debate Pawlenty, and more “I’m running for President” preview video T-Paw.

  • gpclaw

    The kids love it when he campaigns in his track suit, and Kango.

  • Hooah_Mac

    I was disappointed at times in Governor Pawlenty. Mostly due to his energy – cap and trade – ideas. I have come around to him a lot in the last couple of years though.

    Pawlenty’s Pros:

    Prolife
    Governed a fairly blue state with a mostly red agenda and was reelected in a tough year for Rs
    Connects with voters
    Can give a good rousing speech
    ***As Governor he made a point to attend ceremonies for MN military units leaving and returning from overseas tours***
    Fought the democratic controlled legislature numerous times particularly on taxes and spending – he may have a laid back persona, but he CAN fight
    MN Governors have a long history of being corrupt beyond understanding, the party they belong to having no real bearing on the subject, but as best as I can tell, Pawlenty was legitimately different in this

    Pawlenty’s Cons:

    Can seem boring
    Went left on some issues while Governor – Cap and Trade again

    That isn’t an exhaustive list and although he isn’t currently my guy, I would be very satisfied working and voting for him if he becomes the nominee. Of the “frontrunners” as they stand now, he is definitely my favorite.

  • Hooah_Mac

    In case anyone was curious, my Congresswoman(MN-6) and a very awesome person is my first choice at this time. Her odds are pretty slim, but she is the biggest fighter of all the announced or rumored candidates I am aware of. We need a fighter more than anything right now.

  • Steve Summers

    If he really does tell Iowans that as president, he will end all the subsidies – including ethanol – and renounces his support for the carbon scam. Otherwise, he’s just another lying, double-talking politician willing to say anything to get elected so he can do something completely different.

  • cordpt

    n/t

  • Michael Dugas

    While Mitt wasn’t able to discern that it was a bad idea and he actually implemented a bad idea and failed program at huge expense to Mass. and its citizens.

  • rightwingmom52

    But I get your drift. Pawlenty was more than adequate in the first debate, and has released 2 great videos. He definitely comes across as the adult in the room compared to Obama. I do like Cain, but having read your other posts about Pawlenty and the need for experience, I get that 2012 is not the year to break somebody in. Imagine how much worse things might be if Obama actually had some experience, so it’s imperative that we elect a president who knows how to undo the harm that’s been done and move the country in the right direction. If Pawlenty can show the side of himself from the video a little more in the debates, speeches, etc., I think he’s the nominee. I’m just not seeing any downside at this point.

  • urherex

    I’m sure he’ll appariate your support. He did tell them he
    will end subsidies for ethanol.

  • ss396

    That’s why we need to stop pushing, pushing, pushing our sitting Governors into runs at the Presidency. We will need strong State governments if they are going to take their powers back. Let’s get the momentum and policies committed to and going in the right direction first.

  • Steve Summers

    Having been burned by our candidates many times, I’m not going to become a true believer yet – but America really, really needs a “Dad” president – someone who will tell us straight that we’ve screwed up, that fixing the damage from our mistakes is going to be painful, but that it has to be done, and we’re strong enough to get through it. Another “mom” president like Obama that tells us “everything will be alright” and “don’t worry, the government will always love you and take care of you” will just destroy us.

    Pawlenty has just demonstrated that he’s willing to REALLY tell the painful truth, even to people who won’t want to hear it. That takes actual guts (unlike the kind of “guts” it takes to say “oh, you have bin Laden in your sights? OK, I guess you can go ahead and shoot him” after pondering the issue for hours and hours.) I deeply respect that. I sure hope he keeps it up. I’m going to have my checkbook ready.

  • eboone

    http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/09/26_mccalluml_ethanol/

    Just another hypocrite politician……. Real conservatives here in Minnesota nicknamed him Governor Green for selling us out to the ethanol and wind power activists.