…I can’t begin to imagine what it could possibly be.
Seriously, at this point in the game Governor Pawlenty’s my first choice: he’s got the right credentials (two-term Republican governor in a Blue State), there’s no scandal attached to him, his major problem policy-wise (cap-and-trade) is not really a game-breaker for me*, and he lacks drama. I am done with drama, thank you. I’m putting this in RedState’s diary section because the site itself is not endorsing a Tim Pawlenty run, of course; it’s far too early for that and we haven’t really made up our own minds, yet.
At any rate, the announcement will be at 3 PM EST, on Facebook. Friend Tim Pawlenty to see it. And I suspect that this site will be getting a major update soon.
Moe Lane (crosspost)
*If find this explanation acceptable, in other words:
For most conservatives, the biggest blot on Pawlenty’s record is his past support for cap-and-trade. He does not try to finesse the issue. “It’s fair to say I’ve had a change of position and change of view, and the reason is it’s a dumb idea,” he tells NR. “It was a mistake.” All public officials have a few “clunkers” in their record, he says, expressing the hope that voters will appreciate a straightforward acknowledgment of error. He adds, “I think my clunkers are fewer than others’.” This particular clunker is widely shared. Gingrich, Palin, Romney, and Mike Huckabee all once supported cap-and-trade — although not all of them are as candid as Pawlenty about their switch.
Frankly, there is a bad habit among some conservatives to create an image of the perfect candidate, measure it against the candidates that we will actually have, judge all the candidates unworthy of even remote consideration, then subside into smug self-absorbed passivity for the rest of the election season. Even more frankly, I’ve never seen any kind of useful effort from anybody who has modeled the above behavior, either.
Pawlenty will have a lot of work to do down here in the South.
“Frankly, there is a bad habit among some conservatives to create an image of the perfect candidate, measure it against the candidates that we will actually have,…” This is how everyone makes a choice, including you. You have a set of criteria, some are conditional and some are bright red no-go lines. To suggest that you use a different method is silly, at best. Frankly, there is a bad habit among bloggers to take a “accept my choice, you ignorant peasants” attitude. Well…no. The purpose of a primary is to winnow candidates against a set of criteria, yes electability is one of them, and choose the best based on the collective wisdom of the primary voters. So sorry if the rest of us don’t meet your high standards, by which you mean “support who I tell you to”. Again, no. *Moe removes pince-nez* “Even more frankly, I’ve never seen any kind of useful effort from anybody who has modeled the above behavior, either.” Even more frankly, screw you, you pompous little twit.
A valiant effort at faking another user, Sparky, but I can read IPs.
No, you can email me. It is truly I. Not sure what you mean by reading IPs, but I work in KY and my family still lives in SC until we can sell the house, hence two widely separated computers. I truly was irritated by the post, especially the last line. “Not our sort of people” type of drivel. Struck a nerve with me, that’s all. Still one of my favorite blogs, 2nd only to AoSHQ (where I also sometimes get annoyed and start flaming.) I don’t have to always agree with a blogger to know top quality talent when I see it. This post doesn’t change that.
Well, in that case I’m wounded unto death by your hurtful words and speech.
(pause)
Nah, not really, but I wish that you’d reread the part where I noted that the footnote is directed at people who won’t support any damned candidate at all. I have to deal with THOSE people all the flipping time, and it grates. 🙂
Moe, while I’m no Pawlenty fan by any stretch, I have to give you credit for picking the most likely to succeed. He does have a few issues to answer for such as taking $10 million from the Health Care Reform while being against it and raising taxes on workers. But he has Minnesota anyway and those are really irrelevant issues on a POTUS ticket. Nothing the VP nominees can’t haggle out.
Not cool enough for Facebook, but apparently, Pawlenty is giving out website badges (with points!)! X-box nerdiness claims another thing. Not enough to make me want to jump on the bandwagon yet (primary still close to a year away and all), but Points!
“…where I noted that the footnote is directed at people who won’t support any damned candidate at all.” You’re right, I didn’t see that. Thank you for the correction.