The John Adams Society
G. Larry Colson, Jr.
Chairman
Mark S. Sanquist
Secretary
Peder Mewis
Chief Whip
Susan Smith
Chancellor
April 2010
"The era of small government is over . . . government has to be more proactive, more aggressive." - Tim Pawlenty, 2006
GOVERNOR PAWLENTY HAS SUPPORTED ethanol, mass transit, publicly financed stadiums, minimum wage increases, importation of price-controlled Canadian drugs, a “health impact” cigarette fee/tax, and a smoking ban. When the DFL proposed universal health care, his response was to expand the state’s child health care program. His health care task force recommended an individual mandate on residents to buy health insurance.
This is not the record of a small-government, free market conservative. A search of the Pawlenty record for guiding principles and core beliefs yields little beyond a desire to placate liberal critics and get re-elected. Last year, when vying for a spot on the McCain ticket, Pawlenty was a moderate. This year, preparing a Presidential run, Pawlenty turned right in both word and deed, as exhibited by his un-allotment action. Candidate Pawlenty sounds more conservative on the campaign trail that Gov. Pawlenty acts in office, something he has in common with our current President.
ON THE OTHER HAND, with a DFL legislature in place, Pawlenty has been forced to play defense. His own description of his role as governor compares the job to that of a hockey goalie, and we shouldn’t be surprised or upset if the goalie doesn’t score; rather, we should consider all the shots the goalie has blocked. Given that Minnesota elected, and re-elected, Paul Wellstone, she isn’t ready to embrace free markets and free minds. The best we could have hoped for in a governor for the past eight years was one who mostly held the line on taxes, and Gov. Pawlenty delivered.
THE CHAIRMAN, whose own career as a goalie was cut short by a near-fatal hangnail, has called a debate to settle the question:
RESOLVED: Tim Pawlenty has Failed Conservatism.
6 comments:
"THE CHAIRMAN, whose own career as a goalie was cut short by a near-fatal hangnail, has called a debate to settle the question:"
Hey! What ever happened to Gump Worsley? What a libertarian..refused to wear a mask.."my face IS my mask!" Good ol
North stars. I don't miss the Januaries, but 10,000 lakes and Boundary Waters...sigh.
Well, we had McCain in 2008, why not Pawlenty in 2012?
*banging head against wall. hard*
Well, we had McCain in 2008, why not Pawlenty in 2012?
As they say, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
We got McCain in '08 because the GOP's political machine gave us McCain. If you want to avoid a repeat then you need to become a grain of sand in the cogs.
how do you like Paul Ryan?
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