opinion

Save us Gov. Pawlenty, SAVE US! Your values and mine are the right ones and the same! Nothing lite and RINO about our kind! With respect and worship, Katherine Kersten

Prior behavior can be a good indicator of future behavior. Before becoming president, George W. Bush ran three oil companies into the ground. He came within a whisker of doing the same with the entire United States. In the past eight years, Minnesota has slipped from one of the highest ranked states in all economic and social measures to, at best, middle of the pack. Tim Pawlenty is presidential-class: he could easily facilitate another rapid erosion of American wealth and social standing relative to China, India, Europe and anyplace where civilization and civility are held dear.

Tim Pawlenty governs without ever getting 50% of the vote. Tim's only hope is that some moderate Republican or conservative Democrat wlll emerge to lead an independent campaign for president. He cannot win without such help. He couldn't even win in Minnesota without it.

Is that it? What's the point of YOUR article? It reads without conclusion, as if you had to pack up and rush for an appointment before you had time to finish.

The Democratic controlled state legislature has nothing to do with our current fiscal problems eh Theers? If the bonding bill that passed in the senate today takes effect our interest payment on our debt will be 425 million a year. If our governor hadn't been the lone adult in the room last year Heavan knows where we'd be now. Jostling with California maybe to see which state is the biggest debtor in the Union. No sir, Pawlenty is apparently the only hedge against this state becoming an American Greece.

THE ONLY GOOD I CAN SEE FROM TPAW'S RUNNING IS THAT HE WOULD LEAVE MINNESOTA. He has been the worst governor since 1858

Because Tim has proven he has zip for leadership skills. What he has is a major idealogical ax to grind. Never working with the legislators elected by the people of Minnesota has been a really ineffective way to govern this state-so much so that his unilateral actions have led to litigation. Wow, awesome leadership and awesome use of taxpayer money. Not only that, but Tim handcuffed himself with a "No New Taxes" pledge which has him instituting "fees" and accounting shifts. Worth mentioning that these shifts do nothing to fix the budget problem, just pass it on to next governor and legislature. That's awesome work-pass the budget shortfalls on to the next guy and take credit for the never raising taxes. Except, Timmy, my property taxes rose by 54% this year. How do you explain that? I cringe to think of Timmy bringing his idealogical inflexibility and go-it-alone attitude to Washington. I, and I don't think I'm alone here, am getting pretty tired of government that spends all of it's time in partisan bickering and accomplishes virtually nothing for the American people.

Tim, you're no conservative. You're not even close. He subscribes to the global warming hoax. His claim to fame is holding the line on spending - not cutting it. Nice try.

An amoral, ignorant, unsophisticated fear monger who's only value is in stirring up fear of, and hate for, women and other minorities, the disabled, veterans, homeless, the poor, and other constituencies he can beat up on to advance his political career amongst the fearful and ignorant. The man's a disgrace to himself, his family and friends, his party (if it had any ethics and morals), his administration, his state, politics, and humanity. If you support him you are one of those not looking for as solution: you are part of the problem!

Pawlenty's watch, Pawlenty's decision.