The Minnesota Supreme Court Gives the DFL Carte Blanche

Minnesota's Supreme Court today ruled that Governor Pawlenty acted beyond his authority when he un-allotted spending items from the DFL submitted un-balanced budget.

Under Minnesota's Constitution, the Minnesota legislature is required to present a balanced budget to the governor for signature within a specific time frame. Margaret-Anderson-Kelliher's DFL-led Minnesota legislature failed miserably in their Constitutional duty, banking on a mistaken notion that the lack of a balanced budget would force Governor Pawlenty to call a special session, one that would have the very real possibility of lasting ad-infinitum while the DFL had their way with the budget and squandered untold taxpayer dollars in the process.

Governor Pawlenty, on the other hand, being the statesman that he is, was not about to entertain DFL-foolishness. Instead, he made good on his promise that if Margaret Anderson-Keliher's DFL-led legislature would not meet their Constitutional obligations within the Constitutionally-mandated timeline, he would have to play the parent by utilizing his un-allotment authority to balance the budget.

This was a strong message to the Margaret-Anderson Keliher DFL-led legislature that the days of shirking their responsibility in the interest of political gamesmanship were over, and served as a common-sense protection of and stewardship of hard-earned taxpayer dollars.

Then enter the Minnesota State Supreme Court, whose decision today will bring our state that much closer to insolvency.

In a press release, Minnesota GOP-endorsed gubernatorial hopeful, Tom Emmer, had this to say about today's decision:

The court changed the law in midstream by adding a time constraint to when the governor could exercise his unallotment powers. Once the court changed the law, they found that the Commissioner of Finance did not follow the “new” law.

So, in effect, a judicially-imposed 'ex post facto' law, or bill of attainder.

Today's decision was a loss, not only for Governor Pawlenty, but for the integrity of Minnesota's budget and for the rights of Minnesotans to be served by their elected officials within the parameters of their Constitution:

The legislature shall meet at the seat of government in regular session in each biennium at the times prescribed by law for not exceeding a total of 120 legislative days. The legislature shall not meet in regular session, nor in any adjournment thereof, after the first Monday following the third Saturday in May of any year.

The Minnesota Supreme Court, today, in effect, gave Margaret-Anderson-Keliher's DFL-controlled legislature a green light to ignore their Constitutional obligations.

The "Minnesota Miracle" of 2010?

Just four days after a failed DFL override attempt of Governor Pawlenty's Minnesota GAMC (General Assistance Medical Care) veto, a compromise has been reached. According to a communication received from Minnesota 15A representative Steve Gottwalt,

Last Monday, the majority inisted the only thing to do was to override the governor's veto of a bill to extend GAMC another year or so by taking money from hospitals and county programs for children and vulnerable adults -- and still leaving $170 million unaccounted for!

Those on our side of the aisle insisted it was time to stop enactin unfunded, temporary bandaids, and establish a permanent solution with good ideas from all sides -- making a promise we can keep to the sickest and poorest. We upheld the governor's veto, and within an hour, both sides were back at the negotiating table in the Governor's Office, working on a long-term solution that would also provide better care for the poorest and sickest.

Within four days (by Friday) all sides had negotiated a long-term solution that not only delivers much better care to these people, but also saves enough (more than $700 million per biennium) to put these services on sustainable footing without raising taxes. We will now enact that reformed and responsible solution -- a "win, win, win" for Minnesotans.

The above compromise may not have seemed so 'miraculous' in the not-so-distant past, but certainly seems miraculous now given the general democrat mindset of "We'll shove this down your throat whether you like it or not!"

But unlike their zombified party compatriots in the U.S. Congress, who appear hellbent on doing a full-speed-ahead "Thelma & Louise" to pass unpopular and unworkable statist legislation, damn the torpedoes, the Minnesota DFL appears to have been able to (at least temporarily) sober up from their drunken power orgy.

If the DFL should actually continue this trend toward sanity, the real miracle may be that the Minnesota DFL comes out relatively unscathed after what is sure to be a rash of democrat bloodletting at the federal level come this November.

Pawlenty on Dennis Miller..

Others are noting Tim Pawlenty's past "Governor Green Jeans" credentials, but one hasw to wonder if Governor Pawlenty has had a 'come to Jesus' moment and has seen the light:



(h/t Dan Cleary via Ace of Spades, who sees Pawlenty moving up as #1 in his preferences, passing John Thune)

Steve Gottwalt on Minnesota's $5.4 Billion Shortfall

In an email to his constituents, SD 15-A representative Steve Gottwalt had this to say:

We received the latest budget forecast information today and it indicates Minnesota faces a projected $1.2 billion shortfall for the current two-year state budget, and a $5.4 billion deficit for the next biennium.

This is tough news, and underscores the need for even greater state fiscal restraint. Minnesotans want state government to live within its means instead of raising taxes on families and businesses. Small businesses create the vast majority of new jobs, and they have told us loud and clear they cannot afford more government. We must rein-in state government spending and focus on sustainable reforms that boost our economy. That is the "goose" that lays Minnesota's "golden eggs."

In the 2010 Legislative Session, we need to confront reality and adopt meaningful structural reforms to solidify our economic future. State spending must be brought in line with revenue received, as families and businesses must do. Hard-working taxpayers cannot continue to pay for backward thinking where the state spends money before it knows what’s in the checkbook. Minnesotans expect state government to live within its means.

We cannot tax our way out of this deficit! Tax increases will kill the jobs we need to turn around our economy and state revenues. We have a spending problem; not a revenue problem: Government spending in Minnesota has grown by 140 percent since 1992, and we have seen numerous proposals in the last few years for billions of dollars in new tax increases. We must set good priorities, and live within our means
instead of raising taxes on struggling families and businesses.

Liberals propose “tax increases only on the wealthy.” However, most of the so-called “wealthy” are small businesses filing through individual tax returns - the same small businesses we need to help grow more jobs for a sustainable economic recovery. The top 10 percent wage earners in Minnesota already pay 57 percent of all personal income taxes, and 38 percent of all taxes in our state. Even if we raised their
tax rate a full 10 percent, it would generate only $381 million toward our persistent deficit.

We cannot tax our way to prosperity while families and businesses are battling to make ends meet with less in these tough economic times. Increasing the tax burden would drive out the jobs and revenue we need to turnaround Minnesota’s economy.

The Legislature’s top priority in 2010 must be creating sustainable jobs in the private sector by reducing tax and regulatory burdens. I will continue working to kick-start Minnesota's job market by promoting an environment that supports business growth!

Of course, Mr. Gottwalt speaks nothing but sense here. To tax the bejesus out of the job creators will not create any more taxpayers than depriving a garden of its water will grow more produce.

The crappy part about it is that Margaret Kelliher, Tarryl Clark, Larry Haws, Larry Hosch, and the rest of the tax-n-spend DFL'ers will wail, moan and gnash their teeth, saying the "evil rich" aren't paying their fair share;, when it is the "evil rich" (as Gottwalt stated, the Mom & Pop concerns) that create the very jobs that render a vibrant economy that sustains both economic prosperity and, of course, tax revenue for governmental functions.

And look for Tim Pawlenty, in one of his last acts in office, along with the Minnesota House Republicans to once again play the adult.

Look for yet another infantile show down by the DFL this coming budgetary cycle.

Pawlenty Hits the Ground Running for 2012

And launches his "Freedom First" Pac web site:

Pawlenty to Kelliher and Pogemiller: Pound Sand!

(Click on image for full size)

Governor Pawlenty gets it. Never humor the delusions of a liberal.

A Lesson In Futility

In the age of Obama. In this new, enlightened age of alternative energy. A time in history that the 'messiah' would usher in an era in which

"we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal…"

How is it, that during this brave, new, enlightened age, that we should hear about significant job layoffs in, of all places, a wind turbine plant?

Pipestone, Minn. (AP) — A wind power company in southwestern Minnesota has announced it will eliminate 70 jobs this summer with another 90 layoffs possible by the end of September.

According to a letter sent to city officials, Suzlon will make the first round of layoffs at the Pipestone turbine blade plant by Aug. 2. Another 90 job losses will likely be added to that tally.

Pipestone Mayor Laurie Ness says the news is "crushing blow" to the city.

How can this be, that a company that was literally booming during the Bush Administration, would have to actually lay off workers during the environmentally-conscious, environmentally-pristine era over which which the lord and savior Barack Hussein Obama presides?

Perhaps a quick jaunt from the small town of Pipestone, Minnesota, to the small town of Willmar, Minnesota, may give us a clue:

WILLMAR (AP) - Two wind turbines are expected to be up
and running in Willmar by the end of July.

The city is finishing up construction of the turbines, which
will each generate two megawatts of power.

Wesley Hompe of Willmar Municipal Utilities says the turbines
will keep 236,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Hompe says Willmar hopes to add more turbines in the future. The
initial project has a $10 million budget.

Let's see... two wind turbines will provide the city of Willmar with two mega-watts of power. Pretty impressive, eh? Well, hold the phone, as Paul Harvey would say:

That's enough to cover about 3 percent of the city's annual energy needs.

Two turbines provide three percent of Willmar's annual energy needs. According to Wikipedia, the year 2000 census (that was, of course, pre-ACORN estimates--no doubt the 2010 census will half; Willmar leans Republican by over 10%--but I digress) showed Willmar's population to be at 18,351. Some simple math indicates that two turbines will power the energy needs of some 550.3 of Willmar's 18,351 residents.

Of course, the story states that Willmar has plans to further their capacity by building more wind turbines. At this rate, they will need to build a paltry 30 more wind turbines to meet the needs of all of Willmar's residents, that is if they most likely power nothing but a small fan to keep cool and cook nothing but toast for their meals.

In other words, the turbine plant at Pipestone and the exercise in futility at Willmar's taxpayers' expense are but a microcosm of the empty promises laid out by the messiah lord Obama, Algore, and sadly, even Tim Pawlenty.

For no other reason than to make themselves feel better.

For in the end, folks, it's not about the environment. It's not about mother earth.

It's about them.

Such Classy Candidates...the dfl has....

With Governor Pawlenty's announcement that he will not seek a third term, a number of wannabes and also-rans have thrown their hat into the ring.

The Minnesota Progressive Project has a post with various quotes from a number of DFL gubernatorial hopefuls. Below are a few excerpts from each of the candidates mentioned:

Susan Gaertner:

"Finally, as we move forward it is imperative that we resolve to reject a Republican Party political philosophy that will surely try to maintain the Pawlenty agenda of insensitivity toward those most in need and a fiscal policy that has been disastrous to our state's future." [said she, in a snit--whatever that is--ed]

Margaret Kelliher:

"We were dealing with a governor who decided to throw in the towel and walk away from the type of Democracy we have," she said Friday afternoon." [Of course, she didn't mention that under Kelliher's leadership, things moved faster in a morgue--ed]

Steve Kelley:

"Tim Pawlenty's time in office has been devastating to Minnesota. His budget gimmicks have wreaked havoc on the financial stability of our state. In the past six years, school class sizes have exploded, vulnerable adults and children have been left to fend for themselves, working Minnesotans have lost their jobs, college kids have been forced to drop out due to skyrocketing tuition, and much, much more. We must have the courage to challenge the short sighted philosophy that is wrecking our state." [Cats sleeping with dogs! Plagues! Armafriggengedden!"--ed]

And we'd be remiss if we didn't include the third-person megalomaniacal rantings of John Marty:

"We enthusiastically welcome that news that Governor Pawlenty will not be seeking a third term. This is great news for the entire State of Minnesota. This may be an admission from Tim Pawlenty that he has done as much damage as possible, and is now stepping aside to allow a leader of vision and moral courage to occupy the Governor's Office. That leader is Senator John Marty." [And that's GOD, to you, plebian!"--ed]

That cadre of gubernatorial hopefuls can be made analogous to many of Minnesota's great educational institutions status during the summer months: NO CLASS.

But the field is not without its shining stars. Take this relatively classy comment by Paul Thissen:

I think the governor's announcement today is further evidence of what I've seen very clearly while traveling the state over the last year. The thirst for new leadership in Minnesota is real. But this race has never been about whether governor Pawlenty is running or not - it's about what's best for the future of Minnesota and I look forward to bringing that message to every corner of the state.

Not devoid of rancor, but a refreshing change, nonetheless.

But perhaps the most surprisingly classy comment from the bunch came from whom I thought to be an unlikely candidate to display decorum--Matt Entenza, himself:

"I served with Tim Pawlenty in the Minnesota state legislature for eight years and worked with him as governor for four years. While we had principled disagreements on policy, this is a day to recognize that he and his family have made substantial sacrifices for public service.

"My campaign for governor is about a new vision for Minnesota, one of making Minnesota work again by embracing the clean energy economy and providing the best education in the nation for our kids. Our state faces major challenges, including huge budget deficits and low job growth. It's time to focus on addressing these challenges and on moving our state forward.

"I look forward to finding out who the GOP candidates will be so we can have a vigorous debate about Minnesota's future."

Good on you, Mr. Entenza! the respectability and decorum award certainly goes to you, and here's hoping the level of "politics as usual" muck and mire in which we've been anchored in Minnesota will take a refreshing turn for the better!

An Outside Look at Our Insides

Why does the common sense need to come from North Dakota?

"Whether one agrees or disagrees with the Republican governor’s deep cuts in vital programs, the claim he’s misusing his power is bogus. The governor has the authority both to veto budgets and apply “unallotment” when there is not enough revenue to pay for everything lawmakers approved. That’s exactly what Pawlenty is doing. His action is generating howls among Democratic leaders who failed to lead.

For example, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, in a column she wrote accused the governor of a “power grab.” She contended that use of allotment power is reserved only for emergency situations. Does she not understand the state’s budget emergency?"

Read, as they say, the whole thing. As a somewhat frequent critic of Governor Pawlenty, what with his "green" initiatives, and all. I would have to unequivocally say that he's performed his job admirably this last legislative session. My hope is that his replacement performs his job with equal vigor and attention paid to the interest of hard-working, tax-paying Minnesotans.

(h/t Gary Gross)

Larry Haws--Aren't you a little old to be throwing tantrums?

In Larry Haws' latest email to his constituents:

..as a supporter of the New Minnesota Miracle this session, I was disappointed that a framework for moving in that direction was not part of the final budget bill. This education funding reform would provide schools with stable, adequate and more equitable funding, with $600 million in net property tax relief. It would also have fully funded the state share of special education costs. Nevertheless, the legislation that we passed this year represented the best-case scenario for Minnesota’s schools and students in these challenging economic times.

[SNIP]

Of course, as I’m sure you know, the session ended with the Governor signing all of the appropriations bills, but vetoing the revenue to pay for them—leaving a significant budget deficit, despite having been presented with a balanced budget by the Legislature. As a result, he has announced an unprecedented plan to engage in massive unallotment. I’m concerned these proposed unallotments will have serious and lasting ramifications for our schools.

Absolute. Hogwash.

Far from being the "Minnesota Miracle" that Mr. Haws touts, the proposed DFL budget actually would have cut K-12 funding by nearly $1 Billion, while, via smart prioritizing, each of Minnesota Governor Pawlenty's budgets presented this session INCREASED funding for K-12 schools.

Unfortunately, despite numerous offers throughout the session, the Governor refused to publicly meet with legislative leaders to reach a compromise
with the Legislature.

More. Hogwash.

The DFL refused to entertain Pawlenty's notions of not saddling hard working Minnesotans with even more taxes during one of the toughest economic times in decades. Pawlenty presented the Minnesota DFL with two balanced budgets, and the DFL dragged their knuckles and refused to work on solutions and instead spent their entire time in the legislative session (not to mention the meetings held during the summer months) engaged in exercises in mental masturbation and political posturing; chained to their certitude that, as per their usual behavior, they could milk the Minnesota taxpaying public into funding millions more dollars in special session costs and per diems.

You see, Larry Haws and his DFL cohorts thought it was going to be business as usual. Little did they know nor count on the fact that they were dealing with a governor who had enough of engaging in their petty adolescent games. Little did the teenagers with credit cards, a/k/a Minnesota DFLers know that their modus operandi of passive aggressive gamesmanship would no longer be tolerated by a governor who was not above being the parent.

And now, like youngsters who had to be spanked by their father, Larry Haws & his Minnesota DFL cohorts, caught literally with their pants down, are running around and whining and doing everything except taking responsibility that it was they, not the governor, who got themselves into this mess.

Pawlenty Plays the Parent

In an effort to fend off the inevitable "special session" that would have cost the taxpaying citizens millions of dollars (on top of the tax increases the Minnesota DFL was already planning to stick to us), Governor Tim Pawlenty today again played the adult in stopping the foolishness. Steve Gottwalt, in a letter to constituents, writes:

Dear Neighbor:

This afternoon, Governor Tim Pawlenty announced there will be no special session and no government shutdown. The 2009 session will definitely end Monday night at midnight. The governor has decided to take the bills the DFL majority has put on his desk, line-item veto in some places, and sign them. The DFL bills irresponsibly leave a gap of $3 billion, and the governor is in a position to unallot to cover the gap, although he said he would prefer a negotiated solution with the DFL leadership. They now have a few days to do that.

We face a $6.4 billion budget deficit and the Constitution states we must balance our bottom line by July 1. But the legislative majority has failed to get the job done, so the governor's announcement today says he will do the hard work of erasing the deficit with or without DFL cooperation.

The following is Governor Pawlenty's news release. I will continue to provide updates as we close out the 2009 State Legislative Session.

Sincerely in service,

Rep. Steve Gottwalt
House District 15A
St. Cloud, Waite Park, St. Augusta and Rockville


NO SPECIAL SESSION, NO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN -- GOVERNOR PAWLENTY SAYS HE WILL BALANCE STATE BUDGET

-Governor outlines plan to use executive action to balance budget, says
his preference is to sign into law a negotiated budget agreement --

Saint Paul - At the State Capitol this afternoon, Governor Tim Pawlenty said, “Politics as usual around this place is over. The people of Minnesota expect and deserve timely and decisive action. I will not let the legislature’s work spill over into a special session. We are notgoing to waste taxpayer money with a costly overtime or have a state government shutdown, especially in this economy. My preference would be for DFL legislators to work with me on a reasonable budget solution, but if they can’t get that done I will take executive action to balance the budget.”

“A key principle is that the DFL-controlled legislature shouldn’t spend more money than the state has available,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Unfortunately, they have done just that and now I’ll fix it.”

Over the past week, DFL majorities in the Minnesota House and Senate passed budget bills that leave a $3 billion shortfall between spending and revenues.

Governor Pawlenty announced today that he would use line-item vetoes during the upcoming period and his unallotment authority in July 2009 to bring the state budget into balance.

“Passing a balanced budget is the legislature’s most fundamental job. Unfortunately, so far this year the DFL majority has failed to get the job done,” Governor Pawlenty said. “In January, I outlined a balanced budget that prioritized important areas like public safety, military and veterans, and K-12 education. Now we’re in the final days of this legislative session and it’s time to let the people of Minnesota know that this will be resolved. It should get done on time and I’m saying it will get done on time.

“If the DFL cannot balance this budget without reaching into Minnesotans’ pockets and increasing our already uncompetitive taxes in ways that will kill job growth, I’m prepared to make the tough decisions they’ve avoided and take action to balance the budget.”

The Governor said final decisions have not been made regarding possible impacts to state programs, but areas could include subsidized health care programs, welfare, and other social services; K-12 and highereducation; and local government aid. In addition, state employee layoffs could be used to save additional funds. In Wisconsin, Gov. Jim Doyle has said approximately 1,100 state employees could be laid off as
part of their budget cutting measures, along with 16 furlough days over the next two years.

A compromise offer from Governor Pawlenty to DFL legislative leaders earlier this week incorporated a House DFL position (a larger K-12 education shift than proposed by the Governor), a Senate DFL position (no funds included for the budget reserve, the Governor proposed $250 million for the budget reserve) and a reduction in a proposal that the DFL indicated they didn’t support (agreeing to use only half of the
tobacco appropriation bond funds). Even though the Governor was willing to move in their direction in all three areas, DFL leaders rejected the offer.

Governor Pawlenty has also compromised during this legislative session by showing a willingness to work with DFL legislators regarding their proposed fee increases for the courts system, their lower levels of funding for K-12 education and their lack of interest in the Governor’s proposals to reduce business taxes to grow jobs and spur investment.

The Governor stated that he is unwilling to raise taxes on Minnesotans, especially as the state looks to grow jobs and recover from the economic recession. DFL legislators have proposed numerous tax increases this session, including:

● New top income tax rate of 9 percent, which would befourth-highest in the nation, including:
● New top income tax rate of 9.25 percent
● Across-the-board income tax increases
● New sales tax on Internet downloads, including music
● Elimination of the local property tax cap, enacted just last year
● Higher taxes on beer, wine and alcohol
● Higher taxes on cigarettes
● Allowing counties to increase the sales tax by 0.5 percent
● Eliminating home mortgage interest deduction
● Eliminating deduction when a person donates an organ
● Eliminating elderly or disabled income subtraction
● Eliminating child and dependent care credit
● Eliminating exemption for Minnesota state and municipal bonds interest income
● Eliminating long-term care credit

“I’m willing to work with the DFL on a reasonable plan, but I’m not willing to let them squeeze more money out of taxpayers and further burden job creators and employers in the midst of the toughest economy in more than 60 years,” Governor Pawlenty said. “One way or another, we will get the budget situation resolved, keeping taxpayers and families first in our minds.”

When you have a bunch of spoiled teenagers, a/k/a the DFL in control of the State legislature, whining for Daddy's credit card, what's a parent to do?

Minnesota DFL has a collective hissy fit...

Uncontent until they can tax everything and everyone under the sun, the Minnesota Democrats (DFLers) in the Minnesota House and Senate are throwing a collective tantrum, because Governor Pawlenty doesn't want them to have their way on tax increases.

So, instead of setting priorities, instead of looking at substantially trimming their own budget before asking Minnesota taxpayers to trim theirs, the DFL-run Minnesota Legislature has passed a "Lights On" bill that would have the effect of forcing a government shutdown, in an attempt to force Governor Pawlenty to sign on to what amounts to onerous tax increases.

This "Lights on" bill would mean that government would essentially go on as is, without any reforms or downsizing, nor setting of spending priorities, until the government literally runs out of money. This, of course, is unsustainable.

This proves that the DFL cares nothing for Minnesota's taxpayers, and only cares about paying off their cronies in the unions and other teat suckers of the government's taxpayer-funded largesse.

There is still ample time for the Minnesota DFL to come to the bargaining table. Governor Pawlenty has presented no fewer than two balanced budget options. The Governor was even willing to compromise with DFLers on some budget targets. What he won't compromise on is to burden Minnesota taxpayers with even more taxes in what is a demonstrably shaky economy, that will become even more shaky as wealthier taxpayers register their disapproval with higher taxes by moving out of state.

But it is clear that the Minnesota DFL would opt for a scorched-earth policy than even fathom the thought of setting priorities and budgeting without tax increases. Governor Pawlenty showed them how to do it.

But like self-indulgent teenagers with taxpayer-funded credit cards, the Minnesota DFL, including Larry Haws, Larry Hosch, and Tarryl Clark will have none of it.

~I'd Like To Teach the World to Sing~ (What you didnt' see on the radio)

I was listening to Gov. Pawlenty's State of the State speech yesterday, as he gave an analogy of a family at a kitchen table, trying hard to budget themselves during these difficult economic times. I was struck by the loud and raucous applause given when Governor Pawlenty asked the legislature on behalf of every Minnesotan not to increase their burdens by raising their taxes. I thought to myself, given the volume and duration of the applause, the DFL folks must be applauding, too.

Kinda gave me a pretty good feeling--like there was actually bi-partisan agreement that raising taxes during a recession was a bad thing and off the table; that was, until I received this in an email from an observer who was there, who noted:

...How rude! Notably: When Pawlenty pleaded, on behalf of average Minnesotans, "Please don't raise my taxes," the GOP stood and applauded. The DFL sat on their hands.

What that tells us is clear: The DFL will raise our taxes, given the chance. This after Tarryl Clark told a recent meeting of St. Cloud area business leaders, "I won't raise your taxes." Senate Tax Committee Chair, Tom Baak, speaking Tuesday evening at the Minnesota Grocers Association dinner in St. Paul, acknowledged that taxes cannot be increased much because it would have a chilling effect on our already frigid economy, and extend our recession. Yet there they were, firmly sitting on their hands to tell us all what their response will be to Minnesotans' plea for no more taxes.

The DFL partisanship against Governor Pawlenty this afternoon was palpable -- evident in everything from silence, smirks and asides, to negative body language. They don't want to cooperate. They want to stick this in Pawlenty and break it off! Tarryl Clark's cold stares and lack of applause spoke volumes. This from a senator who promotes herself as a moderate bridge-builder and a bi-partisan!

In the words of another song,

~Can you feel the love tonight?~

Brace yourselves. I think we're about to be raped.

T-Paw... On McCain Veep Short List?

Possibly, very short list?

ROCHESTER, New Hampshire (CNN) – It's VP tea leaf reading season, and a Republican source who attended a small private meeting with John McCain Tuesday in New Hampshire tells CNN that the GOP candidate dropped a serious hint about Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.

The Republican source said "out of the blue" McCain told the gathering that he thinks they are "really going to like" Pawlenty.

As Chairman for the national McCain For President Committee, the perceived degree of possibility of Tim Pawlenty as a possible Veep pick for McCain has vacillated wildly since February of this year; at times it looked like he was a definite pick, at other times a longshot. Don't get me wrong. I like Governor Pawlenty. But a Pawlenty pick would do very little to shore up McCain's conservative bonafides. A pick of a true-blue conservative such as Bobby Jindal, on the other hand, would take the McCain campaign light years toward healing the obvious rift between conservative purists and some of the uncomfortably left-leaning policies of the McCain platform.

***UPDATE****

I guess a Bobby Jindal candidacy is not in the cards.