Is this why Pawlenty didn’t get the nod?

2 comments August 29th, 2008

Rove wants McCain to pick Romney; Lieberman tells Rove to shove it?

2 comments August 28th, 2008

John McCain is expected to ANNOUNCE tomorrow his choice for a running mate on the Republican ticket.

According to THIS PIECE, notorious sleazemeister Karl Rove favors Mitt Romney for the veep slot and recently told Joe Lieberman that he should withdraw himself from consideration. Lieberman reportedly rejected Rove’s advice.

However, semi-retired columnist Bob Novak SAYS Lieberman has, in fact, demurred and has told McCain that he would be a disastrous choice as a running mate.

On the other hand, New York Times conservative columnist David Brooks suggested last night on PBS that President Bush wants McCain to pick Lieberman.

Meanwhile, the Religious Right stands ready to kick up a fuss if McCain chooses a pro-choicer like Lieberman, Tom Ridge or Kay Bailey Hutchison.

I’m still betting on Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, but I probably won’t be disappointed if I’m wrong.  Actually, I hope it’ll be Romney.

UPDATE: Now McCain SAYS he hasn’t yet made up his mind on a running mate.

More stuff on why Mitt won’t get veep slot

3 comments August 16th, 2008

I’ve been telling you for weeks and weeks that there’s no way John McCain is going to choose Mitt Romney as his running mate, but some of you still don’t agree with me.

Well, consider THIS.

I still think it’s going to be Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (although I’m not as sure on that point as I once was).

Second thoughts about Tim Pawlenty

Add comment August 7th, 2008

Wouldn’t you know!

Just this past Monday night, I put my enviable reputation as a political seer on the line with a flat-out PREDICTION that John McCain will pick Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty as his running-mate. And then what happens?

Pawlenty is now telling America that he ADMIRES the positive tone of Barack Obama’s campaign. Such statements will not, of course, endear young Tim to certain elements in the Republican Party (which is why he’s pictured above fading into the background behind McCain).

Drat it all! I was looking forward to basking in the glow of my uncommon political prescience. 

Daring prediction: McCain will pick Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty as his running mate

1 comment August 4th, 2008

As a cautious — dare I say it? — conservative observer of the political scene, I don’t like making bold predictions without good evidence to support them.

And if I’m wrong about this, I might just delete this post and deny that it ever appeared.

But the tea leaves, as I read them, convince me that John McCain will choose Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty as his running mate.

The 47-year-old Pawlenty is a popular two-term governor with a blue-collar background. He has ties to the evangelical community but is not considered a religious firebrand. My sources indicate that he’d be acceptable to most GOP conservatives.

The announcement from McCain likely will come sooner rather than later.

HERE’s the Wikipedia profile of Pawlenty.

Jindal says no to running with McCain; buzz now focuses on Pawlenty

3 comments July 23rd, 2008

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal virtually bowed out today as a potential running mate with John McCain, and another governor, Tim Pawlenty (above) of Minnesota, became the subject of intense speculation regarding the Republican veep slot.

HERE’s the story.

POSTSCRIPT: Who had this to say about the kind of person Mr. Straight Talk should choose for a running mate?:

“What I’m afraid of is that if Sen. McCain picks one more relatively boring, normal, mainstream Republican white guy… he just makes the ticket seem boring compared to the level of energy and drive and excitement that Obama has.”

Give up? Want a hint?  He’s a former speaker of the U.S. House.

The answer is in the first entry in the comments section.