First, congratulations to Bob Davis and Tom Emmer, now the official headliners of the KTLK-FM morning show. It's the best drive time radio on the dial even if riddled with endless traffic reports like everyone else. Today they had a spirited and illustrative debate about the Presidential candidancy of our own Tim Pawlenty, Governor of Minnesota from 2003-2011. I've had my own debates on this with my betters in the MOB (Minnesota Organization of Blogs). In the past, we have largely agreed that Pawlenty isn't exactly Conservative, but some say he's close enough and unlike the more pure Conservatives, has the electability to get that promised half a loaf.
Trouble was, that half a loaf was different from the half he promised, hence his record of flip-flopping on issues like raising taxes, commuter rail, the smoking ban, and of course, the Twins stadium deal. And he's doing more now, finding he now has to walk back much of his green energy advocacy. Bob Davis considers Pawlenty's prior daliances like support of "Cap and Trade" legislation as original and unpardonable sin. Tom Emmer asks: cannot a man learn from his mistakes? As long as he gets it now, isn't that what we want? Mr. Emmer is correct. Ronald Reagan was once a Democrat.
But there is more to this story in Pawlenty's case. It's hard to argue that he has become more fundamentally Conservative since to date he has demonstrated few if any fundamental beliefs to date. He is what his record shows, a populist politician, now tacking into the libertarian winds of 2012.
There's a bit of a personal problem here also. When upbraided (correctly) by the Right for his "health impact fee" nonsense, clearly defying the Minnesota Taxpayers League pledge he signed not to raise taxes, he bared his teeth as he suddenly turned on the Conservative supporters that helped him get elected. It was an ugly moment, one that may come back to haunt him. The Twins stadium deal also showed a rather naked selfishness, that it was better that he snatch ballots out of the taxpayer's hands lest he get blamed for the Twins (allegedly) leaving town.
The magic of Conservatism is that it largely keeps you out of trouble even if you don't fully understand why. It's more obvious than ever that government governs best by governing least. That one principle says no to Ethanol, no to light rail, no to Fannie Mae, no to entrenched education monopolies, and no to the Tarryl Clark's of the world that think government is a coloring book awaiting their panache. I think that's a big part of what infuriates the Left about Sarah Palin. Armed with what they perceive as mere simplistic dogma she nonetheless resonates with millions of Americans, at times stripping liberals bare with a phrase like "death panels."
So now Tim Pawlenty is making the rounds, walking back part of his record, making policy speeches. Last night's speech at the University of Chicago was particularly feisty, no doubt trying to address his other problems as well: low name recognition and a relatively colorless personality. The GOP intelligentsia loved it but so what? What about this man tells you he won't come up with his own version of Medicare Part D should he become President?
Should it become an Obama vs Pawlenty general election, no doubt about it, I'll vote for Pawlenty and hope for the best. But as for the nomination, I'm still waiting for a true epiphany, a new Pawlenty that's willing to take it all back and for the right reasons, including his self-serving support of Sen. John McCain for President in 2008.
I don't expect perfection. Rep. Michele Bachmann hasn't voted my way on a few issues like Ethanol. But she has demonstrated Conservative bona fides. I therefore can accept a daliance or two knowing how difficult it can be to get a clean deal or a clean bill, knowing that if it was just Ethanol on the table she would be far more likely to vote no than Mr. Pawlenty. She gets it.
Until Tim Pawlenty gets it, my support for him will have to wait unless and until the field is cleared of the more principled candidates.
