The Pessimist View On Pawlenty's 'Greatness'
I would take a different perspective on the Special Session showdown than many fellow travelers here on the right have. I mean no offense to them, but I think Governor Pawlenty, but more importantly the Republican Party, will end up in a position of weakness on this one.
It was the DFL that came to Pawlenty's terms. It was Pawlenty who said "no" to them.
Katrina in the Northland?
It will be DFLers who can now say that 'Pawlenty refused to call a special session to deal with just the tragedies, even when we [the DFL] met his demands'.
I'm guessing the mailers and brochures are already on the presses. All they need is the 'Brownie' sound bite. Unfortunately Pawlenty is on tape saying he'd support a gas tax, comprehensive transportation bill, property tax relief, and flood assistance over and over and over, so they may have all they need.
Does "Road block Republicans" sound familiar anyone? You may want to get used to it.
I am a Pawlenty skeptic since he has let me down many times in the past, and I am also fully aware that every move the DFL makes is calculated politically. They knew exactly what they were doing when they sent that letter to Pawlenty agreeing to his terms. They knew he would refuse their offer.
I think they may now be holding all the cards, but there are only two ways to find that out.
We've seen them successfully mislabel a debate or position before. Now I don't play poker, but the cards it seems Republicans are holding are a few short of a Full House, and the DFL is running the table.
Some times you got to know when to fold 'em. This time, we shouldn't have even sat down at the table.
Crossposted at ResidualForces.com, go there to comment.
It was the DFL that came to Pawlenty's terms. It was Pawlenty who said "no" to them.
Katrina in the Northland?
It will be DFLers who can now say that 'Pawlenty refused to call a special session to deal with just the tragedies, even when we [the DFL] met his demands'.
I'm guessing the mailers and brochures are already on the presses. All they need is the 'Brownie' sound bite. Unfortunately Pawlenty is on tape saying he'd support a gas tax, comprehensive transportation bill, property tax relief, and flood assistance over and over and over, so they may have all they need.
Does "Road block Republicans" sound familiar anyone? You may want to get used to it.
I am a Pawlenty skeptic since he has let me down many times in the past, and I am also fully aware that every move the DFL makes is calculated politically. They knew exactly what they were doing when they sent that letter to Pawlenty agreeing to his terms. They knew he would refuse their offer.
I think they may now be holding all the cards, but there are only two ways to find that out.
- Pawlenty would have to call a special session hoping to trust DFL leaders who admit they can't control their own caucuses (so all bets are off as to a narrow debate)
- Republican State House candidates get labeled as 'Roadblock Republicans in the 2008 cycle and spend all their time defending Pawlenty's choice here
We've seen them successfully mislabel a debate or position before. Now I don't play poker, but the cards it seems Republicans are holding are a few short of a Full House, and the DFL is running the table.
Some times you got to know when to fold 'em. This time, we shouldn't have even sat down at the table.
Crossposted at ResidualForces.com, go there to comment.