Clues Emerge on Romney’s VP Pick
Meantime, attention increasingly is turning to Tim Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor and onetime Romney primary-season foe. Of elected officials who joined Mr. Romney in a recent six-state campaign tour, Mr. Pawlenty stood out to party leaders as they handicapped who might be chosen to join the GOP ticket.
Who Might Be a Romney Running Mate?
Take a look at some of the possibilities and cast your vote for who you think would be best.
As is pro forma among potential picks, Mr. Pawlenty has shrugged off questions about the No. 2 slot. But over time, his denials have shifted from suggesting that Mr. Romney take his name off the list to noting that anybody would be honored to serve, if asked. He has been through this before: Mr. Pawlenty was said to be on GOP nominee John McCain’s shortlist in 2008.
Mr. Pawlenty and other potential running mates joined Mr. Romney for parts of the five-day bus tour that ended Tuesday. “I don’t know if you’ve been listening or not, but Barack Obama’s been going around the country basically saying his campaign theme is, ‘It could be worse,’ ” Mr. Pawlenty told voters in Cornwall, Pa. “I’ve got news for the president: It’s really bad. Mitt Romney’s telling the country it’s going to get a lot better when he’s president.”
Some Republicans have questioned whether Mr. Portman’s time as budget chief under former President George W. Bush would prove a liability to Mr. Romney. Ms. Ayotte is new to the national stage. Another potential pick, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, has said he isn’t being vetted. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal are also seen as potential running mates.
Ben Golnik, a longtime Republican operative who previously served as executive director of the Republican Party in Minnesota, said Mr. Pawlenty can relate to people at a VFW lodge or in a Fortune 500 boardroom. “He’s a known quantity. He’s been vetted. He’s been tested. There would be no learning curve for him,” Mr. Golnik said.
“There are only two people in this country who know who are being vetted and who are not: And that’s Beth Myers and myself,” Mr. Romney said in Holland, Mich., referring to the longtime aide who is leading his vice presidential search. “And I know Beth well. She doesn’t talk to anybody.”
Comment: Then again, Pawlenty can talk hockey, a game he still plays, I believe…..and he has a wonderful American story to tell, almost as winsome as Marco Rubio’s. Rubio is a very sharp campaigner, brief of speech filled with facts and appropriate phrases. His Senate victory in Florida was remarkable…..and a run away. I must admit, I would like ver much to see this young bright American run with Romney…….
Maybe Romney could carry Minnesota with Pawlenty as his running mate. I don’t think it can be done. The state is far too primitive to give up its self preening about its tolerance loving minorities, no matter how criminal, vile, racist and uneducated so many in the American inner city as well as those these voters send to Congress appear to be.
I have lived in Minnesota all of my life except for a year’s worth in total in London. “We are good people her in Minnesota”…..”Advanced people”……so advanced our state university disallows thngs conservative….
Continue reading the following article at today’s PowerLine:
Paul Mirengoff in Culture, Education
Ranting pro-Obama North Carolina teacher
to retain her job
“The North Carolina high school teacher who berated a student after that student, through a question, criticized President Obama will keep her job. The teacher, Tanya Dixon-Neely, was suspended without pay, but she will return to school next year. As a condition of her return, she reportedly will be required to start what was described as a “monitored growth plan.”
Most readers will recall that Dixon-Neely went ballistic on a student who, during a classroom discussion of reports that Mitt Romney bullied a fellow student when he was in high school, said, “Didn’t Obama bully somebody though?” The student was referring to an incident Obama described in his memoir, “Dreams From My Father.” (Thus, we can say positively that this incident either did or did not happen).
The teacher’s behavior was outrageous. However, assuming that she hasn’t been discipined for serious misconduct before and that monitoring plan is real, the punishment fits the crime, and I have no problem with her keeping her job.
JOHN adds: This reminds me of an episode from the early days of Scott’s and my political careers. At the University of Minnesota, they had a freshman orientation where all the student organizations had tables and passed out literature. The college Republicans participated, but the student monitors in charge of the event confiscated the Republicans’ literature and essentially kicked them out of the event. When the Republicans complained to the university’s administration in a very polite manner, the Dean of Students responded with a letter that said that the University of Minnesota is committed to diversity, and therefore you Republicans are not welcome here. Seriously.
We represented the college Republicans against the University of Minnesota–very successfully, I am happy to say. The settlement of the case included an agreement that the President of the University and his senior administrators would submit to a certain number of hours of First Amendment sensitivity training. Let’s hope that something similar is in store for this teacher.”
Filed under: American Culture, Mitt Romney, National Politics
