[Speed Gibson,
Tuesday December 27, 2005 at 11:28pm]
Maverick, j.g.
Allow me to catch up with this spin on our Governor's peformance, as noted at Our House. This was from last Saturday's Minneapolis Star Tribune.
This is Junior Woodchuck stuff, not a real maverick or Maverick. There's no real courage being shown here, confronting three unpopular businesses. Not opponents - businesses.
How about taking on Big Education, Mr. Pawlenty? Where were you when Cheri Yecke was under attack? Where was your outrage when she was ambushed by Senate Democrats? Why does your vaunted Q-Comp pay without any competent evidence of improvement?
How about taking on Big Entertainment, Mr. Pawlenty? Why are you campaigning to subvert a very reasonable State law in order to impose a tax that voters would otherwise not approve? Why are you supporting the Gopher football stadium, the weakest case of all?
How about taking on Big Environment, Mr. Pawlenty? There's no case for Ethanol or bio-Diesel. They don't save oil, don't reduce pollution, but do clog our engines. There's no competent research underlying and justifying these smoking bans, but you're ready to sign a statewide ban that will close out dozens more establishments, careers, and nesteggs.
And most of all, how about taking on Big Government? Why did you throw in the tax increase towel early last spring? What happened to the fiscal discipline of your first two years? What's all this talk of "fun" stuff that we now have to pay for?
Let's remember a real maverick, the late Governor Rudy Perpich. He took on Big Education, dragging them kicking and screaming into Open Enrollment.
Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said Pawlenty's bold style puts him at greater risk for setbacks but also bears out a vision and maverick streak that will resonate with Minnesotans.
Since being elected, McClung said, Pawlenty has taken on "Big Pharma," through his relentless push for importation of cheaper Canadian drugs; "Big Oil," through his biodiesel and ethanol initiatives, and "Big Tobacco," by boosting cigarette prices to a level that lowers smoking rates.
"Most governors would be reluctant to take on one of those cartels, let alone all three," McClung said. "He's a maverick. This is a governor who doesn't shy away from a big battle with powerful opponents when he's doing something he thinks is right."
This is Junior Woodchuck stuff, not a real maverick or Maverick. There's no real courage being shown here, confronting three unpopular businesses. Not opponents - businesses.
How about taking on Big Education, Mr. Pawlenty? Where were you when Cheri Yecke was under attack? Where was your outrage when she was ambushed by Senate Democrats? Why does your vaunted Q-Comp pay without any competent evidence of improvement?
How about taking on Big Entertainment, Mr. Pawlenty? Why are you campaigning to subvert a very reasonable State law in order to impose a tax that voters would otherwise not approve? Why are you supporting the Gopher football stadium, the weakest case of all?
How about taking on Big Environment, Mr. Pawlenty? There's no case for Ethanol or bio-Diesel. They don't save oil, don't reduce pollution, but do clog our engines. There's no competent research underlying and justifying these smoking bans, but you're ready to sign a statewide ban that will close out dozens more establishments, careers, and nesteggs.
And most of all, how about taking on Big Government? Why did you throw in the tax increase towel early last spring? What happened to the fiscal discipline of your first two years? What's all this talk of "fun" stuff that we now have to pay for?
Let's remember a real maverick, the late Governor Rudy Perpich. He took on Big Education, dragging them kicking and screaming into Open Enrollment.
I want Pawlenty booted from the Party as an example to other Republicans that there is something called accountability. What makes this guy a Republican? His stance on minimum wage? No new taxes? Smoking bans? I can't think of a thing.