Hotdish Tuesday – Reaction to “The Ticket”

Joe Bodell took a thorough look at the Presidential Slate earlier, but around the blogs everyone is still buzzing about the possible McCain/Pawlenty ticket. 

more inside Sure, it’s just a co-chairmanship right now, but is Governor Pawlenty preparing to cut and run on his office?  Flash seems to think so, stating “Reports that Gov. T Paw is ‘very happy being the governor of Minnesota’ may be grossly exaggerated.”

Matt at MNPublius has plenty to say on the issue.

So, Is Timmy actively lobbying for that chance [to be vice president]? Well, yes and no. He sure is kissing a whole lot of McCain ass lately and there’s no doubt in my mind that it’s in order to keep the VP option open, but who knows how hard he’s pushing internally. Frankly, I don’t care because it’s a moot point.  Pawlenty’s maneuvering to keep his options open and he certainly won’t turn down the offer if asked.

Bottom line: Minnesota government isn’t the only thing on Timmy’s mind these days.

However, it seems like Pawlenty’s own conservative followers just aren’t that into him.  Andy Aplikowski says:

The time is now to put an end to this notion that populist, centrist, opportunists are what best represents the Republican party. We’re at a breaking point in the GOP both in Minnesota and nationally. Minnesota conservatives like myself are having to not only convince the State Party that moderation is far from the key to rebounding from the 2006 elections, but nationally there is a leadership vacuum that the opportune McCain seems all to willing to fill, despite his shortfalls in the area.

Unfortunately Pawlenty has decided to take yet another position that many many in his own party will be praying he fails on, to push McCain upon us and tell us to like it. In fact, there will be very many powerful people with in the Republican party, and in the market place for ideas, fighting against Pawlenty/McCain on this latest mission. I worry it will be the final straw with the varying conservative wings of the MNGOP, and Pawlenty will be damaged goods for Minnesota legislative negotiations.

Time will tell just how big a mistake this will be for Pawlenty, but I am far too worried that he is taking the conservatives for granted, again.

Is Andy the voice of Minnesota Conservatives?  He seems to be the voice of Conservative bloggers, that’s for sure.  According to a recent presidential poll on GOP Bloggers, John McCain came in at -23%.