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Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak told a Fox News TV audience today that should Gov. Tim Pawlenty run for president in 2012, “he’s gonna get his butt kicked by Barack Obama.” Rybak, one of Obama’s earliest backers, dodged a question about whether he’ll run to replace Pawlenty, who jumpstarted speculation that he’s gunning for the White House when he announced Tuesday he’ll skip a third term.
Here’s how it went down:
FOX: Are you going to run for governor?
RYBAK: We’ll figure that out tomorrow. …
FOX: …The governor of your state is saying he’s going to run, he going for the White House! [sic]
RYBAK: Well, he’s gonna get his butt kicked by Barack Obama, but that’s another thing…
FOX: Wow!
Rybak appeared with radio host Steve Crowley and Mayor Virg Bernero of Lansing, Mich., on a segment about small business’ role in curing unemployment. Rybak had his positive-outlook patter down cold (at 1:30):
Hey look, this is America. We’re not on our knees. We know what we’re doing. We’ve done great things and we’re going to do them again. We just need to get back to the basics of invention, incubation and manufacturing. We can do this.
Bernero is a fireball that Fox must like from past appearances (video). If Rybak tripped their trigger today with his fightin’ words, maybe he’ll become the kind of opposite-number regular on Fox that Pawlenty is on MSNBC.
[Via MPR's Polinaut]
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6 Comments »
Comment posted June 5, 2009 @ 6:54 pm
Actually, Mayor Rybak has been on FOX Business a few times now. I think they like him. Someone besides Pawlenty has got to represent!
Comment posted June 5, 2009 @ 8:22 pm
Rybak could not even run his own city, his word means nothing
Comment posted June 6, 2009 @ 4:12 am
Can’t run his own city? How so? Do you live in Minneapolis? Youth crime is down 40% over the last several years! The unemployment rate is lower than comparable cities across the country! Minneapolis has more more public space per capita than any major city of similar size! You don’t know what you’re talking about! Rybak is considered one of the best mayors in the world and that’s not a distinction given out lightly! Programs like the Minneapolis Promise to a consistently balanced budget make him one of the most successful urban mayors in this country!!
Comment posted June 7, 2009 @ 3:45 pm
Add to that, Rybak has to overcome the burdens placed on the city by the “Amiable Prick”
Comment posted June 8, 2009 @ 10:27 am
ah palenty who?
Comment posted July 31, 2009 @ 10:24 am
gutter87 is so wrong about Mr. Rybak. He is a forceful and insightful leader who is right for the times. I will be sad to see him leave Minneapolis for the Governor’s mansion.
As a result of Mr. Rybak’s guidance, Minneapolis is a very lovely and friendly town. We can walk the streets at all hours and be safe. The public spaces are beautiful with the art and sculptures. The schools are caring and nurturing for our children. The library system is second to none in the nation. We are an inclusive city that honors and values the contributions of all of our citizens. And we are striving to become the first fully sustainable, eco-friendly city in America. That will help increase the job base and bring many more union jobs to our fine town.
Minneapolis and Mr. Rybak do have some issues with taxes and funding. But those are because T-Paw has slashed all funding to the cities to benefit his rich friends with tax cuts. It is not Mr. Rybak’s fault that T-Paw has taken away money that we deserve in Minneapolis.
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