Pawlenty won the last shutdown and transit strike? That’s his Iowa pitch

Pawlenty won the last shutdown and transit strike? That’s his Iowa pitch

Posted by: Jeremy Herb under 2012 Presidential election, Gov. Tim Pawlenty Updated: July 5, 2011 - 11:17 AM


With Minnesota’s government shutdown in the national news, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty is up with a new ad in Iowa today claiming he “won” the state’s last shutdown, as well as the 2004 transit strike.

Pawlenty’s ad is the latest to hit on his theme of “results, not rhetoric,” a slogan he used in a radio ad released last month in Iowa, the first-in-the-nation caucus state.

While Pawlenty is talking up his past showdowns, the former Minnesota governor also has a stake in the current shutdown as he makes his bid for the White House.

The shutdown can help bolster Pawlenty’s conservative credentials and let him tout his past dust-ups, but it also puts Minnesota’s $5.2 billion deficit in the national spotlight, a figure that critics tie to Pawlenty, though he claims no responsibility for it.

Pawlenty’s 75-cent cigarette “health impact fee” will also get some ink — something that goes unmentioned in his new Iowa ad.

Watch the Iowa ad below:

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craigbbopperJul 5, 1111:36 am

Oh, so it's a contest with winners and losers? If Pawlenty won, then the state lost. In a similar light, Pawlenty's loss (in his presidential bid) will be America's win.
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Mister_EJul 5, 1111:37 am

Even Iowans will see that Pawlenty's slogan is dyslexic and really reads, "Rhetoric, not results".
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denisjahJul 5, 1111:53 am

The man is a buffoon. And he couldn't carry his home state. Next case.
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stefanjohaJul 5, 1111:55 am

He's really showing some great compassion towards his home state here. First he announces his presidential run the same day tornadoes hit North Mpls (while saying nothing about the disaster) then says the shutdown will be a good thing (presumably not for the tens of thousands of unemployed state employees) and now spins this and the previous shutdown as a victory for his "results-driven" politics. Keep it up Pawlenty, the results will speak for themselves.
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fanofcaribouJul 5, 1111:57 am

I thought that in a shut down, both sides lose because they couldn't get their jobs done. I guess we have winners and losers according to tPaw. He forgot to mention the people who get screwed by the shut down caused by the so called winners and losers
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hopwongJul 5, 1112:00 pm

Oh Pawlenty, last I saw Bus Drivers still got their raises and made their point!!!
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beveryafraidJul 5, 1112:05 pm

Yes, Pawlenty was always looking out for himself first. No argument there.
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granma4peaceJul 5, 1112:21 pm

From an article on the MPR website back in 2005: "Eight days into the government shutdown, after a series of marathon negotiating sessions, Johnson, Sviggum and Pawlenty finally agreed on a budget framework.""Democrats got most of what they had wanted since January. They forced the governor to propose a tax increase, and they preserved MinnesotaCare. They also got more money for schools, which Republicans also wanted.""The budget deal did not include racino, despite the fact that, according to Johnson, Republicans had talked about the gambling money 42 times in negotiating sessions."And this is the big win Pawlenty's commercial is bragging about?
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melvinJul 5, 1112:22 pm

link is not working for reading comments. It says 7 but get none.
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dancingjesusJul 5, 1112:30 pm

maybe Pawlenty "won" the last gov't shutdown and transit strike, but the state of Minnesota lost. Nice job, Timmy.
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hockeymom747Jul 5, 1112:33 pm

T-Paw will never get anywhere in the national spotlight - Everyone knows this shutdown was in large part due to mess he left us during his term. If he runs, he won't even carry Minnesota!
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batmanrobinJul 5, 1112:41 pm

Coffee this morning involved discussion of the following: Which has a more likely chance of happening, Mauer batting .400 or Tpaw getting the Republican presidential nomination. Mauer won in a landslide.
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tooty123Jul 5, 1112:55 pm

Shifting and borrowing is not the way to go. Schools are already down from T-Paw's last shift away from the schools. Raising cigarette taxes (not fees) is also a gimmick. His "no taxes pledge" but "tax/fees" has cost MN from retaining its rankings in education, health, economy, etc. Using the rainy day funds was also a complete disaster. He's going nowhere, but we have at least 10 articles to comment on about him.
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jimmyjames76Jul 5, 111:03 pm

Of course he "won". He's cut from the same stone as the current GOP. He doesn't compromise no matter how bad it is for the state and it's people. He'll bring that same winning attitude to the White House.
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jrn56Jul 5, 111:59 pm

This guy has no class whatsoever.
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essdee09Jul 5, 112:30 pm

Based on Timmy's grasp of history and math, it's obvious the GOP slash-and-burn on school funding has had its desired effect....
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danielfbooneJul 5, 113:34 pm

In Pawlenty's next Iowa ad, he congratulates himself for the role he played in last years Viking's Super bowl win.
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rabiddemJul 5, 113:48 pm

I've said this before and I'd like to point out that T-paw just doesn't have the actual, physical FACE of a leader. He has this weaselly, mouth full of luke-warm dog-crap look about him. What does he weigh? i heard he used to play hockey. Boy, I'd love to play against him. I've always wanted to check a rich boy right into next week so hard that his rich parents don't have any new hockey gear to write off on their taxes ever again. Honestly, does anyone know how much he weighs? T-paw, his name is fastly becoming a "by-word among the gentiles!"
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njoyfun1Jul 5, 114:36 pm

If Timmy is so good at this shut down business, why didn't he volunteer for the commission?
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sundooberJul 5, 114:38 pm

We had a loved one die at the bottom of the Mississippi thanks to your "winning", Mr. Pawlenty. You are not fit to govern at all. You have destroyed MN with your gimmicks and dishonesty. I would sincerely hope that the rest of the US is made aware of all your shenanigans as MN governor. If you, or Bachmann, are the best our state has to offer, we are hopeless.
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Thunderfoot3Jul 5, 117:37 pm

The sooner he shuts up the better off we all will be. He has a far better impression of himself than the public does. Too bad he doesn't know it. It is surprising how small the package is when he is all wrapped up in himself. He is an example pathetic!
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daAtmnzooJul 5, 118:52 pm

Now that is really something to be proud of!!!!! Timmy made the promise "NO NEW TAXES"; what really hits home is that while the taxes did not go up; the hit in my back pocket skyrocketed. But true to his word he did not raise taxes; the additional costs were called user fees. As a former state employee we were fortunate to have a job. How many employers were able to freeze wages and refuse collective bargaining for 6 out of 8 years? Yes I know the news which tends to look for huge issues likes to picture out State employees as always leaning on a shovel our doing less than others. I can guarantee myself and employees had more pride in ourselves than that; as a leader it was my task to ensure that we worked for our day's wages.
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akillerfanJul 5, 1110:20 pm

We know T-paw very well here in Minnesota. He did the state of Minnesota no favours as Governor. His method of governing was demeaning to real people and offered little to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Minnesota. I expected much more from him. He certainly would not get my vote as President. He is not the leader the country needs or should want at this time.
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ted2youJul 5, 1111:31 pm

Thanks Tpaw, if I didn't feel badly enough that our state is a financial disaster, now our former governor is declaring the current mess he presided over as a vitory for him. I'm not sure our country is ready for his kind of success.
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kingboreasJul 6, 113:45 am

I'm almost happy that Michele is kicking his a$$. >almost happy
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tacotonyJul 6, 1111:27 am

I voted for Pawlenty once, but watching the backward slide of the state under his watch has made me reconsider what type of leadership I want for our state. Going backward in every measurable category that is important for the future of the state was a short term win for Pawlenty, and a long term loss for the people. Other than saving people a few income tax dollars [more than offset by huge property tax increases.] The man has no vision for the future, and his current standing in his bid for the GOP nomination reflect that lack of leadership vision. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of his political misadventure
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wallyworldmnJul 6, 114:28 pm

Pawlenty is correct but should add that the Governor is in the drivers seat and should win. Unless there is a veto-proof majority in the legislature, there is no reason the Governor should not prevail.
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gwillikersJul 6, 116:03 pm

It scares me that he might be taken seriously elsewhere. It's easy to lie when your listeners don't have the facts. If he somehow manages to move forward in the polls, we will have to work to get his REAL record out there!