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Tim Pawlenty (file)
Tim Pawlenty became the first Republican candidate to drop out of the 2012 presidential race. He announced his decision yesterday in Iowa, where all the mild-mannered magic began.
As you probably know, it was the widely held belief on The Last Word that T-Paw would ultimately bag the nomination. Despite all his talk of "Google tests" and lame attempts to appear "hip" by quoting Lady Gaga songs, he was the only candidate who didn't seem to have a fatal flaw. He came off as the nice guy.
But, his low-key vibe never gained traction with the current GOP field, which is veering further to the right.
Last Word host Lawrence O'Donnell issued this statement on Pawlenty's early withdrawal:
"Tim Pawlenty won the rational vote in Iowa on Saturday. But this is the year that the irrational vote is controlling Republican politics in Washington and on the campaign trail. When I picked Pawlenty as the best bet for the nomination, I made the mistake of thinking Republican primary voters would do what they have always done and calmly choose the safest candidate on their ballots to send into a general election. Like all candidates, Pawlenty had weaknesses but the candidates who beat him are defined entirely by their weaknesses. There is a clear defect in all the other Republican candidates that would prevent them from winning the nomination in a rational Republican party, but one of them is going to be the nominee. Pawlenty's problem turned out to be, despite all his right wing pandering, he just wasn't crazy enough. The party that nominated cautious campaigners like the first and second Bush, Bob Dole and John McCain has decided to go in an irrational direction. And I can't predict the irrational."
It's not clear who will fill the void of those slicked out campaign ads.
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We all have been given a FRONT ROW SEAT to the end of the GOP, as we know it! Compromise is a dirty word with this NEW GOP. They don't want to shrink government, but THEY WANT TO GET RID OF IT!
1. No EPA
2. No Dept of Ed (you know the department that administers the nation's federal student aid program)
3. No Restructions On Business (yep, you should be forced to work overtime with no extra pay!)
4. No Social Security, Medicare, or Madicaid (they want these administered by the private industry, sure they'll jump all over insuring the elderly. Here's an insurance fact, medical insurance refer to paying claims as a LOST! Can you imagine how much of a LOST the elderly will cost insurers? Think about it!)
5. Reduce taxes even more (What? Yep! Here's something to think about again, at the end of Dec 2000 our unemployment rate was 3.9% nationally. If tax cuts create jobs, WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY?)
6. They don't want to raise the debt ceiling...EVER! (That reasoning is what caused Standard and Poorer's to drop our credit rating. If we don't pay our debt down (revenues = taxes) simply reducing spending will never truly pay off the debt in a reasonable amount of time. Who wants to pay interest for the rest of their life?)
We are looking at the NEW GOP that has a COMPLETELY different vision of for our nation and we must ask, are we ready to get behind this kind of thinking?
I just want to express my condolences to Lawrence, his family and friends on the loss of his Mother.
Well Lawrence who do we pick now?
My deepest sympathy to Lawrence, his family and friends on the loss of his mother Frances. May she Rest in Peace.
Sorry, it's got nothing to do with rationality. Since Kennedy it's been about TV. And Pawlenty just doesn't have it.
Agreed, Lawrence. With so many crazies in the field, the pseudo-crazy no longer has a chance. You need to be certifiable now to get the attention of the right wing voters.