When are non-Minnesotans going to learn that PAWLENTY ISN'T POPULAR?

[ButterflyBlood]

sorry, but i'm getting frustrated reading some Freeper threads, where they think Pawlenty will help Bush win Minnesota, and that he'd be a great candidate in 2008 (since he's such a sho-in in 2006). And some other claim about how he's doing such a good job will help Bush massively.

what the fuck? In 2006 Pawlenty's going to have a tough time getting more than the 44% he got in 2002 even in a two way race! He's being investigated for criminal charges and his budget cuts could potentially cause a collapse of the GOP in outstate Minnesota. And then he tries to exploit a kidnapping to call to instate the death penalty only to have some GOP lawmakers politely tell him to suck it.

And then on some old thread I find here I saw Minnesota listed among traditionally Democratic states with "very popular" Republican governors. On some other forum some people in other states say he was doing a great job handling the budget situation. It seems to me the only people who like the guy or think he's well-liked are people who don't live in Minnesota.

But no, he's not liked at all. He's trashed by the Star Tribune and local media almost weekly, and I don't know a single person who likes the SOB. And I doubt too many other Minnesota DUers do as well.

[Deja Q]

1. Quite

His cutbacks, which were caused by a $4 billion shortage that he helped to create before taking governorship (thanks to the murder of Wellstone), will be the cause of an increase in crime as well. :-(

And who's going to forget his cries of "Everyone must share in this" when the wealthy seemed to have only gained?

[EXE619K]

2. Well....

Last time I checked the Trib', he was registering at +60% approval rating.

"Blinkey", although not palatable, poses a threat in MN. I just hope that there will not be DFL/INDY/GRNS party member flocking to him much.

[frogbison]

3. A former Minnesotan

who holds the star of the north as her 'heart home,' I am very much interested in the state of the state. I have the Star/Tribune's website as my start page and check the news out of Minnesota often. Several times a day, in fact.

I feel from their reporting that he is, indeed, a popular governor. I believe he has worked to allow Minnesotans the right to import drugs from Canada, in the face of the Bush administration's kowtowing to the drug companies. Something even I, who pretty much hates all Republicans, applaud him for. My elderly mother still lives there and if it helps her, I like it.

That said, I was thoroughly dsgusted with his call for a return to the death penalty. I cannot believe that the citizens of Minnesota would step that far backward. I read reports of the state turning more conservative and I just don't want to believe it. I have long been proud of my liberal upbringing in the great state of Minnesota.

It heartens me to hear, because, frankly, I DON'T see all that much bad written about the governor, that Pawlenty is not well liked. For the death penalty reason alone.

[jean]

4. Former Mn Gov Arne Carlson (R) is very disapproving of Pawlenty

at least he was in an MPR interview a few weeks ago.

Arne thinks Tim Pawlenty is focusing on flash and dazzle and not on the basic problem of dealing with the budget. He said there is no discipline in budgetary matters. Carlson predicts (citing expert opinion) MN will face severe budget crises in the next few years due to lack of focus by Pawlenty.

Arne's opinion hasn't affected public opinion yet. And we still don't know the extent (if any) to which BBV has taken hold in Minnesota.

[x-g.o.p.er]

5. Pawlenty's popularity doesn't matter for Bush....

Because there is NO WAY Bush will carry Minnesota. For Goodness sake, the last time MN voted Rep for Pres was either Reagan in 1980, or Nixon in '72. MN is a very progressive state, and I don't see someone as marginally popular as Bush seriously competing there, IMHO.

I am a native of MN, too, but haven't lived there in 20 years. In a completely unrelated topic, I do hope Pawlenty can find a way to get a stadium built for the Twins and Vikings. It would be a shame to see those teams leave.

[former conservative]

6. pawlenty

yeah, pawlenty sucks.

[newyawker99]

22. Hi former conservative!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[EXE619K]

7. I hate to tell you but....

It's been a long 20 years for you.

Many things have changed.

Just look at the results in 2000. Gore carried the state with something like a 3% margin in his favor.

Look at 2002. The ouster of Bill Luther and what happened to Mondale.

Coleman leads in popularity compared to Dayton.

Wellstone's death was not very helpful either.

If the Dems think they can carry MN easily like they have been, they are in for a big surprise.

In my opinion, if the Dems want to pull out a win in GE...they need to concentrate on the mid-west.

There's no reason trying "pick off" couple of swing states in the south, when they cannot defend their base in Mid-west.

[frogbison]

8. THAT'S what I'm afraid of.

[ButterflyBlood]

9. Coleman leads Dayton in popularity?

that would seriously bother me, but upon searching I haven't found such a link.

I did find this though, it puts Dayton at 58/15 and Coleman at 55/22.

www.startribune.com/stories/784/4336834.html

[EXE619K]

15. Thanks for the clarification!

I've read either in PP or the Trib couple months ago on that Coleman leading Dayton in popularity.

But, it is true that Things are not so peachy for the DFL these days.

Well, compared to what it used to be here.

Sviggum and the boys are a "clear and present danger" in 2004.

I hate ta say it, but it's true.

[Supormom]

12. Minnesota has voted republican for president 3 times...

Lincoln, Eisenhower in his 2nd term, and Nixon in his 2nd term. I guess two out of three ain't bad!

[ButterflyBlood]

16. a lot more than that

it voted for Eisenhower both times and voted Republican in just about every previous election except for FDR and Truman. Of course prior to FDR the Republican party was far more progressive, when it was more the party of Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt than Nixon and *. Humphrey is who mainly turned the state around, I just hope Sviggum and his goons don't turn it back.

[question everything]

13. I don't know

The 2002 elections shook MN. Not only did Coleman win, but also Pawlenty and the Republicans took control of the house.

I am afraid that MN is no longer the progressive state of the 70s, 80s, or even the 90s. The Twin Cities sprawled and the suburban voters do not like to think beyond their immediate family and friends. They certainly do not like to think of the inner cities needs, of sharing limited resources.

"Minnesota Nice" ends when one gets on the freeway.

[jean]

20. agree - the Coleman win was a turning point

[jean]

21. agree - the Coleman win was a turning point

[question everything]

10. Poll: Most Minnesotans approve of Pawlenty

http://www.startribune.com/stories/363/4355181.html

Associated Press
Published 02/03/2004

Gov. Tim Pawlenty's job approval rating is at 56 percent, the highest since the Republican took office, according to a poll for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Minnesota Public Radio.

Most Minnesotans say Pawlenty is doing ``excellent'' or ``pretty good'' after 13 months in office, the poll published today found.

However, voters were split on the deal Pawlenty and lawmakers reached last spring to help erase $4.2 billion budget deficit.

(snip)

Pawlenty's approval rating has steadily climbed since he was elected in November 2002 with 44 percent of the vote. Shortly after he took office last year, he had a 48 percent favorable rating in a Mason-Dixon poll. Then in April, in the midst of the budget debate, he had a 50 percent favorable rating.

Mary Anne Miller, 58, a retired nurse who lives in Duluth, was one of the voters in the most recent poll who rated Pawlenty's performance as ``excellent.''

Miller, a Democrat who voted for Pawlenty, said she liked his budget priorities, which included opposing any effort by local governments to cut police or fire protection in response to reduced state aid to cities.

(snip)

[question everything]

11. Editorial: Political capital/How will Pawlenty spend his?

http://www.startribune.com/stories/561/4343078.html

Published 01/28/2004

Gov. Tim Pawlenty deserves congratulations for his uptick in approval by Minnesotans, as measured in the latest Star Tribune Minnesota Poll, for he has earned it. In the past five months, he has pulled himself out of an approval-rating slide with a rapid-fire succession of low-cost, crowd-pleasing proposals that have moderated his conservative image and assuaged some of his critics.

(snip)

[henry porter]

14. I don't like the smarmy bastard either

He's cut services to the bone--snowplowing has been a joke this winter, and for the first time in years we've had enough snow to plow. Of course, the streets and hiways in the almighty SUBURBS get plowed on time.

Pawlenty is the quintessential non-urban governor. He's "all about" the suburbs, and sees the Twin Cities as, at best, an engine to generate tax revenue that the suburbs can suck up.

Let's see...he drained the tobacco endowment in order to eliminate the state budget deficit (which is "only" $185 million for next year), along with cutting state aid to cities and counties (money which local property owners will have to make up); used a variety of accounting tricks to make up the rest of the shortfall; and, as the OP mentioned, is trying to use the Dru Sjodin kidnapping as a wedge to get capital punishment back (which almost nobody wants, and which nobody needs). Doesn't ever get around to showing how he's going to PAY for it, of course.

Oh, and he's taking his marching orders from a particularly dangerous group who fashion themselves "The Taxpayer's League". Of course, they're composed entirely of people who believe that they pay WAY too much in taxes while EVERYONE else skates by without paying. Their president or chairman or whatever is actively writing legislation, and isn't even shy about it. Of course, the "taxpayer" part of the group seems to be entirely composed of Republicans--imagine that.

Pawlenty is a lot like Norm Coleman--smarmy, unctous little reptiles who think they're the next incarnation of Ronald Reagan. They're more like Newt Gringrich's red-headed stepchild--without his abrasiveness, but with 100% of the slime.

He'll be a one-termer.

[newyawker99]

23. Hi henry porter!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Viking12]

17. Some things to keep in mind

Even thoough MN has elected some Repugs to important positions, very few (none?) have ever won by majority. The only person elected with a majority to a prominent position in 2002 MN elections wasa democrat, AG Mike Hatch. With a coalition of independents, Greens, and democrats, ABB should carry the day for MN in 2004.

[ButterflyBlood]

18. that's what I've pointed out before

it's true that Hatch is the only DFL statewide office holder (well and Dayton), but let's compare how much votes they all got:

Pawlenty/Molnau - 44.4%
Sec. of State Kiffmeyer - 47.6%
Auditor Awanda - 44.6%
Coleman - 49.5%
Hatch - 54.6%

Hardly a GOP mandate. Let's hope Hatch sends Pawlenty home in 2006.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. I am amazed at the number of knuckledraggers who

write in to the Mpls. Star-Tribune and repeat FAUX talking points. I hope there are fewer of them than their letters indicate.