Pawlenty Launches PAC

He will 'say anything' to win: Minnesota critic

(NEWSER) - Tim Pawlenty likes to pretend he has convictions; indeed, his autobiography is called Courage to Stand. But he’s sadly mistaken, writes Shawn Otto, whose great-great-uncle founded the Minnesota GOP. The fact is, the former governor is “willing to do anything, say anything—be anything” to win the presidency. While he tries to project “strength, fortitude, toughness,” his persona is simply “manufactured,” Otto writes at MinnPost . More»

Blasts talks with Iran, N. Korea, says similar moves didn't stop Nazis, Soviets, terrorists

(NEWSER) - Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a possible Republican presidential contender in 2012, tonight compared President Obama’s diplomatic moves on Iran, North Korea and the missile shield to pre-World War II and pre-9/11 “appeasement,” Politico reports. “The lessons of history are clear,” he told Christian conservatives. “Appeasement and weakness did not stop the Nazis, appeasement did not stop the Soviets, and appeasement did not stop the terrorists before 9/11.” More»

Would-be presidential contender talks tough

(NEWSER) - Tim Pawlenty, a top prospect for the GOP’s 2012 nomination, practiced his act yesterday, dispensing pointed jabs at Barack Obama’s health care plans. Obama, an “extreme left liberal,” promised “change we can believe in, but now we’re seeing it’s about changing what we believe in,” he told the GOPAC conference in Chicago. He said that defeating health care would return the Republican Party to prominence, Politico reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Tim Pawlenty will not seek a third term as Minnesota governor, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. Pawlenty is seen as a probable Republican candidate for 2012, but he was mum on the subject. “I don’t have any plans beyond serving out my term,” he said today. “I’m not ruling anything in or out.” He said he was leaving office to open up the field to others. More»

She rips 'liberal bias' in new boundaries

(NEWSER) - Michele Bachmann's Minnesota congressional district has been redrawn out from under her. New district lines unveiled by a panel of judges yesterday have put the 6th District congresswoman's home in the 4th District, which is currently represented by Democrat Betty McCollum, reports the Star Tribune . Bachmann—who dropped her White House bid after finishing sixth in Iowa —says she still plans to seek re-election to her old 6th District seat. More»