Tim Pawlenty: “I Am Not a Wimp”

And fuck this Pawlenty guy too!

TRIFECTA!!!!!

Pretty much. More bluster means poop in the underwear when the shit hits the fan.

This is all great stuff Tim. Too bad you had absolutely nothing to do with any of it. Since the moon landing the only accomplishments I see here are the Germans demolishing the Berlin Wall and the “Miracle on Ice” which did more for Al Michaels’ career than anybody else. Pretty sad that there’s nothing to brag about for the last 40+ years.

@Dave H: I suppose the Berlin Wall footage is a clumsy attempt at invoking Reagan without being too obvious, but it’s more confusing than anything. I was even more perplexed by the Muhammad Ali (well, technically speaking, Cassius Clay) cameo. Doesn’t jibe with the “I’m askeered of our black Muslim president” brand of Republicanism needed to win the primary.

One of the Politicos nailed it:

Pawlenty has done a really excellent job of setting mid-to-low expectations — for crowds, money, sales, charisma — and modestly exceeding them, a kind of dexterity that will serve him will [sic] in primary season — for a while. At some point, though, one stops grading on a curve.

Not easy? Piece of cake! Eliminate taxes! Hurl social security into the hands of the Wall Street greasers! Disband the FDIC and EPA! And you’re all done, right?

@mellbell: That’s the Shrub playbook that Pawlenty is playing.

Reminds me of one of those homemade videos to go with “We didn’t Start the Fire” made by kids in high school history classes.

My questions: He keeps saying it won’t be easy. WHAT won’t be easy? What is he planning to do? Also, to whom is that National Press Club backdrop dogwhistling? Which faction of the republican primary voters will see the repeated scenes of Tim Pawlenty standing in front of the NPC backdrop and think: “Yep, he’s the one we need. He can talk in front of some fancy Press Club.”

wow
Timmy gots hisself a producer!

I just think the clumsy hagiography is fucking hilarious. Sarah Palin can (sort of) get away with it, because her public persona was built that way. But Mild-Mannered Timmy? Even Mittens would have a better chance of making it work.

@nojo:
ya
a tad heavy handed for mild mannered Timmy