Sam's Club Republican, by J. A. McClure: on Principles & Values
Jesse Ventura:
2003: Self-portrait as knight in armor on stallion
Ventura abandoned the mansion in his final year as governor, complaining the Legislature would not provide him with adequate security. His 22-year-old son Tyrel lived there alone for a while, using it for late-night parties until Ventura fired the staff
en masse and carted off his belongings.The Star Tribune noted the new Pawlenty First Family's decorating style was homier than the "flamboyant Venturas." The library no longer featured a portrait of Ventura in knight's armor on a white stallion.
Source: Sam's Club Republican, by J.A. McClure, p. 38-39
May 10, 2010
John McCain:
2008: Passed up Pawlenty as VP for not enough sizzle
Pawlenty maintains a broad appeal with Democrats and Independents. He is at home among political opponents. He can talk politics with working class Democrats without a hint of hostility or discomfort. Of course, he isn't the most rousing public speaker.
In 2008 the McCain team could pass on Pawlenty as a vice presidential candidate because he was too ordinary: "this is not a fellow who is going to come across as strikingly charismatic.
People see that he's smart and competent, but there's not much sizzle." If Pawlenty's lack of charisma counted against him in 2008, it might not be such a liability in 2012. The aftermath of the '08 election left many
Americans wondering if both tickets were too much "sizzle" and not enough smart or competent. By 2012, a regular guy like Tim Pawlenty might be precisely what the electorate wants.
Source: Sam's Club Republican, by J.A. McClure, p. 53
May 10, 2010
Mike Hatch:
2006: ran for governor, while serving as Attorney General
Pawlenty's chief competitor in the 2006 election was Democrat Mike Hatch, the state's two-term Attorney General. Hatch, 57, was a trial lawyer specializing in commercial law.
He was active in state politics for most of his career, previously serving as chairman of the state DFL and as a cabinet member in Governor
Rudy Perpich's administration. He was a fierce competitor known for his "rough-and-tumble politics." The Pioneer Press noted, "Hatch is a bare-knuckled political street fighter who, during a quarter century as a major player in
Minnesota politics, has made a lot of enemies." Hatch said the state was a "mess" and accused Pawlenty of having "almost a Ferris Bueller mentality."
Source: Sam's Club Republican, by J.A. McClure, p. 41
May 10, 2010
Mitt Romney:
2008: Caught eating KFC chicken with a knife & fork
On one side of the party are characters like Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck, who are wholly incompatible with the Republican establishment. On the other side are wealthy businessmen like Mitt Romney, who was caught in 2008 eating Kentucky Fried
Chicken with a knife and fork. Romney stands little chance with working-class Americans. Pawlenty, on the other hand, has the potential to transcend the party's divisions, winning the votes of farmers in Iowa and executives in New Hampshire.
Source: Sam's Club Republican, by J.A. McClure, p. 52
May 10, 2010
Norm Coleman:
2002: Supported by Bush & Cheney against Pawlenty
A Senate seat was open in the 2002 election, and there was frenzied speculation in Republican circles over who should run for what (including the Governorship). Party activists in December 2000 drafted Pawlenty for the Senate seat.Meanwhile, Norm
Coleman also wavered between the two options before announcing his candidacy for the Senate in April 2001, citing this "budding relationship" with George W. Bush and "strong encouragement" he received from the White House. Pawlenty, pushed aside by
Coleman's decision, said he felt like "a piece on the chessboard." In the span of a few months, the duo went from potentially battling for the governor's office to battling for the Senate seat.
Pawlenty's plans changed when he received a personal
phone call from Dick Cheney on behalf of President Bush. According to Pawlenty, Cheney told him to "stand down" and let Coleman run uncontested "for the good of the overall effort." Pawlenty agreed to withdraw. Pawlenty didn't hide his disappointment.
Source: Sam's Club Republican, by J.A. McClure, p. 19-20
May 10, 2010
Tim Pawlenty:
We are the party of Sam's Club, not just the country club
"We are the party of Sam's Club, not just the country club." These words define Tim Pawlenty as a politician. By the time he spoke them at the 2001 Minnesota Republican Convention, he was already well on his way to transforming the state's political
landscape. The goal was to re-brand the Republican Party with a type of "contemporary conservatism," broadening the party's base without compromising its conservative values.
Source: Sam's Club Republican, by J.A. McClure, p. 1-2
May 10, 2010
Tim Pawlenty:
OpEd: 2012 electorate might want a regular guy
Pawlenty maintains a broad appeal with Democrats and Independents. He is at home among political opponents. He can talk politics with working class Democrats without a hint of hostility or discomfort. Of course, he isn't the most rousing public speaker.
In 2008 the McCain team could pass on Pawlenty as a vice presidential candidate because he was too ordinary: "this is not a fellow who is going to come across as strikingly charismatic.
People see that he's smart and competent, but there's not much sizzle." If Pawlenty's lack of charisma counted against him in 2008, it might not be such a liability in 2012. The aftermath of the '08 election left many
Americans wondering if both tickets were too much "sizzle" and not enough smart or competent. By 2012, a regular guy like Tim Pawlenty might be precisely what the electorate wants.
Source: Sam's Club Republican, by J.A. McClure, p. 53
May 10, 2010
Tim Pawlenty:
1999: Supported denomination-specific prayers in MN House
In 1999, the Minnesota House changed its daily prayers from denomination-specific to "nondenominational." They switched back to denomination-specific prayers the following year. The text of the new rule stated prayers no longer had to "respect the
religious diversity of the House." Pawlenty agreed with the decision, saying: "Our goal is not to have prayer that is so watered down and generic. A generic prayer by definition in many faiths can't be a prayer."
Source: Sam's Club Republican, by J.A. McClure, p. 67
May 10, 2010
Tim Pawlenty:
Politics major then Law School at U. Minn.
Tim's mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She succumbed to the illness when he was 16 years old. Before her death, Ginnie made her first four children promise they would send Tim to college. His sister Rosie still remembers her mother telling them:
"If you goofballs don't do anything else in life, make sure Tim goes to college." Tim attended a University of Minnesota pre-dentistry program, but realized it wasn't a good fit after scoring a B-minus in organic chemistry. He visited a college career
counselor, who asked him, "What do you love to do? What's your passion?" He listed things like history, current events, and public policy.Tim volunteered with the College Republicans and excelled in his new political science major. He interned with
Rep. Arlen Erdahl (R, MN-1), and with Sen. David Durenberger. Keenly aware that his degree didn't offer a clear career path, he immediately enrolled at the University of Minnesota Law School after completing his Bachelor's in 1983.
Source: Sam's Club Republican, by J.A. McClure, p. 8-9
May 10, 2010
Tim Penny:
2006: ran for Governor on Independence ticket
Shortly after Pawlenty's nomination, Governor Jesse Ventura announced he would not seek a second term. With the Independence ticket out of play, the race briefly looked like it would be a dull matchup between a traditional Republican and traditional
Democrat. Only days later, a former Democratic congressman, Tim Penny, revived the Independence ticket, announcing he would run for Ventura's party. Penny was a lifetime DFLer and was highly influential in state politics. In his six terms as a US
Congressman representing Minnesota's first district, Penny was known for his efforts to balance the federal budget--a reputation that would serve him well as
Minnesota grappled with budgetary woes. A poll by the Star Tribune immediately after his announcement showed Penny, Pawlenty and Moe in a three-way tie.
Source: Sam's Club Republican, by J.A. McClure, p. 29
May 10, 2010
Page last updated: Feb 22, 2019