Courage to Stand: An American Story, by Tim Pawlenty


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BOOK REVIEW by OnTheIssues.org:

Tim Pawlenty is "Minnesota Nice" (a phrase he uses several times in this book, meaning friendly and mild-mannered, as is the stereotypical behavior of Minnesotans). Politicians must be Minnesota Nice to get elected as Governor of Minnesota, or Minnesotans will view the candidate as rude and/or abrasive. Pawlenty cites several examples as Governor where Minnesota Nice cooperativeness with the Democratic legislature succeeded (especially on budget issues like balancing the deficit without raising taxes, which he considers his greatest gubernatorial accomplishment).

However, politicians who are Minnesota Nice don't get elected President of the United States. Pawlenty was considered and rejected as McCain's vice-presidential selection in 2008 because he was too... well, too Minnesota Nice. (Pawlenty dedicates all of chapter 21, entitled "Rock 'n' Rogue", to his vetting for vice president). McCain went with a firebrand instead, who sparked the hard-core right into action: Sarah Palin is NOT Minnesota Nice.

In the book, Pawlenty attempts to portray himself as not so Minnesota Nice. The title itself is intended to portray Pawlenty as a tough guy -- including that tough-guy cover photo (which looks to me like a Minnesota Nice guy told by a book photographer to "look tough"). The title "Courage to Stand" refers to the strong will necessary to take on the status quo of the legislature (p. xiii). Pawlenty hints throughout the book that he has the Courage to Stand up to the United States Congress too, and hence to change the status quo in Washington.

If voters accept that argument, then Pawlenty has a pretty good chance of winning the Republican nomination. His core Minnesota Nice values do make him as "post-partisan" as Obama (and Pawlenty has the credentials of working with those Minnesota Democrats to prove it), and it's possible that this year voters will tire of hard-core extremism (there are plenty of hard-core choices in the Republican primary this year!). If not, well, Pawlenty will certainly be on the short list for vice president again.

-- Jesse Gordon, editor-in-chief, OnTheIssues.org, June 2011

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Budget & Economy     Tim Pawlenty: Refused to raise taxes to force fiscal responsibility.     Tim Pawlenty: Bottom gets handout; top gets bailout; rest get wallet out.     Tim Pawlenty: Vetoed 123 spending bills as governor.

Crime     Tim Pawlenty: Reinstate death penalty for the most heinous crimes.

Families & Children     Tim Pawlenty: Lost mother at 16; needed & felt God's presence.

Foreign Policy     Tim Pawlenty: More leverage, not more conversation, against Iran's nukes.     Tim Pawlenty: 2009 Tehran protests: Obama demoralized them with silence.

Free Trade     Tim Pawlenty: China-Minnesota partnership: grow jobs by growing exports.     Tim Pawlenty: Fair trade, to deal with world's rampant trade manipulation.     Tim Pawlenty: Fair trade, to deal with world's rampant trade manipulation.

Government Reform     Tim Pawlenty: Politicians rewarded for saying Yes; have the guts to say No.     Tim Pawlenty: 2002: fined $600,000 for campaign finance violation.     Barack Obama: OpEd: Broke promise to pay for every dime of new spending.

Gun Control     Tim Pawlenty: Pro-gun, but barred machine guns from security detail.

Health Care     Tim Pawlenty: Shop around for best price & quality, like we do for TVs.     Tim Pawlenty: Eliminated MN's General Assistance Medical Care.

Homeland Security     Tim Pawlenty: Military & veterans' issues top legislative priority.

Jobs     Tim Pawlenty: A job is not just a job; it's an identity.     Tim Pawlenty: JOBZ program: Job Opportunity Building Zone.

Local Issues     Tim Pawlenty: Led MN thru I35W bridge collapse: 145 people injured.

Principles & Values     Tim Pawlenty: Subscribed to "US News & World Report" as teenager.     Tim Pawlenty: U. Minnesota undergrad & law school, and met wife there.     Tim Pawlenty: Catholic in childhood; attends Baptist church after marriage.     Tim Pawlenty: Separation of church doesn't mean strike God from America.     Tim Pawlenty: We need politicians with courage to stand up to status quo.     Tim Pawlenty: 47% pay no income tax? We're addicted to government.     Tim Pawlenty: Not change we can believe in; but change we can't believe.     Sarah Palin: OpEd: Her energy is the fuel of grassroots politics.     Tim Pawlenty: My faith is part of how I think, including in public life.

Tax Reform     Tim Pawlenty: 1992 election based on high taxes & over-spending.     Tim Pawlenty: As House Leader, cut taxes by largest amount in MN history.

War & Peace     Tim Pawlenty: 2008: Ok to take out bin Laden despite civilian casualties.     Tim Pawlenty: Arbitrary deadline in Iraq shouldn't supersede common sense.     Tim Pawlenty: Decide Afghan withdrawal by strategy, not arbitrary deadline.

Welfare & Poverty     Tim Pawlenty: Government growth displaces faith community & charities.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Barack Obama Sarah Palin Tim Pawlenty

The above quotations are from Courage to Stand: An American Story, by Tim Pawlenty.

Autobiographies for 2012 GOP primary candidates: No Apology, by Gov. Mitt Romney, Mar 2, 2010 Real Change, by Speaker Newt Gingrich, Dec 18, 2007 Biographies: CEO of SELF, by Herman Cain, 2001 Joe Biden: A Life of Trial and Redemption, by Jules Witcover, 2010 Rick Santorum: A Senator Speaks Out on Life, Freedom, and Responsibility, 2005 Michele Bachmann: Why She Will Win, by Ron Paul Jones, 2011 A Mormon in the White House? 10 Things Every American Should Know about Mitt Romney, by Hugh Hewitt Mitt Romney: The Man, His Values and His Vision, by Lisa Ray Turner and Kimberly Field Deliver Us from Evil, by Sean Hannity

Policy books: Confidence Men, by Ron Suskind, 2011 Core of Conviction, by Rep. Michele Bachmann, 2011 It Takes a Family, by Sen. Rick Santorum, 2005 On My Honor, by Gov. Rick Perry, 2008 End The Fed, by Rep. Ron Paul, Sep 16, 2009 Gold, Peace, and Prosperity: The Birth of a New Currency, by Ron Paul, 2007 My Journey to the White House, by Herman Cain, 2011

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