Residual Forces

Captain ‘Fresca’ Ed writes on the bizarre likelihood of the McCain - Pawlenty 2008 ticket, that I have dubbed the McPlenty ticket. Here’s his opening, go read the rest.

Jim Geraghty looks at the dynamic between Senator and presidential hopeful John McCain and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, and reaches a conclusion that I suggested almost two weeks ago. Pawlenty’s early commitment to endorse McCain and his work on McCain’s exploratory committee looks like a partnership meant for larger purposes — and McCain himself seems to hint that Pawlenty could be his running mate in 2008:

My advice (read stern warning) to the MNGOP leadership, is to let Pawlenty run his own campaign for that office. Stay focussed on the Minnesota races. The state House and US House seats are what is on the ballot that will needs extreme attention in 08, not to mention Sen. Coleman. Saddling the MNGOP message to the Maverick McCain in order to benefit Pawlenty’s aspirations will destroy the conservative base in Minnesota.

Don’t forget about Sen. Coleman’s reelection. The US Senate seat will be the only local state wide race this time, and we sure as hell can’t forget about it like we did in 2006. The party will need to be focused and running on on 8 cylinders. Coleman is going to be targeted, and chances are the RNC and NRSC will believe the 60-40 split from the 06 Senate race is the accurate pulse of Minnesotans. I do not believe for one second this is a 60-40 state, but there are some that do.
We have a lot of work to do here to first rebuild and then re-motivate the Republican party in Minnesota. Oh and don’t  forget to field a host of good conservative candidates to make a run to take back the House seats on both levels. We cannot let the RNC dictate to our state leadership like it did in 2006 who it can and cannot support in 08, if we are going to right the wrong of 2006. Oh and then there is that whole problem with the base being upset about the moderation of the conservative limited government message.

So, as you can see, we have a lot on our plate in 08, and the Presidential race and convention should be left to the RNC. We cannot let the people in charge of this party here in Minnesota take us down a road that doesn’t lead back to Minnesota’s House. But then again, I don’t have much confidence in the leaders in our Party at any level, nationally or locally.

Our party is in serious dire straights, and the silence coming from the actual party apparatuses in Minnesota and nationally from the RNC is leading to RINOs taking over the message. This demoralizes the key to Republican victory, the conservative volunteers, donators, and pundits.

Its early in the 08 cycle, your first gauge on how the cycle looks is already visible on the blogs, on talk radio, and from the pundits. Pay attention, you might actually learn something, that is if you aren’t one of them damn stubborn elephants that thinks they know better than anybody else what is best for the Republican party, so you plug your ears with your fingers so that new ideas don’t accidently creep in and dispel the myth that you are in fact the savior of the party. (That one is intended to people on SOOOOOO many different levels.)
Once an endorsement happens, fine, but I will be damned if the state party is going to go pimping for an unendorsed Presidential candidate or Vice President candidate just because they happen to be from our state.

Closed Circuit to local media: Why aren’t you asking Pawlenty about all the talk of his Vice Presidential possibility? Will he finish his Minnesota Governor term? Is he posturing himself for a Vice Presidential run?