LOOKING TO '12: TINY TIM

One of those aspiring to the GOP presidential nod in 2012 is Minnesota's governor Tim Pawlenty.

Most people don't know much about Pawlenty. Did you know that his dad was a fervent Stalinist who read to the family every evening from Das Kapital and made his kids memorize the Communist Manifesto?

Did you know that Tim ran away from home at age 11, that he took with him only an American flag that he had bought with his skimpy allowance, and that he used the flag as a blanket while sleeping out in the wild till he was able to join a circus and make some money?

Did you know that he became a daring circus acrobat and used what he earned to pay his way through Harvard where he got straight "A"s?

Did you know that as governor he wiped out the state debt, greatly reduced the bureaucracy yet improved its productivity, cut taxes in half, aggressively tackled environmental pollution, doubled benefits to the disabled, and introduced a new era of cooperation and good feeling in Minnesota civic life?

You didn't know all that? Where have you been?

Of course you didn't know it. All of it is bull. I present it for contrast with the real story.

What is this fella really like? Well, he's 49. He's fairly pleasant-looking. He dresses well. (Yawn) Excuse me!

Timbo's background? Played ice hockey in high school, labor lawyer, vice prez of a software company, city councilman, state legislator, ran for gov promising not to raise taxes and won narrowly, raised fees, got re-elected by 1% of the vote. (Zzzzzzzzzz)

In '05 a disagreement with legislators, along party lines, led to a temporary shutdown of the state government. Lately another crisis has arisen, with Pawlenty insisting on closing a three billion dollar deficit without further taxation and rejecting compromise. Obviously a great leader and a unifier.

Wikipedia's article on him reports, "State and local taxes increased for 90% of state residents, but tax rates decreased for those earning more than $130,000." Why is this not surprising?

He seems intent on showing himself an unmitigated right-winger worthy of the Republicult, regardless of what that does to his state and its citizens.

Who needs this?

He's right-wing enough for what he aspires to, and he might be on the nominee's short list for veep. But for the top spot? Somebody so obscure and so bland could get a presidential nomination only if he were a compromise choice.

Ooops. Forgot. No compromises on the right!