Recent sage, learned commentary about the lying, rich man's bootlicker that is MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty:
- The Mesabi Daily News is unhappy about TBag and an ally raiding the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board fund as part of his budget proposal.
- The Cucking Stool, on TPaw and education. I don't know that he and other conservatives really want to 'destroy' public education. But they'd certainly like to see it include a much larger helping of right-wing indoctrination, especially in the early grades. In fact, that may be about the only chance for the long-term survival of 'movement conservatism.'
MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty did an interview with Esquire magazine in which he - gasp! - criticized the Republican Party! It's pretty transparently an effort on the part of this scrawny weasel to try to sell himself as an aggressive, fearless outsider, to help appeal to teabaggers and the like. And I'm sure it was done with the full foreknowledge and approval of the Repug. money men, who in reality are about as far from being 'outsiders' as people can be. That goes for Guv. Bridge Collapse, too.
- TPaw's budget proposal was released this morning. I can sum it up in one sentence: more cuts in services to the middle class and, especially, the poor; more handouts for the haves.
I'll leave the really inspired slamming to MPP's marquee names; they're better at it. I'm just wondering what kind of wretched, miserable idiot doesn't get that there is a clear cause-and-effect relationship between TBag's welfare-for-the-wealthy doctrines, and MN underperforming the national economy during his reign, as well as deterioration in a wide range of quality indicators.
Is TBag, in clinical terms, a sociopath? Certainly not. But one element of the diagnostic criteria absolutely applies: 'Apparent lack of remorse or empathy; inability to care about hurting others.' Actually, another one does, too: 'Narcissism, elevated self-appraisal or a sense of extreme entitlement.'
- MNPublius on one of Gutshot's particularly unappealing traits, his pettiness.
- Some days ago, mnpACT! scripted the kind of interview with TBag one might expect to hear in the near future.
Sometimes I wonder whether TPaw is mildly sociopathic, based on his apparent indifference to Minnesota's non-wealthy residents, especially its most vulnerable. But I think a more likely scenario is that he wholeheartedly believes every word of his own drivel. That's not uncommon in politics, especially among righties.
I checked in with my brother, a graduate of the University of Florida (Go, Gators!!!) and an appraiser with many years of experience in that state's real estate market. His reaction?
"Yeah, 'right.'"
Ladies and Gentlemen, Florida is in a bust (it's beyond 'bear') market. Go google "florida population decline" and see the hits you get - I did. My brother merely confirmed what I already knew; that the Freeloader "Freedom" Foundation Minnesota was merely tryin' to sell some more of that ol' RightWingSnakeOil, referred to as VooDoo Economics by Bush The Elder (before Uncle Ronnie took him to the woodshed).
If folk are fleeing the frozen tundra due to excessive taxation (and that's a BIG "IF"), the fact is they're fleeing Florida 'cause The Republican Recession put that state's economy in the cr@pper.
Well, this state's economy, too.
OK, The Republican Recession put the whole (cheney)in' country's economy in the cr@pper. And those GOPers dam near melted the world's economy, too. Essentially, all those years of GOPers in the driver's seat ruined everything. But, that's a tangent. Back to the Freeloader "Freedom" Foundation Minnesota's "report."
Last night, while sitting in as Guest Host at AM 950 Radio, I ripped that "report" - because it is indeed bogus - and had Jeff Van Wychen from MN2020.org call in to give his thoughts about the Freeloader "Freedom" Foundation Minnesota's "report."
- The next big item currently on Gov. Tim Pawlenty's travel agenda is the one and only Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., from February 18-20. A glance at the series of photos across the top of the linked website tells you all you need to know. And Glenn Beck is closing keynote speaker! Corporate media will have many a piece on 'energized' Republicans, while bloggers like me have a high old time mocking this collection of deluded, half-witted freaks.
- At the Alabama Republican Party's Red, White, and Blue Dinner last week, Guv. Gutshot waved around a $100,000 check, to be used in Alabama state legislative elections. Repugligorns are psyched to take control of the Alabama legislature, which has been controlled by Conservadems for a long time. I don't know that it would make much difference, given that because of the state's deep redness, the quality of its governance is already rock-bottom. Anyway, gleefully pulling out a fat check from an undisclosed source, like some sleazy bagman in a James Cagney/Edward G. Robinson movie? That's real dignified...like something out of All The King's Men. (a novel I highly recommend.)
- TBag took shots at Bemidji, MN, for raising its property tax levy, calling it a 'government town.' Here is an article detailing the mayor's response. In fact, pretty much every locale in the state has had to raise its property taxes, just to continue providing basic services in the face of the effects of All-Powerful Unallotment-Man's welfare-for-the-wealthy governing ideology.
- Note, in the photo above, taken a while back, how Timmy's paw is 'on top' in the handshake, and he's the one with his arm out, sort of 'guiding' W. Behavioral psychologists interpret those as 'dominant' gestures. And they're not necessarily subconscious; some politicians are actually coached to that kind of thing.
Update
- Oh, boy. Didn't take Polinaut long. Turns out the $100K referenced above came from infamous Texas developer Bob Perry. Perry has been a huge conservative money player over the years. He was, among many other things, one of the primary financiers of the Swift Boat Liars campaign. If I remember correctly, and I'm pretty sure that I do, he also provided a big helping of final-days cash to help Timmy's campaign take full advantage of Judi Dutcher's E85 misstep in 2006.
Before we ask ourselves who should be the next governor, we need to ask ourselves what questions we should be asking to make that decision. Do we ask ourselves: "Who do I like? Who represents my hopes? Who can I relate to? Who is best for me?" Yes, maybe we can do that. Or maybe, just maybe we can ask "Which candidate is the best candidate for the most people?"
Without a doubt, I would have to say that candidate would be Entenza because he comes with a disposition and political history that sees the dignity, value, and worthiness of all people- be it the GLBT communities, racial and ethnic minority groups, the employed, the unemployed, the youth, the elderly, the poor, the forgotten, and the unwanted.
He is a listener, and a deep thinker. It means a lot to me that he initiated the Minnesota 20/20 think tank group to ascertain and focus on the issues that are of greatest concern to all of us, and has used that knowledge to formulate policy, legislation, and strategy to develop plans and realistic goals to rebuild this state so that all of us, in whatever corner of the state we reside in, can begin to hope that the future will be better, and that we each carry a dignity no matter who we are, how we were made, and how much we have in our pocket. This is a candidate who sends a message that we all matter. We are all equal and deserving of fairness, safety, healthcare, good educations, good opportunities and we are all welcomed participants in a stronger and healthier Minnesota.
While many candidates are talking about the need for better healthcare, better schools, more jobs, and more opportunities, Entenza is the only candidate who has bridged these hopes with a sound economic plan that will allow us to realize these hopes. We can talk all day about what's wrong with Minnesota, and what needs to be fixed, who is responsible for breaking it, and how hard it is to be living like this, but talk won't change things. If we want a better future, we need a strong economy, and our government needs to rebuild a strong tax base to support our values and our goals for better schools, healthcare, and opportunities.
Entenza has well-developed plans for a new clean energy economy that has the ability to translate into immediate action through policy and initiatives that can take place when he takes office. He's not talking about pipe dreams ten years down the line. He's talking about what can happen now. His strategy will have short-term and intermediate steps to a recovery that will build a stronger and more stable Minnesota economy that can support his vision that we all matter, that we are all welcomed to share in the benefits of a better Minnesota, and that we can do this together.
We can do this together by collectively saying "Yes" to hope. When our friends and neighbors are biting their nails about the economy and joblessness, or when our siblings or parents are worried about how they are going to deal with their health issues, or when our children are worried if they can afford to stay in college, or whatever conversation or encounter that you have that begins to pry open yet another dialogue with despair, send them a link to Entenza's website, and talk to them about what you have read, and do your part to spread the word that our time is now, and that our vote and support for this exceptional candidate really truly matters more than ever.
Wow, while most of us saw Governor Pawlenty's use of unallotment as a total violation of legislative power, it is still very nicely reassuring when courts say the same thing:
It was the specific manner in which the Governor exercised his unallotment authority that trod upon the constitutional power of the Legislature, and the Legislature alone to make laws that, in the Court's opinion, was unconstitutional.
(snip)
The governor used unallotment rather that calling a special session of the legislature or vetoing the appropriations bill to balance the budget. He did this after singing numerous spending bills which taken together, he knew would not balance the budget unless revenues were raised. He used the unallotment statue to address a situation that was neither unknown nor unanticipated when the appropriations bills became law. The Governors actions in this instance differed from his use of unallotment in the Rukivina case. In that situation the governor used unallotment to protect the state from a financial crisis that was both unknown and unanticipated whiten the appropriation bills were signed.
(from an emailed copy of the court brief)
Good thing that the legislature is about to go into session, otherwise Governor Pawlenty would have to call a special session. Now Governor Pawlenty may have to learn the meaning of the word "negotiate".
The article is very much worthy of its subject in that nothing in it qualifies, at first glance, as an outright, absolute lie. But it's full of gross distortions and misrepresentations, and, on further analysis, flagrant falsehoods.
Two items highlighted, in obscenely fawning fashion, in the piece deserve special attention: taxes, and his presidential campaign.
In sum, the state has suffered budget shortfalls in six of the eight years of Pawlenty's tenure, and he has essentially prevailed on his no-new-taxes credo in those deficit years...love it or hate it, holding the line on tax hikes for eight years constitutes a remarkable record.
The 'bible' for those interested in the realities of taxation in Minnesota is 'Minnesota Property Taxes by the Numbers, 2009 edition,' from Minnesota2020. It's fascinating and infuriating, but I can summarize the content relevant to this post quite concisely: property taxes, and therefore overall taxation, have increased for all but the wealthiest Minnesotans during Guv. TBag's reign. (Contrary to what some seem to believe, renters pay property taxes, too.)
"Scrooge Pawlenty" is a Minnesota version of the Christmas Carol featuring Governor Pawlenty, presented on the sidewalk in front of the Governor's Mansion, last Tuesday. The Welfare Rights Committee and their supporters wrote and performed the play. The play is based on the fact that under Governor Pawlenty's administration that richest pay less in overall taxes on a dollar earned than everyone else. "In March 2010, Pawlenty will single-handedly kick over 35,000 Minnesotans in poverty off basic health care," says the Welfare Rights Committee. Here are some of the best lines from the play:
"Pawlenty: I was just trying to pay off, I mean pay back the people who supported my campaign."
"Like the miserly Scrooge, Pawlenty has tried to wring out every last bite of blood from the poor and working people of Minnesota."
"Pawlenty: What do I care? I will be long gone by the time the state gets out of this mess."
Here is a short clip of the "Scooge Pawlenty" protest to give you the flavor:
1. Would you rather have your health care premiums, deductibles, etc., pay for a) actual health care, or b) massive pay packages for executives, and funding the election campaigns of lunatic reactionaries?
2. Would you rather a) return to a pre-Ventura/Pawlenty state income tax structure, where the very wealthy paid roughly the same % as the rest of us, instead of less, or b) your property taxes continuing to skyrocket, in exchange for reduced government services?
3. Would you prefer a local legacy media that a) at least tries to tell it like it is, or b)continues to emphasize shameless, outlandish corporatist bias and 'TPaw for Prez' cheerleading?
There are many, many more...
Not the most profound or sophisticated post, I know. But it's a masterpiece of modern thought, if I do say so myself, compared to the drivel of those who would essentially argue for option 'b', in each of the above.
2012 Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty doesn't care about the disastrous situation he has single-handedly created by unalloting instead of negotiating. MN Governors have the ability to deal with unexpected budget crises in extraordinary circumstances via the unallotment process. However, Pawlenty never intended to negotiate and was aiming for this all along ... hardly an unexpected circumstance.
He's perfectly happy that you're taxes will be going up this year. He has no problem with your taxes going up, because he'll be on to bigger, better things. He'll be claiming in stump speeches across the country that he's not had to raise state taxes as Governor. He'll boast about how he solved MN's budget problems without raising taxes. Minnesotans all know that he'll be lying when he makes that claim.
Hennepin County is proposing to raise property taxes next year by as much as 4.95 percent, mostly to help cover an anticipated rise in the number of uninsured people needing help at the county hospital and the loss of the state's health care program for poor adults.
"As the economy goes bad and people are unemployed, they might be able to carry insurance for a while, but then it goes away. So there's potential here for a significant increase" in the county's medical expenses, County Administrator Richard Johnson said.
Pawlenty got rid of "the state's health care program for poor adults", GAMC (General Assistance Medical Care), and slashed LGA (Local Government Aid) so that the state's budget would balance. The result local government units are scrambling to cover basic services.
It's not like the poor and the sick just went away because Pawlenty wants to be President. It's not like police and fire will start volunteering. It's not like streets will pave themselves. It's more like Pawlenty doesn't care what happens to the people in our state as long as he can stick with his "no new taxes" mantra.
So if Hennepin County raises my taxes 5% and Minneapolis raises it another 7% or so, I can probably handle a 12% increase. While I'm willing to pay extra to help the poor, keep the police force at full strength and pave my streets, what about the senior citizens on fixed incomes and single parents squeaking by?
So let's be honest with each other. Pawlenty cuts = Pawlenty tax increases. DFLers in the legislature pulled together a budget that addressed our shortfall responsibly. Their tax increases wouldn't be hurting the elderly and those struggling from paycheck to paycheck. The poor and the mentally disabled wouldn't have been thrown off of GAMC. Furthermore, they addressed the structural deficiencies that are leading us toward permanent budget crises that California is suffering.
But Pawlenty refused to negotitiate and we're all going to suffer. And especially those least able to adapt.
(As noted previously, diaries from campaigns and candidates aren't just welcome; they're encouraged. - promoted by Joe Bodell)
by Matt Entenza
The governor's pen is all that comes between us and taxes. It's undeniable. Just not in quite the way our governor and his party want us to think it is.
For years, the GOP message machine has told us they're the last line of defense between us and "some of the highest taxes in the country." Unfortunately, if anything has contributed to tax problems in the last seven years, it's precisely our governor's and GOP legislators' disingenuous take on taxes.
This week, I traveled Minnesota telling the truth about Gov. Pawlenty's unallotments: that they force local tax increases. Our communities can't cut basic services as far as Gov. Pawlenty's cuts would force us to, and he and the GOP know it. For years, they've played with terminology, creating "fees" that are really taxes, and knowingly forced the hand of local governments to raise property taxes to pay for fire departments, police departments, road repairs and other things we all count on. In other words, our taxes have increased - the governor and his party have just given themselves the fiscal equivalent of plausible deniability.
A tax is not a tax is not a tax. Minnesota property taxes are regressive. A larger share of the burden falls on those with a lesser ability to pay. And our taxes have become more regressive over the years, as the more progressive income tax has fallen as a share of total collections. State aid to cities, or local government aid, came about because it's more efficient at funding basic services than local levies are. LGA is smart; it's responsible. It's very Minnesotan.
But the way things are, according to the House Research Department (the nonpartisan office that provides data to the Minnesota House of Representatives), your property taxes are likely to increase between 2.9 and 5.2 percent. In some places, the number is much higher. Taconite cities? More than 10 percent. And if you live in Minneapolis or St. Paul, your percentages may be lower than some, but you'll see big dollar-amount increases.
Gov. Pawlenty and his legislative backers know we can't cut basic services as far as their budget maneuverings would force us to. But Minnesotans also can't bear property tax hikes as high as would be required to bridge the gap - meaning we will see cuts to basic services throughout the state, and some harsh ones. More than one Minnesota municipality has flirted with the idea of eliminating emergency services. If that isn't a scary scenario, I don't know what is. Some conservatives want us to believe that these types of examples are hyperbole. They're not.
Our governor has always been good at politics. It's in making good policy for Minnesota that he's been challenged. In 2005, then-Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson and I forced Gov. Pawlenty to a government shutdown in order to preserve some of the crucial services Minnesotans count on. It wasn't a perfect solution, but Gov. Pawlenty got the message. It saved thousands of people from cuts that bleed.
Of course, Gov. Pawlenty isn't running for re-election. Minnesota will have new leadership in 2011. We cannot continue down Tim Pawlenty's path. I challenge the emerging GOP candidates for Tim Pawlenty's job to tell Minnesotans what they'll do differently. Regressive financial shell games are not the way forward. They don't make our communities stronger. They don't provide better education to our kids. They don't make us safer. They cost us.
Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Mpls) is still fuming mad about the session. You can read his opinion on the budget and unallotment here. I talked with him to fill in a little more about the session.
"I think he's squandered 8 years as Governor," Scott exclaimed. "What Governor wants to harm the University by dramatically underfunding it year after year. He's systematically underfunded our infrastructure. He only recently jumped on the Northstar [rail line] band wagon after opposing it for years. He vetoed the Central Corridor plan last year."
Scott didn't say it, but I will. a bridge fell down under Pawlenty's watch ... when he was more concerned with making sure they spent as little money as possible.
"What has he accomplished?" Scott asked rhetorically. He has accomplished nothing except to spread fear and divide Minnesotans for short-term political gains according to Scott.
Pawlenty can't even point to not raising taxes as an accomplishment.
Because Pawlenty has slashed Local Government Aid (LGA) year after year, cities and counties have been forced to raise property taxes through the roof to pay for basic things like police, fire and schools.
But the bullying bill exemplifies Pawlenty's duplicity and bad faith negotiations according to Scott. It exemplifies how the Governor "fundamentally doesn't care" about this state or the people in it who are suffering.
(I'd like to thank Sen. Dibble for his comments, I'll have a post up soon discussing this post and more of his reflections on the legislative session overall. - promoted by The Big E)
Our session has just concluded and I'm sorry to report that the governor has forced an outcome that will result in drastic cuts to the most basic services and the fundamental investments our state makes in its quality of life and in its future.
From the start, the legislature repeatedly offered solutions that struck a balance between spending reductions and stabilizing revenue sources so we could start on a path toward rebuilding our vital services in future years. Thousands of citizens showed up at town hall meetings, thousands more called and wrote. They asked that this be the prudent approach we take, as our state has in every single previous crisis. In response, the legislature delivered a balanced and responsible budget to the governor. He promptly vetoed it and announced that he would go it alone.
I confess to being in a state of shock at Tim Pawlenty's intransigence, utter lack of compassion and total disinterest in building a successful future for Minnesotans...
Recent sage, learned commentary about the lying, rich man's bootlicker that is MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty:
MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty did an interview with Esquire magazine in which he - gasp! - 
Here are links to some recent posts by area bloggers on the subject of the wretched, feeble idiot that is MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
- The next big item currently on Gov. Tim Pawlenty's travel agenda is the one and only 
Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Mpls) is still fuming mad about the session. You can read his opinion on the budget and unallotment 
