This is quite impressive:

Pawlenty, under the radar of D.C.’s political community, has locked up some of the key operatives who engineered then-President George W. Bush’s reelection campaign — a significant feat for a little-known Midwestern politician.

These political operatives are impressive:

Nelson initially ran Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign in 2007 and was the national political director on the Bush-Cheney reelection campaign in 2004. Taylor was also a senior official on the Bush campaign and did a stint as White House political director at the start of his second term. Musser ran the Republican Governors Association in 2006 and advised Romney at the outset of his 2008 White House run. Fabrizio and Mueller have also worked on GOP presidential campaigns.

Strong was a Ranger, or top Bush fundraising bundler, in 2004 and for McCain. He’s joined by a group of Minnesotans, including former Target CEO Bob Ulrich, GOP strategist Jeff Larson and TCF Financial Corp. CEO Bill Cooper.

There’s more of interest, including a new PAC:

And in formally opening his political action committee, Freedom First, Thursday, Pawlenty will also announce two co-chairmen, William Strong, a Morgan Stanley vice chairman, and former Rep. Vin Weber (R-Minn.), both of whom are heavyweight GOP figures, along with a list of prominent Minnesota donors.

Finally, an interesting discussion of Pawlenty’s weaknesses.

Yet Pawlenty lacks a few important strengths that some of his possible opponents enjoy. He doesn’t have the ability to finance his own campaign as Romney does, nor does he maintain anything close to the former presidential hopeful’s donor and grass-roots base. He lacks Huckabee’s natural hold on social conservatives. And he’s never going to enjoy a fervent following like the one Palin can point to.

It’s also not entirely clear what Pawlenty’s signature issues will be, since there is no overarching accomplishment in St. Paul that he could clearly run on.

My take on this is that Jonathan Martin is right.  However, being governor of a blue state for eight years, no major scandal that I know of, and working with the other party, will help Pawlenty.  The fact he has been in St. Paul for eight years is an overarching accomplishment.  Minnesotans are among the most savvy voters and political activists in the country.  Pawlenty could conceivably carry Minnesota for the GOP (the 2000 and 2004 elections were reasonably close and I think a few local pride votes could be enough) and may have an impact on neighboring Wisconsin (also has been close, too in 2000 and 2004) and maybe even Iowa.

One more thing:  Pawlenty has been to Virginia to help our next Governor, Bob McDonnell!  (So has Governor Jindal – twice)  You can’t  be a serious contender if you haven’t helped Bob yet!  Look at this list (thanks to GOP 12):

With Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour scheduled to stop in Virginia Beach and Richmond to rally VA Gov candidate, Bob McDonnell, The Richmond Report asks the question: When’s Sarah Palin going to show up?

After all, the list of Stumpers for Bob, so far includes Jindal, Rudy, Steele, Fred Thompson, Romney, Huckabee, and McCain.

I’ll watch for Gov. Palin.

1.  Actively running in all but name;

2.  Probably running but may decide not to;

3.  Possibly running but probbaly will not do so;

4.  Definitely not running.

Let’s start with who is running:

Gov. Pawlenty of Minnesota is clearly running for President.  He spoke in Virginia for my soon to be (Lord willing) favorite governor of Virginia:  Bob McDonnell.  He’s been speaking around the country in various fora on issues.  Pawlenty brings several positives to the race:  He’s is a staunch social conservative and good governor in a blue state.  He is an attorney and served in the Minnesota legislature, being the majority leader in the state house before ascending to the governorship (Thank the McLaughlin Group for that brief bio).  Pawlenty speaks of working people and wnats to woo the so called “Sam’s club” voters into the party. 

Former Gov. Romney of Massachusetts is also clearly running.  His people think he will run.  He too is speaking and is raising funds through his PAC:  Free and Strong America.  While I think he might be better served renouncing 2012 and seeking the vacant Senate seat he once ran for (in 1994), there appears to be no chance of that.  Romney will have the same questions he had before.  He does have personal integrity and his Mormonism can be an asset in that most people tend to admire the individual Mormons they know due to their upright family-oriented positions.  But, he also has the star power that a leading presidential candidate has. 

Former Gov. Palin of Alaska is clearly running, too.  Barring a scandal, she will run and do very well.  She has her own PAC that will help candidates throughout the nation.  Those IOUs will be paid back in endorsements.  Palin has a national following that Pawlenty and Romney can only dream of.  She also has a opportunity to connect with people and prove she is smart and savvy.  Yes, I am aware of her negatives, but the negative press may help her if ordinary people decide she is one of them.  She comes from a middle class background and has a compelling story both personally and politically.  Let’s admit it:  Palin’s attractive charisma also is an asset to her campaign.

Cong. Paul of Texas does not want to run for President but when you are a cult icon in politics, you’ll have to run if your health allows it.  He will be about 77 when he runs but Konrad Adenauer was Chancellor of West Germany well into his eighties.  It can be done.  He will have strong grass roots support and his ideas have been adopted at least in part by mainstream conservatives.  Paul has no charisma in the classic sense but his ideas and incorruptibility appeal to many more voters than in 2008.  he will have the GOP netroots down pat and can raise huge sums of cash.  It was reported for example that Romney’s PAC raised nearly two million dollars in the first half of 2009 while SarahPAC raised nearly $750,000.   Those are great numbers but they dwarf what Paul can come up with.  Ron Paul raised $18,000,000 in the fourth quarter of 2007.  That makes him a “contendar” where I come from.

The article by Peter Wehner and Michael Gerson examines the GOP fall and institutional reasons why Democrats have some advantages: 

Over the past five presidential elections, Brownstein writes, Democrats have built a “blue wall” consisting of 18 states and the District of Columbia; these account for fully 90 percent of the electoral votes needed to win the presidency.

The solution is to turn to innovative new leaders (emphasis added):

As it happens, the GOP has successful reformers to whom it can look to and learn from, including popular governors or former governors like Mitch Daniels, Tim Pawlenty, Bobby Jindal, and Jeb Bush.

Wehner and Gerson also discuss the issue of immigration: 

No national party can hope to succeed in the long run without broad support among immigrants and the children of immigrants—particularly, these days, Hispanics and Asian Americans.

Governor Jindal’s immigrant, Asian-American background and record of accomplishment will be attractive to many people, without sacrificing his staunch conservatism.  Wehner and Gerson restate the point:

To succeed, the Republican argument requires communicating that growing ethnic diversity does not undermine but rather strengthens the American ideal.

This Governor Jindal can do.  He also has stated (in that infamous speech that nobody liked but me!) that government tends to stifle innovation and drive.  Wehner and Gerson agree this issue is crucial for Republicans:

It is, in, fact, vital for Republican leaders to press the case for economic growth in general. Americans achieve their dreams not through the redistribution of wealth but through the creation of wealth.

Governor Jindal can speak to another issue important to Wehner and Gerson – social justice:

In this respect, Republicans would be well advised here to borrow a page from David Cameron and Iain Duncan Smith in their revival of the British Conservative party. These leaders have emphasized a range of issues that directly influence the quality of life in community: homelessness, addiction, prison reform, family breakdown, long-term unemployment.

I would suggest that as Governor of Louisiana, Jindal has made major changes that will improve the quality of life:  Ethics reform, encouragement of businesses to come to the state, prison reform, tax reform.  Jindal helped bring back a chicken processing plant to Monroe.  Even less obvious issues like speed traps are part of this new thinking.  Of course Louisiana has to be concerned about weather-related preparedness.  I think we’ll see more innovation. 

Finally, Wehner and Gerson speak of returning the GOP to what Senator Moynihan called a “party of ideas.” 

In the 1980s, one of the Republican party’s main sources of attraction to younger conservatives—we are thinking of our younger selves, among legions of others—was its growing reputation for intellectual vitality. “Of a sudden,” wrote Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a Democrat, in 1981, “the GOP has become a party of ideas.” Restoring that reputation, to be earned now as then through carefully argued and compellingly articulated programs of reform, is a central challenge.

Governor Jindal clearly has the intellectual capital to enage that debate.  He can shape the debate on many issues.  I believe that he will be a great candidate and if elected a great President – whether in 2012 or beyond. 

Finally, there are other leaders with ideas in the Republican Party.  Gov. Mitch Daniels has a stellar record in Indiana and Governor Pawlenty likewise in Minnesota (a blue state that can and does elect conservatives).  Former Governors Huckabee and Romney have must to admire.  Sarah Palin has been vilified in the press but she can be a spark for the party and cna connect with ordinary people – the exact reason so many liberals are afraid of her.  There are others in Congress and state houses with new ideas.   Finally, Congressman Ron Paul, my other political hero, has changed the field of play for ideas and expanded the GOP’s potential reach. 

Having said that, I still believe that Governor Jindal may be the answer to a party looking for new ideas and a new package attractive to Republicans, many independents and conservative Democrats.  Keep an eye on Louisiana.

We will not suspend this blog.  We are unapologetic that Governor Jindal is a wonderful candidate for the White House.  We do not believe this blog is a distraction to the Governor.  I have been trying to promote items and issues that show the Governor in his best light and we will continue to do that.  Governor Jindal does not need to run for President to do that.  He will be remembered in history as the governor of Louisiana who ended the Huey Long era in that state.  He may well need eight years to do that. 

But I personally believe that God called men and women to serve at crisis times in American history.  Look at men like Harry Truman – seemingly coming from nowhere to serve the nation with great distinction.  With Senator Ensign and Governor Sanford’s scandals seemingly taking them out of contention and Governor Palin seemingly suspending national ambitions for a time (I STILL think she’ll be a FOX News evening anchor shortly; my advice for the FOX anchor with the lowest ratings – better get them up now!) that makes it all the more possible that it may be the time for national service.

Jindal is an authority on health care.  It is likely that Obamacare will fail or pass in a limited manner.  Either way, that is an important issue.  There is cap and trade that may be the Waterloo for the liberals.  Obama’s popularity is down, in some states below fifty percent.  (Of course it is still early! I thank the Ace of Spades HQ for that entry!)

My suggestion for the Jindal PAC supporters – go to the Internet – like Ron Paul did.  Form Jindal meet up groups and there are tens of pro-Jindal Facebook groups already.  Start something official – Jindal for Lousiana’s Future.  Promote the Governor.  The time may come.   Perhaps persuade the Governor that it is great for Louisiana for him to help other GOP candidates.  Governor Palin has SarahPAC, as I said in an earlier blog entry, Governor Pawlenty may start a non-profit orgnaization to promote his views and issues.  Governor Jindal might be legally able to do the same.   

We will continue to promote the Governor and also comment on 2012.  Jindal could always be the VP candidate as well as run for President.  If Dan Kyle wants to be a guest blogger here – write us something and send it to us! 

We’ll see you at an election near you!  Don’t forget to help the local/state candidates in your area while we await 2012 or 2016!

“At this point, it is not a committed run for President and Pawlenty’s stated goal appears to be to provide a fresh face for the GOP.  Black suggests that what Pawlenty may do is a 501(c)4 organization.

According to Black and his source, the 501(c)4 can raise money, advocate issues and even limited polling related to those issues.  They cannot donate to candidates or give the funds raised (not tax deductible donations but it is a tax-exempt organization) to a campaign.  Pawlenty cannot be an announced candidate.  But he can travel around the country and speak on these issues. 

I respect Gov. Pawlenty.  He is from a clean state – Minnesota has very little public corruption and encourages public participation.  Minnesotans have even voted for third parties from time to time – ask former Governor Jesse Ventura.  He also has a great personal story – son of a truck driver, ordinary origins, etc.  He also is a proven vote getter in a blue state.  He was vetted by the press in 2008.  (By the way, if you are looking for negative stuff here – forget it!  We can disagree but not be disagreeable!)  He appears to be a fairly steady conservative.

I still submit that the new face for the GOP is Governor Jindal.  He has as good a story as Pawlenty.  Son of recent immigrants, Indian-American, graduate of high school at 16, Rhodes Scholar, holding several offices including Congress and Governor by the tender age of 37.  I suggest that Jindal will play better than Pawlenty due to his ethnic background with independents and some liberals. 

The infamous response speech in February does not show Jindal as his best.  I submit that he should have had an audience (Remember how exciting the speech Christie Todd Whitman gave as the response to one of President Clinton’s SOTW speeches – she spoke before the New Jersey Legislature in the state capitol.  There was electric excitement.) and he should have a short hard hitting speech after a brfief introduction of himself. 

Perhaps Governor Jindal should consider the same 501(c)4 entity – to promote ideas such as ethics in government, health care, or other issues the governor is interested in.  He can then talk to groups, advocate issues, raise his standing among voters with solid ideas and he can say with perfect truth that he is not running for President.  But, he is not ruling it out, either…

It’s a long way off until 2012…

It has been my theory that if the 2012 election is hopelessly out of reach that Gov. Jindal will not run and wait for 2016 (wonder how easy it is to change a blog name?) but that Gov. Palin will be encouraged to run so the GOP can have the first woman nominee.  But if the 2012 election is contested, Jindal will run and he can win the nomination and the election.  Of course, former Gov. Romney will try to have something to say about it, too.  Maybe Gov. Pawlenty as well. 

I suggest that the liberal/radical attacks on Governor Palin can backfire.  Camille Pagila had a great column in Salon in November on the Sarah Palin controversy.  Pagila says:

Liberal Democrats are going to wake up from their sadomasochistic, anti-Palin orgy with a very big hangover. The evil genie released during this sorry episode will not so easily go back into its bottle.

Isn’t she right?  There’s more:

I like Sarah Palin, and I’ve heartily enjoyed her arrival on the national stage. As a career classroom teacher, I can see how smart she is — and quite frankly, I think the people who don’t see it are the stupid ones, wrapped in the fuzzy mummy-gauze of their own worn-out partisan dogma. So she doesn’t speak the King’s English — big whoop! There is a powerful clarity of consciousness in her eyes. She uses language with the jumps, breaks and rippling momentum of a be-bop saxophonist. I stand on what I said (as a staunch pro-choice advocate) in my last two columns — that Palin as a pro-life wife, mother and ambitious professional represents the next big shift in feminism. Pro-life women will save feminism by expanding it, particularly into the more traditional Third World.

That is what the Palin haters fear.  A populist conservative mother who will connect with the American People.  While I prefer Gov. Jindal, if they keep it up, they’ll be watching the inauguration of President Palin in 2013. 

Sandy