I just wonder how many red-faced tea baggers in his state are cheering him on to their own detriment? I'm guessing alot.

and that's what's so weird about all of this. The very notion of a black man as President has these people so infuriated that enough people in this country will put a dangerously disturbed element in power to great harm to the nation and themselves personally.

Discredit him? It will make him a hero, if anything. You can't emphaize enough how right-wingers want an Us vs Them battle in virtually every public square of American life. That's it. They don't want smart policy, consistency, and sensible application of power. That's liberal. They want to win. If that means sabotaging government and hurting their fellow citizens, so be it. There's no need to overthink Tim Pawlenty's strategy here. It's smart politics because nihilism is the core right-wing value.

Pawlenty has said he will seek and accept health funding from the federal government, just so long as the money is part of other programs, unconnected to the Affordable Care Act. Referring to upcoming Medicaid funds, the governor said, "We'll likely take that money. It's not Obamacare."

To summarize:

Lyndoncare, yes; Obamacare, no.

Idiot.

Looks like Obama is making inroads on the traditional GOP exploitation, pushing them to angry decisions.

The very notion of a black man as President has these people so infuriated that enough people in this country will put a dangerously disturbed element in power to great harm to the nation and themselves personally.

How long have you been paying attention to politics? These people were no different when Clinton was president. And these same people went on and on about Gore lying when George Bush was the real one doing the lying.

Apparently you have just noticed them. I've known them my whole life.

Good grief. We have a new health care exchange - it just opened --- in Utah!!!! It is not likely that it will be that effective, but out here they flog it as ans "alternative" to "government-mandated" health care ....

I don't see how this even comes close to making any political sense ....

Alex Pareene noted: First, it was reported that Pawlenty is refusing free federal money for comprehensive sex education for Minnesota schools. But he IS accepting federal grants for abstinence-only education that require a matching contribution from the state. (And he's running on being a slasher of wasteful spending!)

In the words of the Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting "[He's] turning down almost a million dollars for youth programs that require no match, but taking funding for failed programs that require a 75 percent match.”

From the director's cut of Sunset Blvd:

Joe Gillis (to Norma Desmond): "You're America. You used to be in silent pictures. You used to be big."

America: " I AM big. It's the politicians that got small."

You have to remember you are talking about a state that elects Michelle Bachmann to Congress, sends 3 of its professional football players down to Mississippi to convince an almost 41 year old quarterback with a bum ankle to play at least one more season and came within a few hundred votes of sending Norm Coleman back to the Senate instead of Al Franken. Minnesota has changed since the days of Hubert Humphrey.

Terry:
A few things. I'd be willing to bet, at this point, that people would take Jesse Ventura back and dump T-Paw. Second, in the very slim chance T-Paw does get the 2012 GOP'er Prez nod, I bet he'll lose Minnesota. Third, T-Paw has no shot at the GOP nod in 2012. There are about 5 people(at least) ahead of him on the pecking order depending on who runs and all of that.

In my view, Pawlenty is one of the most despicable clowns around. Nothing likeable about this fellow. Smug, sarchastic, triangulating.... did I miss anything?

Scott F: Cruel * stupid?
Since Obama won the primaries, he's become a bigger dick than I would have imagined. He's also a liar.
Smarmy, too. (goes with smug) Not cute, Tim.
Benen's title rightly mentions people. We have people here, Tim. Here, in your state. shitwit

What's the difference between a pitbull and a hockey mom? Red Naughty Monkey Double Dare pumps, a gulfstream jet, and an Escalade ESV.

The Vanity Fair piece is chock full of hearty tidbits about the far right's Bullshitter-in-Chief

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2010/10/sarah-palin-201010?currentPage=all

What's the difference between a pitbull and a hockey mom? Red Naughty Monkey Double Dare pumps, a gulfstream jet, and an Escalade ESV.

The Vanity Fair piece is chock full of hearty tidbits about the far right's Bullshitter-in-Chief

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2010/10/sarah-palin-201010?currentPage=all

My hopital has been terrribly affected by Pawlenty .HCMC is the largest safety net hospital in the state,we take care of everybody.And no surprise we have been hammered by the Gov's actions.I've been an ICU nurse for 23years and have never seen morale so low.Staffing is bare bones and the most vulnerable,the patient's and our lower wage earners like housekeeping and the aids have been hit the hardest.I do not know how that man can look at himself in the mirror and not feel shame.When I can' get help to turn my patient's, or people come in way sicker than they should cause of no care I blame these craven Republicans.

My local NPR station in FL had a story of how local employers were eligible and were applying for reimbursement for health care benefits provided to retirees younger than 65 (not yet eligible for Medicare). Some of the employers mentioned were local govt entities who were now getting money back. Is Rick Scott, former healthcare exec, in favor of this federal program or does he think that the FL local govts and other employers should give the money back? What is that reimbursement means that local govts can save a few jobs that would otherwise be laid off?

...he seems willing to sacrifice his own standing in his own state -- as well as the needs of his constituents who would benefit from federal health care grants that will now go elsewhere.

As a Minnesotan, I fully expect him to run against us, that he considers it a badge of honor to have fought for eliminating health care for the indigent, and settled for hobbling it. Look what I did to fight back against the evil agenda of the DFL! he can say, and promise to do anything, at any human cost, as President.

I believe the freakin Chamber of Commerce has come out and said Pawlenty should reconsider. And Romney is ahead of T-Paw in MINNESOTA, so just how effective is this guy's campaign?