Gov. Tim Pawlenty must make crucial decisions for Minnesota and U.S.

May 5, 11:16 AMSouth St. Paul ExaminerRob Shirk

Previous Next

2 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the South St. Paul Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Tim Pawlenty          photo by Alex Wong

Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota is on the short list of presidential contenders in the Republican Party.

While the GOP has been thrashed in more political races since Watergate, Gov. Pawlenty has the trust and votes of his peers, an anomoly in the cascade of Democratic victories in the last two election cycles. Presidential aspirations are all well and good but, as they say, it's a long way to Tipperary and the plan could get all fouled up because of the trench warfare between Landslide Norm Coleman and Landslide Al Franken.

Landslide Norm Coleman sued to have the results from the official recount reversed.The razor thin 312 vote margin is the final vote difference decided by a three judge panel appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court.

After losing the election that has been certified by recount and a district court, Landslide Norm Coleman is now taking his case to the Minnesota Supreme Court to have them nullify the lower court's decision that went against him. In Minnesota, the governor and secretary of state must sign the election certificate but only after all court proceedings are closed.

Here's the rub, though. If Gov. Pawlenty signs the election certificate, it will put Landslide Al Franken in the position as being the 60th Democrat in the senate giving Barack Obama a pretty fair chance of success for his agenda. This drives the Republican leadership into a fit of apoplexy not seen since, well, the shoe was on the other foot. The national boys have little or no moral obligation toward Minnesota residents. It would be the same if we were any other state. It's all about the votes. The Republicans want to take this thing as far as they possibly can go, including, somehow, the U.S. Supreme Court, not for Landslide Norm Coleman to be a senator, but to keep Landslide Al Franken out. They'll pressure Pawlenty to hold fast. And then they dangle the presidency at him all the while.

The chances of Landslide Norm Coleman winning at The Minnesota Supreme Court are marginal, at best. Despite the impatience of many it certainly is his right to go down this path even as bridges are burning behind him. He could finagle his way to the U.S. Supreme Court if he wants to.

Amid budget battles with the legislature in St. Paul and his role in the U.S. Senate war, Tim Pawlenty is approaching the seminal months of his tenure. He is a popular Republican governor. He IS from South St. Paul, after all. The most politically adroit governor in memory is about to make some decisions to test his savvy.

SUBSCRIBE to my Examiner Column by clicking the "Subscribe" link below this posting and receive timely updates on South St. Paul and Minnesota news.