Think Progress

Pawlenty: Obama should have picked Petraeus for VP.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who is on Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) vice presidential short list, criticized Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) yesterday for his selection of Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) as his running mate. Instead, Pawlenty said that Obama should have picked Gen. David Petraeus, whom he considers “an outstanding leader and somebody who would better represent the mainstream of the country.” Petraeus is the right wing’s dream candidate. Earlier this week, the McCain campaign floated Petraeus as a VP choice, despite the general’s previous declaration that he has no desire to ever run for public office.

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65 Responses to “Pawlenty: Obama should have picked Petraeus for VP.”

  1. Zooey says:

    Now that’s a dumb guy.


  2. tom says:

    Timmy, Timmy, Timmy.

    After Michele Bachmann, you are the second-most reason for Minnesotans to be embarrassed about their state.

    Hopefully, McNumbNuts won’t chose you as his running-mate. If he did, the idiocy of some Minnesota voters would be further exposed.


  3. Exit Stage Left says:

    Zooey Says:
    Now that’s a dumb guy.

    Isn’t being dumb JOB 1 in the repuke party? :)~


  4. Zooey says:

    Something in the water up there, Minnesotans?

    Yeesh…


  5. Zooey says:

    Exit Stage Left Says:
    Isn’t being dumb JOB 1 in the repuke party? :)~
    August 24th, 2008 at 11:11 am

    D’oh! I guess it was my turn to be Captain Obvious. :D


  6. Exit Stage Left says:

    Zooey Says:
    Something in the water up there, Minnesotans?

    Thanks to our crumbling infrastructure, that would be cars and bodies in the water :(


  7. Zooey says:

    Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!


  8. Jim says:

    Of course Pawlenty, like every other Republican, idolizes David Petraeus, who has been a loyal Republican propaganda-spreading operative. Pawlenty never thought Obama would pick Petraeus as his running mate, and that’s the point–Petraeus belongs to the neoconservative wing of the Republican Party. There’s nothing at all “mainstream” about Petraeus.


  9. tom says:

    Something in the water up there, Minnesotans?

    I sure wish I knew! My state has had a proud tradition but we seem to have lost our way ever since Paul Wellstone died. I guess we are not entirely immune to the mindless right-wing, neo-con, anti-government, evangelical assault on America.

    Hopefully, a fresh wind will blow across the country this fall and we can finally get back on track after eight years of the disastrous GDumbya/Darth Cheney regime.


  10. spencers mom says:

    What an idiot! Which makes him the perfect pick for McStain.

    BTW, were Petraeus to accept, wouldn’t he have to cut and run from Iraq?

    PEACE


  11. moondancer says:

    McCain should pick Al Sharpton for Veep.

    Jim@8

    Yes and he’s an integral part of selling the LIE that the surge worked/is working. They’ve done a good snow job, but watch the day after the election as a sudden out pour of bad news from our colony. And as the continued abuse of facts go’s on, Petraeus will suffer the Colin Powell fate.


  12. Bilbo Hussein Baggins says:

    And exactly why should we care what Tim Pawlenty has to say about anything? I fail to see how this is news. Just some Republicon a$$hat blowing hot air out of his rear.


  13. Krazny says:

    McCain should select Dennis Kucinich as his veep choice. I swear the republican talking heads must disconnect the brain before speaking.


  14. ForTruth says:

    despite the general’s previous declaration that he has no desire to ever run for public office

    Yeah sure, he turned his current position into one.

    And yes that is funny what Pawlenty said. Sounds like he’s been smokin’ pawlenty of that there good shite.


  15. Marie says:

  16. Marie says:

    This orning the repugs are floating Colin Powell for McCain VP. Last week, the buzz was the same for Obama.
    These guys are all just full of hot air – they talk to hear themselves. Gasbags.


  17. gummitch says:

    Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    And exactly why should we care what Tim Pawlenty has to say about anything? I fail to see how this is news. Just some Republicon a$$hat blowing hot air out of his rear.

    In theory, he’s on McCain’s short list, so his stupid remarks are more fun to note.


  18. katy says:

    that really WOULD be ‘obama-betrayus’…

    how preposterous will it get?

    ?


  19. ralph the wonder llama says:

  20. ralph the wonder llama says:

    Not sure what happened there.

    Here’s what I had typed:

    Pawlenty’s got it all wrong. Obama should have picked Santa Claus for VP.

    As long as we’re dealing with absurdities, who’s gonna vote against Santa Claus?

    (Although I do like the suggestions of Al Sharpton and Kucinich for McSame’s Veep.)


  21. Cats r Flyfishn says:

    This is so typical of these idiots. They are always telling everyone else “what they should do”. What a joke. I had a Republican tell me that the DNC should have appointed Donna Brazille as head of the DNC instead of Howard Dean. For some reason these fools think that we would follow their ill advice. If a Republican recommends something, do the opposite. Republicans are so easy to understand. Little brains and no ideas.


  22. Innocent Bystander says:

    Tim Pawlenty…the new Dan Quayle?


  23. Wayne says:

    Pawlenty said that Obama should have picked Gen. David Petraeus, whom he considers “an outstanding leader and somebody who would better represent the mainstream of the country.”

    Most of these neocon idiots have the mistaken belief that “mainstream” is where their beliefs are, somewhere to the right of Hitler, and anyone else is a “Far left liberal”.

    This guy sounds like a good choice for McCain, then they can advertise as Dumb and Dumber.


  24. christopher wiwi says:

    The problems with most re-pukes is that they have put their party first over this country ……….Mcwars is one of them.


  25. stateofthedivision says:

    Somebody give the man a drug test. If we make our athletes test for banned substances, we should make our elected officials.


  26. tom says:

    Tim Pawlenty…the new Dan Quayle?

    LOL. Actually, Quayle is without equal when it comes to VPs. More accurately, Quayle = GDumbya.

    And they both have something in common — Poppy Bu$h picked one of them and sired the other.


  27. Sambadaddy says:

    Now we’re getting into Christie Whitman territory.


  28. freeman says:

    Hate to be redundant here but check out Pat buchanan’s take on what many believe will be our next sec. of state if McCain wins in Nov .
    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article20590.htm


  29. freeman says:

    Obama should hire Buchanan as the remedy to Joe Lieberman , he speaks for many who consider themselves conservative .


  30. Wayne A. Schneider says:

    Okay, Pawlenty has just demonstrated not only his incredible stupidity by suggesting that a Democratic nominee for president choose a Republican, currently-active-duty general (chosen for his current assignment because of his willingness to be a political shill for the White House) as his running mate, but he’s also demonstrated his inability to grasp the idea that we vote for a President, not a Commander-in-Chief.

    Being an outstanding military leader does not automatically qualify one to be an outstanding civilian leader. In fact, it’s easier in the military because a commander always has the threat of imprisonment as a way to force subordinates to follow his or her orders. A civilian leader can only fire someone for not following orders, even if they refuse to follow illegal orders, not send them to jail for it.

    If Pawlenty was trying to prove he’s another brainless neo-con willing to carry out a third Bush term, then he’s just the man for McCain.


  31. dusty59 says:

    and anyone should care what Pawlenty thinks because??
    I know, when Pawlenty gets his party nomination, lets let him pick anyone he wants as VP. Till then, how ’bout a nice cup of STFU?!


  32. moondancer says:

    It is simply a desperate attempt to deflate Obama coverage. The bullshit about Powell, Patraeus, is all to grab some column inches. They are such children.


  33. House of Roberts says:

    Cats r Flyfishn at 11:40 am

    Not that I have a problem with Dean, I am interested in what you think would be wrong with Donna Brazille? Is there something about her I should know?


  34. freeman says:

    Neo conservativism is alive and well in the possibility of a mc cain presidency .
    Any close election will be decided by Diebold !


  35. House of Roberts says:

    Wayne A. Schneider at 12:04 pm

    “A civilian leader can only fire someone for not following orders, even if they refuse to follow illegal orders, not send them to jail for it.”

    Based on what Thom Hartmann was discussing last week, Bob Ney may have been sent up the river for not being a loyal enough Bushie. To be fair of course, you were in context talking about Democratic civilian leaders.


  36. CZ-1 says:

    I’d love to see Pawlenty as the Republican VP choice. If/when he stepped down as Governor and lost as VP, then Minnesota would be done with him. Blech.


  37. freeman says:

    If Pawlenty has a change of heart , he should stay out of small airplanes !


  38. CZ-1 says:

    Instead, Pawlenty said that Obama should have picked Pawlenty, whom he considers “an outstanding leader and somebody who would better represent the backwaters of the country.”

    There, fixed it for him.


  39. DidHeJustSayThat says:

    So you’d have Tim “I had to cut my mullet for the job” Pawlenty go on television and say something intelligent and sink the GOP message?

    Remember, this is the guy that said ‘McCain should be positive and talk about issues,’ to appeal to the electorate just like Obama! How well do you think that went over with the campaign?

    Patreaus. Ha.


  40. DidHeJustSayThat says:

    Oh, and I am up here in MN. I don’t think you’ve all been entirely fair.

    You should hope Pawlenty is the choice. He hasn’t done so great here.

    The back story on the I-35 Bridge collapse:

    Gov. Pawlenty appointed his Lt. Gov. to the head of Dept. of Transportation. He vetoed, multiple times, legislation that would have allowed funds for roads and bridges. She was forced from that post last spring, legislation was passed (6 brave GOPers crossed to support a veto proof measure) and the Gov. made some remarks that were considered hostile – line item vetoed Dem party leaders requests – and the party punished the lawmakers that addressed the infrastructure reality.

    It would be fun.


  41. Shayne says:

    I think we all hope Pawlenty is McCain’s VP pick. Not that it really matters with Grampy at the top of the ticket.


  42. tarazan says:

    That’s Pawlenty of garbage !!!, because military personnel do not get involved in politics and political parties business.
    They have a lot on their hands to worry about that.


  43. Game of Life says:

    pawlenty is on mcchimpy’s short list and the short bus.


  44. McWars says:

    Did the GOP throw their hands in the air and say, “What the hell, let’s try a bizzare sociological experiment this fall. What’s more to lose?”


  45. Uncle Fester Lurks says:

    Awe…Timmy Pawlenty, the governor who says he won’t raise taxes then does but calls them fees. He’s just another loyal Bush ass kissing empty suit.


  46. tarazan says:

    Pawlenty must be taking many rides in ‘Straight Talk Express’.


  47. Uncle Fester Lurks says:

    christopher wiwi Says:

    The problems with most re-pukes is that they have put their party first over this country ……….Mcwars is one of them.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    And then their party puts corporations, the wealthy and the defense industry over them and our country.


  48. McWars says:

    Still grasping at straws, stupid hick?


  49. ArtZ says:

    All these “well meaning” Republicans with their advice as to how Obama should run his campaign. Why don’t they just come out and publicly state that they are supporting Obama for president.
    Then, I might believe them.


  50. Bobwurst says:

    What is the sound that a troll makes when it drinks too much koo-aid?

    “jimAKKKKKKKKKKKK!”


  51. barfly says:

    JimAk:

    The Democratic vice presidential candidate’s son Hunter, 38, and brother James, 59, assert instead that their former partner defrauded them by misrepresenting his experience in the hedge fund industry and recommending that they hire a lawyer with felony convictions.

    An ongoing case, with debateable facts?

    Case closed! Hang’em!


  52. Shayne says:

    And my grandmother was a bootleger so I guess my chances of running for VP are destroyed too. Oh wait Bush’s grandfather was a CONVICTED Nazi sympathizer and this didn’t stop HW or W from doing their evil deeds to this country. Now do you have a point other than the one on top of your head Jim Wilke?


  53. Shayne says:

    That’s funny Bobwurst, my cat was just making that same sound from a fur ball.


  54. Doc Rock says:

    But is Petraeus a Freemason?


  55. SP Biloxi says:

    “Pawlenty: Obama should have picked Petraeus for VP.”

    And who is this clown? Petraeus as Obama’s running mate? What kind of pill did he swallow?


  56. pbg says:

    General Petraeus was appointed in January of 2007, and immediately became the only military authority on Iraq, and object of adulation by the right and the media.
    He had nothing to do with the invasion of Iraq: Those generals turned around and criticized the war. John Abizaid? John Batiste? Ricardo Sanchez? Stansfield Turner?Andrew Odom? Anthony Zinni? Eric Shinseki? Eric Newbold? Actual battlefield commanders in the war and Area Commanders (Zinni, Abizaid), ex-heads of the NSA (Odom) and the CIA (Turner) were all disappeared, (Let’s not even talk about Wesley Clark!) Petraeus was appointed, and suddenly he was the embodiment of the military, a brilliant commander whom it is a mortal sin to criticize. Petraeus trumps them all, and the media–and Congress–fell into line.

    He’s a Johnny-come-lately called in four years into the war, after generals in droves were cutting short their long military careers to call it a disaster. He looked around, took stock of the situation, and launched his assault–in Congress.

    And while all the previous commanders could be attacked mercilessly and insulted gratuitously for opposing the war, once the Bush Administration had a reliable figure in place–why, then how DARE you!

    IOKIYAR, again and again and again.


  57. Winski says:

    For someone who’s brain clearly isn’t working well, although it’s only un-frozen 6 months a year anyway, WHY on earth would ANYONE pick Petraeus for ANYTHING???


  58. RJKruger says:

    JOHN MCCAIN! Please, please, please pick this idiot. We need to ensure an Obama/Biden landslide.


  59. jvill says:

    Haha…

    The governor is jumping up and down like a little puppy on McCain’s leg.

    “Oh pick me oh pick me oh pick me!”

    These guys are such clowns.


  60. MapleStreet says:

    As Petraus appears to have knuckled under to Bush and subsequently sold his soul to the devil while testifying to the Senate – what in this makes him a good Veep for Obama.

    If this is the best the potential McCain veeps have for a debate, it is going to be so one sided that it will be painful for me to watch the debates, even though I want to see the dems win.


  61. Bad Eye says:

    Well of course Pawlenty would want Obama to pick Betrayus. That would have given McCain & Co. more ammo to go after Obama and paint him as a huge flip-flopper on the “war” on terror. I can hear it now…

    “Obama says he has been against the Iraq war from the beginning, but now he’s picked the top U.S. commander in that very war as his running mate. Can we really trust Obama’s judgement for the next 4 years?”


  62. Bad Eye says:

    Re: Pawlenty said Obama selected a “mentor,” showing a lack of experience for the nation’s highest post. Biden, 65, is a 35-year veteran of the U.S. Senate.

    And Bush picked Cheney because he was, what, a popular with the female voters?

    Geez. These guys really do think that Americans are idiots, and seem to wish that the voters don’t remember anything past yesterday.

    Hey, Pawlenty, remember when Giuliani, himself a former candidate for the White House, declared McCain the most qualified person to be president? And Romney’s kissing up to McCain after trashing him in the debates? Oh, silly, silly, me. Guess only Democrats do that, eh?

    Idiot.


  63. Musk says:

    I really hate to see the Gov of a neighboring state acting so small. Apparently having your name listed in the same sentence as McCain’s name is all it takes


  64. Robt says:

    Gen Patreaus might have great military strategic shills in specific areas as a forte.

    But the Gerenral is followed because of his Stars…!

    Tim Pawlenty is a fool for not understanding that and we can see that his idea is hiding behind the military General is his and his party’s only shield.

    I will also note that Tim Pawlenty politicization of the military in a campaign is done out of weakness. Besides,
    this country is tired of the KGB style police state conservative politics.

    Go back to trying to scare me, BOOOO!


  65. Brain From Planet Arous says:

    So what, there already is a Warmonger in Democrat VP candidate anyway

    http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=13354



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