Why tim pawlenty

This theory was utterly discredited within the living memory of today's 4-year-olds, but it will not die in some Republican circles. Studies by the U. Treasury found that the tax cuts of the George W. Bush era recouped only 10 percent of the lost revenues they caused. Let's not push all potential Republican candidates into the same dunce's corner.

The almost-but-not-running Indiana governor, Mitch Daniels, has said that higher taxes may be needed to tame deficits. And the most recent declared candidate, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, has refused to sign the ridiculous "no-new-taxes" pledge. And that explains why many upper-income Americans support higher, not lower, taxes.

They know that they do better when their government appears to be functioning in a fiscally responsible way. Furthermore, they like their country.

What's most astounding about Pawlenty's plan is that it would virtually end all taxation for the idle rich who live off investments. Since the fall of , he's been mentioned in the same breath as Romney, Sarah Palin, and Mike Huckabee, but he was afforded this lofty status mostly on spec. Pundits saw potential, components that logically should add up to top-tier status.

He had all the right attributes: experience as a governor of a purple state, social-conservative appeal, a willingness to attack President Obama in speeches to GOP activists, and a record to run on. But these lofty expectations were being formed at a time when no one in Iowa, New Hampshire, or anywhere, really, had much reason to know who last occupied the Minnesota governor's mansion. Gradually, the "book" on Pawlenty shifted. He went from a sleeper pick for the nomination, to a wise-guy's best bet, to a flop.

After a year and a half of media hype, predictions of top-tier status turned into questions about when Pawlenty would reach that status, and then into questions about why he wasn't reaching it already. It didn't help Pawlenty that, because of lofty expectations forged early in the election cycle, his positive buzz turned negative.

It's easy to see things going differently for Pawlenty had he waited, a la the most recently announced presidential candidate, Texas Gov.

Rick Perry. If Pawlenty had taken on another term as governor, one can see him as a Chris-Christie-esque magnet for the hopes of disgruntled Republicans frustrated by the options at hand, able to make a splash with late entry.

But we'll never know for sure. Debate woes. Pawlenty appeared in two major televised debates, and he sort of blew it both times. In a New Hampshire debate televised by CNN on June 13, Pawlenty backed down from a challenge by moderator John King to repeat an attack line against Romney -- that week, Pawlenty had referred to Massachusetts' health care system as "Obamneycare" -- to Romney's face, since the two were standing in the same room.

When Pawlenty refused to take the bait, he looked weak. In the Iowa debate televised by Fox last Thursday, he had the opposite problem. Early on, he transparently adhered to a plan to attack President Obama at every turn, even when he wasn't asked about Obama, but he later went after Bachmann a bit too forcefully, calling her congressional record "nonexistent" and telling her, "If that's your view of effective leadership with results, please stop, because you're killing us.

Pawlenty missed two big opportunities to introduce himself and win people over. He ran in the wrong year. His point: The rest of the candidates, both announced and potential, look unelectable. At a time when the fiscal cliff is one of the biggest threats our nation faces, this is a critical skill and credential.

As treasurer of his campaign, let me note that he concluded his campaign committee with all vendors paid and no debt. Tim understands that an essential rule of life is to not spend more than you have. Swing state appeal. If Minnesota becomes a swing state, Romney will indeed be president. Yet the state doesn't need to swing for Pawlenty to make major contributions to the Romney ticket.

Tim's Midwest appeal can make a pivotal difference in Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and, importantly Ohio. In that Minnesota's high tax rates have been a major contributing factor to the population growth of the west coast of Florida, his ability to help there should not be discounted.

Blue collar cred. He is the son of a truck driver and a first-generation college graduate. He is proud of his roots and enthusiastic about his continuing love for hockey. His championing of Sam's Club Republicans in authentically motivated.

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Southlake Podcast U. Share this —.

Follow NBC News.