When then-Governor Palin resigned and left Alaska in other hands, the move was widely criticized. I don't know what she was thinking, I don't know what's going on in Alaska politics, and I'm not ready to praise the decision... but looking at Minnesota makes me think that it may have, as she insisted, been in the best interests of the citizens of Alaska.
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is not running for reelection in 2010, and he is certainly planning to run for United States President in 2012. Minnesota is a Democratic state with a Democratic legislature. The state falls somewhere around moderate to moderately liberal, and generally sane. I'm sure that the economic problems of the last few years are making governance somewhat difficult, but it shouldn't be that difficult. The problem is that governing Minnesota is at odds with garnering support from the national Republican base and Tea Party activists. Let's just say, this appears to be impeding his ability or willingness to govern.
Joe -- for a countering view of Palin's resignation, please see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IzNPEGWNos
One of the funniest of this series, if a bit foul-mouthed.
And your larger point about the craziness of the Tea-Party at odds with the GOP ability to govern and attract the center is well-taken.
Posted by: Andrew R. | May 19, 2010 at 06:18 PM
nice! I hadn't seen that one.
Posted by: Joe | May 21, 2010 at 05:30 PM