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This websearch. Multiple reports online of this. The Koch brothers, Norm Coleman's slush fund, Freedom Club, which bloc(s) of influence buyers is his focus upon? And what evil will result for the people of Minnesota if the man pole vaults past all the inner party caucusing and conventioning, and runs a mega-money primary? Democracy winces.
So, who precisely are the deep pocketed malefactors of great wealth with whom he is coconspiring to inflict a beltway candidacy upon us?
MPR:
Pawlenty is weighing a campaign for his old job and is convening a group of Republican donors and political movers this month as he seeks advice about entering a governor's race without a clear favorite.
Pawlenty sent emails on Wednesday to a select group, inviting them for a morning gathering on Feb. 12 at an undisclosed Minneapolis location with the agenda as "important meeting regarding Minnesota's future."
The email obtained independently by MPR News and later verified as authentic by a Pawlenty adviser asks the recipients to reserve the time and promises details on the location later.
Brian McClung, a former top aide and longtime adviser to Pawlenty, confirmed it is is an indication of his active consideration of a bid. McClung said Pawlenty "will be talking with Minnesotans over the coming weeks to assess support and gather advice."
Pawlenty, [...] didn't return a message left directly with him seeking comment.
I can imagine Betsy DeVos putting a pile of money into a Pawlenty escapade. Wilbur Ross. The Starkey crowd. Cummins. Hubbard. All those who view regular people as pliant fools. Many pliant fools, and the disaster of Pawlenty again being governor could actually happen.
Big banks, payday lenders, credit card usurers might all rejoice. Get in and Scott Walker the good State of Minnesota, Timmy, the money will back you and in turn you will have obligations.
Parallel coverage, carrying the MPR story:
“I am very interested in public service and service for the common good, there are a lot of different ways to do that, but I’ll tell you today that running for the United States Senate in 2018 won’t be part of those plans,” Pawlenty told the Fox Business Network in January.
Since leaving office, Pawlenty ran unsuccessfully for president and for the past several years has led the Financial Services Roundtable, a Washington-based trade association and lobbying arm for the banking and insurance industries.
Pawlenty, 58, is the last Republican to win a statewide race in Minnesota. He narrowly won a second term in 2006 in a three-way contest.
He even looks like Scott Walker.
Strib, local coverage, not carrying a feed:
A group of about 100 of Minnesota's richest, most politically engaged Republicans filed into a common room last week. The host was former Gov. Tim Pawlenty. He was offering an opportunity to get in on his own potential comeback bid in a gubernatorial race shaping up as the most significant and wide open in years.
I had a friend, since deceased, who said, "I never buy anything unless I know what it costs and exactly what I'm getting."
A hundred donors. This is not unexpected. But expecting bad news is less depressing than seeing it happen.
A Reddit thread.
UPDATE: The likely benefactor of this movement at this time is Tim Walz. It could impact some DFL State Convention minds as a shift from, "Who do I like the most and think would make the best Governor," to "Who has the best chance of killing a skunk."
FURTHER: Alternate headlining was in mind, "Daddy Bankbucks makes his move. Summons Punjab and The Asp." However, some of the young readers might not get it.
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FURTHER: Opening image added, a Financial Services Roundtable (FSR) image. Hold that in mind throughout the Pawlenty - Minnesota intrusion - his organization's using that image. Moreover,
http://www.fsroundtable.org/about-fsr/ states:
Who We Are
Financial Services Roundtable (FSR) is the leading advocacy organization for America’s financial services industry. With a 100- year tradition of service and accomplishment, FSR is a dynamic, forward-looking association advocating for the top financial services companies, keeping them informed on the vital policy and regulatory matters that impact their business.FSR members include the leading banking, insurance, asset management, finance and credit card companies in America. We are financing the American economy — creating jobs, expanding businesses, securing homes, businesses and retirement, insuring growth and building consumer confidence.
With expanding Washington involvement in our industry, forming relationships and engaging with public officials and policymakers is critical to helping our members see around the curve, understand policies and regulations, and provide input to help shape them.
FSR is driven at the CEO level giving us a unique and influential voice in Washington. At every level of the government, FSR is working to ensure that our members’ interests are well represented.
..............................................
And that is who Tim Pawlenty is. (Who he always was.) Weigh that thought. No more phony posing allowed.
FURTHER: As to phony pretenses, Strib's report:
The rich Rolodex that allowed Pawlenty to pull together the big donors is a double-edged sword. The DFL is already hammering him on his life in “retirement” from politics, during which he has been a Washington-based lobbyist for the nation’s biggest banks, earning $2.7 million in 2016, according to IRS documents.
Mike McFadden, a wealthy investment banker and the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014, played a leading role in the private discussion, according to other participants. (McFadden did not return a message Monday.)
The meeting comprised both politics and policy.
On the policy front, Pawlenty covered taxes and regulation, health care, education and the imperative that government be ready to embrace but also plan for changes in technology.
A meeting attendee was inspired: “Tim gave a great talk about education and poor kids not getting a fair shot in this state. I loved the passion.”
[...] A primary strategy will require big money, although Pawlenty would go into the race with the advantage of being well known to Republican primary voters.
[bolding added] The DC beltway insider maybe really is laundering the flannel plaid shirt for more "Sam's Club" promising. To the likes of Mike McFadden, presumably also a Sam's Club shopper. A room full of Sam's Club shoppers, ya betcha. Pawlenty is "well known" but to report that as an advantage is an insult to Republican primary voters; but the proof may be in the pudding; i.e., an earned insult.
The beat goes on. Which closet, which residence, was the old hockey gear stowed? Can he even remember the name of his Lt. Governor?