A New Warm & Fuzzy T-Paw?

"Our Global Climate is Warming . . "

Minnesota needs:

• More renewables
• More energy conservation
• Less carbon emissions

No that's not a DFL proposal. . . or even a the musings of a classic Minnesota moderate Republican Governer - such as Elmer Anderson. It's from T-Paw's recently announced "Next Generation Energy Iniative"

Sounds liberal, yes . . . but, there's a trend here. Check out a couple of other recent headlines:

• Governor Tim Pawlenty announced today that state employees will enjoy a one-time health insurance premium "holiday" due to an excess surplus in the Minnesota . . ." (11/29/06)
  

• Gov. Pawlenty does "about face on health care" . . . says he wants to extend health insurance coverage to all Minnesota children. (11/14/06)

Spending taxpayer dollars to make nice with State employees?. . . inching toward universal healthcare? . . . and . . . eghad! . . . fighting global warming?!?!

Are these the earnest efforts of a narrowly elected governor saying "message received" to the electorate?

Or is this the grooming of a centrist, Vice President T-Paw?

Hmmmm . . . .Stay tuned.

And They're Off ! . . .

O.k. everyone, 'breaks over . . .2008 is here.

The Washington Post named Norm Coleman's seat as one of the ten most-vulnerable Senate seats to flip in 2008.

It noted that Betty McCollum would be the strongest of the Dem candidates, but she likely wouldn't run because of her recent appointment to the "powerful" Appropriations Committee. The author promptly dissmisses Al Franken and moves right on to Tim Walz and Mike Cirisi as possible strong contenders.

That would be a pretty quick move up the ladder for Mr. Walz, he hasn't even cast a vote yet in his new job . . . is he already the next Barak Obama?

It will be interesting to see how the candidates sort out in the next year. Stay Tuned.