As outgoing Gov. Tim Pawlenty prepares for life after the governorship, the "what ifs" have gotten him thinking.
Like, "what if" he had successfully run for a third term and served alongside a now-Republican majority in both the Minnesota House and Senate?
Pawlenty "didn't even hesitate" when the Duluth News Tribune editorial board asked him if he wished he had ran again. His answer: "Yes."
"If I would have known then what I know now," the Republican lamented, and "given what I've been through and hoped to accomplish, but that (the DFL-controlled Legislature) blocked. But you can't predict the future. And of course, I made my decision after the 2008 election when President Obama and the Democrats swept everything. I looked at that and (decided against) having to go over there and ram heads with (DFL Sen. Larry) Pogemiller and (DFL Rep. Margaret Anderson) Kelliher and their like. (There was a) high probability of that. Hindsight is 20/20."
But onwards and upwards, right? Pawlenty still hasn't formally announced his likely next venture (a run for the presidency), but DNT did note this choice line he delivered to KAAL-TV earlier this week:
"If I don't run for president I'm going to open a margarita bar in south Florida and play Kenny Chesney music."
Might we suggest "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems"?
