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'''Tim Pawlenty''' is the current [[Republican]] [[governor]] of the State of [[Minnesota]].  He was elected in 2002, taking the place of [[Jesse Ventura]]. Pawlenty has had high approval rating during his governorship<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2006/campaign/governor/pawlenty/</ref>. He balanced the state budget without breaking his pledge not to raise taxes and improved education. He was reelected in 2006, beating [[Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]] (DFL) candidate [[Mike Hatch]] in a close election.<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/11/07/mngov/</ref> Pawlenty was considered one of the main contenders for the Republican Vice Presidential spot for [[John McCain]] in 2008.

'''Tim Pawlenty''' is the current [[Republican]] [[governor]] of the State of [[Minnesota]].  He was elected in 2002, taking the place of [[Jesse Ventura]]. Pawlenty has had high approval rating during his governorship<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2006/campaign/governor/pawlenty/</ref>. He balanced the state budget without breaking his pledge not to raise taxes and improved education. He was reelected in 2006, beating [[Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]] (DFL) candidate [[Mike Hatch]] in a close election.<ref>http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/11/07/mngov/</ref> Pawlenty was considered one of the main contenders for the Republican Vice Presidential spot for [[John McCain]] in 2008.

In June 2009, Governor Pawlenty announced he would not seek a third term in the 2010 election. Observers expect he will seek the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. <ref>http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/46726117.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU1yDEmP:QMDCinchO7DU</ref>

In June 2009, Governor Pawlenty announced he would not seek a third term in the 2010 election. Observers have speculated that he will seek the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. <ref>http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/46726117.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU1yDEmP:QMDCinchO7DU</ref> "I don't know what the future holds for me, I'm not ruling anything in or out." <ref>http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/46726117.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU1yDEmP:QMDCinchO7DU</ref>  

 

In September 2009, Pawlenty accused President [[Barack Obama]] of imperiling the nation’s security and pushing a far-left agenda that threatens to leave the nation drowning in debt.  He reserved his harshest criticism for Obama’s decision this week to scrap a controversial plan for a missile defense shield in Europe.

:"Not only did President abandon missile defense, but he is opening negotiations with Iran and North Korea. The lessons of history are clear: Appeasement and weakness did not stop the Nazis, appeasement did not stop the Soviets, and appeasement did not stop the terrorists before 9/11."<ref> Alex Isenstadt, "Pawlenty decries 'appeasement'," [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27331.html#ixzz0RXSfaNUy ''Politico'' Sept. 18, 2009] </ref>

==Early Life==

==Early Life==

:"What is the rule that you can’t participate in federal legislation if you’re concerned about it? If you’re a liberal governor and you’re opposed to military spending, does that mean you don’t take the National Guard money? If you’re opposed to [[No Child Left Behind]], do you not take that money?"  

:"What is the rule that you can’t participate in federal legislation if you’re concerned about it? If you’re a liberal governor and you’re opposed to military spending, does that mean you don’t take the National Guard money? If you’re opposed to [[No Child Left Behind]], do you not take that money?"  

Pawlenty was the chairman of the National Governors Association from 2007 to 2008. He describes himself as Pro-Life and supports overturning [[Roe v. Wade]]. On [[gun control]] he supports statewide background checks to carry firearms.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Tim_Pawlenty_Gun_Control.htm</ref>

Pawlenty was the chairman of the National Governors Association from 2007 to 2008. He describes himself as Pro-Life and supports overturning [[Roe v. Wade]]. On [[gun control]] he supports statewide background checks to carry firearms.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Tim_Pawlenty_Gun_Control.htm</ref>

 

:"Not only did President abandon missile defense, but he is opening negotiations with Iran and North Korea. The lessons of history are clear: Appeasement and weakness did not stop the Nazis, appeasement did not stop the Soviets, and appeasement did not stop the terrorists before 9/11."<ref> Alex Isenstadt, "Pawlenty decries 'appeasement'," [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27331.html#ixzz0RXSfaNUy ''Politico'' Sept. 18, 2009] </ref>

== References ==

== References ==