Of books and other MN Presidential politics.
January 6, 2011 9:22 AM Subscribe
So, last year Target set off a mini bruhaha by donating a wad of cash to fund advertisments for MN Republican Govonor candidate Tom Emmer. The Tea Party favorite subsequently went on to lose the race (narrowly) in one of the few bright spots for Democrats this past election season. Coincidentally, Target now is the recipient of (former) MN Governor, Tim Pawlenty's (R) new book (Courage to Stand) and released it a week early, trumping all other sellers. Although Pawlenty hasn't yet officially announced his candidacy the book tour is running through the early nomination states, despite his being near the bottom of the pack in GOP contenders.
Mind you, he is not the only Minnesotan looking to make a run at the top seat.
Bonus fun link: local blog with a mini photoshop contest of Pawlenty's book jacket.
Bonus fun link: local blog with a mini photoshop contest of Pawlenty's book jacket.
There's also been some flap about Pawlenty's official portrait, which I wrote about yesterday:
Another issue is that Pawlenty has reportedly already had an official painting done. This was not mentioned by the news, and has been successfully hushed up, but I have it on good authority that at the start of his first term as governor, Pawlenty was painted by an English artist named Basil Hallward. The artist disappeared some years later under mysterious conditions, and the painting was likewise moved to an unused room in the governor's mansion, where it was hidden under a sheet, and then the door to the room was locked and bolted. There are some who have seen it since, however, and have told me the story under the strictest conditions that I not reveal their names. They tell an occult tale of a painting that changes every year. One year it gained a mullet. Another year his posture had changed, with him giving thumbs-up gestures to a bill that read "cap and trade" — publicly he no longer supported this. Another year had Pawlenty staring at a map of Massachusetts while a newspaper on the desk behind him trumpeted that he was working toward universal health care. Most recently, the painting is said to show him happily opening envelopes filled with federal funds — in the real world, he has spoken out against them.
Those who have seen the painting claim that you would not even recognize Tim Pawlenty in it. And then they cover their eyes and weep — in terror, I presume. Anyway, they're weeping for some reason.
I keep waiting for a knock at the door, and, when I open it, Tim Pawlenty is standing there waiting for me, like Roland Weary.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:29 AM on January 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
Another issue is that Pawlenty has reportedly already had an official painting done. This was not mentioned by the news, and has been successfully hushed up, but I have it on good authority that at the start of his first term as governor, Pawlenty was painted by an English artist named Basil Hallward. The artist disappeared some years later under mysterious conditions, and the painting was likewise moved to an unused room in the governor's mansion, where it was hidden under a sheet, and then the door to the room was locked and bolted. There are some who have seen it since, however, and have told me the story under the strictest conditions that I not reveal their names. They tell an occult tale of a painting that changes every year. One year it gained a mullet. Another year his posture had changed, with him giving thumbs-up gestures to a bill that read "cap and trade" — publicly he no longer supported this. Another year had Pawlenty staring at a map of Massachusetts while a newspaper on the desk behind him trumpeted that he was working toward universal health care. Most recently, the painting is said to show him happily opening envelopes filled with federal funds — in the real world, he has spoken out against them.
Those who have seen the painting claim that you would not even recognize Tim Pawlenty in it. And then they cover their eyes and weep — in terror, I presume. Anyway, they're weeping for some reason.
I keep waiting for a knock at the door, and, when I open it, Tim Pawlenty is standing there waiting for me, like Roland Weary.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:29 AM on January 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
In other news, thank God Mark Dayton is now in office, so Tim Pawlenty can start humping his presidential dream on his own fucking clock and dime.
posted by nanojath at 9:31 AM on January 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by nanojath at 9:31 AM on January 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
Wait, what? Mark Dayton is of the Dayton's Daytons, right? I always knew Target as part of the Dayton's department store empire. And they donated money to Tom Emmer? Must be some bad blood since the companies split.
posted by AzraelBrown at 9:34 AM on January 6, 2011
posted by AzraelBrown at 9:34 AM on January 6, 2011
The heads of Target are almost all extreme right wing Christians, for some reason.
I don't want Bachmann to run for president. She'd get trounced in the primaries and could still keep her job in the House. I want her to run for Senate, against Franken or Klobuchar, and be kicked out of politics altogether.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:36 AM on January 6, 2011 [8 favorites]
I don't want Bachmann to run for president. She'd get trounced in the primaries and could still keep her job in the House. I want her to run for Senate, against Franken or Klobuchar, and be kicked out of politics altogether.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:36 AM on January 6, 2011 [8 favorites]
Speaking as a bona fide Target Team Member whose responsibilities once included setting out new releases in the entertainment department, I have to point out that it isn't fair to say that "Target" released the book a week early - rather, someone at that particular Target store screwed up and set it out a week ahead of time. That happens a lot, because all large retailers receive the product ahead of the release date but there are lots of ways for it to end up on the sales floor too early. You might receive the planograms ("POGS", for those in the biz) and shelf labels a week or two early and set them up by mistake, the current planograms themselves may include the products that can't be sold until later, or you might just be trying to fill up an empty end cap with product you realized you have a lot of in the back room, and were too lazy to check in see if that product was street-dated for some reason.
This peculiarity of retail timing often leads to amusing moments, like the time we received hundreds of copies of books by Charles Dickens and had no idea why, and equally no idea why we were prohibited from selling any of them before a specific date. Well, because Oprah was going to be naming a pair of Dickens novels as her book club selection of the month, of course.
Retail is weird.
posted by Curious Artificer at 9:42 AM on January 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
This peculiarity of retail timing often leads to amusing moments, like the time we received hundreds of copies of books by Charles Dickens and had no idea why, and equally no idea why we were prohibited from selling any of them before a specific date. Well, because Oprah was going to be naming a pair of Dickens novels as her book club selection of the month, of course.
Retail is weird.
posted by Curious Artificer at 9:42 AM on January 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
I can't wait for the Discovery Channel's new "Crazy Cat Fight Primary Season" starring Palin, Bachmann, Sharron Angle and Christine O' Donnell. It's supposed to premiere right after "Cupcake-Loving Midget Triplets" and before "Alaskan Pit Bull Pawn Shop".
posted by briank at 9:45 AM on January 6, 2011
posted by briank at 9:45 AM on January 6, 2011
I almost can't wait for the first Republican debate with 12-18 or so canidates all tripping over each other to say the craziest shit they can get away with. Which will certianly be even crazier than 2008's Double Guantanmo's, 100 years in Iraq, no one raising thier hand to admit to believing in evolution and 911nounverb911.
Then I remember that these people are actually in charge of fucking important decisions about how the country works and who lives and who dies and I want to either start crying or march on the capital with torches. Or maybe both. We need more torches in America.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:02 AM on January 6, 2011
Then I remember that these people are actually in charge of fucking important decisions about how the country works and who lives and who dies and I want to either start crying or march on the capital with torches. Or maybe both. We need more torches in America.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:02 AM on January 6, 2011
I want Bachmann to run, just so she could be disembowelled by Gore Vidal. Admittedly, it'd hardly be a contest, and she's not much of a worthy opponent, but he's just so magnificently ornery and bitter these days that her public humiliation would be such a thing of beauty. Scholars a hundred years from now writing dissertations on Vidal would have to add little footnotes explaining that Bachmann was once held in some esteem.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:12 AM on January 6, 2011
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:12 AM on January 6, 2011
"explaining that Bachmann was once held in some esteem."
You want them to lie?
posted by jaduncan at 10:22 AM on January 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
You want them to lie?
posted by jaduncan at 10:22 AM on January 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Courage to Stand
Pawlenty considered other titles, including:
posted by Ratio at 10:33 AM on January 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Pawlenty considered other titles, including:
- Strength to Endure
- Endurance to Prevail
- Commitment to Strength
- Standing for Courage
posted by Ratio at 10:33 AM on January 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
nanojath: "God I hope they both run, despite the further undeserved kicking-around of Minnesota's politics sure to follow. The more divisive contenders out there, the better.
It would be nice to have a hopeless liberal Minnesotan candidate in the mix, just to remind people of the strong liberal component in our state's glorious political rainbow. Unfortunately Keith Ellison (my rep!) is far to savvy to make a move like that, because you have to admit that as political slogans go "in 2012, why not a black President who's a real Muslim"... well OK, it's pretty bad on all fronts. But still makes me laugh."
Well that's my slogan for 2012 (not that, but in that vein): "You want socialism? *I'll* show you socialism!"
posted by symbioid at 10:48 AM on January 6, 2011
It would be nice to have a hopeless liberal Minnesotan candidate in the mix, just to remind people of the strong liberal component in our state's glorious political rainbow. Unfortunately Keith Ellison (my rep!) is far to savvy to make a move like that, because you have to admit that as political slogans go "in 2012, why not a black President who's a real Muslim"... well OK, it's pretty bad on all fronts. But still makes me laugh."
Well that's my slogan for 2012 (not that, but in that vein): "You want socialism? *I'll* show you socialism!"
posted by symbioid at 10:48 AM on January 6, 2011
Re Governor Dayton, color me impressed.
posted by longdaysjourney at 11:19 AM on January 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by longdaysjourney at 11:19 AM on January 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
Courage to Stand: Overcoming Your Shy Bladder and Conquering the Urinal
posted by dirigibleman at 11:44 AM on January 6, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by dirigibleman at 11:44 AM on January 6, 2011 [3 favorites]
Emmer donated money to a hard-right 'ministry' that stood for killing gays and lesbians. Given the chance to recant his allegiance to the hate group, Emmer said instead that they're "nice people". Emmer was supposedly pro-business, but I couldn't see him as anything other than a stealth virulent hatemonger.
When Target donated to Emmer for his supposed pro-business credentials, a lot of people (including me) stopped buying anything there. Target made noises about donating money to pro-GLBT causes, but that fell through (and they probably never had any real intention to right their wrong). I gained a new appreciation of K-Mart because of Target's bad donations.
Since Dayton won, I've decided I can shop at Target again, but I won't do it happily. I often can't afford to shop elsewhere -- Target has stuff I need at prices I can afford that I can't find elsewhere -- but I'm going to shop elsewhere whenever I can.
posted by jiawen at 1:42 PM on January 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
When Target donated to Emmer for his supposed pro-business credentials, a lot of people (including me) stopped buying anything there. Target made noises about donating money to pro-GLBT causes, but that fell through (and they probably never had any real intention to right their wrong). I gained a new appreciation of K-Mart because of Target's bad donations.
Since Dayton won, I've decided I can shop at Target again, but I won't do it happily. I often can't afford to shop elsewhere -- Target has stuff I need at prices I can afford that I can't find elsewhere -- but I'm going to shop elsewhere whenever I can.
posted by jiawen at 1:42 PM on January 6, 2011 [2 favorites]
This photoshop of Pawlenty's book literally made me LOL.
posted by vespabelle at 1:46 PM on January 6, 2011
posted by vespabelle at 1:46 PM on January 6, 2011
Re Governor Dayton, color me impressed.
Between this and Senator Franken's honest discussions of the healthcare bill, Minnesota seems to actual have a few sane politicians. It's probably a darkside/jedi thing though where they have a few incredibly awesome politicians to balance out Michele Bachmann.
posted by drezdn at 1:46 PM on January 6, 2011
Franken and Klobuchar are actually really good Senators. State-wide we just got clobbered in general this year as part of the Tea Baggers frenzy. If that hadn't happened it is likely we would have had some version of SSM, weather flat out marriage or Domestic partnerships.
Although Dayton wasn't my first choice in the primary, and I honestly don't care too much for his Lt. Gov (she was my district's Senator), I do think he is honest and well intenting and was relieved he won over Emmer.
vespabelle, the fellow that did that is the multi-talented Brian Barber , music video made in 48 hours
posted by edgeways at 2:00 PM on January 6, 2011
Although Dayton wasn't my first choice in the primary, and I honestly don't care too much for his Lt. Gov (she was my district's Senator), I do think he is honest and well intenting and was relieved he won over Emmer.
vespabelle, the fellow that did that is the multi-talented Brian Barber , music video made in 48 hours
posted by edgeways at 2:00 PM on January 6, 2011
Re Governor Dayton, color me impressed.
I was very pleased with the content of that article, but the writing style grated me so badly that I had to give up on it before I finished.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 3:24 PM on January 6, 2011
I was very pleased with the content of that article, but the writing style grated me so badly that I had to give up on it before I finished.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 3:24 PM on January 6, 2011
For the last four years, Pawlenty was so preoccupied with burnishing his national image that he could hardly be bothered with the business of governance. I work in health care policy and Minnesota was one of only two states to refuse a federal planning grant to prepare for health care reform, all because Pawlenty so desperately wants the approval of Obama-hating Tea Partiers. But now he's free to hit the rubber chicken circuit and bore poor GOP activists to tears.
Meanwhile, I have a new boss who will actually let me do my job.
posted by wintermute2_0 at 6:14 PM on January 6, 2011
Meanwhile, I have a new boss who will actually let me do my job.
posted by wintermute2_0 at 6:14 PM on January 6, 2011
His wife seemed very nice..... when she was voting for me in regional moot court quarterfinals back in law school.
posted by norm at 6:47 PM on January 6, 2011
posted by norm at 6:47 PM on January 6, 2011
Azrael Brown,the members of the Dayton family have not had anything to do with Target for twenty-odd years.
I've posted my thoughts here.
posted by brujita at 9:15 PM on January 6, 2011
I've posted my thoughts here.
posted by brujita at 9:15 PM on January 6, 2011
The thing with Pawlenty is, while I have never agreed with his politics the first few years of his term I could at least respect him. For instance, he tried to implement a drug reimportation program to drive down prescription prices, I could get behind the motivation for that even though i think it is a weird Rube Goldberg-ian way to do it.
But, every since he got it in his head he would like to run for President he has just continually drifted to the Right and gotten to be more and more like a dick head. I suspect that had a lot to do why the GOP lost the Gov seat this year.
posted by edgeways at 9:22 AM on January 7, 2011
But, every since he got it in his head he would like to run for President he has just continually drifted to the Right and gotten to be more and more like a dick head. I suspect that had a lot to do why the GOP lost the Gov seat this year.
posted by edgeways at 9:22 AM on January 7, 2011
I wish them both all the luck that Hubert H. Humphrey, Walter Mondale and Harold Stassen had in their runs for President.
posted by kuppajava at 10:46 AM on January 7, 2011
posted by kuppajava at 10:46 AM on January 7, 2011
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It would be nice to have a hopeless liberal Minnesotan candidate in the mix, just to remind people of the strong liberal component in our state's glorious political rainbow. Unfortunately Keith Ellison (my rep!) is far to savvy to make a move like that, because you have to admit that as political slogans go "in 2012, why not a black President who's a real Muslim"... well OK, it's pretty bad on all fronts. But still makes me laugh.
posted by nanojath at 9:29 AM on January 6, 2011 [7 favorites]