Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)
- Tim Pawlenty has been hitting the campaign trail for presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney for over a year now, constantly fuelling speculation that he’ll be Romney’s choice for the GOP Vice Presidential slot.
- Tim Pawlenty came to prominence in his party as the governor of Minnesota (2003-2011). He left the governorship admired by many Republicans for putting conservative fiscal policies in place and balancing Minnesota’s budget. Pawlenty ran against Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination for President, but quit the campaign after losing the Iowa straw poll in August of 2011. He endorsed his former rival the next month.
- This week, Michael Leahy wrote in the Washington Post that Pawlenty was “the hardest-working Romney surrogate among all the vice presidential hopefuls” perhaps because, when it comes to the Republican nomination for Vice President, “The stakes this year are greater for Pawlenty than anyone else on the short list.”
Roundtable: Maddow, Todd, Keating, Balz
- In Rachel Maddow’s latest show, she examined whether Mitt Romney was pivoting from focusing on the economy to emphasizing cultural issues – and whether it would hurt the campaign in the end. She also included some Olympic coverage, as Meet the Press will on Sunday, and saluted Team USA’s women’s soccer victories. Keep up with the Rachel Maddow show here.
- Chuck Todd, NBC’s Political Director and Chief White House Correspondent, had an exclusive interview with Mitt Romney this week. The NBC Political Unit wrote in First Read on Friday that the campaign is no longer an even race and “ There’s clearly movement toward the president and clearly problems for Romney personally” who “continues to have an image problem.” This, First Read noted, “raises the stakes for Romney’s VP pick and convention.”
- Frank Keating is the President and CEO of the American Bankers Association, and former two-term governor of Oklahoma. In his first term as Governor, Keating earned praise for his handling of the tragic Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Keating also has experience with VP vetting – he was on President George Bush’s shortlist in 2000, eventually losing to Dick Cheney. Last month he told GQ, “"To make people go through that kind of labor—and you're not even pregnant—was no fun."
- Washington Post Chief Correspondent Dan Balz looked ahead to an important August for Mitt Romney in his regular column The Take this week, writing: “The best that can be said about how Mitt Romney fared in July is that he survived.”
Follow these guests on Twitter:
- Tim Pawlenty: @timpawlenty
- Rachel Maddow: @maddow
- Chuck Todd: @chucktodd
- Dan Balz: @danbalz
Leave a Comment:
Meet the Press is scraping the bottom of the barrel when they put Rachel on the show. As soon as I saw her on the show I turned the channel to CNN.
I must have missed something...when did Meet The Press become the Rachel Maddow show?
Rachel has a large following that loves her. We are friendy until you diss her. It made me mad, and I think a million more of her "minions' might have a similar thought.
Noticed that Rachel Maddow wouldn't comment on the 700 billion dollar medicare cuts by the Obama plan, but she seemed to be able to comment on the Ryan plan. Wonder why she never answered the question????
That knuckledragger sitting next to her wouldn't let her answer. We need a rematch on her show with that talking point bot to settle the score.
Because that idiot wouldn't shut up and let her speak.
Whenever given the chance, she takes over the conversation...David, say it ain't so....she isn't taking over is she? I far prefer the way you handle the questioning; it's much more civil.
Why was Rachel Maddow unable to comment on the 700 billion dollar medicare cuts in the Obama plan, but she seemed to have plenty to say about the Ryan plan?
Rachel knew what she wanted to say but that Zealot who only spewed Republican talking points wouldn't give her 30 seconds to make her point. That was David Gregory's fault. When Stephanie Cutter was faced with the same talking point from Eric Fehrnstrom on ABC she deenutted him. That was a classic.
Rachel was unable to comment because Mr. National Review couldn't keep his mouth shut. She couldn't get a word in edgewise. This appears to be the typical Republican strategy: accuse the other side of not answering the question while yammering on and not listening for a response. Deaf, or unwilling to listen, dumb, unable to understand anything past their own narrow view of their constipated universe, and blind: unable to see past their paltry, starved understanding of cooperation. David Gregory is also largely to blame for not interceding when guests engage in such behavior. The moderator should enforce proper rules of discussion and silence those who interrupt. I must congratulate Rachel for her patience. If it had been me there and that little weenie had been that rude, I would've duct taped his pie hole shut. Republicans consistently acccuse Democrats of not cooperating, of wanting to spend flagrantly. This is not true. It's just that the solutions they propose consider the effects to the lives of those whom the legislation would contact. Tax cuts for the rich while cutting services to the poor? Shameful, stingy, mean-spirited, narrow minded . . . I could go on but they all live in a bubble anyway and don't care about causing pain to others. They just love to sit around listening to the rattling of their jewelry.
David Gregory needs a mute button anytime he has a Tea Party type on his show. That was disgraceful how that man disrespected Rachel. If I were Rachel I would be telling Bill Wolfe that i want that SOB on my show to force him to tell the truth.
The mainstream media has veered right to a disturbing degree. CNN had Bill Burton on Wolf Blitzer's show and they gave him the third degree for 20 minutes. I was expecting them to attach wires to his genitals to force him to admit that the cancer ad at GS steel was "beyond the pale".
Rachael was extremely rude in her attempt to hijack the show. She should learn to be quiet and listen a bit more.
Rachel was too restrained bob. She has class and is not like us. We both watched the same show and have 180 degree opposite opinions of what we saw on that show. Someday I HOPE Rachel will be our President.
Rich Lowry was a pompous ass! He never let Rachel Maddow even begin a sentence. He even said that this was all about him. This Lowry guy said, "only what Rich Lowry wants, matters". How arrogant can you possibly be? I would have said "You're a liar", it worked for Joe Wilson, why not Rachel Maddow?
Rachel should have been informed before the show that the 700 billion dollar "cut" was going to be an issue. I was mad and everyone who loves Rachel was too.
On another show Stephanie Cutter eviserated the Republican (Eric Fehrnstrom) when he started spewing his lies about the same 700 billion dollar cut.
William F. Buckley is undoubtedly turning in his grave. Rich Lowry's behavior was better-suited for the schoolyard, but it perfectly exemplified the low level of discourse we see too much of these days. MTP shouldn't tolerate that sort of inability to debate ideas. I'm fairly certain that Buckley wouldn't. Nor would have Tim Russert.
Let's see how Newsbusters will spin the confrontation between Rachel and that mentally challenged Republican about the 700 billion dollar "cut" that Democrats are enforcing on our Seniors. Who could know? Republicans are the real defenders of the poor and seniors. Why would anyone with 3 brain cells believe the Republicans?
Once again MTP failed to moderate, to let Maddow have her turn in the debate.
I was disgusted at how Rich Lowry handled himself today at MTP. It is clear that he cannot handle an argument unless he runs his opponent down in an unbecoming word-brawl. This is not about politics or which side you support. This is about having the ability and decency to explain yourself with intellect and strong reasoning, and not being a jerk on national TV. Way to go Rich, with guys like you, Romney/Ryan need no enemies.
Rachel, folks may not always agree with you; which i am sure you have experienced. But the way you were spoken to today lowered our political discourse to ugly and mean machoism. Rich's demeanor eclipsed his point, if he had any. Winners know how to tune themselves to dignity and grace ... Rich unfortunately admeasured much below. You are much above that and I look forward to your stimulating thoughts on the TRMS.
If MTP will be so trashy in the future, I will not watch it again. So please teach your guests some table manners.