Minnesota is in the unenviable position of having "representatives" in Congress and in the Governor's mansion who are more interested in everything political EXCEPT representing their actual constituents.
Senior senator Norm Coleman has been so cozy with the Bush administration over the past term that he makes a lap dog look like a hostile intruder. His voting record is about as close to a rubber stamp as the printing industry can manufacture. Now we do recall that Norm was a Democrat from New York who switched allegiance to the GOP in order to seek office here in Minnesota. It would be unfair to hold him, therefore, to a high standard of ethics or integrity. After all, he is on record for leaning whichever way he thinks the wind is blowing if it might advance his personal political ambitions.
Governor Tim Pawlenty, however, is a more difficult case. His job is not a national platform and his primary job description is to act in the best interests of the people of Minnesota. However, with the state infrastructure crumbling and the funding for health care and education in shambles, Pawlenty has been spending a full time schedule running about the country campaigning for John McCain and pleading his case for the Vice Presidential candidate slot to whoever might listen.
Sure, Minnesotans might feel a bit of pride if their governor landed on the ticket for the Presidential race in November. But I imagine that they might feel even more comfortable if they knew that their elected representatives were spending at least the majority of their time attending to the business and to the jobs they currently hold and that they swore to faithfully fulfill. When Ole and Lena face foreclosure on their family farm and homestead, trying to reach Pawlenty 1500 miles away in Washington instead of over in St. Paul might not seem like such a good prospect .... for Ole and Lena that is.
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