Posted: 09/28/09 17:44, Edited: 09/28/09 17:59
by Dave Mindeman
Awkward.
I'm sure Governor Pawlenty was incensed that transportation money acquired by overriding his veto was being used to open new projects in the south metro today. The bill he called "ridiculous". A bill so bad that he made this statement on Feb. 26, 2008:
'You can mark the calendar, yesterday will be the day that began a tax revolt in Minnesota,' Pawlenty said. The bill, he added, 'took a bucket of tax increases and dumped it on the head of Minnesotans.'
Yes, in the midst of the angry pitchforking mob that must have descended on Lakeville for the opening of the new transit stations (that will offer choices for I-35 commutes)....in the midst of all that ridiculous government "waste", I'm sure the Governor put in some words to quell all that anger...to stem the backlash....
Yes, here we go.... the Governor's statement:
Governor Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel, Metropolitan Council Chair Peter Bell, and Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez celebrated the opening today of two new transit stations in Lakeville and the launch of a new MnPASS Express Lane on I-35W.
"Moving people and goods efficiently around the Twin Cities is important for our economy and our quality of life," Governor Pawlenty said. "Over the past several years we've made significant investments to improve our transportation system, including an additional lane on 494/694, MnPASS on I-394, the 'Unweave the Weave' project and many more improvements around the metro area. Now, thousands of people who use I-35W will have additional options to get to work or home faster."
What?
That almost sounded like the Governor was "praising" the new investments... is that possible?
Could he be (gasp!) taking credit?
Credit for what he tried to kill....to quash....to annihilate?
Is that possible?
OK-- I missed something. When did we get this "bizarro"** Pawlenty world?
** For those of you who did not waste your younger years reading Superman comic books, here is a brief Wikipedia summary of "Bizarro World" in Superman lore:
In the Bizarro world of "Htrae" ("Earth" spelled backwards), society is ruled by the Bizarro Code which states "Us do opposite of all Earthly things! Us hate beauty! Us love ugliness! Is big crime to make anything perfect on Bizarro World!". In one episode, for example, a salesman is doing a brisk trade selling Bizarro bonds: "Guaranteed to lose money for you". Later, the mayor appoints Bizarro No. 1 to investigate a crime, "Because you are stupider than the entire Bizarro police force put together". This is intended and taken as a great compliment.
Bizaror World explains it all ... I was just thinking the other day about when Pawlenty teamed with Will Steger to publicize the rising temperatures at Lake Superior ... his goal at that time was to reduce gashouse emissions ... and his quote at that time was "Maybe we can lead them [the federal government] or even shame them into action."
Sadly, Pawlenty's conversion to the Denier Crowd is Bizarre and Shameful !