Well, it looks like there might still be some hurt feelings here in Minnesota after our (barely reelected) Governor, Tim "I'm a Hockey Dad" Pawlenty, was passed over as John McCain's BFF.
According to today's StarTribune,
For many months, nearly every time John McCain brought his presidential campaign to Minnesota, Gov. Tim Pawlenty was close by his side.
Not today.
Remember, it was "Skim Milk" Pawlenty at McCain's side for the last nine months - through thin and very thin times. He did his part. He spoke the lies as well as anyone else on McCain's team. And what did he get in return? Nada. Left at the altar.
But of course, Pawlenty would never hold a grudge. According to the governor's staff, there's no fire here:
"No one should make any assumptions [about his absence]," Pawlenty spokesman Bob Schroeder said. "The governor isn't doing anything but continuing his full-throated support for Sen. McCain."
Yikes, there has got to be a better term for his support than "full-throated." Or maybe not?
But I'm sure he really wanted to be there for his buddy, right?
"The governor very much wanted to be at the McCain event," Schroeder added. "In the end, he always puts Minnesota first."
Riiiight. So, was the governor putting Minnesota first when he left the state for the entire summer to desperately try and dig up support for Bush44? Well, I'm sure he was thinking about Minnesota when he was in other states (so to speak).
But the big opening of a new business in northern Minnesota - a full three hours away by Zamboni - must have been planned long ago. Right?
The groundbreaking date for the Minnesota Steel Industries plant ... has been firm for more than a week.
I see.
Well, I'm sure that there will be a lot of excitment generated by the McPalin stop when they return home to St. Paul-Minneapolis - the place where their romance with America first began.
Oh, what's that? The event is going to be held at the Blaine Airport - an airport not a whole lot bigger than the regional airport on Wings? And isn't the Blaine Airport a full 30 minutes from Downtown St. Paul? Hmmm.
I suppose now that John McCain has chosen his Siamese Twin campaign partner, T-Paw is just going to have to busy himself with ribbon cuttings and pick-up hockey games. Once Grandpa John made the choice of corn liquor over skim milk, there was no turning back.
But don't think for a moment that Minnesotan's buy any of that phony crap:
DFLers made hay over Pawlenty's absence in Blaine.
"I can only surmise that with all the bad economic news in Minnesota, Gov. Pawlenty appears to be cutting his losses and maintaining his future political viability by distancing himself from McCain and Palin," said Donna Cassutt, the party's associate chair.