| You know, I hate to do this. I really do. But it's difficult to accept that the DFL's legislative leaders are so completely and utterly incompetent at recognizing political realities like "Tim Pawlenty will not compromise with you" and "Your base -- the people who voted for you -- will resent you."
DFL legislative leaders said Tuesday they're ready to abandon a more comprehensive special session to focus on last month's Interstate 35W bridge collapse and the massive floods in southeastern Minnesota. They also suggested a willingness to drop advocacy of a gas-tax increase.
In a letter to Gov. Tim Pawlenty, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller implored the governor to call a one-day session next week to respond to the August disasters.
They suggested the gas-tax increase would not be one of the DFL's goals of a special session, and that $370 million in existing funds could be used to address disaster needs.
Here's the situation. You're a caucus leader, having just been installed after a tsunami election in your party's favor. You have the political and rhetorical high ground against a governor who's stuck firmly between a rock and a hard place -- and you capitulate? You roll over and play dead because Tim Pawlenty says he won't play ball?
Well, look at it this way -- at least it's the guy from MNCR calling you weaklings instead of Michael Brodkorb over at MDE. Because wouldn't that be a true embarrassment.
Here's a novel idea: show some spine and respect the principles for which you claim to stand -- at least respect those principles if you're not going to do anything to push them forward for the greater good.
What a crock. |
