Tim Pawlenty: My campaign for governor will focus on charting a better...

History has taught us over and over again that freedom is not free. When push comes to shove, the ultimate protectors of freedom and liberty are the brave men and women in our armed forces. Throughout our history, they've answered the call in bravery and sacrifice.

Tim Pawlenty

taught-us sacrifice men

Barack Obama's failed us. But look, it's understandable. A lot of people fail at their first job.

Tim Pawlenty

jobs people looks

It's like Tiger Woods' wife, we should take a nine iron to the back windshield of big government spending and smash it out.

Tim Pawlenty

iron wife government

The Republicans had their shot not long ago to address the real needs and concerns of everyday Americans, and they blew it. I think that's mitigated by the fact that we had a terrorist incident, there is a war, and there was a lot of proper focus on those issues, but over the time that they were there and had the leadership opportunity, they blew it. We got fired for a reason.

Tim Pawlenty

real opportunity war

We need to be calling out the flaws and misguided decisions of the Democrats in Congress and the Obama administration.

Tim Pawlenty

decision calling needs

The rising cost of prescription drugs has sparked a prairie fire that is spreading across our nation.

Tim Pawlenty

cost drug fire

The reason that the unions and the other stakeholders have not cut a deal with the automakers is because they believe the federal government is going to bail them out.

Tim Pawlenty

cutting government believe

I think if you look at Medicare and Medicaid, the premise was that government needs to provide some assistance to people who aren't able to take care of themselves. I think we all share that goal, Republicans and Democrats. I don't think anybody's gonna go back now and say, Let's abolish, or reduce, Medicare and Medicaid. But as we confront the challenges and the responsibilities of our time - from here on - how do we serve more people or different people who are in need of financial assistance? Just forever having the government expand to address all of that seems unwise.

Tim Pawlenty

goal responsibility thinking

Having the democrats watch your money is like having Michael Vick watch your dog for the weekend

Tim Pawlenty

weekend dog watches

We understand that athletes aren't necessarily role models, but we at least expect them to abide by the basic laws of the state.

Tim Pawlenty

role-models athlete law

We have a country that is $5 a gallon gas, $4 a gallon gas, we got unbearable unemployment and a federal government that is out of control. We have to take back this country and we've got to get off the sidelines and take it to President Obama.

Tim Pawlenty

government president country

The country's in significant danger, and I think we need people who are thoughtful. We're gonna have sharp differences, but we need to debate those in a way that's constructive and civil. I think President Obama is governing as a movement liberal. I don't think that rises to the level of being a socialist.

Tim Pawlenty

thoughtful people thinking

I've come to realize that Barack Obama is the tattoo president. Like a big tattoo, it seemed cool when you were young. But later on, that decision doesn't look so good, and you wonder: what was I thinking? But the worst part is you're still going to have to explain it to your kids.

Tim Pawlenty

tattoo kids thinking

We have the highest graduation rates, the broadest health care access, and the greatest level of home ownership and workforce participation in the country. And we did it all with a small population in a cold state that coastal big shots refer to as fly-over land.

Tim Pawlenty

land home country

You can stick a fork in Barack Obama. Politically, he's done. The main way we can screw this up is if we choose the wrong Republican.

Tim Pawlenty

political done way

I think the country's in trouble. And I think I have a pretty clear sense of the values and principles that have made this country great. I've had a chance to govern and lead with those in mind, with some significant success in Minnesota. And I think the country needs that kind of leadership and insight and perspective.

Tim Pawlenty

perspective country thinking

In my address last year, I spoke on the issue of gaming. My preference then is my preference now: to keep gaming within its existing contours, but to explore a better deal for all Minnesotans.

Tim Pawlenty

addresses issues years

A great deal has been said about my commitment not to raise taxes. It's a core value - it's common sense - it's important to keeping and growing jobs - and it's mainstream!

Tim Pawlenty

common-sense jobs commitment

One of the things about leadership is that you've got to show up. And if you want to be president of the United States you've got to make a case to the American people that Barack Obama needs to be dismissed from his position.

Tim Pawlenty

united-states president people

The marketplace measurement in politics is something called an election. It's a pretty good barometer - it's transparent, it's numerical, it's objective. It gives you a pretty good measure of what your customers think of you. And in 2006 and 2008, the marketplace was telling the Republicans, We prefer the products and services of your competitors. And so when you're losing market share, you step back and say, What can we do differently?

Tim Pawlenty

election giving thinking

My campaign for governor will focus on charting a better way forward for Minnesota families who see health care premiums skyrocketing, paychecks not increasing very fast, college costs and student debt rising — all while government spending and taxes climb through the roof.