Pawlenty: Courage to Stand Book Review
Courage to Stand is a part autobiography and part advice book being put out by former governor Tim Pawlenty. Recently Pawlenty has been on a book tour going around America and speaking out, when finished with the tour Pawlenty is expected to make an announcement as to whether or not he is running for president in 2012. In his book Pawlenty offers America insight on what it is like to be a political leader in this day and age. The premise of having courage as a political leader is to stand up against government waste and be able to say “no” based on moral or fiscal judgments.
Calling himself a ‘Sam’s Club Republican’ Pawlenty describes himself as a mainstream conservative, who doesn’t just reach out to the richest folks in America. He thinks the Republican Party’s tent is a large one and should include less well-off social conservatives who are trying to make a living in this great nation.
Pawlenty made major changes to the Minnesota deficit by fixing the 4.8 billion dollars of debt the state was facing without raising any taxes. However, his decision to make these cuts wasn’t necessary popular and he had the courage to do what was necessary in order to resolve the looming debt. In his book, Pawlenty discusses the skirmishes with democrats in the state legislator over fiscal issues, which ultimately led to the ten-day government shutdown in 2005. Although it wasn’t always in house bickering, he mentions times when he reached across the aisle and worked together with the Minnesota DFL (extension of democratic) party.
In 2008 Pawlenty was on the top of McCain’s list of potential vice presidential candidates; however he was ultimately looked over and the McCain campaign chose Sarah Palin. Pawlenty states his fondness for Sarah Palin and her ability to rally conservatives in a meaningful way and admires her passion for conservative ideas.
Raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota Pawlenty learned life’s lesson the hard way at times. When he was only fifteen years old his mother died of cancer and he spend his later teenage years being brought up by his father who was a truck driver. Pawlenty mentions how good leadership is obtained by those that have good morals and judgment. He gained this insight throughout the valuable lessons he learned making his own way through college and law school.
Get Tim Pawlenty’s new book on Amazon.com . Courage to Stand provides a vision into true conservatism on both a fiscal and moral platform.