Governor Pawlenty's Moment of Zen

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Following in the footsteps of nearly every politician who wants to be taken seriously here in the 21st century, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty made an appearance on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" Thursday.

Stewart, whose Comedy Central show runs four nights a week (as compared to, say, Brian, Katie and Diane), has for some reason become the oracle of a new generation that doesn't watch the evening news.  He has replaced Walter Cronkite as the most trusted news anchor on TV.  But this is a comedy program disguised as a news broadcast.  Even Stewart has said "The Daily Show" is a fake news program.

So here comes Pawlenty, who in his spare time has been roaming the countryside gauging interest in a possible 2012 presidential run, even though the Republican governor hasn't formally announced his candidacy yet.  The polls show that he's well below the radar in terms of recognition outside of his home state, so that's why he's here.

Pawlenty could have chosen a better time to go on TV.  At the same time the show is broadcast, over 12,000 nurses were out walking the picket lines in a one-day strike against some Twin Cities hospitals over staffing and salary issues.  Then again, the governor cut funding to state-run medical programs, so it's not as if he cares what the nurses think.

The governor succeeded in not being funnier than Stewart.  His one attempt at humor that was broadcast was his announcement that he was running for president . . .of his daughter's soccer league.  Otherwise, he reiterated his philosophy about limiting government and cutting taxes, something Minnesotans know all too well.  His record isn't much to smile about, unless you happen to be a taxophobic conservative.

Stewart got off some pointed questions, as well as recalling the time he and his crew had at the 2008 GOP convention in St. Paul, in which he noted that the protestors were the nicest he's ever seen.  And being a true New Yorker, he referred to cabins as lake houses.

Only time will tell whether Governor Pawlenty's "Daily Show" appearance raises his profile to the level of Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney in the eyes of conservatives.  If the reviews are positive, Pawlenty can turn his fake candidacy into the real thing.  If not, he can go back to being governor for the next few months.