Gov. Tim Pawlenty to Katie Couric: "Republican Party is going through a national 'Dr. Phil' moment."

Passed over for Sarah Palin, Governor Tim Pawlenty has lately been sulking about, acting like a member of the First Wives' Club. Appearing on CBS today as it became clear that John McCain cannot the electoral math, Pawlenty looked almost like he was gloating over McCain's loss, and could barely suppress a smirk. He used the opportunity to put himself out as the future of the Republican party, and advocated for a surprising new direction for the GOP.

"I think the Republican Party is going to go through a national 'Dr. Phil' moment," Pawlenty said, drawing chuckles from the CBS studio. "Or more than one moment, but it's going to need to come to grips with the fact that this is a changing country in terms of technology, demographics, culture, economics, and we have to rely on our principles, and make sure we stick with them, but we have to apply them in the emerging issues and circumstances of our time. We need to do a better job of that. We also have to do a better job of reaching out to modest income people, Hispanics, African Americans, women, and younger voters. That's a tall order, but we have not been forward looking in that regard. I think we've been too much time looking backwards."