Minneapolis / St. Paul News Blog

​Gov. Tim Pawlenty is once again speaking out against President Obama in what can only be seen as jabs that set him up to take on the president in 2012. Bring it.

In his latest comments, Pawlenty says Obama's policies are corroding our country's liberty and freedom. Quite a statement, T-Paw. Pawlenty spoke to Newsmax about Obama's bigger picture.

During the campaign, Obama portrayed himself as a centrist but has governed as a "movement liberal," says Pawlenty.

"His solutions are federalization of policy, spending way beyond anything we've seen in terms of deficit or debt levels, spending the country into bankruptcy," Pawlenty says. "And what's behind it is a philosophy that government knows best, a nanny-state mentality on domestic issues that will ultimately be corrosive to the other pillars of our country -- to markets, private enterprise, individual responsibility, freedom and liberty."

On the national security front, "History proves that it is weakness, not strength, that tempts our enemies," observes Pawlenty. "And he is projecting potential weakness, and enemies may see that and their respect may be reduced as a result of that, or worse."

We'd consider mullets a weakness, but we'll keep our mouths shut.