The risk from the financial crisis was overblown and many of the TARP bailouts were unnecessary, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said in the Esquire interview published Friday.
Pawlenty suggested the bailout was contrived by Goldman Sachs execs including Henry Paulson for their own self interest.
- "In this story, Paulson, former Goldman Sachs CEO, was meeting with other Goldman Sachs executives, trying to figure out what to do, and surprise, surprise, they came up with the conclusion that the federal government should bail out Goldman Sachs."
- "So I don't take as an article of faith that the financial world would have come to an end if we had let more of these institutions fail."
The Minnesota Governor also had harsh words for his fellow Republicans, blaming them for abandoning their beliefs and failing to address Americans' real concerns.
- "The Republicans had their shot not long ago to address the real needs and concerns of everyday Americans, and they blew it. Over the time that they were there and had the leadership opportunity, they blew it. We got fired for a reason."
Pawlenty is leaning towards a 2012 presidential bid:
- "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. So through my PAC, I'm going to share my beliefs across the country. And I'm gonna take the next year to see how that goes and make my decision late in 2010 or in early 2011."
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Read the complete Esquire Interview >>
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Don't miss Pawlenty's recent op-ed:
Ponzi scheme on the Potomac >>
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