Zach Friend and Spencer Critchley

Communications and media consultants

Karl Frisch

Syndicated columnist, Democratic strategist, and progressive radio personality

You've got to hand it to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. What he lacks in consistency and charisma as the 2012 Republican presidential frontrunner, he makes up for with stunning political awkwardness.

Peter G. Miller

Nationally syndicated columnist & Internet blogger

The Pawlenty proposals would create a patrician class while denying money to the government for Medicare or Medicaid. If a tornado, hurricane, earthquake or fire hits your town, too bad.

Heather Taylor-Miesle

Director, NRDC Action Fund

Plenty of politicians reverse course during their professional lives. But what Tim Pawlenty generally does is more troubling than your average flip flop: he only flip flops when it seems fashionable.

James Kotecki

Political Analyst and Satirist

Sure, political commercials are often emotionally over-wrought. But it's rare to see political ads crib so overtly from other genres in order to create emotional resonance. Pawlenty's ads further blur the line between politics and pop culture.

Michael B. Keegan

President, People for the American Way

It's hard for me to imagine that a majority of American voters would agree that what we really need in the White House is a politician who is so eager to get elected that he'll promise the far-right just about anything.

James Kotecki

Political Analyst and Satirist

Pawlenty's announcement video really does look at a lot like the Chrysler's Superbowl commercial about Detroit with Eminem.