The thought of listening to Tim Pawlenty, the most likely Republican presidential nominee, give dreary speeches between now and the fall of 2012 is draining. He’ll put everyone to sleep. (“One, I’m a white Polish-German and two, I’m Bob Dole without the snappish personality.”) What this country really needs is a leftie iconoclast (somebody who thinks like Michael Moore or Bill Maher) running against Obama. Then we’d have some real excitement.