Jindal to deliver Republican SOTU response
posted at 2:35 pm on February 11, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Have the GOP leaders begun grooming Bobby Jindal as their main counterweight to Barack Obama? John Boehner and Mitch McConnell have selected the young governor of Louisiana to deliver the Republican response to the quasi-State of the Union address at the end of the month. From the press release:
House Republican Leader John Boehner (OH) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) announced today that Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal will give the Republican address following the President’s first address to Congress on February 24, 2009. The Governor will speak to the nation from Baton Rouge, LA.
In making the announcement, Leader Boehner noted the Governor’s leadership and innovation in public service:
“Gov. Jindal embodies what I have long said: the Republican Party must not be simply the party of ‘opposition,’ but the party of better solutions. His stewardship of the state of Louisiana, dedication to reforming government, and commitment to bringing forth new and innovative ideas make him a leader not just within the Republican Party, but in our nation as a whole.”
Sen. McConnell said the Governor personified reform and recovery, saying he was a strong choice to offer the Republican address:
“Gov. Jindal’s leadership during a time of recovery in Louisiana, his commitment to real government reform, and his protection of hardworking American families make him an excellent choice to offer Republican solutions for the challenges which lay ahead.”
The selection of a responder is no small matter. The speech will get national attention, and it affords the person selected an opportunity to allow Americans to become familiar and comfortable with them. Democrats gave Tim Kaine this opportunity shortly after winning his election for governor in Virginia, and now he runs the DNC for Barack Obama. It’s an expression of confidence by the party in a rising star.
Jindal certainly fills that bill. He has already won good reviews for his reforms in Louisiana, a state that could easily bury a weaker executive. Jindal enjoyed national attention during the presidential race, not so much because of any possibility of joining the ticket in 2008 as for his potential to lead a Republican ticket in 2012 or 2016. He hasn’t had the opportunity to lead the party in this manner before, and he will have to do well in order to gain standing for a national run.
I find it interesting that Boehner and McConnell didn’t decide to offer the response themselves. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi did that while minority leaders in Congress (and did a terrible job with it), and it helped make them the faces of the Democratic Party to the electorate. It’s an interesting strategy so far away from the next presidential sweepstakes, but I wonder if they wouldn’t have been better off selecting a Senator and/or Representative who needs the boost for 2010.
Jindal will deliver some badly-needed gravitas, though, and an outside-the-Beltway perspective to the spending frenzy in DC. Coming on the eve of CPAC, it will also be interesting to see whether he energizes the conservative activist base.
Update (AP): It should have been Steele. Unless Jindal’s running in 2012, which he probably isn’t, he doesn’t need face time right now. Steele does, since he’ll be the GOP’s chief messenger for the next two years. Why waste an opportunity to introduce him to a national audience and put the public on notice that the new leader of the party’s a minority? Makes no sense to me.
Exit question: Why Jindal instead of Palin? Her profile’s much higher than his. Lingering jitters within the leadership that her appeal among centrists isn’t what it needs to be?
Update (Ed): Why not Steele? I believe that both parties traditionally give this honor to some sort of political officeholder and not a party official (unless they’re both at the same time, as Kaine is at the moment). It’s a stature thing. Besides, Steele will get plenty of face time on the Sunday talk shows.
Why not Palin? I’m assuming she doesn’t need any further elevation on a national level, and that the Republicans aren’t putting all of their eggs into one basket. I think that’s wise.
Blowback
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I think Jindal is the party’s strongest hope…glad they picked him.
DCJeff on February 11, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Does anything the GOP does, make any sense?
lorien1973 on February 11, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Agreed
1. because the Gas Pipeline deal is finally coming into full circle and she can’t leave.
2. She decided against CPAC… why not SOTU too.
GOP are a bunch of old men who hate women as well, most do not want women in politics.
upinak on February 11, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Why not Specter?
/sarc
Pasalubong on February 11, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Yes.
jewells45 on February 11, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Exit question: Why Jindal instead of Palin? Her profile’s much higher than his. Lingering jitters within the leadership that her appeal among centrists isn’t what it needs to be?
Trolling for hits, eh? :)
artist on February 11, 2009 at 2:40 PM
What do you mean by that? I know you live in AK, and your goings on are pretty much ignored by the rest of the country. Could you explain?
Kelligan on February 11, 2009 at 2:40 PM
I agree with your reservations but they could have done a whole lot worse. Might be a little like showing your best plays to the opposition early but if its a winner, we’ll take it.
Texas74 on February 11, 2009 at 2:41 PM
She can’t make it to CPAC, either. It seems they’re having issues they need to deal with in Alaska.
amerpundit on February 11, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Great choice. Yeah, Steele would’ve been solid as well. But Jindal and Palin are the future of the party, so they might as well give the former a chance to be introduced to the American public.
Doughboy on February 11, 2009 at 2:42 PM
It would be AWESOME if it were Steele. You guys…you just don’t know how bad Michael Steele screws you and makes you look stupid.
DeathToMediaHacks on February 11, 2009 at 2:42 PM
When I first saw the headline, I thought it read ‘Deliver the Republican STFU response…’
BigWyo on February 11, 2009 at 2:43 PM
We need a deep bench. While I support Palin, I’m all for putting Jindal in the public eye for this. Let’s hear what he has to say. If he knocks it out of the park, good for him.
Steele could have given the speech, but he’ll be all over the Sunday talk shows anyway as the RNC Chairman. Palin, at this point, can draw interest whenever she wants to. And, after the disaster of this election, nobody wants to hear from Boehner and McConnell right now.
Good play here.
cs89 on February 11, 2009 at 2:43 PM
How so? Do explain.
amerpundit on February 11, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Palin is being smart and keeping her hands clean of both parties.
Firebird on February 11, 2009 at 2:43 PM
eh who cares. the whole ‘response’ thing is childish anyways.
Greenhelmet on February 11, 2009 at 2:44 PM
We have an man of Indian descent delivering the response to our black president and are wondering why it isn’t being delivered by the black head of the GOP or the woman that we ran for VP.
…but we’re still a racist and sexist country…
29Victor on February 11, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Excellent choice.
pmanley on February 11, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Geaux, Bobby!!
thebookkeeper on February 11, 2009 at 2:45 PM
They picked Jindal because his meassage is much stronger than Steele’s and Palin’s.
Jindals letter makes it CLEAR where he stands.
Whether he runs in 2012 or not does not make a difference at this point. It is what he believes in that is important.
Nelsa on February 11, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Irrelevant – no one watches the “response”.
And once Bobby Jindal steps out in front – he’ll be maligned by the media and painted as an evil “retard” as Sarah Palin was. And weak kneed Republicans will run from him the same as they’ve run from her.
FACT.
Republicans still aren’t up to FIGHT yet. Still let the media and the Democrats define who they are. Until Repub’s get in the mud with the Libs and fight ‘em to the death – expect to stay in the back seat of the car.
Republicans right now should be spitting nothing but piss and vinegar at the Democrats right now. The Dem’s have PROVEN they are unethical and hyprocritical – and have we heard any Republican leaders call them that? Nope.
We heard plenty of them doing it to us in the Bush administration – and they took power. Nice guys finish last. We have lost the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches. We have a hostile media and an entertainment industry that’s targeting us. Time to roll up our sleeves and bloody some noses folks.
Sorry – no … I mean … Expect to stay in the trunk!
HondaV65 on February 11, 2009 at 2:46 PM
screws you and makes you look stupid.
DeathToMediaHacks on February 11, 2009 at
You wouldn’t understand the irony.
So, I’ll move along.
artist on February 11, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Have you seen the clip of Steele and Kaine face to face about the stimulus on Fox and Friends? I got the YouTube RNC clip in the mail and watched it last night. At the end Kaine actually compared the Republicans to the Taliban! Gretchen didn’t have time for Steele to respond to that snark.
Jindal is the perfect rebuttal. The feds poured millions of dollars into New Orleans while Blanco was there and responsible for the distribution of the funds. Where is it? Why hasn’t all that money spurred economic comeback? It’s the perfect example of how long it takes to do infrastructure and facilitate contracts. It’s going on 4 years. Then go take a look at Gulf Shores, MS that was leveled… that’s called capitalism and free market, private investment and low interest government LOANS.
Texas Gal on February 11, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Hey, remember all of the dem responses?
Reed?
Kaine?
Sebelius?
Webb?
Gephardt?
Reid/Pelosi?
Pelosi/Daschle?
Locke?
Riiiiiiiight … now tell us what they said …
now tell us which one became President
joey24007 on February 11, 2009 at 2:48 PM
good choice though in Jindal
joey24007 on February 11, 2009 at 2:49 PM
I think that it might backfire on the Republicans. I’ve never seen a good opposition response to the State of the Union. Tim Kaine’s was particularly weak and probably didn’t help him in the VP sweepstakes. And yes, Steele probably would have been a better choice.
Illinidiva on February 11, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Agreed, a deep bench is useful. What if Palin doesn’t decide to run in 2012–always a possibility? It’s good to develop more talent and Jindal definitely qualifies. While right now, I’m leaning towards Palin, I wouldn’t mind hearing what Jindal, Sanford, and some of the other up and comers have to say.
Matt Helm on February 11, 2009 at 2:50 PM
uh, so Palin does this next year or the next then? big deal
jp on February 11, 2009 at 2:50 PM
I noticed you haven’t bothered peddling your story about how the dems don’t want to enact the Fairness Doctrine again…
Skywise on February 11, 2009 at 2:50 PM
is Charles Johnson flipping out yet over this? “GOP is going Anti-Science, allowing creationist Excorist to give first response to Obama….the Sky is Falling!!!!”
jp on February 11, 2009 at 2:52 PM
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1632
We are getting closer to a Pipeline… Lawyers are the problem on both sides.
upinak on February 11, 2009 at 2:54 PM
I agree with the poster above who said this is a part of the “deep bench” approach, and it’s also helps to discredit the “GOP as old rich white guys” meme. Everyone knows who Palin is already, everyone has heard her speak and seen her huge personal constituency…and people now know that there is such a thing as a successful female conservative politician.
More GOP leaders from diverse backgrounds, like Jindal and Steele, should be placed in the public eye. I hate identity politics, but the mouthbreathing sheep that voted for Obama will keep thinking Republicans are racists unless we shove it in their face that we’re not.
The only thing I don’t like about Jindal is that, when it comes to personal charisma, he doesn’t really have much game. Maybe he can improve in that regard.
Jim62sch on February 11, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Jindal is smart and I expect he will be able to think on his feet.
Health care is one of his areas of expertise. He can also speak to energy and immigration.
INC on February 11, 2009 at 2:56 PM
I like Jindal, Palin, or Steele for this. They are the new generation of the GOP.
Jindal has signaled discreetly, that a national run is in the works (going to Ohio, fundraisers out of state, attending CPAC, etc). Jindal is a great communicator and has done well in Louisiana.
Since there are three more state of the unions left, Palin will get her shot. She is also doing well in her state and she will most likely run in 2012. If she can give her response before the primaries, it will make more headlines.
I am excited for our party’s likely candidates. They are conservative.
Let’s thank God that McConnell is not giving the response. It will make the USA go to sleep or flip the channel. Not what the republican party needs.
jencab on February 11, 2009 at 2:56 PM
i like steele but i see him as a running the party sort of guy, not elected official. jindal is a young sitting governor trying to bring a state out of tough times. I think he can do quite well with the response.
also, thank god it’s not palin. i loved her when she was announced and at the convention, but that’s it. i don’t like how she handles interviews or talk shows and i don’t think she’s strong enough to be the face of the party. she & mccain were already rejected in nov, i would like to see someone as a new face.
exit question: why not mccain?
anna on February 11, 2009 at 2:57 PM
I read SOTU as STFU. Don’t mind Jindal, but I like Palin better.
Anna on February 11, 2009 at 2:57 PM
You had me at “Jindal.”
HuskerNate on February 11, 2009 at 2:57 PM
now tell us which one became President
joey24007 on February 11, 2009
Your conclusion is?
artist on February 11, 2009 at 2:58 PM
I’m confident in my boss’s ability to give the response. The man’s a freaking Rhodes Scholar and was able to turn one of the biggest sinkholes in Louisiana government, the Dept. of Health and Hospitals, and fix a budget that was severely in the hole.
He wasn’t afraid to piss people off while doing it, which is why a bunch of DHH people still curse him to this day.
They can try to claim he’s just some ignorant Bubba like Palin, but that’s a lot harder to do with his background and his accomplishments.
(Ivy League grad, Rhodes Scholar, appointed to various posts in LA and US government by Mike Foster and Bush 43, president of his freshman class in the House, and first non-white governor in LA history.
It’s also hard for people to look at him and think he’s screwing up Louisiana considering the cluster**** that his predecessor, Kathleen Blanco, was during her term.)
teke184 on February 11, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Jindal comes off as more sober and realistic–a good counterweight to Obama’s hope and change song and dance.
blue13326 on February 11, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Since voters seem to love “gravitas” Jindal is a good choice. He’s definitely Mr.SoberSerious.
katiejane on February 11, 2009 at 2:59 PM
I think Steele’s gotten pretty good exposure and has the national platform now. Jindal isn’t as visible nationally so it’s a good opportunity for him.
He’ll do fine.
JammieWearingFool on February 11, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Jindal and Palin both are potential future national leaders of the Party. Sarah’s had her national introduction, and this represents a good chance to put Jindal before the public, too.
irishspy on February 11, 2009 at 3:00 PM
True. He’ll never be an “American Idol” candidate like Obama. But his encyclopedic command of the facts allows him to absolutely eviscerate opponents in a debate.
CDeb on February 11, 2009 at 3:00 PM
BigWyo on February 11, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Awesome! Loud laugh on that one.
I thought the same thing when I first saw the post title.
catmman on February 11, 2009 at 3:01 PM
It should have been Mark Sanford. He’s the only one out there talking about this stimulus and where it is taking this country. I haven’t heard from Jindal or Steele on the subject.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Yes, but can he bust a rhyme, read a teleprompter and does he have a catchy logo/catchphrase?
Because evidently, that’s what the American people want in a President.
NoDonkey on February 11, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Jindal’s a real policy wonk with ideas that actually work and right now the GOP needs to be providing solutions to the problems we face not just pit bull opposition. Steele’s job is to raise money and recruit new candidates, he’ll get plenty of face time on TV.
goat on February 11, 2009 at 3:02 PM
HuskerNate on February 11, 2009 at 2:57 PM
+1
Just imagine how much better the response to Katrina if the Dhims didn’t play the race card in ’03.
PimFortuynsGhost on February 11, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Jindal has a little more savvy in front of a camera than does Palin. I don’t mean to say that at her expense; he’s simply a little quicker on his feet in this department. He also doesn’t appear to have that much in the way of baggage.
Ed is right about not putting all our faith in one person. There’s a name for that bad habit already — Obama.
manwithblackhat on February 11, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Jindal to deliver Republican
SOTUSTFU responseFixed it.
NoDonkey on February 11, 2009 at 3:03 PM
I think Jindal is a wise choice and it makes sense to give him this spot after not being able to make his speech at the GOP convention last summer due to the hurricanes.
saltydogg14 on February 11, 2009 at 3:03 PM
People are sick of Palin. You need to remember, that many Republicans bought into the media’s portrayal of Palin: that’s she’s incompetent.
iamse7en on February 11, 2009 at 3:04 PM
This. Mark Sanford can start an explicitly capitalist movement in the GOP.
ebrawer on February 11, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Also, Palin is currently “overexposed” in the media – I think this is a deliberate tactic by the MSM to make people sick of her.
The party needs to let her get things sorted out in Alaska. There’s an Axis of Evil in the Alaska state legislature between Democrats and corrupt Republicans seeking to drag her down – she needs to crush them.
Those legislators are not going to be happy when she takes her line-item veto pen to their favorite pork in the budget. Expect a whole new round of “it’s for the children” screaming up there. I also fully expect her to use SarahPAC funding to back challengers to those corrupt incumbents (I hope she does.)
Jim62sch on February 11, 2009 at 3:04 PM
I think it is because they want him to run and he might not be comfortable…this tests the waters.
tomas on February 11, 2009 at 3:05 PM
In your effort to be cute, you have actually got it right. Somebody needs to stand up and tell the Dems and your Glorious Leader to STFU. Good call.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Get ready Bobby. You just put a big target around your neck. The republicans will not be allowed to introduce people of different ethnic backgrounds for gender (Jindal,Palin,Steele). This ground is owned by the democrats and they will fight to the death to keep it.
portlandon on February 11, 2009 at 3:06 PM
“The country fired us from our congressional majority in 2006. Why? The country didn’t stop being conservative. The Republican Party did,” Jindal told a gathering of Arkansas Republicans. “We became what we came to Washington to change — the party of earmarks and government spending. The party needs to stop worrying about what to do to fix itself. Let’s worry more about fixing our country.”
Well said.
getalife on February 11, 2009 at 3:07 PM
uhh, err, ahh, I am still trying to figure out the window-door thing, so this will be short …
tarpon on February 11, 2009 at 3:08 PM
The lizards are going to get the hives over this.
BrianA on February 11, 2009 at 3:08 PM
There will be a Saturday morning cartoon where the Green superheroes fight Bobby the creationists for control of the planet.
tomas on February 11, 2009 at 3:09 PM
+1 He needs to be in public view as well as Jindal and Palin.
ThePrez on February 11, 2009 at 3:10 PM
We don’t know if Jindal is running yet. He’s our best choice, and will be the perfect antidote to Obama.
toliver on February 11, 2009 at 3:10 PM
I know I pimped my “Don’t blame me, I voted for Bobby” bumper sticker for a while.
Sadly “Babblin” Blanco is still running her fat mouth when it comes to Katrina. That woman will never learn.
Lay-Z on February 11, 2009 at 3:11 PM
How long before Allah starts writing posts comparing Jindal to Huckabee? They’re religious social cons from neighboring states, after all. And they’re both against the stimulus.
Jim62sch on February 11, 2009 at 3:12 PM
You can bet they have been digging through Jindal’s trash for months now.If anything had or has been found that could hurt him this would be when it would come out-so IMHO its a good float for the GOP. On the other hand the only real thing that I see the left attacking Jindal on is his religious views which in my opinion is pretty low for a party that claims it respects all religions. Jindal witnessed an exorcism a while back ago and the left is poised to use his writings on it against him. This SOTU address will get that out and make it old news in time for the pre-election exposures. All this is just my opinion,but I think its probably a good move for the GOP to make for now. Will the left wage an all out frontal attack on Jindal?
canditaylor68 on February 11, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Here’s why, they’re freaking idiots.
Onager on February 11, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Jindal has experience with medical regulation and cost control from La’s Dept of Health and Human services (stealth nationalization issue in the generational theft act) as well as higher education – 2 areas that democrats usually get the nod from voters. Also he certainly can speak about the inefficiency / misplace role of the federal government’s response to an emergency and the moronic decision to reinstate the ban on offshore oil production / exploration offshore and the new bans in areas of Utah and Alaska. Steele will be on the Sunday shows routinely – Jindal won’t – though both Jindal and Steele allow a different pitch: republicans aren’t all geriatric white guys….
esperpento on February 11, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Sanford is in his last term as Gov., whereas Jindal has just started. I’ve seen Sanford all over TV talking about this stimulus and he sounds like the only adult in the room. He was on CNBC earlier today and got some very challenging questions which he knocked out of the park. He made the CNBC hacks look like…well…hacks.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 3:17 PM
He’ll deliver a good speech but don’t believe he’s a real conservative. We are learning hard lessons about Gov Jindal.
roux on February 11, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Sanford is as boring as McConnell as far as giving a speach like this, aside from his substance we all like. Thats his problem, Jindal is new look GOP and is smart.
jp on February 11, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Yeah, good point. Part of the problem with Palin was that, even though her “controversies” were nowhere near as bad as Obama’s, Obama had been in the public eye that all his shenanigans were considered “old news”. Same with Biden. If we put Jindal out there now and let the left vent their spleen, a couple of years from now when they bring up exoricisms, we can roll our eyes and say “Oh, God – are you bringing up that old stuff again?” like the left did with Obama and the Ayers/Wright/Rezko/Blago scandals.
Jim62sch on February 11, 2009 at 3:19 PM
We can’t win by running another “American Idol” against the one. The only hope we’ll have anyway is if the adoring public gets their fill of Obama and his populist/socialist agenda. By then, they will want to have someone with depth and gravity. If you’re looking for another Reagan, Sanford is the only person out there now who gets close.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 3:22 PM
If there were any more dirt on Jindal the La. state democratic party would already have it. Jindal’s been in high level gov’t service for years. There’s not much to dig into other than the his seeing an exorcism (why not A&E shows them in some of their shows), some theological writings showing his preference for Catholicism, and some typical La. controversies about pay and disclosure rules.
esperpento on February 11, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Lay-Z on February 11, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Blanco makes Nagin look competent.
That woman should exile herself to a convent and never speak in public again.
PimFortuynsGhost on February 11, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Yep, that’s why. It’s not that independents hate her.
crr6 on February 11, 2009 at 3:23 PM
everyone already knows Palin. Really it wouldnt do much for her to do this. Again if she wants to she will have 3 more chances to deliver the rebuttal in coming years. I think it is a GREAT thing that Jindal is doing it. The whole country will be watching a TRUE leader.
ousoonerfan15 on February 11, 2009 at 3:24 PM
More evidence that palin’s own party leaders know she’s just a cupcake.
benny shakar on February 11, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Great, another RINO will take center stage. Awesome.
Should have been Sanford.
uttles on February 11, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Yes, your side did a very good job of demagoguing her. It had nothing to do with her abilities or experience. But, this will rightly go down as the high school presidential election. To be fair to you, you’re correct. Overexposure of her now will be counterproductive.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Somebody’s whistling past the graveyard again.
MarkTheGreat on February 11, 2009 at 3:30 PM
or the fact that she has been in the public eye for 6 months now. Time to introduce some other young GOP leaders too. god benny is a dunce
ousoonerfan15 on February 11, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Just part of the continuing campaign by Axelrod. Pay it no mind. Soon, the public will.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Fixed. Actually, Palin’s numbers are trending back up among independents as the campaign smear job recedes, especially up in Alaska.
Jim62sch on February 11, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Why not our next POTUS, Mark Sanford?
::shakes fist at GOP::
(I just called CPAC to see if they would please ask Sanford to stand in for Palin. CPAC Phone: (800) 752-4391. | .Email: cpac@conservative.org)
Rae on February 11, 2009 at 3:34 PM
I think its great. Let everyone see how a Republican governor cleaned up a Democrat state. California, Michigan and New York will be begging for a (real, not RINO) Republican governor next go round. :)
ctmom on February 11, 2009 at 3:36 PM
does anyone know what Sanford stands for on Foreign Policy and social issues? Is he a borderline paultard by any chance?
He has made some major flubs on the national scene last year during campaign, he was on CNN once I can think of and completely forgot what he was talking about, it was bad.
granted, at the moment when Economic issues are center stage and thats what he’s talking about, this is where he excels.
jp on February 11, 2009 at 3:36 PM
Next, you are going to tell us that water is wet?
Mark’s third law:
The primary purpose of the legal system is to employ lawyers. Any other outputs are purely accidental.
MarkTheGreat on February 11, 2009 at 3:40 PM
She’s not smart enough to do that.
I’ve heard her give a speech once a year for around 10 years (between her time as Lt. Governor and as Governor) and she’s always shown a distinct tone-deaf quality when it came to public speaking.
(There’s an annual show by the Baton Rouge “Capital Correspondents”, which is a group of the local media who do a skit-show roasting various politicians in the state.
The tradition is for the highest-ranking officer in the room, typically the Governor or Lt. Governor, to give a rebuttal after the show.
Hers constantly showed tone-deafness when it came to humor as well as her being oblivious to when to keep things short and sweet.
A review of a speech she gave to a convention of Louisiana businessmen during her term as Governor showed that these annual rebuttal speeches were *not* isolated incidents, as she was just as bad when trying to give a “funny” speech to them.)
teke184 on February 11, 2009 at 3:42 PM
From what I’ve heard from him, he’s a free-trade, open market guy. Haven’t heard anything about security issues, but I don’t think he’s fall anywhere near the protectionism of Paul.
Go here for more. Scanning it just now, I’d say he’s just the guy we need.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Anyone else think Harry Reid looks like a type character from a Hitchcock movie?
Jindal is a good move and let’s see what he can do. The wrecking crews are no doubt sifting through his background as we speak.
moxie_neanderthal on February 11, 2009 at 3:49 PM
Smart.
Randy
williars on February 11, 2009 at 3:51 PM
If Jindal is a RINO, then Arlen Specter is a full blown Stalinist.
To this day I wondered what people were thinking when she was elected. She wa quite possibly the dumbest person to hold that office.
Lay-Z on February 11, 2009 at 3:51 PM
He does kinda have that “black-and-white” look. Scary, in a “Leave It To Beaver” sort of way.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 3:52 PM
I’ve heard paultards on other sites claim that Sanford and Paul were closely aligned and friends in congress. Why I brought that up.
I’m skeptical though, the ones I read this from were clueless about alot. They really thought Reagan and Paul were the same and recent GOP, ‘i.e. neocons’ were these evil creatures that took over the party. i.e. they drank all the Kool-Aide and then some.
jp on February 11, 2009 at 3:53 PM
Did you go to the site I linked? As a resident of SC I can say that state services are much easier to work through since he became Gov. One indication…no more lines at the DMV. That’s a plus right there. Heh.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Centrists?? The centrists/moderates/limp-wristed-whiney-money-grubbing-liars are why we’re in the mess we’re in. Kick those people to the curb and stop worrying about what they think.
AubieJon on February 11, 2009 at 3:59 PM
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