by Mark Silva
The morning after President Barack Obama's first big speech to Congress, people seem to be talking as much about the first big national appearance of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, he of the state where they used to say that half the place is under water and half the place is under indictment -- his words last night, in the GOP reply to Obama.
The criticism for Jindal runs the gamut from the political -- suggesting that the young Republcan governor is tacking so hard to the right that any notion of him having a shot at the GOP's presidential nomination in the near future is inextricably linked to a fateful decision by the party out of power: How far right will they take it? -- to the personal.
The personal has more to do with mannerisms -- "Was that Mr. Rogers?'' some asked today of the televised reply by Jindal to the president's address to a joint session of Congress. And the trappings of the response.
"Bobby Jindal, or Kenneth from 30 Rock,'' asks another.
Mr. Rogers, as one Swamp reader suggested, may be a stretch -- though Mr. Jindal's Neighborhood is catchy. But Kenneth?
"Let me start off by saying we certainly want the same things for our country as our president,'' Jindal said in an interview on NBC News' Today show this morning, discussing his many differences with the president, and the president himself: "We may disagree on the approach, but I think he's a good, decent, honest man.''
People's partisan stripes may be showing just a little too boldly in this debate, however. We thought we heard last night, as we listened to Jindal's response aired on MSNBC, an editorial sigh from the newsteam as Jindal stepped out to the mic.
We're pretty sure, this morning after, that we hear MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews exclaiming not quite far enough under his breath or out of shot of his mic: "My God...'' Then the newsroom laugh track.
We've seen cleaner moments in television, but then again, this is big:
In fairness to Jindal, and those Democrats who want to make light of him, the governor has gone out of his way to praise Obama -- today calling the president "an incredibily gifted speaker, maybe a once in a generational speaker.''
See Jindal's "American Can Do Anything'' speech here:
Good evening. I'm Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana.
Tonight, we witnessed a great moment in the history of our Republic. In the very chamber where Congress once voted to abolish slavery, our first African-American President stepped forward to address the state of our union. With his speech tonight, the President completed a redemptive journey that took our nation from Independence Hall ... to Gettysburg ... to the lunch counter ... and now, finally, the Oval Office.
Regardless of party, all Americans are moved by the President's personal story - the son of an American mother and a Kenyan father, who grew up to become leader of the free world. Like the President's father, my parents came to this country from a distant land. When they arrived in Baton Rouge, my mother was already 4 ½ months pregnant. I was what folks in the insurance industry now call a 'pre-existing condition.' To find work, my dad picked up the yellow pages and started calling local businesses. Even after landing a job, he could still not afford to pay for my delivery - so he worked out an installment plan with the doctor. Fortunately for me, he never missed a payment.
As I grew up, my mom and dad taught me the values that attracted them to this country - and they instilled in me an immigrant's wonder at the greatness of America. As a child, I remember going to the grocery store with my dad. Growing up in India, he had seen extreme poverty. And as we walked through the aisles, looking at the endless variety on the shelves, he would tell me: 'Bobby, Americans can do anything.' I still believe that to this day. Americans can do anything. When we pull together, there is no challenge we cannot overcome.
As the President made clear this evening, we are now in a time of challenge. Many of you listening tonight have lost jobs. Others have seen your college and retirement savings dwindle. Many of you are worried about losing your health care and your homes. And you are looking to your elected leaders in Washington for solutions.
Republicans are ready to work with the new President to provide those solutions. Here in my state of Louisiana, we don't care what party you belong to if you have good ideas to make life better for our people. We need more of that attitude from both Democrats and Republicans in our nation's capital. All of us want our economy to recover and our nation to prosper. So where we agree, Republicans must be the President's strongest partners. And where we disagree, Republicans have a responsibility to be candid and offer better ideas for a path forward.
Today in Washington, some are promising that government will rescue us from the economic storms raging all around us.
Those of us who lived through Hurricane Katrina, we have our doubts.
Let me tell you a story.
During Katrina, I visited Sheriff Harry Lee, a Democrat and a good friend of mine. When I walked into his makeshift office I'd never seen him so angry. He was yelling into the phone: 'Well, I'm the Sheriff and if you don't like it you can come and arrest me!' I asked him: 'Sheriff, what's got you so mad?' He told me that he had put out a call for volunteers to come with their boats to rescue people who were trapped on their rooftops by the floodwaters. The boats were all lined up ready to go - when some bureaucrat showed up and told them they couldn't go out on the water unless they had proof of insurance and registration. I told him, 'Sheriff, that's ridiculous.' And before I knew it, he was yelling into the phone: 'Congressman Jindal is here, and he says you can come and arrest him too!' Harry just told the boaters to ignore the bureaucrats and start rescuing people.
There is a lesson in this experience: The strength of America is not found in our government. It is found in the compassionate hearts and enterprising spirit of our citizens. We are grateful for the support we have received from across the nation for the ongoing recovery efforts. This spirit got Louisiana through the hurricanes - and this spirit will get our nation through the storms we face today.
To solve our current problems, Washington must lead. But the way to lead is not to raise taxes and put more money and power in hands of Washington politicians. The way to lead is by empowering you - the American people. Because we believe that Americans can do anything.
That is why Republicans put forward plans to create jobs by lowering income tax rates for working families ... cutting taxes for small businesses ... strengthening incentives for businesses to invest in new equipment and hire new workers ... and stabilizing home values by creating a new tax credit for home-buyers. These plans would cost less and create more jobs.
But Democratic leaders in Congress rejected this approach. Instead of trusting us to make wise decisions with our own money, they passed the largest government spending bill in history - with a price tag of more than $1 trillion with interest. While some of the projects in the bill make sense, their legislation is larded with wasteful spending. It includes $300 million to buy new cars for the government, $8 billion for high-speed rail projects, such as a 'magnetic levitation' line from Las Vegas to Disneyland, and $140 million for something called 'volcano monitoring.' Instead of monitoring volcanoes, what Congress should be monitoring is the eruption of spending in Washington, DC.
Democratic leaders say their legislation will grow the economy. What it will do is grow the government, increase our taxes down the line, and saddle future generations with debt. Who among us would ask our children for a loan, so we could spend money we do not have, on things we do not need? That is precisely what the Democrats in Congress just did. It's irresponsible. And it's no way to strengthen our economy, create jobs, or build a prosperous future for our children.
In Louisiana, we took a different approach. Since I became governor, we cut more than 250 earmarks from our state budget. And to create jobs for our citizens, we cut taxes six times - including the largest income tax cut in the history of our state. We passed those tax cuts with bipartisan majorities. Republicans and Democrats put aside their differences, and worked together to make sure our people could keep more of what they earn. If it can be done in Baton Rouge, surely it can be done in Washington, DC.
To strengthen our economy, we need urgent action to keep energy prices down. All of us remember what it felt like to pay $4 at the pump - and unless we act now, those prices will return. To stop that from happening, we need to increase conservation ... increase energy efficiency ... increase the use of alternative and renewable fuels ... increase our use of nuclear power - and increase drilling for oil and gas here at home. We believe that Americans can do anything - and if we unleash the innovative spirit of our citizens, we can achieve energy independence.
To strengthen our economy, we also need to address the crisis in health care. Republicans believe in a simple principle: No American should have to worry about losing their health coverage - period. We stand for universal access to affordable health care coverage. We oppose universal government-run health care. Health care decisions should be made by doctors and patients - not by government bureaucrats. We believe Americans can do anything - and if we put aside partisan politics and work together, we can make our system of private medicine affordable and accessible for every one of our citizens.
To strengthen our economy, we also need to make sure every child in America gets the best possible education. After Katrina, we reinvented the New Orleans school system - opening dozens of new charter schools, and creating a new scholarship program that is giving parents the chance to send their children to private or parochial schools of their choice. We believe that, with the proper education, the children of America can do anything. And it should not take a devastating storm to bring this kind of innovation to education in our country.
To strengthen our economy, we must promote confidence in America by ensuring ours is the most ethical and transparent system in the world. In my home state, there used to be saying: At any given time, half of Louisiana is under water - and the other half is under indictment. No one says that anymore. Last year, we passed some of the strongest ethics laws in the nation - and today, Louisiana has turned her back on the corruption of the past. We need to bring transparency to Washington, DC - so we can rid our Capitol of corruption ... and ensure we never see the passage of another trillion dollar spending bill that Congress has not even read and the American people haven't even seen.
As we take these steps, we must remember for all our troubles at home, dangerous enemies still seek our destruction. Now is no time to dismantle the defenses that have protected this country for hundreds of years, or make deep cuts in funding for our troops. America's fighting men and women can do anything. And if we give them the resources they need, they will stay on the offensive ... defeat our enemies ... and protect us from harm.
In all these areas, Republicans want to work with President Obama. We appreciate his message of hope - but sometimes it seems we look for hope in different places. Democratic leaders in Washington place their hope in the federal government. We place our hope in you - the American people. In the end, it comes down to an honest and fundamental disagreement about the proper role of government. We oppose the National Democrats' view that says -- the way to strengthen our country is to increase dependence on government. We believe the way to strengthen our country is to restrain spending in Washington, and empower individuals and small businesses to grow our economy and create jobs.
In recent years, these distinctions in philosophy became less clear - because our party got away from its principles. You elected Republicans to champion limited government, fiscal discipline, and personal responsibility. Instead, Republicans went along with earmarks and big government spending in Washington. Republicans lost your trust - and rightly so.
Tonight, on behalf of our leaders in Congress and my fellow Republican governors, I say: Our party is determined to regain your trust. We will do so by standing up for the principles that we share ... the principles you elected us to fight for ... the principles that built this into the greatest, most prosperous country on earth.
A few weeks ago, the President warned that our nation is facing a crisis that he said 'we may not be able to reverse.' Our troubles are real, to be sure. But don't let anyone tell you that we cannot recover - or that America's best days are behind her. This is the nation that cast off the scourge of slavery ... overcame the Great Depression ... prevailed in two World Wars ... won the struggle for civil rights ... defeated the Soviet menace ... and responded with determined courage to the attacks of September 11, 2001. The American spirit has triumphed over almost every form of adversity known to man - and the American spirit will triumph again.
We can have confidence in our future - because, amid today's challenges, we also count many blessings: We have the most innovative citizens ...the most abundant resources ... the most resilient economy ... the most powerful military ... and the freest political system in the history of the world. My fellow citizens, never forget: We are Americans. And like my dad said years ago, Americans can do anything.
Thank you for listening. God bless you. And God bless America."
Comments
The new face of the Republic party:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lOwaHT2lm4&feature=related
Posted by: Bubba ✔ | February 25, 2009 10:46 AM
Why is everyone breaking bad on Gov. Jindal? I am a moderate/democrat, and I found the substance of his text to be a reasonable, logical response. What does it matter what he looked like?
I don't care if you're Repub or Dem...let's get together and work this damn thing out!
Posted by: lookyhere | February 25, 2009 11:09 AM
Ugh. More Republican spin.
All this talk of "responsibility" from a Party who has delivered us to the spot we are in right now.
We are to believe that suddenly they have realised their issues and are now back on track to save the US with Conservative "Values", ideology and practices... and we should believe them now (forget about the last 8 years) ??
They all need to pull their heads out of their butts and realise that we do not want ambitious politicians right now. We want effective ones.
Posted by: Todd | February 25, 2009 11:10 AM
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal did his best Mr. Rogers imitation last night. I was impressed, if I had wanted to watch Mr. Rogers. As it is, Piyush Jindal, the man of Hindu descent just pretty much ruined his chance of getting the nod for President candidate in 2018. Gosh boys and girls, how do you feel about that?
Posted by: I heart Schadenfreude | February 25, 2009 11:13 AM
It's easy to forget how condescending politicians can be when there is a bunch of them in a room, but it really comes out when they follow a speech from President Obama. President Obama talks to you like a person capable of understanding complex ideas and breaks them down in easy to follow terms. Governor Jindal sounded like he was giving a civics lecture to a 4th grade assembly. Yeah buddy that'll go over real well with Americans. Talk to us like we are idiots. Oh yeah, one more thing....does Jindal believe Americans can do anything? LOL
Posted by: Joe Dirte | February 25, 2009 11:16 AM
That was a great skit, the Republicans put on, following President Obama's address to our nation. We needed some comic relief, after President Obama's realistic presentation, of what America faces, in the aftermath of the previous, destructive, Republican administrations. It's the same old whimpering cry of the Republicans: Don't do as I do, do as I say !! Just look at the 10 trillion dollar deficit, the Republican leadership, if you can call it that, has strapped America with, for the foreseeable future !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, America | February 25, 2009 11:18 AM
The less we see and hear of Bolly Jindal, the better. I never read anything positive from him, except his over-inflated biography hyping him as India's answer to American politics.
Posted by: Robert Salm | February 25, 2009 11:22 AM
I always find it amazing that suddenly the people who could have done all these wonderful things for the past 8 years, but didn't, suddenly want to do all these wonderful things.
As W tried to say, Fool me once, shame on you, Fool me twice, shame on me.
FORGET IT, BOBBY
Posted by: Bopper | February 25, 2009 11:30 AM
What bothered me most was his bragging about Louisiana, New Orleans and MOSTLY Mardi Gras.
How many were shot during the parade?
Posted by: melodylane | February 25, 2009 11:32 AM
Why doesn't Silva mention the people who are snickering and sneering about Governor Jindal are the same left wing wackos who write for the Huffington Post and probably are on George Soros's payroll? I am sure he is good friends with them as they share the same values and beliefs, so a little honesty in his reporting here would be nice once in a while. And fairness to Jindal for praising Obama??? Is this the only way a Republican will be seen in good light by Silva and the rest of the media? By praising the messiah?? Really a shame.
Posted by: mikeb | February 25, 2009 11:33 AM
Bubba,
I like how McBitter and the rest of the Republic. gaggle are campaigning for Obama to keep flying around in 40 year old helos. Are they really worried about budget busting all of a sudden? After all, it was them and GWB that authorized the go ahead. Or are they perhaps secretly, silently, in their heart of hearts, wishing for something else?
Posted by: C.Morris✈ | February 25, 2009 11:36 AM
I've always thought watching TV in another language was a good way to learn that language but am not so sure now. Even the Tribune is referring to Jindal's style as "Mr. Rogers". Others have compared it to Barney the Dinosaur, Gilligan, and the Brady Bunch.
Posted by: naschkatze | February 25, 2009 11:39 AM
Hey Bobby...how about installing candy dispensers in the school cafeteria? This guy looks and sounds like he is running for Senior Class president.
And why would I consider a party who radily admits that they got us into this mess. So now you will get it right?
The governors of Louisiana and Alaska are the best that the GOP has to offer? Rush Limbaugh is now your pilot/spokesman/mascot?
Blaring from the overhead speakers of the GOP ship should be a crisp "MAY DAY! MAY DAY!"
Posted by: Gus | February 25, 2009 11:54 AM
Jindal is a fool if he thinks the majority of the citizens believe in his claptrap that he is spouting. Just a tool for the Republican party. If I were rich then they would consider me important but since I am middle-class they have no use for me. Don't their tax-cuts only help out the rich?
Posted by: Mike | February 25, 2009 11:54 AM
How do you read the comments without posting a comment?
Posted by: Megan | February 25, 2009 11:58 AM
Obamaphile media already have their long knives out for Governor Jindal... in a similar approach to the one used on Palin: paint him as a wack-job, an eccentric, and just too far-right for American voters. Outfits such as the Huffington Post are already trying to nip Jindal's ascension in the bud.
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But they are right about one thing; they DO have reason to fear the electoral appeal and success of Bobby Jindal. This accomplished conservative doer is the very antithesis to the Democrat's unaccomplished, liberal talker now in the White House.
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Jindal oozes competence, and is a gifted communicator, with a trademark rapid-fire delivery. And his resume is nothing short of astounding.
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So go get 'em, Bobby... you're a good man, and perhaps s-someday a great one.
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http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com...
Posted by: Reaganite Republican | February 25, 2009 12:01 PM
Here we go again. A typical "Palinesque" attack.
Judge on the content of his speech, not the color of his skin, nor the way he looks and sounds.
Stop making "fun".
As for Chris "tingle up my leg", I'll do anything to help this administration" Matthews,
WHY even report what the guy says?
Another attack by a reporter on a possible candidate (how come Eric Cantor isn't attacked?) based on his looks, how he sounds.
It's the content of Jindahl's message.
This is just a reporter trying to divert attention to what is being said. Attack the person. Nasty stuff.
The shallowness of this reporting is pathetic.
Backlash
Posted by: Disgusted with reporting | February 25, 2009 12:04 PM
Jindal may be an extremely talented politician, and very inspirational in his own right.
One big question though on why the GOP would choose Jindal to give the response
1) Louisiana suffered horribly through Katrina - and everyone Repub & Dem railed at the Federal Response (NOT ENOUGH) and since Katrina, Billions of Federal Dollars have been pumped into Louisiana - to re-build a town that is UNDER Sea Level?
Jindal is not, as previously reported, declining Federal Stimulus Money - only a small portion of it. It seems hypocritical that the Governor of a State that has taken more Federal money than any other over the course of the last 4 years would give the GOP response to not backing the Federal Stimulus package.
Posted by: karl | February 25, 2009 12:07 PM
One sided reporting.
Nasty personal attacks.
Personal comment on appearance, speech.
Dastardly reporting.
Chris Matthews is irrelevant.
Hope the Chicago Tribune goes under.
Posted by: Dee | February 25, 2009 12:15 PM
The problem that fiscal conservatives are failing to realize is that this economic crisis was begun by exactly what the GOP is now pontificating; letting the private sector do what it wants with their money. Investments were unregulated, lending was encouraged because of low interest rates, and borrowing was seen as natural and healthy no matter how much collateral you had to back it up. The private sector and the American people got us into this mess with the assistance of the government's "hands off" approach.
What Jindal and other fiscal conservatives are now suggesting is continuing the process that got us here in the first place as a way of recovery. Sounds like Jerry Angelo's prescription of fixing the Chicago Bears "No need to change, we'll just have better coaching" (even though the coaches weren't changed?!)
This is a classical conservative move, "Look at this new shiny approach, it's not going to work. Trust our approach. Sure it got you into the mess in the first place, but this is new, and they're taking your children's money, and they don't like puppies."
Posted by: Andrew Bates | February 25, 2009 12:24 PM
"$140 million for something called 'volcano monitoring.'"
I am increasingly tired of intelligent politicians dumbing themselves down so as to appear "just plain folks". Governor Jindal knows that volcano monitoring refers to efforts of the USGS to monitor volcanoes in the U.S. and abroad to help predict when a volcano will erupt, potentially saving thousands of lives. I wonder what Governor Jindal's response would be to the federal government cutting the NWS huricane monitoring budgets?
Posted by: MickG | February 25, 2009 12:25 PM
Here's another howdy-doody singing all the praises of America and how great Americans are. I bet all the unemployed people in this country aren't feeling so great. Seriously. Enough with the praises and the self-righteousness and give us some real solutions on a national level. This guy has his head in the clouds and his feet in the sand and he's not going anywhere..and neither are the people that voted for him.
Posted by: Chicago Joe | February 25, 2009 12:27 PM
I will give Jindal props for not trying to drag Obama through the mud. However, he really seems like more of the same from the Republicans. Big government...bad Spending...bad
blah,blah, blah.
Jindal is a bit of a hypocrite to want government not to be involved in the doctor-patient relationship. Unless of course that patient is a pregnant female!
www.realityrounds.com
Posted by: Reality Rounds | February 25, 2009 12:30 PM
Jindal was great.
Posted by: Mary | February 25, 2009 12:35 PM
If this amateur clown is the best they've got for 2012, re-election might be easier than I thought.
Posted by: dem in chicago | February 25, 2009 12:43 PM
As a resident of Pittsburgh and an active member of WQED - please, do not equate the legacy of Mr. Rogers with this garbage.
Thank you.
Posted by: Albert | February 25, 2009 12:49 PM
"Health care decisions should be made by doctors and patients - not by government bureaucrats."
OK!! So the GOP is ready to give up trying to overturn Roe v. Wade? Or does this only apply to other people's medical decisions that conform to the GOP's religious beliefs?
Posted by: Mike | February 25, 2009 1:30 PM
So Piyush Jindal is the "new" face of the Republican party?......HAHAHA!
This reminds me of when the Repubs rolled out Fred Thompson to great Repub fanfare during the primary.
Grandpa Fred promptly put himself and everyone who was listening to him, to sleep.
Posted by: Hulk Smash! | February 25, 2009 1:30 PM
I was not all that impressed by Bobby, but I also think its funny that someone above pointed out that Obama is someone who talks intelligently to Americans and thinks they can understand complex ideas and break them down...where is the evidence in that? His speeches are so filled with vagueness that there is nothing challenging about them. No details, no focused conversations. And though I voted for Obama this has always been an issue of mine.
Posted by: Out of Towner | February 25, 2009 1:33 PM
Jindal once participated in an actual exorcism of a demon out of a person's body. HAHAHAHAHAHA...please let him run in 2012...a Jindal and Palin run republican party would almost certainly enusre another victory for Obama.
Posted by: STEVE | February 25, 2009 1:35 PM
I found the substance of his text to be a reasonable, logical response. What does it matter what he looked like?I don't care if you're Repub or Dem...let's get together and work this damn thing out!
Posted by: lookyhere | February 25, 2009 11:09 AM
I find it hilarious that you're still trying that dumb trick of passing yourself off as a Democrat...
Aren't you supposed to be out bashing unions today?
Posted by: Teresa | February 25, 2009 1:44 PM
Bobby Jindal's political ploy to not take funds for Louisiana is such a joke. While on one hand he wants everyone to think that Louisiana is this self-sufficient state, he fails to tell everyone that Louisiana is one of the states that receives the most back per dollar spent in taxes. For each dollar they give away, they get 1.78 in return. In Illinois, we get .75 per dollar.
Posted by: Laughter | February 25, 2009 1:45 PM
Jindal just proves my definition of the New Republicans;
They will cut off somebody else's nose to spite some unnamed third party's face.
In Jindal's case he wants to cut off unemployment ins. for his poor subjects to spite the 'evil liberal cabal' lurking out there.
The only thing that explains the behavior of the Grand Oligarch Party in this economic cataclysm is they believe the middle class is still sitting on a substantial pile of wealth and they want to get that post haste to their customers, the oligarchy.
Posted by: C.Morris✈ | February 25, 2009 1:46 PM
The future of the GOP...
First they give us Palin, who thinks that she has foreign policy experience due to proximity to the remotest part of Russia.
Now, Jindal. A real life exorcist turned Governor. Decrying government waste and excess while telling lies about government red tape preventing a sheriff from helping people during Katrina.
Rejecting $100 million in unemployment help while glady scooping up billions of dollars in other aid.
The leader of a State who's biggest city was destroyed by a hurricane when levees failed after several years of the Federal government underfunding routine maintenance in order to save a few million here and there. A state that then took tens of billions to rebuild that same city.
Bobby Jindal...decrying federal borrowing in order to save the US economy while failing to oppose blasting away hundreds of billions while he was in Congress on Iraq.
Why does Bobby Jindal think it's fine to mortgage our children's future to pay for destroying and rebuilding Iraq while it's not fine to build our own country...well, New Orleans excepted?
Louisiana has a lower unemployment rate than other states right now in large part due to the Federal dollars still pouring in to rebuild New Orleans.
Bobby Jindal should go back to performing exorcisms.
Posted by: Jerry 101 | February 25, 2009 1:48 PM
I thought Jindal was supposed to be bright? He was bashing the Federal response to Katrina (it was awful) while failing to mention that it was his beloved Repuglican party who ran the Federal govt at that time.
Govt doesn't work when you put Repugs in charge of it because they hate govt. They'd rather sell you out to their rich private business cronies.
SNL and Stewart/Colbert are going to eat this up. I can't wait to watch.
Posted by: Mr. FACE | February 25, 2009 1:54 PM
I also think its funny that someone above pointed out that Obama is someone who talks intelligently to Americans and thinks they can understand complex ideas and break them down...where is the evidence in that? His speeches are so filled with vagueness that there is nothing challenging about them. No details, no focused conversations. And though I voted for Obama this has always been an issue of mine.
Posted by: Out of Towner | February 25, 2009 1:33 PM
;
Ummm....Obama doesn't talk down to Americans for one. For a perfect example watch his 10 minute encounter with Joe the Plumber. He placed his hand on his shoulder, looked him in the eye and explained the philosophy of a progressive tax system. So much better than Bush's "It's hard work!" or Jindals, "Because we believe Americans can do anything!"(flash creepy smile)
Posted by: try this | February 25, 2009 2:04 PM
Yeah, if only he sounded more like the learned Barney Frank, then he'd be given more credibility, right Dems?
Same old blather on this self congratulatory Dem site. Silly.
Posted by: Obamabots, ACTIVATE | February 25, 2009 2:26 PM
Obama-Mama has alot of great ideas and plans. where will al this money come from? Those of you that don't like the idea of putting more moeny in people's pockets, are you ready to start paying for more taxes? Do you think that only 10% or less is going to foot the bill? If you believe that, I have some great property to sell you in the everglades.
Posted by: CW | February 25, 2009 2:26 PM
Same old blather on this self congratulatory Dem site. Silly.
Posted by: Obamabots, ACTIVATE | February 25, 2009 2:26 PM
Translation: "Waaaaaaaaaaaah"
You're just a one woman Obama smear group, huh? Don't you get tired of selling out for the rich Repug oligarchs that you work for?
Posted by: Teresa | February 25, 2009 2:36 PM
Was that Inky who gave the Repug "response" last night?
Jindal sounded like a 4th grader running for student council president...
Posted by: PalinbotsACTIVATE! | February 25, 2009 2:56 PM
sounded like Al Gore...looked like Apu from "The Simpsons"
Posted by: Zorro | February 25, 2009 3:06 PM
Mark, how about telling us who called Jindal Mr. Rogers or the guy from 30 Rock? Did you get that from the DailyKook? Snuffington Post? Your buddies at Moveon.org? Or did you come up with those names yourself? Or from your mates at the Chicago Obune Washington Bureau? Other than John Kass, when will the Chicago Obune employ actual journalists?
Posted by: John D | February 25, 2009 3:06 PM
As a person who grew up in Louisiana, I find Jindal to be a joke. The state has one of the highest rates of poverty, one of the lowest high school graduation rates, one of the lowest college attendence rates, one of the highest states with people on public assistance and medicaid. Most of the industry is either service (mostly tourism) or agriculture, an little growth prospects for the future. In fact, most college graduates leave for better opportunities elsewhere. Until he proves that he can make Louisiana a better, an more progressive place to live and work, his words are hollow. If this is the best they can do (bobby jindal), they would have a better chance with palin.
Posted by: marc | February 25, 2009 3:13 PM
We all are Americans and work hard for their money, pay a fair share of taxes and reap the benefits of freedom. This is the Post-Bush era. The private enterprise sectar has cost us all in the name of greed. He who was in power made the laws, or hired attorneys to find profitable loopholes or change their common sense meanings to undermine democratic principles. Gov. Jindal's response to President Obama contained platitudes of the Republican order. He gave no direction or even hope of solution. So what is an ordinary person as I to think. I'd like to see those earning 250,000 take the standard tax deduction without any further adjustments that any one else with lesser income is allowed. That seems simple enough for me, how about for them. Now what did Jindal say? "Dah!"
Posted by: Lou K | February 25, 2009 3:30 PM
Jindals magical magnet train. Hmmmmm doesn't exist! But it was good of him to admit "the republicans went along with big spending. Question.......who exactly did they go along with?
Answer.......themselves.
Posted by: whackado republican | February 25, 2009 3:32 PM
Marc, who says he used to live in Louisiana, Jindal has been governor of that state for only a few months. Is he suppose to change to state from its wretched past in less than a year? He is cleaning it up and he's actually making strides to the state recovering from Katrina, something the clueless previous governor had no chance at ever accomplishing.
Posted by: John D | February 25, 2009 4:09 PM
Check your swing, Obama lovers. Jindal did not come to bury Obama, but to stand against a trillion dollar mortgage with your name on it, to buy things we do not need.
Do I detect racial and religious intolerance in some of these comments? What's with making a point of referring to Jindal as Piyush, and mentioning his Hindu ancestry?
Let's lay off the physical characterizations too. Just imagine what mean spirited people could come up with for Obama.
Last night, both Obama and Jindal expressed their faith in the American people to pull out of this crisis. In 2009, it's not about George Bush, Bill Clinton, F.D.R. or Lincoln. It's about finding the medicine for this national illness that will not kill us.
Now that the Stimulus package is a done deal, let's all keep watch on what it has wrought, and be prepare to act on that which leads us away from prosperity.
Posted by: Brad Nailer | February 25, 2009 4:18 PM
Jindal was only reflecting the current Republican belief that the 'typical American' is at the level of a primary school student. They're still totally clueless as to why people voted for Obama.
Posted by: Tom J | February 25, 2009 4:45 PM
Chicago Joe does not represent Chicago. Bias reporting again. Getting tired of it alnog with jingo type comments from people like Todd.
Posted by: Chicago Joe | February 25, 2009 5:04 PM
John D, Jindal was elected governor in 2007. It's Obama who has only had a month to clean up the wretched mess.
Posted by: Flo | February 25, 2009 7:25 PM
i like you for President asap, first wit have to impeach obama, please limit your priase for him, do the dems praise you? don't give them praise it only inflates their egos and thats already in explosive territory! if i was you i would openly campaign for the ouster of obama and his mob, the consequences of let him drive us into the ground are far worse than any consequences you would get and you would be doing the USA a huge favor, but if your selfish and have creed on the brain then the usa will continue to go into the toliet. with obama an the clinton leftovers we don't have a chance to pull out of this depression and total economic melt-down! its up to you to prop up the rep. party or make up a conservative party. You can do it and are a down to earth kinda guy by all believable reports. go git em!!!
Posted by: lassie faire | February 25, 2009 7:30 PM
Advise from Louisiana on how to run the country? After the way they ran things during Katrina, the country should have flushed the toilet on New Orleans instead of sinking billions into them rebuilding on the same old flood prone sinkhole.
Posted by: Huey Long | February 25, 2009 7:30 PM
Jindal is a joke. He is proof that vantriloquism is not a lost art. If he is the best the pugs can come up with for 2012, then the dems will have another landslide.
Posted by: Xcellentform | February 25, 2009 9:01 PM