Posted on 02/25/2009 6:43:09 PM PST by trying17 (AKA DrGop0821)
"[T]he people on our side are really making a mistake if they go after Bobby Jindal on the basis of style. Because if you think — people on our side I’m talking to you — those of you who think Jindal was horrible, you think — in fact, I don’t ever want to hear from you ever again. … I’ve spoken to him numerous times, he’s brilliant. He’s the real deal." --Rush Limbaugh on his radio show today.
Sean Hannity was equally impressed with Gov. Jindal.
With all do respect, Rush and Sean, I politiely disagree. In my unscientific analysis of the blogs today, conservatives seem to be about 50/50 on Jindal's performance.
First, I like Bobby Jindal. I like his policy. I like his politics and I think he will no doubt emerge as one of the many fresh faces of conservatism for years to come.
I admire his life story: the hard-work, discipline and success that his parents and he have earned are truly a great American story and do, in fact, demonstrate that anything can happen in American. And he was much better this morning on "The Today Show".
With that said, he really sh*t the proverbial bed in his Republican Response to President Obama's address to Congress. Frankly, he was not very good at all.
I know, I know, everyone who gives the "Other Party Address" following at State of the Union is at a distinct disadvantage. Whether it's Barack Obama or George Bush; the stage, the backdrop, the drama and Great American Ambience provided by the Chambers of Congress are difficult to match.
But Gov. Jindal was flat out dry, boring and stiff. The speech itself was quite good, full of substance and stayed on message (full transcript below), but the delivery was uninspiring and did little to energize the Republican base and surely many people simply tuned him out or turned him off.
And, as I've learned in the blogs today, many Conservatives could not make it all the way through the speech. So what do you suppose the reaction from independents and moderates was like? I know Republicans are never going to appeal to the Radical Leftist Obamamaniacs, but there still exists a fairly large number of "Independent" voters (myself included) who expected a bit more from Jindal.
Maybe it's not all his fault; obviously the Republican party was part of the planning process. But besides being flat, the atmosphere of Jindal's mansion was gloomy, creepy and empty.
But alas, herein lies a huge problems with Conservatism and Republicans. We live in the era of Bush Derangement Syndrome and Obamamania.
Like it or not, we do live in the "Dot-Com" era of sound bites and snapshots. As much as I would like to believe Americans believe in substance over style, the reality is most Americans in today's video-game, Internet culture cannot focus much on substance for more than a few seconds.
It's sad, but it is the truth.
Rightly or wrongly, this summarizes, in part, the success of Barack Obama. Yes, there was a clear media bias, but can you really blame them?
Compare Obama to his former rival John McCain. Take away the message and the substance and what are you left with?
By no means am I supporting Obama or the media or the Radical Power-Grabbing Socialist philosophy of the Commie Liberals in Congress.
However, I am applauding his campaign strategy and his staff and supporters for their use of modern technology as well as using the slobbering media to their political advantage.
However, as Conservatives -- and the Republican Party Leadership -- we must realize the reality of the world in which we live. Americans do respond to style and image. It's a tough pill to swallow, but something we Conservatives need to stomach if we wish to rise to power again.
As John Ziegler pointed out while he was slamming MS-NBC's Norah O'Donell, the line between entertainment and journalism, and between politics and entertainment are becoming less clear each day.
There are, in fact, many people in this country (some of my own friends and family) who "get their news" from shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.
And that's scary and yes, most of them are Liberals (no surprise).
It's also worth mentioning, again, that Tina Fey's satire of Sarah Palin became how many Americans perceived the Alaska Governor. Yes, it's wrong, unfortunate and disgusting, but it is the truth.
The Republican party and Conservatives are years behind the world of 21st Century era of information and technology. No, image isn't everything, but as a society we are becoming more image-conscious everyday.
The sooner Republicans learn this lesson, the more hope we have. Perhaps it's a necessary evil -- and we don't have to like it -- but it is reality.
Instead of bashing Liberals and the media and Leftwing blogs for celebrating style over substance, we need to learn we can use the same modern tactics for advancing our own agenda.
The full text of Gov. Jindal's speech:
You used too many words - the Sheep ignored you just now. Although you briefly got them at Paris’s clevage.
LMAO!!
it...he...was horrible....embarrassing.
what a disappointment
next candidate please
the sooner we move on, the better.
heh :))
I think this debate is pretty good; why would you assume someone who actually makes a good point is trying to promote something?
And if she/he is, so what? Maybe she/he is trying to make America a little better.
I support all bloggers, liberal or conservative. At least they are trying to do something instead of sitting on their hands in their parent’s basement and whining about other people’s blogs.
ping 4 later
It's a joke! OK?
A joke best left to Plugs. Don't mess with him.
Compared to what? The Commander in Chief?
Amen.
Your staff hand you a phone and tells you it's an arranged call with the President of France.
OK the guy sounds odd, but
One speech will not define Jindal, just as a couple of interviews will not Palin.
Three years from now, during primary season, Jindal and Palin will have greater records of accomplishment and much more seasoning in dealing with the media jackals.
I was very pleased with Jindal’s speech because it showed his mind is in the right place.
True to their ongoing function as tools for Marxism, Hume and Krauthammer came down hard on Jindal. This was expected.
We already know Jindal doesn’t have the deceptive charisma of a sociopath like Clinton or Obama, so why expect it from him? Just listen to what he thinks and get over it.
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