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:
No, he was a disaster. If he is the *future* of the GOP, don’t count on much. You can’t fight a corrupt Chicago Communist political machine (with an agenda that they will go to any lengths to achieve), with some milquetoast that spends the first 5 minutes on his knees kissing the false Messiah’s half black as*.
I think he just needs seasoning.
____________
maybe Sarah or Rudy can loan him some balls.
You gotta have both, like Reagan.
geez...sounds like a hit a nerve with this post.
Look, I don’t think anyone, myself included, is attacking Bobby Jindal.
As I said, I like him and his policies. And I think he is going to be a force within the party.
It’s meant as constructive criticism of some things Republicans need to work on.
If we treat Conservative leaders as faultless and perfect and above critique than we are no better than the slobbering ObamaManiacs.
Thanks for posting. I didn’t see it. FReeper responses BUMP! :)
Thanks to all.
We love Bobby! You wouldn’t happen to be a member of DU also would you?
Sure he's smart, can say the right things, reliably
conservative
but presidential Timber ? (presence ?) not so much. You
must have some charisma, it's part of the job, and an
important tool of the Bully Pulpit presidency.
I feel as though Ray Romano is whining his way into
Politics when Jindal Speaks.
Absolutely, they could get some professional help as I am sure that Ears did from all his Hollyweird friends.
I mean that positively for them. It is still early now and I have been impressed with Jindal in other interviews.
Choking one night is not the end of world.
Republicans circling the wagons to stifle criticism of Jindal’s performance last night remind me of nothing so much as the fawning, sychophant press trying to make Michelle Obama into the second coming of Camelot.
Face it, he bombed. He doesn’t have the voice, the face or the delivery of a frontman. The content of the speech was lost in an ill advised, sappy attempt at being folksy.
Can he recover from it? I don’t know. Clinton did. But, for all his faults, Bill Clinton could never be accused of being a stiff, in front of a television camera at least.
Jindal didn’t come across as presidential. Liked his message, but lacked any presence. 2012 is a long way, and he’ll learn from this experience. I wouldn’t worry about it too much.
I recall that Bill Clinton had a disasterous speech during a convention in front of a national audience. He still became president.
I’d like to see as many conservatives as possible echoing conservative principles. The more the merrier. Hopefully someone will catch fire by the time 2011 comes around.
http://conservativexpress.blogspot.com/2009/02/gov-bobby-jindhal-becomes-first-to.html
as I said, I like Gov. Jindal
Didn’t see BO and didn’t see Jindal’s response, but I don’t understand all this fuss.
Maybe he didn’t give a good response - oh well. I’ve heard him speak many other times. He’s intelligent, articulate, knows how to explain his conservative positions, doesn’t hyperventilate and back down, and he doesn’t need a teleprompter - I’m impressed with him FWIW.
One speech should not hurt him in the eyes of conservatives, but if FR is any indication, it sure has.
“I REALLY don’t think it’s too much to ask for someone to have the right message AND be able to deliver it at least without the delivery getting in the way of the message.”
-Hear. Hear. I mean it’s what they do for a living, full time and they are supposed to be professionals. If I performed that poorly, I wouldn’t have a job.
Well, even Reagan made mistakes during his gubernatorial run. The 11th commandment save him. If Jindal is smart, and I think he is, he’ll learn from this and be a better candidate as a result.
Exactly. It was ONE SPEECH, people. I swear, I get so sick and tired of the whiny babies here on FR who want to piss and moan about the GOP, yet do nothing to try to restore it. Those folks can buzz off, AFAIAC.
I know I’ll get booed but how I wish Rudy had attacked Barry last night.
He’s a great conservative and is truly exceptional in discussing the issues. But I’ve got to be realistic too - the guy is low on charisma. Sorry if you don’t want to hear that.
Liked what he had to say about refusing pork but think the GOP has become so politically correct as to be useless as tits on a boar (that is a male for you city people) hog.
His response was milk toast!
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