Posted on 02/12/2009 2:04:59 PM PST by BBell
BATON ROUGE -- His star rising higher on the national scene, Gov. Bobby Jindal has been selected to deliver the nationally televised Republican address after President Barack Obama's first speech to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 24, which is Mardi Gras.
As revelers wind down their Fat Tuesday celebrations in the New Orleans area, the governor will speak to the nation from Baton Rouge in a signature event for the 37-year-old politician that could move him a giant step closer to becoming a household name in America.
"I think governors have a lot to offer, and I'm looking forward to sharing with the country the great things that are happening in Louisiana," Jindal said Wednesday. He noted the state's relatively strong employment numbers and ongoing recovery efforts.
The opportunity presents a political test for Jindal as it catapults him into the partisan environment of Washington. In some recent speeches, Jindal has been more critical of Republicans than Democrats, and he has held his fire on the new Democratic president.
His selection is a clear signal that the Republican leadership sees him as a potential national figure, said Norman Ornstein, a political analyst for the conservative American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. But Jindal would be wise not to play the role of party attack dog, Ornstein said.
"There are going to be a lot of people yearning for raw meat. But that's probably the wrong thing for him to do, for him personally, and for the party," Ornstein said. "The public doesn't have any taste for it right now."
Obama's speech, announced earlier this week, is called a presidential address to Congress rather than a State of the Union address because this is his first year in office. It will be given in the House
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
Jindal is the future. We need more Jindals not McCains.
I’m so glad the GOP went this route. I was horrified by the chance that after Mr teleprompter gives his speech that McConnell and Bohner would rush to the next room and a give a speech together. It doesn’t work and never will. I only hope they give Jindal an audience and he can work in some applause lines. It won’t be the House chamber, but it doesn’t have to look like a infomercial.
“Jindal is the future?”
Here we go into the same sort of mindless worship of an unknown that brought us B. Hussein Obama.
It was dumb when the Dims did it, and it’s dumb if we do it.
The difference regarding Obama and Jindal is, while both are articulate, Jindal’s speeches and actions are substantive.
Better Jindal than Palin, but that’s not saying much.
He’s the governor of Louisiana and served under Bush’s cabinet as well. He’s not an unknown. He’s rather established. And he was wise enough to decline McCain’s offer for VP.
Their reasoning being that they believe that one must have American parents to be a natural born citizen.
Anybody notice, on Drudge:
Unemployment claims are DOWN?
Retail sales are UP?
And the Porkulus isn’t even law yet???
Hmm, he was born in Baton Rouge, converted to Christinity, goes by Bobby for christs sake! How could he not be an American.
When I first heard him on the radio years ago during his first run for gov, I thought he was just another white guy.
(Ironically enough, it was during a debate with Blanco and they were arguing who was stronger on gun rights...I miss Louisiana politics)
Well according to the Birthers Jindal cannot serve as president since his parents were not US citizens at the time of his birth.
His name and his religion have nothing to do with his status as a natural born citizen.
Jindal had more experience in government and actual accomplishments before he was 30 then Bambi had ever. With the exception that Bambi got elected to the white house.
The Birthers claim that Obama cannot be a natural born citizen due to the fact that his father was not a United States Citizen at the time of his birth.
Now, I would imagine that the Birthers would be constitutionally consistent and deem Bobby Jindal to not be a natural born citizen due to the fact that neither of his parents were U.S. citizens at the time of his birth.
I want the best and the brightest! Jindal is a brilliant young man.
You need to hear him speak and even talk to him if you can. You will see what I mean. Give him time.
I couldn't care less about gender, race or whatever. I know a good player when I see one.
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