Posted on 07/27/2010 12:18:56 PM PDT by Ebenezer
For some time now, THE DEAD PELICAN has noted the unusual level of interest in the Louisiana Lt. governor's race. There are FIVE candidates currently running for the position! And everyone knows that if Jindal were to quit, the Lt. Governor would take over.
There is a growing belief that those in the Lt. Governo's race are NOT running for that position alone: some expect to eventually be the next governor if they win.
Some of the speculation is fueled by Secretary of State Jay Dardenne's interest in the position. Some find it curious that he is running. Going from Secretary of State to Lt. Governor is not a step up for Mr. Dardenne- at least not in terms of job responsibility. But if Jindal were to resign, the Lt. governor would take his place. And that WOULD BE a step up for Dardenne if he were Lt. Governor when Bobby leaves.
Statewide conservative radio show host Moon Griffon noted today on his show that "If Jindal doesn't leave, it will be a shocker to me." He believes that Jindal will leave because his numbers are up and he is viewed positively- which may not last when Jindal is forced to deal with the state's looming budget shortfalls. Griffon has a history of accurate predictions: he predicted that former Gov. Kathleen Blanco would not run for re-election over a year before she announced that she would not.
Respected veteran columnist Sam Hanna of the Ouachita Citizen has had some suspicions as well. In a July 2009 column, Hanna recalled a conversation with top Jindal staffer Timmy Teepell. Hannah wrote that Teepell "was forthcoming when he said not long ago that Jindal was content to serve as governor and had no intentions of seeking the Republican nomination for president in three years.
"Since Teepell is a friend, let's hope he doesn't mind a friend telling him that he would make a terrible poker player," Hannah concluded.
A recent article in the Baton Rouge Advocate noted the recent high turnover in the Jindal administration. The article cited the departure of Commissioner of Administration Angèle Davis and State Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine as part of "a continuing turnover of Cabinet secretaries and staff."
In the same article, Pearson Cross, head of the political science department at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette compared the high turnover in the Jindal admin to "rats from a sinking ship."
The state is facing huge financial problems with multibillion-dollar budget shortfalls, which means that Jindal will either have to cut spending or raise taxes, a decision that would threaten his currently high approval ratings.
Which is why some say the time for Jindal to get out is now - or so some think.
Developing...
Pelican State ping
ping
IIRC, there were about 25,000 Freepers who also predicted here that Blanco wouldn’t run again..
Then he would be seen as a weak wussy. He needs to do a Chris Christie and start cutting fraud, waste and abuse in State Government.
For Sure!
What happened to the Lieutenant Governor, why is the post open? Sammy Kershaw is one of those running - can HE balance a budget?
The last Lieutenant Governor, Mitch Landrieu, was elected Mayor of New Orleans, thus creating a vacancy.
I doubt Jindal’s going anywhere.
Hey, this is a good thing - for Jindal. He can go on speaking tours. Become a Fox contributor. Endorse candidates. All the right preparation for running for president.
He took office January 8, 2008, just over 2.5 years ago.
What is wrong with finishing terms?
He might be planning a presidential bid. He’d be a good president.
Don't know, but, he can sing about it. ; )
Don’t do it Bobby. The left is just looking for an opportunity to call you a “quitter.”
Stick it out unless you announce running for President.
Ah, yes...
“THE DEAD PELICAN”
I seem to remember this name from a few years ago and I thought they were not on our side. Maybe a planted story trying to stir up trouble.
Totally AGREE. He needs to GOVERN.
Cut and run for popularity and then thinking THAT makes him Presidential?
NO CHANCE.
Of course - this rumor could have been seeded by the opposition. Journ0listers?
Unless I hear it from Bobby himslf, I’m not buying that he will be leaving. I trust him to do what he says. Anyway, we’re in such a mess not with the oil spill I can’t even think about what would \happen if Bobby left.
Don’t know much about it, but if Jindal bails because of the necessity of making tough and unpopular cuts, he’ll lose credibility forever.
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