Piyush (Bobby) Jindal
Dear Governor Jindal,
I saw you on the TV when you said that you will take all but 1% (give or take a percentage or two) of Louisiana's portion of the stimulus package, because you stand on the principle that the federal government is spending too much money. Some might say that a principled stand would be to refuse the entire amount. Some might say that if you take any of the money and continue to criticize the stimulus bill, then you are a hypocrite. I would never say that.
I am sooo looking forward to your eloquent words which will follow the SOTU speech. I've heard you speak live, and I'd only urge you to slow down a bit and not include a litany of facts and figures that will send most viewers reeling.
Remember, too, that many of your constituents may be drunk or sleeping off their Mardi Gras revels by the time you get your TV time. Have you forgotten your constituents? You're a traveling man now, raising money for "your next term as governor", but we're still here waiting for you to remember that you are governor of our state, which is in dire need of leadership, what with the budget deficit and all. We make allowances for you now that you are a star on the national stage, but a little TLC from time to time would be greatly appreciated by the folks back home in Louisiana.
Respectfully,
Louisiana Citizen Mimi
UPDATE: Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, of consorting-with-prostitutes fame, another brilliant Rhodes scholar, comments on Jindal's speech:
Bobby offered a compelling positive alternative to empower people and does not simply grow the government.
Yes, senator, and up is down, and black is white, etc., etc., etc.
I thought of you in particular when I read the words of the governor of LA. I tell you, these Republicans live in an alternate universe.
ReplyDeleteLaurelew, ya think?
ReplyDeleteI liked your letter! I, too, think of you when I hear Jindal news. Did you see the latest Washington Times interview with the GOP governor of Utah? I was impressed. Sad to say, Jindal doesn't impress me when he speaks.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, Jindal has meager oratorical gifts. We shall see.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, I love what Gov. Huntsman said:
ReplyDelete"I have not met them. I don't listen or read whatever it is they say because it is inconsequential - completely."
So true.
Oh my Grandmère Mimi! you are so splendidly wicked. I wanna grow up to be you someday.
ReplyDeleteI'm tryin' to emulate the best of 'em, like when I made milk cartons with a copy of the constitution on the back, then sent that to AG Ashcroft, and Bush and our three reps (Kay Bailey Hutchinson who loved it, Phil Graham wrote me a one word "funny" response and my house of rep Sam Johnson was the only one not to reply at all.)
TheJanet, wicked? It's just a friendly letter from a constituent.
ReplyDeleteThe Republicans are a sour-looking crew, aren't they?
Bobby sounded as if he thought he were speaking to a kindergarten class. Wierd.
ReplyDeleteGee, your Governor sure is, er, perky! And full of crap!
ReplyDeleteThat was one of the most condescending, tone-deaf (as in unable to hear the tenor of the times) speeches I've ever heard. And I agree with susankay. I told my husband repeatedly that he sound like he was talking to five year olds. "Americans can do anything."
ReplyDeleteRight. That's why so many are losing their homes and their jobs.
Mimi, I'm so glad the Republicans chose your governor to rebut Presibent Obama. He was preaching to the choir, and he's not going to convince anyone by the die-hard conservatives.
Meager oratorical gifts...you said it.
ReplyDeleteAnd did anyone else think it sounded as if words or syllables were dropping out every now and then, in the Response to the President's speech? It reminded me of when I've played back something recorded on a voice-activated recorder only to find that the voices didn't fully activate :-(
Oh my. I do wish he had listened to you, o prophetic voice. You nailed it.
ReplyDeleteI was going to ask you how you thought he did, but I know :).
ReplyDeleteNo, he's not nearly as polished as Obama. And he does come off as if he is talking to 5 year olds....
I'll be gentle with Bobby. He bombed. I told y'all. He did slow himself down a bit, but it didn't help a whole hell of a lot.
ReplyDeletePerky, Padre! I was thinking more along the lines of robotic.
Weird, yes. Pitched at the level of a 5 year old, check. Full of crap, check.
Americans don't want government to help? Americans are desperate for government to govern.
When he mentioned the people who were suffering in Louisiana, he left out those who were losing their jobs, presumably because the unemployment benefits are those that he will refuse to accept.
I think that this rising star of the Republican Party will burn out quickly.
Diane, I believe that I answered your question.
ReplyDeleteRachel Maddow said Jindal's speech was remarkable. I'm watching to see what she means by the term. Nothing good, I believe.
Ah, Mimi, I am reeling with the irony in Rachel's use of the term "remarkable." I would hate to be under her microscope on the best of days.
ReplyDeleteI can never think of Gov. Jindal without thinking of you, keeping us all in touch with the People of Louisiana and their needs and wishes. Keep on keeping it real.
Rachal was almost, but not quite, speechless at Jindal's comment that because the government failed after Katrina, that shows that government is not the answer. The people are the answer.
ReplyDeleteAnd there was something else. Oh, yes, tax cuts. Tax cuts are the solution to everything. Bobby reminded everyone that he gave the people of Louisiana the biggest tax cut evah. Too bad the state is now running a deficit. Jindal added more jobs to the state payroll, and increased the state budget since he took office. What's that again about the federal government spending too much money?
Just awful on TV. He and Sarah ought to really run a tight race for President...I´m kinda looking forward to it. (I´m meaner than I thought, but, really!).
ReplyDeleteI listened to his comments on the radio in the car on the way home from work and wondered why they picked him to represent the Republican response. It was not inspiring.
ReplyDeleteThis is not a time for more of the same or for simplistic responses to complex issues. This is the time for honesty and integrity. Some politicians have no capacity for that.
Leo, he's campaigning for the top spot in the very federal government that he wants to do away with, excepting, of course, in its proper job of military interventions around the world.
ReplyDeleteBeryl, so he was bad on the radio, too? When Jindal wants to look serious, he ends up frowning, which makes him look really unattractive. At least, you miss that on the radio.
I pity the state you're in. And the lack of solutions.
ReplyDeleteI used the term perky as I wasn't watching him, I was listening to his constant repetition of "Americans can do ANYTHING!" He sounded perky. And full of crap.
ReplyDeleteI'm with the person - forget who - who remarked last night on MSNBC than Jindal's performance will have left Sarah Palin's supporters feeling pretty happy.
ReplyDeleteTaciturn turned off the TV when Jindal came on, so I missed it. I think T knew that Jindal's speech would be farce, so he wanted to avoid it. I'll catch it on YouTube, and think of you, my dear, and the state of the state of my birth (born in Lake Charles, I was).
ReplyDeleteJindal will be no match for Palin. At least Sarah has the wink. Jindal's got nothing.
ReplyDeleteThink of it. He was a Rhodes scholar. Perhaps it was his time at Oxford University that ruined him.
Educated beyond his means, Mimi?
ReplyDeleteGiven that a certain amount of polish is required to get a Rhodes, one wonder where it went. On the other hand, G.W. Bush was a Yale man until he decided to affect a faux Texas accent and mispronounce "nuclear". This faux-folksy appears to be more of the same.
ReplyDeleteIT
IT, there was the exorcism that Jindal was involved in at Yale, so the weirdness is nothing really knew.
ReplyDelete"nothing really knowed", don't you meen?
ReplyDeleteJust watched Rachel Maddow's initial reaction. Oh my.
ReplyDeleteI had to turn off the radio a half minute or so after Jindal came on. Couldn't bear it and figured you'd comment here :-). Was on my way home from work. Alas, I missed the President's speech because I was in class, but I will search for it online.
Lapin, I believe that I meant to say "new", although what you said works, too.
ReplyDeleteJane, Rachel was priceless, and so was Wonkette, who was her guest. Neither could keep a straight face.
Stooped combined with ambition is never good .-(
ReplyDeleteOr should that be spelled Stoopid?
ReplyDeleteGöran, I think I get what you mean, however you spell it.
ReplyDelete