From the Baton Rouge Business Report:
Gov. Bobby Jindal will get another prominent GOP role later this month when he delivers the national Republican response to President Barack Obama's first speech to Congress. Obama plans to speak to a joint session of the House and Senate on Feb. 24 about the problems facing the nation. The speech will be similar to a State of the Union address. Jindal will give the Republican response in a nationally televised address from Baton Rouge immediately after Obama's speech, U.S. House and Senate Republican leaders announced Wednesday.
"I'm looking forward to hearing President Obama's address and I'm honored to be delivering the Republican response after him. Here in Louisiana, we have first-hand experience with reforming government and cutting taxes to stimulate our economy in uncertain times,” Jindal said in a statement. “This is a terrific opportunity to talk about our great state to the nation."
This star is rising too fast. I've heard Jindal speak, and he's no silver-tonged orator. Perhaps they'll prep him well, and he'll be all right. He speaks too quickly and tends to rattle off facts and figures at a fast clip until most listeners shut down. I suppose he'll be scripted, but still, I can't envision him as a match for Obama. Inspirational he is not.
I read in the paper this morning that Jindal is "concerned" about the stimulus bill. I hope that he's "concerned" about the folks here in Louisiana who are losing their houses and their jobs, and the gaping hole in the state budget. He just can't seem to keep his mind on matters on the home front. But, hey! He's a national star.
Poor Bobby. I know he's very bright, but I see him going the way of the few other "reform" governors we've had in the last 60 years. Too much micromanagement. And I agree about his verbal skills--it's as though his brain is always about 8 words ahead of his mouth. Sad, really sad.
ReplyDeleteI agree with many savvy political analysts that he'll be a one term governor.
Subtle.
ReplyDeleteLapin, who or what is subtle?
ReplyDelete.
Mimi,
ReplyDeleteMimi, they used to script these minority responses - I suspect they still do. How much input the speaker has really depends on his or her prominence. A early version of his remarks might be available to the press. It's been years since I've been around people who moved in the big political circles, so my info could be way off! (I wasn't a mover and shaker, trust me, I just went to their cookouts when they weren't famous :-)
The not-very-clear comment referred to the present, calculating, ham-fisted Republican hope that they they can fool the electorate and continue the insane, deregulated, rich get richer policies that created the current disaster, behind a black-face smoke screen. It indicates also that they apparently still see the "Obama thing" as primarily a racial issue.
ReplyDeleteLynn, I'm sure that his response will be written by others. We'll see how well he can deliver.
ReplyDeleteLapin, thanks for the clarification, and an excellent clarification it is. If the Republicans think that Obama was elected BECAUSE he is black, then they are surely misguided. I think there's also a bit of not wanting to look so much like the Klan mixed in, too.