Posted on 02/26/2009 3:42:14 AM PST by Scanian
It is the overwhelming consensus that Bobby Jindal's delivery of the response to the President's address last night was not good.
It is truly too bad that Jindal didn't shine last night, but it was not his last chance to do so. There seems to be a panicky vibe to the panning of Jindal's speech, both on the left and right today. Perhaps that's understandable. Conservatives, frustrated by years of Bush's inexpert speeches, McCain's evaporating charisma at the podium, and Palin's uncertainty under questioning, were looking for deliverance in Bobby Jindal on all fronts. They didn't get it. Liberals are both gleeful at the comparative superiority of Barack Obama and happy to scuttle one of Republicans' only young, promising stars by turning him into a punch line after one speech.
Liberals who thought Sarah Palin's brilliant RNC speech performance meant absolutely nothing are sure that Jindal's off night means everything. Conservatives who decried Obama for being nothing but a good speechifier seem to be dismissing Jindal's substantial record in light of one night of sub-par speechifying.
Everyone should just tap the brakes before hurtling to foregone conclusions. Gov. Jindal is a demonstrably smart, young, interesting politician with a compelling personal story. If you watch his past TV appearances, you'll find he has always communicated a surprising gravitas, despite his youthful looks. When questioned by reporters, he's comfortable with talking points, anecdotes, and data
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What that really means is attacking the Left when they praise Obama's speeches, and attacking the Left again when they laugh at President Bush for his own style of speech. That stuff shouldn't matter and we need to hammer the point.
Very well said. We all need to be more outspoken. Look what the left’s caterwauling over the last 8 years has accomplished for them!
Bill Clinton bombed when he gave the keynote address at the ‘88 ‘rat convention.
Exactly. And Cuomo had the libs in ecstasy in ‘84. He never advanced beyong governor. Who can predict these things?
Mary Katherine has an excellent point comparing Jindal to Clinton. I admire Clinton for his ability to articulate a coherent argument on any topic at all extemporaneously - I just happen to disagree with it. (aside: who among us would like to trade Obama for Bill right now?) The Bobby we saw after the State of the Reich speech the other night was not the Bobby we have come to know. That Bobby was clearly evident in the interview on the Today segment the next morning, unfortunately.
To despair that Sarah Palin did not give the rebuttal misses the point. Sarah seems intent upon giving a four year long rebuttal to all things Obama by example in the proper governance of her state.
Jindal’s time will be 2020 or 2016, depending on whether we can throw out zero in 2012 or not.
To let it sink in... Jindal is 38 years old.
In 10 years he will be as old as zero is now!
Imagine how much more experience and gravitas Jindal will gain on both substance and style in 10 years!
He should finish a second term as Governor.
He is a promising candidate for the future. Don’t waste him for a futile attempt in 2012. A primary fight between Palin and Jindal will be highly divisive for the Conservative base. Make no mistake, the star of the base is Sarah Palin.
We need one Conservative candidate to unite on, or we’ll get another RINO.
Don’t let this happen.
He might become VP candidate in 2012, making him even more suited for 2020.
Probably a good timetable for Jindal...I only hope that free elections are still a reality in the future.
Guess I was the only one in America that liked his speech better than castrObama’s. Guess you have to be part of the Groupthink to be a serious pundiot.
Pray for America and Our Troops
Agree with you. It’s absurd to spend so much criticizing one of our own. No one is perfect. It could be Palin, Jindal, Sanfrod, DeMint or someone unknown to us, but no one is going to be perfect.
We should channel our frustrations at the Dems. If we’re upset Jindal didn’t give a good speech, then we should bite our tongue and lash out at 0bama. The dems should be the recipients of our attacks not fellow conservatives.
Not being impressed with Jindal’s performance does not equate to agreeing with Obama, or even liking Obama’s performance.
Jindal is a threat if he runs for president, so they’ve got to start Palinizing him now.
When you find the perfect candidate let me know. Remember 2 yrs ago, everybody was positive that Harpy would be Pres. The only reason we have Bambi is that he isn’t a clinton or a Bush. That and 2 Billion and an adoring press will work wonders. Yeah lets bash all our own candidates til we find Mr Perfect.
Pray for America
Maybe you are just more interested in substance than style. How un-superficial of you!
He really was awesome on the Today Show the very next morning. Bobby just isn’t great at giving speeches but he can work on that.
Glad to hear that. I didn’t realize that he was on.
It is not if you fumble but when you fumble.
Some of us just aint impressed with the great Oz.
Pray for America
One of the things Palin has on her side and she’ll need it if she’s to ever make a serious run is her ability to connect directly with the American people, Reagan had it and Bush clearly didn’t. Reagan could circumvent the media and in so doing much of what they attempted to hang on him he could deflect with this ability. Any Pubbie who’s going to make a serious run really needs this ability.
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