For once, the New York Times has a halfway laudatory article on a Republican politician. The focus here is on Bobby Jindal, the new Republican Governor. Jindal has pushed through the state legislature enact a comprehensive package of ethics reforms. When Democrats like Barack Obama merely talk, Jindal, like John McCain, has acted on ethics reform.
The Louisiana Governor increasingly seems a top prospect to be McCain’s running mate. He has much more experience than Obama. He is much more accomplished in general, having done extensive work in education and health care before running for Governor in 2003. He’s reliably conservative on social and economic issues. While it would be a huge loss for Louisiana if Jindal moved to Washington again, it would be a greater gain for the Republican Party and the United States.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Jindal has been Governor for less than a year. The nation will loan him to Louisiana for a while more.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:31 am
No chance he is the running mate. He should not accept it either. He is exactly what Louisiana needs and he should not waste it. If he can turn around Louisiana, it would do far more good for the national GOP than a McCain presidency.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Jindal will run in ’12 or ’16. No way he’s McCain’s running mate…
He needs to prove himself as an executive in Louisiana.
Also, he needs to learn how to successfully moderate his positions on some social issues for the broader electorate (such as…people like me).
February 28th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Jindal cares about the people of Louisiana. That’s why he’s not running as VP in 2008. They still need his leadership to reform the corrupt mess in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:00 am
He’d better watch his back if the NYTimes is praising him.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Why would Jindal give up his job after mere months just to join the sinking McCain ship?
Jindal has a future–a future that would be dashed if he lost with McCain.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Gosh, that article was practically gushing. But, given that ethics reform is, in the abstract, a bipartisan issue, I don’t begrudge Jindal a little praise from the NYT here. But, it better not happen again
I agree that he should stay in Louisiana, though I was someone who spent alot of time last year promoting him as a possible VP. I’ve come to believe that Louisiana needs him and that, in the long run, he’s too great a “prospect” to rush. The Democrats might end up ruining Barack Obama, who would surely have had a better then even shot at becoming president in, say, 2012 or 2016. Now there’s a real chance, in baseball parlance, that he “blows out his arm”. I wouldn’t want anything similar to happen to Jindal. We can wait, I think.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Jindal’s a smart guy. He’ll be able to survive in Louisiana and accomplish some good there. The Presidency or VP can wait a cycle or two more.
February 28th, 2008 at 11:28 am
The Louisiana Governor increasingly seems a top prospect to be McCain’s running mate.
Um, no. Please. He’s been governor for about a month, and was a one and a half term congressman before that. He looks to have a bright future, but is too green right now. If Republicans can’t find someone with a bit more experience, they’re in very sad shape indeed.