Bobby Jindal

[Nikos]

I Think Bobby Jindal is the GOP's answer to Obama. He is young, Charismatic and has experience being a Governor. What do you think about Governor Jindal?

[mrmouth]

I dont think the republican party's issues can be solved by one candidate. Obama rode the youth vote to victory. He also flipped, what, 10 states? That shows that republicans, socially conservative or not, voted for Obama.

They need a complete image makeover akin to putting lipstick on a pig, because in the end they wont change their values, and the world is passing them by.

[Fabolous]

I Think Bobby Jindal is the GOP's answer to Obama. He is young, Charismatic and has experience being a Governor. What do you think about Governor Jindal?

For Republicans looking to the future, Jindal is certainly one of the Republicans parties greatest hopes. He has had a very successful and well respected career so far, and his back story is impressive, very impressive. Equal of Obama's, in many respects.

I dont think the republican party's issues can be solved by one candidate.

Quite right. The party has to shift its mentality, as a whole. Though, a strong leader who emerges in the party could easily lead those changes. One man could do a great deal for the Republican party, but certainly not alone.

Obama rode the youth vote to victory. He also flipped, what, 10 states? That shows that republicans, socially conservative or not, voted for Obama.

If Obama gets North Carolina (where he is ahead) and Missouri (where he is behind), then it would be 10, yes. However, Republicans broke 90%-9% for McCain. Republicans were not voting for Obama in large numbers. The big shift was in independents, who went to Obama 52%-44%. They favored Bush in 2004. That was the biggest difference in this election.

[mrmouth]

However, Republicans broke 90%-9% for McCain. Republicans were not voting for Obama in large numbers. The big shift was in independents, who went to Obama 52%-44%. They favored Bush in 2004. That was the biggest difference in this election.

I stand corrected. Good post.

[touchmaster]

I could see him related with the elections down the road, he looks cunning. I'd give him my 10 cents at the booth!

[jankren]

Never trust an Indian. My Indian boss cheats my checks all the time.

[Heinz Guderian]

Never trust an Indian. My Indian boss cheats my checks all the time.

there is a one is six chance someone will be offended by this post

[jankren]

there is a one is six chance someone will be offended by this post

Im not white so I cant be racist.

[touchmaster]

Im not white so I cant be racist.

Wow, what the does that mean? Does that mean that all white people are racist? Is that what you are saying? I suggest you edit that post, seriously.

Quit poking the bear.

[jsktrogdor]

AND HE'S BROWN! THAT WORKED FOR THE DEMS RIGHT?

sorry just had to say that , in all seriousness.... he touches kids, has to! look at that hair and tell me he doesnt touch kids

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Justice and Mercy]

Quit poking the bear.

Hmm, this post along with your response to my post in the thread about Bush not being so bad (forgot what it's called) tells me you have a problem with detecting humor on the internet.

[Erich von Manstein]

Wow, what the does that mean? Does that mean that all white people are racist? Is that what you are saying? I suggest you edit that post, seriously.

Quit poking the bear.

He was joking.

On topic, I agree that it will take more than one man to change the Republican party, although he certainly could be a catalyst for change. Despite a political environment that was amazingly beneficial to the Democrats this election season, I'm not sure any other Democrat could have beat McCain - I suspect any independents familiar with the early-'90s would've swung to the right had Hillary won the primary and Edwards would've been sunk by the news that he had cheated on his dying wife. Obama had a disproportionate impact on the Democrat's success last Tuesday and a strong, charismatic Republican could do the same in a few years.

The immediate picture, however, is on the ideological debate that is taking place within the Republican ranks. Many of them are convinced that Bush took the Party so far off message that they essentially resembled the Mr. Hyde of Democrats - Bush, the standard-bearer of the Republican party, exemplified the potential pitfalls of big government. Many Republicans are calling for a return to the Party's libertarian, Goldwater roots. They argue that many libertarians and independents would rejoin the party if they did so (as a libertarian who broke with the Party in '06 for similar reasons, I think there is some merit to that argument). Other Republicans are arguing that the party needs to further embrace social conservatism if it is to survive these lean years and point to the widespread success of recent ballot measures banning abortion and gay marriage as evidence that even supposedly liberal states such as California are filled with potential social conservatives.

I'll leave the merits of this debate to another thread, but keep a close eye on it as it unfolds. The Democrats are far weaker than they would appear following the elections: they underwent no significant transformation during their leans years of '02 and '04 and essentially had the last two elections handed to them by Bush and a few select Republican leaders. Without Obama's charisma, it is unlikely they'll be able to hold together their coalition of Democrats and independents. Jindal might be able to help a transformed Republican party in the public eye but, ultimately, that transformation has to come from within.

[jankren]

Lol, that man does seem like he has a good heart. But Im sure he was bullied a lot at school.

[Erich von Manstein]

After reading up on Jindal I must say that he is basically a smart Sarah Palin, by which I mean that his only appeal to liberal Republicans and independents would be in that he doesn't match the stereotypical white male norm. Ideologically, he and Palin are remarkably similar.

[Fabolous]

After reading up on Jindal I must say that he is basically a smart Sarah Palin, by which I mean that his only appeal to liberal Republicans and independents would be in that he doesn't match the stereotypical white male norm. Ideologically, he and Palin are remarkably similar.

Manny, a Jindal-Palin comparison is much like Obama-Clinton from this years primaries in many ways. Ideologically, they (Jindal-Palin) are basically the same candidates. The difference comes in the back story a Jindal or Obama can bring, and what that represents (i.e. Obama, being half black).

Though, Jindal is slightly different from Palin when it comes to certain issues bigger with the religious right. Jindal is Catholic for one thing (as a Catholic, I can tell you that really bothers some people). Further, he is more lenient on abortion than Palin, while both make exceptions for the health of the mother to their normally strict against stance, Jindal also allows for exception for rape and incest. There are minor differences like that throughout their views, Jindal tending to be less hardline when the small differences emerge.


Also, don't downplay the "smart" Palin part too much. That is Palin's big problem. Jindal being intelligent makes him a far superior candidate.

[Erich von Manstein]

Manny, a Jindal-Palin comparison is much like Obama-Clinton from this years primaries in many ways. Ideologically, they (Jindal-Palin) are basically the same candidates. The difference comes in the back story a Jindal or Obama can bring, and what that represents (i.e. Obama, being half black).

And Palin, the first female VP candidate ever put forth by the Republican Party and only the second mainstream female VP candidate in American history, doesn't have a backstory? The women's liberation movement has at least as storied of a history in the 20th century as the black civil rights movement.

Though, Jindal is slightly different from Palin when it comes to certain issues bigger with the religious right. Jindal is Catholic for one thing (as a Catholic, I can tell you that really bothers some people). Further, he is more lenient on abortion than Palin, while both make exceptions for the health of the mother to their normally strict against stance, Jindal also allows for exception for rape and incest. There are minor differences like that throughout their views, Jindal tending to be less hardline when the small differences emerge.

He received a 100% pro-life rating from the National Right to Life Committee - I doubt many independents would detect the difference between his stance and Palin's. Furthermore, he is not for exceptions, having stated that "I am 100 percent pro-life with no exceptions. I believe all life is precious." He is against stem cell research. He called for an elimination of the moratorium on offshore drilling on the outer continental shelf. He has a 7% pro-environment rating. He had one of the highest earmark funding rates in Congress. He has authorized the forced chemical castration of sex offenders.

When it comes to that split in the Republican Party I mentioned earlier, Jindal is solidly on the side of the social conservatives. Given that many social conservatives have already named Palin as a potential flag-bearer in 2012, I think many of the comparisons are quite accurate.

Also, don't downplay the "smart" Palin part too much. That is Palin's big problem. Jindal being intelligent makes him a far superior candidate.

Which is why I described him as a "smart" Palin. Ideologically, they are very similar.

[danzig]

Not keen on Jindal overbelief in religion but as pointed out above he is basically the antiPalin, he is highly intelligent (no one is going to call him an idiot/lightweight like they have with Bush, Palin and even Bush Sr without being laughed at), has charisma and tackles issues/problems head on. So yes Jindal and people like him are indeed the future of GOP. I just want to see the religion stuff toned down a bit. He is only 37 so too so even if Obama wiggles 2 terms he'll be right in that percieved acceptable age group.

[Fabolous]

And Palin, the first female VP candidate ever put forth by the Republican Party and only the second mainstream female VP candidate in American history, doesn't have a backstory? The women's liberation movement has at least as storied of a history in the 20th century as the black civil rights movement.

Oh, I know the women's movement has as good a story and is as imporant as the civil rights movement. But that isn't what you heard about. It wasn't the story we got for Palin. The back story we got for Palin was she hunts moose, and she had a baby who had down syndrome instead of having an abortion. While the second fact is, impressive (though hardly relevant to governance ecept solidifying an already unwavering anti-abortion stance) that is it. Almost all we heard about Palin's life. Sometimes some jokes about being major of 200 people or such. Compared with Obama's life story of growing up interracial, different parents, around the world, then to an Ivy League school, first black President of Harvard Law review, etc. It was a great narrative. Palin didn't have that, or if she did, no one has ever heard it.

[jankren]

You are not intelligent if you believe a virgin can have a baby. LOL JK!

[Hunter Makoy]

i think that no matter wat we should have a governor running next time. seeing almost nothing but senators up there seemed so old fashioned and counter productive. there's a reason y that had been pretty well abandoned a while ago. plus he's the governor of a southern state, which is def. the trend over the last decades. i dont know anything about him personally, but just going off of the quick stats it certainly wouldn't hurt.

God, just think if the GOP had picked him instead of Palin, it would have been an incredible counter to the Obama ticket.
1. very intelligent
2. Southern
3. has real executive experience
4. even younger then Obama
5. even more of a minority then Obama
6. would have still inspired the religious right

! this is the first time i've really read much about this guy, but they blew it by playing the gender card.

Im not white so I cant be racist.

unfortunately ur sarcasm rings true in the minds of many.