Jindal Not Ready For Prime Time
I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect when Bobby Jindal issued the Republican rebuttal, but, one thing’s for sure, I didn’t expect it to be as bad as it was. And it was really, really bad.
And I’m not alone in my opinion. The reviews are in, and they aren’t good.
BRIT HUME: “The speech read a lot better than it sounded. This was not Bobby Jindal’s greatest oratorical moment.”
NINA EASTON: “The delivery was not exactly terrific.”
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: “Jindal didn’t have a chance. He follows Obama, who in making speeches, is in a league of his own. He’s in a Reagan-esque league. … [Jindal] tried the best he could.”
JUAN WILLIAMS: “It came off as amateurish, and even the tempo in which he spoke was sing-songy. He was telling stories that seemed very simplistic and almost childish.
And these are the quotes from FOX News. What struck me as I suffered through Jindal’s public humiliation was the insincerity of his delivery. I didn’t believe him. Once again, a Republican placed style over substance. Be positive, be upbeat, show the American people we have hope too, were obviously the main focus of the speech. Only Jindal was incapable of delivering the message. His tone was affected, overly chirpy, and annoying.
But if Jindal’s tone was bad, his content was worse. Could someone please tell me what is wrong with “high speed rail” and why Republicans have made it their new poster child? (And, let’s not forget that the Disneyland to Sin City example they love to trot out is also not true.) Isn’t improving/modernizing the country the same as improving/modernizing your house? Don’t both increase your quality of life while adding value to the property?
And after your done explaining that would you mind explaining how the Governor of Louisiana, whose most famous city was nearly destroyed by a hurricane, mocked money targeted for preventing another natural disaster?
Jindal didn’t help himself, or his party, with that speech. Republicans might want to start searching for a new shining star because, after last night’s performance, Jindal proved he’s not ready for prime time.
And in case you missed it, watch Rachel Maddow’s reaction to Jindal’s speech. I can so relate. Matthews’ point on the Republicans’ nonexistent healthcare plan is valid, as well.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkEBtpcIVE4&eurl=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/2/24/234016/059/215/699483&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
Tags: Jindal, National Republicans
Maybe this was Booby’s attempt to set a very low baseline against which he can only improve. (?)
Also – even if he had the greatest delivery in the world, he is hobbled by having to say all that discredited GOP nonsense.
Maybe this was Booby’s attempt to set a very low baseline against which he can only improve.
That’s the Bush model.
I agree Jason. No one could sell the content of that speech, but the delivery style just made it excruciating. There was a link at Nate’s place to TNR, making fun of Jindal’s “volcano” talking point, but one of the comments was really funny:
Link
I didn’t think I’d ever say this, but I think Palin is probably better (in the sense of selling herself) than Jindal is.
The official response was talking.point.crap, unfortunately, as usual. Well, with exception, his anectdotal stories of himself.
True, UI, Palin can do folksy, but what’s missing from all of these 2012 hopefuls is substance.
It’s also looking like Jindal may have made up his Katrina Sheriff story.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/2/24/23132/9395/253/701495
Lets see He did blame Bush and FEMA for the failure to rescue New Orleans,or did i get that wrong?
Never the less bring him on Bobby and Sarah in 2012 or Sarah and Bobby in 2012. And i will agree with Chris Oh my GOD thank you.
Lets see Bobby and sarah is better then the Repuks will be putting forth their motto BS for president
TT, your last sentence is incomprehensible.
I read about the Katrina sheriff story. The sheriff in question is now deceased so he can’t dispute Jindal’s story. I wonder if anyone did a count last night – it seemed like 1/4 of Jindal’s speech was stories about himself (boring ones).
The next great white hope for the Republican Party:
Sarah PalinMichael SteeleBobby JindahlThe GOP’s only hope is that General Petraeus is a Republican.
By the end of this, I had to turn him off. His tone and delivery was painful, and the crap he was saying was stunning. How can anyone even say that stuff with a straight face after seeing where it has got us over the last 8 years? How can you criticize volcano monitoring when it could save American lives and prevent the next natural disaster tragedy? How can you mock improvements to infrastructure that will create jobs? Its like he’s living in some bizzaro world – 2003 – where there was at least some debate about these points. Now, however, the proof is in the pudding – Jindal is trying to justify a failed economic theory.
I wonder if anyone did a count last night – it seemed like 1/4 of Jindal’s speech was stories about himself (boring ones).
My wife and I made the same observation, but we were up to 1/3!
LOL, Smitty.
I kept wondering at the beginning of Jindal’s speech if it was going to get anywhere. Maybe it would have been better for him if he had just stopped.
Comment rescue from Daily Kos:
I didn’t watch the Obama speech (I taped Inter v ManU and watched that instead), but I did see Jindal’s poor attempt at a rebuttal.
The loser talked to us as if we were children! But what struck me as a stupid choice of tactics was his (and still the GOP MO) insistence of “either this” or “that”, but not both. Case in point – only the citizens can make correct choices, only the wall street can get us out of this economic funk. In the end, all this absolutist talk is just another means to an end for the GOP to apply its holiest of holies – more tax cuts for the wealthy.
Their constant reliance of telling falsehoods and half-truths about programs (bees, fruit flies, volcanoes) makes them look to be cynical, win-at-all-cost liars in this age of Teh Google.
As for the government-bashing — Jindal’s state was 20th last year in the last fiscal year, getting $633,819,910. Perhaps he’ll be turning that down now too. But I wish the press corps would start asking these guys when they’ll start turning down earmarks if the government is supposed to be so toxic.
Jindal is widely touted as the forefront of the so-called “new ideas” of the Republican party and he had none. Just — as anon points out — it was warmed over Reagan crapola (and when he needed to, even Reagan ditched the ideology to actually make something work) and did nothing, really, to address our current problem. It probably tickled the 26 percenters funny bone, but does nothing to move the ball down field.
That is another thing about Jindahl. He is from Louisiana.
Does the GOP really want to make the case that America would be better off if it was more like the Louisiana?
I didn’t watch the Obama speech (I taped Inter v ManU and watched that instead)
VC – it would have been more affected sounding if you had said, “I taped Princeton v Yale basketball and watched that instead.”
Remember when Jindahl left Congress he ranked 14th in earmarks. 14th out of 435!!!
Jindal should be disqualified or at least mocked out of office based on his rescue boat anecdote alone.
Looks like Jindal’s the one who needs a rescue boat.
Mmmuuuyyesss, Jason!
Miffy and I are huge fans of the Crimson.
And Yale’s a safety school!
BTW – for a 0-0 match it was incredibly entertaining.
nemski,
Your comment (#19) is just further proof in my cynical mind that Republicans actually love government spending, as long as it is just their own constituents. Spending on other people’s constituents is just pork that must be stopped.
Jindal also didn’t turn down any Katrina rebuilding money.
<3 Rachel Maddow
I really think Bobby-boy did more to help the president’s cause than the President. Don’t get me wrong Obama’s speech was Barack-tacular, but when is he ever NOT. another kick ass speech that left me momentarily feeling o.k about my future. Bobby however showed that the repuke defense against improving the country is SO weak, SO gomerish, that i can continue to feel good about the president’s speech.
“gee golly sheriff. what’s gotcha so upset gu-yuk!”
I really think Bobby-boy did more to help the president’s cause than the President. Don’t get me wrong Obama’s speech was Barack-tacular, but when is he ever NOT. another kick ass speech that left me momentarily feeling o.k about my future. Bobby however showed that the repuke defense against improving the country is SO weak, SO gomerish, that i can continue to feel good about the president’s speech.
“gee golly sheriff. what’s gotcha so upset gu-yuk!”
I think it was more Barney Fife than Gomer Pyle.
i stand corrected. he was still a MO-ron. so really. who’s next. Palin has been vanquished back to the great unknown with the ice road truckers. I have feeling Backwater Bayou Bobby is gonna stay there. I want Obama to have an easy time fixing our loves, but he’s gotta have SOME adversary, just ot keep things interesting.
See ‘Slum dog Millionaire’ and you will understand why Jindal thinks we don’t NEED high speed rail or other luxuary infastructure.
If it’s good enough for his Homies….it’s good enough for us 🙂