It has generally been a “mixed-bag” week for Bobby Jindal.
Without doubt, he has experienced brilliant moments.He has controlled the legislature after giving a rather un-insightful speech on Monday.He cut a unique deal with the New Orleans Saints that could have long-term economic implications for the New Orleans area and has allayed the concerns of many Northern Louisianafolks about the Saints by giving them a chicken plant.
He cut down two bills aimed at greater transparency from his office.He kept his legislative allies in tow by defeating two tax bills including Karen Carter Peterson’s controversial but innovative cigarette tax.
Yet, despite the immense national media he has received during the past year, his overall popularity has diminished.Instead of being in the eighty-percent range of popularity which would be achievable for a person of his intelligence, he is ranked behind Governor Foster and Kathleen Blanco in polling for the second spring of their respective administrations.Although the state does not want him to travel for his own personal benefit, he is off to see the National Republicans, again--joining the party’s big wigs to help prop up the national GOP.
Unless he really hits some bad weather in the legislature which has not happened yet, he will likely have his way and his numbers would likely improve.
Yet, there is one major black cloud over the horizon—hurricane season which is fast approaching.
Governor Jindal was reasonably lucky last year with Gustav and Ike.While they were bad storms, none of them had the devastation of a Katrina.With the waters warmer and higher and the coast more vulnerable, it is still possible that a heavily-populated area such as New Orleans area could be hit, badly.It is certainly a possibility that New Orleans and the surrounding parishes could be virtually-totaled by the winds and the waters of another Katrina.
Governor Jindal has not yet met his “Waterloo” as did Governor Blanco.While he continues to go around the nation for his own personal political benefit, with storm season approaching, he better hope he is lucky that Louisiana does not get hit with a natural catastrophe.If so, and if the state is not prepared, with all of the many travels and preoccupations upon his own future aspirations, his numbers will absolutely plummet.He will get much, if not most of the blame for taking his eye off the Hurricane ball.
Governor Jindal has shown that he has what it takes to handle the legislature, make a name for himself nationally, and complete some major economic development deals.But, if calamity hits as it might, there will be a storm of anger against him for thinking he can escape the eye walls of a Hurricane and ignore the will of the people of the state.
For a “rock-star” Governor to be behind both Governors Foster and Blanco in popularity is profound.If hell of a storm should hit, due to his many personal diversions, he will be in one “trick-bag” as a politician.
He would be tagged with doing “one heck-of-a-job, Bobby”.That would be the kiss of death for one, Governor Jindal, which not even his enemies could ever want.
HangInThere sounds like a huge 'American Idol' fan..... Jindal blows, bring in a real American Indian.... Not this faux pax primped, groomed, and tailored office boy that someone is growing for the season... Bring in someone like Geronimo..................... Written by
on 5/5/2009
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HangInThere,
If the "Boy Wonder" stays on-track, Stormy Daniels might prove to be capable competition for the post during the next gubernatorial election.
Written by CWM
on 5/3/2009
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Ha ha ha... Jindal is going to run for governor again and he is going to win period. It won't be as easy as the last time but he will win. All this fund raising that he is doing... none of those funds can be used for any presidential run. He is "not yet" presidential material and he knows it too. A vast majority of Louisianans love him. When was the last time anyone ever talked about Louisiana nationally (other than when some stupid hurricane hit and people suffered)? After Jindal became governor, Louisiana has been on national television pretty much constantly and that is not a bad thing. I don't agree with Jindal on may fronts but he is still the best governor we have had in ages. I'm willing to give him his first full term before passing judgement. Written by HangInThere
on 5/2/2009
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He's not going to run for re-election anyway. He'll be too afraid to lose, which would dash his ambitious ascent into candidacy for President (which he will never win, anyhow). He will forgo a second term to “focus on his quest to bring conservative, Christian, and family values back to the White House and to the people of the United States.”
Unfortunately, he’s just not Presidential material -- in fact, he's not gubernatorial material, either. He offered his best performance as a bottom-of-the-barrel, low-ranking, U.S. Representative.
And all of this was typed by the fingertips a Republican......
Written by CWM
on 5/2/2009
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Jindal was very unprepared after Gustav. He could not even get FEMA to bring in the goods. He said I will believe it when I see it. He had years to get ready for a hurricane as a Congressman and candidate and then Governor. he had 9 months as a Governor. And guess what? The electric grid went down, it was not hardened. Duh! And, he complained and he complained and finally the feds came to his rescue. he was darn lucky that it was not a bad storm.
Written by Clarence
on 5/1/2009
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God forbid if a hurricane strikes, Jindal will stay put in Louisiana and take care of business in the same fashion as he did with Gustav and Ike by foregoing the speech that he was scheduled to deliver at the RNC. Written by HangInThere
on 5/1/2009
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Why shouldn't his popularity shrink. He's never in the state taking care of business and he's costing us taxpayers a fortune with his fund raising travels. He's a typical politician; pursuing his own egotistical aims at the public's expense. Small wonder that he helped squash the transparency proposals for his office. He's probably got his sticky fingers on state monies too. He should resign or be thrown out. Written by Noladude
on 5/1/2009
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Given the tremendous power the governor's office possesses in Louisiana, it doesn't take any skill on Jindal's part to control the legislature. He isn't doing anything out of the ordinary. Written by David Quidd
on 5/1/2009
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