Some are claiming I am doing the “Jindal bash”.  I respect their opinions, but I totally disagree.

While Bobby Jindal is racking in various newspaper endorsements, let me make these admissions:

There are some unanswered questions about his campaign practices that I believe Jindal has evaded.  His campaign has refused to respond and it only makes me more suspicious.

He overstepped when raising the issues about religion in his emails I received for months, at the same time he constantly asked for money while acting indignant that others would question is religion as it relates to public policy.

He accused his opponents of being “corrupt” but he had no proof.

He owes all of us the right to hear his views, not through commercials, not through intermediaries, but through his own words in a democratic debate process.  I think while he is running for the top office in this state he should be willing to answer questions from the public and from the media which he has not done.  The empty chair at a respectable forum is inexcusable and especially insulting when our best young minds are chosen to question all candidates last night in a Fox Network and League of Women of Louisiana broadcast.

His campaign’s practice of closing out people who are asking legitimate questions suggests that he is hiding something and not just playing bunker mentality to beat out the clock.

I know I am going against the grain, know that I am risking much by being so open by expressing my concerns, but I feel that it is important to do so, not just for my audience but for my own sense of worth. 

As Publisher of Bayoubuzz, I try to seek the truth.  I also admit errors when made.

If I am in error in trying to challenge ideas of the candidates in open forums so we know for whom to vote, I am sorry. 

If I was wrong for getting more suspicious as each day passed after I believed I got politically threatened by a politically powerful person who obviously supports his candidacy, I am sorry.

I know that anyone who has read the totality of my writings about Bobby Jindal and do so un-emotionally, will understand that I want what he wants and ultimately, it could be voting for Bobby Jindal.

As I mentioned before, I do not endorse or support candidates under any circumstances because I believe that I should be as impartial as possible. 

What I do is wait until the last moment and read everything I can read about a candidate and listen to as many people as possible.  I look at the national political terrain and decide what person is the best candidate to lead us from our devastation.

Again, that person could be Bobby Jindal for Governor in 2007, but right now, I am not convinced.

Since I am not a party person, I am not swayed by talking points on either side.  Nor do I like packaged politics.  I want to feel and know the essence of the candidates.

We are faced with four candidates with different backgrounds and different philosophies.  There has been political hypocrisies and inconsistencies coming from various quarters of this campaign.  The season has been very elusive, very short and very unfortunate considering the stakes involved.

Bobby Jindal could have faced that public but instead took the more political route refusing to face his questioners. 

So, why should I be so critical yet be so open claiming that I might vote for him?  Because when the time comes to pull that switch, I will consider all factors, be devoid of all emotions and decide as logically as possible. 

I will consider who can best bring together the races, the regions and who can communicate with passion and intelligence to the powers that can make Louisiana a better place to live.

I will consider who can best work with the legislature and who will be most pragmatic and realistic. 

I will consider who best understands the future to make Louisiana a place which we can be proud.

There are negatives with all of the other candidates.  I think that John Georges entered into a business I personally find distasteful—video poker and tobacco.  I think he made mistakes in the Shreveport debate overstating his importance and did not accurately describe the mechanics of his divestiture in those industries.  His words came back and haunted him in a Times Picayune article yesterday but when asked for clarification, I think he came clean. 

I have utmost respect for Walter Boasso.  However, I do think he felt very frustrated that the party favored someone else and as a result, he bolted.  He should be quizzed on his record which is what public forums and debates are all about.  To his credit, he has attended virtually all of them (certainly all of those which have been televised).    But, his record needs grilling so we need to know more about the real Walter Boasso. 

I also have growing respect for Foster Campbell.  I publicly teased him last week calling him “Clarence” of “It’s A Wonderful Life”.   His grand plan sounds too easy and I would want to hear from those who oppose them and put it all into the crucible of ideas.  I believe he should always be as business-minded whenever possible and do whatever we can do to retain and grow industries.  He has good ideas, but if he scares businesses, then, the local economy will go in the other direction.

Bobby Jindal is presented by many as the perfect answer, but for now, I am not sure if he is the best answer.  I felt he avoided answering a straight-forward question about gambling during the Shreveport debate and his campaign of being Mr. Nice Guy has become all too transparent as I watch his surrogates from his party and his campaign do his dirty work.  Yet, I personally liked the Bobby Jindal I saw in Shreveport who became emotional and combative in a controlled sense when he felt his record was unfairly being attacked.

Yesterday, I received an email from a stranger who honored me but asked me a question that I thought should be answered.  Here was the question and my response: 

 “I'm in a real quandary as I like Georges, Boasso, and Campbell. At xx years old, this is something to not have to vote the lesser of 2 evils. I backed Jindal in his first run for Governor but he scares me now. His stance on teaching creationism in public schools is just too over the top, as well as his stance on many other issues. I want to see Jindal in a run off, but I honestly don't know which other candidate has a chance for that. Is there any way that you can post links to the latest polls at Bayou Buzz. I don't want my vote to be wasted. On another note...and no, I'm not brown-nosing you...I find your website to be refreshingly non-partisan...giving the questions and facts only without supporting any particular candidate. I've been telling my friends about Bayoubuzz, because I am a Civil Servant and am not allowed to "politic". Since your website is so incredibly non-partisan, I can freely recommend it. Thank you so much for this breath of fresh air.”

Here is my answer which I have decided to post: 

I do thank you very much for your comments.  I do not think any poll right now is very reliable and won’t be reliable as things are breaking so very fast.  The other thing, I like all the candidates for different reasons.  Jindal’s creationism concept scares me which I have discussed on Bayoubuzz.  I also do not think he is as honest as he is being projected and I have reasons to believe this—about which I have written.  But, ultimately, when I go to the polls, I consider everything, every factor and weigh them as unemotionally as possible.  So, I can just suggest that you stay tuned to all of the candidates.  I know it is hard because Jindal has not been willing to really discuss any of the issues openly with us.  But, from my heart, I suggest that we weigh everything we can and try very hard to make the right decision for ourselves.  I am not endorsing anyone and I am not “not-endorsing” anyone.  Each candidate has virtues and flaws.  They key is finding the individual that you think can take the state the state forward better than anyone else.  I know it sounds like mush and might be the subject of a column.  But, that is honestly the best I can suggest—consider all of the factors and don’t let any one factor be the decisive one.  Also, vote from your mind and not based upon who you think might win or be in a runoff.

As an anecdote, allow me to state that when Governor Foster ran the first time, I was very upset about his purchase of David Duke’ list.  I also felt that he bought David Duke from the election.  My anger towards him increased as he called New Orleans names.  However, as I began to know him personally, began to know the people he selected to head his office, began to see his vision and the impact of his actions, I began to be one of his most ardent supporters.  He was far from perfect.  He didn’t travel and went to law school which made no sense to me.  But, I saw his vision because he was open.  He certainly was not the most articulate person and did not make the best presentation.  His best speech was at a Chamber event I attended where he sized up his two terms.  He told me that his success was hiring the right people.  He probably should have been more hands-on like Governor Blanco, but, those were different moments in different times.

Ultimately, the person who becomes Governor can surprise me for a number of reasons as Governor Foster did.  Time has a way of healing us all and teaching us new lessons.  I do hope all candidates during this campaign season will be straightforward, open, and honest as possible during the remaining moments of this momentous election and be present when the state is listening for answers before we cast our votes.  I think it will help us be more empowered citizens knowing we made the right decision for each and every one of us, come Election Day. 

 

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