Louisiana Governor Jindal: The Honeymoon Is Fading

Who is Bobby Jindal?

Is he the current Governor of Louisiana dedicated to ensuring that Louisiana meets the Gold Standard for ethics, the Chief Executive preaching “open government”, and the convincing orator who overwhelms his harshest detractors?

Is he the state’s leader bent on attracting the best and the brightest to stay in Louisiana? Does he want to purge forever the brain drain plaguing this state for decades?

Or, is he a politician who is “over-handled” by those who got him to the dance? Perhaps worse, is he playing the Governor’s role to gain a bigger plum, the Vice-Presidency?

This week’s edition of the Gambit which featured an article by Jeremy Alford (after it first ran in the Independent), Jindal is presented in what I believe is a very realistic light. Something happened to him as he chose to run for Governor. In short, he became “over-handled”. Instead of saying what is on his mind, he has become a politician who does not want to be viewed as fallible. He has allowed his staff to put him on lockdown. As a result, many members of the media are getting frustrated with his administration’s governing and public relations tactics which some of the Capitol writers are beginning to distrust.

He promised us an open government, but, as Alford pointed out, the openness is now stopping at the Administration line. Trying to get answers from the Governor’s office is often futile for many in the media and the cries unfortunately are now becoming more shrill. In fact, they are portraying the administration in the most farcical of descriptions.

Currently, he is pushing that virtually all communications within his staff be confidential which is frustrating the dickens out of media writers. His press secretary is under attack for playing Karl Rove instead of Betty Crocker.

Substantively, his ethics reform package is being challenged in the darkest of light. Some legislators are suggesting hypocrisy--that what has been imposed upon them is not similarly imposed upon the Administration. Others are claiming the reforms are unworkable and need radical change.

Within four months since taking office his popularity is still at substantial highs (approximately 70 percent favorables) but many are wondering if we are really seeing less efficiencies--more smoke, mirrors and definitely more raw propaganda.

I personally believe, as I have mentioned previously, Bobby Jindal has the ability to be our best Governor ever. But, it won’t occur if he doesn’t return to his basic roots and takes control over his own handlers--not the other way around.

He cannot effectively govern if he has his eye on the next election, whether it be for Governor or Vice Presidency.

Unquestionably, the honeymoon for Jindal is beginning to end with the media. He absolutely can survive given the current demography of the state, his ability to speak directly to the public and re-election will likely occur should he not become Vice President. But, the road is getting much tougher than it was earlier this year and if winning elections is considered the criteria of success instead of administering an effective, efficient, and open government, then he will be at odds with the legislature and then with his constituents. The warning signs were present during the campaign and they have become more cancerous since becoming Chief Executive.

Bobby Jindal must return to be Bobby Jindal, not Jindal the Politician. Many observers are seeing a man with great ambition and talent who has created an inner sanctum and who has allowed them to rule the roost. Ultimately, should this continue, he will lose credibility among those who have trusted him.

The Alford article is a “must read” but speaks of Jindal’s staff in the most unflattering of terms. I had written months ago that it would be the staff that hurts him politically. I believe those words have been and are continuing to ring true. He must take a hard look at the frailties within his own administration and change them. Otherwise, the criticisms will continue to mount, the writers will become even more frustrated and he will build up walls of isolation which is the exact opposite of what he needs to do to have an open government which is what he preached before he ruled the Capitol’s Fourth Floor.

He still has plenty of time to be Louisiana’s best Governor in modern times. But, he must control those who protect him. In trying to perform their jobs, they are robbing him of his own identity. It’s time for Bobby Jindal to bring back Bobby Jindal. Louisiana needs the man, not the politician.

Wednesday night: Louisiana Punch: Scandal, Politics and Funny

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