An excerpt from the Wall Street Journal this weekend:

“At any rate, it wasn’t a good night for Republicans. But Washingtonpost.com’s Chris Cillizza finds the silver linings for the party: governors’ races. Four Republican governors won reelection prompting Cillizza to look at the emerging guernatorial stars in the GOP. Topping the list, no surprise, was Bobby Jindal. “The youthful (he’s 37) Louisiana governor is widely being seen as the future face of the Republican Party. He is Indian-American, conservative and was elected last year on a reform platform. Jindal also proved his governing chops over the summer as Hurricane Gustav bore down on his state; he was a constant television presence with scads of data seemingly at his command. Jindal — and his political advisers — downplay the idea of him running for president in 2012 but, as we have said in this space before, no politician goes to Iowa accidentally.”

Last Friday, I wrote a column entitled “Corny Bobby Jindal Going To Iowa”.

At that time, I urged him to fully finish the four years of his term, to focus exclusively upon the Louisiana rebuild, to build bridges with the Louisiana legislature and to put away his hopes for national prominence.

As we all know, he has been donned with the label that he cannot finish a job without looking for a higher calling.  His appearances on national television shows are great for him but do really little or nothing for Louisiana.

As Jindal has often said, we are top on the bad lists and on the bottom of the good lists. 

While, he has received good recognition for the ethics reform endeavor it was not without mistakes.  Many legislators believe that he carved his administration out of the reforms and they have long memories and sharp knives.

Other than that, how else has Louisiana really improved so far in the past year since Jindal was elected and his transition team was taking shape?

For one, the team he has put together for the most part has been top notch.  They have great potential and energy.  They also have a long way to go to prove meet Jindal’s goal of getting our state on the top of the many good lists.

Jindal had a lot of problems with the federal government and is still fighting with them over matters of Katrina, Gustav, Ike.  At one time when the hurricane help was moving very slowly, he said, regarding the slow-moving federal aid, he would believe it when he sees it.   That sent a strong message to President Bush’s team they were again failing.

Jindal also has a tremendous amount to do in securing the infrastructure in Louisiana.  We are still one big hurricane away from total chaos.  Another storm coming closer to New Orleans and hitting Baton Rouge and spanning throughout Louisiana could be Rita, Gustav, Ike and Katrina all rolled into one.   While he cannot stop hurricanes, he can do better to make certain that our coast is protected and our electrical grid is not compromised in the future.  Also, things did not run so smoothly this summer as the rest of the nation wants to think.  We had plenty of problems with contractors not living up to expectations, with Mississippi as a cooperating transportation partner, with the feds not complying on time, and with our power going out.  Some of those issues are out of his full control, but others absolutely require his attention and his stroke.

I have been criticized as being anti-Jindal.  I am willing to point out when I believe mistakes are made, when I question his candor, but, I am absolutely one of his biggest cheerleaders when he does what I think is right for the state.  I am also very willing to admit my own mistakes in evaluating the Governor and giving my readers the opportunity to agree or criticize my analysis.

His focus (through the auspices of Economic Development Secretary, Steve Moret) of retaining existing businesses is a major plus.  It is nice to go fishing for the big tarpon, but, when your bread and butter businesses who have taken risks on staying in Louisiana cannot even eat tuna, it’s time to play another tune.  The Jindal administration is doing just that.

Jindal has proven to me that he cares for the New Orleans although he does not need it politically.   Since taking office, in particular, he has sent precious dollars to the city which is desperately in need.

With the downturn in the economy, Jindal will be facing a serious storm.  If oil prices remain low, our economy suffers.  If we bail out the auto industry, that means less money for Louisiana.  Jindal’s budget last year was approximately one billion dollars more than Blanco’s last try and many of the projects he would like to see to fruition might not be able to obtain future funding.  Louisiana’s tommrow is tied to the national economy and national politics and ultimately Jindal’s performance will follow suit and will be impacted by things he cannot change.

Without doubt, Bobby Jindal is a “boy wonder”.  He is not perfect for the national stage as it exists today.  He plays well on national talk shows but some of his social philosophies might win him a Republican nomination but lose him the big prize, the Presidency which leaves Louisiana with little. 

Ultimately, I believe and hope that Jindal focuses like a laser beam on being Governor.  His communication with the legislature this past year was lacking.  His government almost melted down during the “pay raise scandal”.  Many not-for-profit organizations that perform good work and are hurting badly due to his very general guidelines. He needs to sit down in a big “pow wow” with the entire legislative body and talk about the issues and how he can perform better as a Governor. 

Once we see Louisiana hit many more of those good lists, he will have a much stronger political resume.  Just being of Indian American background is not enough.  Passing an improved ethics passage which excluded much of his own administration begs many questions.  He has plenty of political capital in Louisiana but he must spend plenty of time in the state on not on the world stage.

I frequently have said Bobby Jindal could be the very best Governor in history.  I truly and wholeheartedly hope he succeeds not only for him, but certainly for our state.  But, he won’t play well with Joe The Voter in a national campaign if he doesn’t fully take care of his own, back home.  Due to the recent storms, Louisiana is almost totally dependent upon what goes on in Washington and the price of energy. 

I hope that Jindal can do Louisiana, will do Louisiana and must do Louisiana these next four years.

The state will be better off and our present Governor would end a quixotic hope to reach that impossible dream based upon the current U.S. demography and voting patterns.   Being the party leader nationally doesn’t do beans, or corn for Louisiana which is still  living in desperation.

 Advertise on Bayoubuzz.  Be seen by a great audience
Louisiana Calendar  Post your own events.  Over 1000 visitors/day
Join BayoubuzzDance.com & input your own content

Sign up for our Email Newsletter

Do you want to write for Bayoubuzz?  Email us.
See the "hot" topics on our discussion boards and chime in