For months, I have been writing about my hunch that John McCain might very well choose Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal as his Vice Presidential nominee. In the process, I have been ridiculed by supposed experts who discounted the notion of such an unusual choice. Now, we know that one person who is not discounting Jindal is Senator McCain.
After noted political columnist Robert Novak reported that McCain would make his VP selection this week, it was learned that the Arizona Senator will visit Louisiana tomorrow to meet with Governor Jindal. It could be a ploy to distract the media from the Obama overseas visit, but more likely it seems to indicate the Arizona Senator’s continuing fascination with Bobby Jindal.
It is clear that there is a bond between John McCain and Bobby Jindal. They seem to have a close personal relationship. McCain personally likes Jindal and is very comfortable with the Governor. All VP selection lists now include Jindal is at the top of the Vice President list. MSNBC is reporting that Jindal has already been vetted by the McCain campaign.
Here is why Jindal is such an interesting choice. Jindal has assets that McCain likes. Namely, he is young, bright and is the darling of the conservative wing of the party. Just ask Rush Limbaugh, Bill Kristol or Newt Gingrich who McCain should choose and they will all respond in unison, Bobby Jindal. All of them credit Jindal will a very impressive star to his term as Governor and point to his potential as a rising star in the conservative movement.
Jindal continues to receive tremendous publicity from the national media. Almost every night, he is interviewed on a national news program. This week, he was interviewed to give the McCain campaign response to the Obama foreign trip.
For all his assets, choosing Jindal would be an unusual choice for the Republican Party. It would negate the Republican attack that Obama lacks experience. Jindal is ten years younger than Obama, so it would be hard to charge that Obama is too inexperienced when the GOP vice presidential candidate is so young and has only been Governor for six months.
Picking Jindal would be a dramatic move. It would shake up a party that has never had an ethnic minority on the national ticket. It would take some of the attention and fascination away from Barack Obama.
McCain is the underdog. He needs to “throw long” politically speaking. Selecting a young Indian-American Governor of a state that is already solidly in his column would go against all conventional wisdom. Yet, it might be exactly what McCain needs to shake up the race.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com
From being Secretary of Health at the age of 24 to national director of Medicare Commission,to Deputy Secretary of Health in WAshington,to United States Congressman, to Governor of Louisana,to being considered for Vice President,what more an individual possibly can add to his resume to meet approval even grudgingly by some of the eternally negative pessimatic thinkers. Written by Wake up
on 7/23/2008
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Don't yall see that McCain is spinning yall to jump into premature conclusions?
This is simply McCain's attempt to draw media attention away from Obama by using Bobby Jindal as a scapegoat. Jindal is staying in Louisiana, period. Jindal is shrewd and would not accept even if asked since McCain is going to loose anyway. Written by Smart Dumb
on 7/22/2008
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If McCain choses Pi, we will vote neither for the Republican nor the Democrat but throw our vote away. We will not stand for the stench from either of the Presidential candidates. McCain should act wisely. He may not even get Louisiana, if he choses Pi. Written by RhettsWife
on 7/22/2008
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The Election.....By Leonard Nathan, 1980..... How did the stones vote this time?... They voted for hardness and few words.. as the trees voted for slow growth upwards and a shedding of dead dependents.... And the men?..They voted against themselves again and for fire which they thought they could control... Fire which voted for blackened stumps and no more elections.................... You know sumtings dar buzzy boyz 'n gurlz???? Based on our current economic, social, and political inertia, there is no reason to be optimistic. I used to be, but it gets more and more laborious with each passing day...
Written by
on 7/22/2008
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The Jindal Campaign for Vice President is ongoing but how can McCain say Barack Obama isn't ready to be President but Bobby Jindal is? McCain is getting desperate. The Obama trip has succeeded beyond expectations as the Afghanistan and Iraqi governmwents are in basic agreement with Obama. A more pressing question for Louisiana is how Jindal can devote himself to rebuilding the state while crisscrossing the country for McCain? What will happen to the Louisiana GOP if Landrieu becomes governor before the 2010 census and subsequent political redistricting? Jindal apparently doesn't care. Written by David Quidd
on 7/22/2008
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The formal powers and role of the vice president are limited by the Constitution to becoming President in the event of the death or resignation of the President and acting as the presiding officer of the U.S. Senate. (Pi boy as a potential president? Ha-ha-ha-ha!!!! But then again, one has to wonder why he is being groomed in such a rocketing backroom fashion……. I would suppose that unless McCain has a death wish, this is one JO that should be avoided like the plague)……. As President of the Senate, the Vice President has two primary duties: to cast a vote in the event of a Senate deadlock and to preside over and certify the official vote count of the U.S. Electoral College. What? No Veto powers? Oh well, Pi-boy can at least stay on track and true to his self by remaining ineffective, and sort of non-committal, or at least where there is no clash with his personal political ambitions……. He is sort of a sorry example when it comes to the definition of what makes a person a good leader of the people…… Or at least so far, that is what his absolute track record is… Written by Jo-Jo Dumaise
on 7/22/2008
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Jindal will be the man, McCain needs a spin machine, Jindal is one of the best. HEad over heals above Obama. Written by Tony G
on 7/22/2008
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I for one will be glad when the next 72 hours elapse, then we won’t have to look at this bull$hit line of contemplations anymore, the decision will be made……. Written by
on 7/22/2008
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For months, I have been writing about my hunch that John McCain might very well choose Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal as his Vice Presidential nominee. In the process, I have been ridiculed by supposed experts who discounted the notion of such an unusual choice. Now, we know that one person who is not discounting Jindal is Senator McCain. 
