John McCain is in Louisiana today to talk about oil drilling and “rigs” and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is scheduled to give education grants at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and also scheduled to hold a town hall meeting in Oak Grove.

Sunday, Bobby Jindal was one of the major Republican figures promoting on national television the GOP presumptive Presidential nominee on what could be named as “Veepstakes Sunday”.

So, why is Jindal not meeting with McCain in a photo op after his appearance on Sunday and other recent talk shows?

Again, there are many unanswered questions in this lead-in to the ultimate convention decisions.

For instance, is “off shore” drilling so important of a Presidential campaign issue that McCain made a special trip to Louisiana to highlight it as a necessary component part of is campaign?  Why pick Louisiana when he could have chosen shale deposits in the nation’s interior?

John McCain was scheduled to meet Jindal on his trip to Louisiana and the US Senator was further scheduled  to do the “rig” promotion.

So, what happened on the way to the rigs?

McCain is now scheduled to make his Vice President nominee announcement on his own birthday.  Assuming he does so, then, will Jindal be the VP pick or the scheduled convention keynote speaker wishing the Republican nominee his birthday happy’s.

Again, too many unanswered questions.  Here are some more: 

Why is Jindal not making a public appearance with McCain today?  Jindal has frequently flown the state making numerous stops on any given day, why the distance? 

Why did McCain pick Louisiana since the Mississippi river now has a current history of a barge crash clogging its currents. 

Who made the decision not to meet—Jindal or McCain?

Is Jindal distancing himself from Veepstakes and if so, why did he allow himself to be in the competition on the Sunday morning talks?

Something occurred yesterday that changed the plans.  Not that Jindal and McCain can’t  talk by telephone to map out strategies for the McCain presidential campaign and not that a personal meeting is critical, but based upon a significant source who did not want to be identified, the meeting was scheduled to occur.

So, hopefully, Bobby Jindal meant what he said on Sunday that he does not want to be Vice President and the two politicians have agreed to that arrangement.  Jindal has been a very articulate spokesperson for Louisiana, has so far started to reshape how Louisiana can do business and do politics but needs time to let his policies to fully be implemented and there is plenty of unfinished business.

He is working on landing a major “pig iron” plant and has a number of other economic development projects that could be announced this year.  His “workforce ” and many other medical programs still have many details that need to be finalized.  While it would not be the ruination of Louisiana if Jindal were selected to be VP, for continuity purposes at this time, it is logical that he continue on board as the Louisiana Governor.

We will probably not know if the change of plans were intentional, coincidental or even “rigged”.   But, hopefully, it is symbolic of Jindal’s swan song from the VP hunt.  Governor Jindal has a job to finish as Louisiana Governor.  I am taking him at his word that he intends to seek another term.  The clock is ticking on McCain’s decisions but it is also running on Louisiana’s recovery.  It would be nice if the Governor does his business of going to ceremonies, saving businesses in Louisiana, scooping up some, and building opportunities so our kids stay in this state instead of moving to other locations--such as Washington DC.


 

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