From a recent NYT article, titled
"McCain to Meet Possible Running Mates"Charlie Crist, the governor of Florida, and Bobby Jindal, the governor of Louisiana, have both accepted invitations to meet with Mr. McCain at his home in Arizona, according to Republicans familiar with the decision. One Republican said that Mitt Romney, a former rival of Mr. McCain for the presidential nomination — is also expected to visit him this weekend.
...
Of all the names being mentioned as Mr. McCain’s potential running mate, Piyush “Bobby” Jindal, the 36-year-old first-term governor of Louisiana, is not only the youngest and least experienced, but also the only one who is not white. Yet in a year in which Democratic voters have raised few objections to such traditional “obstacles,” Mr. Jindal may be especially attractive as Republicans seek a way to offset the “post-racial” and youthful appeal of Senator Barack Obama.
I'm still standing by all my earlier predictions that McCain won't select Jindal, and that Bobby is cultivating buzz to get the keynote address for a presidential run of his own. But... I would love,
LOVE to be wrong on this one. Almost all of the alleged "strengths" that Jindal brings to the ticket are actually weaknesses, in my view. And I would relish the opportunity to participate in the "vetting" of Jindal.
Labels: Elections and Campaigns, Jindal, McCain
14 Comments:
Oyster, I'm beginning to believe that McCain might actually do this. Jindal would certainly appeal to the Limbaughs and Hannitys of the world, and John McCain is unpredictable enough to do it. If he does, we are in for a helluva time blogging!
No way, no way, no way.
Jindal is inexperienced, baby-faced, and brown. He makes John McCain look four thousand years old.
I think this is McCain interviewing the single minority in the GOP, just to show that he did it, and then giving Jindal the convention keynote. It's a runup for 2012.
Yeah, that's basically what I'm thinking, alli.
Gasp! The Paper of Record(TM) called him "Piyush"? Don't they know that makes them a bunch of big, fat, horrible racists??!!
1) You never know what will happen when things get to that level. There are any number of reasons McCain just MIGHT go with Jindal.
Scene I'd like to see: Secret Service agents tackling and pistol-whipping Melissa Sellars when they find her in an adjacent room with her ear to a glass on the wall during Jindal's interview.
2) Jindal is demonstrating his devotion to his own political career and NOT his devotion to the Gret Stet.
3) Hank Thompson used to sing songs about the likes of your gub'na.
OOPS . . . REPOSTING. THE LINK GOT SCREWED UP.
1) You never know what will happen when things get to that level. There are any number of reasons McCain just MIGHT go with Jindal.
Scene I'd like to see: Secret Service agents tackling and pistol-whipping Melissa Sellars when they find her in an adjacent room with her ear to a glass on the wall during Jindal's interview.
2) Jindal is demonstrating his devotion to his own political career and NOT his devotion to the Gret Stet.
3) Hank Thompson used to sing songs about the likes of your gub'na.
I say it's a stunt McSame is pulling just to keep his name in the news. You can bet your sweet bippy he already knows who he wants to be his VP--just holding on to the expectation of the cow-eyed MSM is all.
Peace,
Tim
I have heard from more than one of my conservative relatives who simply adore Jindal that if he were to abandon Louisiana for greater fame, they would be very pissed. Remember, he ditched his Congressional district for the governorship after not even a complete term in office there. But that was o.k. because he was still staying in Louisiana. If he ditches the state, though, and disappoints all his supporters here, even after going on national television and basically saying that he's staying, it won't bode well for his career. Nor, I think, will it really serve McCain.
My money is on Jindal hearing McCain out simply out of courtesy, but telling him. "Thanks, but no thanks." If he joins McCain, and then finds himself on a losing ticket, which is very likely in this current national political environment, his political career is basically done. That's not a risk someone as smart as Jindal would take.
I'm of the same opinion as Alli and Oyster about the likelihood of Jindal getting the VP slot.
In addition to what has already been said, Jindal is not a suitable pick for McCain as a result of his age and inexperience.
The McCain team is looking at the same numbers that we all are looking at. They see that a large percentage of the American electorate has concerns about McCain's age. His VP slot must assuage concerns about the country's safety in the event something goes wrong with Mr. McCain's health. While I see the argument that Jindal would be a shrewd cosmetic pick because of his youth and "energy" or something, Mr. McCain cannot afford a cosmetic pick like Obama can.
Furthermore, because McCain will be selling himself on experience and attacking Obama for supposed youth, naivety, and inexperience, the VP (who again must calm voter concern about his own age) cannot undercut McCain's core message against Obama.
McCain's VP must be sold to the public as immediately prepared for the presidency. Jindal does not meet those qualifications, particularly to those alleging the same about Senator Obama.
I would agree that this is all a not-so-elaborate ruse to get Jindal the name recognition he needs to be an effective 'see, we don't mind minorities' prime time speaker at the RNC.
That was long-winded, sorry.
On another note, I think we should all be rooting for Jindal to be scooped up by McCain, as it is clear he is on some sort of list.
While I disagree with trickle down as a viable means of fair economic distribution, I do believe that fame can follow that model.
I'm witcha Erster. Walnuts will only pick PBJ if he's really, really desperate. It would be the ultimate hail mary pass.
"But... I would love, LOVE to be wrong on this one. Almost all of the alleged "strengths" that Jindal brings to the ticket are actually weaknesses, in my view. And I would relish the opportunity to participate in the "vetting" of Jindal."
You and me both!
Huck: "My money is on Jindal hearing McCain out simply out of courtesy, but telling him. "Thanks, but no thanks.""
No way he will say no if asked.
I agree with dan z. Jindal wouldn't refuse such an offer.
Hell no, he wouldn't. He's been groomed since BIRTH to be the next GWB. Dumbya, The Second Coming.
Nobody talks about how he gutted DHH except us po' motherfuckers who had to go to Charity on a regular basis, and I'm sure that the right handlers can spackle over that little blip just like they conveniently disappeared any concern over Dumbya's fiscal fuck-ups from the day that Yale ditched his ass. Don't worry, Poppy will bail you out of that (fifth) bankruptcy!
The similarities are all there. The constant reiterations of his "brilliance" all throughout the campaign, the parent who laid the civil-service groundwork, the lack of actual legislative or executive experience, the glowing, mooney-eyed supporters and "mentors"... Just wait.
I said it before Jindal took the mansion, and I still believe it.
This is not the race. He'll lunge at the VP opportunity like a shark on a fat beach-ape, but this won't be his time. He'd LOVE to see McSenile croak in office so that he can swoop in "to the rescue," much to the delight of the corporate interests who pretty much own his "ethics reform" lying ass, but not yet. After Obama has laid the anti-affirmative-action groundwork and gotten so much of this country past the "culture shock" of an man of color in power, THEN Bobby will take full advantage of Barry's effort.
Just wait. Bobby is never content to actually sit there and DO THE JOB, he wants the BIG tiara, the biggest trophy, or he doesn't wanna play!
"Nobody talks about how he gutted DHH except us po' ..."
I never had to use charity and I talk about Jindal's record at DHH all the time. It is just that people, for some reason, refuse to listen to criticism about him.
