Jindal not the next Obama

From The Richmond Times-Dispatch

Is Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal the Republican Barack Obama?
A political podcast I downloaded asked that question recently, but it wasn't the first time I have heard it. It likely won't be the last, either.
We can answer the query unequivocally, here and now: No, he's not -- and he doesn't have to be. There are similarities between Obama and Jindal, but Republicans must realize that the 36-year-old Southern governor isn't a miracle GOP answer to the president-elect.
It is easy to see why some people want to cast the Pelican State governor as a conservative counter to Obama -- and it's not only the two men's shared skin tone. Both are reform-minded political and policy whiz kids who cut to the front of the political line, displacing notorious political machines in Chicago and Louisiana, and quickly zoomed to national prominence. Both also show the best of America: Obama, the highly educated son of an African immigrant, won a seat in the U.S. Senate and the presidency with so-called post-racial coalitions; uber-educated Jindal, whose parents emigrated from India in the 1970s, claimed the governor's chair in a region once wary of those who could be branded "outsiders."
The comparisons present a nice package, neatly tied, for Republicans who want to believe they have an Obama of their own ready to reclaim the mantle from the charismatic Democratic president-elect. Before Jindal said that he will not run for president in 2012, some members of the media also liked the Obama-Jindal narrative because they might have had the chance to bill that year's campaign as a clash-of-the-titans election.

Jindal: on the move, on the money

'Just want to be governor', Jindal says from Virginia

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said today he's not interested in a 2012 Republican presidential bid and will seek a second term as governor in 2011.
Jindal, who appeared at a news conference in Richmond to back Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell, was asked if he was interested in being president.
"No," he replied.
Jindal's trip to Iowa last month fueled speculation that he was laying the groundwork for a presidential campaign, and he did not rule out changing his mind over the next few years. Instead, he said Americans are weary after the longest, most expensive election cycle in U.S. history.
"I think anybody who is even thinking of running would be well served to roll up their sleeves and support our new president," Jindal said.

Makes perfect sense. He just got back from Iowa and Texas and is now in Virginia supporting a Republican candidate. All of this is part of his effort to 'not run' in 2012. He may be telling the truth. Depending on Obama's numbers in early 2011, Jindal may well wait until 2016 to make his run.
But run he will.

Mimi says you know you're from Louisiana when

From Mimi at The Wounded Bird

1. You measure distance in minutes.
2. You've ever had to switch from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day.
3. You use 'fix' as a verb. Example: 'I'm fixing to go to the store '
4. All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect or animal.
5. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
6. You know what a 'DAWG' is.
7. You carry jumper cables in your car...for your OWN car.
8. You only own five spices: Tony Chachere, salt, pepper, Tabasco, and ketchup.
9. The local papers cover national and international news on one page but require 6 pages for local gossip and sports.
10. You think that the first day of deer season is a national holiday.
11. You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit 'a little warm'.
12. You know all four seasons: Deer Season, Duck Season, Crawfish Season, Summer.
13. You know whether another LOUISIANIAN is from, north or south, as soon as they start talking (speaking).
14. Going to Wal-mart is a favorite past time known as 'goin Wal-martin'or'off to Wally World'?
15. You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good gumbo weather. YEP!
16. A carbonated soft drink isn't a soda, cola or pop...it's a Coke, regardless of brand or flavor.Example: 'What kinda coke you want?' (Comment: I call them all soft drinks; Grandpère calls them soda pop.)
17. Fried catfish is the other white meat.
18. We don't need no stinking driver's Ed...if our mama says we can drive, we can drive.
19. You understand these jokes and forward them to your friends from LOUISIANA (and those who just wish they were).
Not EVERYONE can be a LOUISIANIAN, it's an art form and a gift from God.
Geaux TIGERS!

Jindal Texas Fundraiser

As Gov. Bobby Jindal continues to draw attention as a rising star and possible national candidate for Republicans in 2012 or 2016, he insists that he has the job he wants right here in Louisiana. But that doesn't mean he won't leave the state to raise a little cash for his campaign account. His next such trip starts today, with plans for a fundraiser tonight in San Antonio and Friday afternoon in Houston.

The fundraisers were described in his official schedule only as "private events" for Jindal's re-election campaign. Melissa Sellers, Jindal's communications director, declined to share more information about where the events would be, who is hosting and how much is being sought from potential donors.

The one-day swing through the Lone Star state follows several recent trips out of state for Jindal, including a previous trip to Houston, though on that October stop he was attending a fundraiser for a Republican congressional candidate. Jindal's most high-profile jaunt was a weekend in Iowa, long the first presidential caucus state, last month. He visited officials in communities affected by Mississippi River flooding and addressed an Iowa Family Policy Center dinner attended by several social conservative leaders with strong sway in the state's Republican presidential sweepstakes.

The 37-year-old governor also logged miles to Washington, D.C.; Greenwich, Conn.; and Gainesville, Fla., the last stop falling on the day of the LSU-Florida football game, which Jindal did not attend. Florida donors paid $1,000 each to attend the event at a private residence.

Times-Picayune by way of LaNewsLink

Joe the Plumber likes Jindal

For what it's worth, The Times Picayune reports that Joe the Plumber likes Bobby:

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal picked up another admirer recently as his national profile continues to grow amid post-election Republican hand-wringing.
The latest member of the Jindal fan club is Joe the plumber, as in Joe Wurzelbacher, the Ohio man who became famous for questioning then-Demoratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's tax proposals.
Wurzelbacher, who eventually identified himself as a Republican and supporter of GOP nominee John McCain, told the Tufts University student newspaper last week: "The party should remember that they are conservative Republicans. That has been forgotten. They no longer hold to their ideals. They blow with the wind on just about every public opinion poll. So they are not right wing; they are trying to show that they're middle or even left-of-middle sometimes. . . .
Gov. Jindal of Louisiana seems to have the right idea. We have got to get back to the grass-roots of the Republican Party and not apologize for being conservative."

Louisiana moves from 50th to 49th in Economic Competitiveness

From C. B. Forgotston

People say I never bring good news. Today I bring you good news or what passes for good news when it comes to the performance of our state government.
LA has moved from 50th place to 49th place in economic competitiveness according to the latest national study.
See the report here
We’re now one notch ahead of Mississippi which dropped from 49th to 50th.
Interestingly, I’ve not gotten a press release from Bobby Jindal’s office taking credit for this upward move. He claims credit for everything “positive” that happens in the state. Bobby should get all the credit he deserves for this latest ranking. Perhaps the national talk show hosts will ask him about it.

They may ask him, but it won't be today. He's in Iowa talking to the corn . . .