Bobby Jindal, Undertaker
Watching Bobby Jindal end his national aspirations in under ten minutes last night was a moment to behold. I can't think of a worse Republican response to a presidential address, ever. His tone reminded me of being in the third grade and being taken on a tour of the local historical society. "Look, children, this chair is verrrry old. Can you say 'old'? I knew you could!" Condescending, patronizing, speaking down to his audience. Could anything serve better as a bookend to the Bush years?
For many Americans, this was probably their first exposure to the Governor from Louisiana. I'm guessing it will also be their last. It was a horrible, awful speech, bereft of any ideas or solutions to the country's problems. Jindal's primary concern seemed to be his party's problems, and his own ambitions. He didn't offer up much to support those, either.
In the end, he came across (to me anyway) as the proprietor of a funeral parlor. His ill-fitting, cheap-looking suit, his stiff, awkward Lurch-esque manner (if there's another remake of the Addams Family in the works, he a shoe-in for a role), and his success in drawing all of the hope, excitement and life out of what had been an uplifting evening to the point of his teetering entrance, all contributed to a political hari-kari of epic proportions. As Simon Cowell of American Idol would put it, "You get one chance to impress America, and frankly, you blew it."
Governor Jindal, not only did you fail to impress, you succeeded in draining all of the remaining fluids from the corpse of GOP, and embalmed the dessicated carcass that remained. You and your fellow pallbearers, McCain, Palin and Steele, now have the honor of putting that corpse in the ground. As far as that goes, congratulations on a job well done.
Now cross-posted at Daily Kos with fun, interactive poll:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/2/25/112847/698/76/701672
February 25, 2009 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly, as he approached the lectern, I thought "undertaker."! And his manner was exactly as you described. Weird.
February 25, 2009 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
We have the best and there must be the worst.
Jingles-I stole that--makes the Dems look even better. To be fair--and I really have no intention of being fair to the party of the unfair--most follow-up responses at the beginning of a term do not do well.
I remember Senator Muskie just decimating Nixon after a Nixon rant in 1970.
The End
February 25, 2009 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Jingles" is good. I would like to add "Don't Jindal it" as an alternative way of saying "don't f#@k it up".
February 25, 2009 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know.
Not trying to be gratuitously contrarian, honestly, but we may be making too big a deal of this. I mean, the Republican Party has consistently put forth--despite a lovely trouncing in the last two elections--people who fit solidly in the 20th century (some would say 19th century!) Republican mold:
-deniers of global climate change
-ignorant of basic evolutionary processes
-promoters of ignorance ("intelligent design" anyone?)
-raising taxes is always bad
-giving tax breaks (mostly to the rich) is always good
-government can do no good
-free market is always the solution
-regulation is always bad (I guess that goes with the above)
-helping the needy is socialism/marxism/communism (they make no distinctions)
It goes on, of course.
I know there are probably a few in the Republican Party who don't fit perfectly into that mold--Arlen Spector comes to mind--but for the most part it's all they got. They ditch Jindal? Who else is there? Who's the next great rising Republican star? Besides a lame performance... his content was pitch perfect. Didn't miss a Republican talking point. You could close your eyes and throw a dart and whatever Republican it landed on they too would most likely delivered an identical speech.
From the current Republican leadership in the House and the Senate to the most recent crop of potential Presidential hopefuls--Palin, Huckabee, Romney, Steele, and yes Jindal--it is all the same. There are absolutely no signs of evolution in the Republican Party. None that I see, anyway.
Jindal blew it? True. But that's by our standards--and yes a few moderate Reps--but so what? They have no control. No power. And the rest? Clearly they have no brains.
As I said before: Palin/Jindal (or Palindal!) 2012!
February 25, 2009 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm mainly in it for the comic value. That said, "Palindal 2012" is the front horse in this race. Not having any public speaking ability never stopped the GOP in the past. I think the big difference between them and the Dems is that the GOP candidate has often been the spokesperson for their corporate interests. Dem candidates usually try to speak for and represent the people that work for a living. In other words, management vs. labor.
February 25, 2009 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jeb Bush will come out of the Bushes and Palin will be his sidekick.
February 26, 2009 12:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was just watching Delay on Hardball. Well, kind of, I have switched channels 4 times in 12 minutes.
Why is he not in jail? Is he prison pending? What, did he plead insanity? The guy is a crook. He said in the toilet seven times. You know Obama is taking us into the toilet.
You are so good at these lists here is Delay's:
w was a good president
Especially on foreign policy
Government can do no good
Raising taxes on the rich is bad, evil, unAmerican..
Free market is the only way out
Regulation is bad
Obama just gave the single worst speech he has ever heard
There is no global warming
Communist, Socialist, poopy pants
I think we may be past the point in this country-for the next few years anyway--where Americans buy this crap.
I am angry they let a de facto if not de legis felon on TV, but maybe, like Jingles, he helps the Dems cause.
February 25, 2009 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I always have to change the channel when Delay is on, it's like listening to a mental patient fade in and out of coherence. Of course, a number of GOPers have the same effect on me. Pat Buchanan anyone? Boehner? Cantor? They all seem to suffer from the same psychopathy. (is that the word?)
February 25, 2009 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I saw that, and I was yelling FU to everything he said. Why is this scofflaw Chris's best bud? The last thing he said to him was that he is ALWAYS welcome on his program! DeLay also got away with using the perjorative "Democrat" as an adjective about 5 times. "Obama is a Democrat President..."
Why does no one call them on it? It is clearly a practiced insult!
Yeah -- I loved it when he said that Obama's speech was the worst he'd ever heard -- that pretty much tells anyone who is up on the teevee! I think the charges must have been dropped against him because it has been way too long; he should be in jail.
Chris is a buffoon -- did you hear when he said "I like school vouchers." Gee, Mr Catholic likes school vouchers; I am shocked!
February 25, 2009 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's with Matthews saying "Mr. Delay, you are welcome on this show anytime" or whatever the F he said. Every time the felon tried to get Ford to quiet down, all I could think of is here's this white southerner trying to tell the black man to pipe down...or else!
February 25, 2009 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I quit watching cable news once and for all when I started yelling at the television. It's bad for your health, CV. I tune in to Lehrer News Hour from time to time and find it more enlightening and much easier on my blood pressure.
February 25, 2009 6:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know, the Hardball show that I watched was earlier in the afternoon (I was doing some ironing - don't usually turn on the TV that early), so when it was Hardball - take 2 - time, I switched to Jim Lehrer. I don't think I've ever watched this before, and I was really impressed!
Will happily cut Chris off often in the future!
February 25, 2009 8:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think this about Delay every time. Why does anyone give him a voice? Why is he not in prison?
February 25, 2009 10:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is going to be a very interesting-ish (to quote Rachel.) I find it laughable that the Repubs would put up Palin as the top of the ticket in 2012, but then I thought it was laughable that they put her in the #2 slot last time, so what do I know?
Do you suppose they really can't see how out-classed they are? Or do they see it, and just can't admit it out loud?
February 25, 2009 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey SI, Just read your post. Loved it! I've haven't been able to blog as much lately, so it's nice to drop in today and catch up a little.
Rachel was great last night. A professional pundit left speechless, now that's an accomplishment. I really think the GOP is bankrupt, and they've got nothing. they can't lead and they don't know how to follow. Screaming brats throwing a temper tantrum, if you ask me. Serves 'em right. I think 2010 will see even more of them turned out of Congress, and if Palin, Steele, Jindal, and Cantor are what they have to show in 2012, it will be another sweet victory for hope and change.
February 25, 2009 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Judging from boner's face they now realize it.
The one to watch is the governor of Utah who refuses to even meet the Congressional GOP leaders. "I have not met them. I don't listen or read whatever it is they say because it is inconsequential - completely."
February 25, 2009 6:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Outclassed is their asspiration. That's where the GOP base is at. What could be lower class than voting for someone because you would like to have a beer with him? The GOP subscribes to the P.T. Barnum school of politics. There is a sucker born every minute and they can win if they can just get them to vote.
Thank God America proved that you can't fool all of the people all of the time.
February 26, 2009 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
DD: Where were you, pre-net, pre-smart pen, when taking notes in class actually depended upon memory and an analytical mind to discern, in a heartbeat, what was important to write down, and what was irrelevant?
No wonder I switched my major from Anthropology/Philosophy to Architecture. I hold you personally responsible.
February 25, 2009 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pooh. Belle when guys like Delay come on I get so gd mad, there is a part of my brain and the comments are like arrows. And it hurts. Then I get madder.
It does seem to abate the pain when I write these comments. Or when I read comments from others taking these lies straight on.
February 25, 2009 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
This goes beyond Jindal's incompetence. At a time when the country is Democratic, likes the Democratic plan, and the Democrats have the most charismatic leader in the world sitting in the Oval Office, the GOP has ...
1. Responsibility for EVERY MAJOR PROBLEM on the radar screen
2. A shattered, disproven agenda
3. No star power
4. Nothing to say
Those last two are tough. They add up to this: The GOP can only be viewed in the next four years through the prism of who will run against Obama. If the economy bottoms out this year, all Obama needs to do is point to even a little progress and give his own version of "stay the course." Jindal is over. Palin is a never-was. Other sitting govenors like Crist are going to want to keep their jobs, not take on a suicide mission. Congressional Republicans are as popular as flea bites. Romney, Huckabee and Giuliani are circling like vultures. That means the GOP is, in all likelihood, going to have to run a nominee in 2012 who COULDN'T BEAT JOHN MCCAIN WHO COULDN'T BEAT THE NEOPHYTE OBAMA.
How do you sell that? How do you get media coverage? How do you raise funds? How do you work with state parties and their candidates when you are a dead-bang loser?
Take your time to get back to me. I'll wait.
February 25, 2009 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I'm Lovin' It" (as in the McDonald's jingle!)
February 25, 2009 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's big challenge will be to keep this Democratic herd of cats all running in the same direction. We've always been our own worst enemy when it comes to infighting. I'm confident that big O can handle it.
February 25, 2009 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mostly, I'm pretty confident that we have the White House for 8 years unless we GIVE it away, which is, I suppose, possible. In my quiet moments I wonder how much success we have to have on improving the economy before the repubs can TAKE it back, because I am short term bearish on that front. When I look and see who the current front runners for the Repubs are, it makes me more hopeful that even if things still pretty much stink, we could still be okay.
February 25, 2009 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thinking back to 2000, everything seemed to be coming up roses, and no one thought Bush had a chance. Eight years from now we may be in the same situation and the faux-moralist crowd might stage a coup again. I think Eric Cantor is the one to keep an eye on in 2012, if my gag-reflex is any indication of prime GOP material.
February 25, 2009 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tru dat...The thing is, back then I wasn't paying attention, and I am now... If it even LOOKS like the Repubs MIGHT have a shot at getting back in, I may have a heart attack! Literally! So, I'm going to breathe deeply and try not to worry any more about something that may not even happen.
February 25, 2009 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
"You and your fellow pallbearers, McCain, Palin and Steele,"
Please add one of our nation's great national heros to the list of pallbearers: Joe(not his real name) the Plumber(not really a plumber either), whose book came out yesterday. He was pitching it at Americans for Tax Reform, Grover (the Little Douchebag) Norquist's outfit. Wasn't ATR used by Jack Abramoff to launder funds in his Indian gambling campaign? Norquist is below scum--he is slime in barely human form.
February 25, 2009 6:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Considering what a huge, bloated corpse they're carrying, a few extra pallbearers can't hurt. Any other nominations?
February 25, 2009 6:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Grover G. Yup. Still out there. The bush policy of implementing one unthinkable betrayal after another. Grover and his associated slime mold fruiting bodies think tank buddies are still out there parasitizing that corpse and waiting for their next opportunity. See: Idiots Guide to Fascism.
February 26, 2009 8:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jindal owes an apology to the people of New Orleans for saying Govt should have let you stranded on the rooftops, trees and floating wood-when the reality is govt should have done a lot more to take them to safety.
He owes rest of us a less impotant apology for treating us like afternoon audience for PBS just back after a morning in pre-school.
February 25, 2009 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have yet to figure out the GOP's "government is bad, we want to be the government" mantra.
February 25, 2009 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
The appeal is same possessed by the idea of electing the fraternity cut-up to lead student government. It seems funny, until the next day when you find yourself wondering why it seemed funny yesterday. If yesterday was 2000-2008.
February 25, 2009 10:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hah, Astrall. How you cut to the chase.
February 28, 2009 7:44 PM | Reply | Permalink