Not Yet Johnny...Keep Looking!
Well, I don't know how much the rest of the US is following the story of John McCain's search for a Vice Presidential nominee, but it is big, big news down here in The Bayou State. It has become an enormous story down here because almost every day, hard-core conservatives from Rush Limbaugh to Grover Norquist keep dropping the name of my good buddy Bobby Jindal as McCain's best choice.
But I've got to tell y'all straight up that my ever-expanding gut tells me that my good buddy Bobby Jindal is not yet ready to be "one heartbeat away" from leading the "free world." Now, y'all don't get me wrong...I love Bobby. He is a trusted friend, and quite possibly the smartest US American around. But as a citizen of Louisiana, watching his 4 month goobernatorialship, I must say that I have been a bit disappointed with Bobby's reluctance to lead a real conservative "movement" here in Louisiana.
There have been many chances for Bobby to really go out there and drive a stake through the heart of the money-sucking vampire known as the Louisiana Legislature in these last few months. And as much as I hate to say it, Bobby has been AWOL when the real conservatives in the legislature needed his help.
Let me give you a few examples of the national pundit push to get Bobby on the ticket as McCain's Veep...
WASHINGTON TIMES ENDORSES JINDAL FOR VICE PRESIDENT
There are many things John McCain needs in a vice presidential candidate. The most obvious is a running mate who must be prepared to lead should the president be unable to. Other characteristics? Conservative. Youthful. Diverse. There is one name among those Mr. McCain is interviewing this weekend that fits the bill: Bobby Jindal.
The newly elected Louisiana governor is an exciting breath of fresh air to the national ranks of the Republican Party. (more)GROVER NORQUIST ENDORSES BOBBY JINDAL FOR VEEP
Anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist believes Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal would be the strongest running mate for John McCain this fall.
"[Jindal] is the best choice," Norquist wrote in an e-mail from Baton Rouge.
A Bayou source told Politico that the Americans for Tax Reform president was in the Louisiana capitol talking up Jindal yesterday.
The 36-year-old governor is a true movement conservative and McCain needs him on the ticket, Norquist told one official in the House chamber. (more)
The truth is that while Bobby is a true "movement conservative" at heart, he hasn't hit his stride yet as a "movement conservative leader." I trust that he will. I truly believe that he will "grow into" a Reagan-type leader. But he's not there now. He can't help McCain...but he might hurt McCain when the disappointed conservatives of Louisiana begin to surface.
But McCain can help Bobby. Johnny Mc can leave Bobby down in Baton Rouge for some "seasoning." John can let Bobby grow up a little bit...learn that a "real track record" as a fighter, and reformer is what makes a Reagan...not just hype & press.
Personally, I hope that McCain will take an unexpected man like J.C. Watts (former Oklahoma congressman), an unexpected woman like Sarah Palin (Alaska Goobernor)...both hard-core, non flip-flop social & economic conservatives. But if they both seem to be too low-profile, I would hope that he would choose Mitt Romney. At one time I thought that Mike Huckabee would be the perfect Veep nominee to balance out a hard-core conservative.
I retract my endorsement of Huck for VP. The landscape has shifted with Johnny Mc at the top. Regardless of how much I love Bobby, I can tell y'all that he's not ready for prime-time just yet. Even though I agree with The Washington Times that he has more experience than Hillary, and definitely more than Obama...Bobby needs to finish up one job before moving on to another.
Besides that, if he got elected VP, Mitch Landrieu would be our Governor...
Forget Jindal. Here's an important piece of advice: If it looks like it's going to be McCain/Palin anyway (and that should be a "no brainer" for Team McCain), McCain should announce NOW or VERY SOON, rather than later towards the convention. There's currently a growing chorus for Obama/Hillary (as VP) ticket (in fact the Dems are likely aware of the Palin phenomenon). If the GOP waits while movement for Hillary as VP grows -- even worse until after it is solidified that Hillary will/could be VP pick -- selecting Palin will be portrayed by Dems/liberal media more as a reaction by GOP selecting its own female (overshawdoing Palin's own remarkable assets), rather than McCain taking the lead on this. Selecting Palin now or early (contrary to the punditocracy) will mean McCain will be seen as driving the course of this campaign overwhelmingly, and the DEMS will be seen as merely reacting. And, there's absoultely no down-side to this because even if Hillary is a no-go as VP for Obama, the GOP gains by acting early. McCain the maverick. Palin the maverick. Do it now!
ReplyDeleteThere's no reason, and actually substantial negative, in McCain waiting to see what the Dems do first insofar as his picking Palin as VP, because, no matter who Obama picks, Palin is by far (and I mean far) the best pick for McCain and the GOP, especially in this time of GOP woes. The GOP can be seen as the party of real 'change' (albeit I hate that mantra, change, change, bla bla), while not really having to change from GOP core conservative values, which Palin more than represents.
In light of the current oil/energy situation, as well as the disaffected female Hillary voters situation, and growing focus on McCain's age and health, Palin is more than perfect -- now.
(Perhaps Team McCain is already on to this.)
Ted,
ReplyDeleteI could not agree with you more that whomever McCain selects as VP, it should be now! My two personal choices Watts or Palin are both the kind of people I could trust to step in and grow seriously into the job.
Mitt is as capable a human as we have in the US. I know that he might even be more capable in administration than either of the others.
Nobody is going to "forget Jindal." ...unless he has a "forgettable" term as Louisiana Governor. He is one of the young conservative leaders we look forward to. He's just not ready yet. I'll take the other three ahead of Bobby any day.
There’s been noted buzz of late on rising GOP star Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindal as a McCain prospective Veep. Certainly Jindal is more than very good, However, I believe there’s some “strategerie” going on here. The “real” beneficiary of the Jindal talk is the other rising GOP star, Alaska Gov Sarah Palin. Palin’s got everything that Jindal has (new/exciting, wildly popular, ethics and spending reformer, core conservative etc.) and more — mother of 5 w/remarkable bio, she’s 8 yrs older than Jindal, Alaska energy issue, and set to garner the disenfranchised female Hillary voter (I don’t believe Dem leaders can dump Obama).
ReplyDeleteGetting Jindal’s name out first — at Team McCain’s BBQ for instance — sets the stage for the obvious choice, Palin. For example, albeit Rush Limbaugh introduced Palin’s name, and later Jindal’s as good Veep choices, of late Rush has been praising the name of Jindal while on his very same shows discussing at great length the frustrated female Hillary voter and the global warming hysteria/need for energy development, without mentioning Palin’s name as the obvious beneficiary of those two issues. Rush walks a fine line, introducing Palin, yet can’t, at least yet, reiterate much, knowing that his praises may be counter-productive to many a swing, moderate and/or formerly Dem voter (who’s against Obama and switching to McCain). Moreover, while I feel that Palin has more real accomplishment, experience and qualification than Obama (and Hillary combined, albeit w/Obama the bar is pretty low), the only potential argument against Palin is she’s a newbie to the national scene. By having Jindal out there first as a VP prospect “passing” the “experience” and “new to the national scene” test, implicitly passes Palin as well. (For that matter Palin’s got as much if not more experience and accomplishment than Florida Gov Crist who’s only been Gov for 2 yrs — and the media has been touting Crist as a VP prospect.)
That’s my thinking at least.
Andy, I don't know Jindal as well as you do but I agree, he needs to gain some more experience first.
ReplyDeletePatrick, click on this link. http://www.wjbo.com/cc-common/ondemand/ Then hit the link to "Stonecipher: Advice to Jindal."
ReplyDeleteThere is great disappointment down here in Louisiana among conservatives. Bobby has been played up big-time on the national stage. But like I said, he's not ready for prime-time just yet.
I like Jindal, but he needs to get at least a full term under his belt before I'd think of tabbing him. I'd go with Palin or Pawlenty, myself.
ReplyDeleteOr Senator McCain could choose me. I wouldn't quibble.
Jindal is needed in Louisiana. I'm very pleased with Palin as the VP nominee.
ReplyDeleteJindal and Palin represent the future of the Republican Party. We need to let them learn - in place - before we toss them upstairs and hope they can swim!
Palin may be a bit too new, but I support her. When it's Jindal's time I will support him, too.
Who else is waiting in the Republican wings to take over from the Old Guard and lead the party for the next few decades?