Question and Observation

[x-1013-x.livejournal.com]

First, the observation. I've noticed a pointed reduction in Obama bumper stickers on the road. It went from at least 10 or so in the morning and afternoon rush hours to 0-1. I don't know what to think of this. We all know from the John Kerry experience that these people don't like to remove their stickers, so what's up? Do they not want us to know they're responsible for this mess?

Now, the question. What do we think of Jindal? I've heard conflicting opinions. Some like him very much, others think he would be a bad choice to oppose Obama. I, personally, would like Sarah to kick Obama's ass, but I'd like to know everyone's thoughts on Jindal.

Comments

[aricadavidson.livejournal.com]

Jindal has been up and coming in Louisiana for a while... I'm glad and impressed with him. I'm originally from LA :D

[arkadelos.livejournal.com]

I don't know much about Jindal, but I would like to hear personally from a disillusioned Obama-supporter. I ended up talking politics a little with a 30-something in my history class, and she said most of the people who voted for Obama are starting to regret it.

[coldblossom.livejournal.com]

I did see a comment on a messageboard from someone claiming to have been a Democrat who voted for Obama. The gist of the text was that he was very, very sorry for having voted such a diaster into office and that he's learned his lesson for next time: substance over style.

But again, it was an anonymous messageboard.

[tingilya.livejournal.com]

Jindal's tougher than Palin and has a clearer record. He's also better in interviews. He may need a little polish, but he's got everything it takes. Plus, the media won't be able to play the race card with him. I'm all for it. I'm ready to campaign as soon as he is.

[x-1013-x.livejournal.com]

I agree on the polish. I just watched his speech last night. He seems intelligent enough and genuine, but he does lack that charm the Obamessiah seems to exude.

[rightsaidred.livejournal.com]

Someone commented on melvil_udall that he was like Mr. Rogers. I think that is accurate.

[rightsaidred.livejournal.com]

Yes they will. Just as they said Palin was chosen as an answer to Hillary, they will say Jindal was chosen to lure away the minority vote from Obama.

[tingilya.livejournal.com]

I mean that they won't be able to pit white against black, which they would do in 2012 if a white person runs against Obama. They'll be subtle, but they'll do it. They can't pit Obama against Jindal in that way, because they're both men of color.

[ex-annemarie10.livejournal.com]

I think Jindal would do well against Obama. I'm not sure I'll support him in the primaries but would have no trouble supporting him in the fall. I think my preference now is for Huckabee.

[x-1013-x.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, Mike. I still remember his two words for border security: Chuck Norris. Love Mike.

[lizbeth-mairead.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really liked what Huckabee had to say. Ah, man.

[rightsaidred.livejournal.com]

I adore Huckabee. But I think religion will make him a tough sell. There are just too many high-profile religious whack-jobs (Phelps, anyone?) that make people wary of anyone who dares to profess a deep Christian faith.

[tingilya.livejournal.com]

There are millions upon millions of low-profile Christians who are exactly like Mike Huckabee. Don't lump us all into the whackjob category. It's the media's job to do that for us.

[rightsaidred.livejournal.com]

I believe that's what I just said.

[modernelegance.livejournal.com]

In his recent book, "Do the Right Thing", he states that he hated the fact that in the Primaries he was seen as a religious figure and that he would only get "religious" questions. There are many non-religious people that support him because of his politics and not his faith. Faith is a part of who he is but that's not solely what his political stances are about. It's really a great book that outlines everything he stands for politically. (Heathcare, taxes, etc.)

[rightsaidred.livejournal.com]

I understand that, but do you think the media will portray him that way, or that the majority of Americans will see that?

[modernelegance.livejournal.com]

Huckabee did come in "second place" in the Primaries with hardly ANY financial backing like McCain or Romney. This was also when he was virtually unknown and if people did know about him they believed the portrayal that he's a fanatic. Personally I think he has a great chance of getting the nomination this upcoming political season because not only does he have a show on FOX, people are more apt to listen to him because he has already made a name for himself. His ideas about things are very forward thinking and practical not "old white republican" at all.

The Republicans were the ones who first started portraying him as a religious nutcase maybe if he didn't have his own party putting him in a box his image would improve?

[izuko.livejournal.com]

Huckabee lost me when he suggested we should change the Constitution to be in line with God's law. Now, as a former Mormon, I consider the Constitution to be a divinely-inspired document. There's a reason it wasn't written strictly in line with God's law. That's because God didn't want to give the government the legitimacy of His church.

[kimana83.livejournal.com]

And he lost me when he jumped on the Fair Tax bandwagon. It's a nice idea in theory, but in practice won't be that much better than what we have now, and will certainly not get rid of the IRS.

[izuko.livejournal.com]

Odd. The Fair Tax is what interested me in him, in the first place.

[kimana83.livejournal.com]

I think that's what drew a lot of people to him. Just not me. LOL.

[modernelegance.livejournal.com]

I ♥ Huckabee!

[coldblossom.livejournal.com]

I liked Huckabee initially, when he was still an unknown. As I got to know him better and became familiar with his McCain-esque "amnesty" plans, I really began to waiver in my support. Then, he really came off as hostile to Mitt Romney (my main choice) because of his Mormonism (who wasn't, really? But it seemed like Huckabee made it personal) and really pulled a trick in Virginia when he instructed his people to give their votes to McCain. That was just...it was a crap-move, to say the least.

Now he's got his talk show and I feel like he once he got a taste of the spotlight he realized he didn't want to give it up. I do watch his show occassionally and he does sound sincere and most of what he says appeals to me, but for me its actions and not words. I feel like he's gotten to be something of a primadonna.

However, were it a choice between him and another McCain, I'd vote Huckabee...so long as he'd learned that we need security and not amnesty.

[izuko.livejournal.com]

I think Jindal knows he's all but been drafted for 2012. It's just a matter of prepping him on his image and foreign policy (as far as domestic policy and economics, the man needs no assistance).

[izuko.livejournal.com]

Actually... after having watched his speech... the boy is going to need work. A lot of work.

[coldblossom.livejournal.com]

Was it his delivery? I wasn't able to watch the speech, but I read the transcript and I thought the content was very good. Its been stumping me as to how he's getting panned...but the majority of the critics are Chris Matthews-types who had already decided not to like him, anyway.

[izuko.livejournal.com]

Very much his delivery. But, frankly, that can be taught. Conservative ideals are much harder to come by. Still, the fact is, we need to find him a coach and FAST.

And Rush needs to take a breather. He flame-sprayed all of us who he accused of obsessing over style. Says he doesn't want to ever hear from us again. Well, Rush, the middle pays attention to style. And we're idiots to ignore it.

[kimaginethis.livejournal.com]

I've been wondering about him, too -- I think how well he does in his state will be a good indicator.

[travels-in-time.livejournal.com]

Jindal had some issues on first taking office, but I hope he's gotten those straightened out. His handling of Gustav hiked him pretty high up in my estimation.

[scarletwalk.livejournal.com]

I think that Jindal is great. Whatever he says has substance. He doesn't sugarcoat anything; he just says what he needs to say and leaves it at that (which is more than what can be said about President Hopenchange). There's one word that I always use to describe Bobby Jindal: Efficient. He is very efficient, and the way he handled Hurricane Gustav proves that.

If I were able to pick the Republican 2012 ticket right now, it would be either Palin/Jindal or Jindal/Palin.

[ohinternets.livejournal.com]

this.

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

I thought Gov. Jindal was just fine but it's clear from many of the comments I've seen on the internets that many people want a superstar of Obama's magnitude right out of the gate. Someone who was going to make Camp Obama soil their shorts in terror.

Well, the only person the GOP has right now who can do that is Sarah Palin. Anybody else isn't going to shine as brightly. I also got the impression that the same snobby cons who don't care for Palin don't want Jindal's Louisiana twang either.

Gov. Jindal is a young man, so if he's in the race in 2012, it will likely be as a veep candidate. He has all of the right ideas. The question is whether people will be ready to hear them by that time.

[coldblossom.livejournal.com]

I like Jindal overall. About the only thing that rubs me wrong is his pushing of Intelligent Design, but that's pretty minor for me and I'd still vote for him in a heartbeat.

[ohinternets.livejournal.com]

I've talked to MANY Democrats who voted for Obama *reluctantly* and admit that they were almost as equally impressed with McCain but were swayed by one of Obama's pie in the sky promises.

Let's face it, Obama won not because he ran such an awesome campaign or was such an awesome candidate, but because millions of Republicans and other conservatives just didn't have anyone they were inspired to vote for.