Bobby JindalBobby JindalBy Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal gave a lame response to President Barack Obama's "State of the Nation" speech Tuesday night.

Jindal's speech did not contain enough substance to get Americans excited about the GOP's plans for America's future.

Instead, the governor stuck to the tried-and-true attacks on Democrats as the spend, spend, spend party. Hey, that's basically true.

But what's the alternative from the GOP? Exactly how do Jindal and the Republicans want to get America out of its fiscal mess?

Look closely, and Jindal's speech contained little that shows he and his party have a lot of good clues about how to do that.

There was the empty appeal to bipartisanship:

Republicans are ready to work with the new president to provide those solutions. Here in my state of Louisiana, we don’t care what party you belong to if you have good ideas to make life better for our people. We need more of that attitude from both Democrats and Republicans in our nation’s capital.

Notice there were no specifics from Jindal on what, exactly, the Republicans and GOP can work on.

Then there was the requisite self-flagellation:

In recent years, these distinctions in philosophy became less clear - because our party got away from its principles. You elected Republicans to champion limited government, fiscal discipline, and personal responsibility. Instead, Republicans went along with earmarks and big government spending in Washington. Republicans lost your trust - and rightly so.

Again, Jindal then offered no examples about how being a cost-cutting Republican might help in the immediate future.

Finally, there was the usual pat on the back for the American spirit:

The strength of America is not found in our government. It is found in the compassionate hearts and enterprising spirit of our citizens.

Jindal and other Republicans are correct when they say Americans are looking for solid ways to dig out of this economic hole. But concrete examples, not empty words, are needed at this time from the GOP.