By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
It appears I wasn't the only one totally underwhelmed by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Rindal's GOP response to President Obama's speech Tuesday night.
In the most extreme analysis, some political observers were dissing Jindal's chances of being the 2012 GOP presidential nominee. Oh, really? That kind of harsh assessment on Feb. 25, 2009?
Still, Jindal obviously scored few points with the supposed experts.
While many of the responses centered on Jindal's manner in giving the speech, I would continue to contend he did an extremely poor job in telling Americans exactly what Republicans want to do differently to get the nation out of its economic crisis.
Some excerpts from politico.com:
I think he had a really poor performance tonight, I’m sorry to say. This was not the best from the young man from Louisiana. -- National Public Radio’s Juan Williams
Jindal will recover, but it’s difficult to imagine him now as Obama’s 2012 opponent. Jindal not only didn’t live up to his advance billing, he proved that he needs a lot more seasoning before he gets a prime time slot. -- University of Virginia political scientist Larry J. Sabato.
Obama gave a polished performance, as usual. Jindal’s act needs a lot of work. His basic message was sound but his language was hackneyed and his performance was wooden. Fortunately he has a lot of time to improve his delivery. -- John J. Pitney Jr., a political science professor at California’s Claremont McKenna College.
Someday, when scholars are trying to fingerpoint the nadir of the post-Bush Republican Party, they may arrive at Jindal's speech tonight. Though it was a tough moment for any Republican to give the opposition response, his speech came across as unserious in content and condescending in its tone. -- Thomas Schaller, a political scientist at University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
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Monkey-bites
Why do you suppose the "democrats" are all breaking out in monkey-bites about the Republican legislators not voting for their pork-laden "stimulus" bill? After all, it passed, didn't it? They GOT what they wanted! The reason IS because they know when the American people see that the bill DIDN'T DO what the democrats promised, learn about all the pork that was in it, and realize that the democrats blew the money that COULD have brought about a recovery, the American people will know which party did it to 'em, because the Republicans are on record as opposing the democrats shameful waste of taxpayer funds. There will be only one party to blame, the democrats can't say "They voted for it, too!", and now they're scared!
As to being the best motivational speaker, the Pied Piper was the best at playing the pipes, but HE led people astray, too!
You're terrified, aren't you, lightnin?
It's finally sunk in that it's 1932, we're going to have at minimum twenty years of liberal Democratic Presidents, the Karl Rove Thousand-Year Reich is over, and the full stupidity of George Bush stands yet to be revealed as we peel away the layers of secrecy he tried to wrap around everything his Administration did.
Do everything you can to stall the recovery. Spread all the hate you can muster. Remember, anything good that happens is due to Republican foresight and planning, and everything bad that happends is Bill Clinton's fault.
Have a nice couple of decades.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA..............
So, Will the big 0 Veto Omnibus Bill???
Will our "leader" veto this pork laden bill or not? What are the bets? Of course the big 0 said he would veto pork laden biils. We will see if he delivers "change we can believe in". I predict he won't veto.
KCGrunt! Glad you showed up!
Cause I have a question I desperately need answered:
What's "pork"?
dont know
What's "pork"?
Pork is something someone wants, that another person doesn't.
On the radio this morning, they were trying to define wealthy. The best definition is, someone who has more money then the person complaining.
But I think for brevity, I refer to pork as costs inside a bill that shouldn't be in the bill. Like a while back, I think Bush's first stimulus bill, I think, had something for wooden arrows? Anyway, that is pork
And we're back to
Agreeing on "shouldn't."
Try to find a remark about defining "pork" that doesn't apply equally well to defining "pornography."
My bad
"Pass the pipe, dude," not, "pass the pipe, dud." Damn that Freud.
liberals didn't like it
liberals didn't like it because any minority that is a republican is a sell-out to their race, minorities belong to the democrats in their minds.
Second, at this point in time the mommy culture that is the US doesn't like any politician that isnt patting them on the head and telling that they will fix everything and that all the bad stuff was in no way their fault.
Plain and simple, over the next few years Americans are going to need a dose of reality from someone. People have to be told that it is their fault that they bought too much house, or maxed out credit cards, or are upside down in car payments. It is their fault when they dropped out of high school and cant find a job. It is their fault if they did graduate but chose the factory job over college and now those jobs are moving to places where the labor is faster, better and cheaper.
This recession is not all big bad business and the evil mean rich. Middle class, lower class, everyone has a role. But if you listen to Obama the fault is squarely on the rich...the REPUBLICAN rich mind you not any rich democrats
Thank you for your brilliant analysis of the polity, rockslide
And it fully explains the magnificent performance of the economy from 2000-2008, when we had a President who told people the truth, straight, no chaser. When we had a President whose tax policy was fair and balanced and favored no class unduly. When we had a President who reached out to all Americans in an inclusive administration that sought the counsel of the best and brightest, no matter what their race, party, or religious belief. When we had a political party in control of this country that reached out as well, so that in 2008 they convened a grand gathering of a cross-section of America at their nominating convention, and nominated two candidates with multi-racial, multi-ethnic backgrounds, from states with diverse populations, so that we might all share in their wisdom in balancing the needs of all people who live in this great land.
Pass the pipe, dud, I'm losin' my buzz.
hmmm
methinks you missed his speech, because that's clearly not what he said -- particularly when he called out people for not finishing high school:
"It is our responsibility as lawmakers and educators to make this system work. But it is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in it. And so tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma. And dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It's not just quitting on yourself, it's quitting on your country - and this country needs and values the talents of every American."
That doesn't sound like "blame the rich" -- it sounds like "accept responsibility for your future."
You're just blowing smoke out of yer ass, as usual.
Come one, truthseeker, the
Come one, truthseeker, the Democrats didn't have one thing to do with where we are today? Little dishonest, don't you think?
Sounded like the same stuff
Sounded like the same stuff republicans have been saying for how many years now - the same stuff that got us where we are today.