Pajamas Media

131 Comments

1. Typewriter King:

Jindal should only be 53 in sixteen years, well short of being over-the-hill. In that time, Louisiana could be the only state with citizens able to afford their own personal jetpacks and flying cars, and folks will fawn over the “Louisiana Tiger” they way they do with any economic miracle. *Shrugs*

Hyperbole aside, if he’s the genius the conservative movement insists he is, he’ll have no trouble crafting his own national relevance through an array of different vehicles (like the National Governors Association), even if he doesn’t get a shot at the Oval Office in the near-term. Think of the influence Mayor Bloomberg manages to leverage nation-wide, and Jindal can presumably top that.

It took Reagan 16 years after “The Speech” to finally make it, we all know, and he was already the age Jindal will be in 16.

Sep 26, 2008 - 2:33 am 2. Tom W.:

An Indian American who’s performed exorcisms.

Yes, the press would certainly have treated him better than they’re treating Palin.

Sep 26, 2008 - 2:41 am 3. RE:

This sort of second guessing is foolish.

Besides, Sarah Palin is an excellent choice. McCain would still be McCain no matter who he picked.

Sep 26, 2008 - 2:42 am 4. Puma:

Wow, Kathleen Parker, and now you, saying Palin isn’t right for VP. You know, I can read crap like this on leftie sights. I don’t expect or appreciate it on so-called conservative sights. What are you people trying to do, get Obama elected? Sheesh!

Sep 26, 2008 - 3:59 am 5. BlueMax372:

The real conservative dream ticket will come in 2012 when incumbent VP Palin becomes the Republican presidential nominee, and selects Jindal to be the VP candidate.

Sep 26, 2008 - 4:04 am 6. Sioux Lady:

Surely you jest! Didn’t Biden tell us THOSE kind of Indians are best managing 7-11s. Not to practice any identity politics here, but, if McCain-Palin wins, I get a small heart flutter when I think that the other kind of Indians are only a heartbeat away from living in the White House. Well, Native Americans, anyway.

Sep 26, 2008 - 4:08 am 7. Kitty:

Why is this question being asked?

…

Sep 26, 2008 - 4:16 am 8. M Pav:

Could it be that he was picked and refused? He certainly made it clear to the public that he was not interested. Maybe he meant it.

Sep 26, 2008 - 4:21 am 9. Valerie:

I didn’t know just how smart John McCain is, until he popped the balloon of the Democratic Convention with a single, 30-second commercial and the announcement of his VP pick.

The Democrats and their supporters, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and National Public Radio, have gone completely nucking futs over this, because they know very well that Sarah Palin is better qualified for the presidency than Barak Obama, much less the vice presidency.

Sep 26, 2008 - 4:48 am 10. Brett_McS:

If Jindal had been picked VP he wouldn’t have been able to show what he could do. Palin has already proven she can take on tough challenges and win. Palin/Jindal 2012 is a good prospect.

Sep 26, 2008 - 4:48 am 11. Lisa:

No.

Sep 26, 2008 - 4:54 am 12. Sandy Sanders:

I agree. Gov. Jindal was my first choice. But what people should – and perhaps you could start it and I’ll contribute to it – is a pro-Jindal blog. Let’s support McCain-Palin. But let’s keep people in the know about Gov. Jindal. Form pro-Jindal meet up groups around the country and get him invited to GOP functions.

You may contact me at the email I used for this.

Sandy Sanders

Sep 26, 2008 - 5:01 am 13. myth buster:

No, Palin/Huckabee if McCain wins, flip it if McCain loses. Personally, I think Huckabee should be first anyway, since he’s nine years older than Palin, but it’s certainly more likely that Palin would get the nomination if she was the incumbent Vice-President (or perhaps President). Huckabee, Palin and Jindal are each capable of serving two terms, so Republicans could control the White House for 24 years.

Sep 26, 2008 - 5:10 am 14. yarrrr:

The better question is would Jindal want to be No. 2 to McCain? It must be suffocating…

Sep 26, 2008 - 5:21 am 15. Terry Gain:

Should Bridget Johnson have gone shopping instead of foisting this tripe upon this?

Sep 26, 2008 - 5:26 am 16. Eric Dondero:

Libertarians are not as turned on to Bobby Jindal as we are to Sarah Palin. Sarah is one of us. She attended two Libertarian Party meetings in 2005/06 in Anchorage. Jindal has had no associations with the libertarian movement at all.

Yes, Jindal would have been appealing to social conservatives, but not necessarily to the critical libertarian swing voters.

Bob Barr was polling 6% in mid-summer in Zogby. Post-Palin he’s down to 1%.

The pick of Sarah Palin will go down in history as one of the most brillant political moves ever by a mainstream politician. In one moment, John McCan won over cynical libertarian voters to his side.

Sep 26, 2008 - 5:27 am 17. george abrahams:

One of the best proof that Gov. Palin is exactly the right choice is the left-wing media onslaught against her. The is no higher recommendation for a conservative candidate. Every attack is another medal in the battle of ideas. She is now a decorated soldier. She is our Audie Murphy.

Sep 26, 2008 - 5:32 am 18. Bill Beahan:

I laugh at the latest libtard pathetic attempt to seperate the GOP base from Palin. Face it moron, she is a great choice for America. I am sorry that you left wing loons in the media disagree but that just confirms it. I see the fear that she will be the factor that energizes the GOP base and brings down the Holy Obammarxist. You are entertaining but clueless

Sep 26, 2008 - 5:32 am 19. RV:

If the informaiton in this article is correct, than I have to say that Palin/Jindal in 2012 is a bust. Just from what I read here, Jindal is light years more qualified for the position than Palin is. I can not even comprehend how it is comparable. A much better scenerio would be Jindal/whomever he chooses in 2012, Palin Governer of Alaska 2012.

Sep 26, 2008 - 5:35 am 20. alwyr:

What is the point of this totally useless speculation. Jindal wasn’t nominated; we have a ticket; the election’s 40 days away, and we STILL have people writing this kind of irrelevant crap???

Sep 26, 2008 - 5:44 am 21. ugh:

I thought the same thing about Jindal. He would have been the safer choice on the surface, and appears ready to lead. He’s going to be a bright light in politics.

Unfortunately, he comes with his own set of baggage, and is as Right as they come. He wouldn’t back down from teaching Creationism in schools, and other dealbreaker issues that would turn voters off. This race will not be decided by politics as usual or Jindal would have been a better choice. For a swing vote race, she’s brought energy and reform to a party that most Democrats like myself associated with stodgy corruption.

I will be voting Republican for the first time.

Sep 26, 2008 - 5:46 am 22. Dane:

Jindal would have all the same advantages and disadvantages of Palin (inexperience, religious fundamentalism). The only real difference I can see is that he’s not a woman.

I really don’t think it’d have made much difference, although if McCain hadn’t picked a woman we wouldn’t have gotten to see all this fun hypocrisy from the Democrats.

Sep 26, 2008 - 5:47 am 23. Dark Helmet:

Gov. Jindal is NOT an Indian America.

Gov. Jindal is an American of Indian descent. Get your facts straight.

Any one born here is an American Native.

Stop putting anything else in front of being an American.

If you need to identify yourself as something other first, then don’t bother adding the part about being an American because you’re not.

Gov Jindal was hired to cleanup a mess and is getting the job done. That’s where he needs to stay until it’s done before some other feminist, liberal homosexual is elected and turns the good state of Louisiana back into the sewer of America.

Sep 26, 2008 - 5:57 am 24. Huan:

i don’t think Jindal is any more experience than Palin, and would have had less appeal to independents imo.

i look foward to 12.
if McCain wins and only stay for one term, Palin/Jindal would be very interesting
if McCain loses, we will likely see both Palin & Jindal competing against each other in the primaries

Sep 26, 2008 - 6:13 am 25. Jarhead:

Palin/Jindal is the 2012 dream ticket.

Sep 26, 2008 - 6:34 am 26. jbb:

Dark Helmet
“Gov Jindal was hired to cleanup a mess and is getting the job done. That’s where he needs to stay until it’s done”

Couldn’t agree more. That state was massively screwed up and we paid for it. Now with Governor Jindal there it’s starting to turn around. That’s where he needs to be and where we need him for the time being.

Sep 26, 2008 - 6:36 am 27. SED:

Romney/Jindal 2012!!!

The smartest men in ANY room.

Sep 26, 2008 - 6:38 am 28. Tom:

Jindal is too young right now and is proving himself in LA. 2016 earliest for him.

Besides, his credentials are more conservative than Mccain’s. Not as good a match.

Save him for later since the US economy will get weaker. The bailout in its current form.

This year is a Dem year. McCain could pull an upset, but right now, the perceived bad economy and the MSM in the tank for Obama make it very difficult.

Sep 26, 2008 - 6:47 am 29. Krusty:

Ladies and Gentlemen, I will not be voting Palin/McCain. But I have a very serious question for y’all. I am curious what it would take to demonstrate that the Republican ticket is a bad choice? What would convince one of you to vote for Obama? If the answer is nothing, do you think we are engaging in a healthy evaluation of these candidates?

I frequent some of the lefty sites and I tell you there is dissent there. There were angry postings and debate about Obama’s FISA vote and his choices and the debate between Hillary and Obama. I never read a message (and maybe I missed it) that said, “hey be quiet and support the team”. It’s a bit creepy to see these messages as if dissent = disloyalty to one’s country.

Sep 26, 2008 - 6:48 am 30. MathMom:

I think it can be argued that Jindal is more of a powerhouse than Palin, and possibly a more perfectly-ready fit for the Vice-Presidency. But Palin had already showed her chops in Alaska, and Jindal has only had months on the job of Governor of Louisiana.

The fact is, Louisiana needs Jindal more than American needs Jindal. I want Jindal in national office, but after he’s had a chance to change the soul of Louisiana.

Louisiana has suffered long enough under the corruption started by Huey Long, and they deserve a chance to become a functioning state, not a wannabe third world country. They deserve the opportunity to prosper under Jindal, since they finally showed the good sense to elect someone competent. New Orleans re-elected Nagin you know…Louisiana could have re-elected failure and corruption. They apparently want to change. I think it would have been criminal to try to pull Jindal away from his new job, because the needs of Louisiana are truly greater than the needs of the US at large.

Besides, you have to admit that McCain completely obviated the effect of the Dem convention the very next day by his announcement. McCain really got inside Obama’s OODA loop, and seeing Obama and Biden standing slack-jawed trying to figure out what had happened to their coronation was very satisfying.

There is a lot to be said for Palin just because she’s a true Alaskan woman, too. Having lived there for several years, I learned that sissified Manhattan gabbers and blowhard Beltway leeches would simply die in the harsh conditions there – they wouldn’t have the sense to change the Gucci shoes for bunny boots and abandon style for warmth and protection from the cold. You must have the soul of a frontiersman or woman to thrive in Alaska, and a lack of pretense with a focus on what truly matters comes with that experience. Palin has that quality. We are fortunate to have her on the ticket.

She is reviled and attacked because she’s truly what feminism said a woman could be, but the National Association of Gals (Rush’s term for NOW) never believed that Evolved Woman would be packing heat and be skilled at field dressing a moose. They also didn’t expect her to be pretty and happy and a mommy and self-made. Those things make Sarah Palin an excellent choice.

Sep 26, 2008 - 6:52 am 31. Brian C.:

My guess is that had Jindal been selected, he would have been savaged just as Palin has been by the media. Campbell Brown and Katie Couric may have gone a little easier on him because he hasn’t committed the ultimate sin – failing to abort a baby with Down symdrome.

Let’s face the facts, both candidates have been selected by the media. The media wanted Obama over Hillary (race trumps sex in the white liberal guilt pecking order) and McCain because it saw McCain as the least conservative of the GOP candidates.

Now, we have so-called “conservatives” jumping on the MSM bandwagon (although I must admit that I had never heard of Bridget Johnson until this morning). Win or loose, we as conservatives should have a common goal – continuing to destroy the credibility of the media.

Sep 26, 2008 - 6:54 am 32. syn:

I think Senator McCain the Politican (longstanding member of corrupt Congress who failed both in 2003 and in 2005 to get his dear friends across the aisle to agree to a bi-partisan mortgage plan to fix the problem. McCain-Feingold-McCain-Kennedy-McCain-Leiberman…where is the McCain-Dodd bill?) should bow out and promote Mitt Romney to the top of the ticket.

Yeah I know the other candidate is even deeper in Congressional corruption doo-doo, so he is out of the question however we had a Republican majority yet McCain could not get a bill passed on a financial issue he knew full well was collapsing?

For the good of the country McCain should step aside. Romney/Palin 08 neither are current members of the most corrupt Congress in US history.

McCain’s problem is he has way too many corrupt friends in Congress for him to Reform effectively.

Sep 26, 2008 - 7:11 am 33. Tito:

This article is another in the long line of opinion pieces that seem to think there should be an elite ruling class in the US. That class should be educated at top universities (preferably the Ivies, though Stanford and the military academies are okay, too) and then serve in various positions in government or business before standing for the highest office in the land. Our founding fathers, whose wisdom impresses more and more considering the foolishness we currently tolerate, obviously did not want that and therefore set only three qualifications for President: one must be a natural born citizen, 35 years old, and have lived in the country at least 14 years. That’s it. No degree from Harvard, no tenure on a corporate board of directors, no specific military rank make one more qualified for the office. If history has taught us anything, it’s that those who are comfortable with themselves and their beliefs, who hold strong principles, and who are smarter than given credit for by the glib pundits and journalists of the day normally make far better Presidents than those thought of as “more qualified” through education and experience (think Truman or Reagan v. Wilson, Carter, or Bush 41). I think both Jindal and Plain exhibit those characteristics and as such are “ready” to be President. Only one could be chosen. The politics at this time favor the governor of Alaska over the governor of Louisiana. Since it is a political race, after all, she was chosen. If anyone thinks that Jindal, whom I admire and respect, would have brought about the same level of excitement as Palin, I think that person is delusional.

Sep 26, 2008 - 7:13 am 34. Fallon:

Please. Stop second guessing McCain’s choice. Governor Sarah Palin is one of only a few reasons that I have switched my vote from Obama to McCain. I agree, that a Palin/Jindal 2012 is a Republican dream ticket, but that’s in the future. I also think that Obama has plenty of time to further implode with the voters. Obama’s lack of leadership and his surplus of partisanship in the current financial crisis is being noticed, even if it isn’t reported by the MSM.

Sep 26, 2008 - 7:14 am 35. Richard:

Clarifications:

1. Jindal did not perform any exorcisms.

2. Jindal has not forced schools to teach creationism. He signed a bill allowing schools to add supplemental materials on alternatives to evolution. The schools would decide, not the governor – as it should be.

It’s clear to me that Jindal has greater experience, policy savvy and overall wattage than does Sarah Palin. But it’s also clear that he needs more time to develop it in Louisiana before being rushed up to the major leagues. If he keeps it up, he could be an extremely formidable candidate for president in 4 or 8 years.

Whatever Palin’s other assets, I do think that Jindal would not have excited the base as much as Palin – average voters can identify with her more readily than they can with Jindal. But that doesn’t mean that, with time, he won’t be a candidate they can get very enthused about another cycle or two down the road.

Palin also needed more seasoning. But whatever worries I have about her in this regard, they are just as significant with Barack Obama. And he’s at the top, not the bottom, of the ticket.

Sep 26, 2008 - 7:19 am 36. jane:

Hpw quickly people seem to forget the really big thing the selection of Gov Palin did – she ignited the Republican base behind McCain. For all his positive qualities I don’t think Jindl would have done that.

Palin enthused the conservatives and helped convince the conservatives that McCain was willing to consider them as valued members of the Party. Without that pull McCain would be drawing the media but few of the Republicans.

Brian C has it right – the media and the left wanted McCain because he is at best a nominal Republican. His willingness – in fact eagerness – to “reach across the aisle to the Democrats made him a candidate that was certain to lose to Obama, the media’s latest flavor of the month.

Whether Palin is ready to be Pres is not the issue – she is running for the VP slot. IMO Obama is neither ready for the Presidency nor is he good for the country. So I will take McCain and a marginal VP over an unqualified Obama and a long term Senator VP who if truth be known hasn’t actually done that much in his long term Senatorial career.

Sep 26, 2008 - 7:22 am 37. e.p.:

Jindal will make a fine candidate someday but he said loudly and clearly during the vetting process that he was not interested in a VP slot. He’s a relatively new governor and LA needs a lot of work, parts of NO are still rebuilding, etc. He’s doing a great job as was shown in Ike. He will prove himself and I’d love to see him at the top of the ticket.

Sep 26, 2008 - 7:22 am 38. ic:

“the MSM in the tank for Obama make it very difficult”

The MSM are always in the tank for a liberal Democrat. The reason Reagan beat them was because Carter had made the country so bad that everyone who had an oz of a brain voted against the incumbent. And the election was close.

In Bush 41’s re-election bid, Nightline had an operative named Gary Sick accusing Bush was sent by Reagan to Iran to stop them from releasing the hostages until after the election. Then every night, Nightline speculated what Bush had done on the trip. Of course, the vp nominee’s travel itineraries could be checked to prove or disprove the allegations. Somehow, investigative reporters could never find Bush who was campaigning in the States on those Iran visit days. After the election, Gary Sick disappeared, Ted Kopel never mentioned his allegations again.

Remember Rathergate against GWB?

The only difference this time is: the MSM were blatant against Democrat Hillary.

Sep 26, 2008 - 7:32 am 39. Diane:

Well that was interesting./sarcasm
We are in the middle of huge financial problems and now Bridget(whoever you are) decides to say she loves Jindal and get rid of Palin? Get over your crush and let’s focus on the problems at hand.

Sep 26, 2008 - 7:41 am 40. Cowcup:

GOP candidate(s) for 2012 will emerge in a few days. Just watch who are fighting the bailout.

Sep 26, 2008 - 7:41 am 41. Veep Remorse Sets in on Both Sides « Conservatives For McCain:

[...] her as his second was the right one.  Two conservative women write today expressing such concerns (Bridgett Johnson and Kathleen [...]

Sep 26, 2008 - 7:50 am 42. Kevin:

Two points:
1) Is it me or is virtually EVERY negative column on Sarah Palin written by a female, liberal or conservative? Is the female competitive natural-selection instinct that strong to abdicate common sense?
2) Jindal IS talented, IS qualified, but the “3″ in his age is simply fodder for the MSM. Once the magic “4″ appears in his age he is good to go. And what is wrong with staggering our new “reagans” over the next 16 years?

Take this to the bank, this election will NOT be close electorally. The MSM is in for a rude election night awakening in the form of “red” OH,PA,CO,WI, and FL.

Sep 26, 2008 - 7:57 am 43. vb:

What is going on? We are where we are, and we need to figure out where to go. This type of discussion only serves to fragmentize our side and raise tempers. Ten years down the road, some wonk can write a book about VP selection based on poll data and the s**t happens factor. Right now, the grown-ups should talk about the issues at hand. They are big ones.

Sep 26, 2008 - 8:04 am 44. NC Doc:

Jindal would’ve been a good start, but it would have also signified a serious choice – Romney would have even more so. This month has been an absolute trainwreck, while we should have every advantage at the table promoting a serious economic debate.

I may just be a simple country doctor, but trying to look at all of this with a sober, detached perspective – it seems pretty clear to me that Senator McCain simply doesn’t want the job. It’s the only angle that even begins to explain this slow-motion trainwreck. He can’t say it of course, but his actions more than make up for the silence in that regard.

Sep 26, 2008 - 8:17 am 45. James:

A sudden second-guessing by third-rate cons like you, Mr. Crunchy-Con and Kat Parker because Sarah had a less-than-stellar interview with the Perky One? Shows how much spine you all have. As you can see the by the comments, we’re not looking for info we could find on Buzzflash or DailyKos.
Bobby is great but even younger than Sarah and what’s more, Louisiana REALLY needs him to undo the Democratic lock on the state since Huey Long.
Back off Sarah and focus your angst on where it belongs!

Sep 26, 2008 - 8:17 am 46. mike shelton:

The only thing wrong with bringing up Jindal is his repeated,and I believe sincere, desire to remind governor of Louisiana. He didn’t want the VP job at this time and was turning it down. I doubt he would have accepted if he’d been directly offered.

Sep 26, 2008 - 8:19 am 47. trangbang68:

Krusty, Some of our unwillingness to vote for Obama is not because we haven’t evaluated him but because we have. Ain’t nothing there to vote for.

Sep 26, 2008 - 8:22 am 48. Johnnie:

Another completely trite, ignorant, rabidly bigoted Hate Palin column.

Instead of clinging to their hyper emotional bigotry and ignorance, these clown columnists should try doing even a modicum of research. Their commentary on Palin is completely without a hint of a clue of a notion of rational thought.

Sep 26, 2008 - 8:24 am 49. Therese:

This article is nonsense. Bob Jindal is not the VP candidate, so let’s move on. In a slight-handed way, you’re trying to cast doubts about Sarah Palin. She was the absolute best choice. The Republican based is excited and (contrary to what the media wants you to believe), she has excited a lot of female voters, too. Stop trying to trash her in a backhanded way.

Sep 26, 2008 - 8:27 am 50. jane:

Wow krust – you say I never read a message (and maybe I missed it) that said, “hey be quiet and support the team”. ”

You must not have EVER read at the Daily Kos or the Huffington Post because you could not have missed the Obamamites routinely telling the unhappy Hillary supporters to STFU. The Clinton supporters were regularly told that if they didn’t fail in line with the Obama mantra of “Hope & Chanege” they weren’t Democrats or they were racist. You must have missed the derogatory things they’ve said about the PUMAs. You must have missed the “don’t let the door hit you on the way out” comments in response to people leaving.

Sep 26, 2008 - 8:45 am 51. Krusty:

trangbang68, I believe that, but my point is that I’ve never seen these kinds of posts..”fall in line” “stop second guessing” “direct your angst elsewhere” “show some spine”. You don’t find this sort of discourse scary?

James, she was a nightmare and clearly demonstrated how weak she is mentally. It wasn’t a bad day. She’s really really dumb. There are no excuses. Romney would have been better, Paul would have been better, Lieberman would have been better, Olympia Snowe, etc. etc. This IS NOT A TEAM SPORT. You don’t win a prize for putting Sarah Palin in the second most powerful seat.

Sep 26, 2008 - 8:48 am 52. hdgreene:

If there is any money made on the “bail out” it should be sent back to the taxpayers. If the rescue clears 100 billion (it could well clear more) than each American gets $333. Gov. Palin did something like that in Alaska. It would make a good campaign issue for Republicans, and the Govenor could credibly lead the charge. Getting the profit, if any, out of Washington is the only way to get the base to acquiesce to the bailout.

I think Gov. Jindal has an excellent future. If McCain-Palin go down — and Gov. Palin does not recover — then he will be an excellent choice in four years.

Sep 26, 2008 - 8:51 am 53. Dr. Laura Fan:

So NC Doc, if you’re man doesn’t want the job, you’re ok with Palin being our president? Dr. Laura’s head will explode if that happens.

It should have been Romney/Huckabee and I may still write them in on the ballot.

Sep 26, 2008 - 8:57 am 54. Dee:

Krusty:

Ladies and Gentlemen, I will not be voting Palin/McCain. But I have a very serious question for y’all. I am curious what it would take to demonstrate that the Republican ticket is a bad choice? What would convince one of you to vote for Obama? If the answer is nothing, do you think we are engaging in a healthy evaluation of these candidates?

Krusty- I have given this alot of thought. One of the most distrubing personal attitudes that has developed over the years, is I do not trust the media. The newspapers, televsion and radio commentators lie. Mostly they lie to further the socialist cause.

So in answer to your question, I would personally have to experience dishonesty or violent crime before I would vote for a Democrat. No matter what evidence, video you show me, I won’t believe it because years of exposure to the lies of Democrates and their personal PR firm of the MSM. I find this shocking and dismaying. But sir, is what has been brought by the dupicity of the media.

Sep 26, 2008 - 9:03 am 55. BMoon:

You honestly think that the elite Leftist media would show any less vitriole, calumny, unfairness, and mindless savagry to Jindal than they did to Palin?

What planet are you on, and how much are the tickets? I’d like to get away from this one too.

Sep 26, 2008 - 9:05 am 56. Another View:

“You know Alaskan airspace where Putin rears his head”. Sarah Palin on her foreign policy credentials.

Palin is a idiot. Plain and simple air head. You people and your identity politics.

Stop watching Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingrahm you will realize it’s over for Palin an McCain. Over. You think Fox is the only network thats not in the tank for Obama. You got it so wrong. CBS,ABC,NBC,BBC, AL JAZERRA, are all against FOX lies and omissions. But I know they make you feel good with there Jim Crow commentary.

Example: N.Cavuto-” it’s the minority homeowners who foreclosed fault the economy is collapsing”

What? actually this collapse started with World Com, Enron and the Administration pumping in billions of freshly printed cash from the Fed(look at inflation). And There is no way you can blame minorities alone if at all. Blame the banks for taking advantage of loans people did not need. Also Everybody refinanced(Except me 30yr fixed at 5.2%). People took out cash and took on interest only, Adjustable rates and balloon loans. I am sorry but it wasn’t minorities but that is something you won’t research because FOX said so.

If a Dr. pushed certain medications or treatments that were favorable to him that would be unethical correct? So question the loan officers ethics.

You people Actually will vote a man in office who is clearly being told what to do. At least Obama is actually making real decisions regarding his campaign.

Your like parents watching your no talent kid play little league.

Sep 26, 2008 - 9:06 am 57. Kondratieff:

The Democratic Parties’ war machine would also be able to attack Jindal. Their pack of lawyers digging around in Louisiana –Probably link him to Huey Long.

Jindal’s candidacy would only be a better choice if it induced MSM to report about Obama’s background with the same rigor they are reporting about Palin or what they would if Jindal was the candidate.

Sep 26, 2008 - 9:09 am 58. Cowcup:

Reagan waited. There is nothing wrong that Jindal can wait. By refusing the VP offer, Jindal has proven to us that he knew himself and he knew what the fight would look alike. This kind of maturity gives people confidence. He’s likable.

Sep 26, 2008 - 9:12 am 59. Cowcup:

“I am curious what it would take to demonstrate that the Republican ticket is a bad choice?”

For me, it would be the bailout.

Sep 26, 2008 - 9:14 am 60. Cowcup:

“What would convince one of you to vote for Obama?”

For me, if Obama denounced his pastor without that stupid speech; or if Obama delievered a speech praising USA in Berlin; etc, etc. I would accept him. And the prospect of the first black president, and his opponent being not a real conservative (at that time), …

Sep 26, 2008 - 9:17 am 61. GerSan:

No, no, no. Palin is the best possible choice at this time in our history. Over and over, we are hit with stories of greed and theft in Washington. Then, along comes Gov. Palin, who’s not one of them – she’s one of us. Jindal is the future, not the present.
As for Obama… many of us have a suit hanging in our closets with more substance that the empty suit the Dems are trying to elect.

Sep 26, 2008 - 9:45 am 62. R.W. Renn:

Palin passes my first test. She knows that the people’s money belongs to the people. I know this is hard for you elitists to understand; Not hard for the people in flyby country, however.

Sep 26, 2008 - 9:47 am 63. cedarford:

BlueMax372:
The real conservative dream ticket will come in 2012 when incumbent VP Palin becomes the Republican presidential nominee, and selects Jindal to be the VP candidate.

I think you were probably one of the ones infatuated with Condi Rice….Rwpublicans playing affirmative action bingo always look foolish.

“She may be the person most closely associated with Bush and his many mistakes, but My God! think of all the affirmative action bonus points she gets checked off. She’s unbeatable”

Probably was not a big mistake to go with Palin, though she looks pretty weak when asked questions. McCain’s treachery with the Right Wing was too well established for him to go with a moderate like Pawlenty, Hutchinson, Romney. The most qualified candidate on executive leadership and the economy was Mitt Romney, by far. And he is one of the few in any Party in the last 50 years that actually smarter than Jindal.
Alas for Mitt, the conservatives split 3 ways and he had to bend over so much to try and win over bigoted fundies he came across to many as a pandering phony – though McCain is even more famous for flip-flops and pandering…but McCain suffered! He suffered!

But all this is irrelevant.

alwyr:
What is the point of this totally useless speculation. Jindal wasn’t nominated; we have a ticket; the election’s 40 days away, and we STILL have people writing this kind of irrelevant crap???

Sep 26, 2008 - 10:00 am 64. always right:

Has Gov. Jindal showed he is willing and able to challenge on his own party old guard?

Otherwise, he is just a rising star.

Not a good fit for this year’s CHANGE theme.

Sep 26, 2008 - 10:23 am 65. S. Weasel:

Oh, for craps sake…what is with these stupid “what if?” VP stories.

If you ask me, the biggest mistake was picking McCain. But, hey, he’s the nominee, and what is the point point chipping away at the branch we’re sitting on?!?

Sep 26, 2008 - 10:54 am 66. Aaron:

Did anyone see the Palin-Couric interview? For those of you who cannot look at Palin without experiencing rapturous delight, she did really really badly. She came across as flustered and ignorant. You may think Couric was mean to her, but all she was doing was asking fair questions. Palin doesn’t seem to have a grasp of much of anything that’s going on in the world. Of course Jindal would have been a better choice, if you’re talking about qualifications. He would have brought different political baggage, however.

Sep 26, 2008 - 11:03 am 67. Fallon:

More thoughts… Divide and conquer. The only purpose of type of posting is to try to put cracks in the Republican base. The Democrats have their Obama v. Clinton schism, which might help get McCain/Palin into the White House.

I’m not going to feed this type of thinking on the Republican side. If Governor Sarah Palin goes, so do I. It’s very simple. And, that is the point. I am an Independent voter who switched over to McCain after he chose Palin.

If posts like this cause any type of doubt, any type of infighting, it has succeeded and McCain will lose. Beware and be careful of the insidious and underhanded psychology that goes into a post like this.

Sep 26, 2008 - 11:18 am 68. ReCon USMC:

Since we are playing what if … My personal choose was General Petraeus for President or VP long ago .
Washington has no real Leaders or Leadership but Tons of useless Villains WEAK BUTT filling their own and Lobbyist friends pockets .
General Patraeus is not only a real proven rare Top of the top leader .. he is a devout Christian , Conservative and a Brilliant man I might add that really Loves his Country and has given his life to this country spending Months away from his wife and family .He also comes from a normal middle class NY small town family hardly and elite leftist who hates America and our Military .
When he was at West Point He was in the top 2 % of his class and has gotten perfect Fitness scores plus the Surge was his Idea and mission .
When Liberals in Congress blasted him he treated it like water off a duck back and made them all look very stupid .
Marines there told me he talked to them often to get their on ground facts and they all really liked him as did Generals and all USMC Officers .
Local Iraqi and their Top people really like and respect him as well …. he is the reason Iraq and the USA is winning finally not Liberals in Congress or OBAMA B/S .

Sep 26, 2008 - 11:21 am 69. penny:

Aaron, I didn’t watch the interview, but, your description, of course with no specifics, of Palin is only your own.

Sep 26, 2008 - 11:29 am 70. Jeff:

We all need to really look at this election objectively. Since the completion of the vetting process of both VP candidates, Biden has gone on to accommodate roughly about 84 interviews with the press while Palin has done less than 4 interviews with the press. That is a MAJOR unbalance in the two comparisons and it truly shows McCain’s apprehensiveness about her ability to speak on her own accord, without his physical presence. What does this portray, first and foremost? It portrays that this Presidential ticket does not have the full and utmost confidence in his VP ticket to fend for herself and answer any questions that the American public needs to know. It truly shows that his vetting process was not done in a wise manner but more so in a political manner. Here is a woman that exudes family values; taking care of 5 kids while being the Governor of Alaska, maintaining a healthy marriage, having decent morals and values, and is completely a Washington outsider. This is a classic profile of a candidate that has never been tainted, in the eyes of the American public that has lost faith in the judicial system. This pick was merely done to appeal to the American families with values and tradition but what else could be said about this VP ticket? Does it show the American public anything about her ability to make all the necessary decisions in regards to foreign affairs, national defense, economic legislation, and the overall ability to govern the most powerful country in the world?

We must keep in mind that McCain IS in fact 72 years old and if elected, he WILL be the oldest President to ever be elected. The last oldest elected President was Ronald Reagan at 69 years old, when he was elected in 1980, but he was in fairly good health. McCain, on the other hand, will be 3 years Reagan’s senior, if elected. He also does have a history of skin cancers which are not completely cured, among other ailments that he suffered during his years as a POW in Vietnam. Can we, as the American public, be completely confident that if anything happens to McCain while in office, that Palin will in fact be fully ready to tackle anything and everything that this country will have to face? America MUST search deep down and answer this question, honestly.

Sep 26, 2008 - 11:36 am 71. tim maguire:

There’s nothing wrong with thinking Jindal is the better choice, but that doesn’t make Palin a bad choice. So far she’s been a big boost to the McCain candidacy. So, like many others here, I have to wonder what’s the point of this article? Jindal will get his chance if he wants it.

Sep 26, 2008 - 11:48 am 72. Steve:

Jeff:

take your DNC talking back to Josh’s site where you ahve been putting them together for weeks. Really, the Gaffa-matic is being so routinely ignored by the media that to suggest he is giving more ‘interviews” than anyone is such a gross distortion as to rival anything the Obamasiah otherwise says. You people are pathetic.

Sep 26, 2008 - 12:05 pm 73. Patterson:

Absolutely not.

Sep 26, 2008 - 12:15 pm 74. grenma:

Jindal is a good choice, but it would be cruel to deprive a state so long devoid of anything approaching competent governance to get a VP who would make a few good speeches and then fade into obscurity for 4-8 years.

Sep 26, 2008 - 12:31 pm 75. J Scott:

The last thing the McCain campaign needs at this point is a cacophony on the right reading from the left’s talking points about Gov Palin. I’m no fan of McCain, but does anyone here prefer the alternative. My God, Kerry was a leftist/empty-suit, but Obama is a doctrinaire socialist.

There will be a time to make comparison, now is an awful time.

Sep 26, 2008 - 12:37 pm 76. JC:

Perhaps the best case scenario is an Obama victory in November. The country will see the consequences of liberal leadership in the executive and legislative branches. This will pave the way for GOP majorities in both legistlative houses by 2012 and a Palin-Jindal ticket in 2012. A brief historical analogy: had Gerald Ford won the election in 1976 there never would have been a Carter presidency. And without a Carter presidency there would not have been a Reagan revolution. John McCain does not inspire me and I would not be heartbroken if he loses in November. It is perhaps our best shot to get our country back…..in 2012.

Sep 26, 2008 - 12:41 pm 77. Ed Wallis:

“Should McCain Have Picked Jindal Instead?”

CORRECTION:

“Should Zerobama Have Picked Hillary Inst…EXCUSE ME: Should Hillary Have Picked Someone Other Than an Utterly Embarassing and Ignorant Charlatan?”

THERE…THAT’S BETTER.

Sep 26, 2008 - 12:50 pm 78. photographed:

Silly exercise, this. A far better questions is: “Should Obama have picked Hillary instead?”

On second thought, we all know the answer. I would not vote for Hillary, but she certainly is a popular democrat choice.

Joe Biden is a terrible choice. B. Hussein Obama is an abominable choice. Abominable.

This column is merely a fishing expedition for negative comments from conservatives about their ticket.

The Republican ticket is Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin, and I am quite happy to vote for them.

Sep 26, 2008 - 1:07 pm 79. photographed:

Make that “a fishing expedition for negative comments PURPORTED to be from conservatives about their ticket.”

Sep 26, 2008 - 1:11 pm 80. cedarford:

JC – This will pave the way for GOP majorities in both legistlative houses by 2012 and a Palin-Jindal ticket in 2012.

Republicans who embrace the diversity racket end up sounding identical to Democrats on weak VPs – and failed primary candidates. ‘88 was “Jesse’s for the taking”, as long as Geraldine became governor of New York.

Lieberman and Silky Pony were “inevitable” 2004 and 2008 frontrunners and “likely nominees”.

Affirmative action BINGO players on the Republican side have great enthusiasm for blacks that they cannot seem to muster for White, Asian, or Hispanics…and besides the Rice disaster…tout marginal blacks like Alan Keyes. 1-term lieutenant Gov Michael Steele, the ex-QB…

So far Palin hasn’t shown she is ready for primetime…her knowledge and confidence seem lacking. And one 60-day run as VP may endear her to Fundies that distrust education, there is no reason to think she would enter a 2012 race and be thought of as more “qualified” than others who may contend from the Governorships, Congress, business, or the Military.
As for Jindal, he only has 2 years in charge of Louisiana, and that state has a way of disposing of promising politicians over time. Nor is his “diversity” going to get the largest groups to swoon for him…it would be like thinking guilty whites, hispanics, blacks would also swoon for someone of Arab ethnicity or a Jew. (which we know they don’t).

Sep 26, 2008 - 1:29 pm 81. Donna G.:

Those of you who think Palin is qualified must not be listening. Do you actually “listen” to her answering the questions? Can’t you see that she is presently not at all up to the challenge? As a candidate for the second most important position in the world she lacks the basic credentials in terms of education, self confidence, articulation, and information about the right issues. Even her strongest Republican big wig supporters agree that she is very marginal. Her handlers know that they will be running the country and calling the shots for her. Doesn’t that thought bother you? Can’t you see the truth of it all?

Look, she seems like a nice lady and maybe she shares your belief system and she may be suitable to have as your friend, but please don’t make the mistake of thinking of her as a leader of one of the most powerful countries of the free world.

If you were to be told that she will be a mere figurehead would you still want to vote for her (and the running mate that chose her who would be in on the plan?

Sep 26, 2008 - 1:39 pm 82. HRPKathy:

Now if you want to ask a pertinent question, perhaps we should discuss the wisdom of PJM selecting a worthless piece of tripe from Bridget Johnson in lieu of something… relevant? But as the issue is raised let’s throw some light on it.

Like Fallon on this board, I would not be voting for McCain if Palin was not on the ticket. It takes an abominable lack of short term memory to suggest Palin wasn’t the best person to inject life into the McCain campaign; she is the one who made him competitive and is likely the one that will help him win the WH. (I think they have medications for people who can’t remember past three weeks ago. If you’ve forgotten, seek help.)

Bobby Jindal is great. Sarah Palin is great. We have good strong young talent, and the future of our party looks good. Meanwhile the left has Schumer, Reid, Pelosi, and Hillary, after the Obomb bombs. It isn’t bad enough the dead votes for democrats, now the dead holds office.

I look at deeds not words – perhaps this mess on Wall Street could have been averted had more people applied that standard instead of an ideological litmus test substituted for integrity.

And to the guy who asked what it would take for me to vote for Obama – answer: he’d have to one tenth of the man he thinks he is and ten times the man he really is. There is nothing more dangerous than an unconcious incompetent – unless it is those who would vote for him.

Sep 26, 2008 - 1:40 pm 83. HRPKathy:

And to the guy who asked what it would take for me to vote for Obama – answer: he’d have to BE one tenth of the man he thinks he is and ten times the man he really is.

(verb inserted so the sentence makes sense)

Sep 26, 2008 - 1:43 pm 84. TimM:

I don’t know, not a big fan of Jindal. Still, Palin no longer inspires confidence. I’m starting to see why McCain won’t let her talk to the press. True, she brought life to the party, but in the end, she could be the reason for its defeat.

It’s too late for her to drop out. McCain needs to keep her under tight control. That strategy worked before and he needs to reinstate it ASAP!

Sep 26, 2008 - 2:50 pm 85. brad g:

These are certainly acceptable thoughts, and I come close to totally agreeing. The initial Palin impact was huge, giving an overwhelmingly partisan rep. convention a speech is different than answering complex questions under the gun. I think and thought that Jindal would have been an exceptional choice — and I think when it comes to the debates, and more sustantive questions on policy, you will see why. Palin doesn’t seem to have a lot of critical depth in certain areas, and as time goes by, she either will get sharper, or prove more embarassing than Biden in his stupid moments…..

Sep 26, 2008 - 2:50 pm 86. lee:

Another View

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Community Reinvestment Act, which encouraged banks to approave high risk loans to minorities and various community organization. The government pretty much pressured the banks to take the affirmative action apporach to lending, where they loaned indiscriminately to avoid the appearnces of bias. Clinton appointee Franklin Raines spearheaded such a drive, as well as other prominent democrats.

“Minorities” did not cause this problem. Or should I say, “We” didn’t, since I’m a minority myself. But the banks loaned irresponsibly to a number of them who couldn’t afford to pay them back now, who wasn’t ready to own a home or owned too much for their own good. And the government played a prominent role in it. It’s not just one or two banks that are randomly failing – they’re all toppling like domnioes simultaneously. And yet people scream for more “regulations”.

Sep 26, 2008 - 3:15 pm 87. ProgMeister:

Some in the throes of Palin euphoria quickly respond to the suggestion of Jindal on a ticket by suggesting a Palin-Jindal campaign for 2016 — based on the assumption, of course, that McCain-Palin will win, that McCain-Palin will win re-election, and that Palin would, at the end of that, be jonesing to campaign for the presidency. Then, in that theoretical scenario, eight years of Palin with Jindal at No. 2 would mean 16 years before he ran for the presidency.

WHY STOP THERE??!!!! what about Todd? and Levi? and Bristol!!!! the baby should be old enough by then so she’ll have a little free time to do some governin’ … they’re learnin’ a couple a things this time so you can bet Bristol’s passport app’s already processin’ …. I’m figurin’ God’s plan is to have Palins and Jindals runnin’ the country clear through to 2100 !!! WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sep 26, 2008 - 3:40 pm 88. Krusty:

Oh HRP Kathy, what a silly partisan hack you are. He would have to be 10 times the man he really is… what a profound statement. I know Bush has really lived up to his mediocrity and so have Palin and the rest of the idiots you worship. Meanwhile there are real thinkers on the right being marginalized by your bible thumping stupidity, like Ron Paul, a classic reasoned conservative.

You think the left worships Obama? Do you see this thread? It’s the definition of worship and faith for something that should require impartiality.

Sep 26, 2008 - 3:46 pm 89. Anonymous:

Yes, the McCain/Jindal ticket would have been a winner. Palin’s interviews are a poor reflection on McCain. Yes, she was a mistake, let’s hope McCain will keep her in the background.

Sep 26, 2008 - 4:10 pm 90. geokstr:

There was undeniable corporate greed by the Master of the Universe types of Harvard educated executives at the larger financial institutions, but they made all that money by mainly trying to figure out how to invent financial instruments that could spread the huge risk in all the sub-prime mortgages. But there would have been no need for this creative financing if they had no raw material to work with – no risky mortgages. And where did those come from?

From the damned liberals – that’s where.

Since the late 1970’s, banks and other lending instutitions have been under extreme pressure from the left to make bad mortgage loans to very bad credit risks. At the end, they were making 100% loans to people with no documented work history, and welfare payments and unemployment compensation were accepted as sources of income. Unfreakingbelievable.

If they did not make the loans, they were threatened with federal lawsuits for discrimination, with boycotts and accusations of racism by hustlers like Jesse and Al, and heavily pressured by groups formed, trained and led by COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, of which your little tin demi-god is a perfect example.

The bailout (read: responsible people paying the bill for the irresponsible) actually had a line in it to give 20% of any profits made on the sale of any assets acquired by the government to more community organizing groups like ACORN (yes the same group under investigation in many states for voter registration FRAUD). ACORN and Obama are pretty much tied at the hip.

Lastly, I really would like to know how many of the foreclosures are for loans made to ILLEGAL aliens.

Sep 26, 2008 - 4:26 pm 91. geokstr:

Sorry , my computer went ballistic and posted this in the wrong thread.

Sep 26, 2008 - 4:27 pm 92. B Dubya:

Astroturf

Sep 26, 2008 - 4:31 pm 93. Vodkapundit » Better Late Than Never?:

[...] Posted by Stephen Green on 26 Sep 2008 at 05:42 pm Buyer’s remorse for Sarah Palin? Bridget Johnson thinks Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal would have been the smarter choice. [...]

Sep 26, 2008 - 4:42 pm 94. naguabo79:

Monday morning quarterbacking is always fun, but absolutely meaningless. The fact is that before Governor Palin’s selection everybody (and I mean everybody) believed that Obama would win in a landslide. Gov Palin has put a halt to all of that and the race is a toss-up. If McCain holds his side of the bargain, Palin will be just fine.

Sep 26, 2008 - 4:45 pm 95. BMoon:

So what if she blew an interview? She looked like you or me probably would have before national cameras. Actually, I kind of like somebody who is not polished, slick and smooth. The worst politicians are often elected becuase of their “presentation.” I can think of a few historically. You elect somebody on their 1.)positions and 2.) character. palin stands out on both. She will grow into the media personality stuff just fine on her own.

Sep 26, 2008 - 5:14 pm 96. TimM:

@Bmoon,

Palin didn’t blow an interview. She was lost and confused. Seriously, McCain needs to keep her close and protected. Just speeches, no questions from the press. In this case, keep your friends close and your enemies far away.

Sep 26, 2008 - 5:28 pm 97. mathurine graton:

We have primaries and so forth to select the candidate and conventions to select the running mate. You are at least a day late and a dollar short with your (inane) comments. Either you had no idea in a timely way on the running mate issue or you had no influence anyway. Why don’t you just suck it up. You’re nobody. Just vote for Barack if you prefer. Either it won’t matter, or you will get what you deserve. Grow up.

Sep 26, 2008 - 6:43 pm 98. zeppenwolf:

Who should we have nominated if the moon is made of cheese?

Palin is it, and she’s not going anywhere. Get with the program.

Sep 26, 2008 - 7:18 pm 99. thegr8_1:

Jindal said he would not want to be V P now. Handling Gustav was as good as I have seen a crisis handled, noncoverage by the Marxist I mean mainstream media reinforces that. I wanted Romney, support McCain, and hope if Obama is the winner, he won’t destroy this country, and look forward to President Jindal in 2012. I like Sarah Palin as a pick now but I think Jindal is a stronger executive.

Sep 26, 2008 - 8:20 pm 100. Chris:

I’m happy that Sarah Palin is the GOP nominee for VP. The fact that she complimented Dr./Rep. Ron Paul the way she did won my deepest respect. Besides, she is pro-life & seems to respect the 10th Amendment somewhat. Even though I will be voting for Pastor Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party, I must say that I have to give Gov. Palin a thumbs up.

Sep 26, 2008 - 8:23 pm 101. Nomobama:

Please, Sarah Palin is a much better choice than some people would like to admit. She is holding up well against the onslaught of negative media attention, and rotten Democratic attacks. I cannot believe that I belong to the Democratic party as this election has been a big eye-opener for me. All Sarah needs to do is perform well in her debate, and I suspect that she will.

Sep 26, 2008 - 9:12 pm 102. Ex-fetus:

How good an executive you are doesn’t matter if you cannot get elected.The Democrats have been using political Judo. They have completely hosed the economy and now they are using their control of the media to pin the blame for that on the Republicans. Politics ain’t beanbag, as a famous Democratic President once said. If the voters are stoooooopid enough to fall for that, then they deserve what is coming.
Meanwhile, Powerline was correct. The winner of this election will be like the dog chasing the car. They will be sorry they caught it. The next administration will be a one term administration. We are at the beginning of a serious war, one that won’t stop no matter what happens in Iraq OR Afghanistan. Iran will have a nuke by next summer, if they don’t have one already. This 700 BILLION dollar bail out might not work. If it does, the crooks that engineered it will be back next summer for more money. Once you start paying blackmail, it never stops. So the next President will be blued, screwed and tattooed before he even has a chance to get his custom made chair warm.
Obama will quickly discover blaming everything on the Republicans won’t solve ANYTHING nd the citizens will be screaming for results. Only he can’t get results because that requires Congress to cooperate. Remember, it was Congress that created the Economic crisis, so it’s delusional to expect them to fix it.

Sep 26, 2008 - 10:34 pm 103. peter jackson:

I’m from Louisiana, I love Bobby Jindal, but he is too young. He’s a freaking baby, even though he’s also the only governor in the US that I know of who’s approval ratings rival Palin’s.

If McCain/Palin wins, it’s probably less than 50/50 that McCain will stand for a second term. Whoever becomes President will preside in interesting times, and four years of the grind will probably suit McCain. If Palin is confident enough to run, she can bring Jindal on as VP. After eight years he will still be young, and can then run and win his own presidency.

That’s a 20-year roadmap to a generation of Republican rule. The Democrats who matter see it coming, which is partially why the insanely aggressive investigation of Palin is so insanely aggressive. And who knows, maybe the Democrats will use the time to discover the folly of their ways and become capitalist, at which point I’ll strongly consider becoming one of them.

yours/
peter.

Sep 26, 2008 - 10:41 pm 104. ProgMeister:

@all

The loyalty demonstrated here is, in it’s way, both admirable and touching. But … I don’t know how long you guys can ignore the stark reality that there is a large and growing number of conservative commentators who are speaking out in strong terms against Palin’s candidacy.

She should have rejected McCain’s offer and given herself a chance to mature and grow into a politician capable of handling the national stage.

Sep 26, 2008 - 11:04 pm 105. frank capp:

A Marxist Louse? Surely not a Marxist.
Just a Louse. And a mouse, instead of a man!
Watch Sarah’s gubernatorial debate on C Span (she was great, with all the executive facts and figures),
and then maybe summon the courage not to high-tail it
like a white-assed deer…

Sep 27, 2008 - 12:08 am 106. GoVegan:

I love Bobby Jindal, he’s really smart and seems decent. He would of been way better than Palin. Palin was just a bad political move by McCain.

Sep 27, 2008 - 12:21 am 107. jane:

Conservative “pundits” aren’t that much different than liberal “pundits.” They cling to the Beltway mindset just like all the bitter flyover voters cling to their guns and their religion. They think they are more profound than most of the voters and since McCain didn’t pick someone “they” thought should get it they’re po’d.

Get over her lack of foreign policy experience – that is not a requirement in the Constitution. Palin did what she was picked to do – give McCain a chance to sell himself to the Republican base. Without her he’d be behind much more that he is. Maybe Palin’s main purpose is to remind McCain he is running on the Republican ticket.

Sep 27, 2008 - 6:45 am 108. Therese:

Jindal is good, but Palin is a much better choice.

1. She totally excited the Republican conservative base. Without this base, John McCain would not be even close in this election. In one fell swoop, McCain united the party with Palin.

2. The controversy surrounding Palin’s daughter made more people tune into the Republican convention. This created a bounce that unnerved the Obama camp for at least two weeks. This put Obama off message and cost him time.

3. She reinforces the theme “reform” and “country first.” This message is resonating with people in the electorate. McCain is holding strong because his ticket reinforces his message. Adding Palin to the ticket shows that he is serious about this.

4. Palin is appealing to middle class voters. Jindal may not have had the same appeal with the white, working class voters that McCain will need to win. Obama is having a hard time getting these voters because they he doesn’t relate to them. Palin does. They feel like she is one of them and this does make a big difference.

5. Palin has siphoned off women voters. The female vote will never be the same because many women, (like myself), now see the Democratic party and its feminists negatively. I didn’t have strong negative opinions, but after I’ve seen how they’ve attacked Palin, I don’t want anything more to do with the Democratic party and don’t like the feminists. Other women feel this way too and this is real damage.

6. Attacks on Palin energize the Republican base. The more energized people are, the more likely they will vote. McCain needs as many people as possible to turn out to vote. Bush won because of voter turnout. McCain can win the same way because the turnout in the more rural and suburban areas will be stronger.

7. Palin’s presence says “change.” Jindal is a man and being an Indian would have made him different,too, but it would not say change the way that a woman on the ticket does. I think Jindal would have said youth more than change.

8. Palin’s life story is a Horatio Alger story. Americans love this because it is so American. She has risen from nothing, without any special connections and managed to become Governor. Now she is a VP candidate. Meanwhile, Obama still has an American image issue. Does he love his country or doesn’t he? Americans love to see a regular American rise up. This is Palin’s appeal. It was also the appeal of Ronald Reagan.

9. Palin has first-hand, intimate knowledge of the oil issue in Alaska. We need to start drilling and drill now. Palin brings the credibility to get this done. Have you noticed how they don’t challenge her on this? It’s because it would be hard to. She’s obviously a nature lover, so the environmentalists have a hard time addressing this with her. Palin will win on the oil front. This is what the country needs right now.

Obama, his MSM cohorts and the Democratic party understand these facts and more. This is why they continue to do whatever they can to discredit her. Palin is a real threat. She not only has helped John McCain but she can also emerge as a strong conservative force in the country and this scares them. They have a liberal agenda. They don’t want conservatives united. Palin threatens all of this which is why they have set out to destroy her.

Thus, Palin, by far was the best choice.

Sep 27, 2008 - 7:13 am 109. ProgMeister:

@jane

Get over her lack of foreign policy experience – that is not a requirement in the Constitution. Palin did what she was picked to do – give McCain a chance to sell himself to the Republican base. Without her he’d be behind much more that he is. Maybe Palin’s main purpose is to remind McCain he is running on the Republican ticket.

get over the lack of foreign policy experience?? and the lack of foreign policy knowledge? and the inability to speak in coherent sentences? anything else we should “get over?”

if the Republican “base” wants a voice in American politics it’s going to have to produce better candidates than Palin

Sep 27, 2008 - 8:47 am 110. Arjunahawaii:

Jindal isn’t going anywhere … it’s probably good that he’s on the sidelines right now in light of this bailout … which could end up being a cement block hung around the head of anyone who has anything to do with it.

Jindal is a young guy … and he’s still “cooking” … he’s not soup yet. Let him age a bit and you will have one helluva conservative Republican arise at exactly the moment we need one. Screw Vice President … Jindal could make rocket run for the Presidency in 2012 if Obama wins this round. At that point – he’ll have a full term as Louisiana Governor behind him … and many more successes in his wake.

Bottom line is … he’s a card you don’t want to play yet because he’ll be devastating later.

Sep 27, 2008 - 9:17 am 111. Go Home Palin, It’s Getting Absurd! : The Sudanese Thinker:

[...] this is so bad, it’s not even funny. Heck over at Pajamas Media you even have people wondering whether Bobby Jindal would have been a better [...]

Sep 27, 2008 - 11:17 am 112. HRPKathy:

Krusty says:
Oh HRP Kathy, what a silly partisan hack you are. He would have to be 10 times the man he really is… what a profound statement. I know Bush has really lived up to his mediocrity and so have Palin and the rest of the idiots you worship. Meanwhile there are real thinkers on the right being marginalized by your bible thumping stupidity, like Ron Paul, a classic reasoned conservative.

Kathy says: Ron Paul? BWAHAHAHAHAHA. Sorry Krusty if I’d known the question about Obama was asked by a lunatic I wouldn’t have dignified you with an answer.

The point of my reply is that BHO isn’t the man he thinks he is, and the man he really is should not be given an position of power. I overestimated you, don’t worry, I won’t make that mistake twice. I can give you the facts, I cannot understand them for you.

realitychuk, the only poll that matters is Nov. 4.

Meanwhile on topic, if Palin said anything that Biden said this last week, this race would be over. Double standard? Yes and the reason is that we expect more from Palin. Dr. Randy Pausch remarked that people criticizing are paying the compliment that improvement is possible. It’s when people stop criticizing that an acknowledgement has been made that the person has no hope for improvement. That is Biden’s problem. We know that he’s a fool and a tool. He should go back to DE and watch FDR on tv. Stand Up Chuck! clean coal and that terrible attack email ad, to name a few of his brighter moments. Can he improve? Hardeeharhar. The fact is we know Palin will only improve with experience, not so with Gaffe-prone Joe.

Meanwhile the left thinks we should toss Palin under the bus because SeeBS released bad footage. Dog bites man. Her debate next week will be an answer to those who doubt her, then we should re-examine this issue, that is if the naysayers can get the egg off their faces.

I’m also talking to the snoody pundits who breathe rarefied air like Krauthammer and Brooks, exemplifying the aged dinosaur of ivy thinking.

Sep 27, 2008 - 11:32 am 113. Jim Baker:

If McCain picks Jindal, the press spends all of its energy attempting to hang the Katrina disaster on he and McCain. The press has always attempted to make fun of the Republican VP candidate, and they always will as long as they are always in bed with the Democrat presidential candidate. I am getting old and I have NEVER seen an election where the press ever did anything else but what they are doing to Sarah Palin. Dick Cheney beat them by drubbing a Joe in their debate, and I believe Palin will drub another Joe next week.

Sep 27, 2008 - 11:38 am 114. FreedomLover:

The real question is “Should Obama have picked Biden?” I can’t wait for the October 2 debate! Sarah will kill Joe with a smile.

Sep 27, 2008 - 1:05 pm 115. transparentgrid.com » Should McCain have picked Jindal? Yes.:

[...] Johnson, at the mainly right wing Pajamas Media, muses that Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana, would have been a better VP pick for McCain: But I’ve rarely seen a leader so pulled together in the face of crisis as Louisiana Gov. Bobby [...]

Sep 27, 2008 - 1:15 pm 116. naguabo79:

When Gov Palin was selected, that Friday after the Obama speech, you could hear the air going out of the Democratic convention. From that moment until her speech the following Wednesday all we heard was how she would fall flat on her face and make a fool of herself. She came out and over 40 million saw her give one of the best convention speeches in the last 20 years. All the while the press and the blogs were savaging this woman whose only sin had been selected to run as a Republican. The attacks have continued. After the speech came the “let’s see how she does in interviews” meme. Well she is not Ronald Reagan, but she did ok and certainly better than anything Biden has done. Now is the fear that she will fall flat during the debate. After that it will be to see if she can do whatever next. I guess in 12 years after her second turn as president, they will be asking if she can shoot an assault rifle and kill moose in Alaska.

Sep 27, 2008 - 3:33 pm 117. Sandra M:

I worry about a bad VP choice being “a heartbeat away from the Presidency.” But I fear Biden — not Palin.

This article and one by Parker fails to remember that Palin’s into to America and her convention speech absolutely electrified America. She is a great communicator.

As to the Couric interview, I wanted to smack Katie, the piranha, for her attitude. Gibson and Katie are NOT serious journalists, merely wannabes trying to curry favor with their left wing, and I pay them no heed. Nor will I pay Johnson or Parker any attention in the future. The people who should resign to “spend more time with their families” are Biden, who has a history of being wrong, being a plagiartist, being a clown that goes back 35 years — and Obama whose ties with ACORN, Ayers, Jeremiah Wright and Frank Marshall Davis bespeak a hidden agenda.

Sep 27, 2008 - 3:37 pm 118. Rose from Ohio:

I am amazed at the people who can look at a … say … 20 minute interview and believe that they can definitetively state that not only was the candidate unable to answer the questions, but that they never under any conditions that may occur in the future would be able to answer the questions and/or lead the country.

I only saw random bits of the Couric interview, but I am not ready to proclaim Palin not only unready, but incapable of being ready ever based on those bits. To make such a claim based on such a small amount of information is ridiculous and, I believe, probably stems from a bit of sexism.

Let’s assume that Palin IS unready for the sake of argument. Is Biden a better pick? Even his running mate claims that 2 decades in Washington makes you part of the problem and Biden has 3 decades in. And his responses to the dozens of interviews? Do we really want a President who says literally anything that pops into his head when he thinks it? Does experience really matter if you didn’t learn anything from it as Biden has apparently not?

The question was asked about Obama being more qualified…. and oddly enough if he was more qualified than Palin.

Were Obama all that good, he would have recognized from the beginning that the only time he should refer to Palin is when he says “Senator McCain and his running mate”. His constant attacks on Palin were rookie mistakes and called to attention to his incredibly thin resume. I would take two years in ANY Governor’s chair over 8 years in the state senate. I have dealt regularly with people in such a position before and no way does it prepare them to be president. And that position was the best of Obama’s resume. No way does a 140 days in the Senate qualify anyone by itself. As to campaigning for the position … well, the only thing that proves is that after enough time, people can learn the material … which, of course, means that ANYONE (including Palin) could learn the same thing if given some time.

No, I didn’t think McCain was the best pick and still don’t. Had he picked Jindal, I would have written in a name before voting for him. No offense to Jindal – he simply does nothing to convince me to vote for a McCain ticket. The same could be said for several of the other choices. Had McCain picked Huckabee, I would have not only voted for Obama, I would have campagined for him as well.

Sometimes, small victories can come from a losing effort – which McCain-Palin may be – and I think that is the case here. This particular choice has definitely showed the sexism that does exist even in the party – supposedly – of women. The media as well has lost a great deal of credibility by their actions in the manner in which they attacked her. If some of the things just below the surface have been dragged out into the light of day and shown to be what they truly are, then it (the Palin pick) was absolutely worth it regardless.

Sep 27, 2008 - 5:58 pm 119. Rose from Ohio:

Thank you, realitycheq, for proving my point.

When you ask someone for proof that Palin will NEVER be able to handle the job, they give you SNL as an example. LOL!

Reality – since you don’t seem to know – SNL is fiction – not fact. It is supposed to be funny – and once was – but it is not news and is not fact.

While I have been impressed with what Senator Clinton did with the position as Senator from New York that her husband bought for her in exchange for her support, she is hardly all that “experienced” after a single term in the Senate plus a couple of years. It is still not the executive experience that the job of President requires.

If management of a campaign is any indication, she isn’t even close to being ready. Seldom has somone (with the possible exception of Obama) blown through so much cash with so little to show for it. I recall people getting concerned at the cost of her last Senate campaign when she spent a considerable amount despite being essentially unopposed. Her presidential campaign was more the same.

Yes, she did visit a number of foreign capitals, as wife of the president, at the expense of the American taxpayers, but that doesn’t make her “better” than the rest of us who can’t float 50 million for a trip to Africa (look that one up). And despite her attempts to paint herself as critical to the success in Ireland – claims that weren’t supported by the very people she named – the only program she actually worked on during her husband’s campaign was the health care initiative – a colossal failure.

While, you may think that American women can only accomplish that which their husbands secure for them, the fact is that women are doing quite well on their own. While you don’t appear to think much of those who voted for Palin already (people in small towns and people in the state of Alaska) the fact is they did do so. She is CURRENTLY one of only 50 people in the United States to hold the position of Governor.

Unless you are one of the other 49, she has already accomplished a lot more than you probably ever will.

Sep 28, 2008 - 4:08 am 120. Rose from Ohio:

That’s what I love about the Internet. Challenge someone on the comments they made on fact and the response is inevitably about how they re extremely educated, fabulously wealthy, traveled everywhere, and did – literally – it all with one hand tied behind their back.

I didn’t point to SNL as a source – you did. Quit whining.

I also didn’t say that I refused to watch the Palin-Couric interview. I also don’t watch “Faux” (you don’t spell well for a Ph.d, by the way) News.

Had you read my first comment that you responded to, you would know that I don’t think that Palin is the greatest candidate ever. I simply don’t see her as any worse than the alternatives.

If you disagree, then LIST the wonderful things that qualify Obama for President and Biden for Vice-President. But don’t waste our time with the positions they have held or the colleges they attended. List what they have DONE and the bipartisian coalitions they have formed to do so.

I also don’t claim to be able to predict the future of an individual. Just because someone doesn’t know something today doesn’t mean that they can’t learn it tommorrow. Sue me – I am a teacher. (Not a fabulously wealthy teacher who has revolutionized business, amassed a fortune, and did it all without help from anyone. Just a teacher. Although, I did live under a South American dicatatorship for two years once. ) Two many people have decided they can make that call and, as a result, have severely crippled their kids ability to learn and grow. If Mom told them they could never do more, they often believe it despite what they are truly capable of if they work at it.

Since, I missed the live broadcast, I took time to read the transcript. That’s why I was very interested to read your claim about what Palin actually said in the interview.

I EAGERLY await you posting a link to the transcript that quotes Palin saying EXACTLY what you claim she said. EXACTLY what you claim she said.

Have a good day.

Sep 28, 2008 - 7:04 am 121. Rose from Ohio:

Now that I have reread my previous post, I see that I am a teacher who is going get a bad grade for spelling this morning.

Sep 28, 2008 - 7:07 am 122. Rose from Ohio:

Since I had previously read the transcript, I already knew that Palin had not said what you erroneously claimed. So, what you are objecting to is not what she actually said, but your UNDERSTANDING of what she said. She is hardly responsible for your lack of education on the topic.

There are number of wonderful books on the history of relations between the US and the former USSR and current Russia. They can explain her reference to you.

As to your scholarly review of Obama and Biden’s accomplishments in office …. I find it somewhat telling. Not convincing but telling.

I, of course, had nothing whatsoever to do with the previous conversation that you related. That you chose to repeat that experience instead of explaining why you support Obama/Biden – which is the question I asked – tells us that you, apparently, support them just because you do.

As to “Faux” .. while Spanish is my first second language, I do happen to know what the word means.

I just find it hilarious that so many Obama supporters result to that argument so readily and can’t resist the urge to tweak them for their paranoia.

I suggest you use some of your enormous wealth to buy a sense of humor.

Sep 28, 2008 - 8:57 am 123. teem:

haha… socialism, marxism?

get over yourselves people, you have no clue as to what you’re talking about: and to think this is the site where people suggest others should be wearing tin foil hats?

anyway, neither here nor there, but at the risk of sounding elitist by citing “facts” but I thought someone ought to correct the impression left by numerous posters: that Jindal defeated an incumbent democrat. Blanco didn’t run, she knew she was toast. Jindal beat a pack of third string democrats.

Sep 28, 2008 - 4:32 pm 124. Deus:

Yes, Palin was the right choice for McCain. It shows his adequacy for the presidency . . .

Sep 28, 2008 - 5:15 pm 125. Russian Bear:

RE: I see the fear that she will be the factor that energizes the GOP base and brings down the Holy Obammarxist… and alike…

Will it help to bring an politically unexperienced, unqualified lady to the GOP ticket? Why not? When king David became old they too, laid young virgins in his bed to energize “the good old man”…

Sep 28, 2008 - 5:49 pm 126. Rose from Ohio:

Thank you Russian Bear for demonstrating my earlier point.

Sep 29, 2008 - 3:44 am 127. John Smith:

Unless Bobby’s removes corruption from LA , as he committed , he is not yet qualified. Definetly Sarah. Leftwing is upset over Mccain’s choice. They geared for Joe Lieberman, what a samrt play by Mccain who sent a feeler to them , VP can be a pro choice fellow. They thought he was teaching a lesson to Rush. But world went upside down. msnbc -lowest ratings, nY times – lowest readership, they are digging theire own burial grounds.

Sep 29, 2008 - 6:43 am 128. AnAverageAmerican:

I haven’t waded through all 130+ comments, but my (uninformed) reading of the situation was that McCain wanted Jindal as VP, but Jindal turned him down. I have no inside information or friends in high places, but I’ve been a political observer for many years. I don’t think the bottom spot on a McCain ticket would have been incentive enough for Jindal to give up the governorship of Louisiana. OTOH, I could see either a Palin/Jindal or Jindal/Palin ticket in 2012 depending on how 2008 turns out. It’s hard to imagine a ticket better suited to energize the Republican party.

Sep 29, 2008 - 6:50 pm 129. Ken Anthony:

We have six weeks to go. McCain/Palin is the ticket.

The media would love to spin Palin as an idiot, but the fact is oil rich Putin has been rearing his ugly head to the tune of playing cold war games with nuclear bombers in many parts of the world… including the coast of Alaska which has on many occasions required our jets to intercept and escort their nuclear bombers. She’s no idiot, but you may be if you let the media games fool you into thinking she is.

McCain surprised the media. He was the medias pick. After Nov. 4th, we need to figure out how to fix that. It’s ridiculous that we let democratic (independents) choose the republican candidate in the primaries.

Jindal is too young right now, but that’s a good thing for later. Later is the time to consider it.

Sep 29, 2008 - 8:15 pm 130. He Could of Easily Just Shaken Things Up : The New Nixon: News and Commentary about the President, his Times, and his Legacy:

[...] Bridget Johnson of the Rocky Moutain News thinks the smarter choice for McCain’s VEEP would have been Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. Like Gov. Palin he would have brought youth and energy to the ticket, except with a substantial policy portfolio that includes: [...]

Sep 30, 2008 - 12:21 am 131. Sandy Sanders:

For those who like Governor Jindal – try the new improved jindal2012blog.com. I want to use the 2012 theme to talk up the governor! Keep trying and commenting.

Sandy Sanders
assistant blogger

May 13, 2009 - 5:24 pm

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