Bobby Jindal: The Only One To Benefit From The Oil Spill?

video

by Jon Bershad | 2:17 pm, June 8th, 2010

» 38 comments

It was only a little more than a year ago that Bobby Jindal, Louisiana governor, was pegged as the savior of the GOP. He was asked to give to Republican response to the President’s speech on the economy as many believed that he was the Republican’s answer to Pres. Obama. After his speech aired, he was instead seen by many as the politician’s answer to Kenneth from 30 Rock. Soon after, the derided Jindal seemed to disappear from the national spotlight. However, an Associated Press article today wonders whether the governor’s increased media exposure following the oil spill and his dogged leadership throughout will turn his reputation around.

Jindal has been all over the news recently and has made it a point to appear competent, passionate, and in command, qualities that many found lacking in the state’s former leaders during Katrina. He has also been very vocal in his opposition of Obama’s handling of the current crisis, recently asking for an end to the moratorium on deep water drilling. However, the shadow cast by his speech last year is long.

From the Associated Press:

“The Republican’s rapid-fire command of facts and determination to lead are his second act on the national stage — and a chance to erase the memories of his pedantic, sing-songy rebuttal of President Barack Obama’s first speech to Congress in February 2009. The 38-year-old, Oxford-educated political prodigy was widely criticized, and suddenly didn’t seem like presidential material as he once did.
“His reputation still hasn’t overcome that speech,” said Ed Chervenak, political science professor at the University of New Orleans.”

This is all important because Jindal was once seen as a clear GOP presidential pick. While the article points out that Jindal recently told Republicans that he would not run, he’s also been making many fundraising appearances throughout the nation. Besides, we all know that an upcoming politician who claims they’re not running for president is as easy to believe as a car salesman promising that you need that last warranty.

Even if Jindal’s response to the oil spill blocks out the old memories, it may inspire more problems as well.

“Some Democrats have derided Jindal’s trips as nothing but photo opportunities.
“Getting on a boat in a lifejacket and pointing out the oil on the shore is not being a leader,” said state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, a New Orleans Democrat.”

While those quotes from the AP article imply that Jindal may be an opportunist, some readers commenting on the New Orleans Times-Picayune are flat out saying it. If Jindal’s future political opponents are able to insinuate that Jindal was working for himself just as much as his state during this crisis, it could ruin any new reputation that he’s able to make for himself.

Right now, Jindal can’t worry about any of this. He has a state to save. But, if he tries to move upward in the future, he’s going to have to hope that the media plays more clips of a leader like the one seen in the video below.

(photo via AP)

Bobby Jindal, Gulf Oil Spill, Louisiana, oil spill

http://www.facebook.com/people/Juanita-Stewart/1330738383 Juanita

Gov. Jindal tried to prevent oil in the marshlands!
The Real Royal King

No question that, given his miserable post-speech analysis, Jindal is eager to rehabilitate himself. I can’t say that I blame him, and I can’t say I think he has mishandled the situation. In fact, I think he has handled things reasonably well. He certainly seems to have found the cajones Barbour, Cornyn and Vitter lost.
ice queen

I would rather see Jindal out there on the front lines doing a photo op or two than the BP execs sitting in their ivory towers looking down on the Gulf making stupid remarks.
paulmdoro

Why is he wearing all those fancy clothes while he wades in oil? Who does he think he is, the president?
sarainitaly

Were you reading my email? The beginning of this post sounds similar to an email I sent to my friend earlier. haha

Although, I must disagree here:

“Jindal has been all over the news recently and has made it a point to appear competent, passionate, and in command”

He hasn’t made it appear he is competent, passionate and in command, he is competent, passionate, and in command. That’s the difference, in my opinion, of actually being competent, not just acting like it, or trying to act like it.

People keep saying they want Obama to “act” competent and presidential. I don’t want him to act presidential, I want him to BE presidential, and competent.

“If Jindal’s future political opponents are able to insinuate that Jindal was working for himself just as much as his state during this crisis”

That seems particularly nasty on their part, considering he is working hard to help the people of his state. He is being a leader, and an advocate. That’s what leaders are supposed to do. Perhaps they are just unfamiliar with the concept, and how a real leader acts, thus they just think he is self serving.
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

A short spelling lesson:

The last four letters in “American” = I Can
The last four letters in “Republican” = I Can
The last four letters in “Democrats”= Rats

End of Lesson. Any questions?
Test to follow in November.

November has been designated as RODENT extermination month.
paulmdoro

I have a question. How long did it take you to come up with that, and is that really the kind of stuff you do in your free time?
sarainitaly

paulmdoro says:
June 8, 2010 at 3:20 pm

You’ve never seen that before?
paulmdoro

Nope. It’s been a really long time since I was in third grade, or around third graders.
Jon Bershad

Ah ha, Sara, you figured out my trick! I’m writing all my articles based on your emails! My next hard-hitting post will be based on your Amazon.com order receipts.

Seriously, though, I don’t think we disagree at all on Jindal. I only said “appear” because I can’t, from my vantage point, really say any more. I’m not down there helping. I can only tell how Jindal’s doing from the way he looks in the media and he certainly *looks* competent.
Liberty – Not Redistribution

Jindal is down there kickin butt, trying to save his state from BP’s disaster and Obama’$ inaction. I could care less about a speech he gave last year. I would rather a politician give crappy speeches, but be able to act under pressure, able to make important decisions. As opposed to Obama”$ leadership style of being able to give a a great speech, but when the going gets tough he can’t make a decision, is indecisive and more concerned about golf and theater.
paulmdoro

What decisions has Jindal made that are significantly helping his state recover from the oil spill?
sarainitaly

Jon Bershad says:
June 8, 2010 at 3:32 pm

Crap, you can see my shopping receipts too! I did just order from Amazon! hahaha

Cool, thanks for the reply!
The Real Royal King

I think the initial reviews are good, but let’s not get too gushy over Jindal, yet. Many shows fold in the third and fifth weeks. Again, so far, so good. And, I am prepared to say that compared to the other Gulf Coast governors, Toll Booth Perry, Slops Barbour, Boo Riley and Tanned & Rested Crist, Jindal is a paragon of competence and virtue.
TylerDurden

Did ya see Barry giving his speech to those Michigan HS students?

He said don’t name call, don’t blame others and take responsibility for your shortcomings.

He should have been looking in the mirror!
sarainitaly

Liberty – Not Redistribution says:
June 8, 2010 at 3:32 pm

So true!
sarainitaly

TylerDurden says:
June 8, 2010 at 3:40 pm

I liked the kid falling asleep in the background.
The Real Royal King

paulmdoro says:
June 8, 2010 at 3:31 pm

Nope. It’s been a really long time since I was in third grade, or around third graders.

—

Please! Some respect for Third Graders!
MichelleF

Via Allahpundit:

More fun from this morning’s exercise in ass-kicking on “Today”. Skip ahead to 2:36 for the key bit. The One’s logic, such as it is, is that it’s not worth talking to Tony Hayward because he’ll only end up giving him the runaround — a curious position coming from a guy who campaigned on the virtues of “dialogue” and who’s been locked in halting negotiations with Iran for fully 16 months. Even Lauer is openly incredulous. Captain Kickass has nothing to say to a guy who potentially holds the fate of his presidency in his hands? Even after yesterday’s hair-raising Times piece claiming that BP’s effort to cut the leaking riser may have actually increased the flow of oil many times over? I thought this was supposed to be the new, improved, “engaged” Hopenchange.

More: http://hotair.com/archives/2010/06/08/video-obama-cant-explain-why-he-hasnt-spoken-to-bps-ceo/
MichelleF

paulmdoro says:
June 8, 2010 at 3:36 pm
What decisions has Jindal made that are significantly helping his state recover from the oil spill?

Don’t forget that Jindal’s request for hard booms on May 2 was left hanging by the administration.
paulmdoro

Hot air indeed.
paulmdoro

Michelle that didn’t exactly answer my question.
The Real Royal King

You appear to have the wrong link, again, Michelle. The topic in Jindal, although I can understand the confusion with all the talk of shopping receipts, people referring to the sleeping kids’ link and then the Gordon Blower silliness. Share your thoughts with us about Jindal. We’d all be interested. Please, not copy and pastes and no links. Your opinion in your words.
sarainitaly

paulmdoro says:
June 8, 2010 at 3:36 pm

It would probably help to answer your question if you read the linked articles and watched the video.

Here’s another one. But there is lots more info available on the internet.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/05/gov_jindal_asks_feds_for_help.html
notsofast

” A leading scientist following the BP oil spill said Monday that if the company or the government had made realistic estimates about the amounts flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, they could have had sufficient tanker space ready on the surface to hold the crude being pumped up through a make-shift collection device…

” In an extensive interview with ABC News chief investigative correspondent Brian Ross, [oceanographer Ian] MacDonald examined underwater video from the early days of the disaster and concluded that BP had been underestimating the scope of the spill, with little objection from the U.S Coast Guard or other federal agencies…

Coast Guard officials told ABC News that BP refused to allow them to release the more startling images, arguing they were proprietary. But at the time, the agency was doing little to convey to the world what the images were showing. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary Landry was sticking with estimates, calculated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which put the spill’s size at about 5,000 barrels a day for several weeks.”
paulmdoro

So he asked for supplies and money?
The Real Royal King

By the way, Michelle, Governor Riley would seem to take exception to your analysis.

http://governorpress.alabama.gov/pr/pr-2010-06-08-01-boom_increase.asp
sarainitaly

MichelleF says:
June 8, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Via Allahpundit:

“Don’t forget either that Bobby Jindal’s request for hard booms on May 2 was still woefully undermet three weeks later. Exit question: Another two or three sanitized photo ops of Obama inspecting tar balls on the beach should smooth this over, no?”

Another good example of what Jindal’s been doing! (or trying to get accomplished, with no help from the OA.
http://twitter.com/SailRabbits Magister

I can’t take credit for the question, though it would only take me a few minutes to trace the source, but there have been some who have wondered how Jindal’s current lobbying efforts jibe with his belittlement of government spending during his State of the Union response.

All in all, I say that Jindal has done a pretty good job. I have commented elsewhere that I’m somewhat bothered by how much partisan politics have factored into Vitter’s public statements and perhaps there has been some element of that with Jindal, but his statements haven’t been crossing my screen with the regularity and blatant politics of those from Vitter.
sarainitaly

sarainitaly says:
June 8, 2010 at 3:55 pm
paulmdoro says:
June 8, 2010 at 3:36 pm

It would probably help to answer your question if you read the linked articles and watched the video.
paulmdoro

So when Obama is inspecting the damage it’s a photo op but when Jindal does it he is showing decisive leadership? How does one determine the difference?
The Real Royal King

In situations like this, Paul, I turn to the Marx brothers:

Now, here is a little peninsula, and, eh,
here is a viaduct leading over to the mainland.

Why a duck?
sarainitaly

paulmdoro says:
June 8, 2010 at 4:02 pm
How does one determine the difference?

One reads the articles and reads what Jindal has been doing. Since April 29, when he declared a state of emergency he has been doing all kinds of things.
http://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&catID=2&articleID=2143

If you don’t feel the need to read the articles (and watch the video) the author linked, or do any of your own research, I’m certainly not going to do your research for you (beyond what I already provided)

I provided a link in response to your question on what he is doing to help the people of his state recover. You came back with a smart ass comment. It is one in a long line of actions that he is taking. You obviously don’t want to know, you just want to argue. I thought you were actually asking.
The Real Royal King

One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don’t know. Then we tried to remove the tusks. ,,, But they were embedded so firmly we couldn’t budge them. Of course, in Alabama the Tuscaloosa, but that is entirely ir-elephant to what I was talking about.
paulmdoro

Hasn’t the president also been doing all kinds of things? I read the article you provided, which detailed how Jindal asked for supplies and money. This is clearly partisan. If it’s Obama, it’s a photo op. If it’s Jindal, it’s a demonstration of leadership.
MichelleF

The Real Royal King says:
June 8, 2010 at 3:54 pm
You appear to have the wrong link, again, Michelle. The topic in Jindal, although I can understand the confusion with all the talk of shopping receipts, people referring to the sleeping kids’ link and then the Gordon Blower silliness. Share your thoughts with us about Jindal. We’d all be interested. Please, not copy and pastes and no links. Your opinion in your words.

I posted the link I wanted, but thanks for your critique.
MichelleF

Paul,
It doesn’t strike you as the least bit odd that Obama hasn’t even talked to the head of BP? Really!
The Real Royal King

I posted the link I wanted, but thanks for your critique.

—

Really!