Well, it's a few hours too late. The dye's been cast.

He's not a force to be reckoned with anymore. First impressions are the lasting ones and last night Gov Jindal looked and sounded like a real doofus. Sorry about that, but as an old engineer friend of mine used to say "What you need to know may not be what you want to hear."

Political/image consultants have their place, but only to a point.

It's clear from historical examples and from this video that Bobby Jindal is vastly more effective working without a set script. He knows the message, but he delivers it much better off the cuff.

Conversely, President Obama also knows the message but has proven unable to deliver a decent speech without a teleprompter. Didn't I see a story in the last couple weeks about the possibility of a prompter screen being installed in the podium for press conferences? Aren't we seeing multiple stories of Obama having pre-determined lists of reporters to call on, with the questions already known?

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Last night, Bobby Jindal was forced to work away from his strengths and toward his weaknesses. In my opinion, it was the message and image consultants who forced that upon him.

It was a tactical error. If the GOP is serious about reversing its electoral course, they will not repeat this mistake with Bobby Jindal. Let the man work his game and he has the potential to move up the ladder quickly. Shackle him to a teleprompter and you'll see more of what we saw last night.

Glenn have you watched the Today show video? Regardless of what anyone thought of him last night, and I was pretty hard on him, you can't deny the effectiveness of the Today interview. The GOP should put him on every interview show they can find. The performance last night may hurt Jindal's chances in 2012, but his interview on Today could hurt Obama's chance of getting all his big spending bills passed this year. If enough people heard the Today interview, repeated over and over again the next few weeks, I think public support for government takeover of the private sector would continue to drop.

Given all the goof ups and gaffes Obama provided...Jindal shouldn't be worried.

First impressions? How about showing the steady hand Jindal displayed when Louisiana was facing Hurricane Gustav. That was leadership.

Do you all really think a significant portion of the electorate watched Barry and most of all, Jindal? No. There is no carry over from his performance. Real time counts. 4 years from now, this won't even be a blip. ww

WildWillie gets it.

what crock about first impressions. By 2012 we'll be so obsessed with the most recent scandals and foot-in-mouth speeches by others no one will remember Jindal's speech IN 2009!!!!
Look at Palin. She supposedly put her foot in wrong but Republicans still see her as some sort of savior

In politics, you get many first impressions. Anyone remember Bill Clinton's 1988 Dem convention borefest? He seemed to turn that first impression around (unfortunately).

I think Meredith expected a reprise of last night from Jindal. Once he got rolling there were several times where she appears she wants to cut him off. At the end you can almost hear her sigh in relief.

Jindal is the real deal. It's the audacity of executive competence.

"He's not a force to be reckoned with anymore. First impressions are the lasting ones"

If this were true, Bill Clinton's presidential chances would have ended when he made the speech that introduced him to the nation at the '88 Democratic convention.

GarandFan: WildWillie gets it.

Yep, he does.

A lot is going to happen in the next 4 years, and counting ANY politician as having a lock on a chance at the Presidency is foolish.

After all, in the Last Eternal Campaign, wasn't Hillary seen as the sure bet at this point?

Lori, you can see the lowlights of last night JINDALASTROPHE at tbogg. The hate for Jindal is clean across the wingnutospere from Krauthammer to Ace. Even my imaginary lover, All-American Amanda Carpenter calls him a dork. Or a geek. Check yourself. And your claiming to miss events that turn out like poop, is becoming your journolistic trademark.

PS. And no, Joe the Plummer: BAD! Baaaaad.

Guess the same folks who fixed up Sarah got to work on Bobby, too.

Also, I remember Reagan looking woefully unprepared and completely out of his depth in his first debate against Walter Mondale. And we all know how that turned out.

If the GOP wants to turn this around, all of their image consultants and handlers for their various candidates should be taken out and shot.

As a loyal Obama supporter, is it too early for me to contribute some cash to this cat's presidential campaign? Him or Gov. Palin will do.

Agreed, Jindal did well in this interview.

Last night he looked nervous and ... testosterone-deficient.

He needs to hit the weights.

"Anyone remember Bill Clinton's 1988 Dem convention borefest?"

At first I read this as "bonefest". Funny how the mind works.

Obama took so much prime time, and stuck around the Capitol to keep Jindal off the air for as long as possible. The MSM kept the cameras on him while Matthews and the others kept talking up the speech. By the time Jindal was ready, I'm certain that most of the viewers who stuck around for Obama to finish, shut off their sets and went to bed.

Jindal has only just gotten started. He had a larger audience on Today for his follow up to last night's response. He and other Republicans have to continue to hammer the absurdity of Obama's policies and reckless spending, and provide reasonable, common sense alternatives.

Palin/Jindal 2012!

I've always wondered, why they don't deliver these responses in front of an audience. Listening to it after the applause-filled SOTU, it's always a letdown. And people will usually do better in front of a crowd.

Now I like Jindal. That being said, he stands no chance after pushing the teaching of intelligent design in public schools. No chance. None. Done.

You shouldn't be in politics if you can't perform well during a cupcake interview with Meredith Vieira.

How soon you forget - Kathleen Sebelius crapped the bed during the democratic response to Bush's last state of the union. Had she not, we'd possibly have a different VP.

Jindal is toast - especially once the assumed SNL skit airs. Kenneth from 30 Rock could definitely nail the role of Bobby Jindal.

Obama supporters can heave a big sigh of relief, Jindal has a weakness: in front of a teleprompter, he stinks. But they know that Jindal is a force to be reckoned with. Jindal's intellect and conservative vision are razor sharp. He needs to work on his teleprompter skills, but I think he can beat Obama. I'd love to see those two square off in a debate. Jindal would clean Obama's clock.
http://www.rightklik.net/

With more performances like this one he'll overcome last night.

Jindal/Palin 2012!

At first I read this as "bonefest". Funny how the mind works.

Yes, wingnuts long-running obsession with Clinton's penis is funny. Creepy, but funny.

I for one liked Kenneth the page last night. I think he's sweet.

If first impressions counted, Bill Clinton would have never been elected President. Can anyone think of a public figure that had a more disasterous first appearance on the national state than Bill Clinton?

Jindal is a nerd. I know it. Everyone that knows him knows it. It's about time we stop electing Presidents primarily on the basis of how unnerdy they seem. I'd much rather have a nerd with impeccable integrity in Washington than well...anyone we have in Washington now.

#16 If the GOP wants to turn this around, all of their image consultants and handlers for their various candidates should be taken out and shot.

=====================
Don't know who these people are, but they are NOT in touch with the rest of us or The Message. Maybe Michael Steele can intervene and tell them turn in their resignations. Too bad it couldn't have been done Feb 23rd.

(The "shot" is obviously a figure of speech. If a repub wrote that about a dem it would be a threat. Right?)

Unfortunately, no matter how great Jindal sounds, he supports the teaching of "intelligent design" in schools--and that will ruin any chance of him running in 2012.

Come ON, G.O.P. Distance yourself from the anti-science crowd, because it makes us look exactly like what Democrats think we are.

What we've learned is that Bobby-ganoush can't be counted on when you need him the most.

No no no, it's creationism that will hurt Jindal's chances in 2012, as well as his participation in a phony exorcism.

What we've learned is that Bobby-ganoush can't be counted on when you need him the most.

Bobby-ganoush? Seriously? If Jindal were a Democrat that's something people like Beck and Coulter would say. Don't be a jackass.

Actually, we only elected presidents prior to 1960 by knowledge and ability. It was the advent of political television in 1960 that made us start electing those that looked good on television. ww

GET THE DARN HANDLERS AWAY FROM BEST OUR UP AND COMERS! This is the Jindal that we all know and love that we all should have seen last night!

WARNING!! WARNING!! Bobby Jindal is a RINO!!A RINO!! I live in Louisiana and Bobby (called "Campaign Bobby" here) is a RINO pure and simple. He's been running for president since Rush mentioned him during his run for governor. HE IS A RINO! He talks a good game, but his actual record is no better than the Obamanation.

He's a RINO!

Here's the difference, and the only one that counts, Clinton and Obama are Democrats, and the media is in the tank for them. Bobby Jindal, whom I like very much, is a Republican and will be presented by the media that, whether we like it or not, most Americans get their news and opinions from as an incompetent. And by the time 2012 rolls around the Democrats will have spread so much bailout money around to the media that they will be further in the tank than they are now.

Mantis: "Don't be a jackass."

Some just can't help it, no matter their political leanings.

Cut taxes, cut taxes, cut taxes, cut taxes, cut taxes. Blah, blah,blah blah, blah.

The Republicans have zero credibility when it comes to fixing this mess. Jindal looked like Alred E. Newman caught in the headlights last night. Blah, blah , blah. Whatever the problem a "principled" solution for a Republican is - lets have a war and cut taxes.

Bottom line. The messenger looked awful and the message is worse.

Why do all of these enlightened liberal trolls hate brown people and women so much?

Those Dems here who think Jindal is toast must not have watched the video. Today has a humongous audience. I wouldn't be surprised if more people did see the Today interview than saw the speech last night.

Here is why I am thrilled to see the Dems here write Jindal off...

1. He will be underestimated now. That is always better than being overestimated. If I had not had such sky high expectations for Jindal last night I probably would have thought the speech was just fine.

2. Jindal is brilliant off the cuff. You know, in the real world, without a script. His mastery of the facts is incredible. Obama is a brilliant teleprompter speaker. Take away his teleprompter and he uh, uh, has uh, a little, uh, trouble.

3. If Jindal continues to do interviews like the one he did today on Today he will be a superstar by the time 2012 rolls around. That Dems don't get that only helps us. That Dems don't understand how devastating it is for Jindal to point out that Dems didn't even read the bill and still don't know what is in it, only helps Republicans.

4. Jindal showed last night a weakness in reading from a teleprompter into a camera. If you read the speech he gave last night, the content is good. Had he given a smooth polished speech full of fluff (Hope'n Change)that would have done more damage because it would have been at odds with his image as someone with a bright, quick mind who can get things done in his state.

Actually, we only elected presidents prior to 1960 by knowledge and ability.

Very funny, Willie.

Warren Harding. Nuff said.

This is only PRESIDENT OBAMA'S first month in office and he's already gotten lots of criticism. I say give the man four years and see what he can accomplish. Then, if he's a miserable failure, we'll do what we did with GEORGE W. BUSH -- elect him to a second term.

When HILLARY CLINTON got off the plane in Beijing the Chinese people cheered. They were so happy to meet a high American official from a country they owned.

Things are so bad SNOW WHITE is down to THREE DWARFS. Luckily, GRUMPY got a job with DICK CHENEY and DOPEY is still working as the CEO of a bank.

If Jindal is the Republican nominee in 2012, it will be proof that the party learned nothing from the McCain debacle.

His moral compass is way off...otherwise, he'd be able to easily explain why the democrats pork-fest is an abomination - and provide a proper defense and explanation of free markets. Instead, his one specific attack was related to volcano monitoring?

Give me a break...

"No no no, it's creationism that will hurt Jindal's chances in 2012."

"Unfortunately, no matter how great Jindal sounds, he supports the teaching of 'intelligent design' in schools--and that will ruin any chance of him running in 2012. Come ON, G.O.P. Distance yourself from the anti-science crowd, because it makes us look exactly like what Democrats think we are."

Looks like the LGF fans are in the house. Jindal's NOT anti-science. He has a biology degree from an Ivy League school.

I first heard of and watched and listened to Governor Jindal when he first ran for governor (he was beaten by Blanco). I think he is great but I wish he would slow down on his delivery. It takes me a while to process the avalanche of information. He responds quickly and intelligently to questions and challenges, that I like. But he has to slow down so I can process him.

Jindal has two problems.

One, he pushes creationism in science classes, something that the American electorate will reject.

Two, he has a serious problem with his posture and body language. Yes, I watched some of the Today interview clip. Yes, I've seen him speak on TV before. He doesn't look like a leader to me. He looks like a kid. Reagan looked like a leader. Both GW and GHW Bush looked like leaders. Even the slug that befouled the White House from 1992 to 2000 could look like a leader for the cameras. Jindal doesn't. People will respond to his body language and his chosen public name -- Bobby Jindal -- and write him off as a lightweight.

First of all, Jindal only supports creationism because of all the Louisiana protestants he has to pander to. He will change his tune if he's running for national office, just like he's changing his tune now about extension of federal unemployment benefits, which he was quite happy to support after Katrina.

bryanD: "And your claiming to miss events that turn out like poop, is becoming your journolistic [sic] trademark."

I missed the Obama speech, but clearly said I saw the Jindal response and even caught a bit of the after speech commentary on CBS so I don't know what you are talking about and I was probably every bit as hard on Jindal last night as Amanda was so I don't get your point. Actually many of those calling Jindal a geek today were saying it as a positive. Kinda like lots of smart people (including many scientists) are considered geeks.

For those saying Jindal is anti-science:

1. I guess Democrats who ignore the science (and the thousands of scientists) that contradict the religion of global warming are anti-science too.

2. If Jindal gives the following response to the evolution/creation/intelligent design question it will cease to be an issue, and might even become an asset:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-BFEhkIujA

The AP ran an article today debunking many of assertions in Obama's speech last night. Obama gave the Republicans a gift last night that will keep on giving for years to come.

What Republicans have to do now is convince voters that, if elected, they won't go back to their big spending, big government ways. Otherwise, they don't offer a serious change to what we have now. Jindal at least is sending that message loud and clear.

I guess Democrats who ignore the science (and the thousands of scientists) that contradict the religion of global warming are anti-science too.

You don't have to believe everything every scientists says to be pro-science. In fact, such a thing would be impossible. Believing real scientists with a preponderance of evidence supporting their theories over dishonest cranks who rarely perform any original research, if at all, is not being anti-science.

bobby jindal was fine last night. he was not 'kidnapped' and his comments were thoughtful and substantive. conservatives could learn a lot from liberals. instead of chewing on our brightest when they aren't quite perfect like The One, we need to learn to pick and choose our comments. if they aren't necessary, why say them at all?

Glen, the good news is that by 2011 or so it's entirely possible that Chris Matthews and that former sports announcer will be dim memories. We'll be getting our news from the net, unfiltered. Anyway, I can dream, can't I?

Jindal sucked.

And he's a funny lookin' fella.

Not. Presidential. Material.

Next candidate hopeful, please.

With more performances like this one he'll overcome last night.

Jindal/Palin 2012!

Please, Please, Please, do this. Please.

Please, Please, Please, do this. Please.

40 electoral votes, here we come!

"Believing real scientists with a preponderance of evidence supporting their theories "

Sure, just as soon as we find some...

Most, if not all, of the Democrat responses to Republican presidential speeches have been crappy. However, I don't remember anybody going on about it like commentators did last night, and posters here today. What happened that makes Jindal such a target? I was not thrilled with his effort, but it was OK. It seemed par for the course for that kind of speech.

What happened that makes Jindal such a target?

His being a Republican.

Please, Please, Please, do this. Please.

40 electoral votes, here we come!

It's got to be good for at least 60.

After Bobby Jindrawl's performance last night...SNL is going to be off the hook!lol

Bobby the magic Hindu

Will not save the GOP

But please continue to believe

He's the one for you and me

"And he's a funny lookin' fella.
Not. Presidential. Material.
Next candidate hopeful, please."

I suppose he doesn't look like the dead guys on the dollar bills.

Lorie, I'm reporting you to the Secret Service for threatening to kidnap a member of Congress. Have fun in Gitmo with marc!

Lorie, I'm reporting you to the Secret Service for threatening to kidnap a member of Congress. Have fun in Gitmo with marc!

Shut up already!

You do know Jindal is the governor, right? No longer a congressman.

Yeah, like the Secret Service will fall for your wingnut lies.

I'll repeat that I'm not a huge Jindal fan. Much is to be seen of his performance over time. But it really makes me giggle when the lefties come out with both barrels blazing like they are here. If Jindal is as bad as they say he is, then why are they in such a snit? He shouldn't be a threat to them.

Their purpose is not so much to cut Jindal down - in fact, I'd bet most of them don't know much at all about him but what blurbs they may have come across in the NYT or what they read at MediaMatters.

Their purpose is to demoralize anyone who supports Jindal. So prattle on jmc, justice58, JFO, harpers, Adrian, et al. You can sleep well tonight knowing you showed us by voting everyone's comments down (including this one).

I'll come to my own conclusions in time and ignore your little crapfest.

Of course you will ignore it, Oyster. Hell, if Palin, Jindal, and Steele are supposed to be the new superstars of the GOP, I'd be pretty freakin embarrassed too.

Oh well, there's always 2016 for you losers.

LOL - Its comical really. He's an ignorant bag of wind. So, you shouldn't do research on Volcanos huh? Who's ever heard of a Volcano? Who needs to do reserach on those things?

Or why do we need to study bridges and inspect them? Anyone remember what happened in Minnesota?

I wonder if a democrat from somewhere in the Midwest came out and said "Hurricane reserach and monitoring equipment? Bah! Who needs that pork? Who's lives have ever been affected by a hurricane?" I wonder where he would be on that statement or that 'bit of pork'?

The fact is - we have volcano's in the country - and not much is known about them and the equipment they use to monitor and protect people is way outdated. This goes back to INFRASTRUCTRE. Kind of like those levees that were outdated in New Orleans that failed.

It just shows you how short sighted the republicans are and how they JUST DON'T GET IT! And probably never will sadly. Not until its too late.

It takes something catastropic like New Orleans for people to say "Why didn't we have more protections in place? They have the equipment available...why didn't we have it in place?" Because people like "Bobby" think that just because there isn't a hurricane in his back yard that it has to be pork.

And where were you Bobby with all the no-bid contracts that doled out MILLIONS of dollars to Bush's cohorts?

We live in a big country - and I have read the bill - and, while I don't understand the spending on everything - I do understand that just because it doesn't affect me or my family directly doesn't mean its worthless.

And to all the people screaming for more tax cuts - how many jobs did that create? We had two massive tax stimulus projects go through - and no only do we have a massive defecit - we keep losing jobs ever single week. So, we've tried that already - and it didn't work.

So, where is your plan Republicans? Where is this massively better plan? Action needs to be taken - it needs to be taken now. And trickle down economics don't work.

Obamas plan, the way I understand it is - if jobs aren't available - lets give people something to do. Lets make jobs - fix the infrastructre. So, fix the roads, dams, etc...that gives people jobs, gives them money - with which they buy things - which increases demand for products - which people produce - which give them jobs - which gives them money - to buy things - which gives people jobs - which gives people money - which increases demand - so businesses expand operations to meet demand - which gives people more jobs - which gives people money....well, you see where this is going. Put the money in the hands of the people who spend it (after all - the rich didn't get rich spending every dime they have).

I wish the Republicans would at least give it a chance. If it doesn't work - well, it doesn't work. But we have wasted BILLIONS in Iraq and what do we have to show for it? A shattered country, broken infrastructre and daily violence.

At the very least the 1 thing Obama has done different is he has said lets fix out stuff and THEN we can worry about everyone else.

Jindal seemed so awkward last night because the republican have decided to take an opposite stance on any Obama policies, even the ones which they know are correct and needed. It's kinda difficult to convincingly condemn, and rail against, a policy which you know is right. I'm sure Jindal has convinced himself that Louisiana does not need the assistance money....now he needs to convince those people who are already hurting that THEY don't need it. What a hypocrite!

Oyster - just a couple of points.

1. Me thinks you doth protest too much.

2. If you think I give a rats pa toot about the silly scoring system here you're not as smart as I sometimes think you are. It's the likes of your fellow wingnuts who breathlessly rush to vote negatively any comment ever made by anyone not a wingnut.

Finally, I really don't think enough about you to think of you. Get over yourself.

Hell, if Palin, Jindal, and Steele are supposed to be the new superstars of the GOP, I'd be pretty freakin embarrassed too.

Of course they are. Imagine what SNL is going to with Bobby Jindrawl. He loaded them up with fodder. LMAO! Oh God...I can't stand it. It's too much.

Here's bobby jindal recounting an exorcism that he was part of. jindal/palin may pick up the craziest 20-30% of all total voters.

Is this the same guy that is threatening to refuse stimulus money for Louisiana?---Sorry but that's just irresponsible.

Um, Josh, I'm all for studying Volcanos to, but how does that help us stimulate the economy?

I am excited to here your response.

I think there's plenty of time for Jindal to rebuild his image. Still, though it's too early for presidential predictions, I don't see how Jindal can win. He'll either be seen as a GOP attempt to "copy" a successful Obama, and will therefore lose the general election to Obama, or, if Obama falters, Jindal will be rejected in the Republican primary because he reminds Republican voters too much of Obama.

#76 Do you think all that money gets thrown in a lava pit? No. Scientists get hired/paid, scientific equiptment gets bought likely from a small company, new research gathered can be taught to tuition paying students, etc. Now, you would have a case if scientists were taking briefcases full of money and dumping it directly into the volcano. That would be dumber than bush.

Jindal is toast, burnt to a crisp toast. He LIED several times during his little speech about the stimulas package and he told a flat out lie about that sherif and the rescue attempt. He also seems woefully unaware that the U.S. has ACTIVE volcanos. Sarah Palin can see one from her house! There are also American bases all over the world centrally located next to volcanos!

This guy doesn't know what he's talking about. Hmmmmmmmm, Jindal-Palin. Well, birds of a feather flock together. Both are idiots.

Here's the dilemma for the Repubs:

Palin is ignorant and telegenic.

Jindal is educated and a doofus.

Pick your poison.

So once again the Republican argument is " Do not judge him by what he says and does, judge him by what we tell you to think about him"?

The man came across as a bitter idiot. To use the fact that the Republican administration was so incompitent in Katrina, so all government must be, is such a rediculous statment that even the most partisen realize how stupid that really sounds. You won't admit it of course, but you know.

And who needs to monitor volacanos? It's not like they are levies holding back molten lava or anything right? (J Stewart)WHat could happen? Idiots!

It is amazing to me that the majority of the support for Jindal are concerned with his image, how he came across and no one has anything to say about the actual message. This is what the GOP just does not get. If your product rots, you don't just put it into a more colorful wrapper. (See Sarah Palin)

We are all suffering though the outcome of todays republican theories and pricinpals. They do not work. We all watched that happen. Trying to pretend otherwise simply drives thinking people away. The party needs to be honest with themselves first and change the failed agenda. This is what you should concentrate on, all the public image experts and smooth talking speechs are not what you need when what your selling is rotting fruit!

It is amazing to me that the majority of the support for Jindal are concerned with his image, how he came across and no one has anything to say about the actual message.

The thread is long, but check my post #50 anyway.

Obama has abandoned all caution. If things work out then he will go down as a great president, if they don't work out, he will go down as the biggest failure of all time and drag down democrats and their liberal principles with him. In that case even a snoozer like Bob Dole could run as the republican and win. I would say you want to bet, but it's too late for that. Like it or not Obama and his party already made the bet and went all in to open. The only thing for republicans to do is stay out of the way of the falling wreckage.

Jindal is toast, burnt to a crisp toast. He LIED several times during his little speech about the stimulas package and he told a flat out lie about that sherif and the rescue attempt.

Wasn't Lee the same sheriff accused of racial profiling blacks?

Yes, my trolls, yes! I can feel your anger...it gives you focus, makes you stronger. Let your hatred of brown people and women flow!

You rethuglicans just don't want poor people to be safe from the volcano eruptions your military testing causes. My President will give all of you a closeup look soon. LOL

The man came across as a bitter idiot. To use the fact that the Republican administration was so incompitent [sic] in Katrina, so all government must be, is such a rediculous [sic] statment [sic] that even the most partisen [sic] realize how stupid that really sounds. You won't admit it of course, but you know. -- John

John you might want to think things through a bit and read back through your comment before calling others idiots.

Surely you understand the lesson of the story he told -- that government red tape often stands in the way of common sense and the private sector often responds better to crisis than government. And by the way, the incompetence displayed during Katrina was in both parties beginning with Dem Gov. Blanco who did not ask the feds to come in, but then complained when they weren't there (she paid for that by being defeated by hmmm... who was it?) and Mayor Ray Nagin who decided it was better to throw everyone into a big building with no food or water or power than it would have been to use the buses the city had to evacuate people to safety. The people of Louisiana who went through Katrina elected Republican Governor Jindal so they obviously realize the failures of Katrina were not all Republican incompetence. Maye they know that because they lived through it, rather than just watching Anderson Cooper on television.

Here is the typical liberal argument for the spendulus items: if you don't agree what Frisbee parks are stimulus then you hate kids and dogs and don't want them to have a place to play. If you don't think volcano monitors are stimulus then you want people to die a horrible death being burned alive by molten lava. Etc.

The word is "stimulus". Even if you think an expenditure is worthwhile, why should it be thrown into a "stimulus" bill when it is not stimulus? Answer: because many of the things would not have passed on their own merits and liberals are doing as Rahmbo Emmanuel directed and are trying to go all out and get everything they can on their wish list under the umbrella of crisis.

In my mind it is akin to someone coming through after a tornado and taking advantage of victims still in shock by having them sign a contract to let a sleazy fly by night outfit put a roof on their house. They need a roof really desperately and they are in crisis mode so they don't read the fine print and see that they are getting a raw deal -- overpaying for a bad product.

I think the economy will recover with or without the generational theft act of 2009. Any short term benefit of the relatively small amount of stimulus in the bill will be offset many times over by the long term damage. But President Obama will be long gone by then and our kids and grandkids will be the ones having to pay so I guess that makes it okay with Democrats.

Lorie

I don't know what your position was during the past 8 years of the Bush administration so I won't pretend top know what you said then.

But it strikes me as incredibly disingenuous, to say the least, that all of a sudden conservatives have found the holy grail of fiscal responsibility. A case in point is Jindal and his disingenuous remark about Republicans "going along" with the wild spending during Bush's 8 years. For Christ sake they had control of the entire government for 6 of those 8 years. They bear a huge part of the responsibility for the mess we're in. No, not all the responsibility because the dems bear some also.

So Lorie, were you as consistently against the wild spending of the Bush years as you are now. If so, kudos to you for being consistent. If not, what is it that suddenly made you see the light?

I lived several miles from the Mt. St. Helens volcano when it blew, and in Portland, Oregon ash fell on the city and on automobiles damaging the paint jobs with fine rock and made many people ill. Near Mt. Saint Helens, a number of people lost their lives and there was substantial property damage in the millions of dollars as well.

Volcano monitoring is a very poor item to oppose, and was not very helpful to Jindal's audition for higher office on Tuesday.

Jindal is also accepting $4 billion dollars for his state from the Stimulus Bill which is 98% of all the stimulus funds for his state. It is only the 2% of stimulus funds related to an expansion of unemployment insurance benefits equal to just $100 million that Jindal is turning down. That's a pretty thin premise for Jindal to base his opposition to this this bill on, by just opposing a mere 2% of the bill. Apparently, Jindal refuses to ask employers to pay for this future expansion of unemployment insurance benefits after the federal program expires in three years for some reason. But employers paying for unemployment insurance for each worker they hire ony seems like a fair business cost to me. And I think that a worker only qualifies for these unemployment benefits if they are laid off due to work slowdowns once they have been employed for at least six months.

For a delegated spokesman by the GOP to deliver the official response, Jindal just didn't make a very strong case. It was a pretty underwhelming performance after there had been so much public expectation that Jindal might make a formidable candidate for 2012. The GOP search for future leaders must continue.

#84. If the plan doesn't work Obama will be considered a failure - huh? Have you already forgotten the last 8 years? Pretty much no matter what, Obama will be reelected in 2012 and will right the ship by 2016.

BccList,

If the plan doesn't work Obama will be considered a failure - huh? Have you already forgotten the last 8 years? Pretty much no matter what, Obama will be reelected in 2012 and will right the ship by 2016.

The biggest problem for republicans leading up to 2006 and then 2008 was Iraq. Unless there's a major downturn there in the next few months it will demonstrated Bush succeeded and any failures after that will be on Obama's watch. By 2012 few voters will care about Iraq, and as they always do, they vote their pocketbook first. Even Obama has said he won't be elected if the economy is bad in 2011. Are you going to argue with him?

It's not just the stimulus bill, but all the other expensive and controversial programs Obama talked Tuesday night. If he is foolish enough to tamper with Social Security in a way that reduces benefits for those now 55 and older then he will lose the votes of most seniors. If his carbon cap and tax scheme raises utility bills he will lose votes particularly if the science by then shows it's the sun that controls climate. If Obama's healthcare plan reduces benefits for more than 150 million of the 260 million who currently have insurance, it will be a negative for him. Obama is going to bring back gun control, not to reduce crime in America, but to do so in Mexico according to Eric Holder. That will create a lot of opposition even among democrats. A lot has to go right for Obama to win reelection, and those who don't see that have their head in the sand.

Mac Lorry,

President Obama will be re-elected without a doubt and will flip even more red states blue. And you should know what's up if deep red Texas turns blue. The End.