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Bobby Jindal Outfoxes Everyone
Well, don't I feel stupid. Last week I said that Governor Bobby Jindal's claim that he was considering turning down stimulus cash because of his fiscally conservative principles was just so much political grandstanding. To lay the groundwork for a future national campaign, I argued, Jindal was using the press generated by his objections to position himself as the most conservative member of the GOP's presidential wannabe crowd. But when push came to shove, he'd obviously take the money. Right?
Wrong. Bobby Jindal is smarter than me. He figured out a way to take the vast majority of the funding set out for Louisiana (about 98 percent, according to TPM) while still earning headlines like "Jindal rejects $98 million in stimulus spending."
What's more, the funding that Jindal is turning down is slated for unemployment benefits, a favorite punching bag of the conservative Right. Jindal has already issued quotes about how the stimulus funding would force Louisiana to raise business taxes in order to hand cash out to lazy slobs who can't be bothered to get a job. (That's not actually true; Jindal could sunset the increased unemployment benefits when the federal funding runs out.) If you read Stephanie Mencimer's excellent piece on welfare from the last issue of MoJo, you know that the entitlement systems in the South are badly perverted, and that an extra $98 million could do a lot of good in a state like Louisiana. But who cares, right? This way, future candidate Jindal gets to push all the right buttons.
Jindal & Stimulus money
I wish our politicians would stop playing with poor people's lives. Jindal is doing this so that he can show media his firm conservative roots --stupid, stupid, stupid. Put people first. You are elected for good of the people, even if they don't agree with you.
JINDAL
You know what? I am a Democrat but I really liked Bobby Jindal (and I may have even voted for him in 2016) but this whole Stimulus game he is playing is really starting to disappoint me. I thought maybe he was the Repub's Obama, but his big ideas are overshadowed but partisanship. You lost this Democrat's vote, Bobby... can you gain it back by 2016??
Jindal
Jindal is just Palin without lipstick.
Actually....
Trish, I agree with one of BRBob's thoughts below. Jindal is more dangerous than Palin.
Jindal
I voted for Jindal but quickly got over after he tried his damnest to try to screw Louisianians with the bogus State Legislature pay raise fiasco. If you're not familiar with it, he had cut a deal with the lege's to let a raise pass if they would pass his ethics bill. The bill passed and it's a good one but then stood by while a part time legislature tried to give itself a 300% pay raise. This was the pinacle of hypocrisy when you ran on a platform of fiscal and ethical conservatism. After 3 weeks of being inundated with letters, emails, threatened recalls and finally notice by CNN Jindal said he had to step in and straighten things out and veto the bill. What a joke! He had to save his political ass and he has been running for national office ever since he was elected governor. All of his press conferences are staged so that he does all the talking, won't answer questions and immediately leaves after he has pitched his spiel. Loves the sound of his own voice. He claims he has saved the state millions. How? By not filling a bunch of job vacancies. Now he is going to sacrifice education and healthcare to cover our $2 billion shortfall. Thanks for nothing Bobby and there is no way in hell you can count on my vote again. I'm a registered independent and was duped into thinking he might act independently but I was wrong. He's more dangerous than Palin without lipstick. This guy's intelligent. Don't be fooled into thinking he's anything other than a government wog. But then again, aren't they all?