Tonight, the big prime time speech will be broadcast to an anxious nation. The stakes are high, the expectations are high, and the message will set the tone for the next four years—at least. His admirers and supporters, including yours truly, are looking forward to a brilliantly articulated vision for the future.
No, we're not talking about Barry Obama's speech to a joint session of the Congress. We're talking about Bobby Jindal's rebuttal.
Barack Obama will be under pressure when he addresses the nation on television tomorrow night, but not as much as Bobby Jindal, who will reply on behalf of the Republicans, with a performance that could determine his own presidential hopes. [snip]
Jindal, the 37-year-old governor of Louisiana and the Republican party's new hope, needs to demonstrate confidence and competence - and show a little sparkle - to boost his hopes of being chosen to take on Obama in 2012. [snip]
Being chosen by the Republicans to respond to Obama gives Jindal a significant leg-up over his rivals, offering millions of viewers their first opportunity to see Jindal, who is conservative on both social and economic policy. The high-profile slot in the past has boosted careers but also destroyed them. [snip]
If Jindal does well in his reply, he can expect to benefit in terms of a sudden influx of funds. He raised $3.5m in 2008 from more than 2,100 donors. It is a relatively small figure, given that Obama raised $1bn in his fight for the presidency, but Jindal only has to demonstrate at this stage he is capable of fundraising.
Rush Limbaugh calls him "the next Ronald Reagan." Republican strategist Steve Schmidt agrees. "The question is not whether he'll be president, but when he'll be president, because he will be elected someday."
Fiscal conservatives argue the party must retrench around a small government philosophy from which Bush strayed. Social conservatives argue it must more fully capitalise on a religious base that never warmed to McCain. Others say it must appeal to suburban moderates who care more about the government's effectiveness than its size. Jindal's allure is that he offers a way around this choice, and an answer to all of the party weaknesses exposed above.
More
Excerpt from Jindal's Rebuttal
"Who among us would ask our children for a loan, so we could spend money we do not have, on things we do not need? That is precisely what the Democrats in Congress just did. It's irresponsible. And it's no way to strengthen our economy, create jobs, or build a prosperous future for our children." (more)
Bobby Jindal's big moment
He’s a star in political circles, mentioned by members of both parties as a future presidential candidate, but when Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal delivers the Republican response to President Barack Obama’s Message to Congress on Tuesday, most Americans will be seeing him for the first time.
Our President of the Perpetual Campaign Takes Veiled Shot at Bobby Jindal
"There's going to be ample time for campaigns down the road," he said, a not-so-veiled reference to those Guvs, especially Jindal, who are said to be contemplating 2012 presidential campaigns. "Right now, we've got to make sure that we're standing up for the American people and putting them back to the work."
Bobby Jindal Outfoxes Everyone, Mother Jones Isn't Happy
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."
High stakes for Obama and Jindal this week
Party elders are giving Jindal, who missed the 2008 GOP convention to be on hurricane duty, his biggest stage yet. A flop would limit his aspirations and rob Republicans of a much-needed talent.
Saving America: Time to hit the streets?
Noting the tactics of left-wing organizations such as Code Pink, which like to send handfuls of noisy people to a lawmaker's office, DeMint suggests such things do get the attention of congressmen and senators. "I think some of these folks might think twice if they had several hundred people standing outside one of their state offices asking, 'What in the world are you thinking?' "If that doesn't work, there's plenty of room on the boulevard.
Sign the Petition for a Chicago Tea Party
Our petition for you is this – if American Future Fund hosted this tea party, in Grant Park – site of Barack Obama’s Chicago victory speech – would you be there? If we have enough folks say “YES!” then we just might start a major movement with this event. But it has to begin at the grassroots. h/t: Red Voice
Obama's goal? Directed chaos
The goal is to achieve chaos, because chaos leads to more government control – and that's what Obama and the Democratic Congress want more than anything. They don't believe they should be bothered with elections or dissent or any of the nuisances of a free society. They believe they deserve perpetual power, because they are part of the enlightened elite. h/t: Pen of Jen
iPod Touched by Midas
That's what it looks like anyway with this iPod Shuffle from Xexoo of Germany. Made from real 18 carat gold, this will definitely burn an extremely large hole in your pocket if you want one with its price tag of $19,343 (14,000 Euros).
In contrast, state-of-the-art Wordle analysis shows that although George Washington's first SOTU speech was only 1081 words long, it was packed with enlightened substance:
Calvin Coolidge was an incredibly successful but under-appreciated leader, presiding over a golden age in American history. Note the emphasis on property, prosperity and progress in his 1928 address:
What a difference 25 years makes. From dreams and opportunity to want and need. Obama's America is like an unfamiliar land. The "highlights" of SOTU 2011:
