Responding to Jindal’s “kickoff” speech.
Jul 19th, 2007 by Daniel Z.
“Runaway government spending is at epidemic proportions not only in Washington, but here in Louisiana as well.”
I wonder if how Jindal defines responsible spending. Perhaps it is “if Bobby Jindal thinks it is a good expenditure then it is responsible”? That would be typical of politicians.
“You all know that earmarks for silly projects are par for the course in Washington, DC. But did you know that this year’s state budget has dozens of earmarks for pet projects from our state legislators costing tens of millions of dollars?”
Those earmarks are called pork to people outside of the district. For people inside the district that gets the earmarks, it is called “needed projects” or “economic development” or “rebuilding”. I am sure that people in California do not see why they should spend dollars in Louisiana just as people in Louisiana will question why we need spending in California.
The same thing applies to the State of Louisiana. I am sure that the people in North Louisiana have no problems with funds spent in their neck of the woods, but when spending goes on in New Orleans that spending is now “out of control”.
In a perfect world, we would have a government where people would only vote for actual needed expenditures and understand that one year that New Orleans might need more funds and the next year that Monroe might need more funds. However, we do not live in a perfect world and in our current political climate, in order for people in the New Orleans area to get the funds that they need, their representitives will sometimes have to promise more spending in other areas of the state.
“Louisiana will never get ahead as long as we are the punch line for jokes about government corruption.”
That is very true. What actual plans does Jindal have to get us ahead?
“While our state legislature found time this year to spend every penny they could find, they were unable to find any time to agree on ethics reform legislation. This has to change.”
Actually, our state legislature cut taxes for the working poor. However, Jindal does not care about the poor so of course he fails to mention those tax cuts.
“Corruption may be a part of our past, but it is not going to be a part of our future. ”
Should we call him “Carnac” Jindal now?
”One of my first acts as your next governor will be to force the legislature to enact sweeping ethics reform.”
How? How on earth will he accomplish this. Under what authority granted to him under the Louisiana Constitution will Bobby Jindal be able to force the legislature to enact sweeping ethics reform? I will be waiting for him to elaborate on this. I won’t hold my breath though.
“Louisiana has to enact the toughest ethical standards in the country. It’s the only way to force real change. I’m not afraid to do it, and with your help, I’m going to do it.”
I agree, Louisiana should enact tough ethical standards. However, Jindal’s record shows that he does not have the courage to stand up to people in his own party and vote for tougher ethical standards. Do I need to remind everyone that one of his first votes in Congress was to weaken House ethics standards for Tom Delay?
“At both the federal and state level, government does not seem to be able to do much right.”
And Bobby Jindal as governor will change this? Him serving in Congress hasn’t done anything to help Congress work right.
“Our politicians in Washington talk about securing our borders, but nothing happens… ”
And what legislation has Bobby Jindal gotten passed to secure our borders?
“Right here in Louisiana the Road Home Program has been one of the most tragic examples of government ineptitude we have ever seen.”
The road home program has been a huge problem. However, with Congressmen like Bobby Jindal who vote against getting Louisiana more funds and instead vote to support Bush’s failed Iraq policy, it is no surprise that Mississippi had no problems getting money and we had to sit and wait and watch our Republican legislators in Washington vote against their home state.
“We cannot tolerate or accept government incompetence any longer. And shame on us if we do accept incompetence. We have a right to a well-run and competent government, and that is exactly what we are going to get.”
Yes, shame on us if we vote for Bobby Jindal. I see no evidence that we will get well run and competent government if Jindal is elected. All I see is misleading spin, flat out lies, and meaningless rhetoric.
“In this election we have a chance – a once-in-a-lifetime chance to turn our state around. Louisiana is not a poor state. We have just had poor leadership, and now is the time for change.”
Actually, according to http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0104652.html we are the poorest state in the nation when you look at per-capita income. I expect our next governor to know facts about the state he wants to lead. And again, I see no reason why Bobby Jindal will turn our state around. More meaningless rhetoric.
“Many candidates spend all their time telling you how wonderful they are. I want to be very clear — This campaign is not about me. This campaign is about a fresh start for Louisiana.”
Yes, many candidates spend their time telling voters how wonderful they are. If you read the last few sentances you will clearly see that Jindal is one of those candidates. More hypocricy.
“When I ran four years ago I introduced a detailed plan. And I’m going to do it again. The first installment of my plan will be about ethics reform and combating corruption. And there will be more, much more.”
Again, I will be waiting for that to happen. I want to see exactly how he will spell out the Constitutional authority that the Louisiana Constitution grants the Governor which will enable him to force the legislature to do anything.
“Change is going to take courage…I am not here today to promise you that this will be an easy fight. But I am here to promise you that this is a fight worth waging. The future of our great state is worth fighting for. This is our government, and we the people can take it back.”
More rhetoric.
“Today I am asking you to join me in declaring war on corruption. Today I am asking you to join me in declaring war on irresponsible government spending. Today I am asking you to join me in declaring war on incompetence.”
Thats great, whenever a politician wants to make a change it is always a “war on something”. More meaningless rhetoric.
“Some have told me that these are nice ideals….but that we can’t really do anything about them. They say that there is no way to make government function better, no way to get spending under control, no way to rid our government of corruption. Well – I am a relentless believer in the American dream, and the Louisiana dream, and I make no apologies for that.”
I cannot fault him for that statement. However, when reaching for your ideals it is important that you keep your feet firmly planted on the ground. Unfortunately, the only way that we will be able to get rid of public corruption is to get rid of the establishment that promotes it. This means getting rid of ALL the bums and electing completely new people. Bobby Jindal is not new, he is a cog in the political machine and has been with each political appointment.
“The time is now…Louisiana needs you now to join this fight. I’m here today to announce my candidacy to be the next governor of the great state of Louisiana.”
Errrr, ummm…. http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/capital/index.ssf?/base/news-4/116953841215500.xml&coll=1
“In a low-key start to what promises to be a high-profile campaign, U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal announced Monday that he will run for governor. ”
He announced in January. This “kickoff” is just a political stunt and it is pathetic that people fall for it.
(11 votes, average: 2.82 out of 5)
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What a whole bunch of hot air this “article” is. You might get further critiquing his choice of suit and tie combo than you do with the crap on this website.
Wow Trotsky, you don’t feel that something on this website has merit? How shocking! You could knock me over with a feather.
Bobby Jindal has proclaimed that he would, as governor, force the legislature to enact ethics reform. I would hope that Bobby Jindal would understand the simple concept of the separation of powers when it comes to the three branches of government if he wants to be our next governor.
I believe that it is possible to open up a special session of the Legislature on the issue of ethics reform. However, he cannot force the legislature to vote any particular way he wishes. There would be no point of even having a legislature if Jindal could do what he claims he will do.
I want my next governor to understand how our government works. I want my next governor to respect the system of checks and balances that exist in our state government. I want a governor that knows that he cannot force the legislature to just do what he wants.
With this one simple statement, Bobby Jindal has shown that he is not ready to be our next governor since he obviously does not understand how our Government works.
You tell me Trotsky, how would Bobby Jindal force the legislature to enact anything? Or did you just fail to read that little portion?
The same way every other governor has gotten their way with the legislature - the use of the line item veto pen.
Look what you are resorting to. Campaign semantic critiques. Every candidate does that. It doesn’t mean he or anyone else doesn’t respect the concept of separation of powers or checks and balances. Nobody except unequivocal idiots thinks that the governor can force the legislature to do something against their will.
Dan, I didn’t notice you writing editorials in any of the state’s newspapers or blogging about how term-limited DEMOCRATS in the legislature this session killed the LA-1 ethics reform package. If you are so concerned with ethics reform, why are you criticizing a man for making that a central plank in his platform? Could it be that you are just a bit bitter over having lost twice to the skinny Indian?
Trotsky: The veto pen PREVENTS the legislature from doing something. It cannot FORCE them to do anything.
This is not a matter of semantics. Jindal is someone who is known as a good orator. He never says something unless he actually means it. He said that he would force the legislature to pass ethics reform and I see no constitutional way that he can do such a thing.
He clearly does not respect the separation of powers if he believes that the first thing he will do as Governor will be to force the Legislature to pass anything.
“Nobody except unequivocal idiots thinks that the governor can force the legislature to do something against their will.”
Well, I guess in your mind that Jindal is an unequivocal idiot since he clearly seems to think that he can force the legislature to pass ethics reform.
“Dan, I didn’t notice you writing editorials in any of the state’s newspapers or blogging about how term-limited DEMOCRATS in the legislature this session killed the LA-1 ethics reform package. If you are so concerned with ethics reform, why are you criticizing a man for making that a central plank in his platform? ”
I am busy blogging about how Jindal will be bad for the state of louisiana if he would be elected governor. His failure to understand the simple concept that he, as governor, does not have the power to force them to do anything helps to prove that fact.
I think ethics reform is a good thing. Jindal has given me no reason to believe that he will give us ethics reform because of his past attempts to weaken ethics for one of his own. That doesn’t show me that he is someone who will give us ethics reform. It just shows me that we have someone who brings us rhetoric and spin.
So with his poor record on ethics and his failure to understand how government works and that he cannot force the legislature to do anything, I will absolutely criticize him.
Him running on ethics is like Larry Flynt running for office and making his central plank “celibacy”.
You are so myopic. The threat of a line item in a bill such as HB2 greatly enhances the governor’s ability to keep legislators in line with his/her thinking. You obviously don’t know anything about the practical relations between those two branches under the 74 Constitution.
But I do think you know that, but you are so desparate to try to make Jindal look bad, you have to manufacture issues to have with him and then spin them as hard as you can into something sinister.
This website is a tribute to your patheticness.
Jindal can prevent things that he feels are unethical from being passed with the power of the veto pen.
He cannot force them to pass anything.
The fact that you dont understand that reveals who is pathetic.
Dan - He could use the threat of a line item in one bill in exchange for a yes vote on another bill. You are an idiot for not seeing that. You are pathetic based on the crap you type on here. Now put down the buffet plate and go find some real evidence of Jindal being “bad”.
Trostky: That is still not an example of him forcing them to do anything. He could use the threat, but they would not be forced to give in to such a threat. They could stand firm.
Who is the idiot again? Surely it is not me. The idiot must be the person who makes fat jokes to someone who makes fat jokes about himself.
Please.
Dan Zimmerman = Nitpicky, two-time LOSER
*Yawn* Could you at least get some new material?
My reaction is to your lack of reflective material showing Jindal to be bad. Your material never changes, thus my reaction to it remains constant. You have lots of nitpicky criticisms that highlight your desparation in this endeavour. I’m waiting for you to be critical of his selection of loafers or his manner of walking. That sort of thing would be in line with what you have going on at this website. But does it make him “bad”? Hardly, but we can all understand how a TWO-TIME LOSER to Jindal such as yourself could find such things relavent.
By the way, you have never indicated which candidate for governor you think is the right choice for Louisiana. Maybe you did, but you burried it in the mound of garbage that is this website. We get that you think Jindal is terrible because he issues press releases and campaigns and wears black loafers with blue suits, but could you please indicate which candidate or candidates you think would make the best governor and why?
Trotsky: Again, you may not feel that the material presented is valid but that does not make you correct either. You could just be a blind Jindal supporter. Or you could just be someone who really just doesn’t like me in particular. It really doesn’t matter. Everyone has seen your true character on here and your criticisms of me are filled with lies, misrepresentations and logical fallacies. I am sure you make the Jindal camp proud.
You will never hear me complain about what he looks like, how he dresses, or how he walks. Why? Because those are not important things that should be discussed when discussing our next governor.
What is important is that we get a governor who has integrity, who is bold, who stands up and protects Louisiana and who has a record of doing the right thing.
If you don’t think that someone who believes that he would be able to force the legislature to pass anything (thus failing to understand some very simple civics concepts) is a bad choice for governor then I really have to wonder about you and what you think makes a good governor. Perhaps all you want is a smooth taker who has the support of the Republican machine. If that is all you want for your next governor then I will never concince you (or anyone like you). I need a little more substance though.
You keep mentioning my loss in 2004 and the loss in 2006 when I was campaign manager and you try and use that as reasoning as to why my arguments are flawed. That is called “poisoning the well” and it is a common logical fallacy used when someone doesn’t have valid retorts to the points that are brought up. You also resort to straw man arguments as well as Ad Hominems. You should educate yourself on logical fallacies and why they tend to ruin your arguments. Perhaps you would make yourself look like less of a fool.
When it comes to who I am supporting in this election, I have not made my final selection though I am leaning towards one candidate right now. This website is not about supporting any one particular candidate. It is about clearing the smokescreen that the Jindal campaign and the Republican party has put up around Bobby Jindal. People need to see who the real Bobby Jindal is.
“We get that you think Jindal is terrible because he issues press releases and campaigns and wears black loafers with blue suits,”
I have never said that nor do I think that. So quit lying. Further lies will be deleted.
DanZ,
The only thing I have to say is this post is so lame. If I were to take one of your speeches every two sentences and critique, I’m sure I’d have a “blog-worthy” post too. Stick to items of importance to why Bobby Jindal is “bad” for our state. He’s a politician like all the other lot that is running for governor… meaning he has certainly flaws. I still think he’s the best. Having met Jindal multiple times, and hearing other current legislators (BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS) say such good things about Bobby, I’m completely unconvinced of your claims on this blog… as well as this remarkably ridiculous post.
Danny Zimmerman is such a desparate Three Time Losing Democrat.
Spending all his time on sad little web site with no readers and fewer posters.
How exactly do you know the number of readers? Are you Carnac as well?
Why do you wish to see my crystal balls. Or will any balls do ?
If there were more readers, there would more participation all the way around.
Knock yourself out.
I said nothing of wishing to see anything spherical of yours.
Anyway, I doubt you have them, crystal or otherwise.
la_resident: You are entitled to your opinion.
Jindal and his friends on the talk shows have made a big issue out of the 1,000 new state jobs funded in the 07-08 state budget. I did the research to see where these new jobs were. Here’s a partial breakdown.
Corrections services — 342
Public safety services (state police) — 73
Youth services (works with at-risk youth) — 81
Health and hospitals — 228
Veteran’s affairs — 185
I hope Rep. Jindal will tell us if he favors firing prison guards, state policemen, those who work with juvenile delinquents, health care workers and those who assist our veterans. According to his rhetoric, these hires were part of our “out of control state spending.”
Hmmm, this sounds like sour grapes to me.
I find it remarkable that you would devote SO MUCH of your time and energy trying to take down someone.
If you were approaching this from a legitimately professional standpoint, I might have listened, but this is obviously personal.
You sound like a teenage boy who lost the popularity vote for your class.
This is an obvious obsession and not healthy. You need psychological help - fast. You have an entire site devoted to your hatred and obsession of this man.
Wonder if the FBI has you in their sights yet as a potential stalker/security risk.
See a counselor - get help.
Observer: Interesting post! Do you have a link to that?
Dolores: Nah, I don’t have sour grapes. I just want what is best for the state and I have not allowed myself to be fooled by Jindal’s smoke and mirrors.
And just so you know, this is an ELECTION. And in ELECTIONS people spend time campaigning both FOR and AGAINST people.
Keeping myself well informed about Jindal and how he has performed in his governmental capacities is hardly stalking.
And I dont need help, I am quite happy with my life.