By Deon Roberts, Onlie Editor
With Gov. Bobby Jindal taking a trip to Sen. John McCain’s ranch this weekend, many are once again speculating that Louisiana’s new governor is in line to become McCain’s running mate.
So what is this trip really about?
According to The Associated Press, a McCain aide said the visit has nothing to do with presidential politics. Jindal’s press office says the governor is using the trip “to discuss issues important to the future growth of Louisiana.”
Jindal, a Republican, has repeatedly denied rumors that he’s considering running with McCain, also a Republican.
So, it sounds like Jindal will not be running with McCain, although, of course, anything can happen.
But what if Jindal became vice president?
Would he be considered a traitor to Louisiana, considering that he took the governor’s office in January, just a handful of months ago? Or would it be a great move for Louisiana, which is trying to recover from the 2005 hurricanes?
19 responses so far ↓
Maurice // Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 11:36 am |
Whether our governor is chosen or not is irrelevant. What’s important here is that for the first time we have a head of state with a good reputation to even be considered for the Vice Presidency. This is good for Louisiana and will go a long way toward changing the way people look at us.
Rick // Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 11:53 am |
This would be great for LA. However, he’s only 36, so while he could be Veep, he could not be president until he’s 40. Not an issue unless something would happen that incapacitated McCain. Then you’d have a real mess on your hands.
Mark // Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 12:32 pm |
Actually he only needs to be 35 to be President. The requirements for President and VP are the same.
Jack // Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 12:36 pm |
I seriously doubt Jindal is foolish enough to accept running as VP with McCain who will likely be a loser and is certainly not going to listen to anything Bobby Jindal suggests. McCain is a RINO and will likely pick another RINO like Crisco Crist from Florida. I suspect Gov Jindal he went out of professional courtesy with an eye to future opportunities.
Ralph // Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 1:16 pm |
Actually, it would be horrible. Not a horrible thing for Louisiana, but for Bobby Jindal. He took office a mere 4 months ago with a mission to change Louisiana. The people have given him an opportunity to serve LOUISIANA. Running with McCain would be a slap in the face to the people of this state. Not to mention that Bobby would have, once again, used the people of Louisiana to springboard his career. Just like he did with the people of Metairie. I think his political future in Louisiana would be ruined if he were to take this position. However, some supporters of him will fail to see how this would be a HUGE betrayal to the people who have put him in his current position which is allowing for him to even be considered for Veep.
Brett // Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 1:30 pm |
McCain would be foolish to pick Jindal. He’s too young and his experience mirrors the amount of experience Obama has. Choosing Jindal would be writing off one of McCain’s most effective arguments against Obama: that he’s just too inexperienced. McC would be far better off with Gov. Crist of Florida: popular, conservative, experienced, and could help bring Florida to McCain’s fold.
Louisiana will go to McCain whether its against Hillary or Obama. If anything…McCain would be best served with Jindal as a Cabinet head.
And…Jindal would be a fool to accept the VP slot. He was elected with 54% of the vote last year. Most if not all who elected him will consider his name mud in this state were he to jumpship. Some (myself included) who had proudly supported Jindal not once but twice for Governor, would not vote for any ticket with Jindal’s name on it simply because he would have proved himself to be “just another ambition-driven politician” – which is not what we elected. We elected a strong policy leader who promised to work his hardest for four years (and hopefully another four after that) to bring Louisiana ahead of its neighbors in all of the areas our state has been lacking in for the better half of a century. We didn’t elect someone to serve a year then head off to bigger and brighter things.
Jindal is a GOP Rockstar. He can serve two terms as Louisiana’s governor and still be either a candidate for POTUS in 8 years or a Veep contender (should we have an incumbent GOP Veep seeking POTUS) – he’ll only be 44 in 8 years. Worst case scenario he’d be 52 when he finally got to run for POTUS. Still a young man.
McCain should pick Crist. Jindal should stay in Louisiana and continue what he’s started.
Rick // Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 1:38 pm |
Mark-
My apologies, you are correct, it’s 35. I thought it was 40. How about the natural born citizen qualification? Was he born here or naturalized – I do not recall.
Ralph, I can’t read his mind, but I doubt he had the VP in mind when he ran for govenor. Those that know him seem to respect him irregardless of party affiliation, so perhaps he could raise awareness in DC of our needs better than our current lot of Pols.
Mike // Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 2:05 pm |
Given Bobby’s huge budget and his reluctance to support tax cuts like HB87 we might as well have a democrat governor. I don’t why anyone would think he is capable of being president or why anyone would buy into his office’s statements about the purpose of his visit with McCain.
I wish I had never voted for him. He is a political opportunist and manages the state from that perspective.
McCain is a fiscal conservative. I wonder what he will think about Bobby’s huge state budget and his votes in Congress on things like the farm bill and his large number of earmark requests in 2007?
Walter // Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 2:16 pm |
Rick -
Bobby Jindal was born in Baton Rouge. He meets all the qualifications to be Vice President (and President). Please stop speculating otherwise.
Kevin // Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 2:43 pm |
He accepted a job as Louisiana governor, and if less than a year into his job he accepts the VP nomination I’m going to be furious!
Governor, keep your word!
D.L. // Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 3:29 pm |
It’s par for the course for Jindal. He has never stayed at a job long enough to finish. He’s bailed on every job he’s ever had for a quick “better offer.”
Neil // Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 3:51 pm |
I contributed money to Jindal’s campaign because Louisiana
desperately needed a COMPETENT, honest governor. I did not
campaign for him to be VP. In fact, I will consider him just another scum bag, power hungry politician if he does.
James // Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 4:25 pm |
I think he needs to stay. He’s been a disappointment as a fiscal conservative thus far but hell, he’s only four motnhs into the job. He will be a far better governor than the last idiot and even has the potential to be a great one-if he stays.
The very last thing that Louidsiana needs is another landrieu in an important position.
john burris // Monday, May 26, 2008 at 4:36 pm |
As a military intelligence veteran, Katrina/Superdome survivor, Fema/American Red Cross victim, and avid Barack Obama supporter, I hope Mr. McCain picks Huckabee OR Jindal. That would GUARANTEE an Obama victory. Seeing how clueless and out of touch McCain is on the major issues (GWBUSH, Jr.), I do expect him to name a poor choice for VP. ANYONE from the Gulf Coast who even CONSIDERS voting for ANY Republican after the Katrina fiasco and disgraceful treatment of survivors should be shot!!
Daniel Z. // Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 9:54 am |
The only reason for McCain to pick Jindal would be to pick someone who the extremist right winged conservatives can vote for (since the right wing pundits have pegged McCain as a liberal up until now).
If asked, Jindal will absolutely accept. Louisiana is just Jindal’s stepping stone. He never stays in one job long enough for you to see the actual results. Anyone who expects Jindal to remain governor for 4 years obviously paid no attention to the fact that he ran for Congress in 2006 and immediately turned around and ran for governor.
TS // Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 12:06 pm |
I wouldn’t be supprised if Jindall ran for VP. Certainly, if he had been in office for even a slightly longer period and nothing seriously bad came up, he would go for it. How that would work out is hard to say.
It is really difficult to put finger on what Jindal is doing. Jindal does not have a track record other than he likes to change jobs. His biggest contribution while he was in Congress was collecting a pay check, which he continued to do until the very last moment. He is reluctant to take responsibility (consider his response to his campaign’s failure to report a contribution from the Republican Party), and he has made some illogical and possibly imprudent actions (such as the reappointment of the head of the state National Guard and the firing of the head of the state highway safety commission). Jindal calls for transparency for all parts of government except his own. The legislature quickly passed his reform legislation, but raised the bar for enforcement and put that responsiblity in his hands. There is something missing here. I don’t think we are getting the full story. Because of this, I would not like to see him run for a position that would put in line to be president. especially if the president is as old as McCain. Jindal should establish a track record and become more consistant and transparent in his actions. We should see Jindal as he is and not the image his handlers project.
Russell V // Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 3:46 pm |
It’s good to see people finally realizing what a political opportunist Jindal really is: He convinced Mike Foster to make him head of DHH at age 24. Why? What could he possibly bring to the table at age 24? Is healthcare any better in this state for it? He quickly moves on to a job in the first Bush White House. He quits that to run for senator annd governor. When that fails he moves to a congressional district so he could run for that office. He quits that to run for governor and subsequently sells the house he bought so he could legally run for congress. As governor, he whines about ethics in government as long as it doesn’t touch his office. Now he has a chance to really cut taxes and he reneges. Now after less than six months as governor he is suddenly the republican wonderboy and possible next VP. At best, he’s just using McCain and us here again to establish a run for president in 2012. It’s all about Bobby!
KC // Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 11:19 am |
At first glance, I thought the whole Jindal consideration was about age and ethnicity. However, once I researched this guy and listen to his speeches and interviews….I am impress to no end with Jindal. This is a rare breed of politician with a well rounded balance of smart, integrity, straight talk, values, compassion, logic and articulation. Mccain will do more then well with Jindal on the ticket. Check out all the liberal noises on Jindal and you can see that Jindal is the democrats greatest fear for a Mccain VP choice. Jindal’s got experience, straight talk, authentication, rare accomplishments at his age and humility. He’s a conservative Obama with accomplishments, honestly and hardwork. Mccain – Jindal is a non-stopable ticket as far as I’m concerned.
pugwash // Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 12:39 pm |
“…I am impress to no end with Jindal…” so apparently is McCain, coming back for a second look: Jindal’s an obvious antidote to the Obama euphoria but surely,”Un-stoppable” rather than a “Non-stopable” ticket. Jindal ’s immigrant-esque (sic) background neutralizes Obama’s and his flip-flopishness (ethics, budgetry obsession etc…) will guarantee yards of editorial sermonization. Hopefully McCain will pick him. That way if McCain wins, Jindal can afford a sentimental rearwards glance to his political nursery.