February 24, 2009

Obama's address to Congress... the live-blog.

Watch the don't-call-it-the-State-of-the-Union with me.

8:00: How come there are already 43 comments? The thing hasn't started yet! I suppose you guys are really excited about this. Nancy Pelosi has her olive-green sweatshirt on. I've chosen CBS... Katie Couric is obviously reading from a script.

8:04: Ruth Bader Ginsburg! Among the living! Closeups. Cheers.

8:05: Michelle Obama. Sleeveless! Purple!

8:06: Hillary! Looking radiant. Rahm! He's hot.

8:11: It's O! Red striped tie. Super-short hair. He's kissing all the ladies. The CBS commentary is soooo lame. This is true bipartisanship... except to the extent that it isn't....

8:15: Oops! O spoke over Nancy. Is Chief Justice Roberts there in the audience laughing?

8:20: We have terrible economic problems, but we're going to solve them. To do that, we need to understand how we got here. Then he lists various reforms — like health care — that I think he'd be listing even if there were no economic crisis. I can't see the connection between his economic wish list and the crisis at hand.

8:25: The text of the speech. Great, now like Nancy Pelosi, I can read along. It would be cool if Nancy had her laptop up there and was live-blogging.

8:31: Damn those executives with their jets and fancy drapes! No drapes for you!

8:33: Screw Wall Street but I love small business. Just be small and I will love you.

8:34: "Slowly, but surely, confidence will return, and our economy will recover." There's no lilt of hope in that. Whatever happened to all the hope? This is leaden and lecture-y.

8:37: Which member of Congress is most obviously up past his bedtime? I'm going to say Charles Rangel.

8:40: "It will be the goal of this administration to ensure that every child has access to a complete and competitive education – from the day they are born to the day they begin a career." So... no child left behind?

8:51: Orrin Hatch's name is invoked. We see him reading the speech and grimacing at his own name. He is not a prideful man.

8:59: Obama supports the troops.

9:03: Now, he's in the generic inspiration, listing-of-the-heroes part. Some businessman handed out money because "I didn't feel right getting the money myself." See, rich folk? Cough it up.

9:08: "Some day years from now our children can tell their children that this was the time" — oh, he's doing "this was the time" again — "when we performed, in the words that are carved into this very chamber, 'something worthy to be remembered.'" That was a goofy crescendo. I mean, paraphrase it: In the future, we'll look back and say that we remember doing something.

9:09: "And God Bless the United States of America." He almost forgot to say it.

9:22: Waiting for Bobby Jindal.

9:24: "Happy Mardi Gras!" Bobby's all enthusiastic about Barack Obama, the first African-American President!

9:26: Bobby learned a can-do attitude from his immigrant dad. His emphatic hand gestures are not quite in the camera frame. But I think his style is pretty good, though it sounds super-rehearsed. Somebody taught him every inflection I think. And that eye contact. It's a bit unnerving!

9:29: Jindal is nicely upbeat and confidence-inspiring. Don't monitor volcanoes! Monitor the eruption of spending!

9:35: The GOP wants to win back our trust.

9:37: Bobby: plastic and peppy. But maybe we'll get used to him.

570 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 400 of 570   Newer›   Newest»
Dody Jane said...

Yes, college will soon be meaningless, A Master's will be like a bachelor's...

Jason (the commenter) said...

Hey asshole, not everyone can complete four years of a liberal arts college! The president just crossed the line. I feel like he just called everyone who didn't get more than a high school education unpatriotic.

veni vidi vici said...

Let's put "community organizing" on a plane with going into houses with machine guns drawn in some forsaken hell-hole halfway around the world, not knowing who's in the dark pointing a gun back at you.

For the purposes of ensuring "affordable education for all", of course. The GI Bill is unfair, after all; neighborhood clip-board holders outside the local Starbucks are engaging in at least as dangerous work, and shouldn't be denied the same benefits.

mishu said...

why does this number keep re-occurring??

It's part of a deal he made with Kerry to remind America of the 57 varieties of Heinz steak sauce.

Michael Haz said...

Promises to default on Treasury bonds at some future time.

mishu said...

Inherited and magnified. Free of earmarks. Ha!

Rose said...

amen, victoria!

Dody Jane said...

Lots of Farmers not planting wheat sit up and take notice...

Hunter said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Snoozefest.



*Bobby Jindal should be all, like, whatever haters, freaking ID is more likely than choppin' down the deficit by 50 % with all your SUPER-DUPER STIMULUS PLANS Prez Obama. And then he should perform an excorcism on Nancy Pelosi.

k said...

What about tech schools and two year programs? Those kids will have more a future than a bunch more Ancient Arabic Studies and Bizarre Artistic Concepts graduates! And that's all you get when you FORCE everyone into "college." And at that point, it is no longer higher education. It's just warehousing .. which, amazingly, is exactly the problem we have in secondary education now. No content. No motivation. No goals. No POINT.

The Dude said...

The man is a complete and total idiot. God save this once great country.

veni vidi vici said...

As of a moment ago, his speech is too long.

He'll fuck Poland, the Czechs and other former Soviet satellites by defunding the SDI programs going up over there.

What a paper tiger.

vbspurs said...

Heya Rose! :)

...this is boring. I want more Joe.

vbspurs said...

As of a moment ago, his speech is too long.

It's a debut, but it already feels like I've heard 3 of his States of the Union.

I'm Full of Soup said...

We need health insurance reform not health care reform.

We have the best health care in the world in America.

No amount of reform or electronic automation can free up enough money to pay to insure the 45 million people who don't have health care.

If Obama claims it will, he is simply full of soup.

Jason (the commenter) said...

"No new taxes" if your family makes less that $250,000.

Dody Jane said...

I work for people who make $250000 - there goes my bonus

al said...

You will not see your taxes increase one dime - at least until the Bush tax cuts aren't renewed...

veni vidi vici said...

The way he intonates up when shrieking "by the way, the recovery plan provides... a tax CUT!" belies his feelings.

Beau said...

It would be cool if Nancy had her laptop up there and was live-blogging.

Be cooler if you were up there blogging. You could do the super secret 'hey' sign to us, the only ones who know it.

Jason (the commenter) said...

He's cutting 2 trillion somewhere. Can't wait to see where.

al said...

AJ @8:55 - right on WRT to health care.

RLB_IV said...

This is so trite, why am I not surprised...

Meade said...

Althouse said... "Nancy Pelosi has her olive-green sweatshirt on"

It's a snuggie!

vbspurs said...

What cost freedom, Obama?

veni vidi vici said...

"Responsibly ends" the war? WTF is it with Democrats and the therapy-talk, anyway?

Weak-tit poseur.

vbspurs said...

It's a snuggie!

It's a Maoist snuggie.

k said...

Why is it AF-gan-ihstan, but PAHH-kee-stahhhn?

RLB_IV said...

I'm sorry, but I cannot believe this guy was elected. I just cannot believe it.

veni vidi vici said...

Obama sez WE are united with one message: "we voted for this titwad and that alone should show you we don't give a fuck about y'all or your mission, not to mention the sandcrabs you're supposedly 'liberating' (heh) over there, bitches."

Michael Haz said...

We're going to screw the military...hey, let's give them a big hand. Sets timetable for Iran to invade Iraq.

Palladian said...

"I'm sorry, but I cannot believe this guy was elected. I just cannot believe it."

I can. Humans are generally stupid.

Jason (the commenter) said...

RLB : I'm sorry, but I cannot believe this guy was elected.

I believe it. It's a populous speech. He's making promises. He's doing great job.

al said...

The only justice a captured terrorist deserves in a .45 hole in the forehead.

Anonymous said...

Yes, Ann on the stand instead of Nancy!

When you scratch your cheek - that means he's full of crap.

When you straighten your collar, that means that you agree.

You flip your hair, that means that dreamy Evan Bayh is hitting on you from across the room.

Dody Jane said...

"I'm sorry, but I cannot believe this guy was elected. I just cannot believe it."

BIG SIGH

Michael Haz said...

Does not torture???? Have you ever listened to a Barney Frank speech??

veni vidi vici said...

Closing Guano bay and will seek swift and certain transfer of the inmates to the new Baghram military prison where they won't be subject to any of that US Constitutional jurisdictional crap. Thanks George, for getting that thing built in time for me to take over and dodge the bad p.r.!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I just got home.. Has anybody said...

Palin 2012.

I'm Full of Soup said...

The way to go is eliminate all payroll taxes and just have one flat income tax that funds general fund and base retirement. Keep Medicare tax but make 3-4%.

That would get the economy going.

Base retirement would be let's say $1500 per month at age 65 with no exceptions.

Obama's econ advisers are so doctrinaire- their fervent ideology blinds them from seeing bold changes.

vbspurs said...

I want to see Pelosi eat some ribs in her snuggie.

Dody Jane said...

He's shaping for ill

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Hi Vic..

Good to see you.

vbspurs said...

Hey Lem.

Local guy getting props. How come the Miami Horrible didn't report this?

veni vidi vici said...

Give me Sanford, Perry, even Barbour, over this toolbag.

And yeah, it'll have to be one of those guvnors from the stimulus-rejecting states.

And Jindal, for all his gifts, needs 2 terms of results in NOLA before I can support him; otherwise he's just another Obama in the eyes of the press/populace. Trust me on that. Hell, trust yourself, you know it'll happen given what they accomplished with Palin.

Chennaul said...

You will not see your taxes increase one dime - at least until the Bush tax cuts aren't renewed..

I thought I read someplace that it effectively could be the biggest tax increase in 20 years.

Can't remember where though-is that right?

Jason (the commenter) said...

What happened to Titus? Fat dog got your tongue?

Dody Jane said...

I think this is a long speech

Hunter said...

Say, isn't that the town where 10,000 people died when the tornado hit?

veni vidi vici said...

More worthless "anecdotal"/"heartstrings" bullshit.

End this drivel. Please.

Michael Haz said...

Ah sweetheart, the problem is your local school board. The folks in, say Wyoming, shouldn't have to pay for your school in the Carolinas.

veni vidi vici said...

"we are not kwitterz".

repeat for emphasis.

This is what I refer to as the sublimation of banality.

Next, stay tuned for the banality of evil. It's on the same continuum.

vbspurs said...

I'm so glad this is such a long, unexciting speech. I hope he makes it to 3 hours.

veni vidi vici said...

3 hours? Go for 4, like Fidel likes to.

Virginia said...

Blogger Lem said...

I just got home.. Has anybody said...

Palin 2012.
===

Don't think it was Jindy!

Penny said...

I am PUMPED! All we need to do is get past NY, Calif, Chicago, Texas, Nev, Ariz, Mass and DC!

Dody Jane said...

When does he get to the part where he pays my mortgage? Did I miss that part? The part where he pays my mortgage?

vbspurs said...

50 minutes. Jebus. Felt easily twice that long.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

All that congress applause... full of fraud waste and abuse.

mishu said...

"This was the time" schtick again.

Jason (the commenter) said...

NPR notes that no details were given.

veni vidi vici said...

I always preferred W's "May God continue to bless the United States of America"; that "continue to" was a nice expression of confidence in and optimism about our nation.

Ahem... "just words..."

Dody Jane said...

It was missing something... I think it is the venue - it lends itself to blah, blah, blah

vbspurs said...

SPEECH GRADES

Flair - A
Substance - D
Vision - C
Plans - D minus
Timing - F

mishu said...

Sarah! Sarah! Sarah!

Jason (the commenter) said...

NPR: Obama said he was going to ask congress for another stimulus plan possibly included in the budget.

freshlegacy said...

veni vidi vici said,

Must be sad for his fans, the fact that he's such a conventional thinker.


So true. Just like the last president (and some before), he's going to cut taxes, increase spending, and halve the deficit by the end of his first term.

As conventional as they come.

Dody Jane said...

Yes, Victoria! Timing!!! It was an F!!!

veni vidi vici said...

Vic, you forgot to rate on the most important criterion:

Ballsac: F (for "lack thereof")

vbspurs said...

Yes, Victoria! Timing!!! It was an F!!!

Don't worry, he'll get extra credit later from Michelle.

(More of my trademarked Presidential porn anyone?)

veni vidi vici said...

Frankly, Freshlegacy, your comments raise the issue that he really is Bush's third term!

vbspurs said...

Bobby Jindal to give the rebuttal. :)

Jason (the commenter) said...

I think the speech was an A. But he's going to get in some trouble for his remarks about people who didn't go to college. I predict they'll be calling Rush tomorrow.

Unknown said...

I love how so many of these allegedly important speeches and debates and such have fallen on nights I have a date with my wife, so that I clearly have an entirely good reason to skip them.

Virginia said...

Time for the Rockford Files

vbspurs said...

Ballsac: F (for "lack thereof")

True dat. I was counting on Mean Joe Biden to add it.

Simon said...

"It will be the goal of this administration to ensure that every child has access to a complete and competitive education – from the day they are born to the day they begin a career."

One thinks of Lino Graglia's sarcastic line: these days, "except for saving the whales, nothing is more important than everybody have more education, regardless of desire or ability."

veni vidi vici said...

Bring on the Bobby. The GOP wigs are probably thanking their stars for their fortune having their own "brown-skinned guy" to put up in response to Barry. "See? We're inclusive too!"

That sounds awful, but who among us doesn't think that his racial identity didn't play a role (I didn't say "the only role") in his selection for the response tonight?

vbspurs said...

Time for the Rockford Files

My God, is that still on? What's to follow -- Mannix?

The Dude said...

Jesus god, no, Victoria - the thought of that scrawny Kool smoking geek humping that lard assed hate monger is more than I can stomach.

And yes, somewhere Che is smiling. On posters throughout Obama nation, and probably in the private residence at the white house.

George M. Spencer said...

Simon--

Is that the Star Trek episode where the crazy guy hides in the Enterprise, pretending to be dead because Kirk had to jettison the pod during an ion storm and Kirk is court martialed by Theodore Bundy's boss and defended by a blonde in a mini-skirt?

Other than her, that was a bad episode.

Simon said...

Here's a yardstick: can anyone imagine President McCain giving that speech?

vbspurs said...

Bring on the Bobby.

The GOP are sending a clear message that Bobby is the heir apparent in 2012, not Palin.

vbspurs said...

can anyone imagine President McCain giving that speech?

Not without major grimaces and awkward hands raising.

Beau said...

I think this is a long speech

That's what happens when someone speaks in full sentences.

vnjagvet said...

Huey Long had nothing on BHO. Nor did FDR, JFK or LBJ, who used populism to pretty good effect.

Dody Jane said...

Jindal was VERY good on MTP Sunday..

Revenant said...

Screw Wall Street but I love small business. Just be small and I will love you.

No problem. American business is getting smaller with each passing week.

I love the bit about "inheriting" a deficit. A deficit can't be inherited; each deficit is specific to each budget. Congress has the power to completely eliminate the deficit tomorrow no matter WHAT the Bush administration may have done.

Virginia said...

My God, is that still on? What's to follow -- Mannix?
===========
Ironside

Jason (the commenter) said...

NPR: Not a lot to applaud here.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Vic:

Damn you'd be a tough teacher. Was he really that bad?

Rockford Files- I loved that show.

Virginia said...

Blogger Dody Jane said...

Jindal was VERY good on MTP Sunday..
====
Gak. He was unbearable.

Beau said...

Not without major grimaces and awkward hands raising.

Because he was a POW right? I think I heard that somewhere.

The Dude said...

Here they come - the Obama fluffers, ready to praise their guy. Bring it on - you, and the Prof voted for this zero, so start spewing.

veni vidi vici said...

My wife just called to tell me that on TV, Burris is apparently following Barry around the floor like a loyal dog at the moment, while Barry is completely ignoring the hell out of him.

Anyone else noticing that? (I'm listening on radio here; no visuals)

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

One thinks of Lino Graglia's sarcastic line: these days, "except for saving the whales, nothing is more important than everybody have more education, regardless of desire or ability."

The Whales have a lot to teach us Simon ;)

vbspurs said...

Because he was a POW right? I think I heard that somewhere.

Really, wow, I hadn't heard. I feel bad.

Virginia said...

Yeah, Rockford's not bad. They were one of the earliest shows that dealt with a closeted homosexual scenario.

vbspurs said...

Because he was a POW right? I think I heard that somewhere.

Which Palin still hasn't graced. My baby girl needs to step it up.

Beau said...

Burris is apparently following Barry around the floor like a loyal dog at the moment, while Barry is completely ignoring the hell out of him.

Burris, this year's Michelle Bachman.

vbspurs said...

Err, I meant to quote Dody Jane saying that Jindal had been on MTP!

The Dude said...

Rockford is on RTN at 10. Some of the episodes were written by David Chase, late of The Sopranos. He hired some of the Rockford actors to work in some Sopranos episodes - it is good to see that connection played out over the decades.

Michael Haz said...

Mrs.H,. who teaches writing noticed that the first part of the speech included a lot of these words:

frankly, boldly, directly, wisely, plainly, candidly, strongly, willingly, eagerly.

The middle part of the speech included a lot of 'er' words and sounded like he was growling:

root, retool, reimagine, rebuild, recover, reform, reward, responsibility, recession, reliability, relieve.

The final third sounded like a refrain from Oliver.

I'm Full of Soup said...

OBAMA'S problem is he does not recognize all he has to do is say times are tough, life and the economy will get better and better and here is what your life will look like in 2-3 years.

Then he lays that out and guarantees it will be back to normal!

Virginia said...

Yeah, well baby girl needs to baby study and then maybe baby be ready. Till then, sort of stuck manufacturing outrage over her children.

KB said...

I see Mr. Obama has decided to fluff up the budget just to cut items never intended to remain. Way to project 10 years into Iraq while planning to be out much sooner.

That's nothing. I planned on spending eleven gajillion dollars in the next 10 years, but I'm not gonna. Top that sucker.

vbspurs said...

Damn you'd be a tough teacher. Was he really that bad?

It was a needlessly unmeaty speech, full of finger-pointing and lack of genuine warmth.

I was prepared to grudgingly praise him, if he had been Reaganesque as promised. But he was barely Carteresque.

Virginia said...

fcai said...

Rockford is on RTN at 10. Some of the episodes were written by David Chase, late of The Sopranos. He hired some of the Rockford actors to work in some Sopranos episodes - it is good to see that connection played out over the decades.
====

Thanks. It's not outright horrible in that way shows can get as they age. Except for the high pants.

George M. Spencer said...

Ironside...now there was a bad TV show.

But way ahead of its time in terms of political correctness...a physically-challenged victim of a gun crime with a weight problem and a negro male nurse's who's good with his fists.

Beth said...

"And God Bless the United States of America." He almost forgot to say it.

No, he didn't.

garage mahal said...

The official sour grapes thread.

*muted trumpet* waaaa, whaaaaaaa.

Just say NO! Americans are craving that right now. Keep kicking that can across the parking lot.

LOL

vbspurs said...

I think this is the first State of the Union response I will have ever waited for and listened to in my life. Come on Bobby.

You guys stayin'?

veni vidi vici said...

Does Jindal lay on a bit of that Indian accent? That would be pretty cool.

Anecdotally, when I was in Biz skool, I had many Indian classmates, some of whom were highly westernized and spoke indistinguishably from any standard midwesterner. However, when they got into a group, it was uncanny how all would switch to the Indian accent -- even when they were just speaking English with one another! I always found that rather interesting.

There are few accents more interesting to listen to than an Indian one. Especially a pretty Indian gal speaking softly in your ear. Preferably nude.

But I digress...

I'm Full of Soup said...

Vic:

Obama just ain't all that. Many of us suspected that and he has his work cut for him to even make it to 2012.

He is already beaten down and acts defeatist.

Dody Jane said...

He was Obamaesque -

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Burris following Barry's behind... not bad for a TiTus immitation.

Virginia said...

Correction: It Takes a Thief is on after Le Files Rockford

Beau said...

OBAMA'S problem is he does not recognize all he has to do is say times are tough, life and the economy will get better and better and here is what your life will look like in 2-3 years.

Yep. Concise and to the point. Forget the flowery stuff, I'm getting older by the minute.

vbspurs said...

Ooh, Jindal with a strange delivery. It sounds like he's the narrator in high school play.

Simon said...

David Brooks' simpering reaction just now was ridiculous - absurd that this man is the house republican for the NYT.

Jindal is off to a bad start. He sounds like a motivational speaker or a salesman.

George M. Spencer said...

Fred Astaire was Theodore Mundy's dad.

A bit of trivia.

Jason (the commenter) said...

I don't like the way Jindal talks. I feel like he's talking to a child (Obama has that too, but not as much.)

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

You guys stayin'?

Wherever there's two or tree of you..

vbspurs said...

He is already beaten down and acts defeatist.

It's an act, I suspect, AJ. He has more confidence in himself (genuinely given his ego, but also to be able to manipulate any crisis) than we can ever realise.

Jason (the commenter) said...

NPR has feedback during Jindal's speech! Anyone else?

Jason (the commenter) said...

Jindal sucks, even without the feedback.

Simon said...

How many of us here have sat in a pitch meeting where a cocky kid who barely looks out of high school is tell us, the ones who actually know what we're doing, why we should buy his company's product? That's the Jindal speech's approach.

Simon said...

Not ready for primetime.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Jindal sounds like his running for something...

Jesuscrist where is Palin?

Host with the Most said...

DID ANYONE ELSE WATCHING MSNBC HEAR KEITH OLBERMANN SAY DERISIVELY "OH GOD!" WHEN JINDAL WAS WALKING IN?

For every Fox News hater, you better slam Olbermann or stfu for good!

Michael Haz said...

Jindal isn't bringing it. Or someone has totally screwed with the sound. Tinny, interuppted.

I want an order of tandoori chicken, by the way.

Jason (the commenter) said...

His talking in terms of things people from Louisiana would understand (Katrina, local stories), but not all Americans. He gets an F.

George M. Spencer said...

Every time I stick my head in the TV room my kids are watching the Lifetime Network, and I see an ad for "Gold4Sale" or something like that, and these poor schlemiels are stuffing envelopes with their Aunt Minnie's gold rings and bracelets and bragging about how they got $356 dollars and now they can eat meat again.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Is it too late for an Obama drinking game?

veni vidi vici said...

Everytime someone calls out "Vic", I feel like I'm being addressed.

The other "Vic" is simply 'spurs to me.

Carry on.

vbspurs said...

I don't like the way Jindal talks.

My God, this is hilarious. Jindal should give up his job and do book narration for the Reading Rainbow.

Host with the Most said...

Jindal is slowing down now and tempering his inflection - GOOD!

Should have started like this.

Michael Haz said...

C'mon Jeb, change your mind.

vbspurs said...

Call me Vicky. It's easier. :)

Jason (the commenter) said...

I could have written a better speech. Or at least have edited it so people would listen to it.

Revenant said...

David Brooks' simpering reaction just now was ridiculous - absurd that this man is the house republican for the NYT.

Doesn't the bit before the "-" explain why the bit after it isn't absurd at all?

Roberto said...

Ann...all I have to say is this: You have one really creepy crew hanging out on your blog.

Anybody who listened to this speech and posts these comments are sad indeed.

Penny said...

"Stop micromanaging my life, Obama."

For as much as I have always loved your contributions here, Victoria, the current president is just doing the "job" he perceives that needs to be done.

Maybe we can agree that, at least for now...he has our collective attention.

I, for one, am very impressed with his ability to "play the harp".

vbspurs said...

Zzzzzzzzzz. Where is my snuggie?

Dody Jane said...

He was better on MTP - Speeches aren't his thing apparently - Oh well...

Michael Haz said...

Is it too late for an Obama drinking game?

One shot per 100 point move on tomorrow's DJIA.

Jason (the commenter) said...

To be fair, Jindal has 3 and a half years. He's going to need the practice, though. (And to get a better speech writer!)

Virginia said...

Michael Hasenstab said...

C'mon Jeb, change your mind.
=====
Now this, this is the one us Dems are scared of. Forget flirting with dynasty, if he ran, we would be EMBRACING it. That's a tickle the nation probably would not resist, and it would be ON.

As a Dem, I do not want to see this man run.

kight said...

I have seen Jindal in person speaking. He is not an "easy" speaker like Obama. You always get the impression he is boring into you and he won't let up until you cry for the nitrous oxide.

He is also a policy wonk par excellence and always well rehearsed.

Roberto said...

Whine...bitch...losers.

Dody Jane said...

We all agree we need to educate the children -

vbspurs said...

For as much as I have always loved your contributions here, Victoria, the current president is just doing the "job" he perceives that needs to be done.

Thanks for the genuine compliment, Penny. But as a modern conservative, I am none too keen on any politician thinking he can direct how I live my life, so long as I am not breaking the law.

Virginia said...

Dody Jane said...

He was better on MTP - Speeches aren't his thing apparently - Oh well...
====
And he was TERRIBLE on MTP.

veni vidi vici said...

Oh yeah, after the nonstop harangue from all corners from 2005 onwards, no one other than the locals know anything about Katrina!

Seriously, get some better material.

Although I'll agree with the style points; Jindal sounds like the worst species of toolbag that rolls off the government assembly line. Someone take him to public speaking class, or out to a woodshed to beat his ass.

George M. Spencer said...

Michael--

Now, "Sea Hunt."

That was great television.

Guy was rescuing people trapped underwater every week.

Just like Obama. Except today it's mortgages.

TittusLovesU4EverLongTime said...

bobby jindall talks to me like i am 5 years old.

he is fucking ugly. butt faced ugly.

How is Louisiana's economy, education system, health care? I think it is last in the nation. that is a good place to start.

Roberto said...

Jindal is-really-a-good-speaker.

Godd lord...

vbspurs said...

He was better on MTP - Speeches aren't his thing apparently - Oh well...

Dody Jane, not sure you saw my post of it at the time, but I saw Jindal (and Palin) at the Republican Governor's Conference in downtown Miami.

I wasn't impressed by him, physically or with his aura as a person. He is a brain. But doesn't have that special something, with respect.

I still like him though.

Beth said...

Louisiana had a $900 million surplus when Jindal took office as governor. We're now $2 billion in the hole. Nice job, Bobby.

He claims credit for passing a tax cut, but he opposed that cut right up until it was obvious that it would pass. Then he darted out to take credit. He was right the first time - it was the wrong time to end the Stelly Tax plan.

He gets kudos for his supposed ethics reform, but he left out meaningful enforcement provisions. He's all surface. He thinks fast, but not deeply.

He says he reduced the state budget, but he didn't really. Federal bucks for Katrina are dwindling, and the budget dropped as a result. At the same time, he increased state employees by about three percent, and the bulk of them jobs making $40K and more a year. So much for his hiring freeze.

He says he's going to refuse some of the stimulus money, but the state legislature will vote to accept it, so this is just more GOP roleplaying. They oppose the stimulus with no real consequences, because they'll get the money anyway.


Jindal's been spending more time out of state than reassuring his current constituents that he has a plan for this year's budget. I can't figure out why a bunch of people in South Caroline and Arkansas and Oklahoma care about Jindal winning a second term as Louisiana governor. Jindal's pattern has long been to gain a position (appointed or elected), make a few headlines, then get bored and start looking for the next rung up the ladder.

So, please, yes, by all means, put him on the GOP ticket in 2012!

Chennaul said...

But I think his style is pretty good, thought it sounds super-rehearsed. Somebody taught him every inflection I think. And that eye contact. It's a bit unnerving!

Yep-I just looked up his education-accepted to both Harvard medical and Yale law school but did the Rhode Scholar route.

This guys strength is actually when he gets more wonky.

Trust America with complex details-that's more to his strength.

I don't think you want to get into a charisma battle with Obama.

He actually gets better here towards the middle/end, when he gets serious

It is serious times-and that feels more authentic.

George M. Spencer said...

Natchitoches is famous for its meat pies.

Lasyones Meat Pie Kitchen. Mmm.

Dody Jane said...

Thirdresponder - Do I bother you for some reason? I am just expressing my impressions. I guess our impressions differ...

vbspurs said...

THE MOST BORING GOVERNORS.

Chennaul said...

He is hitting it out of the park when he talks about all the adversity that America has overcome.

Jason (the commenter) said...

Beth,

We don't even like how he speaks, we don't care what his policies were!

Roberto said...

Great White I Need Another Ambien - Huh?

Penny said...

Michael? Creepy Crew?

Au contraire, mom ami.

Althouse has enough sense to understand our collective best intentions.

Virginia said...

Ok, MTP, I will stop.

vbspurs said...

Americans can do anything! But it takes an Indian immigrant to do it politely.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Call me Vicky. It's easier. :)

You mean you have a twin sister?

Dody Jane said...

Fairly dreadful

Michael McNeil said...

Randy Barnett at The Volokh Conspiracy posted the following yesterday about Bobby Jindal vis-a-vis Sarah Palin:

This is Not Good: From Little Green Footballs:

“Everything the media tried to pin on Sarah Palin, [Bobby] Jindal actually did: he promoted and signed a creationism bill (with help from the Discovery Institute), he took part in an amateur exorcism and claimed it cured a woman of cancer, and possibly worst of all, he pals around with people on the extreme edges of fundamentalist Christianity, and at least one person who has associated with outright neo-Nazis.”

You can read the dirty details here. The LGF prediction:

“My take: the MSM and the left would love it if Jindal is the GOP nominee in 2012, because he will lose. So they’re going to ignore all the damaging issues until then, preemptively sabotaging any effort to find a more viable GOP candidate.”

While at it, you can read about GOP Governors Mark Sanford and Tim Pawlenty's creationist sympathies here. Republicans be warned: No demonstrably creationist politician will be elected President of the United States.

vbspurs said...

Mwahaha, Brit Hume is panning Jindal in no uncertain terms!

Roberto said...

Lem - Soooooooooo, what did you think of Obama and Jindal?

veni vidi vici said...

Well, some of us here listened to the speech without visuals, so we weren't preoccupied slathering over Barry's impeccable pecs and "elegant" demeanor and could concentrate on the content.

Which to these ears was somewhat lacking, although he did include every cliche of modern-era presidentiality, including half-hearted "We will rebuild" hosannas.

I'm not above praying for miracles, and I think Barry could use one. Otherwise, it'll be a long, boring administration (and yeah, it could certainly be worse than that).

My radio station here just cut away from the children's book hour - I mean the Jindal response.

Sorry Bobby, maybe next time you can play with the big kids.

Dody Jane said...

Thanks all! Fun was had!

RLB_IV said...

Palladian, I believed that when I was young in the late 60's. I believed that there were people who were too stupid to take care for themselves, so government should "help" them. I was a socialist in the Democrat party.
My experience tells that there are very few who are "dull normal". People just make bad decisions and that , in most cases, has to do with how they were raised as a child. As an employer I know that people just don't pay attention until it's too late. Those that rent and have very little look to the Feds to give them something.

I was looking at DOW 5000 in
March.. I hope that you and I are wrong.

Virginia said...

TittusLovesU4EverLongTime said...

bobby jindall talks to me like i am 5 years old.

he is fucking ugly. butt faced ugly.

How is Louisiana's economy, education system, health care? I think it is last in the nation. that is a good place to start.
===
When I left, the state of affairs usually was like this:
48 - louisiana
49 - alabama
50 - mississippi

So Louisiana probably is not the worst/poorest, etc...

TitusLoveUToDeath said...

Bobby was awful. Sarah Palin will destroy him in any primary.

She is just so much better than him.

I feel like I was told to wash my mouth out with soap after hearing him. It would of been hot if he was a little attractive but he was one ugly indian and I like my Indians-have had many.

Peter Hoh said...

Does any one else pick up a Jimmy Carter vibe when Jindal speaks?

Simon said...

Penny said...
"Maybe we can agree that, at least for now...he has our collective attention."

Didn't have my attention. I had him on one monitor and Patrick Stewart negotiating with a shiny crystal on the other.

Oh, and now Brooks is saying that Republicans should do precisely the wrong thing and sell out their foundational principles because the country is (as Garage mentioned) collectively bawling "mommy! I made a booboo!" Ridiculous preening fool who ought to be fired to the extent his only credential for his job was being a so-called conservative.

Jason (the commenter) said...

After tonight I hate Obama, but who do the Republicans have to run against him? Not Jindal or Palin.

vbspurs said...

Thanks all! Fun was had!

Ciao Dody Jane! :)

...me too, guys. I will check out the thread later, and continue on Twitter.

Cheers,
Victoria

Simon said...

I can't understand why they don't let Gingrich give the response - for God's sake he could improvise a better speech.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Lem - Soooooooooo, what did you think of Obama and Jindal?

Good to see them... but I would not have a beer with either.

George M. Spencer said...

Michael--

As far as I'm concerned, the only way to get through these next four years is to try as pay as little attention as possible to Mr. Obama.

Hate is like fried foods. It angries up the blood.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Politicians should be required to distill these billion dollars and trillion down into number and amounts we can actually understand.

For instance, the stimulus plan was $787 Billion plus interest. That means they could have given every household an average of $10,320.

The new Schip bill insures another 11 million kids and costs $35 Billion. That means it will cost the average American household $300.

Now since only about 50% of American households actually pay FIT, the cost is closer to $600 per "taxpaying" household.

This stuff of course adds up.



.

John Stodder said...

Hello, fellow creepy crewmembers!

I didn't think to live-blog along with you all, but I hope the discussion continues.

David Gergen is basically predicting the stock market will drop tomorrow because of the lack of "certainty" related to his banking rescue plans.

Penny said...

Hey, I have LAG!

Anyone else out there with the same problem?

Simon said...

Jason - see my previous comment.

Beth said...

Does Jindal lay on a bit of that Indian accent? That would be pretty cool.

Jindal grew up in Baton Rouge, LA. It would be pretty weird if he had an Indian accent.

It's interesting to see how poorly he seems to have come off to the rightwing faithful. Not ready for prime time, indeed.

I hope he gets that message soon, and comes back home and gets to work. We need a full-time executive right now.

I'm Full of Soup said...

David Axelrod is a bad rep for the Dems.

He says Obama wants a strong capitalist system so they can tax the shit out of it.

Host with the Most said...

"The deficit we inherited?"

Oh that monkey Obama.

Roberto said...

Penny said..."Althouse has enough sense to understand our collective best intentions."

By servicing this group of flat out wingnut sycophants...she herself has to be fairly creepy.

Other than far, far far right blogs, this is the biggest collection of mental midgets I've ever encountered.

And to think; Althouse is a Law Professor??

Penny said...

I blame Althouse for my lag.:D

Peter Hoh said...

Jindal's speech was constantly being interrupted by audio glitches on the FOX digital broadcast, as seen on my TV, which gets reception from an antenna.

Roberto said...

Host The Racist - You're so funny.

Does it make you proud?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Jindal's speech was constantly being interrupted by audio glitches on the FOX digital broadcast, as seen on my TV, which gets reception from an antenna.

Same here.. and I have Cable

Jason (the commenter) said...

John Stodder : David Gergen is basically predicting the stock market will drop tomorrow because of the lack of "certainty" related to his banking rescue plans.

I think the tax on energy would hurt; it's supposed to be big enough to halve the deficit (along with closing loopholes). Also, the health care and pharmaceutical industries have got to be full of uncertainty.

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