Jindal's Jig

Dear George,

It is a truism that power destroys brain cells. The longer a party or organization is in power; the greater is the brain damage. Last night’s Republican response to Obama’s speech was a robust demonstration that this truism is still true.

It’s foolish politics to call a speech that fired up the public “irresponsible.” But then, the Republicans made the tactical error of taping their response before Obama gave his speech, thus denying themselves the opportunity to fine tune the response to adjust for the overwhelming acceptance of Obama’s vision.

However, it wasn’t just a response; it was the kick-off for Bobby Jindal’s 2012 presidential bid. The man is certainly qualified for the office in one respect: he, too, looks like Alfred E. Neuman, albeit with a pointier chin.

His speech reminded me of the drunk who polished off a pint of bourbon before smashing up his car. The next time he gets behind the wheel, he decided, by God, he’s going to stick by his principles and polish off another pint before he starts the engine.

Jindal is advocating the very “principles” that got us into the current economic dung heap Obama is trying to sanitize—tax cuts and small government. Now I agree with Jindal; small government is great because it is the catalyst that gives us the feral capitalism that has turned the top of the economic pyramid into the blinding glare of Liberty’s Torch.

I have one suggestion for the man: read some history before you tell your next anecdote. He told a Katrina story about a Louisiana sheriff who reamed out a government bureaucrat trying to stop the sheriff from dispatching a fleet of rescue boats unless the boats all were registered and had adequate insurance.

George, that was a bureaucrat from your FEMA trying to hold up the rescue fleet.

Not the best story to tell a public who remembers your fucked up response to the disaster. But then, given the corporatization of our government, what is the difference between a corporate bureaucrat and a public one?

Like all good politicians, Jindal wants to ramp up defense spending at a time when the country is insolvent. He hewed to the official paranoia when he reminded us that, “…dangerous enemies still seek our destruction. Now is no time to dismantle the defenses that have protected this country for hundreds of years.”

It’s comforting to know Jindal is as ignorant of history as you are. America has had a traditional distrust of large standing armies. As least she had it until we became entangled in the Cold War.
I wish all the best for Jindal’s presidential bid. Just because he kicked in off by falling flat on his face will in no way hamper his ambitions. The public has no memory, so his speech will be quickly forgotten.

Your admirer,
Belacqua Jones