Gov. Bobby Jindal To Deliver GOP Response To Obama State Of The Union

Newsmax.com:

Even as Bobby Jindal carries the weight of the Republican Party with the official GOP response to President Barack Obama’s lobbying speech for his $787 billion bill stimulus package tonight, the Louisiana governor’s own political future weighs heavily on his message.

Indeed, some political observers cast the addresses as the initial duel between the two if Jindal were to become the GOP’s candidate challenging Obama in 2012, as some suggest could happen.

Jindal, who was on Sen. John McCain’s short list for vice-presidential candidates last year, has continued to attract media attention, especially after joining a cadre of GOP governors who spurned stimulus money because of strings attached.

Jindal said he would reject almost $100 million tabbed for his state, mostly because Louisiana would have to continue funding programs after the stimulus expires.

“It would be like spending a dollar to make a dime,” Jindal said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday. “I just have a fundamental disagreement with this package.”

He said he would accept the stimulus money to increase unemployment benefits by $25 a week. But he drew the line at accepting money to expand eligibility for unemployment, saying it would increase employer taxes.

Great pick by the GOP. And I'm not saying that because of Jindal's race--Jindal is just smart enough to articulate the concerns most Americans have about BO's pork-filled stimulus plan that does nothing but subsidize failure. Plus, he doesn't listen to far-Right pundits who just disagree with whatever their peers on the Left say. Instead, Jindal offers solutions, isn't afraid to speak his mind (even it offends those within his own party) and he's backed up his stance on the stimulus package by refusing to take any money. Granted, Jindal's speech will push him further into the national spotlight, but he's already stated that he's not running for President in 2012 and I'm still of the opinion that Mitt Romney is the best candidate for the GOP to run against BO in the next election anyway. For Jindal this is a chance to speak for moderates and conservative Democrats like myself, so I know I'll be listening.