Bobby Jindal Piyushes Himself Out of the 2016 Clown Car

Aw, Bobby! I was hoping Jeb! or Rand would bail before you, so you might squeak into one of the big-boy debates. Alas, it is not to be. Jindal, one of the God Warrior contestants, has elected (hah!) to bail out. So much for predictions of him being the "next Ronald Reagan".

[Excerpt]

Bobby Jindal ends GOP presidential campaign

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal ended his long-shot campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination on Tuesday, saying on Fox News that "it's not my time." While Jindal's campaign showed some progress in Iowa — site of the Feb. 1 caucuses that open the Republican nomination contest — he had trouble gaining traction in other states. . .

Read more at: USAToday


 

American Spectator Presents Tea Party Straw Poll

Being a liberal blogger, I've managed to get on quite a few unusual mailing lists, some on purpose, some not. One of them is The American Spectator, which I'd classify as an "establishment" Republican periodical. But to show what a fine line there is (if there is any distinction at all) between that group and "Tea Party conservatives," I'm not sure what it could be. Because this arrived co-branded.

Click to embiggen.

It's a 2016 presidential straw poll. And the list contains a mixture of boring conservatives, and absolutely batshit crazy tea baggers. I voted for the craziest one, Jan Brewer. Just because, y'know. . .what is that insane woman doing on a list like this?

I think by now it is clear that while "true" tea partiers might consider themselves separate and apart for the Koch Brothers, Karl Rove and Frank Luntz--who pull the strings from behind the scenes, and mold the conversation--the Tea Party is just the branded face of conservatism. There is no real distinction. Though I'm sure Rove et. al., would dearly love to cut the crazy out of the public face, they need them for their crazy base!

We liberals and progressives thought that the rogues gallery that emerged on the stage of the 2008 and 2012 Republican primaries was simultaneously hilarious and horrifying. Check out this list.

Click to embiggen. Be afraid, be very afraid!

"Joe The Plumber" Don't Know Much

Sigh. I have had a lot of fun at the expense of the ever-growing cast of cartoon characters that populate today's GOP. Sarah Palin, Eric Cantor, Michelle Bachmann, Michael Steele, Bobby Jindal and others are all ripe for parody, and regularly provide us with material. But the single most mystifying, head-scratching Republican hero is Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurtzelbacher.

As said endlessly here and elsewhere, he's not Joe, he's not a Plumber, he has no particular identifiable knowledge base or skill set. He's famous for asking then candidate Barack Obama an impertinent--and factually inaccurate--question on the campaign trail. And though he's done nothing of substance to earn his fame, he just keeps popping up. Who ever thought, when Republicans had such a stranglehold on government, that they'd sink this low?

GOP Trashes Sarah Palin, Also

Photo from source, Huffington Post

This story interests me because of a conflict that might not be immediately apparent. If you visit far right-wing sites like Free Republic, you'll find that Sarah Palin is still greatly loved--even revered--among the right-wing base. They show near-equal love for characters like "Joe the Plumber" and Bobby Jindal too, so there's no accounting for taste. But what is this lock-steppy bunch to do when party leaders trash their moose-skinning heroine? It's not just the evil "liberal media" doing it now, guys!

[Excerpt]

Republicans Disinvite Palin From Major Fundraiser, Trash Her In Private

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is out, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is in as keynote speaker at a Republican dinner this spring.

Palin, the party's 2008 nominee for vice president, had been slated to address the annual Senate-House Dinner in Washington on June 8. The dinner, sponsored by the House and Senate Republican campaign committees, is one of the GOP's biggest fundraisers. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Bobby Jindal and Erupting Volcanoes

Allegedly, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal gave the Republican response to Barack Obama's press conference tonight. That might be a rumor though, since I can't find it anywhere, and did not see it on the news tonight. It would be a baffling decision on the GOP's part, after his last appearance was compared to Mr. Rogers and 30 Rock's Kenneth the Page.

I did find a Jindal clip from today though. He was Countdown with Keith Olbermann's "Worst Person in the World" tonight, for ridiculing volcano monitoring during his previous response. Given that there is a very active volcano right now in Alaska, it makes Jindal look rather shortsighted and foolish. Unless he's looking to take out Sarah Palin as his competition. . .

Top 10 Conservative Idiots, March 2, 2009

You just knew that Bobby Jindal was going to lead the pack this time, didn't you? They had a lot to work with this week, with CPAC too. Enjoy.

[Excerpt]

The Top 10 Conservative Idiots, No. 359

March 2, 2009

Jindal All The Way Edition

This week Bobby Jindal (1) learns some valuable lessons about public speaking, Rush Limbaugh (2) can no longer button his shirt all the way up, and Samuel "Joe The Plumber" Wurzelbacher (3) is STILL FINDING WAYS TO GET ONTO MY &%@*#% LIST. Elsewhere, Michael Steele (7) is leading the GOP to the promised land - he's just forgotten to mention that they'll have to spend forty years in the desert first. . .

Read the list at: Democratic Underground

Picture of the Day: The New Face of the Republican Party

I found this at The Stephanie Miller Show's "Photoshop Fun" section of their web page, and thought it went so well with my previous post (Today's GOP: A Cast of Cartoon Characters), that it needed to be here.

(Click to embiggen)

Source: StephanieMiller

Today's GOP: A Cast of Cartoon Characters

My mom is often wrong about politics. But she told me something many years ago that stuck with me, and that I believe is correct. She said that the political pendulum swings from left to right, and that no matter how stuck it might seem on one side or the other, it will eventually swing back to the other side.

Over the last eight to 14 years, the pendulum got stuck deep into the red, seemingly tied there; maybe held with some kind of voodoo or black magic. I say this because of the ascendancy of extreme right-wing voices to the mainstream. I say this because while many liberals like me could "see" the reality, an artificial reality seemed to rule. Karl Rove and his political machine had a lot to do with that of course, with an echo chamber that would repeat anything--no matter how obviously untrue--and it would become conventional wisdom everywhere, except maybe The Daily Show, Air America Radio or Countdown with Keith Olbermann.

But--like my mom said--the pendulum finally became untethered, and came careening back to the left. The right tried to lasso it again and again--indeed they are still trying--but it remains elusive. In fact, that pendulum seems to have struck all remaining hard-right figures like pins in a game of Skittle Bowling, and has knocked them down or left them staggering. These great and fearsome characters have become something like cartoon figures. Consider:

- Congreswoman Michelle Bachmann
- Governor Sarah Palin
- House Minority Leader John Boner Boehner
- Governor Bobby Jindal
- Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurtzelbacher
- Drug-addled gas-bag (™The Stephanie Miller Show) Rush Limbaugh
- Ann Coulter

- "Reporter" Matt Drudge

- John Bolton
- Sean "The Manatee" (™John Cleese) Hannity

- Many, many others, including most of FOX "News" and right-wing talk radio

They're all laughable, easily mocked, and no longer only by "the far left." Everyone seems to be getting in on the act. And while I know the pendulum will swing back some day, I'm going to keep enjoying this. It's a schadenfreude sundae with a cherry on top.

John Bolton Jokes About Annihilation of Chicago

Image from source, Mother Jones

What's left of the far right of the Republican Party is throwing its annual shindig in Washington, D.C. right now. It's called the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), and it used to be the hottest ticket in town. It's chock full of humor, mostly of the unintentional variety, like "Joe the Plumber." And there are also the things intended as humor that just aren't funny.

Former UN Abassador (by recess appointment) John Bolten--who once joked about the UN building being blown up--made a joke about Chicago being blown up. The crowd ate it up. Which tell you a little something about the crowd.

This CPAC thing used to sort of freak me out. Every bigwig conservative was there to curry favor, and the overriding message was far, far to the right. To me, it was an embodiment of the normalizing of far-right politics, something that wasn't true, but had quietly taken the place of more moderate views. With Sarah Palin, not-a-plumber Joe, and now Bobby Jindal, the GOP has become more of a punchline than a serious threat. I like it that way.

[Excerpt]

John Bolton at CPAC: The Benefits of Nuking Chicago

Former UN Ambassador John Bolton believes the security of the United States is at dire risk under the Obama administration. And before a gathering of conservatives in Washington on Thursday morning, he suggested, as something of a joke, that President Barack Obama might learn a needed lesson if Chicago were destroyed by a nuclear bomb. . .

Read more at: Mother Jones

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Jindal & Kenneth the Page

Sigh. I was going to stay away. But how could I resist another Bobby Jindal post, when Jack McBrayer--Kenneth the Page from NBC's 30 Rock--responds to the comparisons made between the two? And on the brand new Late Night with Jimmy Fallon no less? Sorry guys, I couldn't resist.

Joe the Plumber to Advise Young Conservatives!

Photo from source, Huffington Post

I've been going on about the disastrous appearance of Bobby Jindal on Tuesday, and don't worry this post isn't about him. But it is about one of the other stellar lights in today's GOP: Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher! This guy has gone from a disingenuous non-plumber, asking the future President Obama a question about taxes that was loaded with falsehoods, to a war correspondent who thought war correspondents should be outlawed. He's had several rumored and confirmed sidelines, from book writer, to country singer, to GOP economic advisor.

And now, he's going to be "advising" the green little up-and-coming Republican Youth! Brilliant!

[Excerpt]

CPAC Agenda: Joe The Plumber To Advise Young Conservatives As Panelist

On Thursday, conservatives will be descending on Washington DC, the place they like to slam the most, to galvanize their mission to take back Congress and the presidency. Reports say this year's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) will bring in record numbers despite it not being a midterm or presidential election year. According to The Washington Times, 7,000 people attended last year and 9,000 are expected this year. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

The Young Turks on Rush Limbaugh & Jindal

I'm sorry! I just got done saying I'd lay off the Bobby Jindal stuff, but I. Just. Couldn't. Resist. I promise I'll try to get a little more diverse after tonight. But for now, watch this clip of Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks, delighted that Rush Limbaugh is defending--and threatening critics of--Bobby Jindal. Priceless.

Olbermann Talks About Bobby Jindal's Embarrassing Performance

Yeah, yeah. Two MSNBC posts in a row, and yet another one on Bobby Jindal. I'll try to lay off for a little while (unless I find something too good not to share). It will be interesting to see if Jindal continues to produce Palin-esque moments like he did last night.

Leave Bobby Jindal Alone!!!

Hahahahahahaha!!!

Bobby Jindal = Kenneth the Page from 30 Rock?

The internet sure has increased the speed of thought, and reactions to political events. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal only gave his Republican response to President Obama's address a few hours ago, and he is all over the blogosphere now. And not in a good way.

Yes, we may have just found the new Sarah Palin. The far-right loves him as much as they love her, but it looks like he might be good for comedy. I found Jindal's speech a little odd, especially since he's widely considered to be "the next Ronald Reagan." What he's really like is the next "Kenneth the Page" from 30 Rock! Take a look. . .





See more at: Gawker

MSNBC's "Oh, God" Comment Starts a Brush Fire

You can count on hearing a bit about this today, particularly if you listen to right-wing talk radio or watch FOX "News." As I said in a previous post, Keith Olbermann (or maybe Chris Matthews) muttered "Oh, God" when Bobby Jindal's Republican response to President Obama's address started to air. It was pretty much my reaction as well, and it was also clearly an "open mike" oopsie. But the right is gonna have a field day.



[Excerpt]

In Depth: When Will MSNBC Learn?

. . .Right as Bobby Jindal walked up to the microphones someone on air muttered “Oh God” followed by laughter from the floor crew. Olbermann introduced the segment so I have to assume it was him. It could have been Matthews but he was remote from D.C. and I doubt his mic was live at that point. . .

Read more (if you must) at: Inside Cable News

Rachel Maddow, Speechless

After big political events, MSNBC is usually helmed by Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow. I particularly enjoy it, but it drives right-wingers absolutely nuts. Which is fine with me, I guess.

This video is from immediately after Bobby Jindal's Republican response to the President's address to Congress, and features a humorous moment, with Rachel Maddow absolutely tongue-tied. One other thing I noticed--which isn't included here--was Keith Olbermann's open-mike moment, as the Jindal video started. I'm not 100% certain, but it sure sounded like Olbermann groaned, "Oh, God. . ." Hee.

Bobby Jindal Repeats False "Disneyland to Vegas" Train Story

After a pretty good performance by President Barack Obama in his address to Congress, the Republican response was offered by Louisiana Governor Piyush "Bobby" Jindal. It was an awkward speech, and one couldn't help but notice the difference in tenor and presence between the two men. This is an important thing to keep an eye on, as Jindal is thought to be "The Next Ronald Reagan" by many on the right, and has been slashed a lot lately (examples: Jindal/Palin '12).

Unsurprisingly, I wasn't bowled over by the guy, his style or his message. Rachel Maddow was actually left speechless after Jindal's allusion to Hurricane Katrina. I was most taken aback by Jindal's reference to a high-speed rail system from Disneyland to Las Vegas that he says in the stimulus package. No such thing exists, but the line keeps getting repeated.



Jindal said that Republicans hadn't done much to gain the public's trust lately. He's right. And with lies right there in his speech, Jindal hasn't done much to earn it either.

GOP Gears Up for 2012?

Photo from source, AOL News

Well, that was fast. Already, we're getting stories about Campaign 2012? Please, make it stop! But with these choices--unless Barack Obama either screws up badly, or the Republican smear machine is capable of bringing him down--I'm not terribly worried.

Sarah Palin? That would be fun. Newt Gingrich? Skeletons aplenty, and those are the ones we know about. Piyush "Bobby" Jindal? Obama may have broken the barrier for ethnic candidates, but I'm not sure this guy is the "New Reagan" the right is claiming him to be. Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney faded fast in the primaries. I vote Joe the Plumber!

[Excerpt]

Republicans Gear Up for 2012 Race

Votes are still being counted in some races in last Tuesday’s election, but no matter: Talk of the potential Republican field in the 2012 presidential election is already underway.

Too early? Too bad — just look around. . .

Read more at: AOL News

Bobby Jindal Signs Creationist Law?

Image from source, Raw Story

I've commented on Louisiana's young Governor, Bobby Jindal before. He's been touted as the saviour of the Republican brand, a "future president," and "the next Ronald Reagan." And as I pointed out before, he's prone to stirring a heaping dollop of religion into his governance.

Here is evidence of that, and it is so incredibly wrong-headed, at least we can be pretty sure that he won't be John McCain's vice presidential pick. Or, hey, maybe he will be, and we can thank our lucky stars for how easy it will be to pick him apart. Hmm?

[Excerpt]

Louisiana gov. signs controversial education bill

Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed into law a bill that critics say could allow for the teaching of "creationism" alongside evolution in public schools. . .

Read more at: Raw Story