No To Bobby Jindal

The alway sensible Betsy Newmark nixes Bill Kristol idea that Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal should be McCain's VP pick.  She also sends us to Dan McLaughlin's guidance for McCain's selection process.

Ed Morrissey also nixes Jindal and backs two of the same names as McLaughlin:

McCain has other choices for youth and energy, notably Tim Pawlenty (MN) and Mark Sanford (SC), both of whom have two terms as governors of their states. Both men have national stature, and both could reach different parts of the GOP coalition that may elude McCain at the moment. More critically, they both have experience in difficult political battles, and have proven their mettle repeatedly in electoral politics.

Ross Douthat argues that Jindal ought to graciously decline if approached; that may not be realistic if the McCain people are adamant that he is the guy, but surely he can signal disinterest - doesn't Jindal have hair to wash this weekend, and every foreseeable weekend?

Comments

[Rick Ballard]

Bobby can't make Gramps any younger and he isn't the solution to the Hagee error. I certainly hope that Jindal reflects upon Dan Quayle's political carreer in the aftermath of the '92 election as he decides - saying no to Gramps can't hurt him 'cause Gramps doesn't have many friends in positions of influence within the party. Gramps does have lots of friends in the Muddle but the depth of their friendship is reflected in the state of his campaign coffers.

Save yourself for '12 or '16, Bobby. If you can make some headway in busting up the corruption in LA you will have exceeded BHO's accomplishments by a 100 times (and at an earlier age) and you will have an open road before you.

[LindaK]

Agreed. Although Jindal has many more tangible accomplishments than BO (can't cite a number because one point of comparison is a "0"), he also has a short political career thus far and would be vulnerable to comparison with BO's 14 or 15 year career as an elected official.

[Porchlight]

Jindal would also be open to (valid) criticism that he "deserted Louisiana in her time of need." He's not going to do that, not even close.

[Appalled]

If Bobby Jindal manages to straighten Louisiana out, then he will have a lengthry political career. A McCain run a risky career move, better made by someone who would lose little by it.

(If I were McCain, I would pick Romney, who knows something about the economy and would make at least some Conservatives happy. But, somehow, I doubt McCain is paying any attention to me.)

[Soylent Red]

As far as I'm concerned, Jindal is much more useful in his current position than as Veep. Louisiana needs some serious straightening out.

That being said, what a terrific Veep he will make for whatever other young guy takes over for McCain in '12 or '16.

A (then) 40-year old working for maybe a 50- or 60-year old pres (former VP). That's the stuff Republican dynasties are made of.

[Pock Wanno]

I have to agree with everyone who says Jindal should wait this election year out. If he can clean up any of the corruption in the state of LA, then he has a major advantage for him in a run for President in 2012 or 2016.

However, I have to disagree that Romney would be a good VP choice. I think Romney should be part of a McCain adminstration, but either as Secretary of Commerce or Treasury.

So how do I think should be McCain's VP? It should be Michael Steele or JC Watts. Both men are sensible conservatives that shouldn't scare the press too much.

[edwardcropper]

What in the world does any of these nobody's have to offer McCain? McCain is an old 72 and more than likely will not run a 2nd term if elected. That means you need a veep that can be president not just window dressing.
No rank and file voter outside of their own state ever heard of Pawlenty,Sanford or Jindal and Watts does not pass the Walter Williams test for a black presidential candidate. Anyone that would suit Kristol is automatically suspect.

[Publius]

I'm glad there are others that think J. C. Watts should be McCain's VP pick. He is the only one that would bring me to pull McCain's lever in November.

[Al-Ozarka]

"If I were McCain, I would pick Romney..."

Exactly the kind of no-brain thinking that got us cCain in the first place.

"But, somehow, I doubt McCain is paying any attention to me."

Even McCain knows ignorance when he reads it.

[JPP]

More urgently, why is Juan McAmesty speaking at the "tan clan", aka, La Raza? And why does McAmnesty have rabid open borders, Mexican citizen, Juan Hernandez as a consulant?

[Nessus]

Jindal is fine but he is WAY TOO inexperienced. Once again, LIBERAL GOP'ers like McCain are more concerned about race and ethnicity and about making a "statement" about immigration, since Jindal is the son of immigrants.

The USA is no more a nation of immigrants than most other nations. The USA was not "built" by immigrants. We are not all immigrants. Non-sequitars peddled by McCain, Bush, and all the other inside the Beltway, political elite.

[Linda Rayborn]

Mike Huckabee has EVERYTHING McCain needs to win in November. No-one else does!! He's the conservatives PICK, he is 100% vetted having served 2 1/2 terms as governor. He has EARNED the place on the ticket. If he has what it takes, and he DID spend a year of his life giving to the campaign, why choose someone who did nothing for the cause? Huckabee folks (and there are millions and millions gowing by the day) want him on the ticket. If you want to generate the enthusiasm for a win, pick Huck!!
McCain/Huckabee'08.....priceless!!!!

[JM Hanes]

Anybody who agrees to take the VP spot under McCain would have to have a death wish. I see him as a one term president, at best, who could easily take his VP down with him. Any VP with a spine will end up twiddling his thumbs in the bunker, watching his political career going down the tubes. If the Democrats weren't self-destructing, McCain wouldn't have a prayer this time around. After the four year muddle I'm expecting, virtually any Democratic nominee will be a shoe-in.

Jindal can do a whole lot more for Republicans, the country, and his own political future if he can nail down a solid list of successes as a Governor. Given the iconic status of New Orleans as a symbol of Republican malfeasance, he's a political dream come true in more ways than one. Jindal may already be heads above Obama, but that doesn't mean his inexperience wouldn't be a disadvantage on the national stage. He needs time to polish his executive skills, make some mistakes, and build a base of his own. Frankly, I think popular governors in general will do a lot more for Republicans than McCain can.

Any hope of a successful McCain Presidency will rest on his appointments. Romney could hurt as much as he helps as a VP candidate; I'd like to see him in the cabinet where he can actually put his experience and his brain to use -- assuming McCain isn't too much of a control freak to allow it.

[Anon1]

I agree - if Jindal ran it would make him seem like a careerist and an opportunist. I would lose a bit of respect for him if he ran. I mean, jeez, stick around and govern like you promised you would!

Nessus - I never understand the need for some on the right to rewrite history just because our current immigration policies are a mess and enforcement is not the priority it should be. Immigration was an important part of the history of the US, parts of the US were built by immigrants, and it's a source of beauty and wonder to me that so many people from so many nations came to the US and were able to pursue the American dream. I mean, come on, the West wasn't settled entirely by Mayflower descendents. Does that mean we have to tolerate the current policies? No! But why this rewriting of history? It reminds me of the lefty multi-cultis. Re-write, or edit, the past to bolster a current argument.

Growing up in flyover, I remember the Pella tulip festival (Dutch) and loads of German Octoberfests, and most kids I knew growing up had family that was only a few generations removed from Norway or Sweden or Germany. Sheesh.

Oh, back on topic. No to Jindal. How clueless are some of those Beltway types anyway?

[JM Hanes]

Not to mention the fact that, if we were lucky, it would look like McCain was running with his grandson as opposed to looking like Jindal was running with some old geezer.