Thursday, February 12, 2009

Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal to give Response to Pres. Obama, Will that be the end of his career?

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, one of the GOP's so called rising stars, is supposed to give the Republican response to Obama's address to Congress on Feb. 24. According to MSNBC's First Read, here is a list of what has happened to others who have given the response to the President.

With a massive audience after the president’s delivery, this response might seem like an ideal perch to move on to bigger and better things.That, however, has not always been the case. See these past responders.

1994 – Sen. Robert Dole (R-KS) LOST '96 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, OUT OF POLITICS
1995 – Gov. Christine Todd Whitman (R-NJ) BECAME EPA ADMINISTRATOR, NOW OUT OF POLITICS
1996 – Sen. Robert Dole (R-KS)
1997 – Rep. J.C. Watts (R-OK) OUT OF POLITICS
1998 – Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) OUT OF POLITICS
1999 – Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R-WA) and Rep. Steven Largent (R-OK DUNN IS DECEASED; LARGENT OUT OF POLITICS
2000 – Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. William Frist (R-TN) FRIST DECIDED NOT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT, OUT OF POLITICS
2001 – No response
2002 – Rep. Richard Gehphardt (D-MO) LOST BID FOR DEM NOMINATION IN '04, OUT OF POLITICS
2003 – Gov. Gary Locke (D-WA) OUT OF POLITICS
2004 – Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) DASCHLE WAS DEFEATED IN '04, OUT OF POLITICS; PELOSI NOW HOUSE SPEAKER
2005 – Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) REID NOW SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
2006 – Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA) STILL GOVERNOR, BUT ALSO DNC CHAIR
2007 – Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) Still in Senate
2008 – Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS) Governor of Kansas

So, it makes you wonder, does he know the history of this?? What does he have in mind? He stated he wasn't planning on running in 2012, but what about 2016?? Was he going to let Palin take her shot this time, then come back in 8 years and try his? That would make him 45 years old then. Or maybe he is planning on a few years in the Senate first, then making a run for the White House.

If that's the case, this may not be the way to do it.

1 comment:

Patricia said...

You mean they're not going to let Sarah Palin do the speechifyin'for them? Now that would have been good. Don't know how this is going to effect Jindal, but I guess they're hoping he'll be their Obama. I kind of doubt that Republicans can cultivate an Obama, though.