Economy should be focus of 2012 election, GOP governors say
By Samson Reiny
As the battle for the Republican presidential nomination rages on between front-runner Mitt Romney and a resurgent Rick Santorum, governors from their party today said that economic recovery – not social issues – would be the main concern among voters heading to the ballot box in November.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, speaking after the National Governor’s Association’s annual meeting at the White House, said the divergent fiscal beliefs between Republicans and Democrats would be decisive for voters this election season.
“This president, President Obama, believes in a larger centralized government,” Jindal said, underscoring three straight years of trillion-plus dollar deficits undertaken under the current administration. “You’re going to contrast that with the Republican philosophy of limited government, of lower spending, of balancing our budgets, of growing the private sector economy.”
Virginia’s Governor Bob McDonnell, a Romney supporter, stressed that while people want to know where the candidates stand on abortion and religious freedom – hot-button topics that have gained Santorum, a devout Catholic, traction among the religious right – job creation remains critical for most of the voting public. “They’re going to vote on jobs, spending, the economy, taxes, transportation,” he said, “and whether or not Johnny graduating from college is going to be able to get a good job.”
Acknowledging that primaries are “always a messy process, democracy is messy,” Jindal said he was confident Republicans would unite around their eventual nominee. “The reality is that at the end of the day, we will have a candidate that we will all get behind.”
Jindal’s not running for president, but…
First, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal says he isn’t running for president. Then out comes his prescription for righting the national economy.
“What I’m saying is, if we actually focus on the real challenges facing our country, not get diverted into taking over car companies and healthcare (but) cut taxes, create jobs, our country can get back on the right path, right direction,” the rising Republican conservative star of the South tells NBC in an interview.
Political oracle Karl Rove has anointed Jindal as one of 10 potential GOP presidential candidates for 2012. Seven others on the list are also current or former state governors. But the 39-year-old son of Indian immigrants is the only one who is his state’s first nonwhite governor since the Civil War era, whose popularity among voters that has scored one decisive election victory after another.
Jindal is running. But officialy speaking, that’s only for reelection as state chief executive. “Next year, you’ll have a lot of Republicans in Iowa. I’m sure I’ll be in Louisiana,” he predicts.
But wait. Don’t forget that on his watch Louisiana’s economy has outperformed the nation’s, with unemployment rates below Southern and national averages, or so he asserts in a burst of enthusiasm.
Anyone who’d like to learn more can read his new book — “Leadership and Crisis” — which talks at length about what he views as the deficiencies of President Obama — the obvious main opponent for any Republican who might consider a 2012 White House run.
The book goes on sale today and signed copies may be available along the route of his promotional tour. One scheduled stop is California’s Reagan Ranch Center, located on the spread that was President Ronald Reagan’s vacation home and known as the Western White House while he was in office.
Obama walks the blue carpet
Hollywood had its red carpet Oscar night for stars on Sunday. Washington followed two days later with President Barack Obama’s walk down the peacock blue and gold carpet of the House chamber for a speech to a joint session of Congress.
Candycane was the power fashion statement. Obama wore an eye-catching red tie with diagonal white stripes, Gov. Bobby Jindal giving the Republican response wore a red and white tie but his stripes were bigger. (The designers could not be determined by the untrained eye).
But the standing ovations preceded Obama’s entrance into the congressional chamber. First for US Airways Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger who has become a national hero for safely landing a plane in New York’s Hudson River with no fatalities. The simple jewelry of his pilot wings adorned his uniformed breast.
The next power celebrity to get a rise out of fans was U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who appeared frail after her recent surgery for pancreatic cancer, wearing a delicate white collar around the neck of her black judicial robe. She got a warm hug from the president.
First lady Michelle Obama was a vision in a royal purple sleeveless dress (again the designer could not be determined by the untrained eye) but it was pretty. She blew a kiss at her husband.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wore bright rose and gave out lots of diplomatic hugs and kisses.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in olive green, wielded the power gavel as she presided over the event. Vice President Joe Biden, in light blue tie, was seated next to her behind Obama as he spoke.
phantasm at it,s best elaine,sorry i do not support socicalism,and i think that what he is doing is creating a mentality of entitlement,something from the government,a freeby,a hand out,little bit of help,the wealthy have too much,i need it more than them,all platitudes,that i have heard expressed lately,this going to come back and hit him hard.i have heard people now saying why should i bother paying as i do, nobody does now. the incentive has gone ,read some of the recent blogs posted here.this is dangerous because when the entitlements dry up then he will see,as crime soars.i have seen it all before.
New York, California want rejected stimulus dough
Watch out Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina, New York and California would love those dollars you turn down from the $787 billion economic stimulus plan. A few governors, namely Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal, South Carolina’s Mark Sanford and Mississippi’s Haley Barbour, have all said that they may turn down some of the stimulus money for their states, particularly aid aimed at bolstering unemployment benefit programs. “We can’t pay for the benefits already in the program, but to get the stimulus money, we’ve got to increase the program’s size and scale,” Sanford said on “Fox News Sunday”. That has some other states hard hit by the deepening recession calling for the money to be sent their way, especially New York where Wall Street has been laying off workers by the thousands. “If any governor — Democrat or Republican — leaves stimulus money on the table, then we respectfully request that funds be distributed to New York,” the state’s two Democratic senators, Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, said in a letter to President Barack Obama on Monday. Another New York lawmaker, Representative Anthony Weiner, plans to offer legislation that would redirect rejected stimulus funds to other states. “If some governors decide to reject the money, 45 other states should be able to use it to create thousands of jobs. We have plenty of projects across the country that will put people to work and help achieve long term economic growth and stability,” Weiner said in a statement.
For more Reuters political news, click here.
- Photo credit: Reuters/Mike Segar (Wall Street in New York City.)
You have got to be kidding me…Illegal immigration responsible for water shortage. It is illegal immigration that keeps california runnig. What hotel, eatery, or farm field do you know of where illegal immigrant are not employed? Everyone knows where they are but the harsh reality is that they work for sub-par wages and removing them would be more of a financial burden than it would a benefit. Please tell me this is not breaking news to you Barbara? And just in case you didn’t know your name is Latin..maybe its illegal too?
Bobby Jindal to the Republican Party’s Rescue
Republicans have chosen Louisiana’s young governor, Bobby Jindal, to deliver a high-profile national address that will follow on the heels of President Barack Obama’s first State of the Union Address to the U.S. Congress on Feb. 24.
The choice of Jindal, 37 years old and of Indian heritage, points to a search for new leaders for the Republican Party, which is still reeling from the loss of its majority in both the House of Representatives and Senate to Democrats and the White House to Obama.
Jindal – who proved his mettle as an able administrator and communicator after Hurricane Gustav tore across Louisiana in September – has been tapped as a rising star in the Republican Party. A darling to conservatives like talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who has dubbed him as “the next Ronald Reagan,” Jindal will have a chance to polish his credentials before a national television audience later this month.
“Here in Louisiana, we have first-hand experience with reforming government and cutting taxes to stimulate our economy in uncertain times,” Jindal said in a statement on Wednesday. “This is a terrific opportunity to talk about our great state to the nation.”
Too bad many in Louisiana won’t be listening. Feb. 24 is Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, the big party in these parts, especially in New Orleans, before the start of Lent. Photo Credit: Reuters/Jeff Haynes (JIndal shakes hands with a then President-elect Obama)
Why does Slamdunk millionaire, Bobby Jindal, speak to us like Mr. Rogers? Is that the best mind the GOP has to offer…sad to say, probably so.
McCain praises Pawlenty, Jindal as VP talk sizzles
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – And the speculation continues. Republican John McCain praised two potential vice presidential picks on Wednesday but gave no clues about who he would add to his ticket or when he would decide. The Arizona senator’s campaign has not quashed speculation this week that a choice was imminent, but McCain said in a television interview that he has yet to decide who would be his number two. Earlier at a stop at a grocery store, where the presumptive Republican presidential nominee got a look at the high price of milk and other staples, he spoke highly of two people said to be on his short list: Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. “We can’t mention any names, we have the process going on,” McCain started by saying.
Can’t you say anything positive about Pawlenty, a reporter prodded. “Oh, Tim … He’s a great, fine person,” McCain said. “I think he is, he, Bobby Jindal and a number of governors, I think are the future of the Republican Party.”
But Jindal told Fox News on Wednesday he wasn’t interested in being vice president.
“Let me be clear: I have said in every private and public conversation, I’ve got the job that I want,” Jindal told Fox News. “And I’ll say again on air: I’m not going to be the vice presidential nominee.”
However, Fox cited Jindal insiders as saying that the governor would take the job if asked. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are also said to be on McCain’s list. Bets anyone?
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo credit: Reuters/Brian Snyder. McCain smiles as he is introduced at a campaign picnic outside the Maine Military Museum in South Portland, Maine, July 21, 2008.
McBush is just making noise at the back of the nursing home.
