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.
from Environment Forum:
Oil-soaked sand along Gulf Coast raises memories of Exxon Valdez
A handful of oily sand grabbed from a Louisiana wetland brought back some strong memories for Earl Kingik. As a traditional hunter and whaler in Alaska's Arctic, it reminded him of the Exxon Valdez spill. As he and other tribal leaders toured the U.S. Gulf Coast for signs of the BP oil spill, they worried that what's happening now in Louisiana could happen if offshore drilling proceeds off the Alaskan coast.
"There's no way to clean up an oil spill in the Arctic," said Kingik, an Inupiat tribal member from Point Hope, Alaska. Compared to Louisiana, where the waters are relatively calm and cleanup equipment and experts are nearby, the Arctic Ocean is a hostile place for oil and gas exploration. The Arctic leaders made their pilgrimage to the Gulf Coast as part of a campaign to block planned exploratory drilling by Shell Oil in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas.
"What I saw was devastating out there," Martha Falk, the tribal council treasurer of the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope in Alaska, said after the Gulf Coast tour by seaplane, boat and on foot. If the same thing occurred off Alaska, she said, "We would have to wait days and days and days for (cleanup) equipment to reach our area."
The planned start of Alaska offshore drilling in July coincides with the spring hunt of the bowhead whale, a central event in the Inupiat culture, Falk said.
"The natural smell of the ocean was non-existent" along the Gulf Coast, said Rosemary Ahtuangaruak, an Inupiat from Nuiqsut, a tiny Alaskan village near the Beaufort Sea. She was brought close to tears as she recalled the faces of the Gulf residents she saw on the tour. "It is a strong burden that I'll carry with me the rest of my life."
The Arctic native people headed for Washington DC after their Gulf Coast tour to plead their case with members of Congress and Obama administration officials. The three members of the Alaskan congressional delegation generally favor offshore drilling as a way to ensure jobs and the continued operation of the Trans-Alaska pipeline. As a former mayor of her village, Rosemary Ahtuangaruak admits it's a tough balancing act to juggle the oil industry's potential impact on tribal culture with the creation of jobs for tribe members.
Environmental activists and members of Congress wrote to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar urging him to suspend Shell's drilling plans in the Arctic Ocean, which includes the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Salazar and others have said no new drilling will be approved until May 28, when a report on the BP spill is due.
Obama promises to work overtime to ease economic impact of oil spill
There’s not much to offer by way of comfort to coastal states threatened by the oil spill that’s spreading over the Gulf of Mexico like The Blob from horror movies past.
And then there’s also the threat from the “Loop Current” that could carry the oil around Florida’s peninsula and north…
So there’s not much by way of lemonade likely to come out of the lemons of this disaster, but President Barack Obama promised to work overtime to limit the economic damage to affected communities and to try and make sure that jobs created to clean up the mess would go to local residents.
The oil spill will affect the “lives and livelihoods of people all along the Gulf Coast, from the fishing industry to the tourism industry,” Obama said in a speech to business executives.
“We are committed to preventing as much of the economic damage as possible by working to contain the impact of this potentially devastating spill,” he said.
“In addition, wherever possible, I would like to see the people most affected by the disaster employed in helping in the cleanup,” Obama said.
“And we will continue to explore every possible option to create jobs and support local economies in the Gulf while continuing to monitor any potential effects on the national economy,” he said. “But obviously this is going to be a significant challenge, and we are going to be working overtime to make sure that we mitigate its impacts.”
Prosecutors urge throwing the book at convicted ex-lawmaker
A U.S. judge on Friday will sentence former Congressman William “Cold Cash” Jefferson after he was convicted on multiple bribery and money laundering charges. And prosecutors want to throw the book at him.
The former Louisiana lawmaker faces between 27 and 33 years in prison according to federal sentencing guidelines and prosecutors said that sounds good to them. Authorities discovered $90,000 in Jefferson’s freezer during their investigation.
“As the defendant stands convicted of some of the most serious corrupt schemes uncovered in recent history, he is without remorse and has yet to accept responsibility for his actions,” according to a memorandum filed with the court late Friday.
“A severe sentence would send the message to the public that such egregious and criminal behavior will not be tolerated in our society,” the prosecutors counseled. They also asked that Jefferson, 62, immediately go to prison for fear he would flee the country before his appeals are exhausted.
The ex-congressman was convicted in August on 11 of 16 counts of bribery, racketeering and money laundering. He was accused in 2007 of soliciting millions of dollars in bribes from companies while using his office to broker business deals in Africa.
Jefferson lost re-election last year to Republican Anh “Joseph” Cao — yes, the lone Republican who voted for the Democrats’ health care reform bill that passed the House of Representatives late Saturday. (The district is heavily Democratic and includes most of New Orleans.)
Jefferson acknowledged when he was first charged that he had made mistakes in judgment that he regretted, but denied selling his office or trading official acts for money.
Good. Jefferson got 13 years in prison (he could have received 30 years). He stood to gain hundreds of millions from his bribery scheme.
Yes brian lee you are correct. There is so much emphasis on the last president, that those stone throwers are forgetting the democrats in congress that congress just ignores. I forgot, congress is controlled by democrats, silly me.
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.
Bush gives Republicans a little pep talk ahead of election
WASHINGTON – President George W. Bush dropped by the Republican National Committee headquarters unannounced to give the staff a little pep talk Tuesday amid polls showing Republicans trailing in the presidential contest and scores of key congressional races one week out from the general election.
Bush, with record low popularity ratings, has largely been unseen on the campaign trail this year, relegated to participating in private fundraisers for Republican presidential hopeful John McCain and congressional candidates.
“He encouraged them to work hard for John McCain and keep turning out the vote until the final ballot is cast next week,” White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said after the 20-minute visit. “He also took the opportunity to thank the staff for all of their efforts during this election cycle and for their support of him over the last eight years.”
The latest Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Tuesday found McCain trailed rival Democrat Barack Obama by 4 percentage points. Reuters/Zogby polls for battleground states released on Monday showed Obama holding a narrow lead in Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Ohio and Nevada. McCain had a solid lead in West Virginia and was ahead in Indiana.
In congressional races, Republicans must defend 23 Senate seats and are expected to lose at least a few of them, including Virginia and New Mexico. Democrats must defend a dozen seats and only one, held by Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, is considered vulnerable.
Republicans are also finding a seat once considered safe, held by Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, now particularly vulnerable because the long-serving lawmaker was convicted of seven counts related to corruption.
In a rare scene, when Bush returned to the White House, he did not immediately get out of his armored limousine and Secret Service agents surrounded his vehicle with machine guns at the ready.
I wish every one in this world was as secure as mr bush Was.
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