Bobby Jindal vs. Sarah Palin

[Anonymous]

Someone posted a question asking if Republicans or undecideds had heard of Sarah Palin before a month ago. I had, as a Democrat, because she's a rising star in the GOP and I'm close to a number of friends and family who are Republicans. She repeatedly surfaced as a potential VP name as soon as McCain clinched the nomination.

My question is, why is Palin so unbelievable when Bobby Jindal was widely considered a good choice for McCain by Republicans and pundits? Jindal is much younger, has much less experience in elected office, and was only elected Louisiana governor last November. Why was he so much more believable than Palin, when he is obviously much less qualified? Picking Jindal wouldn't have engendered this shock.

[Anonymous]

Because Jindal's name was floated more often in the mainstream press and was slated as a speaker at the RN convention. Palin's press was much slimer before the announcement.

[jsteele]

Perhaps because of articles like this:

"John McCain will huddle with vice presidential aspirant Bobby Jindal during a trip to New Orleans later this week, sources close to the campaign confirm to The Fix.

McCain's trip to Louisiana on Wednesday was the cause of much head scratching in the political world as it was not in keeping with a week of planned stops in battleground states.

But, the meeting with Jindal, who has been the state's governor since 2007, suggests that McCain himself is deeply engaged in the process of picking his second-in-command and that the youthful Jindal is under serious consideration."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/21/john-mccain-to-huddle-wit_n_114169.html

Jindal may have less experience in "elected" office, but has much more relevant experience. Palin was elected as mayor of a small town (I think she received something like 500 votes which is less than I received running for student government in college). Jindal was Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (controlling something like 40 percent of the State's budget), an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, a Congressman, and now Governor. So, I think Jindal would be considerably more prepared than Palin.

Also, as the previous poster noted, the ground for Jindal was prepared better. Palin may have been known to you, but I only knew her as a possible candidate for Steven's Senate seat give the likelihood that he is probably headed to the housgow. I understand that she had backed out due to Troopergate. One would think that if you are too hot (not in the physical sense) for a Senate bid, you would be radial active for a VP slot.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:Perhaps because of articles like this:

"John McCain will huddle with vice presidential aspirant Bobby Jindal during a trip to New Orleans later this week, sources close to the campaign confirm to The Fix.

McCain's trip to Louisiana on Wednesday was the cause of much head scratching in the political world as it was not in keeping with a week of planned stops in battleground states.

But, the meeting with Jindal, who has been the state's governor since 2007, suggests that McCain himself is deeply engaged in the process of picking his second-in-command and that the youthful Jindal is under serious consideration."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/21/john-mccain-to-huddle-wit_n_114169.html

Jindal may have less experience in "elected" office, but has much more relevant experience. Palin was elected as mayor of a small town (I think she received something like 500 votes which is less than I received running for student government in college). Jindal was Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (controlling something like 40 percent of the State's budget), an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, a Congressman, and now Governor. So, I think Jindal would be considerably more prepared than Palin.

Also, as the previous poster noted, the ground for Jindal was prepared better. Palin may have been known to you, but I only knew her as a possible candidate for Steven's Senate seat give the likelihood that he is probably headed to the housgow. I understand that she had backed out due to Troopergate. One would think that if you are too hot (not in the physical sense) for a Senate bid, you would be radial active for a VP slot.

Mostly true except for the votes part, I think. And I may differ from you in thinking that being a representative isn't great preparation for being president or vice president (but I base that on the experience of an ex-boyfriend who was a congressman, so I'm sure there's some bias there!). I think the Jindal-as-VP thing was mostly in the minds of the media, who love the Indian angle.

BTW, interesting Politico interview with Lindsey Graham today where he says McCain "dodged a bullet" when Obama didn't pick Hillary: “We would have had a hard time,” Graham said. “If he picked her, it would have been a different ballgame. ... In a weird kind of way, I have always been a Hillary Clinton fan.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13090.html

A weird kind of way, indeed. Wasn't he one of the big impeachment advocates?

[Anonymous]

I can't believe anyone would suggest Palin is a superior pick to Jindal --- whom all the blogs ruled out weeks ago supposedly because of his limited experience. Besides the professional experience at the state and national level that the PP has already cited, Jindal earned a BA from Brown (no small accomplishment as the son of immigrants) and was a Rhodes Scholar (which he chose to pursue rather than his acceptance at Harvard Medical School.). He's widely travelled overseas and worked for McKinsey, one of the leading consulting firms, in addition to his public sector service already cited. Jindal's tenure running the Louisiana state health system turned it from huge deficits to surpluses.

Jindal is a million times more qualified than Palin, and he would have struck at some of the appeal of Obama - a young, charismatic guy who represents the best of the American immigrant dream (I say this as a Democrat). Palin was picked because she satisfied a couple of potentially important constituencies, perhaps most importantly the evangelical wing of the Republican party. Her credentials are nonexistent and her nomination is an embarassment. Jindal would have been a real asset, and in the long run will likely go a lot further than Palin's disastrous national debut.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
Mostly true except for the votes part, I think.

Regarding the number of votes Palin received in her mayoral election, I guessed about 500. She actually received 616. Just over 1,000 were cast in the election.

http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510192.html

Its really laughable to give any credence to Palin's mayoral experience as preparation for VP.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Mostly true except for the votes part, I think.

Regarding the number of votes Palin received in her mayoral election, I guessed about 500. She actually received 616. Just over 1,000 were cast in the election.

http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510192.html

Its really laughable to give any credence to Palin's mayoral experience as preparation for VP.

On the other hand, Obama is using experience managing a campaign to compare himself to Palin's experience as a mayor, while neglecting to mention her experience as governor! It was a major story today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe anyone would suggest Palin is a superior pick to Jindal --- whom all the blogs ruled out weeks ago supposedly because of his limited experience. Besides the professional experience at the state and national level that the PP has already cited, Jindal earned a BA from Brown (no small accomplishment as the son of immigrants) and was a Rhodes Scholar (which he chose to pursue rather than his acceptance at Harvard Medical School.). He's widely travelled overseas and worked for McKinsey, one of the leading consulting firms, in addition to his public sector service already cited. Jindal's tenure running the Louisiana state health system turned it from huge deficits to surpluses.

Jindal is a million times more qualified than Palin, and he would have struck at some of the appeal of Obama - a young, charismatic guy who represents the best of the American immigrant dream (I say this as a Democrat). Palin was picked because she satisfied a couple of potentially important constituencies, perhaps most importantly the evangelical wing of the Republican party. Her credentials are nonexistent and her nomination is an embarassment. Jindal would have been a real asset, and in the long run will likely go a lot further than Palin's disastrous national debut.

I don't think I suggested this by asking a question.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Mostly true except for the votes part, I think.

Regarding the number of votes Palin received in her mayoral election, I guessed about 500. She actually received 616. Just over 1,000 were cast in the election.

http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510192.html

Its really laughable to give any credence to Palin's mayoral experience as preparation for VP.

Okay. I saw 900 something votes in the Wasilla town records. But I'm sure you're right.

[Anonymous]

Its really laughable to give any credence to Palin's mayoral experience as preparation for VP.




The only thing more laughable is to think that Barack Obama's limited experience in the Senate (mostly running for President if I recall correctly) should be given any credence as preparation to be President

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
The only thing more laughable is to think that Barack Obama's limited experience in the Senate (mostly running for President if I recall correctly) should be given any credence as preparation to be President

You don't recall correctly. Are you seriously suggesting that four years in the Senate is less valuable preparation than two terms as mayor of a small rural town? If so, can you please let me know about Palin's health care plan, her plan for Iraq, her plan for dealing with Iran, her tax plan, her energy plan, or her plan for handling Russia? Those are all issues with which Obama has dealt. How about Palin?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The only thing more laughable is to think that Barack Obama's limited experience in the Senate (mostly running for President if I recall correctly) should be given any credence as preparation to be President

You don't recall correctly. Are you seriously suggesting that four years in the Senate is less valuable preparation than two terms as mayor of a small rural town? If so, can you please let me know about Palin's health care plan, her plan for Iraq, her plan for dealing with Iran, her tax plan, her energy plan, or her plan for handling Russia? Those are all issues with which Obama has dealt. How about Palin?

He actually has spent much of his time in the Senate running for president. He's been in the Senate since January 2005 and announced his presidential candidacy just 2 years later. Since February 2007 he hasn't spent a great deal of time in the Senate.

[Anonymous]

4 years? Now it's 4 years? So that's how long since he's been elected? I guess when you count up all the time he has physically been in his seat it's more like 18 months though. And I believe that her experience as mayor and then as governor trump his half-hearted representation of his state.

And pardon me, but I didn't know the VP had to have a health care plan or plans for dealing with Iran. I thought that was something the person running for President had to have. I thought the VP was there to carry forward the platform that the party had decided upon and to push forward the plans of the Presidential nominee.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
He actually has spent much of his time in the Senate running for president. He's been in the Senate since January 2005 and announced his presidential candidacy just 2 years later. Since February 2007 he hasn't spent a great deal of time in the Senate.

He has spent more time in the Senate than McCain has. McCain has the worst attendance record of any Senator (in the current Congress). He has missed more than Tim Johnson who suffered a stroke. And, during much of that time, McCain was not contesting a primary like Obama was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
And pardon me, but I didn't know the VP had to have a health care plan or plans for dealing with Iran. I thought that was something the person running for President had to have. I thought the VP was there to carry forward the platform that the party had decided upon and to push forward the plans of the Presidential nominee.

Well, if the Presidential nominee seems likely to keel over in the next four years, I believe some of us out here would like to have some assurance that the vice presidential nominee knows the difference between a friggin' Sunni and a Shia, an Arab and a Persian, as well as something about the history of the country (which BTW had a democratically elected government which the CIA helped overthrow -- a key piece of information for anyone who needs to understand why the Iranians feel threatened by the US).

Since the likelihood of her becoming president is higher than for most vp candidates, I'd just as soon they didn't have to train her on the job!