Slumdog millionare needs speech lessons.

Fast.

Dude is smart- no question. . .but this was (before this speech) one of the GOP's AAA stars in the minor leagues. . .the pup has lost a little shine due to the delievery. . .

Since I missed this live, thanks to whoever posted the video. I did not see the wooden delivery or the nervousness here. I could have done without the "gee Obama is great" and the "I grew up a po boy" stuff at the beginning, but I will go 4.5 overall. About 3/4 of the way through, Governor Jindal took the Republican Party to the wood shed. He acknowledged that, while Obama needs to be criticized, effective criticism can only come from a position of credibility. He further acknowledged that his party has a lot of work to do if they are to regain that trust. Very effective response.

Is this what the G.O.P is gonna look and sound like? Who's going to give the next rebuttal?...Mr. Robinson?

Granted, he had a tough act to follow, but I was underwhelmed by Jindal's rebuttal. The folksy style was curious and a bit distracting. I haven't seen him speak enough to know if it was his genuine style. He seemed nervous. Not sure he needed to begin with a reminder about the historical arch of the times - obvious at this point as to be token. I felt like I got a pat on the head along with the platitudes. He dutifully checked the requisite boxes - gov't bad, tax cuts good, etc. Okay, I get it, tell me something new, something inspiring, creative, a governing strategy that supports a conservative philosophy but, gasp, serves the tax paying citizenry, the public good. Plenty of critcism for the performance he otherwise supported for the last x years, but we're to believe it would be different now if only the same governing philosophy was setting the agenda. Not that there's not blame to go around, but ultimately the leadership is accountable. Lastly, the comment belittling volcano monitoring was reminicent of Palin dismisal of fruit fly research. Does Mr. Jindal know anyone living in the vicinity of an historically active volcano? They may see the value if he does not. It's at least as reasonable a precaution to allow for evacuation as modeling a hurricane's potential to breach a levy. Maybe I'm too critical, but Jindal was given a huge stage and the address just didn't seem to rise to the occasion.

I think the criticism of Jindal is coming from people who expected him to jump onto the national political scene with this speech, like Obama did at the 2004 DNC. The problem is that a Republican response to a Congressional address isn't as significant as a key speech at a National Convention that is held every 4 years.
Jindal made simple points in an attempt to refocus the Republican platform. The highlights of this in my mind were less government spending and less government oversight and control. I don't know enough about him to know if this is how he always comes across when speaking to large groups, but he didn't seem quite natural to me. He seemed to be a man with a great enthusiasm for the American way of life, but he is at a disadvantage when it comes to speaking along side Barack Obama.

While Jindal's style was a bit second grade teacherish, I thought his speech was pretty remarkable. He acknowledged the oddness of the Republican anti-stimulus rhetoric after 8 years of insane spending under Republican leadership. He laid out a sincere sounding belief in betting on the private sector, as opposed to relying on government bail outs. He expressed a desire to work with Obama - which I felt to be a hugely important admission, given that most Americans see the GOP as not making an effort to work with Obama.

I thought the message was sound, and the delivery stiff, but sincere.

And I am officially the only person - Republican or Democrat - who seems to feel this way.