Where's Bobby?

Last week I was behind a car with a bumper sticker that asked "Where's Bobby?" Since it also displayed an Obama bumper sticker, I am pretty sure he was referring to Louisiana's own boy wonder, Bobby Jindal, AKA "absentee governor" and presidential candidate. OWO can answer the question for you. Jindal is doing what he has done at all of his other jobs - looking for another J-O-B. For you ultra right winger Bobby lovers who don't believe me, just check out his resume' on Wikipedia. Piyush "Bobby" Jindal has never kept a job for more than a couple years. Since being "found" by former Governor Mike Fostor in 1996 (just a couple years out of college), Piyush has been, head of Louisiana's Department of Health and Hospitals, a national commission on Medicare, President of the Louisiana University System, Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services (federal), failed Louisiana gubernatorial candidate (I voted for him and still think he was the best choice) in 2003, US Congressman and now Louisiana Governor. True to form, Piyush now appears to be setting himself up for a run at US President. While he was US Congressman, he missed a number of votes because he was making "fact finding" appearances (or many would say fund raising for governor) in other Louisiana Congressional Districts. Now after a successful gubernatorial election, Piyush is making fund raising appearances in right wing areas of the country. Sounds like he is working towards his next J-O-B to me.

Katrina and Politics

In months preceding Hurricane Katrina divisive politics between the GOP's President Bush and Senator Vitter and Democrats Governor Blanco and Senator Landrieu set the stage for America's largest natural disaster. In addition to numerous partisanship press releases from both sides, Blanco had publicly defied President Bush by 1) refusing to greet the President upon his arrival in Baton Rouge to deliver a commencement address at LSU and 2) traveling to Cuba and meeting with Cuban officials concerning trade talks despite President Bush specifically asked Governor Blanco to cancel this trip. A last minute schedule change to dine with Fidel Castro was seen as a kick in the groin message to Bush. It was apparent that Gov. Blanco and Sen. Landrieu were setting the groundwork to give ammo to the Hillary Clinton campaign. This could have worked well for the democrats assuming, Gov. Blanco was re-elected, Clinton received the Democratic nomination and more importantly for all, Katrina did not destroy New Orleans. Gov. Blanco and Sen. Landrieu also miscalculated the ruthlessness of the GOP's Karl Rove. It is uncertain what gave Gov. Blanco such a euphoric sense of political power, but she later found herself way out of her league. Gov. Blanco and Sen. Landrieu were betting they could make the GOP look bad and would not need any federal assistance during President Bush's tenure.

As news reports began covering the worst natural disaster in US history, President Bush was on one of his extended "working vacations" at his Texas ranch. As Louisiana officials were begging for federal assistance, President Bush left his Texas ranch to deliver a speech in one of the western states. One might wonder why he did not immediately involve himself in the disaster relief. Upon reviewing press conferences something interesting has been found. Sen. Vitter announced in his first press conference that he had been speaking with Karl Rove. Say what? New Orleans is drowning. Why the hell are you talking to the GOP political advisor? Shouldn't you be talking to the President or generals? Days later a press conference was held at the site of the levee break. In the background, hordes of workers and heavy machinery was busily working to patch the levee break. The next day, Senator Landrieu was flying with reporter George Stephanopoulos recording for his weekly TV show. As they flew over the previously mentioned site, Landrieu looked down and saw nothing, but a single piece of machinery working to patch the levee. At that point she broke down crying. She realized the coverage the previous day was a set up. Karl Rove had put one over on the Democrats, there would be no serious aid for New Orleans.

What Others Are Saying About Louisiana

I found this comment in the Los Angeles Times yesterday.

An evolved form of creationism

Just in case you thought this country had finally decided to teach science according to the precepts of science, here comes Louisiana with another stab at wedging creationism/intelligent design/teachers' own random thoughts into the mix.

According to Education Week, Gov. Bobby Jindal signed the misnamed Louisiana Science Education Act, which says that teachers must use the material from standard science textbooks — but should feel free, at the same time, to "supplement" those with self-chosen materials that examine scientific theories "in an objective manner," objective meaning something like, "Here's what's wrong with evolution." The law, by not mandating the instruction of creationism, might prove more difficult to challenge in court, at least until some teacher's idea of objective supplemental material clashes with a parent's demand for straight, unadulterated science instruction.

Considering Louisiana schools' low performance on national tests, which makes California look not so bad by comparison, you'd think legislators would be worrying about getting these kids ready for jobs and college instead of monkeying around with science instruction.

Posted by Karin Klein on July 24, 2008 in Schools | Permalink

Jindal's Gun Problem

Jindal has been caught a second time speaking out of both sides of his mouth. This one is going to cost him. In May, he received a top award from the NRA for his gun owner rights initiatives. In keeping with Jindal's campaign promises to observe gun owners rights, the Louisiana Legislators passed a law prohibiting companies from banning employees from having guns in their locked cars parked in company parking lots. You must remember Louisiana is known as sportsman's paradise. We like to hunt before or after work. What can be so wrong with loading up the car for a weekend of hunting and leaving from work for the camp? Well a host of business and chemical lobby groups is worried our hunters are going to go wacko and shoot up the plant. They are pressuring the Boy Wonder to veto the law. Now Jindal has got himself in another predicament. Go a against a campaign promise to the people and sign the law into effect or go with the big money supporters and veto the bill.

In OWO's opinion, Jindal should sign the law into existence. Business and industry should let their employees keep guns locked up in their cars in the parking lot. Business and Industry groups are trying to save money by regulating law abiding citizens. After all, law abiders are the cheapest to regulate. Chemical plants have armed (or should be armed) security at the gate who search employees for copper and other items, so you think they could prevent guns from coming into the workplace. Another option would be to quit treating employees like shit and have less worry about a wacko employee.

Jindal sided with the voters in the Legislator pay raise issue. Let's see who the Boy Wonder sides with here.

Breaking News!!!! Please Help!!

Louisiana political pundit CB Forgotson has started a special fundraiser for our legislators who have just had their ability to support their families pulled out from under them by the swish of Gov. Jindal's veto pen. If you would like to help with the special fundraiser called Feed the Lawmakers watch the video.

Highway Deaths and Cash Cows

Recently an acquaintance of ours was killed in traffic accident. A trailer being towed by a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction broke loose, crossed the center median and struck her vehicle. My understanding is she was killed instantly. The tragedy was worsened by the fact her young children witnessed the accident as they were following her in another vehicle.

Although the accident happened in Mississippi, it happens all too often in Louisiana. Several states have taken the issue in hand by installing a cable fence designed to prevent an out of control vehicle from crossing the median into the oncoming traffic. I first saw one of these while driving through Alabama and thought it was good idea. I think natural barriers such as trees and heavy landscaping would also work. In addition to lives saved, a money savings would occur by not having to mow the area. The trees could help the environment and slow the climate change.

I suspect our legislators will be slow in appropriating money for the highway department to construct these barriers. After all, several legislators have made a lot of money filing lawsuits against the state for failing to correct hazardous or neglectful situations. Go figure, a state senator creates his own personal cash cow by not funding state agencies so he can turn around and file a lawsuit against the state in his private law practice. Stopping legislators from filing law suits against the state should be priority in Governor Jindal's ethics reform package and also save lives.

Jindal - Is he all bark?

Governor Jindal seems to be governing his own circle instead of the entire state. According to a report in yesterday's Advocate, "More bills have become law without the governor’s signature in 2008 than in any other year since at least 1990. In fact, Jindal, though only five months in office, already accounts for more unsigned bills becoming law than any governor in the last two decades except Mike Foster, who served eight years." LINK to article

What's the deal Bobby? If a bill wasn't your idea, your not going to sign it? Here's a news flash for you Bobby. It still becomes a law if you don't sign it. Do your job by either signing a bill or vetoing the bill. Take some responsibility. Show us the leadership that Rush, McCain, and a handful of GOP enthusiast think you have.

Jindal is only person capable of addressing the biggest slap in face handed to citizens by our "reform minded" legislators. Yet he is taken the same positive available to citizens - a voice of disapproval by issuing the following press release:

"I still disapprove of this pay raise. While I'm glad they reduced it, it's still more than a doubling of their pay, which I believe is excessive. The legislature is a separate branch of government and must manage their own affairs. There is still time for them to turn back. They will have to answer directly to the people.

"One thing is for sure, I will not bail them out on this and do their job for them. I will not veto this as it is very clear to everyone that the result would be a grinding halt to the tremendous reforms and progress our state is making. I will give them no excuse to stop doing the people's business, and I will not allow the momentum of our state to stop over this or anything else."

If Jindal is really opposed to the bill he should veto it. If he was a real leader, that bill would have never made it out of committee. If Jindal were to veto the bill he would have the majority of voters covering his back.

OWO ask all the Jindal enthusiast, when is our savior going to start biting? Right now he seems to be following the footsteps of his "dad," the 2nd to last do nothing governor we had, Mike Foster.

They Are Not Priest!

To quote the Times-Picayune, House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Algiers said, "this is not the priesthood where you take a vow of poverty" when he defended his request to give himself a 30% pay raise. LINK to article

No they are certainly not Priest. Priest are not greedy hypocritical liars.

It appears our reform minded Louisiana legislators and government have become a little too tempted when they realized their hands were in the cookie jar containing a record surplus. Yep, the voters fell for their campaign BS again. I don't disagree that they are paid too little for the job they do, but they told us they were going to fix our state's problems for $16,800 a year when they asked for the job. This move is akin to agreeing to build a house for $100K, then telling the home owner the price is $400K when it is 3/4 complete because the builder has plans to fix the neighbor hood up. Yet the trailer park, landfill and titty bar are still next door.

OWO's message to the legislators and governor is fix state first then let's talk money. If you really want to do the right thing, grant a respectful raise to take effect when your term is up. In it's present form, you just gave yourself a higher salary than a teacher - who I imagine most of you promised a raise during your campaign - and you only work part-time. You were smart enough to put a section in law which allows congress to vote your future raises. In doing so, you fixed it where you don't have to listen to the public outcry on this issue again.

I encourage all of you to contact your Senator and Representative and track their voting record here.

Legislators Salaries around the US

Best Regards,

Old Wise One