KVNUFTP

Meet Bobby Jindal

Ever since the Republicans took another beating at the polls, there has been much discussion on the future of the GOP ad the need for a new direction and more effective leadership.

Many have predicted the collapse of the Republican party on account of its current challenges, and yet, there have been stirrings within the party which may indicate a potential revival. And American political history definitely supports this.

From an article I wrote for the Utah Statesman:

In the past, both parties have experienced near dominance, followed by severe setbacks and fractionalization, and then resurgence. During the years of Reconstruction after the Civil War, the Republicans enjoyed an enormous degree of power, not only nationally, but in state government as well; this control lasted until after the Gilded Age.
Ultimately scandals and divisions within the GOP would make way for Grover Cleveland and the Democrats to return to power. Soon thereafter, however, William McKinley would emerge bringing control back to the hands of Republicans; five Republican presidents would follow.
Republican dominance would be replaced after the highly unpopular presidency of Herbert Hoover, one of the most qualified but unfortunate presidents in our history. From 1933 until 1953, Democrats would control the White House and Congress for nearly two decades. Over time, however, the Republicans would return and challenge the control of the opposing party, fulfilling the repeating political power cycle.

If the Republicans could recover after the political disaster of Richard Nixon, then I have complete confidence that the Grand Old Party can and will make a comeback. And like Ronald Reagan in 1980, or Newt Gingrich in 1994, the next resurgence will require a leader who can unify the party and effectively bring about success.

And who might be the next great Republican leader? Some say Sarah Palin, others Tim Pawlenty, more recently there has been speculation over Jon Huntsman Jr.,  and even still, some hope for Mitt Romney. Whatever the case, my money is on Bobby Jindal.

A quick glance over Jindal’s history may just surprise you, for this man is no conventional Republican.

Bobby Jindal (real name, Piyush Jindal) is a native to Louisiana and the son of Indian immigrants. While Jindal was born Hindu, he later converted to Catholicism, which has significantly shaped his political style. And according to the Democratic strategist, Ed Kilgore, Bobby Jindal is “crazy smart.” Despite him being accepted to both Harvard and Yale, Jindal chose to attend Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar (Bill Clinton was also a Rhodes Scholar).

Jindal has a lot of experience in national politics for a man just 37-years -old. From 2004-2006, Jindal served in the US House of Representatives (in 2006 he won 88% of the vote in his district), and currently he is the governor of Louisiana.

While Jindal received some national attention during the presidential campaigns of 2008, he is becoming more and more recognizable today as the strongest voice in the minority party.

On Friday (Feb. 21), Jindal became the first governor to refuse “a part of his state’s share of the $787 billion stimulus bill,” publicly criticizing the expansion of unemployment benefits saying,

“Increasing taxes on our Louisiana businesses is certainly not a way to stimulate our economy. It would be the exact wrong thing we could do to encourage further growth and job creation… I strongly suggest that other states also look closely at this provision in the bill so they can also avoid ultimately passing on a significant tax to businesses that will be left paying for this expansion of benefits when the federal money dries up”

After making this statement, Bobby Jindal indicated that he would be responding to Obama’s February speech to Congress (tonight) on NBC’s Meet the Press.  Obama immediately reponded to Jindal’s decision in a NGA conference by indirectly claiming such criticisms were more about “political ambitions” than personal principles.

It will be interesting to see how Bobby Jindal handles himself tonight, and the public response which follows. His words have the potential to invigorate his party and increase public interest in the GOP, or on the other hand, Jindal’s response may not reach the attention of the public at all, and soon be forgotten altogether. Whatever the outcome, Jindal appears to be a political opportunist, and certainly national exposure, even this early in the game, can’t hurt him. And indeed, if Bobby Jindal runs in 2012, he may just find himself welcomed in the same way that a relatively unknown Barack Obama was after giving a keynote address to fellow party members in 2004.

Bobby Jindal has many, including myself, believing that he will be the one to not only unite the party, but secure electoral success for the Republicans. Either way, the country will have the opportunity to meet Bobby Jindal tonight and decide for themselves.

- Marc