Jindal Jangled

Why on earth would the GOP put its princeling-apparent on the spot in prime time?

Why on earth would Bobby Jindal agree to be put there?

These are questions that highly-paid republican think-tankists need to ponder in the aftermath of the 'rebuttal' debacle.

Not that anyone could have revived, let alone wowed, the emotionally exhausted TV audience after President Obama's rousing speech.  We haven't had a Prez with that kind of speaking ability since, well, since John Kennedy, and no one listening had much attention left to give.  Obama had even some senate republicans standing and cheering by the end, and there wasn't much of an interest in hearing a counter argument, just then.

You could almost hear the channels being switched in mass around the country.

Those diehard viewers who stayed on were either hopeful republicans or curious demos sizing up the competition for 2012 - or bloggers.

Everyone who stayed to witness Jindal's rebuttal got a chance to see what passes for stage-fright in a polished political speaker.  He got his words out and soldiered through, but you could tell by his phrasing and gestures that it was an ordeal.  

An ordeal made worse by the heavy-handed styling of the spot - the opening outside view of the well-lit governor's mansion mimicking the White House, Jindal's walk from around a corner recalling Obama's walk to the podium.  And then the attempted parallels broke down with his positioning at the mike - staring straight ahead into the camera lens.  It contrasted unfavorably with the President's ability to move and turn and look dynamic at the podium.  And it made Jindal look frozen - or was that the nervousness?

A light and deft posing it wasn't.

Then again, at this point, no one really cares.  Fortunately for Jindal and his republican backers, this mess-up will eventually be forgotten.  And, if Obama's administration has any measure of success with the economy and the 'war', it won't matter in 2012 either, and there will be even more time for forgetting ...