What's with Bobby Jindal?

[Red Commissar]

Living where I am, it means I'm exposed to conservative commentary and conservative mindset in the United States, and of particular is their thoughts over who will hold that cherished position of the Republican presidential candidate in 2012, to represent the Real America™.

There's the usual suspects, but the one I'm confused about is Bobby Jindal. What exactly is this guy's appeal? I remembered he also gave the Republican response to Obama's State of the Union address, and he really didn't seem all that impressive. Policy wise I don't see what's amazing about his governorship. Then again I can say the same about virtually any of the candidates.

I don't really see anything redeeming in this guy beyond making him seemingly the Barack Obama of the Republican Party, but he has his supporters. So what is with that?

Sorry if this may seem a little stupid, but I'd like to see some thoughts on this from others interested in the political scene of the US.

[RedScare]

He's a minority.

[TwoSevensClash]

He's a minority.
That left his heathen religion for Jesus! basically he tried to turn down federal money and failed. But in the eyes of right wingers that means victory. Then during the oil spill he *****ed and moaned about the federal government once again making him a hero to the right wing.

[NGNM85]

In some ways Jindal futs into what has become the republican mainstream; a climate-change skeptic, hawkish on foreign policy, skeptical about evolution, opposed to gay rights, and he's against abortion and stem cell research. Basically, he's an asshole. The one interesting thing about Jindal is in college he performed an exorcism. He even published an article about it; Beating a Demon: Physical Dimensions of Spiritual Warfare. Here are some striking passages;

"...After a period of group prayer, a student made a movement to end the meeting. Suddenly, Susan emitted some strange guttural sounds and fell to the floor. She started thrashing about, as if in some sort of seizure. Susan's sister must have recognized what was happening, for she ordered us to gather around and place our hands on Susan's prostrate body. I re*fused to budge from my position and froze in hor*ror. I will never forget the first comprehensible sound that came from Susan; she screamed my name with such an urgency that the chill still travels down my spine whenever I recall this moment.

The students, led by Susan's sister and Louise, a member of a charismatic church, engaged in loud and desperate prayers while holding Susan with one hand. Kneeling on the ground, my friends were chanting, "Satan, I command you to leave this woman." Others exhorted all "demons to leave in the name of Christ." It is no exaggeration to note the tears and sweat among those assembled. Susan lashed out at the assembled students with verbal assaults.

..Maybe she sensed our weariness; whether by plan or coincidence, Susan chose the perfect opportunity to attempt an escape. She suddenly leapt up and ran for the door, despite the many hands holding her down. This burst of action served to revive the tired group of students and they soon had her restrained once again, this time half kneeling and half standing. Alice, a student leader in Campus Crusade for Christ, entered the room for the first time, brandishing a crucifix.

..The crucifix had a calming effect on Susan, and her sister was soon brave enough to bring a Bible to her face. At first, Susan responded to biblical pas*sages with curses and profanities. Mixed in with her vile attacks were short and desperate pleas for help. In the same breath that she attacked Christ, the Bible's authenticity, and everyone assembled in prayer, Susan would suddenly urge us to rescue her. It appeared as if we were observing a tremendous battle between the Susan we knew and loved and some strange evil force. But the momentum had shifted and we now sensed that victory was at hand.

While Alice and Louise held Susan, her sister continued holding the Bible to her face. Almost taunting the evil spirit that had almost beaten us minutes before, the students dared Susan to read biblical passages. She choked on certain passages and could not finish the sentence "Jesus is Lord." Over and over, she repeated "Jesus is L..L..LL," often ending in profanities. In between her futile attempts, Susan pleaded with us to continue trying and often smiled between the grimaces that accompanied her readings of Scripture. Just as suddenly as she went into the trance, Susan suddenly reappeared and claimed "Jesus is Lord."

..Was the purpose of that night served when so many indi*viduals were inducted into the Church? Did I witness spiritual warfare? I do not have the answers, but I do believe in the reality of spirits, angels, and other re*lated phenomena that I can neither touch nor see."

William Peter Blatty eat your heart out. Seriously, beyond the underwhelming prose, this guy, clearly, isn't playing with a full deck.