Quote:
Originally Posted by Smalls
(Post 760822)
I understand that Jindal had to reduce the government by means of reducing taxes, but why do you keep ignoring my other comments about Jindal being a "Yes Man" and bowing to public opinion at every chance he gets?
|
It is much easier to judge whether a politician's actions agree with my conservative principles than to judge a politician's motives. Man looks at the outward appearance, only God can see the heart. Did he change his view on Common Core because he had an honest change of heart, or because he saw a political opportunity? I won't pretend to know, but I think the result was better policy, and I like that result.
I try to consistently judge actions rather than motives.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smalls
(Post 760822)
You've made it a point to state all the things you think Jindal has done well, but have failed to address anything that I've stated against him. How anyone can believe that his actions as of late are in anyone's interest but his own is beyond me.
|
First, I agreed with you that robbing the trust funds was a bad move.
Second, I've explained why I prefer not to speculate regarding motives.
Third, I think the executive order regarding religious freedom is in the interests of people of faith throughout Louisiana, especially people of faith who have an objection of conscience regarding participation in homosexual weddings. It hasn't gotten much press, but since the Constitutional amendment in 2012, Jindal has taken a number of additional steps to protect RKBA, including a new law in 2015 to make it much harder for local governments to leverage zoning restrictions to limit hunting and shooting on private property.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smalls
(Post 760822)
Look no further than his moves to veto the vote on his security spending and the cost of living raise for Louisiana government retirees. I think its bull that our state is footing the bill for his security detail when he is not even doing work for the state, and as far as I'm concerned, most trips out of the state by the Governor are not state-related, and should not be paid for by the state. I understand that the State Police is tasked with protecting the Governor, but if it isn't for State business, it should not come out of the State Police's budget.
So how is that "reducing the size of the government" when you're spending more of the state's money on your own damn travel?
|
This seems to me a lot like the Republican criticism of all of Obama's travel and security expenses, which I disagree with. Right or wrong, Obama has many more pressing decisions and important policy issues to face than his personal travel expenses. So does Jindal. I don't think Jindal has struck a good balance between his presidential aspirations and his service to Louisiana as governor, but to me this is a minor issue.
I'm more eager to hear the candidates ideas on federal policy than I am to debate the details of their security expenses.
Ultimately, I believe that a true conservative president will benefit Louisiana and our citizens in much greater proportion than the negatives that have been mentioned in Jindal's years as governor. Jindal's efforts to that end may be better spent than closer focus on Louisiana's present issues. This is the nature of a federal government bloated and out of control. The jobs of governor and president are not 40 hr a week type of deals. I am sure both Jindal and Obama have spent much more than that giving attention to governing. I won't begrudge either their travel. One need not take a vow of poverty to serve as governor or president.