The Great Republican Hope

Bobby Jindal continues to surprise, delight

Oh yes Bobby Jindal is definitely running for president in 2012. He boldly went on "Good Morning America" and suggested that perhaps Barack Obama was not a special demon sent by Satan to torture the world with higher taxes and capitulations in foreign wars, as certain other Republicans have suggested. There's really no reason to make oneself an open target for the more wrathful wing of one's party other than to prove that one is both steely-spined and refreshingly moderate -- just the sort of type that undecided voters tend to like come election season.

Of course, being Bobby Jindal, what he said came out sounding a little mealy-mouthed:

"I think Democrat or Republican, we should all agree that our current president, our former president would obviously want to do everything they could to keep us safe," the Republican governor said. [...] "I don't think we should question President Obama's patriotism or his intentions."

But then that's Governor Jindal for you: always rehearsing some kindly platitudes instead of saying something hilariously vile and nasty. But perhaps he senses what Republican voters will want in 2012: a gentle, no-drama, multicultural intellectual to lead them out of their spiritual wilderness. It's worked out pretty well for the Democrats!

Now's as good a time as ever to start running for president. If Jindal can establish himself early as "the sane one," and if Sarah Palin continues to behave like a lunatic, then Mitt Romney will be forced into the same uncomfortable position he was forced into in 2008: championing the sensible, business-minded members of his party while simultaneously (and very awkwardly) attempting to seduce religious and social conservatives. That gives Jindal a pretty big "in." No matter how personally boring he is, he might just make the 2012 election exciting.

Sara K. Smith writes for NBC and Wonkette.

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