RightWave

Just heard from a “friend of a friend” close to the campaign that it’s Tom Ridge.

The speculation circus continues…

I continue to be incredibly impressed with the McCain campaign’s execution.

As a side note - a very smart friend of mine just suggested a dream GOP ticket (for the future, obviously not this time around): Jindal-Palin.  How awesome would that be??

Senator McCain, please don’t select Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal as your runing mate.  Please.

Yes, he’s a good man.

Yes, he’s a good, solid, consistent conservative.

Yes, he’s young, enthusiastic and good natured.

Yes, he’s often brilliant and a great thinker (and doer).

Yes, he’s an ethnic minority.

And, yes, he’s the future of the Republican Party.

Which is exactly why you should leave him be.  Don’t ask him to be your running mate. 

And, Governor Jindal, if you’re offered the post, please do the unthinkable.  Politely decline.

There is much work to do in Louisiana.  Work that must be done, and work that requires a strong, smart, right-minded, determined leader to accomplish great things and make bold decisions.  Not only that, but Louisiana today offers an unparalleled opportunity to enact sweeping free-market reforms: school choice, legal reform, ethics, fundamental tax and spending reforms.  The list goes on and on.  Governor Jindal can do those things.  He’s already started.

He can be a hero to both the people of Louisiana and the conservative movement at large.  He can demonstrate his can-do spirit and tout it around the country to conservatives who are downtrodden by decades of frustration and disappointment by their elected officials.  He can inspire a new generation of “policy wonks,” immigrants, young people and regular joes to engage in the process and maybe even run for office.

No, he’s not the most polished politician, but that’s part of his charm.  

He has a future to build and a legacy to leave. 

He can’t do it, however, if he’s snatched up by and caught up in a national race in the first year of his governorship.  And, make no mistake, this will be the nastiest election we’ve seen yet.  Despite the rhetoric of hope and change, I believe this will be an ugly year for American politics.  Perhaps some if it’s deserved, by the way, but it’s not the way any of the players will want to be remembered.

So, I ask.  I plead.  Let him be a good Governor.  Let him build his profile (did you see him on Leno a couple of weeks ago?). Let him develop his own narrative and his own personality.  Let him be the leader he can be.

Now, I’m sure we free-marketers will find something we don’t like or a place to disagree every once and a while.  It happens with every political leader, but his promise is strong and his potential great.  Let’s nuture it, develop it, support it.

Rush Limbaugh says he’s the next Ronald Reagan.  I’m not so sure about that from a political perspective.  Certainly, though, its achievable from the view of real policy accomplishments and sparking another conservative revolution.  Perhaps, even more importantly, righting the ship of the Republican party. 

We conservatives seem to find ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory all too often.  We move to fast, get too excited too soon.  Let’s not do it again.

Let’s look to the future, friends. 

So, Senator McCain, be bold in your choice.  Look outside the political field.  Choose a strong conservative and a good man or woman to run along side you (perhaps even influence you!).  But, I implore you, leave Governor Jindal be. 

Give him the real opportunity to lead the nation one day - in the future.