VIDEO: That Katrina lie Bobby Jindal told? Seems he told it a year ago, too.

By GottaLaff

Ba-ba-ba-Bobby Jindal just keeps digging himself deeper into that hole. When will Republicans learn about those things called YouTube, the Tee Vee Machine, tape, cameras, and microphones:

Now, Jindal's reps are still in high dudgeon over this, saying Jindal was totally on the level, claiming some mix of it not making any difference whether Jindal made up his role in the story or not or that what Jindal actually said was never meant to imply that he was part of the story rather than someone who heard about it later. But that's pretty preposterous if you look at what Jindal actually said.

But now there's this. TPM Reader EA just flagged this youtube video that appears to show Jindal telling the same story last year, only with even more embroidery about his own part in the drama...

Governor Bobby Jindal tells a now-debunked story about famed Sheriff Harry Lee in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in late 2008.

Mr. Toast.

Jindal Admits Katrina Story Was False

By GottaLaff

Remember Ba-ba-ba-Bobby Jindal's little story about his bff Sheriff Lee? So do I! Aren't we something? Well, Ladedoodah Day, guess what? He's admitting it was a lie!

Looks like the game is up.

Remember that story Bobby Jindal told in his big speech Tuesday night -- about how during Katrina, he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a local sheriff who was battling government red tape to try to rescue stranded victims?

Turns out it wasn't actually, you know, true. [...]

[A] Jindal spokeswoman has admitted to Politico that in reality, Jindal overheard Lee talking about the episode to someone else by phone "days later." The spokeswoman said she thought Lee, who died in 2007, was being interviewed about the incident at the time.

This is no minor difference. Jindal's presence in Lee's office during the crisis itself was a key element of the story's intended appeal, putting him at the center of the action during the maelstrom. Just as important, Jindal implied that his support for the sheriff helped ensure the rescue went ahead. But it turns out Jindal wasn't there at the key moment, and played no role in making the rescue happen.

There's a larger point here, though. The central anecdote of the GOP's prime-time response to President Obama's speech, intended to illustrate the threat of excessive government regulation, turns out to have been made up.

Busted. Mr. Toast. Mr. Burnt Toast.

H/t: Babzter

VIDEO: President Obama- State of the Nation Address (Hip-Hop Interpretation)

By GottaLaff

Could you imagine a "hip-hop" version of a John McCain SOTU? Neither could I. In fact, the very thought makes me a little nauseous.



H/t: Spock8585

Oh Em Gee, Laura Bush "totally forgot" to watch President Obama's address!

By GottaLaff

A former First Lady, who is married to a former president who gave several State of the Union Addresses that the former first lady attended, forgot. To watch. The present president's. SOTUish Address:

Despite the lack of newspaper delivery at their new home, the former first lady said they are keeping up with the news back in the nation's capital but they certainly are not operating on Washington's clock.

In fact, Mrs. Bush said she did not watch President Obama's address to Congress on Tuesday night because she "totally forgot about it."

"The next day I thought it was so ironic that for eight years I would be a nervous wreck before the State of the Union, and for days before, as George would be preparing his speech, worried about it and thinking about what was going to be in the speech. And this time it came and went and I didn't even think about it."

Way to be a role model, Pickles. The epitome of patriotism. Or dementia. I can't decide which.

Obama’s Speech: 52 Million-Plus TV Viewers

Much more importantly, 53 million plus understood his speech. I'm guessing that Jindal's response wouldn't have gotten as many hits if it hadn't been for the train wreck factor.

More than 52 million people watched President Obama’s first address to a joint session of Congress in prime time on Tuesday, according to Nielsen Media Research.

The TV audience, pegged at 52.4 million by Nielsen, does not include out-of-home or online viewers. Nielsen said the address, which was broadcast roughly between 9 and 10:30 p.m., averaged a 49 share across 10 networks, which means that almost half of the people watching TV at the time were watching Mr. Obama’s speech.

(snip)

George W. Bush’s first address before Congress, in Feb. 2001, reached an average audience of 39.8 million viewers.

Online, a C-SPAN video of Mr. Obama’s address has been viewed more than 150,000 times on YouTube. The Republican response, delivered by Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, has been viewed more than 75,000 times.

VIDEO: Nancy Pelosi v. Joe Biden: State of the Union-ish Clap-Off

By GottaLaff


Nancy was energized, and for good reason. She no longer had to sit behind Bush.

The sluggish Vice President vacillated between looking mildly amused and majorly irked that his seat mate was so eager to please. At least neither of them had to sit next Cheney...or listen to Bush.

H/t: HuffPo

Limbaugh hearts Jindal

By GottaLaff

I just adore a good love story. Why, here's one now! Finally, there is someone who might relieve Oxy McLimpdong of his dependence on those little blue pills that help power-assist his shortcomings:

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh on Wednesday defended Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s widely panned performance Tuesday night in the GOP’s response to President Barack Obama’s speech to a joint session of Congress.

“I love Bobby Jindal, and that did not change after last night,” Limbaugh, a longtime fan of the governor, said. “Nothing that happened last night changed my mind.”

Do I detect a budding romance? This is somehow reminiscent of John McCain and his bestest huggy bear Lindsey Graham. But that's the past. Rush and Ba-ba-ba-Bobby may have a beautiful future together.

“Everybody trashed Bobby Jindal,” Limbaugh said. “I never heard the media, both sides, conservative and liberal, dump on a response like they did last night.”

Want some cheese with that whine? Poor wittle Bobbykins. It's a good thing Marionette McRealBoy, aka Mr. Bobby the pre-school teacher, has his own personal bodyguard to protect him from the big bad critics. How's that thin skin workin' out for you?

Limbaugh conceded that Jindal did not compete with Obama “stylistically,” but he said the Louisiana governor shined in the substance of his speech and his advocacy for conservative principles.

We just won Election 2012.

“All he did was articulate what we believe. All he did was articulate opposition to Obama,” Limbaugh said. “The people on our side are making a real mistake if they go after Bobby Jindal.”

“We cannot shun politicians who speak for our beliefs just because we don’t like the way he says it,” he added.

Keep talking, Oxy. You and your new love interest are only helping our side now.

UPDATE By Paddy to include vid (since we can never get enough Rush)

VIDEO: Complete "State of the Union-ish" speech by President Obama

By GottaLaff

Here you go:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Quote-O'-The-Week: Chris Matthews/Bobby Jindal edition

By GottaLaff

As Bobby Jindal approached to give his rebuttal to President Obama's address, they didn't cut the mics fast enough to avoid catching Keith Olbermann's Chris Matthew's very disdainful, under-his-breath:

"My God..."

It was beautiful.

Sidebar: Nobody should ever have to follow Obama. Jindal is embarrassingly wooden, nerdy, has a pre-school teacher delivery (Mr. Bobby?), and oddly resembles a marionette.

UPDATE, a Tweet from Ana Marie Cox:

I am missing the last part of the speech but I think it is safe to say I will not be buying Bobby Jindal's ShamWow.

ShamYeah.

UPDATE FROM PADDY- Corrected to reflect it was Matthews not Olbermann with video- [Laffy Note: I was going by what I thought I heard, and didn't get confirmation until this a.m. Thanks, Paddy, for correcting.]

Shallow Thoughts: Bobby Jindal edition

By GottaLaff

Todays Shallow Thought:

How does one respond to a speech that has yet to be delivered? The Republican National Committee has started putting out excerpts from Gov. Bobby Jindal’s (R-La.) response to the as-yet-undelivered prime time speech by President Obama.

That was today's Shallow Thought. Thank you for wading in.

You can read Jindal's ramblings here.

President Obama: "We will get through this"

By GottaLaff

They want positive? They came to the right guy:

In his first speech to a joint session of Congress, President Obama is planning to strike a more optimistic tone than he has in recent days by laying out a "game plan" to beat the financial crisis, according to a senior White House official.

Per Brian Williams on MSNBC just now, Prez O says "he's lost the first month in office", dealing with all the crises that he's inherited.

The senior official said there will only be a light touch on foreign policy, with mentions of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as other threats around the world. Instead, the speech will be dominated by four big issues that all relate to the president's broader economic message: financial stability and responsibility, education, energy independence and health care reform. [...]

"The American people want to know there's a game plan, not every move on the field," said the senior official. "We have a plan for winning."

The senior official argued that Obama has already been mixing some of his sober talk about the crisis with optimism about the future. Nevertheless, the official acknowledged the White House has heard the criticism from former President Bill Clinton and others about not being too sour and will make a point of being hopeful about the future.

"He clearly says, 'We will get through this, and here are the policies to get through this,'" the senior official said of the speech.

The speech has gone from 42 minutes originally to an hour, including applause, per Williams.

The official added the president will make clear that "at every point in history, America has come out stronger" after a crisis by relying on certain values like responsibility. Obama will also continue to say that he wants to work with Republicans to tackle these problems, according to the official.

While aides say Obama himself puts a heavy imprint on his own speeches, the address is being put together by Jon Favreau...

I'll see you tonight. Liveblogging optional. Maybe we should have an open thread.

Three guests in first lady box revealed + Holder on hold

By GottaLaff

Now you'll know who the cameras will be trained on:

The White House announced Monday three of what may be at least two dozen guests in the first lady's box at President Barack Obama's address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night.

The guests include an eighth-grader who wrote a letter to congressmen appealing for help in rebuilding her deteriorating school, a Miami banker who gave away $60 million of his own money to his employees, and a Miami-area bank teller. [...]

Last year, first lady Laura Bush hosted 27 guests, including New Orleans jazz musician Irvin Mayfield and registered nurse Tara Kunkel.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also announced Monday hero-U.S. Airways pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger will be a guest in the Speaker's House Gallery box.

My eyes will be trained on Prez O, but that's just me. Wink.

One person we won't see is Attorney General Holder:

Attorney General Eric Holder will be the cabinet member not attending President Obama’s speech tonight to Congress in the House chamber for security reasons, a Justice Department official tells CNN.

The official said Holder will be staying at an undisclosed location.

By tradition, one cabinet member does not attend such speeches in case of disaster, since so many other government leaders are vulnerable in one place. Customarily, the absent official is a member of the national security team.

Now Holder may finally discover where the Nation of Dick (Cheney) was all that time. I hope they've fumigated.