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The order of luncheon speakers for the annual conference of Public Affairs Research Council promised dessert first from James Carville to be followed by the usual dollop of limp vegetables many audien…
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The order of luncheon speakers for the annual conference of Public Affairs Research Council promised dessert first from James Carville to be followed by the usual dollop of limp vegetables many audience members had come to expect from Gov. Bobby Jindal, writes LaPolitics columnist John Maginnis. Days before, he baffled and irritated the Legislature by opening the session with a campaign speech about how much he hates taxes instead of offering guidance on the serious budget challenge that body faces. His shirtsleeves turned up and behind tinted glasses, irascible James fired off choice one-liners, such as how quickly Donald Trump became “more annoying than Sarah Palin.” He then gave his big-picture view of not only the urgency of saving the coast but also the economic opportunities to export coastal restoration technology for use in subsiding deltas around the globe. Achieving that, he said, would require, besides congressional appropriations, a greater investment in LSU instead of the succession of budget cuts ordered by the current administration. His was a hard act to follow, but the surprise of the hour was that Jindal rose to the occasion with one of the strongest speeches he has given this side of the campaign trail, in which he defended his most controversial policy positions. It was about time. To read the full column, click here.