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Speaking of Louisiana, as much as I like Bobby Jindal I think a McCain-Jindal ticket would be a bad idea. Yes, John McCain would benefit from having a young, talented, Asian running mate with executive experience and domestic policy know-how. If they pull off a win, Jindal might benefit by becoming the Republican presidential frontrunner in eight years without having to improve his personal charisma. But it would be bad for Louisiana, bad for the Republican Party, bad for the country if we spend Jindal prematurely, and, as Ross Douthat argues, probably bad for Jindal.

The Republican Party needs a real governing success story (and Louisiana badly needs a successful governor). Jindal ought to be given time to deliver instead of putting him on a national ticket so soon. Jindal isn't a senator. If he lives up to his potential, his moment will not pass after this election. Jindal only will become irrelevant if he decides to run for president a decade after his biggest accomplishments have passed. But who would do something like that?

topics:
John McCain, NATO