Bobby Jindal's GOP Resignation Letter

The following is a letter sent by Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana, to the leaders of the Republican Party. At least I wish it was.

From: Bobby Jindal [[e-mail]]
To: John Boehner [[e-mail]], Michael Steele [[e-mail]], Rush Limbaugh [[e-mail]]
Subject: Resignation
Sent: Thursday, March 26 at 7:23 am

Dear Messrs. Boehner, Steele, and Limbaugh

After reading Jake DeSantis' resignation letter in yesterday's New York Times, I was inspired for the first time in months. And so it is with deep regret that I submit my notice of resignation from the Republican Party. I hope you take the time to read this entire letter. Before describing the details of my decision, I want to offer some context:

I was raised on this party. I converted to Catholicism because I believe in family values. I changed my name to Bobby because of The Brady Bunch for goodness' sake! I have been a GOPer all my life, drawn to Republicans' ideals and ideas for as long as I can remember.

But it's impossible to be inspired by ideals and ideas when they no longer exist.

It's understandable that you don't yet have a plan. I expected as much; it happens any time one side gets so completely decimated. But this has gotten ridiculous. Judd Gregg went on Morning Joe yesterday to say that Republicans don't have a responsibility to offer alternatives. Really?? In the middle of an economic meltdown (which we helped create), with two wars going (which we launched), our only role is to criticize? You guys are out to lunch. And for the last few months, I've been out to lunch with you. Check please.

I tried it your way, making rebuttal speeches and turning down stimulus money, and it's only hurt my 2012 chances against Sarah Palin. Like DeSantis wrote, I'm not responsible for this mess. And I'm not going to be part of the cleanup without having something beyond complaints to contribute. But here's the rub: I do have ideas to offer. I just can't get a (coherent) word in with you guys babbling on at this fever pitch. I've called this a resignation, but the better word is "secession." Teddy Roosevelt had the right idea in 1912 with the Bull Moose party; he just had it too late. I am going to start a New GOP, a party with proposals that the American people can relate to. Once you guys get your act together, feel free to join.

The first agenda item for our new party is to say what everyone already knows--"we screwed up and we're sorry." As any good relationship therapist will tell you, healing does not start until you admit the truth. Second, I'll make it clear that I want the President to succeed in these historically trying times. Anything less is simply unpatriotic. Next I'll gather our new team--hopefully Charlie Crist, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tim Pawlenty, the three stimulus Senators, perhaps Jeff Flake and a few others--and together we'll unveil practical, thoughtful proposals to the five biggest problems facing the country. I've learned a lesson from Obama, and from Reagan before him. You can't offer tweaks on the conventional wisdom and expect to inspire. You need new ideas. Radical ideas, even. The following proposals may feel like a stretch, but a stretch is the only thing that will work.

On education, we will support not just merit pay for teachers, but a dramatic increase in funding to put top-flight charter schools in every low-income neighborhood in America and to offer free college tuition for every honors student from a poor family. This $100 billion plan will cost real money, but $70 billion less than what we have handed AIG. On the economy, we'll offer a comprehensive plan to rebuild the financial system, both on Wall Street and beyond. Are you familiar with Jeffrey Sachs' "Good Bank, Bad Bank" ideas? Believe it or not, that's where the New GOP is headed. We won't just toss around the phrase "Main Street"--we'll support a suspension of payroll taxes to get cash in the pockets of middle- and working-class Americans immediately. We'll propose a limited five-year income tax increase to 39% for the wealthiest Americans, and go further than Obama on defense spending cuts. He says we can get $1.5 trillion out of there? I think we can find $2 trillion, and I think the American people agree. When it comes to foreign policy, health care, and energy, we will offer similarly radical but practical ideas. No more of this Dick Cheney head-in-the-sand stuff. Did you see him on CNN? Embarrassing.

I realize that policy alone isn't enough to repair our image, even as we develop this new brand. So the New GOP will recruit candidates. I want the best of the best, which requires true diversity--not tokenism in a sea of good ol' boys. After we put out that call to professors, Silicon Valley innovators, pro athletes, teachers, writers and others (perhaps accountants?) we're going to run a New GOP candidate against your standard-bearer in every district in the country. Will we win them all? Heck no. We won't even win most. But I guarantee you we'll see dozens of new faces on Capitol Hill with fresh ideas on everything from combating the meth problem to redefining our approach on Darfur. And, eventually, we'll develop our own Obama--organically. Even though I was the one you put forward, you can't find that revolutionary candidate in the trumped-up, half-cocked fashion the GOP has employed in the last five months.

I know this must be disappointing. But I simply cannot keep blindly going down this hope-Obama-fails road any longer. I was embarrassed to see you guys pretend to be willing to work with the President, to see Mike do jumping jacks for Rush, to see myself become a walking punchline. We're all better than that. At least we used to be.

I'm sorry, guys. I know you were hoping I could challenge Obama. And I can. Just not with you. I'm taking my campaign money--my "retention bonus," if you will--and donating it to my new favorite charity, one determined to actually get America out of this mess: the New GOP.

Sincerely,

Piyush
PS: Please stop calling me Bobby

Comments

[leftypower]

Carlos -

As a card-carrying liberal pinko, I have no problems with your platform for Piyush.

I'm not going to vote for him because I don't exorcise.

Those who do won't vote for him because he's brown.

There goes the Republican base!

And as an opponent to Obama without the Republicans, sorry, Piyush, you're just not man enough.

His third party of conservatives will never make it out of the gate.

[Annette truth teller08]

Excellent!!!!

[nolajam]

Hmm. I'm wondering, Mr. Watson, how you imagine it is possible Gov. Jindal would ever think, much less say, any of those things.
You have certainly given him a lot of credit I fear he does not deserve.

[fla kracker]

It seems to me a cry for a second party as it stands right now we have one party while a loosely formed group in opposition does everything it can to stop progress. Democrats want social change and what's left of the republican party want back in power without having a clear-cut view of the problems they created with their haphazard style of governance

[TexasGiant]

If Bobby Jindal REALLY wants to go any further, he is going to need an image makeover as well.

In our current political climate, image is at least as important as ideology and platform. Yes, there are people who vote on substance, but most vote on the way that a candidate makes them FEEL.

With Bobby speaks, he sounds like an eager bag boy at a grocery store, trying to charm a tip out of an 80 year old shopper.

That is too small a demographic.

[corwin]

Carlos,
Is that all you got?
SIncerely yours,Corwin

[ron ray]

there is a moderate republican party. it's called the democratic party. given obama's picks to run the economy, I'm afraid he belongs to it.

[catpark]

In the 1850's, the Whig party was in tatters, Democrats were divided on slavery, and a few alternate parties began popping up - the strongest and enduring one was the Republican party. Maybe it is time moderate republicans, libertarians, independents, and others, put together a new party for real. The modern Republican party is a joke and so far to the right as to be nearly completely marginalized. While I am solidly to the liberal end of the spectrum, I know others in my family that would appreciate a real alternative (sorry Libertarian and Green Party - you just have not sold yourself as a truly sustainable party).

[blaqntelligence]

If bobby jindal, or ANY republican, came correct to the American people they would see an outpouring of acceptance.
Keep coming with BS and they will continue to be a national laughingstock. To the detriment of themselves, the republican party, and good governance.
We need balance which we don't have.

[blaqntelligence]

"At least I wish it was."

Now that was just mean. I'm going to read the article, but I reacted to the headline..­.....Until I saw that disclaimer.

[texanna]

Well, Gov Jindal needn't go to all the trouble of founding a New GOP for that agenda, because that's what the Democratic Party is all about. So, if this truly were his sentiments, I would simply say, "C'mon over to the other side of the aisle, Gov!".

[whiskeytangofoxtrot451]

Nice Carlos, but you made the mistake of naming Steele as one of the leaders of the GOP. I think it's clear now that he isn't leader of anything.

[VMax1029]

Carlos;

I absolutely love this article . . . good writing and certainly to the point. Perhaps, just maybe, some GOP folks will actually read and understand the concerns that you expressed. Even though I'm not a fan of the Bush, I never wanted him to fail. After all, if we want the President to fail, aren't we also saying that the country will fail . . . how utterly selfish on their part. What idiotic posturing.

GOP -- wake up and smell the coffee! Isn't it time that you start working together, with everyone, in order to better the current crisis in our country? As one who has been laid off and have yet to find employment, I'm tired of politicians (who are well-off) turning down stimulus money for their state. What the f&*!# do they expect their constituents to do . . . start living in tent cities? Oh wait, that's already happening. Louisiana still hasn't fully recovered from Katrina. So why does Jindal want to further damage their economy by "not playing nice" and not putting his constituents first??? What a selfish, inconsiderate, inept Politician. Shame on you Bobby Jindal!

[Shayrae]

Great satire, Carlos. Being from Louisiana, I only wish this had actually happened.

[Waltfl]

Don't quit, Bobby! We need you! If you drop out now it leaves Sarah Palin and Michele Bachman as the only serious 2012 GOP candidates.

[Neemni]

Hey hey hey....don't forget multiple choice Mitt....

[kareemachan]

And Michael Steele said he wouldn't rule out running...