If he's smart he'll skip 2012. Unless Obama turns out to be a disaster, which I have serious doubts will be true.

"AP reports Jindal, whom many Republicans view as best positioned to transform the party's image, did not rule out the possibility he may change his mind about a White House run."

This is perhaps the most hilarious piece of text from this non-story about a politician saying he won't be running for an office that won't even open up for four years.

"He said he won't be running, but he didn't rule out the possibility that he might change his mind about not running." That, my friends, is classic political reporting right there.

It would be awkward to run for Gov in 2011, when the elections are too late to start a Pres run. If, on the other hand, he were to change his mind in late 2010 or early 2011, he would be out of a job before the first primary. Unless Obama fails miserably and the Republicans unanimously beg Jindall to run, I'm going to take him at his word. VP, however, is a horse of a different color.

Well what else would you expect him to say, no matter what?

It's possible that Jindal didn't get the welcome he expected in Iowa, whose Republican party is under the control of rightwing Protestant fundamentalists and forms what is probably the largest bloc of support for Mike Huckabee outside of Arkansas. I doubt Jindal's extreme right Pope-hugging Catholicism would go down well there. Even so, I'm not counting him out either, although I'm not really sure where, or what, his base is. Exorcism-loving Indian Catholics? There are certain neighborhoods in Boston, I suppose....

I guess the repubs are looking to cement themselves as the southern, regional party. Where better for a repub to speak to the national audience, than from the old Confederate Capitol?

Let Jindal run all he wants. If you think the Republican base will nominate him, I've got some Lehman stock to sell you.

I don't like Jindal, never have. But, the man is smart, and I would not doubt that he sees the writing on the wall regarding his chances in 2012 despite all the smoke that is being blown up his arse by the rest of the crazy-right GOP.

How would a religious fanatic from the deep south remake the party's image?

Thou shalt judge a book by its cover

If you think the Republican base will nominate him, I've got some Lehman stock to sell you.

Agreed. He looks too much like a terrorist for the base.
He can spout god-chatter 'til he's blue, but it won't change his hue...

You know, since the current President-Elect hasn't even taken office yet, and won't for 41 days, it's a little early to talk about the next Presidential elections, whether 2012 or 2016. I could care less who might consider running in the future; all I care is that THIS presidency is successful and helps to solve this nation's problems, which are gigantic.

Jindal is too brown for the Republican Party. Plus he's pretty smart. Plus I don't think he's a bible toter. Three strikes and you're out.

He probably also doesn't want to get caught up in the buzzsaw of the Huckabee-Palin battle for the nomination in 2012. The tea leaves may also tell him Obama will do well enough to get reelected. He's young and he has time. He likely figures that the blowback to his party after 2012, where Huckabee and Palin will be the leading lights will be such that it will provide a decent window in 2016. This could all change if Huckabee decides to enter a monastery or if Palin self-destructs in the next four years.

Of course this all assumes there will continue to be a Republican Party. They did pretty well in the opposition against Clinton, et al. But then, Clinton gave them a lot of ammunition. It may be that Obama is not going to be so accommodating.

Please, address him by his real name, Piyush. There's something about him being ashamed of his own name that just delights me about Jindal.

"Let Jindal run all he wants. If you think the Republican base will nominate him, I've got some Lehman stock to sell you."

The ignorant and racist folks along with socially conservative young professionals down in Louisiana voted for him.

Of course, look at his opponent in the Governors race.

Jindal is a powerful force, but when push comes to shove, I doubt he'll enter the national scene in a run for the White House. He is very smart (and like a minority of very smart people, he is also a fanatic) and will bide his time as a two-term governor before moving onto Washington - probably as a Senator first.