Bobby Jindal for President

No I am not drinking the Kool Aid, but if he does want to run, Jindal should do so not in 2012 but in 2016, in part because I am assuming that Obama will do a job good enough to be re-elected in 2012(Jindal vs Obama will be an interesting but lopsided fight because one has experience as Governor and the other as President). But 8 years is an eternity in politics, and someone else might emerge as a hot choice for the GOP, so some might advise Jindal to run in 2012 while the 'Obama fever' ensures his own rise within the Republican party.

Jindal doesn't seem too intent on 2012 himself yet has been dropping hints all over the political spectrum; on the other hand, I question rather controversially if America will be ready to elect another non-white to the highest office in quick succession. Having said that, Jindal is from the South and Southeners would be the first to raise such issues, so this could be a non-issue.

This article in Newsweek(2 pages) is a good writeup about things as they stand today, including details about his conversion, the 'minority' issue, the infamous 'exorcism' and his political touring.

A very very interesting implication from the article is that Jindal, having high ambitions, wanted to become a complete American - converting to Christianity, believing in core conservatism, changing his name, wearing western clothes - so the next time someone calls Jindal of Indian origin, that may be all that connects him to India from his point of view.

Overall, Jindal is getting a lot of favourable gossip from all around - for now - who look up to him as a future scion to the conservative brand.

Further reading: Newsweek: Page 1 Page 2