I do agree on your characterization of issues not being completely liberal or conservative. I myself am a centrist. This post and subsequent comments were aimed at Jindal’s positions and the Indian media’s attention on him.

My “open-mindedness” comment was regards to you finding my initial comment “amusing”. I construed that as a close-minded defence mechanism to opposing points of view. Rightly or wrongly.

At the end of the day defining every issue as a “conservative” versus “liberal” dulls discourse. There is plenty on the “conservative” side to admire and plenty to be very wary of. Similarly on the “liberal” side. To cherry-pick Jindal’s statements and then impute that to everything he stands for is intellectually lazy.

Now spare yourself the effort of saying something like “I find it amusing that you would make the cherry-picking comment because conservatives do the same thing”.
Yes I know. And its a common human failing – one that is common on both sides of the “conservative-liberal” divide.

It is the spectrum ranging from socialist totalitarianism to fascist totalitarianism on the other side. Assuming someone to the right of you on the spectrum is a fascist is as absurd and assuming someone to the left of you is a communist.

My positions on gun control is based on the fact that it does not work. It disarms the law-abiding and leaves them vulnerable to the criminal. Does that mean we should let just any mentally and/or morally incompetent person have guns? No.

I am against complete free choice on abortion because it is murder of the most vulnerable members of humankind.
Does that mean I we need to risk an adult’s life for the baby in case of a medical condition? No.

Regards your reasons for his win, nothing is further from the truth. He scarcely mentioned Katrina & Rita during his campaign and has only lately mentioned rehabilitation for hurricane victims as an afterthought. Also, the voter turnout was quite low especially among low-income African Americans who traditionally vote Democrat.

“Open-mindedness” is hard work.

All that aside. I agree with the post as far as the blind media celebration of PIO success is concerned.
Beyond that comments such as “ever willing to pander to the regressive wing of the Right” is just basic name-calling and detracts from any point you were trying to make.
And a link to an article that calls him a “brown Mitt Romney”? Pathetic.

Jindal won not because he is “ever willing to pander to the regressive wing of the Right” or because he “takes assimilation into the American way a bit too far by pandering to the worst in this society”.
Have you considered it had to do with the work he put in post-Katrina? And utter disappointment in the incompetent, “blame evil Bush” Democrat administration they had through Katrina?

Harini, Being a part of that media must give you an insight into what goes on behind the scenes but I agree that the need to track its immigrants to select nations and then claim their achievements is downright unfair.

Vishal, each time we get a chance to redeem ourselves, we blow it.

Confused, yup! Had seen that before…right after this year’s Nobel. Frankly, that was much insulting to the few Indians who have actually won it fair and square. Sadly, none in the recent times.

Ashutosh, yup! All that seems to matter is that he looks and sounds Indian.

See this,

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Columnists/Indias_Nobel_connections/articleshow/2456211.cms

I have no idea why this idiot has garnered this attenton; but then when you have “gujarat ki beti” (never mind that beti has abandoned her “maika” for almost 2 decades) take so much importance, its hardly a surprise.

Indian media lacks self respect. And that is why I hate them thoroughly.

S