Jindal’s Stimulus Bill remark lands him in the Eye of a Volcano

A Bobby JindalBobby Jindal response to Barack ObamaBarack Obama's Congress address has lead to a spate of volcanoes erupting, well literally, in the Louisiana Gov’s own backyard. Jindal had taken exception to the $140 million allocation for 'volcano monitoring' in President Obama’s stimulus plan calling it "an example of out-of-control federal spending”. The Louisiana Gov opined that what Congress needs to really monitor is the eruption of Washington, D.C. spendings rather than monitor volcanoes.

My reaction to this would have been “Well said, Bobby” followed by a “Where are the Volcanoes?” as I am one of those who agrees that this expenditure head is just an unnecessary frill that can be avoided.

But no, that’s not to be. The defenders of volcano monitoring are erupting in unison and they are quite indignant about the ideas expressed by Bobby.

Their first counter is that the $140 million figure ascribed to volcano watching is inaccurate and the correct figure is just about one-tenth of that, around $15.6 million after accounting for various restoration and repair expenses, as per U.S. Geological Survey’s Marianne Guffanti.

Guffanti goes on to justify the amount allocated stating that America is predominantly a volcanically active country, a bomb that is ticking which needs to be defused. Sounds like volcanoes are getting on par with Al Qaeda, as far as being a potential threat to US is concerned. Doesn’t it?

To support her claim Ms Guffianti takes the example of the Mount Redoubt of 1989 which in the present day (according to her) is a restlessly rumbling behemoth itching to go “Boom”. No ‘Doubt’ about that as far as she is concerned. A nice example of a bed time story I should tell my little one while putting her to sleep, I thought!!

Meanwhile, support for Obama is pouring in from other quarters as well. Given the popularity rating that the President enjoys today, I don’t feel surprised if the blogger’s park is abuzz with people who are writing in to support the ‘volcano monitoring’ expense allocation.

Amongst the more prominent online commentators supporting Obama’s cause is the New York Times columnist Paul Krugman who questioned Jindal’s basis for criticizing the spending of federal dollars for safeguarding Americans from volcano eruptions. Krugman feels that the Louisiana Gov’s "intellectual incoherence is stunning". David BrooksDavid Brooks, another NY Times correspondent while accepting that he doesn’t agree with the Economic Stimulus Bill terms Jindal’s response a ‘disaster’ for the Republican party!! Watch the video.

I am stunned though by the blind support that Obama is garnering on this front. It could be a tribute to the President of America’s leadership qualities, or it could be a response of a disillusioned people vexed by the happenings of the past 8 years that Obama today has so many followers. The challenge now for him is to retain that support and rule a democracy like a democracy and not like a dictatorship!!

I mean, it takes two for anything to be called ‘bipartisan’. I wonder therefore, if the Economic Stimulus Plan is really bipartisan in nature!! The cartoon “Takes Two to be Bipartisan” that I’m incorporating with this report is telling. Have a look at it.

And as I said earlier Obama should guard himself against getting into the garb of a dictator. Power is potent enough to convert the best of men into beasts. Obama should ensure that President Barack is not radically different from Candidate Barack. Else the people of America might slowly get disillusioned.

Know what I mean? Take a look at the “Candidate vs President Obama” cartoon.

If things are allowed to pass for long … Well, now go take a look at the “Obama might soon get LOST …” cartoon.

You should now be knowing what I mean!! Don’t you?