Many of our stories come to us by way of tips from readers. Sometimes they identify themselves but most of the time they’re anonymous because our sources often are state employees and they don’t want to be teagued.
Occasionally, the readers even provide us with copies of public records. If not, we make requests of the appropriate agencies for documents that will verify the story. The Division of Administration more often than not either ignores our requests or drags out compliance with the public records laws for weeks or even months.
Lately, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety has found a way to deny us access to records by claiming ongoing investigations and thus, justifying not releasing documents. But in most of those cases, we already have the records from our anonymous sources who pulled the records prior to their becoming part of an “ongoing investigation.” One vocal critic, writing under a fake name (we know who he is) even claimed we were breaking the law by having those records in our possession. Not so.
More recently, we have been the beneficiary of another source for a rather pathetic, but nevertheless amusing running story—Bobby Jindal’s desperate quest for the Republican presidential nomination.
The source is none other than Jindal himself.
Sometimes it’s by sheer luck that we stumble into some of our stories. We’re certain that Jindal and/or his people never intended that we be included in his email updates but somehow we got on his mail list and we get updates on his campaign every day. Sometimes we get two or three such updates in a single day.
Last night, following the debates (the kiddie table and the grown-up debates, though at times it was difficult to tell which was which), we received not one, not two, but three updates, each one proclaiming Jindal (kiddie table) all but nominated, elected and inaugurated.
In two of those, the first from Jindal and the second from wife Supriya, the message was the same: “The deck has been reshuffled.”
That prompted an observation from a friend who said, “Yes, this debate did reshuffle the deck. Unfortunately for Jindal, a joker is a joker no matter how many times the deck is reshuffled.”
Having said that, we now would like to show you some of the recent emails from Jindal camp members, including campaign manager Timmy Teepell, communications director Kyle Plotkin (You have to love his references to Jindal as “the Gov”), deputy campaign manager Tim Saler, Bobby and Supriya Jindal. This list is not all-inclusive because it would be too long but it is indicative of the delusions of mediocracy that seem to permeate Team Jindal. We pick up the dialogue on Aug. 21 and carry it through Thursday morning(Sept. 17). Of course, like any good televangelist, there is the perpetual request for money at the end. Here we go:
From: Kyle, BobbyJindal.com [mailto:info@bobbyjindalhq.com]
Sent: Friday, August 21, 2015 5:26 PM
To: Tom Aswell
Subject: Fired Up
Governor Jindal just got off the stage at AFP’s Defending the American Dream Summit, and wow, the Gov (sic) crushed it. Check out this video I filmed a couple minutes after he finished speaking: People were so inspired by his message, they kept running up to the stage to try to shake the Gov’s hand. We are in the car headed to catch a flight to Iowa. Can you chip in $50 right now so we can capitalize on this momentum? It would be awesome to turn my phone on when we land in Iowa and be able to tell the Gov we just raised a lot of money. Thanks, Kyle Plotkin Communications Director, Jindal for President
(VIDEO WOULD NOT LOAD)
From: Bobby Jindal – iPad [mailto:info@bobbyjindalhq.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2015 3:38 PM
To: Tom Aswell
Subject: Our first ad
We just released a new ad in Iowa that shows footage of my exchange with pro-amnesty protesters who tried to silence my speech at the Iowa State Fair with shouts of “citizenship now.” I confronted the protesters with hard truths: “If you want freedom, if you love America — follow the law, learn English, adopt our values and get to work!” You can watch the new ad here: https://www.bobbyjindal.com/new-jindal-ad-follow-the-law/ The ad will be targeted online to voters across Iowa for the next week. Can you chip in $25 right now so we can keep it running and make sure more people see it? Thanks, Bobby
From: Bobby Jindal – iPad [mailto:info@bobbyjindalhq.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2015 4:40 PM
To: Tom Aswell
Subject: Thank you
I am in the car headed to the airport to fly back to Iowa. I wanted to say thank you. The last few months campaigning have been inspiring. I wish we could bottle up the energy and passion we see everyday at events so you could experience it for yourself. I’m very grateful for the support you have given me so far. But campaigning for President is expensive, so I’m asking you to double down and make a donation as we approach our end of month fundraising deadline. Thank you, Bobby
From: Tim Saler – BobbyJindal.com [mailto:info@bobbyjindalhq.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2015 1:02 PM
To: Tom Aswell
Subject: We all knew
Winning the Iowa Caucus has never been about money, looks, or media attention. The Iowa Caucus is all about grassroots campaigning. That is why we always knew that Gov. Jindal would do well there. He loves talking with voters one on one. Thanks to the support of people like you, we are seeing this come to fruition in the polls. The latest NBC Marist Poll has Gov. Jindal rising in the polls in Iowa again – currently tied with Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. This is great news for the campaign, but we still have a long way to go. Will you help us continue this momentum with a donation? Gov. Jindal has been adamant about using your donations for actual campaign activities – no meals out with campaign staff. Your donation will go directly into the field, and directly towards winning Iowa. Please make your contribution today. Thank you. Tim Saler Deputy Campaign Manager, Jindal for President
From: Bobby Jindal [mailto:info@bobbyjindalhq.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2015 10:01 AM
To: Tom Aswell
Subject: Weekend reading
Everyday (sic) on the campaign trail, I get great questions from voters — one I get a lot is what I’d do if I were elected President. That’s an easy question because while other candidates spent the last few years looking at polling and hiring consultants, I spent my time thinking about what the next President needs to do to get our country back on track and developed detailed policy plans built on conservative principles. So far, I released my plans on repealing Obamacare, fixing our broken education system, harnessing American energy, and rebuilding our national defense. All the plans are available on my website for you to read. When you are running for elected office, it’s easy to say you are for something. Every Republican running says they are for smaller government. But of all the candidates running, I am the only one that has actually cut government spending. It drives the big-government crowd in Louisiana crazy, but I have governed and kept my conservative principles intact. I’m proud of that. I hope you have a great weekend. Bobby
From: Bobby Jindal [mailto:info@bobbyjindalhq.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2015 6:30 PM
To: Tom Aswell
Subject: Tomorrow night
I just landed in California for tomorrow night’s Republican Presidential debate. I’m fired up. I hope you will tune in to CNN at 6 p.m. eastern to watch. If you are excited for tomorrow night too, chip in $20.16 right now to let me know. Bobby
From: Bobby Jindal – iPad [mailto:info@bobbyjindalhq.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2015 7:03 PM
To: Tom Aswell
Subject: Just got off stage at debate
I just left the stage at the Reagan Foundation for today’s debate. If we learned anything from the previous debate, it’s that these events reshuffle the deck. Tonight’s debate was no exception. Sure, I talked about policy and substance. I talked about my record as the only Governor running for President who has actually cut spending. If you think that’s the kind of leadership we need from our next President, then make a special contribution of $20.16 now. But I also talked about how important this election is for our future. This may be our last chance to save the American Dream, and we can’t afford to turn our hopes over to Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. That’s why I need your help to make sure I am on the main debate stage at next month’s debate. The pundits and analysts have declared I won tonight, and it is critical we keep the momentum going. Stand with me and make a contribution of $15, $10, or even $5 right now so our campaign has the resources we need to make sure I am in the next primetime debate. The campaign continues. The deck has been reshuffled. And we’re fighting our way up. Join us today. Bobby
From: Timmy, BobbyJindal.com [mailto:info@bobbyjindalhq.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2015 8:23 PM
To: Tom Aswell
Subject: Jindal wins debate, neutered Republican establishment
In tonight’s debate, Governor Jindal neutered the Republican establishment in D.C. The Republican establishment in D.C. is the surrender caucus. They backed down on repealing Obamacare, stopping a dangerous Iran deal, and defunding Planned Parenthood. Republican voters are angry at Republicans in D.C. and they should be. It’s time for us to fight for what we believe in. Donate $20.16 right now to stand with Governor Jindal. Thank you, Timmy Teepell Campaign Manager, Jindal for President
From: Supriya Jindal [mailto:info@bobbyjindalhq.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2015 7:24 AM
To: Tom Aswell
Subject: Bobby did great!! FW: Just got off stage at debate
This is Supriya. Did you watch last night’s debate? Bobby did great! He’s right – the deck has been reshuffled again. We’re on our way up. Don’t you want to be a part of it? Make an instant donation right now to join our cause >>> $20.16 This is such an exciting time in the campaign. Bobby is off to Iowa later this week, and I’m looking forward to joining him again on the trail soon. I know we can count on you! -Supriya
I think these e-mails are a bit childish. Do people actually donate after reading such “rah rah” stuff? Wonder how much he raised from these?
Actually, every campaign I’ve ever given money to sends out those rah-rah e-mails so apparently they work.
I WOULDN’T PISS IN HIS HAT IF IT WAS ON FIRE, LET ALONE GIVE JINDAL $20.16
“…while other candidates spent the last few years looking at polling and hiring consultants, I spent my time thinking about what the next President needs to do to get our country back on track and developed detailed policy plans built on conservative principles. ”
So we know he has been committing payroll fraud for at least the last few years since he was not doing his job he was writing his future “policy papers.” This also pretty much tells the tail about how and when he really decided to run irrespective of his admonishments about having the job he wanted.
How pathetic. What a liar.
Jindal has been running for President since before 2008. He truly believes it is his destiny. He counts on the ignorance of the electorate to forget that he wrote books and did book tours in between campaign stops in Iowa, New Hampshire, and all points in between. He has built up a nice war chest. He knows he won’t make the cut this time but he hopes to use his millions in contributions to run for Vitter’s Senate Seat, stay in politics (we all know he doesn’t want to work for a living, just like Vitter) so he can keep the dream of being the First Indian President and I don’t mean the indigenous Indians either!
Too funny! Too sad! Too psychotic! The entire cast of Team Jindal must live in an air tight bubble, which they only crack open long enough to reach for the money that is handed to them by fools.
Either that, or these are the lyingest, slickest con-artists since Bernie Madoff.
Sad, so sad. Enjoyed the one liner someone gave him about the squirrel on Trump’s head though. Highlight of his campaign so far.
Poor Piyush and crew, they can’t even get their analogies correct. They aren’t reshuffling the deck. They’re rearranging the deck chairs of SS. Titanic/Jindal.
And, the yutz was so clueless, trying to keep spinning in the spin room, that he missed the group photo of *all* of the passengers in the clown car.