Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is angry with BP, he’s angry with Washington, he’s angry with the courts and he’s even angry with the scientists. 

He’s angry because, he says, the clean up effort is moving too slowly. 

His mantra is simple, "We don't have time for meetings. We don't have time for red tape and bureaucracy.  We're literally in a war to save our coast. Every hour matters. Every day matters."

And Jindal, unlike BP and the Obama administration, is taking action.  He has been in the affected areas of Louisiana every day since the spill, assessing the damage, talking to locals, looking for solutions. 

Jindal’s latest plan involves building rock dams off the coast to stop the oil from seeping into Barataria Bay.  This is Jindal’s third proposal to stem the tide of oil from impacting his constituents more than it already has. 

He first wanted BP and the government to build barrier islands off the coast.  Then he wanted sand berms off the Chandeleur Islands, which was also struck down.  The rock jetty plan has hit several snags, including resistance from scientists who say the dams could actually worsen the impact. 

Governor Jindal/Photo courtesy
of Gerald Herbert - AP

But Governor Jindal is not deterred.  He is pushing the Obama administration and BP to do something.  Anything.  In a recent news conference, he said, "So far we've not heard an alternative plan; all we've seen is bureaucracy and roadblocks.  We have told them 'no' is not an answer, 'no' is not a plan, 'no' is not acceptable."

While he is furious with BP, he is also unhappy with the government. 

Although a Republican, Jindal has had positive relations with President Obama – who called him “Extremely hard working,” – until the crisis. 

Governor Jindal has echoed what many of his constituents are thinking

"We don't understand why our federal government would be making excuses for BP," Governor Jindal has said. "They're the responsible party. They're the ones that caused this oil spill... it is their oil that is showing up in our coast and our wetlands and our marshes. It just makes sense that they pay to clean up this damage. "

Piyush Amrit "Bobby" Jindal was born in Louisiana to Indian parents.  He was a Rhodes Scholar, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals when he was 25, headed the entire University of Louisiana system when he was 28 and won a seat in Congress when he was 33.  At 36, he was the youngest sitting Governor. 

He is the first Indian-American governor. 

His dynamic intelligence, youthful vigor, and 77% approval ratings caught the attention of the National Republican Party, and John McCain considered him as a running mate. 

All that seemed to fall apart in February 2009, when he delivered the Republican response to President Obama’s address to Congress.  Commentators said the response was “lackluster” and that it “fell flat.”  After the response, Jindal seemed to drift back into Louisiana, out of national politics.

Bobby Jindal/photo courtesy of
Spencer Platt, Getty Images

The BP oil debacle has again focused attention on Jindal, who has risen to the occasion with pistols blazing.  He is not playing politics, he’s looking for a way to solve the problem and help his people.  Much of the talk around Jindal now is about the possibility of him running for President in 2012, but Jindal brushes it off, saying his only focus is running for re-election in Louisiana next year.  

Despite the difficulties facing his state, Bobby Jindal is bullish on Louisiana.  After BP capped the gushing well, the Governor cautioned that it was not yet time to declare victory.  At the same time, he noted his faith in the people of Louisiana. 

“We know that we're going to be successful in getting our way of life back," said Governor Jindal. "Our people are resilient, they're tough.  They got through Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike.  And they'll get through this oil spill as well."

Lisa has an undergraduate degree in International Relations from George Mason University and a graduate degree in Foreign Affairs from The University of Virginia.  She spent 11 years as an analyst with the federal government.  She is part owner of a research and analysis company, C2 Research, LLC, which specializes in complex research and analysis.  Lisa is also a freelance writer, contributing to Donne Tempo Magazine. 

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