Jindal's 'Advance'

Matt Lewis | February 24, 2009 10:59 PM

http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/blog/Bobby_Jindal%252C_official_109th_Congressional_photo.jpg

Bobby Jindal's speech tonight could not accurately be described as a "response."

Responses, after all, are defensive by definition.

Instead of responding to President

Obama, Jindal instead offered a positive alternative vision for America.

Jindal also wisely avoided any direct criticism of Obama, and instead focused his attention on easier targets -- Democratic Congressional leaders in Washington.

Still, his personal stories of growing up as an immigrant were what most real people watching at home will take from this speech.

On Twitter, I noticed some criticism of Jindal's delivery. For some, it may simply be that the hype surrounding Jindal created unrealistic expectations of a great orator -- or for others, his Louisiana accent may have been surprising.

Regardless, those who obsess over his delivery are missing the bigger story. Jindal tonight was likable, his personal story was compelling, and he offered a positive vision of conservatism for America.

While it is rare for one speech to change a nation's trajectory, it can at least be said that tonight's speech was one step in the right direction.