Former Constitution Party Vice Presidential Candidate Offers Advice to Bobby Jindal

In 2008 the Constitution Party nominated Darrell Castle of Tennessee to be their Vice Presidential nominee for 2008. Castle has penned an article in which he both criticizes and lauds Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal for his response to the BP oil spill off the coast of Louisiana.

Dear Gov. Jindal:Thank you for the remarkable degree of restraint and dignity you have exhibited in your efforts to protect the State of Louisiana from the catastrophe that is now upon it. I am not one of your constituents, but I am on your e-mail list and as such I receive periodic updates in the form of letters from you. It is to one such letter,

http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ViewInBrowser.aspx?pubids=393|23|770819&digest=puot833Gl7pNP%2ffm0n6I4g

which I received in my inbox this morning, that I now refer.

In the first paragraph of that letter you state, “Yesterday, I accompanied a team of elected officials to observe state-led dredging operations underway at the northern end of the Chandeleurs Island chain…We fought the red tape and bureaucracy for many weeks, but we prevailed in getting this segment and five others approved by the federal government and funded by BP.”

Thanks for your persistence, Governor, but I don’t understand why you felt it necessary to crawl on your knees to the federal government for permission to save your state. By your own admission you lost several valuable, unrecoverable weeks of work.

Why not just start dredging, and if BP does not agree to provide temporary funds, ask the court (where I would already have sued BP) for a temporary restraining order against use of their world wide assets and operations until they at least fund the dredging operation. There are many fine law firms in Louisiana that would take that case on a contingent fee basis, but if none meet your specifications, I would be glad to do it.

In the second paragraph, you comment on the president’s speech and state that “speeches won’t stop the oil” and that “we need the federal government to understand we are in a war to protect our way of life and we want results.”

Well said Governor, but the federal government doesn’t care about your way of life, and that should be obvious. Get on with your own business and forget about Washington, and sue them, Governor – sue the federal government, too, as they are at least partially responsible due to their negligent delays.
In the third paragraph you state, “Unfortunately, President Obama did not announce an expedited process to end the drilling moratorium as we had hoped. We remain concerned that the administration does not fully understand the devastating impact an extended moratorium will have on our people.”

Governor, isn’t it obvious that this is a purely political decision on the part of the administration? You are the Governor of Louisiana, just drill and ask the federal government for nothing else. You must protect the people who trusted their state to your charge, Governor.

In your next to last paragraph you state, “On Monday, I joined fishermen, restaurant leaders, and seafood industry officials at the Acme Oyster House in New Orleans to call on President Obama to force BP to approve our state’s seafood safety plan.”

The Acme is a fine restaurant where I’ve enjoyed many meals. I’ll miss it if it is forced out of business. Governor, why don’t you seize the assets of BP – every last one of them – within your jurisdiction? I’ll bet that would get their attention, and some action on your seafood safety plan as well.

Finally, Governor, you are a good man and obviously a very caring and intelligent one. I understand that you have a legitimate degree from Harvard. Sue them, Governor, and go after their world wide assets. I’m afraid the people of Louisiana are going to need them.
In my next letter I’d like to ask you where the Louisiana National Guard is and if you think they might be needed in Louisiana for this catastrophe. Maybe we could think of a Constitutional way for you to get them back.

Good day, Governor, and good luck,
Darrell L. Castle