I watched president Obama's speech for the first time tonight. It was quite inspiring and quite timely. But while I voted for and very much admire Mr. Obama, there were parts I disagreed with. But at least I listened to it.

I don't think that governor Jindal did. I did not listen to but only read his speech, and from what I've read that's good for him as it was apparently terribly delivered. As a rhetoric student, I believe that it is usually a good idea to actually listen to a speech in order to critique it, but after reading the text I politely (rhetorically?) refuse. The speech was appalling and it's no wonder that Republicans and Democrats alike have panned it.

I got the feeling that Governor Jindal had his speech written beforehand, because almost all of his critiques were misguided talking points that seemed to attack traditional Democratic positions instead of the actual content of Obama's speech.

Some examples: "The strength of America is not found in our government," says Jindal. "It is found in the compassionate hearts and the enterprising spirit of our citizens." Obama, of course, made the exact same claim: "The answers to our problems... lie... in the imaginations of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the hardest-working people on Earth." He also made it clear that we must rely on the government only because we are in a time of crisis, "Not because I believe in bigger government."

Jindal critiqued the president's plans to raise taxes: "The way to lead is not to raise taxes... [it] is by empowering you, the American people." But, according to his speech, Obama isn't raising taxes. "If your family earns less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increased a single dime... a tax cut for 95% of working families."

Jindal: "Their legislation... will... saddle future generations with debt."
Obama: "[The legislation will] save our children from a future of debt."

Jindal: "In Louisiana, we took a different approach... we cut more than 250 earmarks from our state budget."
Obama: "I’m proud that we passed the recovery plan free of earmarks."

Jindal: "To strengthen our economy, we also need to make sure every child in America gets the best possible education... charter schools..."
Obama: "The... goal of this administration to ensure that every child has access to a complete and competitive education... we will expand our commitment to charter schools."

Jindal:" We must promote confidence in America by ensuring ours is the most ethical and transparent system in the world... We need to bring transparency to Washington, D.C."
Obama: "[The government] will be held accountable by me and the American people for every dollar they spend... we have created a new website called recovery.gov so that every American can find out how and where their money is being spent."

Did governor Jindal listen to Obama’s speech before delivering his own? It doesn’t seem like it. How would you have responded to president Obama's speech?