Political Briefs for Nov. 16

• Published: Nov 16, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Conservative columnist William Kristol recently opined that Gov. Bobby Jindal and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would do well to follow President-elect Barack Obama’s “empathetic” lead in getting a puppy.

“Competence plus warmth is a pretty potent combination,” Kristol wrote, making a dig at the GOP’s “dog days.”

“Absolutely not,” Jindal said. “We already have enough to take care of with three small children.”

Jindal said his brother-in-law threatens every year to buy a dog for his children, even going so far as to suggest outings to look at puppies.

“I don’t think long term I’m going to win this fight. But my short-term line in the sand is not until every kid is out of diapers, and we still have one to go,” Jindal said.

Louisiana for Obama off to D.C.

Louisiana for Obama is organizing a bus trip to Washington, D.C., to watch President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

“Across the nation people are organizing bus trips,” said organizer J.P. Dunbar, noting that hotel and travel costs are too high for many people. “They all want to be there for the historic moment.”

The bus will leave Sunday, Jan. 18, and return Thursday, Jan. 22. The cost, which ranges from $890 to $425, depending on hotel-room occupancy, includes round-trip bus fare and two nights in a hotel.

Dunbar said the group has requested tickets to the swearing-in ceremony but will otherwise watch the ceremony from public viewing places.

A $225 deposit is required to hold a seat on the 56-passenger bus, with the remaining balance due Dec. 10.

For more information or reservations, contact Dunbar at (225) 954-4800 or send an e-mail to info@aswankevent. com.