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Jim Geraghty wonders if it is important today of all days to remember Republican Governor Bobby Jindal’s experience with an exorcism, dating back to 1994.

Since Jindal is being touted as the anti-Obama and the great GOP 2012 Hope in delivering tonight’s GOP response to President Obama’s faux State of the Union Speech, it is.

David Brody has more about Jindal’s story about demons and spiritual warfare.

Republican Bobby Jindal has a big moment tonight. The national response he gives to President Obama’s speech tonight could be the launching pad for a 2012 presidential run.

If the Louisiana Governor runs for President in 2012, he’ll have a lot going for him. Fiscal conservatives love him, social conservatives love him and he would literally be a fresh face for the GOP. Not your typical GOP politician if you know what I mean. Plus, he has the intellectual heft to go up against President Obama. But there’s one incident from his past that may scare some folks.

In 1994 when Jindal was in his early 20’s he wrote an article entitled, “Beating a Demon: Physical Dimensions of Spiritual Warfare.” In it he describes being present for what many would refer to as a spiritual exorcism. It involved his best friend  at the time “Susan.”  It is a truly captivating read full of talk of demons, screaming, praying, crosses, peace, etc. In many ways the whole experience left Jindal with more questions than answers but you can bet that if Jindal runs this topic will come up big time.

The Brody File has read the entire article but had to pay $1.50. To do the same, click here. However, The Brody File has provided a major excerpt of it below. This is in Jindal’s own words and it is essential reading.

I’m sure some will read this and afterwards try to label Jindal as someone with strange religious views. But in typical Jindal fashion, he dissects the situation intellectually. He experienced something that clearly had a major impact in his life. Now if he does run for President, this incident will be under the microscope and he’ll be put on the couch by the mainstream media.

Read the piece and reflect.

Then, the Exit Question: Can Jindal transcend some pretty strange and scary religious practices to run for the Presidency?

This is NOT good for the GOP.

Everything the media tried to pin on Sarah Palin, [Bobby] Jindal actually did: he promoted and signed a creationism bill (with help from the Discovery Institute), he took part in an amateur exorcism and claimed it cured a woman of cancer, and possibly worst of all, he pals around with people on the extreme edges of fundamentalist Christianity, and at least one person who has associated with outright neo-Nazis.

The details are here.

Flap had the creationism worry earlier today re: Mark Sanford, Tim Pawlenty, and Bobby Jindal.

And, to think, Flap was worried about Sarah Palin and her equivocation on creationism in the schools. Hell, Sarah looks pretty good compared to the others.

And, Jindal?

He will be eaten alive in a national campaign.

Next……

This Presidential election cycle is winding down and the pundits are already discussing the future of the Republican Party. Flap did yesterday.

Whether the Republican presidential ticket wins or loses on Tuesday, a group of prominent conservatives are planning to meet the next day to discuss the way forward, and whatever the outcome, Gov. Sarah Palin will be high on the agenda.

Ms. Palin, of Alaska, has had a rocky time since being named as Senator John McCain’s running mate, but to many conservatives her future remains bright. If Mr. McCain wins, she will give the social conservative movement a seat inside the White House. If he loses, she could emerge as a standard bearer for the movement and a potential presidential candidate in 2012, albeit one who will need to address her considerable political damage.

Her prospects, in or out of government, are the subject of intensive conversations among conservative leaders, including the group that will meet next Wednesday in rural Virginia to weigh social, foreign policy and economic issues, as well as the political landscape and the next presidential election.

Sarah Palin’s future will be determined as she develops as a candidate and governs Alaska. She must do both well and win re-election in 2010. Palin must NOT ignore Alaska as she expands her presence in the lower 48.

Flap agrees with Matthew Dowd in that Palin must strengthen her weaknesses in foreign policy and become more than a good speech. 

Matthew Dowd, a former Bush strategist, said Ms. Palin’s challenge was to show substance.

“She’s an attractive woman who can give a great speech, but the American public doesn’t view her much beyond that,” Mr. Dowd said. “She’s vastly unpopular among moderate and independent voters, and while she could be in a position to be popular among an increasingly smaller Republican Party, she’s got to figure out a way to extend that and figure out a way to strengthen her weaknesses.”

Some pundits are not so optimistic on Sarah Palin’s great expectations.

Others are higher on Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana.

But, for now the GOP is “The Sarah Party” and what Palin makes of it will be the subject of many posts the next two years.

As the heir apparent of the GOP, it is Palin’s to lose.

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