Someday, when scholars are trying to fingerpoint the nadir of the post-Bush Republican Party, they may arrive at Jindal’s speech tonight. Though it was a tough moment for any Republican to give the opposition response, his speech came across as unserious in content and condescending in its tone.

—Thomas Schaller, a political scientist at University of Maryland

A lot of Republicans I am speaking with were expecting this would be like Obama’s moment in 2004. He bombed out. It lessens his (Jindal’s) chances of really looking seriously at 2012. The person who was probably helped the most is Mitt Romney. By Jindal really flubbing up last night Romney was helped by a lot of conservatives who thought he was too old.

—David Johnson, a Republican strategist who advised Bob Dole in 1988

Jindal seemed more like a high school student giving a valedictory speech than a potential future leader of the party

—Philip Klein of the American Spectator