After Perry left, walking by a mannequin wearing a Squat N’ Gobble T-shirt whose hand was raised above her head – a hand Perry tried to call on during a question-and-answer period -- a spirited discussion broke out in the restaurant, with some patrons waving Nobama ’12 bumper stickers. It was resolved, it seemed, after they determined that someone had left without paying their bill – and a Perry staffer agreed to pick up the tab.
It's really kind of sad. Some people believe this guy should be the leader of the free world. You know, some people like Bobby Jindal.
Our VERY FAVORITE political ad of 2012 (so far!). We hate dark money. We hate corporate personhood, or at least the evolving Judicial definition. But we love this ad. Old "Mitt" never saw it coming.
Welcome back. We feel good to be back too. Sometimes there are more important things that Louisiana State Politics... Sometimes.
Anyway, since we last left our fearless leader, Bobby Jindal, he was basking in a not-exactly-impressive electoral victory against no real opponents. Sure, Tara Hollis was out there, and the comment pages of many blogs and newspapers reflected, she had her partisans. But unfortunately, that didn't really amount to much more than a weak-willed protest vote. Slapping PBJ with a wet sugar-cane stalk isn't exactly a death-blow.
Nevertheless, Jindal hardly scored some resounding victory. The whole State seemed to be captured in a "who-cares, politics-is-broken" moment as Jindal received only 673,239 votes, over 100k less than Barack Obama's 780,981 in 2008.
Nevertheless, Jindal is now forging his new "mandate" into a headlong push into education reform. In typical fashion, Jindal has shaped his iniatives in the droopy, hollow non-partisan language he is know for. Let us regress for a moment, because we've read a constant stream of missives from conservative authors proclaiming "OBAMA WRAPS HIS RADICAL POLICIES IN TOUCHY FEELY LANGUAGE TOO." The difference here of course, is the truth. Let's give this latest example from PBJ:
"There are of course many competing philosophies and agendas when it comes to education," Jindal told the crowd assembled outside the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge. "I believe we all need to check our party affiliations, our ideologies, and our political agendas at the door when it comes to improving our schools."
Certainly, governor, let's examine these reasonable, compromise-laden pragmatic proposals you hope to thrust upon the polity with nonpartisan eagerness:
Although he didn't promote them during his campaign and hasn't made a public pitch in the months since he was resoundingly re-elected, people who've been in meetings with the governor say he hopes to greatly expand the use of private school vouchers...
Vouchers may have fallen off many Louisianians' radar since 2008, when Jindal pushed a small-scale program for low-income Orleans Parish students in failing schools through the Legislature. But they are ever-popular in the national conservative movement, which embraces privatization and -- to the extent that religious schools would receive more taxpayer money now allotted to public schools -- lowering the constitutional wall between church and state.
So, instead of that "reasonable effort to improve education," where we check our "partisan ideologies at the door, we get... radical partisan legislation that is darling of the "national conservative movement," not a pragmatic, homeground approach. Just more luster for that 2016 presidential run through Iowa, of course. What a transparently absurd Governor we have.
The state board of education has scheduled a special meeting tomorrow to vote on Louisiana's next superintendent, all but ensuring that John White, a former New York City schools official and Teach for America leader, will get the nod without any formal search process on the part of the board.
So, with only 24 hours notice, BESE is going to nominate the formerly controversial head of RSD to a post he couldn't have been confirmed to under the last BESE board. That's NON-PARTISAN and TRANSPARENT for you.
Jindal rolls merrily along, with the bullshit streaming from his lips at an ever-quickening pace...
That was the moment when Rickey’s record became all he could talk about. In lieu of actually addressing his constituents in a forum hosted by either the aforementioned groups or the Lafayette Black Chamber, he implored constituents to “…look at [his] record.”
Working under the assumption that no one would actually take him up on the offer, Rickey dug in with his mantra: “I have a again proven track record."
Rickey was sorely mistaken.
Let’s take a look at Rickey’s Record, starting with the basics.
Let's say I'm a Democrat (you know, a real one, not some vestigial registration that voted for McCain), and someone wants to sell me on a candidate. Let's say that candidate had this record:
74% Voting Record with Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI)
It has been clear since voting closed in early November of 2008 that Louisiana was never going to warm up to President Obama. The President's sweeping victory in 2008 did not radiate to Louisiana, where he received only 39% of the vote. However, we still see articles like this one:
Obama's approval rating topped out at 37 percent in Louisiana, a drop from the 40 percent support he received in the 2008 presidential election. His favorability hit only 17 percent with white voters, but reached 92 percent among black voters.
Let's avoid the absurdity of trying to compare turnout-skewed margin of victory to a poll that has margin of error of 2-5%. In essence, what the polling shows is that Obama is treading water in Louisiana. Which, considering the vitriol spewed at him and his administration from all manner of politicians in the Gret Stet, isn't so bad.
More importantly is the election next year. While we all hope Louisiana will come to its senses and recognize the awful bill of goods that Republicans are selling to this state, it's not likely to occur in such short order. Furthermore, by virtue of the electoral college, the GOP's margin of victory in Louisiana is unimportant. Either they get more than 50%, or they don't. And all signs point to that being a pretty reliable circumstance. We don't expect to see too many visits from either the President or the Republican candidate because Louisiana is simply not in play.
However, Louisiana IS in play when it comes to deciding which Republican will have the opportunity to win Louisiana's 8 electoral votes (yes, 8, not 9 anymore due to the loss of a Congressional Seat in the 2010 Census).
As per a change by Louisiana's legislature this past session (and at the behest of Republicans), our primary was moved to March 24th. Looking at the schedule, we've put ourselves directly after the big SUPER TUESDAY March 6th primaries where over 520 delegates are available. That's more than half the necessary amount to win the nomination on the GOP side. Louisiana sits on the other side of that mountain, meaning we'll likely be in the position to make a difference, either maintaining one campaign's recent momentum, or acting as a firewall for another.
A Louisiana GOP source who saw my earlier item sends over an email that Brett Bonin, a New Orleans school board member and associate of the Bryan Wagner individual I interviewed, blasted out ahead of the straw poll last week. As Wagner explained before hanging up, he and Bonin helped deliver votes for Huntsman.
But some Louisiana Republicans are unhappy because, as the email twice gets at, it wasn’t just Republicans who were brought in to vote for Huntsman.
Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:17:57 -0500
Subject: INSIDER INVITATION
From: xxx@xxxx
To: xxx@xxxx
To Team Bonin,
I have a very special invitation to all, regardless of party affiliation. I am hosting a free insider’s look at the Republican Southern Leadership Conference this Saturday.
Needless to say, Bonin's antics probably didn't allow for a clean look at the Louisiana GOP's thoughts on the presidential contest.
WPA Research conducted a statewide survey August 14-16, 2011 in Louisiana and asked the following question to likely Republican voters :
Now, thinking about the 2012 Presidential race, If the Republican primary election for President were held today, for whom would you vote if the candidates were RANDOMIZE
Michele Bachmann
Mitt Romney
Newt Gingrich
Rick Perry
Herman Cain
Ron Paul
Rick Santorum
…and…
Jon Huntsman
IF UNDECIDED/NOT SURE, ASK
If you had to choose today, who would you lean toward (repeat candidates)?
There has been a story floating around Acadiana for the past month and as has been the situation in almost EVERY case here in Acadiana – traditional media outlets do not like to report negatively on incumbents – especially if they are not term limited.Such is the case with newly minted Republican Don Menard, St. Landry Parish President and contender for State Rep in District 39.
First the coverage of this race has been sparse at best which is a complete failure of the 4th Estate in my opinion.When you look at this district the only PRINT Coverage is owned by Gannet and so if they are not “going there” then who will.Not to mention many of their reporters are so over worked they have no time at all to develop stories and dig deep into politics.In fact I am shocked at just how many reporters we have here that were actually in HIGH SCHOOL 4 years ago (or just entering college) when the last election took place.But back to District 39.
The Daily Kingfish was contacted by several frustrated individuals in District 39 who have been trying to get coverage of some huge issues they perceived are being perpetrated on the good people of the district and especially of St. Landry Parish.We are currently looking into these matters and will report on them early next week.
For now, good readers, we would like to point your attention to what has actually gotten folks talking in the district.
FACTS:
Don Menard has been a Republican for a very short time and many claim he switched parties JUST to run for this position after being promised support by big PACs that were going to dump money into his campaign.
Don Menard is panicking because his support from the Republicans could dry up and FAST once they know more about him and his antics while in office – or perhaps they just don’t care which I think will dry up THEIR support even faster from true conservatives.
The DSCC paid for an attack ad that went out to voters in this district pointing out that while in office as Parish President Don Menard fought hard for a $20,000 PER YEAR pay raise!If approved that would have taken his salary to $85,000 per YEAR!The per capita income averages right at $16,000 per year… So yes, Don Menard wanted to give himself a raise… the raise alone is more than what most people in his parish make in an entire year.
This mailer also pointed out that he used taxpayer dollars to frequently eat out at extravagant restaurants racking up large tabs at places like Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.
What is perhaps the stupidest thing I have seen done in politics in a long time… Menard, steamed about this hit piece, responds with a HALF PAGE AD in the Daily Advertiser (a Gannet Property) basically admitting to everything in the hit piece and he goes on in that ad to explain WHY he did those things.
First he claims that in his 30 plus years of “service” that the first 22 of those years he wasn’t paid a salary at all… therefore I guess he is arguing he is DUE the raise for all those past years.In previous arguments on this he claims he was “grossly underpaid” for the job he was doing.Funny, according to several members of the Parish Council – of the past 10 meetings of that body – Menard has only attended 1 of those meetings.ONE MEETING out of 10!(NOTE:Menard clearly now appears to be scrubbing the St. Landry parish Government’s Website of everything that makes him look bad as you now have to get this via Google Cache.)
And secondly he makes the claim that the “$400 Dinner” was money well spent because it was used to take out Federal Employees who were there to determine IF St. Landry Parish qualified for a Grant of over $1 Million.Think about that for just one second… He is making the claim that he and other government employees went out to dinner and WE had to foot the $400 bill for it because ultimately the Parish got the Grant?!?!As if we wouldn’t have gotten it if they didn’t go there?As if the parish didn’t qualify for the grant and he was bribing them with dinner?I don’t know what the reasoning here is other than it stinks to HIGH HEAVEN.
The Independent briefly mentioned this in their “blog” they mention him as their “Pas Bon” call out in their print addition but refuse to go any further on this.
So I am quite sure Democrats are happy to have ridded themselves of this character… but the question is – how long are Republicans going to keep supporting him with this sort of a track record?
And when will BOTH Parties start standing up and calling out members of their own party for this type of gamesmanship.I don’t believe the cleansing waters of a last minute party switch should cover the eyes of voters and people of conviction need to start standing up.
Of all of the election results from last Saturday, it appears one event has generated inordinate buzz on the twitter-tubes. And it isn't Jindal's landslide victory.
"BESE races are where it's at," said Timmy Teepell, the governor's campaign manager, but also the prime mover behind the GOP Victory Fund, which is spending heavily in BESE campaigns. The Republicans are joined by a deep-pocketed coalition of business groups that are active for the first time in education elections.
And, in this case, we agree.
The intrigue about the BESE board surrounds the ascendance of former NYC Deputy Chancellor John White. White comes fresh from the turbulent tenure of NYC Schools Chief Joel Klein, and is a superstar among pro-charter school types. In fact, he's basically their wet dream (and judging by their praise of him, they should check their shorts). White is currently RSD super, meaning he runs the Recovery School District as on an interim basis. Bobby Jindal, however, has plans for this prized servant. He wants White to run all schools in Louisiana.
Who has the say over such a decision? Why, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, of course. However, Jindal needs a super-majority of 8 (out of a 11 members) to win White's passage as school czar. Right now, the pro-White forces have a majority 6, with two races still outstanding.
Why all this background? Because of this:
Now, things get a whole lot more interesting. As we've previously covered, the Alliance for Better Classrooms is a PAC backed by Lane Grigsby and other anti-union Baton Rouge folks that have completely bought the Michelle Rhee-isms that dominate our education debate. More importantly, they're carrying water for the Jindal Administration's tact to crush teachers unions and turn public education over to privitized corporate control. Yes, charters are public schools. And yes, they open the door to privitization and the elimination of an egalitarian educational system. Both things CAN be true.
Anyway, the question is this: What is Michael Bloomberg doing giving over $100,000 to Louisiana BESE races? The goal is to elect pro-John White electors like Chas Roemer and Kira Orange Jones. But who should be making the decisions for our communities? New York Billionaire Michael Bloomberg or New York refugee Super John White? How about Louisianians?
A quick survey of BESE candidates in run-offs shows anti-union, pro-John White candidates are outspending their opponents HUGE:
As an example, let's examine BESE 2. which is in South Louisiana, covering parts of New Orleans and the River Parishes:
Louella Givens: CoH $9,640 as of Election Day
Kira Orange Jones: CoH $74,987 as of 10-days prior PLUS late donations from people like:
DAVID GERGEN, Alexandria, VA -- $2,500 (yes, that CNN guy)
LAWRENCE STUPSKI, San Francisco, CA-- $2,000 (former head of Charles Schwab)
DARLA MOORE, Fort Worth, TX -- $5000 (major GOP donor, George W. Bush Friend)
KATHERINE BRADLEY, Washington, DC -- $2,500 (wife of publishing magnate who owns The Atlantic)
GREGORY PENNER, Arkansas -- $5000, twice (from he and his wife, Walmart Board member)
Bloomberg Revocable Trust -- $5000 (trust also gave $100k to ABC PAC)
So, major financiers from elsewhere (all rabid pro-charter donors) are boosting a Louisiana BESE candidate. So what? For once, I guess we have to agree; this is way the game of politics is played. But at some point, doesn't it become hard for us in-state to stomach the fact that our education system's future is compeltely in the hands of a bunch of trust-funders and corporate fat cats? Buying our elections must be rather cheap for these 1%'ers.
After Klepticans and Corporate interests gathered their damnedest to demolish the last vestiges of the Democratic party in this state, the results are decidedly anti-climatic.
Incumbents, Democrat and Republican alike, won nearly every race they entered. In the legislature, Democrats like Ben Nevers, Eric LaFleur and Gary Smith all cruised to victory (although Nevers race was closer). All were targeted for demolition. All faced down disaster and turned it right around.
David Vitter's Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority, has won the war by electing a large GOP majority, but in this season's contests, it was blown out of the water. Even in the big statewide races, David Vitter's golden touch turned cold as Vitter-ites Billy Nungesser and Jim Tucker both lost to the Dardenne machine.
Bobby Jindal's Republican Victory Fund also took it squarely in the face. His main concern continued to be electing a pro-John White BESE board, which he did gain some ground on. Unfortunately, he also lost important races when Lottie Polozola Beebe won BESE-3 and Louella Givens forced a run-off with Jindalista Kira Orange Jones despite Givens having some awful problems with the IRS and a DUI. Anti-Union candidate Chas Roemer was also forced into a run-off after Lane Grigsby begged him to run for re-election to Chas' BESE-6 Baton Rouge seat.
Speaking of Mr. Straight Talk, the twitter tubes were lighting up over the weekend on one particular, and peculiar point: The anti-Union Alliance for Better Classrooms (ABC) PAC formed and funded by Grigsby (and headed by Bobby Yarborough, Jindal campaign chair), got a curious donation from a famous mayor...
The MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG REVOCABLE TRUST at 909 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10022 gave the ABC PAC $100,000 just days before Saturday's election. Up in the big apple, that might be chump change, but in Louisiana's cash-starved BESE races, that's a whole lot of cash. Such a large bundle, at such a late time, certainly begs the question whether it was meant to fly somewhat under the radar. Did John White make this call? And should the RSD Super be making political calls?
It occurs to at least one commentator and frequent correspondent with this blog that New York City has come to take over Louisiana's schools. From former NYC Education Official John White taking over RSD (and maybe DOE), to BESE Candidate Kira Orange Jones (who hails from NYC), to the legion of TFA'ers that reportedly roam the hallways of schools throughout south Louisiana, it appears clear that the anti-union bug is one supported and staffed by New Yorkers. With Bloomberg's money playing a very political game, doesn't it begin to get a little awkward for the 'reformers' here on the ground? But we digress...
The Times-Picayune also covers the story from the angle of whether the GOP reached it's high-water mark. Since the Democrats decided to sit this one out, and the GOP had unlimited money at its finger-tips, it almost appears like this particular election was a lost-opportunity for corporate apologists statewide. Sure, all the major officials continue to be held by Republicans, but that hasn't changed since Buddy Caldwell turned coats. What gains were made with such great advantage? Isn't that the measure of political strength in an election like this one?
In an effort to maintain the appearance of forward motion, and of general fairness, it seems necessary to follow yesterday's anti-ballot with a positive corollary.
Within the confines of the current circumstances, it's extremely difficult to endorse or even encourage most statewide Louisiana politicians. Our politics are progressive, but are firmly rooted in data-oriented policy solutions. In other words, pragmatism with a head for innovation, opportunity and equality.
As policy folks, the current crop of Jindalistas certainly know how to do a powerpoint. The problem with this wonkishness is that it simply recognizes a different goal for government: Public entities should operate at the behest of private corporations and wealth individuals, i.e. their constituency. Examples abound, but privatizing government and providing corporate welfare are among their favorite trips.
Listen, Louisiana is a poor, under-educated state. Most of the folks who really know what's going on with State Government are rich, educated folks. They don't need services, and don't care if others have them. The less they pay in taxes, the better. Louisiana's historical corruption has been their helping hand. And these elections are a perfect example:
Bobby Jindal is the ultimate heir to the "good government" crowd of white Republicans. The unfortunate swash-buckling ways of Edwin Edwards created a gaping opening for the counter-argument: Clean, crony-less capitalists like Buddy Roemer. Classic Liberals, promising honest, New England-style Democracy, where dainty town halls and buttoned-up, well-spoken debates dominate the political life.
But Louisiana just ain't that tidy. We've always been a wild, wonderful, colorful gumbo of divergent rascals, rulers and ruffians. What makes us great at culture, makes us terrible at politics. Straightforwardness was odd, and, even today (see Billy Nungesser), bellicose buffoonery is the salve to the unwashed masses.
Simple put, we always liked our gumbo spicy. Until someone convinced us it was giving us an ulcer.
The clean-sweepers haven't always been agents of the corporate elite. Edwin Edwards was always a friend to corporate cronyism, and Governors as far back as Earl Long allowed business svengalis to shape policies and bend regulations.
But there was a time, and maybe just a short one, when earnest reformers saw a reasonable, and well-documented, case for trimming a government run by patronage and cronyism. These were idealists, and perhaps they called them conservatives. Their cause was righteous. But these noble warriors were also naive.
Instead of turning government back over to popular interests, they scapegoated and sought ever greater purity. When Government Reform became too difficult to accomplish, or the system too difficult to dismantle without distributing power to folks they did not favor, they held tight and drew another shroud over government. This time, however, the insidious nature of the rhetoric, ever more Orwellian, spoke right past the growing nod-and-wink of crony capitalism. The crony-populists were displaced, and now corporate control was complete. Shiny reform that covered the true nature of the disappearing voice of the middle class. Corporate interests drowned dissent, wrapped themselves in the flag of social conservatism and bore hard down to bleed out any organized resistance.
The frog never jumps out of the slowly warming water. And here we are, a misinformed populace steaming mad at the Federal Government because it's run by a black man with a funny name. Its an easy target.
It's 2011, Louisiana. Are things truly better for regular people than they were 4 years ago? 10 years ago? Just because big business is happy, are we healthier? Better educated? Positioned to compete?
No. They tell us, those things take "time" so don't bother us right now. We're "working on it." And so we will, forever, work on it without progress. Still plenty of jobs at the chicken plants and the steel smelters. Until they have machines doing that too. And then we've just got a bloated, sickly biomass praying for rain and new jobs that'll never come.
And now your endorsements for 2011. Good luck:
Governor: No endorsement. Bobby Jindal is a slow-moving disaster for working people of this state, but he sure is smart!
Lieutenant Governor: If we had to pick, it'd be Jay Dardenne, only because Billy Nungesser doesn't seem smart enough to do the job. But Jay's the cold, "reform" machine incarnate. At least he revived the book festival!
Secretary of State: Jim Tucker handled the awful SUNO-UNO merger bill. And Tom Schedler is complaining about ACORN infiltrating our elections. Too bad ACORN doesn't exist anymore. They're both terrible slime, but at least you can look at Tucker. Schedler really resembles a sex predator. Sorry, no offense meant. No recommendation.
Commissioner of Insurance: Shouldn't be an elected position. We get accountability. We also get campaign finance. And the insurance companies pay for this position. A smart, progressive Democrat, Donald Hodge, agrees. Elect him.
Commissioner of Agriculture: We say Dr. Mike Strain seems harmless and genuine. He likes animals. So do we. As Republicans go, almost reasonable.
Go sort all that out while we take another drink. After Saturday, it's time to get to work electing better people. Our future depends on it.
The poll shows Dardenne, a former state senator and secretary of state who has been the No. 2 elected official for 10 months, leading Nungesser in most demographics: 42 percent to 30 percent among men, 39 to 24 among women, 42 to 28 among white voters and 35 to 25 among African-Americans.
Dardenne's lead looks untouchable:
Faucheux, a former state legislator, said that among voters who have made up their minds, Dardenne polled 59.7 percent to Nungesser's 40.3 percent.
"Dardenne is clearly the favorite here," Faucheux said. "For Nungesser to have a chance to win, it would take a combination of a lot of things."
He would have to peel votes off of Dardenne, and that's not going to be easy to do, and beat Dardenne decisively among independent voters, and that's not going to be easy to do."
Meanwhile, the Secretary of State's race is a lot closer:
In the race for secretary of state, Faucheux said, although Tucker has a 5 percentage point lead over Schedler, that is because of his higher name recognition. Faucheux said with a 55 percent undecided factor in the race, "that makes the final two weeks of this campaign crucial. Either candidate still can win this race.
"Tucker leads Schedler 28 percent to 18 percent in the New Orleans-north shore area, while Schedler leads Tucker 23 percent to 20 percent in Acadiana and the rest of southwest and southeast Louisiana. In the Baton Rouge-central-north Louisiana area, Faucheux's poll has Tucker leading Schedler 27 percent to 19 percent. At least 54 percent of the voters in each area are undecided, Faucheux said.
But the money situations are quite different:
In other statewide races, Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser filed a report showing he spent $1 million in less than a month on his bid to become lieutenant governor.
Nungesser’s biggest expense was advertising. Dardenne spent about $318,000 during the same timeframe.
As of Oct. 2, Nungesser had $819,668.99 and Dardenne had $514,296.55 to spend on the remaining weeks of the campaign.
So Billy's still got a big wad to spend for 10 more days. Jay's not too bad off himself, but his slow and stead campaign style looks like it's working again.
As for Tucker and Schedler, the money situtation was a little lopsided:
Between Sept. 13 and Oct. 2, Tucker outspent Schedler by nearly $94,000.
Tucker paid $117,556 to Teddlie Media Partners. Schedler’s biggest expense was $15,000 to 3 Lions Consulting for advertising and marketing.
Tucker had $608,428.53 on hand as of Oct. 2. Schedler had $352,940.55.
We like this ad by Tucker, if only because it's funny:
Passed along without comment. Caroline Fayard elicits a lot of strong opinions. Some folks find her a breath of fresh air. Others consider her a entitled princess who is more interested in power than service. Either way, she's got another couple races on her mind:
Democrat Caroline Fayard, who lost a bid to become the state’s lieutenant governor last year in a runoff, said Tuesday she is considering running for the Public Service Commission or Congress next year.
Fayard said she would run against U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, if she jumps into that race.
She denied that an investigation into her campaign finances caused her not to run for secretary of state in the Oct. 22 primary.
“The ethics investigation had zero influence on my decision not to run,” she said.
Complaints have been raised that Fayard’s family circumvented state campaign contribution limits by funneling money to her campaign through the Democratic Party.
Wow. Congress? Swinging for the fences, I guess. Since she doesn't live in Cassidy's LA-6 (although she claims Livingston Parish as her alternate home), it'll be interesting to see how she traverses that concept. Of course, as we know, you needn't live in a Congressional District to run for that seat:
18 §1275. United States senator and representative in Congress; qualifications
A. No person shall be a United States senator who has not attained the age of thirty years and who has not been a citizen of the United States for nine years and who is not, when elected, an inhabitant of this state.
B. No person shall be a representative in Congress who has not attained the age of twenty-five years and who has not been a citizen of the United States for seven years and who is not, when elected, an inhabitant of this state.
C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the qualifications for United States senators and members of the United States House of Representatives as provided in this Section shall be exclusive.
Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978.
So, godspeed to Ms. Fayard if Congress is her choosing. With the Obama turnout-wind at her back, perhaps she has a chance in an 71% white district... but probably not. We'd like to be proven wrong. It goes without saying that, since redistricting, this district has gotten worse for Democrats. She won only 33% of the vote in the new LA-06 in the run-off against Jay Dardenne. And considering the newly concerted effort to dismantle her by Republicans, wouldn't this be a high-water mark for her?
Maybe a party switch is in her future? Not suggesting, just speculating based on either of these ideas.
Maybe she knows something we don't. Or maybe she's just flying by the seat of her pants and suggesting random races to enter based on off-hand conversations. It's wholly possible that her meetings with DGA last spring resulted in some Demo big-wigs suggesting she try out some other territory, and she's just seizing on a comment and running with it. Most of her political career in the past year hasn't looked so wholly stragetic or well-thought out.
It's been a while since we've dedicated space to David Vitter's various nefarious activities. In fact, one could spend an entire blog dedicated to the cynical wing-nut bait Vitter deploys on a daily basis. But to what end? He's not going anywhere soon, and someday he might just be Governor. Shudder.
For a while, it seemed as now-MA-Senate-Candidate, and consumer heroine, Elizabeth Warren would head up the agency that was created in her work's imagine. Alas, the Obama admin pulled that appointment when it was clear Senate Republicans would never allow it to occur (since the Koch Brothers didn't approve).
In her place, Obama forwarded Richard Cordray, former Ohio Attorney General as the prospective head of CFPB. Again, Republicans made sounds like they would refuse, if only to continue to strangle the agency. It seems as though our old friend David Vitter has helped lead these efforts:
Protests against Wall Street continue to grow, yet today Sen. David Vitter and Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee refused to hear the growing chorus and voted in lock step to block the nomination of Richard Corday, the person nominated to watch over Wall Street as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and fully implement protections under the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009 that would prevent military families and seniors from falling victim to the same reckless, casino-style behavior of Wall Street and abusive financial products and services that precipitated the financial crisis.
Vitter isn't just opposing Cordray. He's opposing ANY nominee that might regulate his casino-minded friends on Wall Street:
To date, Senator Vitter has accepted a staggering $2.8 million in contributions from the finance, insurance, and real estate sector, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. The 10 Republican members of the Senate Banking Committee, including Vitter – all stood in the way of the Cordray nomination – have taken a total of nearly $32 million from Wall Street interests.
While the Lieutenant Governor's race is certainly shaping up to be the marquee attraction for the October 22nd Primary, the Secretary of State's race is no shrinking violet.
Both races feature a duo of well-funded white Republican males, who stand nearly neck-in-neck in the alleyway of GOP policy thought. The strange, and certainly not surprising, narrowing of the Republican mind has produced candidates that must subscribe to so many orthodoxies that substantive policy debate is really unnecessary.
How does a Republican differentiate himself when the candidates are forced into small ideological boxes?
One tactic that will be heavily employed by the camps will be negative attacks, especially those dealing with personal or "conservative" failings.
To cut quickly to the chase, the Secretary of State's race has two main missives from opposite camps.
First, Tom Schedler will be tirelessly reminding voters that as Speaker of the House, Jim Tucker shepherded the dreaded Legislative Pay Raise bill through the legislature. Tucker has said he would have donated the raise himself, and also points out that he believes the Legislature should have put the raise to the voters. In fact, the Legislature passed such a law, enacting a constitutional amendment that required such raises to go to the people. Schedler, however, has not let up. A series of youtube videos have been appearing under an umbrella banner "MeetJimTucker" proclaiming Tucker's responsibility for the pay raise:
And no, I have no idea what they were thinking when they created that video.
Nevertheless, polling has indicated that 80% of respondents (via Bernie Pinosant) will vote against leges that voted for the pay raise.
Without trying to re-litigate the pay raise debacle, it surely may make sense to pay legislators a median wage (maybe $40k) so they can treat it like a full time job. Otherwise, we largely get legislators that are either rich, unqualified or both.
Meanwhile, Jim Tucker has his own hobby horse to ride against current SoS Tom Schedler. And this one seems even worse. Schedler, a former State Senator from the Northshore, simultaneously maintained two separate homestead exemptions on properties he owned. Of course, as we know, the homestead exemption should only be used for your place of residence. Tucker hasn't failed to remind voters of this fact at every turn.
More troubling, however, is Tom Schedler's reaction to being sued by the Department of Justice over the lack of registering voters at social services, especially minorities. This comes on the heels of Schedler's purge of voters right after he took office in 2010 of 121k voters.
The most important job the Secretary of State has is protecting the right of citizens to vote. And Schedler is developing a shaky reputation for that core value.
It remains to be seen whether Tucker will use this point to his advantage. Democrats, and especially African-Americans, are truly the swing voters in this election. If Schedler can't come up with reasonable arguments to defeat his tendencies toward disenfranchisement, Tucker could capitalize on this and ride a hybrid voting bloc to easy victory.
Tucker isn't completely running away from his legislative record. In fact, his stance as a reforming, anti-corruption candidate could also game Schedler's sleazy inside-deal-making double-homestead exemption vulnerability. Tucker's released this TV ad touting his record as a "reformer":
If you are a Louisianian, you are no doubt concerned with the incredible strain that lawsuits cause our economy. Crushing jobs figures, driving businesses out, you know, the works.
Of course, we only say so because the ironically-named "Coalition for Common Sense" says so. A survey commissioned by this absurd organization, vaguely worded and coded to extract general frustration, suggests that a large majority of Louisianians find that "Lawsuit reform" (of unknown specificity or detail) is "needed." It looks like they're even a citizen-led group, just out for the public good! Sounds so mid-18th century New England!
It's that simple. The tactics are the same everywhere. Disembody the system by lowering its funding and forbiding efficiency. Then denigrate and disassemble the image of the court system with the public (some of which is done by the court system on its own). Then attack it as an inefficient vehicle for justice, claiming that it is costing regular people jobs and hurting the economy.
Next make sure your contracts are sealed tight into pro-business arbitration agreements. It's "Tort Reform," one of those newspeak phrases that is actually just the opposite. The only reform this entails is to lock the courtroom doors and throw away the key.
As the anti-regulation crew begins swinging its wrecking ball in Washington and State Capitols everywhere, where are regular people supposed to go if they are injured or wronged by a product, service or business? In Louisiana, we'd hardly notice, as industry has had the run of the place since the end of Huey Long, breaking regulations down and failing to enforce regulations that already exist, especially on the environmental front.
But that's the trick. No regulations to prevent. No courts to seek justice if you're injured. Just too bad, so sad, mister. Sorry your Pepsi had cyanide in it, better luck next life. Wouldn't want to go through the expense or the trouble to seek to right a wrong.
Next time you see some astroturfing clowns like the Coalition for Common Sense, you can tell them were they can shove it.
Jindal-supported Presidential Candidate, and now notorious dolt, 
ood to be back too. Sometimes there are more important things that Louisiana State Politics... Sometimes.
Let's say I'm a Democrat (you know, a real one, not some vestigial registration that voted for McCain), and someone wants to sell me on a candidate. Let's say that candidate had this record:
First the coverage of this race has been sparse at best which is a complete failure of the 4th Estate in my opinion.
The DSCC paid for an attack ad that went out to voters in this district pointing out that while in office as Parish President Don Menard fought hard for a $20,000 PER YEAR pay raise!
mary results rolled in
an effort to maintain the appearance of forward motion, and of general fairness, it seems necessary to follow yesterday's anti-ballot with a positive corollary. 
Begin Public Service Announcement: 
along without comment. Caroline Fayard elicits a lot of strong opinions. Some folks find her a breath of fresh air. Others consider her a entitled princess who is more interested in power than service. 
It's been a while since we've dedicated space to David Vitter's various nefarious activities. In fact, one could spend an entire blog dedicated to the cynical wing-nut bait Vitter deploys on a daily basis. But to what end? He's not going anywhere soon, and someday he might just be Governor. Shudder. 
Louisianian, you are no doubt concerned with the incredible strain that lawsuits cause our economy. Crushing jobs figures, driving businesses out, you know, the works.
