Skip to content

Archive for March, 2008

Mar 31

24 Comments

Jindal Snubs Dead Pelican, Other LA Blogs During Private Blogger Roundtable

“I was among a number of bloggers invited to dinner at the Governor’s Mansion last week for a mostly off the record chat. As we sat around the table, Jindal shared some of his ideas and his vision for Louisiana.” – Erick Erickson, Human Events.

Erick Erickson of RedState– not to be confused with psychoanalyst Erik Erikson– informs us today of a private bloggers meeting that was held last week in the Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge. Governor Bobby Jindal, whose name has recently been tossed around as a second or third tier candidate for veep, apparently wanted national bloggers like Erickson to know why he’s just like Barack Obama… except different and way better! Erickson writes (bold mine):

The contrast between Barack Obama and Bobby Jindal could not be more stark. On the campaign trail this year, Obama serves up messages of hope and change. Last year, running for Governor of Louisiana, Jindal did the same. But Obama’s hope and change consists of platitudes. Jindal’s hope and change was premised on detailed plans and policy roadmaps to move people forward, get Louisiana on the road to recovery, and end the boom-bust economic cycles. Entering his fourth month in office, Jindal’s change has already proved to be change we can believe in.

There’s nothing quite like a syndicated sycophant to inform us ignorant Louisianans about how our governor has turned rhetoric into “reality.” Nevermind the fact that Mr. Erickson was compelled to write this fawning piece only after personally meeting with Jindal and nevermind Erickson’s decision to co-opt language from Obama’s campaign in an attempt to describe Mr. Jindal. It also doesn’t seem to matter that Mr. Obama has, in fact, published numerous policy papers on a much wider range of issues than Mr. Jindal tackled during the governor’s race.

The real issue here isn’t Erick Erickson’s ridiculous article, which includes lines like “Governor Jindal is a master of the new media” amid a series of anecdotes that Jindal’s been repeating since he began his campaign; the real issue is the purpose of this bloggers’ roundtable. And believe me, I don’t think anyone would expect a bipartisan roundtable, but apparently, we shouldn’t even expect a roundtable featuring Louisiana bloggers. I rarely find occasion to stick up for Chad Rogers of The Dead Pelican, but it’s hard to deny the relevance and the popularity of his website. Plus, Chad was a big Jindal supporter.

Yet, when the Governor decided to meet with the “new media,” it seems he forgot to include people like Chad Rogers. Today, Chad issued the following statement on his blog:

Some of you are already asking- was I invited to the clandestine gathering of bloggers at the governor’s mansion?

Well no, for the record, I was not. Nor were many other bloggers that I have spoken with.

It has also been pointed out to me that not being invited could be interpreted as having a general lack of concern about my influence and the influence of other blogs.

Some bloggers may be tempted to go out of their way to demonstrate that the Jindal admin should be concerned.

But I digress.

NOTE: I’m not asking or wondering why I wasn’t invited. But some of you are, and I’m just responding to your questions as best I can. Since I can’t answer each email individually, and I consider it rude to not respond in some fashion, I’m posting this. What else am I to do?

I don’t really care to discuss Chad’s or anyone else’s “influence.” The problem is that Jindal had an opportunity to connect with people who live and breathe Louisiana politics on a daily basis and people who share their perspectives on the news and the issues to a local and/or regional audience, but instead, it appears he used that opportunity to recapitulate his campaign speech to a select group of partisan, national bloggers– people like Erick Erickson, who operates RedState.com from his home in Macon, Georgia.

By the way, this wasn’t Erickson’s only “off-the-record” dinner with our Governor. In his personal blog, “Confessions of a Political Junkie,” Erickson recounts having dinner with then-candidate Jindal on February 11, 2007. Erickson wrote:

It was all off the record, but I can say I had dinner last night with Bobby Jindal, who I hope will be Louisiana’s next governor. He will be awesome.

I know a good number of friends and family from Louisiana read here, so pay attention:

You must do whatever you can under the sun to help Bobby Jindal.

By the way, Erickson recently made news when he said the reason he thinks progressives have an “advantage” online is because “(conservatives) have families because we don’t abort our kids, and we have jobs because we believe in capitalism.”

Really classy guy, Governor.

He must be a real kick at dinner.

Mar 29

2 Comments

John N. Kennedy Looks to Bush to Help Fundraise for Struggling Campaign

In case you missed it, Louisiana Treasurer John N. Kennedy is running for Senate again. The last time he ran for Senate in 2004, he finished third.

But in the political career of John N. Kennedy, 2004 was eons ago.

Back in 2004, John N. Kennedy was a proud Democrat who endorsed Bush’s opponent, John Kerry, for the Presidency. Back in 2004, most Louisianans had a certain respect for Mr. Kennedy. Despite his lackluster showing as a candidate for United States Senate, we still reelected him as our State Treasurer.

Skip ahead to 2007.

In a bizarrely opportunistic move, Treasurer Kennedy, who faced yet another reelection campaign, flew up to Washington, D.C., where he was courted by none other than Karl Rove. Rove allegedly convinced Kennedy to become a Republican in order to challenge Mary Landrieu for the Senate in 2008. Oyster at YRHT noted:

Five weeks after being re-elected State Treasurer, and after airing commercials saying he was running again because “the job’s not finished”, John N. Kennedy is already switching to a new job: replacing Mary Landrieu in the U.S. Senate.

 

Landrieu’s been busy raising money left and right. She’s also been landing endorsements from local Democrats and Republicans.

Meanwhile, Kennedy seems to be struggling. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is attempting to help him out, but something rings hollow about a group of well-financed national Republican strategists accusing Landrieu of vague ties with shady figures. Just today, Kennedy revealed his stance against state earmarks to non-profits; it will be interesting to see if he follows the party line and opposes federal earmarks of any kind. (We’ll have to wait and see how he balances this issue in a time when Louisiana is most in need).

The clearest sign of Kennedy’s troubles was his recent decision to invite President Bush to help him raise money. Remember, Kennedy, as a Democrat, publicly opposed Bush in 2000 and 2004. But when the going gets tough… you listen to Rove, switch parties, and embrace your former opponents. No doubt, Kennedy is also struggling to raise cash from his former Democratic supporters, and the Bush fundraiser represents a great opportunity to quickly raise a ton of money from a group of wealthy businessmen who would pay (“donate”) thousands of dollars just to be in the presence of the President.

Landrieu’s campaign responds (from The Bayou Buzz and bold mine):

It was announced this week that President George W. Bush will headline a fundraiser for Senator Landrieu’s opponent, Republican John Kennedy. It is expected by many observers that the Bush fundraiser will raise a million dollars for Kennedy’s campaign.

The national Republican leadership in Washington has made it clear for over a year that the Louisiana U.S. Senate seat held by Mary Landrieu is their Number One Target for 2008. They have vowed to spend millions to defeat Senator Landrieu to win this very important election. Bringing in George Bush is part of their strategy.

Remember, too, that candidate Kennedy was recruited to run against Senator Landrieu by Bush’s chief political strategist, Karl Rove. In fact, Kennedy was a Democrat less than seven months ago and had to switch parties before he made this run.

John Kennedy supported John Kerry in 2004 but has now become a Bush Republican and has asked the President to come into the state to raise money for his campaign….

While Washington partisan operatives are plotting an aggressive campaign against her, Senator Landrieu is doing what all good public servants should do: Her job.

Her record of accomplishment proves her effectiveness. In fact, a nonpartisan group, Congress.org, recently rated her one of the most effective members of the U.S. Senate.”

It will be interesting to see what President Bush has to say when he’s in Louisiana raising money for his candidate. Will he discuss why he vetoed the Water Resources Development Act, which included billions of dollars for vital Louisiana projects? Will he defend the incompetent record of FEMA? Will he explain why his administration has allowed endless red tape and bureaucracy to slow down Louisiana’s hurricane recovery?

The Bayou Buzz also calls attention to a John Maginnis column that reveals Governor Jindal and Senator Vitter will be chairmen of this upcoming fundraiser.

Mar 29

2 Comments

LSUA Names David Manuel As New Chancellor

Kudos to David Manuel for being named the new Chancellor of Louisiana State University at Alexandria. Manuel arrives in Alexandria from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, where he served as Vice President of Academic Affairs, and by way of the University of Lafayette at Louisiana, where he served as Dean of the School of Business. From today’s article in The Town Talk (bold mine):

During a visit to LSUA earlier this month, Manuel said the school should play an important role in economic growth and development in the area by providing resources that other institutions might not be able to, including an educated work force.

“That needs to be a proactive piece to the mission of the university,” Manuel said. “I’ll never feel any differently about the role of the university.”

….

Manuel is a native of Thibodaux who grew up in Erath.

He earned an associate of arts degree in philosophy from Immaculata Seminary in Lafayette in 1967, a bachelor’s degree in economics from Nicholls State University in 1970, a master’s in economics from the University of Mississippi in 1972 and a Ph.D in economics from the University of Mississippi in 1975.

In the release, Manuel said he sought the LSUA chancellorship after he “sensed a call to return to Louisiana so that I could hopefully contribute to its higher education landscape and to the future of the state.“

Almost every great American city has a great American university, and Manuel seems to recognize the ways in which the health of a university can directly contribute to the health of the entire community. During the past few years, LSUA has turned into a four-year institution, developed a footprint in Downtown Alexandria, and constructed on-campus housing– a remarkable series of accomplishments.

Manuel is stepping into a fantastic job. LSUA has enormous opportunities for growth and is in an incredible position to develop and/or augment schools of film, agricultural science (renewable energy/biofuels), and nursing, to name a few.

Mar 29

Kos Reports LA-06 As Potential Democratic Pick-Up

Since we’re rarely recognized by the big box national blogs, I thought you all should know:

Markos Moulitsas, owner and creator of the famous liberal blog, Daily Kos, believes LA-06 is up for grabs. And so do the people at the Cook Report (password required), who recently changed their assessment from Leans Republican to “Toss Up.”

Typically, however, Markos can’t resist hitting Cazayoux on his stances on abortion and immigration. He writes:

To be sure, the Democrat in the race, Don Cazayoux, is rabidly anti-immigrant and anti-choice. He brags about joining the Blue Dogs. He would be a terrible person on social issues, which is enough to ensure I won’t lift a finger to help get him elected. But he would be a good vote on the occasional issue like SCHIP and has called for a withdrawal from Iraq. So instead of getting 0 percent progressivism from a wingnut Republican, 30-50 percent would be an improvement. That can matter quite a bit, especially for our troops in Iraq.

It’s totally disingenuous to suggest that Cazayoux’s stances on immigration and abortion are “rabid” or that he would be “terrible” on social issues (I suppose this bold assumption was based entirely on two or three sentences Markos read on Cazayoux’s website), and I honestly don’t understand Markos’s uneven “support.”

First, as someone noted in the comment thread, Cazayoux is not anti-immigration; he’s against amnesty for illegal immigrants. Markos’s conflation of the issue of amnesty for illegals with the broader issue of immigration is intellectually dishonest.

And regarding abortion, Cazayoux is pro-life, but I haven’t seen or read any evidence to suggest that his opinion on abortion is somehow rabid. On his website, Cazayoux writes, “I am pro-life. This is a position that my wife and I share and its rooted in my faith. In the legislature, I supported one of the strongest pro-life laws in the country and in Congress, I will continue my work to protect the unborn.” He’s talking about a bill passed under Governor Blanco, another Democrat. Again, how is this rabid?

More importantly, why even focus on these issues?

Don Cazayoux is against the War in Iraq.

I believe we need to change directions in Iraq and bring our troops home responsibly and with honor while continuing to focus on national security and winning the war on terror.

I also believe we must take care of our brave men and women when they come home from war. I was appalled when we learned about the conditions at Walter Reed Hospital and concerned about reports that our soldiers have difficulties returning to civilian life. In Congress, I will work to ensure we treat our brave sons and daughters with the respect they deserve and give them the tools they need as they transition back to civilian life.

He has progressive views on health care, education, and the economy.

Can we have disagreements without hyperbolizing?

I don’t necessarily agree with Cazayoux on abortion or amnesty, but I’d never accuse him of being rabid. It’s just not productive, particularly for someone who wishes to defeat the NRCC. Markos writes:

Perhaps more importantly, how much money will the NRCC blow from its meager coffers to try and hold yet another supposedly safe Republican seat? How much of a blow to the NRCC’s confidence and fundraising ability will another unlikely special election loss deliver? Gaining another Blue Dog would be a small price to pay for having a decimated NRCC lead to dozens of progressive victories around the country. Many of which will be elected thanks to our enthusiastic support.

Race tracker wiki: LA-06.

Mar 27

4 Comments

Hey Look! It’s Jared the Subway Guy!

This will most likely be on the news tonight, but here’s a sneak preview.

jacquesjared.jpg

Hours ago, Subway Guy Jared Fogle with Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy.

Today, Thursday, March 27, 2008 is officially Jared Fogle Day in the City of Alexandria.

Unfortunately, the celebration only lasted about ten minutes and did not involve a single Subway sandwich.

Seriously though, kudos to Mr. Fogle and the awareness he brings to the issue of childhood obesity, both in his role as a spokesperson for Subway— and, more importantly, through his foundation.

Update: By the way, yes, I also find this completely awesome.

Mar 27

Questions About Chris Hazel’s (R-Pineville) HB 303 and Herbert Dixon’s (D-Alexandria) HB344

chrishazel.jpgFreshman Representative Chris Hazel recently filed HB303, which allows certain former employees of District Attorneys and Assistant District Attorneys to retain their retirement benefits if they become reemployed at a salary less than provided under existing state law. In other words, if you go back to work and make less than you’re supposed to, you can still cash in on retirement.

It’s strange to me that a Republican who was heavily financed by the LCRM– to the tune of over $70,000 in indirect expenditures– would lead off with a bill that expands access to a government retirement system… but that’s neither here nor there.

The real questions are: What is this about? What group of people would actually benefit?

While this legislation may actually be necessary, it’s hard to overlook the fact that Chris Hazel himself was an Assistant District Attorney in Grant Parish.

Notably, current law requires that employees can only retire after 24 years of service at age 55 or after 30 years of service at any age. Hazel only spent 3 years as an Assistant District Attorney, so we know this law is not exactly self-serving.

Incidentally, there is another benefits bill by a freshman representative from Central Louisiana. In HB344, Herbert Dixon seeks to allow former School Board members (who have served at least ten years and who had been previously covered) access to the School Board’s health insurance plan. Prior to being elected, Dixon had served fourteen consecutive years as a School Board member. To download the bill, click here.

Does the State of Louisiana provide a health insurance plan for elected officials?

It’s interesting that both only one of the bills has been covered by the local media, and it’s interesting that both men, in their first year of office, have essentially led off with legislation that specifically addresses benefits packages associated with their former places of employment.

Mar 26

Duckweed for 26.3.08

from theInd

Mudbug Madness in the Legislature

If crawfish farmers and crustacean aficionados are looking for a banner-bearer, they need look no further than rookie Rep. Fred H. Mills Jr., a Democrat from Parks. The spunky Cajun is sponsoring what promises to be two of the most controversial mudbug-related bills during the upcoming regular session that opens March 31.

For an appetizer, Mills is serving up House Bill 501, which would transfer the management and regulation of wild-caught crawfish from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. The latter already oversees pond operations and spearheaded an international trade suit during the 1990s, which has long left many in the industry wondering why the ag folks don’t oversee the whole shebang.

Mills’ main course, however, can be found in House Bill 266, which would force restaurants to notify their customers if the crawfish they’re serving is from a foreign country. If the law passes, all eateries — from Commander’s Palace to the mom-and-pop shop down the street — would have to update their menus.

Shrimpers tried the same trick a few years ago but were aggressively shot down by the influential Louisiana Restaurant Association. Mills should expect more of the same, especially since his bill calls for fines of up to $500 or jail time of 90 days for first-time offenders.

from the dailykingfish

LA-05: Rep. Alexander (R) always on the periphery of GOP scandals …

One of Capitol Hill’s newspapers, Roll Call, (subscription required), reminds us that Rep. Rodney Alexander is either the unluckiest man in the Republican Party these days or he is one of the worst judges of character EVER.

Let’s recap all the scandals he’s been on the periphery of …

In 2006, one of his staffers, Theresa Mares was caught sending love letters to convicted killer Scott Peterson on Congressional stationary! No need to worry, as Mr. Alexander fired Ms. Mares.

His former Chief of Staff, Royal Alexander (no relation), was fingered in a sexual harassment suit in late 2006 by a former staffer in Rep. Alexander’s office. Royal was later found to engage in fundraising tactics that raised eyebrows all over Louisiana in his failed quest for the Office of Attorney General that PCD documented oh, so well.

Rep. Alexander was also caught in the middle of the Mark Foley scandal when the page who broke the scandal was from his district. It came out that he and Royal worked with the House Republican leadership to bury the story prior to the 2006 elections.

Now the latest scandal that Rodney Alexander is caught on the periphery is that of Chris Ward, the Treasurer of the National Republican Congressional Committee, who was caught stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Republican Party. The connection?

Ward was also Alexander’s campaign treasurer.

Mayor Ray in the Spotlight…again

from the Times-pic

Nagin defends Home Depot deal to install counters

Nothing unethical done, he says

Mayor Ray Nagin told reporters Tuesday that he and his family have done nothing wrong in landing a deal to install granite countertops for four local Home Depot stores as the giant retailer was negotiating a tax break and other concessions from the city for a planned new store in Central City.

In a radio interview, Nagin said a Sunday Times-Picayune article describing the arrangement was “deceptively written to suggest that there was something unethical being done.”

Before the article appeared, the mayor declined on multiple occasions to comment on his role in Stone Age LLC, a company he and his sons Jeremy, 23, and Jarin, 21, formed in 2005. On Tuesday, he described himself as the company’s “financier” but otherwise shed little light on his involvement in the firm or its dealings with Home Depot.

Dane Ciolino, a Loyola Law School professor who specializes in ethics questions, said Nagin might have violated state ethics laws that bar city officials from being paid by entities that have or seek “business or financial relationships” with the city. Home Depot’s efforts to purchase a group of streets from the city would meet that definition, Ciolino said.

Ciolino said the prohibition would be triggered only if Nagin owns a share of Stone Age totaling 25 percent or more.

Nagin on Tuesday declined to specify his stake in the firm.

“My sons own the majority of the company, I basically — you know, it’s my sons’ — so I’m pretty much the financier for the company,” Nagin said.

In response to another question, he replied: “I own less than a majority of the company. My wife and I own a percentage of the company.”

Asked the size of the percentage, Nagin said, “I’m not getting into that.”

State records list Nagin and his two sons as the company’s three members. The law does not require ownership shares to be divulged.

Nagin also was asked Tuesday about his appearance, listed on his 2007 planner, at a meeting with Home Depot officials at Stone Age’s offices in February 2007. Stone Age landed the Home Depot installation deal two months later.

“That meeting, I think even the Home Depot people may have requested me to come there just to talk generally about what my sons were thinking about,” Nagin said Tuesday. “And they just wanted to meet me, really. There was nothing to it, probably a half-hour meeting, and then we moved on.”

Nagin characterized the newspaper report as part of larger pattern of stories that target him unfairly.

“It’s unfortunate that we have to continue to get to this point where minor things are being blown out of proportion,” he said. “My sons have followed every rule. I told them going into the business that they couldn’t do any city contracts or anything close to a city contract, and the store in question is not one of the stores they’re doing business with. So, you know, it’s just typical, unfortunately, of what I have to go through.”

from the Times-pic

Legislators try to restrict smoking

One bill would raise tobacco age to 21

BATON ROUGE — A rookie lawmaker from New Orleans has filed legislation designed to keep cigarettes and other tobacco products out of the hands of anyone younger than 21.

Rep. Walker Hines, D-New Orleans, has filed House Bill 240 that would raise the legal smoking age from 18 to 21. Hines, at 24 the youngest member of the Legislature, said he wants to “reduce smoking in social, settings” especially among teens and young adults.

He said three states have already raised the age for buying tobacco to 21.

State law now says that it is unlawful for retailers and manufacturers to sell or distribute tobacco products to anyone younger than 18. Hines’ bill raises that to 21. The bill also would prohibit anyone under 21 from buying or possessing cigarettes or other tobacco products.

The bill did not spell out penalties for the offense.

“If someone does not start smoking by age 21, that person probably will not smoke,” he said.

Hines’ bill also requires retailers to post signs in “not less than 30-point type reading “Louisiana law prohibits the sale of tobacco products to persons under age 21.” Tobacco vending machines must have a similar sign “in not less than 22-point type” stating the warning.

On another smoking-related issue, Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Livonia, has filed Senate Bill 185 closing an exception in the law banning smoking in public places.

Marionneaux’s bill would ban smoking in any restaurant or bar “if food is served at any time . . . while such bar is open to the public.” State law now prohibits smoking in restaurants, but allows it in bars that serve food. The bill would narrow that exception to allow smoking only if the bars has no food service.

Several years ago, lawmakers passed a ban on smoking in most public places, including hospitals, office buildings, restaurants and state and local public facilities. Marionneaux’s bill is expected to draw the opposition of tobacco and liquor lobbyists.

If it passes, it would leave bars that serve just drinks and casinos, including gambling riverboats, as the last major indoor facilities where smoking would be allowed.

On a related matter, Rep. Dee Richard, I-Thibodaux, has filed House Bill 466 banning smoking in public areas of nursing homes.

He said some common areas of nursing homes allow smoking but the practice is annoying and should be banned. Richard said his bill would still allow smoking in a nursing home resident’s room because “that is their own space.”

from the Times-pic

48 constitutional bills offered

Part of 1,780 filed for March 31 session

….All others bills had to be filed by 5 p.m. A total of 1,106 bill were filed by House members, and 674 were filed by senators. Once the session starts, lawmakers can file no more than five additional bills through the final deadline of April 22.

Jim Brandt, president of the Public Affairs Research Council, a non-partisan government watchdog group, said the filings for this session are a mix of perennials — like raising the limit on the value of homes that can qualify for a property tax exemption from $75,000 to $150,000 — and newcomers, including three by different lawmakers authorizing state surplus money to be rebated to taxpayers.

“That (topic) will get a lot of attention and discussion,” Brandt said. “That may be a headline issue. People can easily relate to that when the state has a $1 billion surplus.”

Brandt said he was surprised that just 48 proposed changes to the state constitution were filed by a Legislature that took office with many new faces Jan. 14.

Surplus rebates proposed

Several lawmakers at the recently ended fiscal session complained they wanted to return some of the $1 billion surplus to taxpayers, but could not because the state Constitution allows just five ways to spend a surplus and rebating tax dollars is not one of them.

The five ways nonrecurring money — like a surplus can be spent — include: retiring state debt, paying down the projected shortfall in the state retirement systems, capital construction projects, depositing it in a “rainy-day” fund, spending it on coastal restoration projects and financing highway construction for which matching federal dollars are available.

Rep. Rick Nowlin, R-Natchitoches, filed House Bill 834 that would add a sixth way to spend nonrecurring dollars: giving taxpayers a refund, rebate or tax credit. Sen. Mike Walsworth, R-West Monroe, filed Senate Bill 207 and Sen. Nick Gautreaux, D-Abbeville, filed Senate Bill 328 that would do the same thing.

“I’d like to have the opportunity to rebate money back to the people who paid the taxes,” Nowlin said. “At the last session, we didn’t have that option. . . . This would not mandate we spend it, but it gives us an option” to spend all or part of a surplus on rebates to taxpayers.

….In another government change, Sen. Edwin Murray, D-New Orleans, filed Senate Bill 324 that would give the attorney general’s office the authority to institute and prosecute cases of public corruption. The constitution limits the attorney general to criminal jurisdiction when a district attorney asks the attorney general to take over a case.

….On a property tax issue, Rep. Billy Chandler, D-Dry Prong, filed House Bill 381 that would double, from $75,000 to $150,000, the amount of a home’s value that can remain off the property tax rolls. The measure also calls for an annual increase in the tax break to keep up with inflation. Sen. John Alario, D-Westwego, has two similar bills, Senate Bills 19 and 200.

Mar 20

4 Comments

E-mail Smear Campaign Against Obama Continues and Related Observations

IF THE REPUBLICAN PLAY BOOK against Senator Barack Obama isn’t already obvious, consider the fact that just today the McCain campaign suspended a political staffer who disseminated a racist and misleading video smear against Obama, a video that, incidentally, was created by a conservative talk radio producer.

(And yes, there is a difference between the Republican play book and the McCain play book; it’s a bad cop/good cop relationship).

barack-obama-bw.pngFolks, in this election, there are people who will speak to you as if you’re an American adult, and there are those who will rely on the nasty trope of racism and the complacency and willful ignorance of many voters. I agree with Senator Obama when he says that racism is a topic Americans can no longer avoid. I agree there has been a racial stalemate for many years now and that if we are to subscribe to the notion of fundamental change, then we must address the issue of race (and gender) head-on.

Over a year ago, when I first wrote about the e-mail smear campaign against Obama, I considered such tactics to be like a one trick pony, and I assumed, rightly or wrongly, that once the facts were laid out, Americans would turn against this type of divisive politics– the type of politics that lies about a man’s religion, his patriotism, and nationality, a politics that relies on our worst fears and the unrelenting force of collective bigotry to ensure that real policy is never debated.

But a year later, we’re still dealing with many of the same issues, though now they are finally being amplified, analyzed, and dissected.

As Thomas Frank pointed out in his groundbreaking book What’s the Matter With Kansas?, the “genius,” if you wish to call it such, of the Republican Party has been to convince working-class Americans to vote against their own economic interests in the name of a handful of amorphous moral issues– issues, by the way, that are typically beyond the purview of our elected officials.1_61_obama_wright.jpg

Recently, a conservative acquaintance told me that although he wishes for universal health care, he could never vote for Senator Obama or Senator Clinton because of “moral reasons.” For some reason, conservatives still believe that the Republican Party– despite their recent laundry list of scandals and corruption– represents the party of morals. And believe me, I am not writing to convince them otherwise, because, at this point, I’m not sure what else it would take.

I’m writing to urge people, particularly people in Central Louisiana, to actually listen to what is being said and to who is saying it. The recent remarks by Jeremiah Wright have rightly stirred up controversy; they have forced people to ask questions about Obama’s beliefs.

And he continues to answer those questions. Listen to what he is saying. It’s remarkable, particularly for a politician.

Reverend Wright’s comments were not only wrong but divisive, divisive at a time when we need unity; racially charged at a time when we need to come together to solve a set of monumental problems – two wars, a terrorist threat, a falling economy, a chronic health care crisis and potentially devastating climate change; problems that are neither black or white or Latino or Asian, but rather problems that confront us all….

But– get this– you can actually completely disagree with someone without smearing, hating, and “disowning” them. Obama’s asking us to do something crazy: Understand where this is coming from.

I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother – a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.

These people are a part of me. And they are a part of America, this country that I love.

***

For the second time in as many days, I received a chain e-mail smearing Senator Obama. Believe it or not, the e-mail is being circulated by a prominent local businessman. Rather than check the facts, the e-mails are forwarded without question.

The first e-mail attempted to suggest that Senator Obama’s campaign is secretly being funded by terrorists.

The second e-mail concerns Obama’s church and a phantom group of Obama supporters allegedly called “Muslims for Obama 08,” whose website appears to have been taken offline and who does not appear to have any official connection with the campaign.

Race, religion, and terrorism: Be afraid. Be very afraid.

One of my relatives recently repeated the claims that Obama “didn’t put his hand on the Bible when he was being sworn in” (not true; that was Keith Ellison) and that “Obama doesn’t put his hand on his heart during the pledge” (not true; he observed proper protocol by putting his hand on his heart during the pledge; the controversial picture of Obama was taken during the “Star Spangled Banner,” a fact easily corroborated by the video evidence). These rumors have been circulating for more than a year, and for some reason, people will not accept that THEY ARE LIES. They keep repeating them in the hope that if you say it long enough, it becomes true.

By the way, my favorite: They attack Obama for not wearing a flag lapel pin, yet McCain usually doesn’t wear one either. Watch this hypocrisy:

But despite all of these unsettling smears– as well as the rapidity of them, it may be productive for us to tackle these issues now– in March– and not later in October.

That said: Of course Wright’s comments were offensive and wrong. But Barack Obama is not Jeremiah Wright, no matter what the Republican Party, talk radio, and the conservative blogosphere suggests.

Moreover, the remarks of conservative apologists such as Pat Robertson, the late Jerry Falwell, and John Hagee have, at times, been equally if not more offensive, and all three men have been openly embraced by the Republican Party. John McCain even flew down to San Antonio to receive an endorsement from Hagee, who offers his own angle on why America is “damned” and who refers to Catholics as “the great whore.” Remember that Hagee was the one who said Katrina was “God’s punishment” on the people of New Orleans.

Hagee also said, “There are 1.3 billion people who follow the Islamic faith, so if you’re saying there’s only 15 percent that want to come to America or invade Israel to crush it, you’re only talking about 200 million people. That’s far more than Hitler and Japan and Italy and all of the axis powers in World War II had under arms.” Guess what he is implying?

Pat Robertson has been at the center of so many scandals that there is a Wikipedia page dealing exclusively with Pat Robertson controversies. Anyone remember this gem?

In interviews with the author of a book critical of the United States Department of State, Robertson made suggestions that the explosion of a nuclear weapon at State Department Headquarters would be good for the country, and repeated those comments on the air. “What we need is for somebody to place a small nuke at Foggy Bottom,”[16] Robertson said during his television program, referring to the location of the State Department headquarters.

And I don’t think I have to remind anyone of what the late Jerry Falwell said about the true cause of 9/11. But just in case you forgot, he said, “I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say ‘you helped this happen.’”

John McCain got all dressed up in order to court Jerry Falwell’s support.

I bring all of this up for a reason: There are contradictions and angry, embittered ideologues on both sides of the aisle. It’s important for us not to lose sight of the real issues; politics should not be discussed with the same reckless abandon with which Americans treat celebrity culture. On both sides, we are discussing issues far greater than one man or one woman.

After eight years of President Bush, it is time that we engage in a serious conversation about the future of our democracy. There will always be people who seek to distract and smear– it’s worked in the past, they figure, so why not now? And it could work now, I suppose, unless we collectively realize that the stakes are a little higher this time. It could work unless we collectively reject those “agents of intolerance” on both sides of the aisle. We don’t have to disown them. Much like Obama implored, we can reject without disowning. We can repudiate without vilifying, hyperbolizing, and hating. We can attempt to understand where it’s coming from.

John Hagee preaches to a 19,000 member church. Pat Robertson has an audience of millions. And before Falwell died, he had amassed his own empire. including Liberty University (of which my cousin is a graduate). All three of these men, in their own way, have expressed the same type of vitriol against the unity of our country as Jeremiah Wright expressed. And like Wright, all three of these men preach to a very specific community.

Some may say, rightfully, that the difference here is that McCain doesn’t attend Falwell’s church, whereas Obama is a member of Wright’s church. And while this may be a valid (and argumentative) point, it’s not relevant.

Why?

Because, frankly, the Constitution provides that the President shall not be subjected to any type of religious test. In this country, though we may at times forget it, we are all beneficiaries of the separation of church and state.

And more importantly, because the issue of race (and its interaction with other discourses) is complicated and nuanced, it cannot ever be reduced to a single statement or expression, however inflammatory or provocative. Obama’s church, much like the church in which I grew up, is filled with personalities and contradictions; it is not immune to scandal or derision. The church is a living body.

But most importantly, it doesn’t matter because Barack Obama– obviously and manifestly– does not agree with Wright’s remarks on this issue.

Mar 20

3 Comments

The Gambit and Chris Whittington: Vitter Should Resign

From the Gambit:

Until recently, Vitter at least had a political rationale for not resigning. When he was first ensnared in the D.C. Madam criminal case last June, Republicans were one vote shy of controlling the U.S. Senate. Had he quit then, Louisiana’s Democratic governor, Kathleen Blanco, might have named a Democrat as his interim replacement. Now, however, Louisiana has a Republican governor in Bobby Jindal, who can name a Republican to replace Vitter. Thus, there no longer is any rational basis for the GOP to protect Vitter. Indeed, Republicans in and out of New York did not hesitate to demand that Democrat Spitzer resign as that state’s governor last week. Like Vitter, Spitzer had been a crusading moralist. Unlike Vitter, Spitzer recognized and admitted his sins, including that of rank hypocrisy. He resigned within days.

David Vitter should do likewise.

We do not take this position lightly, and we are far from alone. Even among conservatives and within the Republican Party, there are voices calling for Vitter’s resignation. Christopher Tidmore, a conservative Republican columnist who first broke the story of Vitter’s trysts with the local prostitute known as Wendy Cortez, has noted that Vitter’s continued presence in the Senate casts “a terrible image across the nation as this state sought recovery dollars, and put the local GOP in a dangerous political position in having to come to Vitter’s defense.” And last week, Sam Hanna Jr., publisher of three newspapers in north Louisiana, called on Vitter to step down. “There is a limit to the hypocrisy that the American people can stomach,” Hanna wrote in the Ouachita Citizen.

And from Chris Whittington, who says Vitter is a “stain,” by way of The Bayou Buzz:

“The people of New York have been shown today that their leaders will be held accountable,” Whittington said. “And yet, the people of Louisiana have waited seven months for the same kind of demonstration and all they have gotten is arrogant silence from Mr. Vitter and Governor Jindal, who despite all his big talk of reform, maintains his allegiance to the disgraced Senator whose sins mirror those of former Governor Spitzer.

“David Vitter is a stain on our state’s attempt to demonstrate that we have changed our ways,” Whittington said. “He is a disgrace and a disappointment. And now he is a walking example that Louisiana continues to lag behind other states when it comes to holding its leaders accountable.

“Governor Jindal can talk about all the good lists he wants. He can spend hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on a special session aimed at changing Louisiana’s perception, but as long as he continues to shield the philandering junior Senator from the same type of accountability that the people of New York have demanded and received, then it is all a wasted effort.”

“If Senator Vitter has any regard for the needs of Louisiana citizens to be able to trust the sincerity of our leaders then he will stand up, be a man and resign like Governor Spitzer has,” Whittington said. “And if Governor Jindal is ready to demonstrate for once and for all that he is truly committed to cleaning up our state’s image and not just pushing empty talk at the taxpayer’s expense then he will follow the lead of New York’s elected officials and demand Senator Vitter’s resignation.”

For even more coverage, visit The Reduct Box.

Mar 19

4 Comments

$15,000 Community Helpers Grant: Any Ideas?

I normally don’t post things like this. But the deadline is fast-approaching and I’m sure there’s someone out there who is deserving of this grant. Any ideas?

Hamburger Helper/General Mills — My Hometown Helper Grant Program

General Mills and Hamburger Helper are searching for people in towns across the country who are raising funds to help the community. Hamburger Helper will fund initiatives to help hometowns across America with monetary grants of up to $15,000. The deadline for proposals is March 31, 2008.

Complete details are found by clicking here: http://www.myhometownhelper.com/

Overview of Hamburger Helper’s MYHOMETOWNHELPER.COM:

General Mills Sales, Inc. (“General Mills”) and Hamburger Helper are searching for people in your hometown that are raising funds to help the community. Hamburger Helper will fund initiatives to help hometowns across America with monetary grants of up to $15,000.00 per project during the time frame of August 1, 2007 – September 31, 2007 (“Wave 1”) and February 1, 2008 – March 31, 2008 (“Wave 2”). Hamburger Helper will give funds directly to the public school, 501(c)(3), or 501(c)(4) entity, such as civic leagues and social welfare organizations (see list of qualifying organizations below), that sponsors an application for funding (“Qualifying Organizations”). Visit www.myhometownhelper.com for more information.

Initiatives Supported by MYHOMETOWNHELPER.COM:

When evaluating requests, MYHOMETOWNHELPER.COM review committee will favor organizations meeting the following criteria:

  1. Demonstrate a need in the broader community
  2. Illustrate a helpful, creative or innovative concept that meets this need
  3. Clearly identify change/s that can be made as a result of receiving the award

Examples include:

  • Lights or bleachers for the baseball, soccer or football fields
  • Books for the school, library, or literacy programs
  • Playground equipment for the park
  • Boys & Girls Clubs Programs
  • New uniforms for Little League teams
  • Red Cross health and safety programs
  • Swimming and lifeguard training
  • Equipment or supplies for a local food bank
  • YMCA/YWCA tutoring or job training initiatives

Get the word out.

Mar 19

9 Comments

Karma Come Home By Dustin Parks

Kudos to my good friend Dustin Parks, a graduate of Alexandria Senior High West Monroe High School, who as a member of the United States Army has served in the War in Iraq (and who is currently stationed overseas), for publishing his first book of poetry Karma Come Home, which is available by LuLu Press. It’s a prescient and probing collection.

karmacomehome.jpgThis day and age, soldiers don’t usually write books of poetry. (Though there was a time in which this was more common). And yet Dustin, for some crazy and righteous reason, was compelled to write and publish his own poetry– a collection of beautiful and intelligent poems primarily concerned with identity, communication, the nature of place, and violence.

Dustin, by the way, is the brother of Casey Parks, the remarkable writer from Alexandria who has written for The New York Times and currently writes for The Oregonian.

Related:

Casey Parks, Louisiana Native and ASH Graduate, Wins Prestigious New York Times Journalism Award.

ASH Graduate Casey Parks Blogging for The New York Times.

Mar 19

34 Comments

Suddenlink Commercial is Misleading (And My High Speed Internet Connection Is Not High Speed)

A couple of years ago, Cebridge Communications d.b.a. Suddenlink Communications purchased the Alexandria and Lake Charles markets from Cox Communications. Despite the fact that Suddenlink paints itself as a “local” company with “local” service, they are actually one of the ten largest telecommunications companies in the nation. Suddenlink appears to specialize in the maintenance of small to mid-sized markets, and while Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Shreveport experiment with fiber optics roll-out, it doesn’t look like Alexandria or Lake Charles will enjoy the same timely upgrades.

I could probably write about this issue forever, but for the purposes of this post, there are a few things I wish to bring to your attention:

1. The Suddenlink commercials touting “local” service do not apply to those of us in Alexandria. The nearest “customer service” center is in Pineville, and typically, when you call their technical assistance lines, you’re rerouted to a call center in Tyler, Texas.

2. Suddenlink also touts a mysterious “fiber” service. Read the fine print, because this is nothing like the kind of service offered by our friends down in Lafayette. In fact, call Suddenlink at (318) 640-2892 and ask them how you can get a fiber connection. Then, ask them if you can get a dedicated line. They’ll tell you it won’t “make a difference.” At least that is what I was told.

3. Many of us in Alexandria pay for high-speed internet. Ostensibly, this is supposed to be vastly superior to dial-up (54kbs). However, as of today, the speed of my so-called “high speed internet,” according to Bandwidth Place.com is:

16.34 kilobytes per second

That’s only 30% of the speed I should expect from a dial-up connection.

4. While you’re on the line with the good people at Suddenlink, ask them what they intend to do once television moves entirely into high definition.

And no, this isn’t the commercial I am referencing; I just thought it would be a good idea for all of you to listen to the comedic stylings of Mike Birbiglia (NSFW).

Mar 18

5 Comments

Alexandria Left Out of Film Consortium

Notice that yet again Alexandria seems somewhere outside of the loop…

I doubt this is any fault of our local development team, but more likely an effort organized by Shreveport, NOLA, and Lafayette. Lafayette has never really enjoyed the idea that Alexandria as a metro area is very close to the same size as it is. But mainly this is probably a case of cities with much higher development budgets working together to ensure they get as many pieces of this film pie as possible. If you get a chance visit these guys’ website facebook, etc and flood them with messages “encouraging” them to include Alexandria…

From the Times-Picayune

Los Angeles Louisiana Film Industry Network aims to boost productions for Louisiana

Posted by Roberta Carrow-Jackson March 17, 2008 1:19PM

Categories: Entertainment Business

Filmmaker Christopher C. Brown introduces the Los Angeles Louisiana Film Industry Network, based in Hollywood, CA, to aid the Louisiana film industry.This group is for Los Angeles based writers, directors, producers, actors, etc. hailing from or wishing to work or create films in the state of Louisiana, particularly in the cities of Shreveport, New Orleans, and Lafayette. Louisiana currently ranks third in film and television production behind New York and California.

The group is also for people moving to Los Angeles from Louisiana who work in the film industry or desire to work in the film industry who need to transition and make new friends. In addition, the group is for people who have worked in or experienced working in production in Louisiana and wish to further build the film industry in Louisiana and utilize the tax credits and incentives offered in Louisiana.

To join this group, join the Meetup at http://filmind. meetup.com/347/ or join the NING Network at http://lafilmsla.ning.com/. The group will have a Facebook page soon at http://www.facebook .com/group.php?gid=85117781 67 and Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/lafilmsla.
A meeting will be held at The Cat and Fiddle in Los Angeles (6530 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028; Call 323-468-3800 or visit www.thecatandfiddle.com) on Sunday, April 6 at 3:00 pm. The topic of discussion for April is the creative process — How can more films be brought to Louisiana? How can more local actors get cast in films being shot in Louisiana? How can the group help to assist film industry professionals in Louisiana with a presence in Los Angeles? There will be a brainstorming session with round table and further ideas and networking for future collaborative and creative ventures.

www.myspace.com/christophercbrown

Mar 17

Government Work

The Role of Government in Development

We often find ourselves in an interesting quandary when debating economic and community development issues. We acknowledge the important role of government in promoting trade and ensuring a positive environment exists for attracting business. But at which point do we draw the line?

Should governments actually be in the development business?

It’s an interesting question and one that deserves more than a passing discussion. Mostly it comes down to deciding when and where we expect government to step in when it comes to markets in general. We are after all, the universal proponents of free enterprise and a market-driven economy. For the most part the role of government in this arena is deemed to be regulatory at best and to have merit only when a need for consumer protection, legal monitoring, or some other publicly threatening event is to be preempted.

We do have a track record of government intervention even among the most ardently laissez faire oriented leaders. Reagan certainly set the star precedent with his move during the air traffic controllers strike. Although such a move had been unheard of in the past, its requisite justification that the public good is the only justification needed for government intervention has been the basis for similar actions since. Locally we have several manifestations of government interceding in business from Enterprise zones to business development centers, tax incentives to a plethora of seemingly alike economic development boards, authorities, commissions, and councils. And of course at the core of it – governments tax, license, allow and disallow any and all economic activity within their purview.

There certainly must be a balance.

Too much government intervention stagnates the economy whereas to little results in $3 plus a gallon gas and a mortgage industry that makes the national debt look stable. But where do we want and need that balance to be. Everything has been tried at one point. Take for example the folly that was the Soviet Union’s Comecon in which every soviet-allied state had its own very specific role to play, product to produce, and so on. It was this planned economy and its resultant stifling of innovation that ultimately more than anything else led to the wholesale abandonment of the modern communist system.

Our own history has shown us the ins and outs of a totally free economy with rampant corruption, nationwide monopolies, and a massive concentration of wealth in the hands of the few “Robber-Barons” of our gilded age of the latter 19th century. Now in all fairness this same period of free commerce led to immense innovation and massive infrastructure construction on a scale rarely seen. However the arrival of trans-continental rail, the telephone, the automobile, and so many things we simply can no longer imagine life without came at a cost. This same period of prosperity was rife with corruption, took the atrocities of bad business to new unheard of levels, and encompassed the near complete reaping of many natural resources in the US including a virtual clear-cutting of our own Louisiana hardwood forests (did you really think pine trees were native?).

We have perhaps witnessed the lightning speed at which both business and corruption can flourish in a environment free of regulation and government intervention. The explosive growth of the internet from a hobby among college engineers to a staple of our daily lives shows what is possible when innovation is allowed to take foot unchecked. At the same time though the past 8 years have shown us an uglier side of this same debate with oil companies taking the opportunity in less than a decade to merge from 12 large companies in the US to 5 companies controlling most of the petroleum trade worldwide. Perhaps this is not bad, however the fact that a slew of deregulation, lessening of environmental and safety regulations, and the removal of all sorts of other laws that are said to increase the cost of doing business has actually accompanied a 400-500% increase in consumer fuel prices lends a bit of weight to the need to government control argument.

The Government’s Role

Aside from Uncle Sam’s role in regulation of business the government has always played a large role in economic development. Certainly the availability of programs meant to spurn business and promote financial solvency have an impact. But most of the government’s influence actually comes from two areas – providing capital for growth and funding large projects that carry high risk or little promise of a good return on investment. These projects usually have taken the form of infrastructure such as our interstate highway system, the TVA, Hoover Dam, airports, the basics. Many of these projects have been the result of less than altruistic motives – usually military. The government simply needed these things anyway.

This model of massive infrastructure projects, or government contracts paying for larger than life construction has been applied for decades to purely business related ventures. Publicly funded development projects from industrial parks, to subsidized manufacturing facilities have long been used to lure everything from car plants to call centres. Add to this our state government’s favored weapon – the tax break and the active role of government in business is quite immense whether we like it or not.

The Issue.

Although we have a history of trading a bit of our economic freedom for a more stable, safer, and hopefully productive economy we still tend to lean away from bringing our governments into our marketplaces. Perhaps this is a bit of a circular argument in that we tend to want the government to stay out of our pocketbooks and to reduce taxes which leads us not to be openly supportive of using tax dollars to fun business. But at the same time we expect our government to ensure that more money can flow into our wallets by providing for and promoting greater economic opportunity and prosperity.

So where does government step in?

Where and when do we ever expect government to step in? When there’s a problem that needs to be fixed. Where something needs to change and the non government sector is either unwilling or unable to rectify the situation. Basically we tend to want government when and where we feel we need them and at the same time like them to stay as far away as possible when and where we don’t. This is of course a quandary in itself even the most independent libertarian recognizes the need for some regulation while ardently green environmentalists don’t want the government looking over their shoulders at every turn. When it comes down to it however we must determine as a constituency what we expect of our government in terms of the business realm and encourage and assist them in affecting change within the limits of that expectation.

So what is our expectation – especially on the local level? What do we want our government to do to promote development and what do we expect them not to do? Your comments on this topic are welcome. Actually they’re very desired as I’m about to start writing Part II of this piece – the Local Equation…

Mar 15

4 Comments

Drew Ward’s Debut Post: Duckweed

duckweed30bp.jpgDuckweed belongs to the family Lemnaceae and is small, free floating green plants that form large blankets on the surface of sheltered water. The body of duckweeds is composed of a simple floating disc of photosynthetic tissue often with roots attached. It is not differentiated into stem and leaf tissue. All species of duckweed supposedly produce minute flowers, but these flowers are seldom observed. Reproduction is generally vegetative and its growth rate is tremendous, A thumb-sized planting will cover 1.2 acres in 55 days if uninhibited.

Slimy or not, it’s what’s happening in Louisiana Politics

BOUSTANY TO INHERIT MCCRERY’S LEADERSHIP PAC … Second-term U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany’s stock is on the rise with the pending departure of the state’s two more senior Republican Congressmen. Both Richard Baker of Baton Rouge and Jim McCrery of Shreveport are stepping down from their Congressional seats this year to move into private sector jobs. The Shreveport Times reports that McCrery plans to bestow his leadership Political Action Committee, called the Committee for the Preservation of Capitalism, to Boustany. Leadership PACs are set up by senior congressmen to both raise money and then filter funds to other congressional colleagues and organizations, helping the congressman to boost his stature in party ranks. “I’m going to make [Boustany] as senior as he can be,” McCrery told the Shreveport newspaper. “It will give him a head start at leadership.”

According to reports from the Federal Elections Commission, The Committee for the Preservation of Capitalism raised about $624,000 and spent about $616,000 in 2007. It currently has approximately $368,000 funds on hand. Its contributions have come from a wide variety of industry lobbying groups, with some of the heaviest donations coming in from drug manufacturers as well as physician and other medical industry groups. Source: theind.com

MELANCON VAULTS IN POWER RANKINGS … The Independent Weekly noted last month in our story “Charlie at the Plate” that Democratic U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon is positioned to gain politically from the recent upheaval in Louisiana’s congressional delegation — meaning the retirements, prostitution scandal and federal corruption investigation involving various members. In the midst of the turmoil, two-term Congressman Melancon has become a superstar in the state Democratic Party
practically overnight. He’s led the House leadership on tours of his district, has a spot on the influential Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired Louisiana’s fabled D.C. Mardi Gras this year and is a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention. Now others are noticing Melancon’s surge as well. Congress.org, a nonpartisan system, placed Melancon in the No. 144 position among the House’s 439 members in its annual power rankings. More impressive is the fact that Melancon was at No. 418 just two years ago. The big question is whether all the attention on Melancon will convince the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee that he’s the man to take on incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter in 2010.

The list is based on 2007 performance, so Republican Gov. Jindal’s still included, as is now-retired Republican Richard Baker. Clocking in dead last — No. 439 out of 439 — is none other than Louisiana Democrat and albatross Bill “Dollar Bill” Jefferson, the only Congressman to earn a negative rating for power and effectiveness.
Source: theind.com

IS MCCOLLISTER’S SACRIFICE A POLITICAL DONATION? … During a sometimes-touchy hearing last week, a Senate committee surmised that a bill co-sponsored by lawmakers from Thibodaux and New Orleans had everything and nothing to do with Gov. Bobby Jindal. House Bill 89 would only allow the individuals who have been charged with violating campaign finance or ethics laws to pay the related fines. On paper, it was just another ethics reform bill for the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee, but the political back story may have played a role in its defeat.

After Jindal’s campaign failed to timely report an $118,000 donation from the Louisiana Republican Party last year, Baton Rouge Business Report publisher and Jindal campaign treasurer Rolfe McCollister Jr. offered to personally pay the pending fine, which could reach as high as $2,500. Under the proposed legislation by independent Rep. Jerome “Dee” Richard and Democrat Karen Carter Peterson, such third-party payments would be prohibited.

New wrinkles surfaced during the debate about whether McCollister’s payment of Jindal’s fine would constitute a political donation. If it would, then McCollister might be prohibited from paying the fine if it exceeds the personal donor cap in state law, says Sen. Mike Walsworth, a Republican from West Monroe. A review of Jindal’s campaign finance records indicates that McCollister, at least personally, would be in the clear under these circumstances.

Still, one question remains: Is it a donation? Richard Sherburne, administrator of the state Ethics Board, said his office would take the check regardless, but he wasn’t sure if the money would count as a donation and would have to be reported as such. “I think the board would have to take a closer look at that,” he says.

While Jindal appears to be at the heart of the issue, speaker pro tem of the House Peterson disagrees. She says she was “incredibly offended” by media reports suggesting that the governor was the primary target of her efforts. “There have been accusations made that this is an attempt to embarrass someone or to make someone look bad,” Peterson says. “That’s not how I operate.”

The bill’s still alive in some respects. Peterson also amended three other bills moving through the special session with her proposal, meaning the issue could potentially reach the Senate floor without another committee hearing.

Louisiana’s Super Delegates
(From the Washington Post)
“Democratic Super Delegates Super Delegates are not elected through the normal primary and caucus process. They are designated by party rules and include high elected officials (members of Congress and governors), party committee members and some former office holders. Unlike delegates awarded through primaries and
caucuses, super delegates are not required to stay pledged to a specific candidate. In 2008, the Democratic Party has designated 796 super delegates. An estimated 4,049 total delegates will vote at the national convention, including super delegates. A candidate needs a total of 2,025 delegate votes to win the party’s nomination. “

State’s Total Number of Super Delegates: 9
Patsy Arceneaux
Pbarcen@aol.com
Baton Rouge
Clinton
Patsy Arceneaux of Baton Rouge is a DNC committeewoman and was a delegate to both the 2000 and 2004 conventions. She has pledged her vote to Hillary Clinton. Supposedly Arceneaux chose to announce her allegiance following a personal phone call from Bill Clinton who gave her husband a job during his presidency. She donated $1000 to Chris Dodd.

Renee Gill Pratt
New Orleans
rgpratt@cityofno.com
Clinton
Renée Gill Pratt is from New Orleans and a protégée of Democratic U.S. Representative William “Bill” Jefferson. Pratt served as state representative from 1991 to 2002 and as a New Orleans city council member for District B from 2002 to 2006. Pratt lost her bid for re-election in 2006, against Stacy Head, another Democrat. In the weeks following her defeat, Pratt faced criticism for driving a $28,266 Dodge Durango that she had donated to a nonprofit organization before she left office. The
organization subsequently hired her and assigned her to the vehicle. She also was blamed for renting office space from a company formed by Mose Jefferson, the brother of U.S. Representative Bill Jefferson, at the rate of $1,800 a month, for her satellite council office.

Ben L. Jeffers
benjeffers@eatel.net
Baton Rouge
None
Jeffers of Baton Rouge fills the Member-at-Large position. He ran against Jim Brown for Secretary of State in 1988.

Buddy Leach
Lake Charles
None
Anthony Claude “Buddy” Leach, Jr. is a wealthy lawyer, businessman, farmer, and politician who resides in his native Leesville as well as Lake Charles. Leach served two stints in the Louisiana House of Representatives (1968-1979 and 1984-1988). Leach was defeated by his fellow Democrat John Smith, also of Leesville, in the 2007 general election for the District 30 state senate seat. Leach was elected to the Democratic National Committee in 2006. He donated $1000 to John Edwards.

Chris Whittington
Baton Rouge
None
Whitington is a resident of Baton Rouge and is the Chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party.

Mary Lou Winters
mlwinters2000@aol.com
Metairie
Clinton
Mary Lou Winters of Metairie is 1st Vice President of the state democratic party. She donated $2100 to Clinton’s campaign.

Mary Landrieu
New Orleans
None

Bill Jefferson

New Orleans

None
Charlie Melancon
Napoleonville
None

« Older Entries