Louisiana Politics
Politics, most notably the politics of the state of Louisiana is the subject of this political web page. Politics at both the state level and the local level were greatly influenced by the tragic hurricane event in 2005 and the reaction of elected officials to it. National politics was also heavily affected by the events but this web page is devoted to mainly the state level and the New Orleans local level.
For a discussion of the ongoing national struggle between conservatives and liberals, a struggle seen in state politics as well as in the nation, see (conservatism vs. liberalism). Yes, the liberals and conservatives are now at each other's throats in the state although the state has long been a bastion of populism and has not been as strong on the conservative - liberal issues as other states.
Importance of the State to the Nation. Although Louisiana is at the bottom on most lists which rank states, we had a lot to offer before Hurricane Katrina: There was the French Quarter, Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, and some of the best food in the world: gumbo, oyster and shrimp po-boys, boiled crawfish, Natchitoches meat pies, pralines and Mardi Gras king cakes. New Orleans coffee was the best, also.
In addition to its fine food, the city is famous for its jazz and blues. With music, of course, goes tremendous consumption of beer and wines. Yes, we were truly the city that care forgot.
All the above has changed (temporarily) with the hurricane of 2005.
Doomed City. New Orleans is one of the world's great cities, but, eventually, a doomed city because it was built on soft land that now lies as much as 10 feet below sea level, with rampant coastal erosion of nearby protective marshes and a sea level rise coming as global warming takes over. Not to mention the powerful Gulf of Mexico hurricanes that rage each summer.
(The above paragraph was written before Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city in the summer of 2005. It was prophetic in that the city was indeed a doomed city. It was just a matter of time when the right hurricane would travel the right path. Katrina was the perfect storm in that it was powerful and it was on the right path to dump the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Pontchartrain into the city. The perfect storm! I live in a suburb just across the Mississippi River from downtown but the Mississippi river levees prevented my suburb from flooding. Wind damage was heavy, however.)
State Politics has had its share of celebrities in the past. There was, of course, Governor and Senator Huey Long, Governor Earl Long, Senator Russell Long, Governor Edwin Edwards and, of course, David Duke. Our leading political figures of the present era are listed below:
1. Governor Bobby Jindal - State politics' wonder boy. Will he show his alleged true genius and get something going for the state or will he continue to march lock-step with the national conservatives and let his opportunities slip away? So far, his Katrina recovery efforts have been well received by the media and the citizens although there is little to actually show for his efforts. He is a heck of a talker (called "motor-mouth" by some cynics) but then Brownie was a good talker and was also doing a "heck of a job" with FEMA, right?.
Can Jindal actually deliver? Or is he just interested in getting pats on the head from President Bush.
Jindal was a close ally with Senator Vitter, below, but felt obligated to stab Vitter in the back when Vitter's whoring activities were publicized.
Jindal was elected governor in 2007 and has just taken office. Lets give him a chance!
2. Senator Mary Landrieu - As discussed below, Senator Landrieu gave the State Republicans and the national Republicans a royal kick in the butt in 2002. The Republicans swore revenge and targeted Senator Landrieu in the 2008 senatorial race. But, she is a street fighter and refused to go down. She won reelection in a contest that was not as close as the election of 2002, although it was just as rough..
Senator Landrieu received a great deal of publicity in the aftermath of the hurricane but, along with Governor Blanco and Senator Vitter, participated in too many press conferences and butt kissing round-robins with President Bush to satisfy me. Maybe I am being a little cynical but I don't like our local politicians butt-kissing an administration that is stabbing the city of New Orleans in the back.
Despite the above failings, Landrieu is a good senator.
3. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin - Good politician and fine mayor was trying to clean up a wicked city (the city that care forgot!) before Hurricane Katrina struck. After Katrina, his future is totally involved in the effort to rebuild the largely destroyed city.
With half the population still scattered around the country, the local politicians scented blood and 23 candidates signed up to oppose Mayor Nagin in the April 2006 election for mayor. Nagin was the underdog but, with the aid of cynical Republicans, Nagin squeaked out a victory.
The above-mentioned Republicans were not pro-Nagin (officially a Democrat but considered by many to be a closet Republican) but were after Senator Mary Landrieu whose brother, Lt. Governor, Mitch Landrieu, opposed Nagin in the mayor's race runoff. After the beating Senator Landrieu put on them in 2002, the Republicans had vowed to unseat her in 2008. Beating Mitch Landrieu in the mayor's race was intended to help in that Republican endeavor. (More on the Mary Landrieu 2002 victory later.)
4. Senator David Vitter - The Republican who won retiring Senator Breaux's senate seat. Vitter had a potentially unlimited future - some even have put him forward as a future presidential or vice-presidential candidate. However, his just-revealed extensive whoring activities killed all this talk and now he will probably face a tough reelection campaign in 2010. No more "presidential material" talk.
Despite all his whoring problems, Vitter is, intellectually speaking, far superior to other Louisiana Republicans and I hope he can get untracked and do some work for the state.
5. Former-Governor Kathleen Blanco - An effective politician until hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit. Blanco did not run for reelection this year.
Governor Blanco's leadership skills did not look particularly good in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. However, in comparison to the feeble early response to the storm by President Bush and FEMA (Brownie, you are doing a heck of a job!), she doesn't look as bad as one might first think. Her resources were limited although, to hear FOX News and Rush Limbaugh, she and Mayor Nagin were the problem and President Bush was the hero.
But, remember, that is FOX News and Rush Limbaugh. Most other people have awakened to the truth about President Bush.
6. Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu - Senator Mary Landrieu's brother. Seems to have quite a bit of the family's political talents. Might be a candidate for governor some day.
Landrieu just lost a close race for New Orleans mayor to Mayor Nagin. The Republican's desire to revenge the Mary Landrieu 2002 defeat played a role in Mitch's defeat as the number 3 candidate in the first primary, a Republican, threw his support behind Mayor Nagin. (See discussion, above.)
7. US Representative Charles Melancon - Democrat. A newcomer to big time politics. See discussion below about his upset victory in 2004. Charlie Melancon is a smart politician who also defeated a well-connected Republican candidate in his reelection bid of 2006. He was unopposed for reelection in 2008.
In my opinion, Representative Melancon is one of the few big time politicians who has looked competent in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Melancon declined to run for governor in 2007.
8. Aaron Broussard - President of Jefferson Parish, the state's second most populous parish. Broussard got off some of the best quotes during the hurricane aftermath but, post-hurricane analysis does not do him well. His actions to remove the Jefferson Parish drainage pump operators far from the parish prior to the storm has been heavily criticized. There will no doubt be some lawsuits from flooded home owners over that action.
At one time, it was expected that Broussard could expect some strong competition when he came up for election in 2007. However, the strong opposition failed to materialize and Jefferson Parish's strong recovery from the hurricane gave Broussard a free ride back into office.
9. US Representative Bill Jefferson - Formerly a non-controversial Democrat Representative but now charged by the feds for various alleged crimes. Jefferson attracted a strong field of competitors for his congressional seat in 2006 but, surprisingly, squeaked out a victory (again, with the help of cynical Republicans who want to replace him with a conservative black candidate when Jefferson is - they hope- removed from office.)
Republicans across the nation love the predicament that Jefferson is in and did not put up a strong candidate against him. They like him in office! With all the scoundrels the Republican Party now has in office, Jefferson provides them with cover. He, alone, gets almost as much publicity as all the Republican scoundrels combined. I'm sure the Democrats just wish Jefferson would fade away.
10. Walter Boasso. State Senator ran for governor in 2007. Boasso is a self-made millionaire and aggressively sought the Governorship. He had considerable appeal to the working class. Boasso's ads using a Bobby Jindal cardboard figure were very clever.
Boasso ran for governor as a Democrat after being ignored by the Republican Party who had adopted Jindal as their pet candidate.
Boasso ran second to Jindal but could not get enough support to force Jindal into a runoff.
11. Foster Campbell. Democrat. Louisiana Public Service Commissioner (North Louisiana). Ran for Louisiana Governor in 2007. He came in fourth in the primary.
12. Ex-Senator John Breaux - Senator Breaux has retired from the Senate. What a great senator! Just contrast him with other senators around the nation. What a comparison! Every time I get down on Louisiana because we are on the bottom of every state list of accomplishments, I look at who other states elect and I think, it is not hopeless for us. With elected leaders like ex-Senator Breaux and Senator Landrieu, we still have a chance to surpass states like Alabama, Oklahoma, and Kentucky who are busy electing some very strange folks in the name of conservatism.
Breaux announced that he would not run for Louisiana governor in 2007 leaving the office open for a Jindal takeover. A great loss to the state! Also, probably the end of Breaux's political career. Democratic folks in Louisiana are a little unhappy about him, first, teasing them about running for governor and, then, not making the race.
Oh, well! As compensation for the end of Breaux's political career, there is plenty of money in lobbying, Breaux's present occupation!
13. US Representative Richard Baker - Sixth District (Baton Rouge & vicinity). Baker came up with a highly popular plan to finance the hurricane recovery effort. It was rejected by Washington but Baker made a lot of friends with his "Baker Bill." Baker has been on the verge of bigger things in politics before but something always happens. Can he hold the popularity this time?
Representative Baker has just announced that he will not run for reelection in 2008.
14. John Georges - New Orleans businessman ran for the Governorship in 2007 as an Independent. It should be noted that Georges spent close to $10 million in the governor's race. He still finished third so he may want to reconsider his political career.
15. Jim Bernhard - A newbie celebrity in politics. Was appointed Chairman of the Democratic Party in Louisiana but has since resigned that position. CEO of the Shaw Group, one of the largest firms in the state, engaged in engineering, construction, and other activities (including controversial clean-up work in the wake of the storm).
Jim Bernhard supported Kip Holden (above) and was a decisive factor in putting Holden over the top in his race for mayor of Baton Rouge.
Bernhard was mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate for governor after Governor Blanco and ex-senator Breaux decided not to seek the office. He declined to make the race.
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A few more top-rated politicians:
16. Ron Foreman - Presently a Democrat but has been a Republican and, prior to that was a Democrat (kind of like my hero, Senator Kerry being both for and against the Iraq War). Threw his hat into the ring for New Orleans mayor in 2006 and had plenty of pledged money to back up his candidacy. But not enough votes. Will he stay active in politics? I hope so. His record as a person who can accomplish things is unexcelled.
However, Foreman appears to be fading from public view. If this is so, this would be a terrible loss for New Orleans.
17. Ex-Representative Billy Tauzin - Now a lobbyist for drug companies. Still has plenty of power in the state, though, and will remain a political celebrity for some time.
18. Former Governor Edwin Edwards - Governor Edwards certainly deserved to go to jail and he is still there. However, when I see Bush-associated criminals running loose, I think enough is enough. Edwards is 80 now, his wife left him, and he is disgraced in the state. It is time to let him out! (and lock up some of the people who are stealing not millions but billions!)
Keeping Edwards in jail as a political prisoner does not do justice to the system.
It appears that there is a serious effort underway to have Governor Edwards pardoned.
19. David Duke - Out of jail now and still a political celebrity. I predict he will eventually start stirring up his substantial political base.
My favorite David Duke quotation: "Scratch any Republican and you will find a David Duke underneath."
Mayor Kip Holden of Baton Rouge. Rising political celebrity. This new kid on the block may be heard from in state politics in the future.
Ex-U.S. Representative Cleo Fields - Now a state senator. Still has considerable political clout in the state despite tucking all that cash in his shirt during the infamous film released by the FBI..
James Carville - A master Democratic campaign strategist. Also, liberal TV commentator and author. . Knows how to get results.
Donna Brazile - Democratic Political organizer and TV commentator.
Tom Benson - Not really a politician. Wealthy owner of the New Orleans Saints football team. Wants a lot from the state to keep the Saints in the city and Louisiana Governors must deal with him or face possible political repercussions.
In December 2002, the anointed Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat was defeated by Democratic incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu despite massive Republican campaign funds and frequent trips to the state by Republican big wigs including President Bush, Vice-President Cheney, their spouses and countless others. The heavy handed Republican approach turned off many voters. On the other side, the street fighting that Senator Landrieu did when cornered by the Washington Republican establishment was a sight to behold. Mary Landrieu fought well with her back against the ropes! The Republican establishment must still be trying to get the claw marks off their butts after their failed expedition down here to polish off Landrieu.
To add insult to injury for the Republicans in 2002, the Washington Republican establishment's heavy-handiness against Landrieu also turned off the voters enough to allow a Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative, Rodney Alexander, to score a huge upset win in a normally Republican district in Monroe. (To keep the record straight, the Representative - Rodney Alexander - has since changed his party affiliation to Republican much to the dismay of the Democrats.)
The 2003 governor's election ended with a Democrat, Kathleen Blanco, winning. She is the first lady to ever be elected governor of the state. However, the close election did not provide an indication as to whether political momentum is staying with the Republicans or shifting to the Democrats. Rather, the election continued the state Republican's practice of losing major state races to the Democrats that the Republicans should have won.
Over a dozen major candidates entered the 2003 governor's race to replace outgoing Republican Governor Mike Foster. In the runoff, it came down to Democrat Blanco against Republican Bobby Jindal, a young, rising conservative star. In a very civil election (unlike normal elections in the state), Blanco was able to eke out a win over Jindal and is now governor.
Jindal made a name for himself, however, and he later won a vacant U.S. House of Representatives seat (First Congressional District) in the election of 2004. Jindal then ran for Louisiana governor this year....and won the office in the primary. No runoff was necessary.
Politics - the Bad and the Good. All in all, years 2003-07 were interesting years for state politics. The state has long been a banana republic state with a high percentage of its high public officials going to jail (virtually 100% of Insurance Commissioners have been to the slammer!) for political corruption. Things are beginning to look up, however. The past governor - Republican Governor Mike Foster - was the ultimate laisse-faire governor, but never-the-less, is rated as having been a fair to middling governor, certainly better in some ethical respects than his predecessor, Edwin Edwards, who is still tucked away in federal prison.
Racist leader David Duke has just served a term in federal prison. Former Insurance Commissioner Jim Brown has also completed a six month federal prison term (possibly an unfair conviction for Jim Brown-the charges brought against him looked a little thin . But the old stock market expression applies for politicians also: "When the paddy wagon comes, they pick up the good girls with the bad!")
Louisiana politics don't smell quite as bad as they used to. Additionally, Democratic Mayor Nagin of New Orleans made a real effort in his first term to rejuvenate that wicked city morally and economically.
One strong point for state politics in recent years has been the honesty of the elections. Our elections are much more honest than many other states, certainly far cleaner than recent elections in Florida and Ohio. Unfortunately, Republican Fox McKeithen, Secretary of State who had the responsibility for conducting elections, passed away two years ago. Fortunately, his Republican replacement appears to be an honest fellow and I don't see the Florida or Ohio type shenanigans occurring here
Now for the bad news: the retirement of Democratic U.S. Senator John Breaux in 2004 was a tragedy. Breaux is the very picture of moderation and has always done what's right for the state (and the country). We are still suffering from the loss of Breaux.
The well-known Republican U.S. Representative Billy Tauzin also retired. His replacement was determined in a runoff election in December 2004 and is a Democrat, Charles Melancon. Melancon beat out Tauzin's son by being able to label young Tauzin "little Billy," and running ads showing "him" dressed in ill-fitting pants with pant cuffs up almost to the knees and inferring that little Billy was not ready for prime time. Some clever political advertising in a race that the Republicans would have otherwise won.
Of course, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, there may be a reshuffling of political figures in state politics. It all depends on how the public perceives the responses of the various political figures to the hurricane tragedy. Right now, the public is pretty pissed off. (But not pissed off enough to throw Mayor Nagin out of office in the recent mayor's election.)
New Orleans was the city that could have (before Katrina) led the state away from the bottom of the pack. With all its faults, it was still a progressive city and melting pot, and the liberal city serves to counterbalance the right-wing rednecks who dominate the northern part of the state, and the moderate, fun-loving Cajuns who dominate the southern part of the state. The city was the key to the state advancing - not Jefferson Parish, not Baton Rouge, not Lafayette, and not Shreveport.
Without the "big easy," Louisiana is nothing! The state might as well become part of Texas or Mississippi.
Hurricane Katrina has changed things and a partly depopulated New Orleans is not going to lead the state anywhere. The rebuilding of the city will be the key to future progress of the entire state.
As far as progress in rebuilding the state, it has been very slow, much slower than in the surrounding parishes that were also severely damaged.
As a matter of fact rebuilding is so slow that one must ask the question: Is there a hidden agenda, e.g., right wing conspiracy, to stop the city from rebuilding or is it strictly incompetence on the part of the local officials? If we had an honest administration in Washington, we could expect an answer to that question but the Bush administration is so busy covering their asses from all their other screw-ups, they are unlikely to pay much attention to us down here. Someone needs to look at the problem, though.
1. Politics, 2008 There are many issues in U.S. politics but the strongest underlying issue is conservatism vs. liberalism.
The politics of Louisiana leave a lot to be desired but the politics has improved immensely over the past decade or so. The state may yet crawl past some some states whose political systems are even worse than this state. The rebuilding of New Orleans will have a great impact on whether the state can move upwards. For that job, even more improvement in politics and, particularly from the politicians is needed.
Last Updated: 11/16/08
e-mail me @ vanc13@cox.net (Author: Van Cook)
Louisiana Politics