Trying to educate DU about the politics in Louisiana right now

[AnnInLa]

NOT trying to start an argument, just want people to know what's really going on politically right now in LA. Want DUers to think a bit more deeply than just gut reactions of "seeing Nagin or Blanco or Landrieu kissing repuke ass." Want to explain why these kinds of posts get on my nerves, but am trying to contain myself, lol. I have posted the following twice today in the middle of other threads. Please read it, and think twice about threads that help the repuke cause in my state:

"Senator Vitter is an Extreme, RW, PNAC Repuke. He has vowed to replace Senator Landrieu with a Repuke in her next election, and has an organization on the ground in LA (financed by the nat'l Repukes) ACTIVELY focused on getting her out. He would like nothing better than deliver LA as completely red, with a repuke Governor and both repuke Senators.

IN ORDER TO DO THIS, he must turn New Orleans RED. In order to do this, he must control the voting population of the "new" New Orleans. In order to do this, he and the nat'l repuke party must control the RECOVERY effort of New Orleans. New Orleans is the only large solid blue area in Louisiana. New Orleans is the reason we have one Dem Senator (yes, a Centrist Dem, but the alternative is too horrible to consider.) South Louisiana is the reason we have a Dem Governor. (Yes, a Catholic-religious, Centrist Governor, but the alternative is too horrible to even consider.)

Louisiana is a schizophrenic state. In North LA, they are mainly Baptist, Pro-Big-Business, Conservative (hypocrites), but not necessarily PNAC worshipers. They vote according to "SOCIAL and MORAL and BIG BUSINESS values" and will NEVER abandon the repuke party. There is also a strong RACIST motive under the surface of everything that is done politically in North Louisiana.

South Louisiana is a mixture of the above Conservatives and mainly Centrist Dems. New Orleans has a small population of Progressive Dems, but with not enough numbers to defeat any Centrist Dem, at this point.

Repuke leaders in New Orleans, along with Vitter and the Nat'l Repuke Party will work hard to control the recovery aspect of New Orleans to ensure that the now dispersed Dem voters (1) do not return to New Orleans at all, or, 2. are totally marginalized and controlled by repuke "recovery projects." One of the reasons that Minimum Wage is being suspended in the area is to ensure that the repuke controlled companies in charge of recovery are able to bring in masses of workers from other parts of the country who owe no allegiance to Louisiana (and illegal aliens) and to discourage local people from returning to the area to work for a fair wage. Let them stay dispersed all over America, and their voting block is dissolved.

Make no mistake, our Dem Governor, Blanco, is a Centrist Dem. Many of us in LA believe that, at heart, she is a Progressive, but given the population of LA, she can be nothing else and still represent all of her constituencies. Vitter and the repukes will use the hurricane to try to defeat her (or any other Dem's) effort to retain the governorship. As you can tell, the effort has already begun. Blanco was Lt. Gov under our former repuke governor, and has a stirling reputation in a state that has a history of corruption. I have never heard a breath of rumor against her character or honesty.

Make no mistate, our Dem Senator, Landrieu, is a Centrist Dem. New Orleans is the reason we at least have one Dem Senator at all. She is Pro-Choice (with restrictions), pro Oil Companies (ugh) but, knowing that many, many of the people in South LA make their livings from the oil fields, these DEM voters appreciate her siding with those monsters...how can they not, making their livings in the oil industry?

Hurricane Katrina has given Vitter and repukes the opening they have been looking for to turn LA completely red. You will see many, many attacks against Nagin (he is Black and a new Dem, and wants to lead the recovery of New Orleans), and against Blanco (she is now vulnerable due to the hurricane and a Dem), and against Landrieu (she is a Dem, and a woman, and a Senator who enjoys an amount of power and prestige in the Senate). You will see that attack take many forms...in the media, by word of mouth. You will also see the attack here on DU (I have seen it already.)

But, I am here to tell you that attacks on Landrieu, Blanco and Nagin are not in the best interests of the people of Louisiana. These Centrist Dems cannot NOW be replaced by Progressive Dems. The Progressive Dems do not have a strong organization in Louisiana right now...it is in its infancy. This does not mean that we will let these Dems "slide" on important issues. This doesn't mean that we will not lobby them and hold them accountable for their actions or votes. It means that, because of the hurricane, the repuke PUSH to get them replaced by CONSERVATIVE REPUKES IS ACCELERATED, so we are in the position of defending and supporting these Dem leaders. For now.

The Dem plan for recovery will come. For now, we in LA are in the position of keeping and supporting the Centrist Dems that we have or giving up the state completely to the ultra Conservatives. What would you do?"

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. I agree the south in general has that probllem as it were

centrist dems are the best choice right now

Also Landrieu comes from an old political family and connections matter

Taht is why even in distant Cali I understand this... the south, especially teh deep south, is truly a lesson in contrats

[KharmaTrain]

2. Doesn't The Dynamic Change In Baton Rouge?

Considering how many New Orleans families have been evacuated to that area, wouldn't those people; providing they're organized to vote, make a difference in that area?

[AnnInLa]

12. Perhaps in Baton Rouge proper

that would apply...in the surrounding East Baton Rouge Parish, I don't think it does...can anyone from BR answer that?

[...of J.Temperance]

15. For number crunchers here's the math minus Orleans Parish votes

Kathleen Blanco, Mitch Landrieu and Charles Foti all would still have won without ANY Orleans votes. Of course, we'd rather they still get those votes, but at present unfortunately it's unlikely. But if they can further pad their votes in Caddo (Shreveport), Calcasieu (Lake Charles), East Baton Rouge...and Jefferson and Lafayette, they might be okay.

Here's the last election vote tallies for Governor Blanco and A-G Charles Foti and take ALL of Orleans votes out and they still would have won:

Blanco (731,358) vs Jindal (676,484):

http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcmp&rqsdta=11150310012919

Foti (689,179) vs Terrell (597,917):

http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcmp&rqsdta=10040311512923

Mitch Landrieu (674,803) 53% vs everybody:

http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcmp&rqsdta=10040310512920

The only one who would lose without the Orleans votes is Senator Landrieu, but considering her brother and Charles Foti would have still won minus those votes, maybe if she pads her votes in other areas and gets Jefferson Parish next time as well (Terrell won that by just over 14,000 votes) she could be okay, if Foti can get Jefferson Parish I can't see why Senator Landrieu can't:

Landrieu (638,654) vs Terrell (596,642):

http://www.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcmp&rqsdta=12070214012601

She'll need between 30,000 and 60,000 new votes. 10,000 each in Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Calcasieu, Jefferson and Lafayette might do it. Lydia Jackson, Kip Holden and Cleo Fields can hopefully get more black folks in their areas out to vote for a start. The other three: Blanco, Foti and Mitch Landrieu got more votes statewide than Mary Landrieu, yet the latter got more votes from Orleans than the others, eg. she got 25,000 more votes than Foti and he'd been a big part of Orleans Parish for 30 years and he still won statewide despite him having a bit of baggage.

I hope I'm not way off base, if I am, then I'm happy to be corrected.

[Iris]

3. kick - AnninLA needs to be heard.

[crikkett]

20. kick again - she's my hero(ine)

:kick:

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. kick

[Just Me]

5. You will NEVER find me attacking those people 'cause I know damn well,...

,...that the "REPUKES" would do LA a helluva' lot of harm!!! No way in hell I will take part in that shit!!! NEVER!!!

[Tatiana]

6. Good points, Ann.

If either Landrieu, Blanco, or Nagin were removed from office, the alternative would be MUCH worse.

[Pirate Smile]

7. Do you know much about Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu?

He has seemed great during this crisis.

[garthranzz]

38. A little...

I've met him. He's bright, probably more capable than his sister. There's some tension between him and Blanco, because if he ran against her, he'd win. He won't, but he's the heir apparent. His father was mayor, then Sec of HUD - a man who crossed many barriers. His son follows in his footsteps.

Mitch Landrieu is what a politician is supposed to be. Unlike Vitter, who is what cynics say a politician is.

[seaglass]

8. Thanks for your analysis Ann. I'm fairly forgiving of Dem

politicians who represent their constitutencies even though I might not like some of their positions or the things they do.

I remember well how excited DU was when Landrieu won.

At least none of them are as far gone as Zell:-)

[Helga Scow Stern]

9. Thanks, I hear you. But disconcerting to see Nagin attack Blanco this AM,

and to praise Bush, on Meet the Press.

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. Nagin was kissing ass to get what he needs down where he

is... the history of the south will explain this... think Long...

[leesa]

53. I saw that but what I saw was him trying to remain neutral while the vile

Timmy was heaping the blame on the locals heads.

[davsand]

10. AnnInLa, don't you know by now that NO Dem is "pure" enough?

It is a well recognized phenom that we Dems form up circular firing squads with a minimal amount of provocation. I joke that we eat our young, but it isn't too much of a joke on here these days. Much as we deride the GOP you NEVER see them eating each other alive like this unless it is in the midst of a blood induced frenzy.

You keep on speaking your mind when it comes to preaching for respect for Dems in other states. Lord knows we need to hear it every so often to kwell the lynch mobs. This Illinois Dem has your back!



Laura

BTW, I thought I saw something the other day that said Blanco was out of a really well connected Dem family down there--similar to our Illinois AG who is the daughter of the IL Dem Party leader along with being Speaker of the IL House--is that true? If she's anything like our AG, that lady must be a force of nature. She grew UP in politics and knows EXACTLY what has to be done...

[...of J.Temperance]

17. Landrieu is from the well connected political family, not Blanco n/t

[texpatriot2004]

11. Thanks for your patience. Will read and keep in mind when

posting.

[dogindia]

13. this is why all the evacuees are being dispersed throughout the country.

I got worried that this latest mandatory evacuation was a continuation of the plot to break NO by republicans, I worried that Nagin was choosing this rather than supporting folks who wanted to stay and not helping them do so. That is my only concern. I am sad for the loss of home and the loss for the city.

People must be helped to come back in my opinion.

I am constantly shocked that the cruelty by the republican mind and actions

Plus is you make them suffer for days they will be happier to leave. Perhaps this was the plan all along and the reason for the slow help and letting folks be without water and food for days.

[Peace Patriot]

24. Dogindia, maybe you could email this Senate Committee, explaining

your concerns and fears, and making suggestions for the restoration of communities and cultures of Louisiana. Helping people safely remain and rebuild, and keep continuity of the culture, and help people return quickly. Deadline tonight.

Here's my post about it:

Urgent! Senate committee wants Katrina input - deadline TODAY 9/11

The Senate H.E.L.P. Committee (Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) has been requesting input on Katrina reconstruction. The deadline was changed from Friday 9/9 to Monday, 9/12 (but presume 9/11, by the end of today) to allow more input. I don't know if DUers are aware of this. It's a great opportunity to help influence the treatment of survivors and the fate of the Gulf coast.

The email for public input is listed below. These emails are going to start being reviewed by committee staff tomorrow (Mon, 9/12). I heard about this on a CNN radio rebroadcast of the Senate H.E.L.P. Committee roundtable (of disaster experts) on 9/8, but could not get this posted until now.

Email: [e-mail]
Senate H.E.L.P. website: http://help.senate.gov /
(The ranking Democrat is Sen. Edward Kennedy.)

My input to the committee is at:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4735625

[losdiablosgato]

56. The Corp. I work for move some workers from NO to Houston

Were I work. I have talked to all 5 of them and none want to go back to NO. The cost of living is lower and they are tired of the hurricane. All are trying to make their temporary duty a transfer.

[enough]

14. Very useful, Ann. Thank you.

[nradisic]

16. Great post...

Everyone needs local education for better understanding. Don't assume anything. Be informed.

[texpatriot2004]

18. So, what I get is United we Stand. n/t

[sunnystarr]

19. Nagin was not supportive of Gov Blanco today on MTP

This is a time for LA Dems to stick together, especially knowing that Washington is intent on shifting the blame on to the locals. Also it appears that he was for federalizing the NG when Blanco did not submit to that pressure. I really don't understand the ins and outs of that but I trust that Blanco had good reasons. Besides which the NG wasn't federalized in FL during their recent bout of hurricanes. Maybe Nagin as a relative newcomer to politics should be more supportive of his more experienced governor.

[markus]

22. Federalizing the guard

A federalized guard has to lay down their weapons in the continental United States. Blanco was probably watching the MSM, and believed that NOLA was a city in violent chaos (as opposed to the chaos of random and unnecessary death)

Her telling Bush she needed 24 hours to "think over" whether to accept federal help on his terms was unacceptable. At the very kindest, I would have to suspect her of stupidity. It only gets worse from there.

In my own view, I'll take the late life Dem convert Nagin over the Crowley crowd. And I used to work for the Crowley crowd.

When John Breaux showed up on my local rw two hour hate and said that the (internal) evactuation buses weren't running, he lost every bit of the respect I had for him (yeah, I know what you're going to say. I'm taking about John, a guy I worked for once, and not the abstract Sen. Breaux).

Blanco strikes me as inept and opportunistic. If Nagin was opportunistic in switching parties, he seems to have gotten over that.

[Tatiana]

40. I agree with you for the most part.

However, I don't think Blanco was so much opportunistic as she was overly cautious. Also, I think she let her personal issues with Nagin cloud her response Nagin's requests for NOLA in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane. I also think there is some jealousy on her part regarding Nagin's rising popularity, if you will, regarding this tragedy.

That being said, I still think we have to support her. The alternative (a Repuke) is much worse.

[sunnystarr]

68. I may be wrong on this but I remember reading

that if the NG were federalized they would no longer be able to do police type duty. There weren't enough NO police left so that may have had something to do with her hesitantcy and decision. Does anyone know if any governor has agreed to federalize their NG in the past?

[SmokingJacket]

21. GREAT post.

I lived in LA during Duke vs. Edwards days, not pretty! I wanted Buddy Roemer but he lost the primary, so I voted for Mr. Edwards, as corrupt as he was, because David Duke was infinitely worse.

No matter what Louisiana Dems do, at this point, I will support them, because OMFG the republicans down there are crazy!

[markus]

23. Disturbed that Breaux is leading a reconstruction task force

composed for former legislators (read his buddy since law school Billy Tauzin), urban planners (the same people who thought the river front expressway was a good idea in the 60s) and economic development professionals (racketeers).

Any reconstruction task force that is not composed of at least 50% average, working-class Black New Orleneans has to be squashed.

[Window]

25. Very informative narrative.

Thanks for sharing.

Peace

Edited to nominate and kick.

[finecraft]

26. Ann, I stand with you 100%

Excellent analysis of our situation here. Please realize though that Vitter has a big problem. Mary has led coastal restoration efforts, as well as seeking funds for other corp projects in the state (i.e. the Port of Iberia, and other projects that the Republican business base in the state needs and wants). The Port people here are livid at Vitter for not saying anything about the Washington Post article that came out last week accusing Mary of trying to "pork up the budget" with non-life saving Corp. of Engineer projects like the "useless Port of Iberia project". When I say they are livid, I mean LIVID with Vitter. If he continues to remain silent and let her take the heat, several of the Port business owners have told me that they will not vote for another Republican. They are feeling very betrayed by their party right now (Everybody....awhhhhhh) In fact, they like the fact that we have one Democratic Senator and one Repug Senator in case the "winds change" and we get a Democratic controlled congress again. The business community here is not happy with Vitter right now. Hope for a Democratic turn in the Senate in the 2006 races, and things will look good for Mary in 08.

[AnnInLa]

29. Howdy, Finecraft

Glad to hear that about the "port people." You know, I didn't support Kathleen in the beginning, definitely wanted someone more Progressive. But, against her repuke opponent, Jindal, she looked marvelous in comparison, so I backed her 100%, of course. I just think that if we don't unite in protecting Kathleen, Mary and Nagin, this Hurricane Katrina is the perfect opportunity for the Vitter crowd to take over. I see his fingerprints all over media reports, all over rumors going around my school board. If Kathleen can just hold her own for as long as necessary, then we have a better chance to get a more Progressive Dem in next time. But, if they take Kathleen down, we won't gain the governorship back for a long, long time. And, Mary, lord, don't get me started....I have fired off so many complaining emails to her that she finally wrote me a letter addressing my bitching in general and then specifically (which I did appreciate.) But, to have 2 repuke senators? God, just shoot me now. The main point is that we can't lose New Orleans...if we lose N.O., we definitely lose a senator, and probably the governorship as well.

[Jacobin]

27. As another longtime resident of Louisiana

I wholeheartedly and completely endorse your post as accurate.

I hope people will read this. Its too important not to know the lay of the land which you have very succinctly and accurately set forth.

Thanks

[Blue_Roses]

28. thank-God

the voice of reason! :bounce:

I think the people trying to undermine our Democratic officials in Louisiana have an alternate agenda...and it's not for the Democratic party.

I've been screaming about this for 2 weeks. Leave Blanco alone. We need her and she needs us!

Thanks so much for this post. As one who was born and raised in Louisiana--your post is dead on! :applause:

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. I only studied sothern politics and I have been defending Blanco

and the rest... I am amazed by the DLC crowd at times... or the "birkenstock" crowd... I can hope for a more progresive but I live in a progresive state... we don't have civil rights to contend here... the whole south does, so eggshells and ass kissing are sometimes the way things are... slowly that will change

[Alizaryn]

32. Recommended

Lots of common sense in here.

[formernaderite]

33. Seems like this plan to depopulate the dems from NO was cooked up

by Nagin and Jindal. Nagin endorsed him over Blanco, he won his own run off with the white vote...I wouldn't be surprised to see Nagin switch back to repub and run against Landrieu...

[Blue_In_AK]

34. Thank you all so much for the explanation...

It sounds like Democrats in Louisiana have the same kinds of issues as Democrats in Alaska do. Up here, a Democratic politician can't openly say he or she opposes drilling in ANWR because it's political suicide. We just have to do the best we can with what we've got.

[DoYouEverWonder]

35. Thank you for explain all that

Yes we need to support Blanco, Landrieu and Nagan every way we can. I do believe that they have risen to the occasion and are trying to do their best for the people of LA.

At least they weren't licking their chops after the storm, divvying up the spoils.

[annabanana]

36. Thank you for the tutorial!

The more information we have, the better job we can do getting the kind of information that needs disseminating, um, disseminated. One of the reasons I LIKE DU is that our reach is National, and our members, together have good insights on everything that is on-the-ground.

The more we understand regional proclivities, the stronger we are.

[Mich Otter]

37. Thanks for the info.

As we Democrats look towards the upcoming elections, we have to realize we are not going to have a wave of Liberal/Progressive/Socialist candidates to choose from. We are going to have many Conservative/DLC candidates in the mix.
WE NEED ALL OF THEM TO HAVE OUR SUPPORT ON ELECTION DAY!!
We need to elect as many Democrats as possible to move the country to the left and get the debates going as to why people need to be taken care of more than corporations.
In the primaries, support the candidate who is most likely to stand for our values. On election day, hold you nose and vote for whichever Democrat has won the parties nomination. We have to get the Republicans out of power before we can start shifting the views of the vast numbers of Americans who have been suckered into believing that what the Republicans are offering them is all they can expect from government.
With Democrats in power, we can start pushing them towards getting a realistic view on dealing with Iraq, health care for all Americans, protection for Social Security and pensions, and education for all Americans.
One step at a time folks. First, kick out the Republicans for their determination to bankrupt America and their long string of failed policies.
Then start weeding through the Democrats who are nearly as bad as Republicans.
I saw Michael Moore speak in Ann Arbor, Michigan when he was selling his book, "Stupid White Men". He said something I found to be insightful about how to influence the opinions of politicians. He said to go see them early in their campaigns, before hardly anyone knows their names or views. Ask them their stands on issues that matter to you. How do they feel about health care? How do they feel about NAFTA?
Later in their campaigns, their message will be set and polished, early in their campaign they are seeking stands to take to attract supporters. You might influence them to support an issue that is important to you.

[rhite5]

39. For those of us who do not live in Louisiana

For those of us who do not live in Louisiana, the important thing we can do is help support the position of "The Black Commentator" --

http://www.blackcommentator.com/radio_bc/laterst_radio_bc.html

"New Orleans Population has the Right of Return"


Of course there are many reasons to support getting all those displaced people back to New Orleans as soon as possible besides keeping Democrats in office. The only way a genuine new New Orleans can retain the qualities of the old New Orleans is with the people who made it what it was in the first place. And, besides, New Orleans is their hometown and they have a right to share in the cleanup and rebuilding jobs! (As well as their old jobs as the hospitals and schools and businesses and refineries and all come back in service).

Scattering them all over the country MIGHT have been necessary, but it has to be only temporary. They have not been fired from their old jobs, have they?

And, incidentally, they are Democrats and will vote for Democrats.

[oasis]

41. I yield to your wisdom on the matter. (eom)

[Hippo_Tron]

42. What ass kissing? Landrieu said she was gonna punch Bush

Don't get me wrong, there are some dems that I like better than Landrieu, but none that I know of have threatened physical force against the smirking chimp, other than her.

In all seriousness, many people forget that Bush controls how much money is spent to rebuild New Orleans.

Luckilly, I think that this might be a wake-up call for some of those who voted for Bush. Perhaps the Republicans that live in Southern Louisiana are learning just how much the chimp actually gives a shit about them.

Perhaps this will help turn Louisiana back into a blue state.

[DemonFighterLives]

43. Thanks for the info.

Up here at the other end of the big river, the information is spotty and appears that dubby is already crawling out of his hole. The media is doing it's best to trash the local politicians to give dubya another pass.
Take care and hold on tight.
:grouphug:

[Spike from MN]

44. Thanks for the explanation.

I really haven't had the time to follow everything re: Blanco and Nagin but I'm sure your post helped clear things up a bit.

And don't feel bad that your state has to elect centrist Dems rather than progressive ones. I'm in no position to judge. After all, I'm from the state that sent Norm Coleperson* to D.C. Ugh.

*That's what his fellow law students referred to him as throughout law school. Apparently he was every bit as popular with his classmates as he is on this forum. ;)

[NVMojo]

45. Thank you for posting this, it was extremely eye-opening! Time to wake

up, folks! Everything the Repugs do is part of the grand scheme of the neocon. They will not lie down over any perceived mistakes ...plus, there's always those voting machines...

[alittlelark]

46. I would THROW A PARTY!!! A MARDI GRAS PARTY!!!!

I would diss all of the OP info..... and throw a party!!!!


OH YEAH!!!

[autorank]

47. Thanks. I appreciate this. It's true "value added."

Landrieu recovered nicely after the Cooper interview and I think she's a force.

I hope that Blanco gets her game together for the people of LA and also for the party. The James Lee Witt appointment was brilliant. She needs to take the initiative to nail Bush, clearly by stealth. Maybe she's doing it already.

This is a voting nightmare and they'll do everything to disenfranchise those evacuees any way they can.

This deserves national, unified party support.

Again, thanks.

[Be Brave]

48. That was a wonderful primer on LA politics, Anne.

It puts things in context for an outsider like me. From what I've seen of Vitter on the news, he looks like an asshole capable of doing dirty politics. It's not farfetched at all to think that the repugs will try their darnedest to make new New Orleans red. In fact, the way things are set up right now, it looks like it would not be hard for them to pull off this sort of thing. The priority of many, many evacuees is to find jobs and to get back to some sort of normalcy in whatever place they find themselves now, and this probably means that these people will not be returning to New Orleans any time soon after it's safe to go back. Furthermore, the repugs, led by Bush and big business, will probably insist on leading the rebuilding effort in New Orleans, and come out being "heroes".

As for the smear campaign on Blanco, Landrieu, and Nagin, yeah that's very obvious now, and many of us saw that coming. The drumbeat of the smear campaign is on the rise, especially on Blanco. And the media, right on schedule, is playing right along with the spin machinery.

Anne, I have to ask, why is Blanco not fighting back? She has a lot of ammunition to hit this administration with, and yet she seems to be letting the repug spinners and the media get away with what they can. She even takes a lot of flak from Nagin. Why doesn't she fight back, and fight back hard? I understand that the relief effort is foremost on her mind and agenda right now, but if she just keeps on taking the punches, she'll be toast when all this is over.

[AnnInLa]

63. From today's Baton Rouge newspaper

Answers as to exactly what went wrong soon may be forthcoming. While still dealing with rescue, recovery and law-enforcement problems last week, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco's staff and other state agencies also began compiling a timeline that will indicate when assistance was requested and just how long it took to get there.

In the meantime, the governor has hired James Lee Witt -- the FEMA director under former President Bill Clinton -- to advise her.

"We wanted soldiers, helicopters, food and water," Blanco spokeswoman Denise Bottcher has said of the federal agency. "They wanted to negotiate an organizational chart."


http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/091205/new_criticism001.shtml

[Be Brave]

65. Thank you for that info. I hope the state's answers come soon. n/t

[rucky]

49. Does the "Dixie Mafia" play into this at all?

inquiring minds want to know your take on that angle...

[DemonFighterLives]

50. I like that disaster list

Do you suppose dubnuts made it himself or is that an official PNAC document?
:rofl:

[sendero]

51. Thanks for that...

... as I admittedly know nothing about LA politics.

I get frustrated with what is going on, but have to admit that politically, it might be the best we can do for the time.

[leesa]

52. Thank you for the information. When will we escape the death-grip

the GOP has on our country?

[Bridget Burke]

54. Even "Centrist" Dems are better than no Dems at all.

Check out my own state of Texas. But the Mayor of Houston is a Democrat, at least.

Some of the critics here are overly idealistic. Others just want excuses to blame ANY Democrat.

[wildeyed]

55. Excellent post.

Thanks for the 411 on local LA politics.

Also, your analysis could be applied to NC, my state, as well. We have successful centrist dems here, too. I consider my values to be more 'progressive', but I recognize that right now it is a choice between the centrists or a complete RW nutcase. So I pick the centrist while I work quietly to advance my values from within the party.

I have a hard time with the 'circular firing squad'. I often see the point of those complaining, but at the same time, I value party loyalty and think it would be more effective to maintain some party discipline.

[Lowell]

57. Excellent analysis and kicked!

Thanks for explaining so well something that a lot of outsiders to LA politics don't understand. My own kinfolk from LA have been dealing with the influx of media and displaced citizens since the hurricane. They are from Baton Rouge and have completely changed their view of this administration. They have told me that they are convinced now that this bunch are clueless. Confusion, chaos and red tape hamper operations at all levels. Perhaps some good will come from Katrina after all. I don't understand how a state so economically depressed can remain so red.

[Usrename]

58. Sure, Sen Landrieu is a whore to big oil, but I like how she compensates

for having to lie on her back. These are recent events from the Senate floor. I call attention to the last link. I like this Senator.


Sep 8 2005 – Hurricane Katrina Floor Speech to United States Senate
Landrieu:
<snip>
We know the President said -- quote -- "I don't think anybody anticipated the
breach of the levees."
<snip>
(she describes Mr. Bill, the clay figure from Saturday Night Live)
<snip>
How can it be that Mr. Bill was better informed than Mr. Bush?
<snip>
I want to say a special word of thanks personally to Ted Koppel for the beautiful
piece he did last night, because I haven't been able to watch much television myself, but
I got to see his piece. And we need journalists like that. I kept thinking, where's Walter
Cronkite, and all I had is Geraldo Rivera.
<snip>

WarningPDF:http://landrieu.senate.gov/hurricanes/images/05.09.08%20Floor%20Speech%20news%20release.pdf



HURRICANES – (Senate – September 15, 2004) – One year ago

Landrieu (regarding evacuation routes):
<snip>
People might say: Senator, why did they build the port here in the first place? I understand that. If we could do it again, knowing what we know now, perhaps that would not have been done. I will speak for a minute about that because I want people to understand the argument. Men and women are here because the oil and gas is here. If we could figure out a way to have people live in Chicago and commute every day down to the Gulf of Mexico to get the oil and gas out of the ground, then people would not have to live here, but we have not figured that out yet. So real life men and women and children and families live here. They have to live here to serve as the platform for the oil and gas that keeps the lights on all over the country. Yet we ask them time and time and time again to literally risk their lives to do so, and we cannot find a few million dollars in this budget to lift this highway so either they can get out or they can be safe.
<snip>

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?r108:2:./temp/~r108aQwHcV:e0:


This article was introduced into the Congressional Record by Sen. Landrieu one year ago:


AWAITING IVAN IN THE BIG UNEASY
NEW ORLEANS GIRDS FOR MAJOR DAMAGE
(By Michael Grunwald and Manuel Roig-
Franzia)
NEW ORLEAN, SEPT. 14.—Walter Maestri, an
emergency manager here in America’s most
vulnerable metropolitan area, has 10,000 body
bags ready in case a major hurricane ever
hits New Orleans.

Warning PDF http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2004_record&page=S9259&position=all


Senate apology for lynching:
http://landrieu.senate.gov/lynching/index.cfm

This list does not include her record on advocating for Title 1, Head Start, and school children in general.

[jzodda]

59. Great post, Well thought out

I have mixed feelings. Although I refuse to go after the mayor of NO because I strongly feel that no mayor is equipped to deal with the destruction of his/her city. I have had some problems with the Gov and her performance in this affair.

I would certainly not want to hand over the state to the repukes though, so I will hold my fire for now to give the dems in your state time to fix things

[bloom]

60. Thanks for the post.

I am outraged at the idea that the Republicans would be so crass as to use a tragedy like this to gain votes and "get rid of" Democratic voters. We know how they have worked to disenfranchise black voters in Florida and Ohio...

"George Doesn't Care About Black People"

http://ia300804.eu.archive.org/0/items/George_Bush_Doesnt_Like_Black_People/GeorgeBushDoesntCareAboutBlackPeople.mp3

[UTUSN]

61. Sounds Like a Literal War of Aggression by the Wingnuts

Thanks for the cogent analysis.

[KoKo]

62. I'm a Progressive Dem...but I understand the South particularly areas

of the Deep South....so I wouldn't attack Landrieu or Nagin over not being progressive enough. What you say is exactly correct about what the Repugs are trying to do in NO's and thank you for saying it.

While I disagreed with many of Lanrieu's votes in the Senate, I think she's done an excellent job of defending the people of NO's and attacking Bush and framing the issues of what went wrong with Katrina. She gave an incredible speech to the Senate that was broadcast on C-Span last week, which few DU'ers heard.

I haven't seen Progressive Attacks by Dems here on DU....maybe they were Troll posts...we've had quite a few here, particularly over the weekend. They maybe posing as Progressives just to turn us against each other here on this Board.

I had a post asking what Nagin's T-Shirt meant over the weekend that might have been viewed by you if you saw it as an attack, but what I was trying to do was get in front of the issue for those who WOULD attack him for his T-Shirt. There were a few folks on that thread who maybe didn't know how long I've been here on DU that may have viewed that post as a dis of him, but once the thread got into discussion some very good things came out about him, and his efforts to help a housing project on "Desire" street in New Orleans. I think it educated all of us and particularly those who live in other parts of the country who don't know what DESIRE means in New Orleans and might have thought it might be some kind T-Shirt advertising a Rock Band.:D

Anyway, just wanted you to know that this is a good post about the politics of the area for those here who live outside the South.

[Pacifist Patriot]

64. Very well said and a reality to many Democrats in red states.

Florida is very similar to Louisiana down to the geography. Red north and central, blue south. Unfortunately, we one-up you with a neocon Governor.

Bill Nelson is my sole Democratic representative from the municipal to the federal level. I am willing to tolerate his "less progressive" votes and maintain a Democratic encumbent than risk replacing him with another far right wing Republican. I will never find a candidate who matches my preferences 100% unless I choose to run myself. That being the case, I'm looking at this realistically. If a less popular, but more progressive Democrat challenged Nelson in the primary I would probably work for the Nelson campaign despite being more ideologically in tune with the challenger.

[Wizard777]

66. They like it real spicy and they don't hold back on the heat.

I thought that was obvious when Mayor Nagin was bitching out President Bush LIVE. Bush is worried about playing the blame game and La. don't play. Just ask Huey Long.

[MissMarple]

67. I would support the ladies, and go after Vitter. Hold him responsible.

Anyone who supported the dismantling of FEMA is responsible. Anyone who undermined the integrity of the levees through neglect is responsible. This mess has disrupted river traffic and the transport of goods. It has stressed the resources of the state to the point that basic infrastructure will suffer because of lack of funding. It has disrupted commerce and agriculture across the board. Rebuilding New Orleans and the surrounding areas after a disaster like this drains vitality and growth for the entire state, the entire region.

These people have no imagination, paint a goddamn picture.

Well, that's what I would say to the DNC and the La. Dems. For what that's worth.