Political Careerist Opportunism: Lousiana Senate President Considers Second Party Switch

Politics1.com ^ | 25 November 2003

[sofloridian]

LOUISIANA SENATE PRESIDENT CONSIDERS ANOTHER PARTY SWITCH.

Louisiana State Senate President John Hainkel (R) enjoys his leadership job and wants to have a good working relationship with incoming Governor Kathleen Blanco (D). Blanco -- who is replacing a term-limited GOP incumbent -- let it be known she'd like the next House Speaker and Senate President to be Democrats, according to CQ Politics Today. Hainkel told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that the most important thing to him is retaining his leadership post: "Maybe I'll be [a] Democrat ... If that is the biggest freakin' thing ... to [Blanco], I'd change my party affiliation. It doesn't make any difference to me. I could be an independent or a Libertarian or a Tory." Hainkel, a conservative, served as House Speaker as a Democrat in the late 1980s, before switching to the GOP in the 1990s when the tide shifted in his state. Hainkel also briefly flirted with making a GOP run for Governor earlier this year.

[sofloridian]

What a pathetic example of political careerism. Hainkel is a great argument for mandatory term limits. Does this guy believe in anything at all other than himself?

[LouD]

the most important thing to him is retaining his leadership post

I hope the state party has a little meeting with him, and explains that they will make defeating him their life's work, should he stab them in the back.

[jmaroneps37]

I hope blanco tells him she was thinking that she wants to appoint a woman. Will this jerk cut off his jewels to get the job?

[LouD]

ignore the tagline...

[JohnnyZ]

I'll repost my comment from the other thread on the same topic:

In his defense, party affiliation is not a big thing in Louisiana. There are three main parties: Black Democrats, Conservative Democrats, and Conservative Republicans. With the occasional Landrieu liberal thrown in for a little added corruption.

Although it ain't pretty to see him dancing to Blanco's tune.

[JohnnyZ]

I hope the state party has a little meeting with him, and explains that they will make defeating him their life's work, should he stab them in the back.

There's no way they'd do that. What difference does it make?

He could be the new chair of Democrats for Bush, now that Hunt Downer, the 2000 leader, is a Republican.

[JohnnyZ]

Does this guy believe in anything at all other than himself?

He believes in conservative principles and isn't wedded to a party label. Makes it tough to build the Republican brand in Louisiana, but that's how it is there. There are tons of conservative Democrats.

[NavyCaptain]

Maybe he'll announce a sex change next to be more like the Governor-elect?

[Bogey78O]

If anything, he's just showing Blanko to be an idiot. He'll still be the same and he'll still vote the same and he'll still support the same but he'll be a Democrat. Just to show how stupid Blanko's decree is.