Many Pushing Breaux to Seek a Fourth Term

Shreveport, LA, Times ^ | 12-14-03 | Not given

[Theodore R.]

BATON ROUGE - U.S. Sen. John Breaux, once the youngest member of Congress, will announce Monday whether he will run for a fourth term.

The 59-year-old has scheduled lunch with his staff Monday to discuss his decision then will hold a press conference at 1:30 p.m. in Baton Rouge to announce it to Louisiana.

[KantianBurke]

After the Jindal and Terry elections in LA, forgive me for being skeptical when I say does it really matter if Breaux retires? He'll simply be replaced by another Rat.

[Amish]

In normal circumstances I would agree with you, but IF (and it's a big if) 2004 is another Nixon-McGovern type blow out.. it's just possible that the 53-45 Bush Gore Margin could grow to 60+-40- Bush-Dean... and that might make enough difference to add the several percent to a Dave Vitter to put him over the top. Once we get a incumbent Senator from La. we should be able to hold on.

[JohnnyZ]

Maybe 2004 is the best time to have a senate election, seeing as Bush is leading the ballot. On the other hand, Republicans are still a couple points shy of being able to beat a white conservative Democrat like Chris John in an open seat race, although it would be close and a possible victory. If the seat is open 6 years from now instead, perhaps that intervening time would suffice to bring up Republican registration numbers (as has, I believe, been the trend), hopefully make another 2-5% of inroads into African-American support, and give us a better shot at the seat.

On the other hand, commenting about "6 years from now" is pretty speculative.

[Scenic Sounds]

I had no idea he'd been in Washington that long!

[Holden Magroin]

It did not take Breaux, who grew up in Acadia Parish speaking French before he did English, to find a voice.

How come is it for Cajuns to speak English as a second language?

[Holden Magroin]

Oops...I meant "common," not "come."

[deport]

How come is it for Cajuns to speak English as a second language?

---

Depends upon the age of the person.... Older people were much more comfortable with their native French rather than English and may have spoken only very limited English [that is changing as the older ppl pass on]..... Their childern were taught English and in many instances discouraged from speaking French. That has changed again I think to where a second language is taught in schools and is French.... Speaking two or more languages is an asset IMO. I wish I did.....

[deport]

How come is it for Cajuns to speak English as a second language?

---

Depends upon the age of the person.... Older people were much more comfortable with their native French rather than English and may have spoken only very limited English [that is changing as the older ppl pass on]..... Their childern were taught English and in many instances discouraged from speaking French. That has changed again I think to where a second language is taught in schools and is French.... Speaking two or more languages is an asset IMO. I wish I did.....

[deport]

Yep...........

Double clicks = double post.....

[Theodore R.]

I don't think too many Cajuns now grow up learning French before English, but they may have in the 1940 and 1950s.