2003 Sees a Return to Traditional Middle in Louisiana Politics

Shreveport, LA, Times ^ | 01-02-04 | AP

[Theodore R.]

BATON ROUGE - For a time in 2003, it looked as though Louisiana voters might jettison old habits and elect a man who looked and sounded different from any previous governor.

In the end, old themes reasserted themselves and some traditional trends in Louisiana politics won out. Instead of sending the nation's first Indian-American to the Governor's Mansion - and electing the first nonwhite governor in Louisiana history - voters chose a white career politician whose candidacy echoed that of predecessors.

[jocon307]

"He raised teachers' salaries but kept Louisiana's ranking in that regard not far from where it usually has been - near the bottom."

This is an accomplishment? I'd call it a failure.

[Redbob]

"He made a few off-color remarks about business, audaciously pointing out that it is not keen on paying taxes."

Thus exhibiting the typical Dimocrat stupidity regarding taxes:
"Businesses" don't pay taxes - they merely pass them along to their customers.

In this case, the customers are this dipwad's fellow Louisianans.

[Redbob]

"He raised teachers' salaries but kept Louisiana's ranking in that regard not far from where it usually has been - near the bottom."

That's neither accomplishment nor failure: by raising salaries, he got the teachers' union off his back, but he certainly didn't do anything to attack the root causes of Louisiana's abysmal educational record - like taking control of the schools OUT of the hands of the unions.