Posted on 09/23/2004 5:57:49 PM PDT by Theodore R.
In war-struck Lafayette, friendly words for arriving VP
By ADAM NOSSITER Associated Press writer
LAFAYETTE -- Two young men, graduates of Lafayette High School, were killed recently in Iraq. They got the equivalent of a state funeral from a school, and a town, in mourning. Thousands gathered outside the school to honor the young men.
When Vice President Dick Cheney stumps in the easygoing capital of Louisiana's Cajun country, mostly for a local congressional candidate, he will be on friendly ground. And not just among the paid-up audience of fans gathering for a breakfast meet-and-greet at this town's poshest private club.
The atmosphere, locally and generally, will be friendly, casualties or no casualties. Louisiana itself has grown increasingly warm toward his boss, President Bush, as the summer has progressed. Bush's Louisiana poll lead has jumped from 6 to 17 points in three months.
Lafayette will almost certainly support him and the vice president, as it did in 2000. Halliburton, Cheney's old company, has an office here where some 300 work, the oil services industry employs thousands, and support for the military is unquestioned. Dick Cheney, in the eyes of some here, is a straight-shooting patriot who gets a raw deal from the liberal press.
"He's effective, he's sensible, and he's competent," declared Butch Wyble, having lunch at a popular downtown restaurant, Dwyer's.
"He's a pretty straight up guy," said Gail McDavid, an engineer with the an oil services company recently bought out by Halliburton. "He says what he means, and he doesn't hold anything back."
He doesn't blame Cheney one bit for the loss of David Burridge and Joseph Thibodeaux III.
"There's a lot of hometowns all across America having to deal with that loss," said McDavid.
"People didn't blame Roosevelt in World War II," said Norman Ballieviero. As for Cheney, "I love him. He's a straight shooter. I support him 100 percent."
Cheney is coming to town, for his third Louisiana visit this year, to campaign for the Republican candidate for the 7th District Congressional seat, Charles Boustany, a well-connected cardiovascular surgeon whose father is the longtime local coroner. Boustany, a political novice, is in a tight race with two veteran Democrats, state senators with long tenure and well-established bases.
The district -- Louisiana's Catholic, socially tolerant Cajun country -- votes Republican in presidential politics put has been putting Democrats in Congress, including the incumbent Chris John, who is giving up his seat to run for the Senate.
The Republicans hope to change that, and around here, Cheney is considered a potent weapon to help them to it.
If there's any criticism aimed at Cheney and his boss, it's that they haven't been tough enough in Iraq.
"We ought to have gone in there with a lot more destruction than we have," said Mike Dwyer, serving up succulent plate lunches -- jambalaya, stuffed green pepper, chicken-fried steak -- at his cafe. "We've got the means."
He and several patrons expressed outrage at the beheadings of American hostages, and colorfully expressed desire for the toughest possible retaliation.
"I think we should be more forceful in our actions, so we can get what we want, and then get our people home," said McDavid, the engineer, putting his purchases in a pickup truck in the parking lot of Wal-Mart. "We could be a lot more aggressive."
There were a few dissents among people interviewed here on a rainy Thursday afternoon, but not many.
"We've been hit. We've got to defend our country. It's a shame we didn't get more support from the rest of the world, but somebody's got to stand up for what's right," said Ballieviero.
A Kerry supporter who works in the oil services industry agreed that he is in a distinct minority in Lafayette.
"A lot of `em go for Bush, because they think oil. They don't see the big picture," said Tony Robin. Bush and Cheney are "lying to the public," he said. "People around here are just too stupid to see exactly what's going on with the Iraqi situation."
said Tony Robin. Bush and Cheney are "lying to the public," he said. "People around here are just too stupid to see exactly what's going on with the Iraqi situation."
Uh Tony, I'm sure your neighbors feel the same way about you.
I don't know anything about this AP writer, Adam Nossiter, but he must like to stuff himself if he hung around inside of Dwyer's Restaurant to do interviews for this article. Ce bon.
***said Tony Robin.***
"Robin" can't be from around there. Probably a transplant with that name.
"People around here are just too stupid to see exactly what's going on with the Iraqi situation."
He's voicing what they truly believe. An honest Democrat. Imagine that.
If you hang around a restaurant in south Louisiana on Monday or Friday for lunch you'll get all the opinions you need.
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