Posted on 09/12/2005 3:42:46 PM PDT by STARWISE
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Population shifts caused by the exodus of hurricane victims from the Gulf Coast could have ripple effects for years to come in Louisiana political races and perhaps beyond.
How big depends on how many people stay away, which ones stay away and where they end up putting down roots.
The early thinking is that the evacuees least likely to return to their homes in Louisiana may be the poorest -- and thus, Democrats for the most part. That would hurt the party in a state where Republicans already were making inroads.
If the lion's share of those leaving settle in Texas, that could work to the advantage of Democrats in President Bush's home state.
"I'm believing that the greatest displacement occurs among those who are traditionally Democratic voters," said Elliott Stonecipher, an independent political consultant from Shreveport, Louisiana.
"Based on sheer demographics, those who are Republican voters have the wherewithal and, we believe, the will to go home and rebuild," he said.
Stonecipher sees the New Orleans area losing Democratic voters and a political network that was of great benefit to Sen. Mary Landrieu and other Democrats.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
((Wanna bet they'll find some sunny-day people to drive the schoolbuses on voting day????))
Landrieu was elected in a 2002 runoff by just 42,000 votes (52 percent to 48 percent). New Orleans was the base of her support.
"If that's compromised, that could be a problem for her," said John Maginnis, who publishes a political newsletter in Louisiana."
===========================================
She's got a couple of years to re-make her blithering liar image .. we'll see how far PROUD Mary gets by the time of her next election in 2008. Somebody had BETTER be monitoring and accounting for ALL the funds that LA gets.
Now do you understand why the DemocRATS are trying to bash W?
Only if they master the art of bodily hauling apathetic "voters" to the polls each and every election. The infrastructure involved in dragging people to a poll, instructing them on how to cast a ballot, and for whom won't emerge overnight.
Second, look for the dems to try and "rebuild" NO in a manner that loads it up with the downtrodden again. A true economic rebirth would not be in the dems' interests.
Katrina might affect Louisiana Politics
Ya Think?
DAMN, LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY
The day Texas goes Democrat is the day Hillary becomes a Milf.
look for the dems to try and "rebuild" NO in a manner that loads it up with the downtrodden again.
I wish we would just leave the politics out of it.
The day Texas goes Democrat is the day Hillary becomes a Milf.
HEHEHEHEHEHEHE
Don't be so confident. While it seems the Rice University political science professor could barely contain his joy at the prospect of the GOP losing its dominance in Texas, thus betraying his bias, what he and the article says is true.
It is true that the GOP in Texas does better with Hispanics than their counterparts do in California, but they still routinely lose by double-digit margins with latinos.
Whether we like to admit it or not, most Hispanics simply prefer the Democrats, and as the white share of the Texas electorate declines, the Democrats fortunes will improve. Of course the outreach to latinos should continue in earnest, but lets not fool ourselves into thinking that continued mass immigration (legal and illegal) will be anything but an electoral boon for the Democrats, and eventually, a disaster for the Republicans.
Of course if immigration were reduced, now, then the outlook would change. But seeing as how the GOP leadership (especially Bush) seems intent on a futile attempt to outpander the Democrats, we shouldn't count on a reduction anytime soon, and accordingly we shouldn't be confident at all about long-term demographic trends.
Since Katrina's name will almost certainly be retired, there will need to be a new name chosen for 2011. How about Kathleen? That one's not been used yet.
**Katrina might affect Louisiana politics**
Duh!
I'm almost falling out of my chair, I'm laughing so hard.
We will just have to depend on the graveyard vote from chicago to carry the democratic vote in NO and Baltimore.
I sincerely hope that Louisiana politics are affected. Anything would be an improvement.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
