Suppressing The New Orleans Vote

The Nation ^ | April 13, 2006 | The Editors

[bigeasy_70118]

I completely agree.

Just to show you the intellectual inconsistency of ACORN, 4 years ago, they pimped Nagin's opponent in the runoff, Richard Pennington, hard. They went out of there way to smear Nagin.

Now, after the storm Nagin is like manna from heaven.

[weegee]

I think it is the usual Rat machine in action. Make sure that the base votes the "right" way.

I live here in Houston and haven't heard of any efforts from the city of NOLA to bus those who want to return there to LIVE.

Only a ride to vote (presumably roundtrip).

[MortMan]

Thank you for the insight. I was projecting some other shenanigans I've seen from other races where a certain party has demonstrated corruption to beat the band.

[catholicfreeper]

The problem is there is no place to live. Once FEMA gets these floodmaps out that will change hopefully

[weegee]

Violent crime was rising in Houston before the Katrina evacuees arrived.

Mayor White (a Clinton administration official, handpicked successor to Mayor Brown, a Clinton administration official) has been good for select business interests in this city (certain developers) but not so good for the city as a whole. I know 5 people personally who were carjacked in the last 2 years (including 2 in the same month in 2005) all prior to Katrina. Never knew anyone who'd been a victim of that before. Different parts of town.

Talked with 2 of the female victims. Cars recovered. Evidence (cell phone numbers called, ID badge of someone was left in the car) was left behind, the police have not pursued these cases (they are now over 6 months old and unlikely to be prosecuted, one woman was even kidnapped at knife point).

Mayor White wants to blame Katrina evacuees (which HAVE added to some of the murder rate between warring gang bangers/drug dealers) but that is just because he wants more federal aid money so that he doesn't have to pay for needed cops out of the city budget. Frees up money for more partnered construction projects.

[liberty2004]

I disagree. I think Forman would be a great mayor.

you have to be kidding?? Forman was Morial's campaign manager. Forman is a typical crook. He is a parasite who made his money off the taxpayer's back. Don't be fooled by the slick ads. Morial is dying for a way back in to steal the taxpayer's money. Forman would be his man. It would be an utter disaster to have Forman elected. I live in Jefferson and have family in New Orleans. Out of all the candidates, Peggy Wilson would be the best choice. Most of the other's are long time political hacks who only care about lining they and their friend's pockets.

[weegee]

No place in ALL OF LOUISIANA?

I find that hard to believe. No one says they have to live in Southern Louisiana.

Paying money to many states for one state's failings is not a good precedent.

[liberty2004]

I have also heard others who contend his skills are woefully deficient in dealing with the backstab artists and slimming specialists that are determined THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE.

I also hope you heard Forman was Morial's campaign manager. Morial was the most racist thieving politician in New Orleans history. He stole the taxpayer's blind and let the city decay. Forman would let Morial and his cronies have at it if elected. I am afraid you are right, there will be NO change if the likes of Forman or Landrieu is elected.

[bigeasy_70118]

Peggy Wilson would be the best choice. Most of the other's are long time political hacks who only care about lining they and their friend's pockets.

Peggy Wilson is a long time politcal hack as well. She is only nominally conservative and reminds me an awful lot of a certain Mayor Bloomberg.

Couhig is the only true conservative in the race. But I have no issue with any one who votes for Forman, because he is the lesser of three evils (Nagin and Landrieu being the other two.)

[TexasCajun]

Telling stories are we?

My bother's Ford 4x4 was broken into 3 different times, 3 parts of town in 10 days!

Who knows? MS13? Illegal Immiagrants? Evacuees? Locals?

Lee P. Brown is still an idiot.
Even an ex Democrat Party Chairman like Bill White is a refreshing replacement.

[liberty2004]

Nagin is really not corrupt like that. He might be incompetent but corruption of that nature is really not in his character

you are correct. For all of Nagin's faults, and there are many, his best quality is that he is not a political hack. He came from the business world. Nagin struggled from the beginning to fight the Morial cronies left in the administration. He tried his best to reform government, but the corruption is too deep. Katrina showed Nagin at his worse. Nagin ran for office to try and make a positive change - he wasn't in it to fleece the taxpayers. Most of the others running for office are only seeing $$$ for themselves and their friends.

[catholicfreeper]

YEs I have heard Peggy Wison's ad on this. Morial is finished. His ghost doesn't scare me anymore. I have never seen any evidence that Forman is corrupt. He like many of the Garden District crowd had to make a descion to be in eternal opposition to the power structure or cooperate with it to get some things done. I would love if a Repub could get elected in NOLA but its not going to happen. I guess I want Landrieu defeated also. He took a big chance with this election and it might scare him off from a future Congressional run down there if he is defeated.

[liberty2004]

Couhig is the only true conservative in the race.

you are correct on this point. Couhig would be an excellent choice. I only mentioned Peggy because in the paper this past week, she came out for making New Orleans an income tax free zone and for drastically reducing city employees -- I like that :) Seriously, Couhig would make an excellent mayor. Peggy would shake up things too. I wouldn't put her in the liberal mold of Bloomberg - ouch.

[catholicfreeper]

Put them where? There is no sense in relocating residents to rural areas of a State where there is no Job opportunities and the school system couldnt handle it. Also Southern Louisian is still getting over Rita. By the way, the residents of Louisiana have done a good bit. Baton Rouge has taken in many of these folks. So has Shreveport. There were significant increases to various cities populations within the State.

[bigeasy_70118]

Wilson's plan of a tax free city is the conservative equivalent of a liberal promising free healthcare.

First, she has no control over the federal and state tax rates. Second, her plan to raise funds to pay for city services with federally backed revenue bonds requires Congress and Bush's assent. No indication has been given that either would agree.

Third, the plan has limited shelf life of five years. How does she plan to payoff the revenue bonds? With a tax increase! What company is going to relocate to New Orleans so that it can get it with a tax increase.

City services are terrible. I don't know if you live in Orleans but it really sucks. If she had proposed a more reasonavle measure such as a property tax holiday for 2006, I'd more inclined to support her.

Quite frankly, I wish that hag would drop out and endorse Couhig.

[pepperhead]

Note: This is PURE CONJECTURE on my part.

It might be conjecture but your not the only one that is afraid of that happening. I have been worried about former residents of New Orleans voting in the states they are in now and absentee for New Orleans.

[catholicfreeper]

Couhig is good. I have to admit one problem with Forman is it seems he is playing it safe. Not alot of imaginative ideas. The debate tonight will be huge. I am sure that the Morial charge will come out big. Forman also will have to stir voters tonight. If not then Mitch might hold on to it. It should be interesting. Especially with Chris Mathews moderating. No telling what questions he might ask.

[liberty2004]

Quite frankly, I wish that hag would drop out and endorse Couhig.

It's a shame he can't rise above 4th in the polls. Maybe tonight's debate will let him shine. However, with Mathews moderating, he wont let any conservative shine. Chris will no doubt try to tilt the questions in Landrieu's or Nagin's favor.....

[Flavius Josephus]

The demorcats think it's funny to cheat. Ha ha. Big joke, can't we move on?

[daybreakcoming]

By the way, the residents of Louisiana have done a good bit. Baton Rouge has taken in many of these folks.

Hi - Just a note of interest. I was in Baton Rouge this past w/e and saw something on the news about one of the "camps" in BR. It is in a black neighborhood and the residents there are frightened. Seems there is a fence around the "camp" with a guard gate entry. You must prove you live there or have permission to enter to visit someone. There are people running through the back yards of some homes and climbing the fence to go in and out. Two elderly black ladies were interviewed and they were not happy about this situation. Apprehension and fear about this is definitely color-blind.