LA GOP Ponders Its Latest Losses

The Alexandria, LA, Daily Town Talk ^ | 12-09-02 | Hasten, Mike

[Theodore R.]

BATON ROUGE -- Within moments of U.S. Senate candidate Suzanne Haik Terrell conceding defeat to Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu Saturday night, state Republican Party members were quick to affix blame for the loss on several factors.

From too much outside interference from Washington to not enough effort by Gov. Mike Foster and U.S. Rep. John Cooksey and failure to have a strong Republican in the 5th Congressional District race, theories abound.

[Theodore R.]

Former state Rep. Woody Jenkins of Baton Rouge, who lost to Landrieu six years ago by 5,000 votes, said times obviously have changed and people aren't as wrapped up in politics as they once were.

Woody Jenkins may be on to something: most people no longer have any interest in politics. Maybe we are flogging dead horses here.

[Malcolm]

The only reason I can think of to explain this is that conservatives in that state are lazy. To me, this contest was winnable by the Republican candidate. I have yet to see turnout stats, but I'm sure they will show that our people felt that they had better things to do. We have to keep up the fight. Just because we had a good day on Nov 5th doesn't mean the game is over. In fact, it means the opposite.....

[KC_Conspirator]

Never underestimate the power of the democrat party in LA. When one party has political control unchallenged for so long, state politics just become a corrupt machine (since Huey Long). LA is probably the number one example of this, with Arkansas at number two until recent GOP wins in the 90's.

Its been since Reconstruction since the GOP had a senate seat in LA. It just means that its going to be harder to win there.

[No dems 2002]

This is all rationalising nonsense by sore-losers. In spite of the odds of facing an incumbent senator, from a well-known Louisiana family, the politically unknown and physically less attractive Suzie Terrell received 48.4% of the vote (dramatically up from the 27% she received in the general election). Consider that, if some GOP strongholds had turned out a little bit more, it would have swung Terrell over the top.

Landrieu can sing her little song, but this only serves to prove how the GOP is gaining traction in the state that "hasn't elected a Republican senator since Reconstruction." I'm looking forward to the end of that line.

[Kenny Bunk]

Landrieu can sing her little song, but this only serves to prove how the GOP is gaining traction in the state that "hasn't elected a Republican senator since Reconstruction." I'm looking forward to the end of that line.

Can anyone tell me what the level of fraud was in this election? 42% Turnout could well mean that ballots were discarded. 40,000 IS an awful lot of votes, but on the other hand I have personally seen 5-600 votes per precinct affected by fraud.

I am starting to sound like the proverbial broken record, I know. But the key to straight elections is straight registration. You people in LA don't have that. I am highly suspicious of the WBJC last-minute phone call. Sounds more like the Morial fix was already in and WBJC was just calling the snap.

Republicans are perfectly capable of losing straight elections. But win, lose, or draw the process has to be straight or this ain't America. So again, my question: honest election?

[sinkspur]

Landrieu can sing her little song, but this only serves to prove how the GOP is gaining traction in the state that "hasn't elected a Republican senator since Reconstruction." I'm looking forward to the end of that line.

That may happen sooner than you think.

Those coonasses better get ready to eat a lot of Louisiana sugar, because the rest of us are going to be eating cheaper MEXICAN sugar.

Mary'll have to start wearing 2XXX-Queen-size pantyhose!

[winodog]

I hear all the time about how much the black vote affects races.(Granted you just said LA is one third black so that makes a difference) But all in all blacks make up 13%? of the pop. at large.
Blacks say all the time that too many blacks are put in prison. Does this mean 3% of blacks have a felony conviction?
I also find it hard to believe that blacks are more likely to vote then white people, So that leads me to belive that blacks dont the political power that everyone makes them out to.
Granted I have not studied this issue in depth. Nonetheless does my rambling make any sense? Am I missing something obvious?
Feel free to critize my thoughts. I take honest critisizm very well.

[Non-Sequitur]

...Suzie Terrell received 48.4% of the vote (dramatically up from the 27% she received in the general election).

Correct me if I'm wrong but weren't there three or four Republican candidates in the general election and didn't their combined vote total exceed 50%? So what happened?

[Arthur McGowan]

I'm not saying you are responsible for this, but:

The correct abbreviation of "Louisiana" is "La." "LA" is a postal code, and should be used only on envelopes.

[Dan from Michigan]

People often resent it when other people come into their state or community and tell them who to vote for."

BINGO!

[Theodore R.]

My understanding is that the postal zip codes are increasingly being used as the abbreviations of states. The formal English rules are being replaced by postal codes.

[Arthur McGowan]

My understanding is that the postal zip codes are increasingly being used as the abbreviations of states.

So, it's okay because that's what happening? So is cancer.

[Consort]

The momemtum is with the GOP.

[Theodore R.]

I understand that the older accepted abbreviations are being phased out. I can understand if you disapprove of that. So "Calif." is becoming CA; "Conn." is becoming "CT." etc. I guess it's part of standardization.