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Quin Hillyer: Mary Landrieu should cut her losses (Should withdraw from runoff)
The (Baton Rouge, LA) Advocate ^ | November 9, 2014 | Quinn Hillyer

Posted on 11/09/2014 6:52:18 AM PST by abb

When your main campaign sales pitch is based on your “clout,” and you lose the basis of that clout, then your campaign is probably a goner. For that and other reasons, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu has almost no remaining path to re-election.

Landrieu’s self-proclaimed clout as chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Energy always was rather illusory. Now, with Republicans running the Senate and a Democratic president wholly antagonistic to Louisiana economic interests, Democratic loyalist Landrieu will be doubly blocked from influence on behalf of the state.

Landrieu will keep trying to “localize” the election by ginning up irrelevant issues on subjects she’ll have little power to influence anyway. (Hint: If she couldn’t get President Barack Obama to lift the offshore “permitorium” when Democrats controlled the Senate, she surely won’t be able to get a lame-duck Obama’s ear now.) The truth, however, is that the U.S. Senate deals mostly with national issues. On those, Landrieu is out of step with a state she said is both too bigoted to give a black president a chance and too “conservative” to support strong women, herself presumably included.

Landrieu always claims to be a centrist ­— but the National Journal, the respected, neutral magazine that covers American government in depth, reported this year that the very existence of centrists in the Senate is “all but gone.” Even for that nearly nonexistent center, Landrieu wouldn’t qualify: In a decidedly liberal Democratic Senate caucus, reports National Journal, 10 other Democrats are less liberal than she.

Here’s one example. Through what a judge called “grotesque” misconduct, the Civil Rights Division of the Obama Justice Department already royally bungled the prosecution of the Danziger Bridge police officers; Landrieu voted to make that division even more radically leftist by supporting a nominee to head the office, Debo Adegbile, who went out of his way to wave the race card while arguing to overthrow the conviction of notorious cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal. Fortunately, the nomination failed anyway, with seven Democrats (but not Landrieu) helping block Obama’s awful selection.

(Landrieu wouldn’t give the same consideration to manifestly qualified Bush judicial nominee Miguel Estrada, even after pledging to local Latinos that she would support him.)

Louisianans chafing over the loss of free checking accounts, meanwhile, can blame Landrieu for casting a crucial vote in favor of the Dodd-Frank regulatory scheme which is leading banks to wipe out such accounts and otherwise hurting low-income customers.

Perhaps Landrieu’s most appalling vote came when she refused to join Republicans and 32 other Senate Democrats to repeal “Obamacare’s” horrendous tax on medical devices such as pacemakers, insulin pumps, vascular stents, MRI machines, cardiac defibrillators and even dentures ­— a tax not only hampering development of life-saving products, but also already eliminating thousands of jobs nationwide. Frankly, this vote — cravenly following Obama’s line, even when large Senate majorities of both parties were willing to buck the president — was unconscionable.

Granted, no fair-minded person would argue that Landrieu hasn’t “delivered” some good things for Louisiana, or that she hasn’t worked hard for 35 long years in public office. But, other than trading her key vote for “Obamacare” in return for the so-called “Louisiana Purchase,” she hasn’t been able to do much for the state, legislatively, since Obama took office.

As it is, Landrieu now faces arithmetically huge odds to win re-election. She and Rep. Bill Cassidy finished in a near dead-heat in the open primary with just over 600,000 votes each, with conservative Republican Rob Maness taking another 200,000 votes. Even if some of Maness’ voters stay home in December, and even if Landrieu somehow inspires more Louisianans to turn out for her than did last Tuesday, it’s still hard to figure how she can make up Tuesday’s overall Republican margin of 180,000 votes.

Pundits on both the right and left even say Landrieu should drop out, rather than trying a scorched-earth campaign that still would fall short, while damaging the Landrieu political brand. It worked in 1987-91 for Edwin Edwards, who regained the governor’s mansion just four years after not declining to contest a runoff. Landrieu has far more to offer than Edwards did — as long as she doesn’t poison the well through a nasty, probably hopeless campaign.

New Orleans native Quin Hillyer is a contributing editor for National Review. You can follow him on Twitter, @QuinHillyer. His email address is qhillyer@theadvocate.com, and he blogs at blogs.theadvocate.com/quin-essential.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: billcassidy; cassidy; landrieu; louisiana; louisianasenate; marylandrieu; quinnhillyer
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To: abb
The RNC is pouring lots of resources into this runoff...

DNC has pulled TV ad funding...

She's toast and knows it...

I can envision the DNC telling her to drop out to make his election seem illegitimate...so when they run against him in six years they will say he was never truly "elected" by a majority...

21 posted on 11/09/2014 7:33:40 AM PST by Popman
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To: Popman

I can see her ever since Tuesday nite blubbering and crying herself to sleep, whining about how “unfair” it all is.


22 posted on 11/09/2014 7:37:30 AM PST by abb ("News reporting is too important to be left to the journalists." Walter Abbott (1950 -))
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To: abb
Nah, let her have her fun. Our fun will be seeing her lose the runoff by 62-38 or so.
23 posted on 11/09/2014 7:37:57 AM PST by jiggyboy (Ten percent of poll respondents are either lying or insane)
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To: jiggyboy

Gonna be a lot of wasted money if she decides to keep going. When the demodummies pull the financial rug out from under you they see the writing on the wall. From here, things don’t look too good for Landrieu anymore.


24 posted on 11/09/2014 7:45:23 AM PST by DaveA37
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To: Patton@Bastogne

Indeed — I read it on your recommendation. My first LOL:

“Any campaign ads touting Landrieu’s sterling record on gay rights will no doubt be favorite reading in the Cassidy camp.”


25 posted on 11/09/2014 7:46:11 AM PST by jiggyboy (Ten percent of poll respondents are either lying or insane)
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To: jiggyboy

My prediction is 60-40. And Hillyer has a point. If she immolates herself with such a margin of defeat, it will be difficult for her to resurrect herself in the future.


26 posted on 11/09/2014 7:47:32 AM PST by abb ("News reporting is too important to be left to the journalists." Walter Abbott (1950 -))
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To: Ouchthatonehurt
I have to say when I see her I think of Ms Piggy. Except Ms. Piggy has far more intellectual Fire power.
27 posted on 11/09/2014 7:57:39 AM PST by Nuc 1.1 (Nuc 1 Liberals aren't Patriots. Remember 1789!)
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To: abb

Can I ask a stupid question?

Louisiana law requires that a candidate gets 50% plus 1. That’s why there is a runoff election scheduled.

If Landrieu pulled out, as this article wants her to do, don’t they still have to have the runoff? No candidate got 50% plus 1 in the Nov. 4th election. So if we’re going to follow the law, don’t they have to have the runoff?

Are we saying that if Landrieu pulls out, and somehow she miraculously won the runoff, that she would decline to return to the Senate?

I’m as anti-Landrieu as anybody here. Just don’t understand from a legal election standpoint saying she should withdraw. The state still has to have this election, unless I’m completely missing something else.


28 posted on 11/09/2014 7:59:02 AM PST by Dilbert San Diego (s)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=81617

B. Election of unopposed candidates. If, as a result of the death or withdrawal of one or more candidates, the number of candidates for an office in a general election does not exceed the number of persons to be elected to the office, the remaining candidates are declared elected by the people, and their names shall not appear on the ballot in the general election.


29 posted on 11/09/2014 8:04:12 AM PST by abb ("News reporting is too important to be left to the journalists." Walter Abbott (1950 -))
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To: abb

There’s a Muppet Movie waiting


30 posted on 11/09/2014 8:04:27 AM PST by molson209 (Blank)
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To: abb

thanks for the update.

In that case, Landrieu could spare us all a lot by pulling out.

I heard that the Democrat Senate Campaign Committee was reluctantly spending some money on her campaign. After originally deciding to not be involved with the runoff.

This election doesn’t have much meaning at this point. Republicans will still be in control of the Senate regardless of the outcome. Landrieu would be in the minority party, lose clout, lose committee chairmanships, etc. even if somehow she won this runoff.

It’s fun to watch this unfold as the Democrats have tough choices to make with Landrieu.

We’ll see if this is the end of her political career. It could well end right here for her.


31 posted on 11/09/2014 8:08:46 AM PST by Dilbert San Diego (s)
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To: MIchaelTArchangel

She does seem to be a bit hefty. I realize we’re not supposed to criticize personal appearances and all that.

But, she does have a certain heft to her. And probably could benefit from Weight Watchers services.


32 posted on 11/09/2014 8:09:41 AM PST by Dilbert San Diego (s)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

You are entirely too kind. She’s porked up big time. Total fat ass.

The other side has no problem making fun of Chris Christy’s heft.


33 posted on 11/09/2014 8:11:19 AM PST by abb ("News reporting is too important to be left to the journalists." Walter Abbott (1950 -))
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To: abb
the silly fat cow loves it's state soooo much it's going to make it pay twice for the privileged of getting rid of it...
34 posted on 11/09/2014 8:20:35 AM PST by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -w- NO Pity for the LAZY - 86-44)
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To: abb
Landrieu wouldn’t give the same consideration to manifestly qualified Bush judicial nominee Miguel Estrada, even after pledging to local Latinos that she would support him.

Landrieu bragged about support for Estrada in campaign ads.


Mary Landrieu has worked close to the Hispanic Community. Immediately following the destruction of Hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua and Honduras, Mary Landrieu was the first representative of the US to visit Honduras and involve herself with the relief effort for those affected by the hurricane and she obtained 11 million dollars in support of the affected families. Mary Landrieu ALSO SUPPORTED THE CANDIDACY OF THE HONDURAN MIGUEL ESTRADA FOR THE FEDERAL COURT OF APPEALS. Mary Landrieu has always been close to our community, she has grown, socialized and worked along our side. An announcement paid for by friends of Mary Landrieu."

February 12, 2003: Landrieu disavows Estrada ads


Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, who is now opposing the nomination of Miguel Estrada to a federal appeals court judgeship, ran Spanish-language radio ads during her campaign for a December runoff election saying she supported his nomination.

The ads, which ran on a New Orleans radio station for almost two weeks, praised Mrs. Landrieu's outreach to Hispanics and specifically noted Mr. Estrada.


¿Cómo Se Dice "Liar"?: Landrieu on Estrada


When Landrieu was confronted with this "apparent contradiction," her staff, no doubt using President Clinton's deposition as a "how to" guide for politicos caught in "apparent contradictions" issued the following statement:

Unfortunately, some of my supporters in the Hispanic community who helped us produce this commercial misinterpreted my neutrality as a statement of support. I take personal responsibility for the error and I apologize to anyone who was mislead by these ads, which ran for less than two weeks on one radio station in New Orleans.

It's time for this liar to be removed from Congress.

-PJ

35 posted on 11/09/2014 8:25:16 AM PST by Political Junkie Too (If you are the Posterity of We the People, then you are a Natural Born Citizen.)
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To: abb

Hopefully, she will run and cost the rat pack tons of money.

As she runs, she will panic even more and make insane statements on TV that will turn more voters away from her and the rats across the country.


36 posted on 11/09/2014 8:33:24 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Islam/ISIS = The Ebola of religious/political ideologies!)
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To: Grampa Dave

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/11/09/mary-landrieus-very-tough-new-ad-in-the-louisiana-senate-race/

Mary Landrieu’s very tough new ad in the Louisiana Senate race


37 posted on 11/09/2014 8:34:32 AM PST by abb ("News reporting is too important to be left to the journalists." Walter Abbott (1950 -))
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To: abb

Thanks to you and others for good homework and turning her ad into an IED for the La B$tch.


38 posted on 11/09/2014 8:39:07 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Islam/ISIS = The Ebola of religious/political ideologies!)
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To: abb
Uncle Earl—Crazy ‘bout the Northshore

Helluva story.

High (and low) comedy, on the one hand. Deeply disturbing on the other.

Thanks for posting.

39 posted on 11/09/2014 9:10:51 AM PST by okie01
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To: Dilbert San Diego

The election would be between Cassidy and Manes. If Manes has not “officially” thrown in the towel.


40 posted on 11/09/2014 9:20:01 AM PST by AceMineral (One day men will beg for chains.)
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