When it comes to Louisiana politics, extreme cynicism always seems to be the order of the day. No other state can brag about a comparable record of consistently failing to punish unethical behavior in its politicians. I mean, what does it say that David Vitter expects (probably correctly) to be reelected and is far ahead in the polls? Why did it take two elections to defeat William ‘Freezer Cash’ Jefferson? And, most importantly for current affairs, why does Mary Landrieu think it’s good politics to fluff British Petroleum? I mean, isn’t that a bit like Mayor Guiliani trying to tell us that al-Qaeda is just misunderstood?
About The Author
BooMan
Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
12 Comments
Recent Posts
- Day 43: The #TrumpRussia Conspiracy Goes Mainstream At Last
- Day 40: Republicans Contemplate Giving Up On Deficit Control Forever
- Progress Pondcast Episode 22 With Bill Hangley Jr, on DOGE and U.S. Alliance With Russia
- Day 37: The Last Bulwarks Protecting the Merit-Based Civil Service
- Day 36: German Conservatives Win, Denounce American Conservatives
In other weird politics news, West Virginia state Sen. Mike Oliverio, who recently defeated Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV-01) in a primary, is doing things backwards.
Normally, you run to the left in the primary and tack to the center in the general. Somehow, Oliverio thinks the opposite approach will work for him. So far, he’s been right.
He might as well switch parties if he wins the general election.
Rahm used the Big Dog to talk to Sestak.
And the sideline commentary makes me gag. Somehow watching Mary Matlin, (the best Cheney apologist money could buy) standing next to James Carville as he rages in front of the camera of all the atroscities his state is faced with, all the time with narry a fact to his rant is not a boon to the good people of Louisiana.
He would have done his state a much bigger favor if he had delved into the logistics of what the Federal govt is doing as should have Matlin delved into the huge group think of the entire oil industry in trying to overcome BP’s arrogance with a solution.
The complexities of this blow out are beyond any of our comprehension, the size of it is unprecedented and so it is wrong headed to throw a Paul/Palin bumpersticker solution at it to stir the pot.
As long as the pot keeps getting stirred, the anger keeps getting stoked, peoples’ energies are sidetracked from thinking clearly but hey, it makes good tv
Digby:
Well, Obama’s coming close.
The President’s Weekly Address
May 22, 2010
There was a breakdown of corporate responsibility:
But there has long been a concern about inadequate oversight:
So a committee will be appointed:
And not much will change:
Boo:
Did you see the NBC Nightly News last night? If you heard the radio personality Williams interviewed, you’d know Louisiana is hopeless. I get the feeling Huey Long couldn’t get elected there right now.
Maybe they are cynical and expect politicians to be corrupt and depraved?
No other state, with the exception of Texas, is as pro-oil drilling as Louisiana, but they are allowed to play the role of innocents in this MAN MADE tragedy. From the Republican governor to a Democratic Senator and Congressmen, one blubbering about the environmental damage to his coast at hearing conveniently in front of the cameras, none of them are having to answer for their CAREER LONG efforts to support expanded drilling and thwart regulatory efforts and climate change and renewable energy legislation. They just get a free license to play the victims as if they didn’t have a hand in causing this mess. That goes for the residents as well. LA is mostly poor working class folks who have no economic interest in the policies promoted by Republicans, but they consistently vote Republican and their interests.
But the President who compromised (some would say sold out) on limited off shore oil drilling to get climate legislation passed is now owns this MAN MADE tragedy–by himself.
This shit is unbelievable!
What’s most frustrating is that while Republicans, the media and James Carville and Landrieu play the blame game against the President–and Democrats largely remain silent–no one is talking about what next. It’s sad that we’re still a nation that thirsts for theatrics rather than making hard decisions to solve long-term problems. If President Obama had put on a fake ass show of “I feel your pain” (while passing welfare reform, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and refusing to “normalize” drug sentencing laws) or jumped on a shrimping boat raging about “two nations” (after morphing from a conservative Democrat to a raging populist in one election cycle and fathered a secret baby) he would be fine.
The most important thing the President said yesterday that’s getting NO attention in the MSM or blogs is the fact that we are drilling at those depths means we’ve exhausted the oil at shallow depths, so we are in for a world of more trouble if we don’t start taking seriously alternative energy solutions. But the chatter of the day, as usual, is the theatrics. “He doesn’t get it.” “Where is the Obama from the campaign.” I thought we had our fill of theatrics without solutions from George W. Bush, but I guess not. We’re still a childish of a nation as we ever were and will get exactly what we deserve.
vote AGAINST their interests.
Good summary, but if you mean that the people are at fault, I reject the thought. The people are only allowed to vote for one of two look-alike parties and denied other choices, which is why they can be fed the pablum you speak so well of. In other words, we DON’T get what we deserve.
Unseating William ‘Freezer Cash’ Jefferson literally took an act of God… a hurricane interfered with the primary election for his seat in 2008, so the primary was held on election day. The general election for the seat was a special election held a month later. Cao won because Democrats didn’t turn out.
I will say that I’m not fond of this country’s tendency to sideline politicians based on their sexual preferences and behavior. Of course, with Republicans there’s the issue of hypocrisy given their “family values” claims and their intolerance for the sexual preferences of others… but in general, I’m happy to see an electorate overlook private behavior.
I just wish Louisiana were sane enough to dump Vitter on the basis of his platform and his votes in the Senate.