Sunday, March 11, 2007
The Beginning of a New Era
"I can't be bought, but I can be rented. "
John Breaux, Former U.S. Congressman and Senator (D-LA)
John Breaux, Former U.S. Congressman and Senator (D-LA)
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LOUISIANA POLITICAL NEWS SERVICE
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It's easy to see how the inside the "Beltway" Washington types would think that John Breaux would actually be a serious contender for Governor of Louisiana. They, like the California "good government" group that prominently posts the above quote on their website, have the same opinion of us, the Louisiana electorate.
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They assume, and justifiably so that we will be quick to get behind the person with the most Edwin Edwards-like attributes. They assume we will follow lock-step with the guy who was Edwards assistant, the guy who for 30 years wallowed in the public trough, the guy who was the consummate wheeler-dealer in Congress.
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The only flaw in their logic, is the dramatic change in our state post-Katrina. The spectacular tragedy exposed the Louisiana we used to laugh at, the Louisiana Way that we knew was wrong, but allowed to exist because "it has always been done that way."
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They don't understand that tens of thousands of the once dependable voters for the old "system" have left our state probably forever. They won't be here to vote in the fall.
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The "Beltway" backers of our most famous professional lobbyist Mr. Breaux of Maryland and the local folks who have lived off of the "system" for years are pushing their last best hope into a hopeless cause. Between the folks who have left the state and the old yellow-dog Democrats who have passed away in the last few years, the votes just aren't there anymore.
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Mr. Breaux's "official" citizenship not withstanding, (he hasn't spent more than a few weeks in Louisiana in the past 30 years), these "political experts" and hangers-on may want to check out the raw numbers.
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The old "Louisiana Way" is about to change whether John Breaux or the ghost of Huey Long runs for Governor. The elections this fall are the beginning of a new era. They can fight it or embrace it, but it is coming like a freight train.
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It's easy to see how the inside the "Beltway" Washington types would think that John Breaux would actually be a serious contender for Governor of Louisiana. They, like the California "good government" group that prominently posts the above quote on their website, have the same opinion of us, the Louisiana electorate.
.
They assume, and justifiably so that we will be quick to get behind the person with the most Edwin Edwards-like attributes. They assume we will follow lock-step with the guy who was Edwards assistant, the guy who for 30 years wallowed in the public trough, the guy who was the consummate wheeler-dealer in Congress.
.
The only flaw in their logic, is the dramatic change in our state post-Katrina. The spectacular tragedy exposed the Louisiana we used to laugh at, the Louisiana Way that we knew was wrong, but allowed to exist because "it has always been done that way."
.
They don't understand that tens of thousands of the once dependable voters for the old "system" have left our state probably forever. They won't be here to vote in the fall.
.
The "Beltway" backers of our most famous professional lobbyist Mr. Breaux of Maryland and the local folks who have lived off of the "system" for years are pushing their last best hope into a hopeless cause. Between the folks who have left the state and the old yellow-dog Democrats who have passed away in the last few years, the votes just aren't there anymore.
.
Mr. Breaux's "official" citizenship not withstanding, (he hasn't spent more than a few weeks in Louisiana in the past 30 years), these "political experts" and hangers-on may want to check out the raw numbers.
.
The old "Louisiana Way" is about to change whether John Breaux or the ghost of Huey Long runs for Governor. The elections this fall are the beginning of a new era. They can fight it or embrace it, but it is coming like a freight train.
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RELATED STORY:
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SALON.COM
By Jake Tapper
(excerpt)
http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2000/08/17/breaux/index.html
By Jake Tapper
(excerpt)
http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2000/08/17/breaux/index.html
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The Hollywood money machine
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Even as their platform calls for an end to special interests, Democratic Party leaders happily imbibe free drinks from fat-cat corporate donors at swank parties.
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Aug. 17, 2000 HOLLYWOOD -- Bounding around his "Mardi Gras Goes Hollywood" f괥 in tights, Sen. John Breaux, D-La., was in rare, reveling form Tuesday night.
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But Breaux's leotard was just one of the oddities in yet another convention party that embraced the gluttony and excess known not only in New Orleans, but wherever and whenever campaign finance law loopholes stand as stark as a drunk Tulane co-ed trying to score some beads.
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The ragin' Cajun held his bon temps on the Paramount Lot off of Melrose Avenue, in the "downtown streets" fa硤e familiar to viewers of ABC's "NYPD Blue" as the only intersection in New York City where, apparently, anything at all goes down.
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The event's sponsors read like a roll call of companies with interests before the Senate committees Breaux serves on and stands to lead if his party reclaims the Senate majority in November.
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All perfectly common and legal, of course. But still as dank and skanky as your average bayou.
All perfectly common and legal, of course. But still as dank and skanky as your average bayou.
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Breaux -- who was reelected in 1998 with 64 percent of the vote and received 100 PAC contributions for every one his opponent got -- has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from these industries for his campaign coffers, all the while establishing himself as a pro-business New Democrat, writing and voting on laws that directly effect the companies who then turn around and give him some of the cash back.
Breaux -- who was reelected in 1998 with 64 percent of the vote and received 100 PAC contributions for every one his opponent got -- has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from these industries for his campaign coffers, all the while establishing himself as a pro-business New Democrat, writing and voting on laws that directly effect the companies who then turn around and give him some of the cash back.
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On Tuesday night, these contributors included tobacco giant Brown & Williamson; telecom giants AT&T, SBC Communications and Bell South; energy interests Edison Electric Institute, Enron, Florida Power, Ocean Energy and Texaco; defense giant Lockheed Martin, pharmaceutical company Merck; and trash powerhouse Waste Management.
On Tuesday night, these contributors included tobacco giant Brown & Williamson; telecom giants AT&T, SBC Communications and Bell South; energy interests Edison Electric Institute, Enron, Florida Power, Ocean Energy and Texaco; defense giant Lockheed Martin, pharmaceutical company Merck; and trash powerhouse Waste Management.
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"That's obviously a Who's Who of corporate America and people who have interests before Congress," says Jeff Cronin, spokesman for public interest group Common Cause. "It's not as if there's a spontaneous outpouring of civic pride; these are people who are clearly trying to get access and influence no matter who wins the election."
"That's obviously a Who's Who of corporate America and people who have interests before Congress," says Jeff Cronin, spokesman for public interest group Common Cause. "It's not as if there's a spontaneous outpouring of civic pride; these are people who are clearly trying to get access and influence no matter who wins the election."
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Labels: BREAUX, LOUISIANA, POLITICS
