David Melville, a Methodist pastor from Bossier City and political newcomer, was victorious in the Democratic primary and will face incumbent John Fleming this November in Louisiana's 4th District. Fleming, as you read in our earlier posts (here, here, and here), has staked out a far-right position and made it clear that he is not willing to work across the aisle in Congress. He even went so far as to demonize Democrats as "godless" and "socialist" who want to create "an atheist society." Fleming's divisive and inflammatory comments stand in stark contrast to Melville's long history as a pastor and community leader. He is widely known and well-liked in Northwest Louisiana, having so far drawn strong support from both Republicans and Democrats.
In fact, many of his strongest supporters are Republicans, such as MaryAnn Van Osdell who said the following in a post on Melville's Facebook page:
[A]s someone who has been a registered Republican for most of my adult life and even a recent attendee of the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, I didn’t hesitate a moment to wholeheartedly support David, who's a Democrat. That’s because I not only know David’s commitment to selflessly serving others, I also know David’s commitment to working with people from all stripes to get the job done.
In his speech to supporter's after winning the primary, Melville emphasized moving forward with a message of "unity over division, hope over despair, [and] love over hate." With such bold contrast as a backdrop, it should be really interesting to watch this "David vs. Goliath" campaign unfold over the next 10 weeks.
In case you missed it, here's the one and only television spot that the Melville campaign released in the primary:
Three months into the moratorium on the U.S. Department of the Interior's moratorium on deep water drilling and it is abundantly clear that the doom and gloom prophesied by opponents of the moratorium have not materialized.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission's (LWC) latest report shows record employment in the state in July, with falling unemployment in every metro market, including the Houma and Lafayette markets — the areas that opponents of the moratorium said would be devastated by the pause in deep water drilling.
The Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA) web site offers users the opportunity to examine drilling rig counts over time. In April of this year, LEDA's site shows that there were 75 more drilling rigs active in Louisiana than there were in the same month last year (April is the most recent month available in the LEDA site).
Even the Associate Executive Director for the LSU Center for Energy Studies (LSU CES), David Dismukes, has had to climb down from his predictions of gloom and doom and admit that the job losses the center predicted have not materialized.
Our good friend Lamar of CenLamar blog had the opportunity last week to join the Coast Guard on a flyover of the Deepwater Horizon site, and he posted a great article along with pictures. Here's a brief excerpt:
I'm not sure exactly why I was invited to do this, but a little over three weeks ago at about seven at night, I received a phone call from someone at the White House, inviting me to participate in a flyover of the former site of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig and the current location of a cluster of clean-up crews.
I haven't covered the Deepwater Horizon disaster with nearly the same passion and insight and detail as other bloggers in the State, but believe me, it's not for lack of care; it's because I've found myself so frustrated, disappointed, and angered about the whole thing that I simply haven't been able to write coherently about the subject.
With all precincts reporting it appears that Hunt Downer barely forces Landry into a run off.In order to prevent a run off Landry needed 50% +1 vote – and with Total Votes cast being at 20,952 in the Republican Primary in Congressional District 3, Jeff Landry only garnered 10,395 votes; he needed 10,477.Just 82 votes short of preventing a run off.WOW.This was a really ugly election with the “Louisiana Tea Party” weighing in with some really bad ads against Mr. Downer.But they will face each other in a few weeks in the runoff.
Preventing run offs tonight appears to be Congressman Charlie Melancon in his bid to take on Senator Vitter, Vitter too appears to have escaped a run off as well.Both of these men will face off against several other “no-party” candidates as well as the winner of the Libertarian Primary.
But still up for grabs is the Democratic Primary in Congressional District 2.With over 2/3 of the precincts still out arguably it is anyone’s game at this point – however party favorite State Rep. Cedric Richmond is developing a wide lead over State Rep Juan LaFonta.You can follow the results here.
On Thursday’s show Keith Olbermann takes on Congressman Fleming.Is it too far of a stretch to take what Congressman Fleming said this past week and then compare that to the Cabby who was attacked this week for his Muslim faith?I don’t think it is.This constant fear mongering that Fleming is pushing… not to mention the fact that he is using a back handed attack against his Democratic Challenger who is a Methodist Minister.Shame on Fleming.The question is… Will the voters of Louisiana Congressional District 4 have the strength to push out Fleming and say – Enough – we are not going to be afraid anymore?
DailyKos takes on Fleming yesterday in a posting that is exploding with comments.It states that Fleming is what Kos Founder Markos Moulitsas had in mind as he penned his new book “American Taliban:How War, Sex, Sin and Power bind Jihadists and the Radical Right.”
Congressman John Fleming, Freshman legislator from the Louisiana 4th Congressional District attended an event for the Republican Women of Bossier.Well Fleming didn’t waste any time in coming out and attacking Democrats as the problem for everything.The Audio file is available through the Shreveport Times website.
"We have two competing world views here and there is no way that we can reach across the aisle. One is going to have to win. We are either going to go down the socialist road and become like western Europe and create, I guess really a godless society, an atheist society. Or we’re going to continue down the other pathway where we believe in freedom of speech, individual liberties and that we remain a Christian nation. So we’re going to have to win that battle, we’re going to have to solve that argument before we can once again reach across and work together on things."
Talking Points Memo also commented on this audio of the event here:
“Fleming contended that the Republicans might take 60 seats in November, and argued that the road to economic recovery is to rescind new banking regulations and make the Bush tax cuts permanent across the board.“We’ve got to change the way we do things,” he said.“We need to restore the Bush tax cuts, or actually make them permanent.We need to cut the capital gains tax, we need to take regulations off the backs of business sand allow banks to once again lend.And I got a strong feeling that our economy will snap back very quickly.”
Now clearly this is an event for the “party faithful” – Republican Women.But seriously to make a statement like he did – how can anyone want him to return to Congress to represent us?His hard line comments sound as if Glenn Beck or Rush wrote them.
He would like us to believe that the 8 years under Bush and largely a complete control of Congress during that time – NEVER HAPPENED.In fact he clearly advocates is returning to where we during Bush.He feels that the reason for today is that we are OVER REGULATING Business.Seriously – he states this and it appears if the crowd agrees!Poof go back to exactly the policies of before – deregulation of all businesses which clearly lead to the banks imploding.He advocates that we must continue the Bush Tax Cuts for the UBER RICH and be damned the working men and women of this country.
Seems David Melville has been handed a GIFT by this speech.Fleming says he won’t even consider working with Democrats and in fact he claims that if you are a Democrat then you are a socialist and an atheist society.He even states at the end that Republicans as they take over will be much more conservative then they have been in the past as this election will take out moderates.Well what work will we ever get done if the mantra from Fleming and others in their party is “We can’t work across the ailse?”
(Great Video from our Working Brother's and Sister's at the IBEW pitching in to help Louisiana return! Great job! - promoted by stephen)
Hammered by Hurricane Katrina and the worst oil spill in history, the residents of Louisiana's Gulf Coast are trying to make it through these tough times with the help of IBEW members who work and live in the region.
In a very special episode of Blue Monday’s, Stephen sits down with State Senator Butch Gautreaux and talks about his race to become our next Lt. Governor.
The “Louisiana Tea Party” is currently running ads attacking Hunt Downer’s conservative bona fides trying to saddle him with the “R.I.N.O.” label as well as trying to attach him to former Governor Blanco.
At the heart of the opposition is Downer's decision to skip an August forum that was sponsored by the Baton Rouge Tea Party. After the forum, the organization sent out a press release declaring, "The Tea Party of Louisiana will not sit quietly while a wolf in sheep's clothing like Downer runs around and 'pretends' to be a tea party activist."
So will the Tea Party ultimately be successful?Or will it just weaken Downer enough that it then prevents folks from supporting him in November when he faces Democrat Ravi Sangisetty – ultimately allowing Sangisetty to win?
(Special thanks to folks from the Institute for Southern Studies for contributing! We welcome guest contributions - just shoot us an email with your username and we'll make sure you are able to post. - promoted by Matt)
Cross-posted from an article by Sue Sturgis on Facing South
President Obama plans to be in New Orleans on Aug. 29 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina -- a prime opportunity to put disaster recovery issues back atop the national agenda.
Obama is scheduled to deliver a speech at Xavier University, the nation's only historically black Roman Catholic institution of higher learning. Weeks before Katrina's first anniversary, then-U.S. Sen. Obama delivered a commencement address to school's first graduating class in the disaster's wake.
The president's trip is being hailed across the Gulf, where a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that a majority of New Orleanians fear the rest of the country has forgotten about the challenges they still face. In an Aug. 17 editorial, the New Orleans Times-Picayune noted that the visit is important both symbolically and practically:
The Advocate’s Capital News Bureau is reporting tonight that Brent Furer, the Vitter Staffer who was convicted of two DWI’s and plead out on charges relating to him assaulting his ex-girlfriend, had tax payer funded travel to and from his court appearances in Baton Rouge.
Taxpayers footed the bill when a former aide to Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter traveled to Louisiana on trips coinciding with court-related activities involving the aide’s most recent DWI arrest.
Vitter’s U.S. Senate office expense account records show two trips by Brent Furer from Washington, D.C., to Louisiana —one in 2007 and the other 2008.
The dates of the trips match times Furer was scheduled to make appearances related to his Dec. 28, 2004 arrest for driving while intoxicated and other related charges, according to Baton Rouge City Court records.
Further into the story:
The U.S. Senate’s expense records show Vitter’s office account was billed $634.20 for transportation for Furer leaving Washington, D.C., on Oct. 12, 2007 to New Orleans and returning on Oct. 18, 2007.
Furer appeared in court on Oct. 17, 2007, according to Baton Rouge City Court records, then was referred to the probation division.The U.S. Senate records also show that Vitter’s office expense account was tapped for $746 for Furer’s transportation from Washington, D.C., to Baton Rouge and New Orleans leaving Aug. 5, 2008, and returning Aug. 14, 2008.
Furer signed a probation agreement in Baton Rouge on Aug 7, 2008, attesting that he would fulfill the conditions of the sentence.
But in a seemingly new bit of information – David Vitter has on staff Rev. Malcolm Richard who is one of his regional directors.Richard is the one who certified that Furer fulfilled the first part of his sentence of 18 hours of community service.Isn’t this a conflict of interest?Was Richard working for Vitter at the time of this sentence and if so, who verified this.
With this latest report it also seems logical to believe that Furer was also PAID for WORKING those 18 hours that were to be Community Service.
Also it seems to me that Vitter can no longer claim that he didn’t know about these issues with Furer if senior members of his staff knew about it AND the office was paying for Furer’s travel.
A new Poll released today shows that Vitter will likely be forced into a Run Off if he is to keep his seat in the US Senate.The initial and detailed report was first reported by The Franklin Sun.
The poll was conducted on behalf of Vitter’s Republican Primary challenger, frmr Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court Chet Traylor.After delivering the information about Vitter’s “Serious Sins” as well as his continuing to employ Brent Furer after all of his “problems,” – the poll shows that Vitter has 46 % to Traylor’s 34%.
Lacking Vitter's name recognition, Traylor needs a strong protest showing to either oust Vitter or force him into a runoff. By publicizing the results of this survey, he's basically offering 527s and independent expenditure groups a blueprint for a messaging and ad campaign that will get results. Many of his supporters are wealthy, but are hamstrung by direct donation limits. They face no such limits to their donations to outside advocates, who would then carry the water for Traylor on these issues.
There was a noticeable difference at this year’s event.No more buffet brought in and sponsored by other groups – this year we had a plated dinner and a packed room.There were very few open seats left in the room and you couldn’t fit another table in the room if you tried.
In a touch of genius (and perhaps this is just my inner “gleek” speaking) but the meeting got started off by Miss Jo’ Hilliard singing the National Anthem… and wow… I really enjoyed that.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the event and even mentioned the Stonewall Democrats which was nice.
But the night was to honor those who fought for Democratic Principles and Values and to honor them for their service.Tonight’s honorees were “Lindy” Boggs, Rev. Harry Blake and Victor Bussie.
Continuing with the theme here – The DSCC concluded the meeting by welcoming the Democrats who are vying for the US Senate.As there is a Democrat who is challenging Congressman Melancon.
Continuing with our theme here – The DSCC meeting continued with Chairman Leach introducing Democrats who are running for Congress from the various districts throughout the state.I have done the best I can to outline their speeches here but also give you my opinion on each – the big question is – WHAT DO YOU THINK?Please comment on the item here – or send me your thoughts at stephen@dailykingfish.com
David Melville
Congressman John Fleming, Freshman legislator from the Louisiana 4th Congressional District attended an event for the Republican Women of Bossier.
Cross-posted from an article by Sue Sturgis on 
The Advocate’s Capital News Bureau is reporting tonight that Brent Furer, the Vitter Staffer who was convicted of two DWI’s and plead out on charges relating to him assaulting his ex-girlfriend, had tax payer funded travel to and from his court appearances in Baton Rouge.
A new Poll released today shows that Vitter will likely be forced into a Run Off if he is to keep his seat in the US Senate.
