| After Saturday's pri mary results rolled in, a vague calm must have rolled over the collective core of Democratic interests in the Gret State. After Klepticans and Corporate interests gathered their damnedest to demolish the last vestiges of the Democratic party in this state, the results are decidedly anti-climatic. Incumbents, Democrat and Republican alike, won nearly every race they entered. In the legislature, Democrats like Ben Nevers, Eric LaFleur and Gary Smith all cruised to victory (although Nevers race was closer). All were targeted for demolition. All faced down disaster and turned it right around. David Vitter's Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority, has won the war by electing a large GOP majority, but in this season's contests, it was blown out of the water. Even in the big statewide races, David Vitter's golden touch turned cold as Vitter-ites Billy Nungesser and Jim Tucker both lost to the Dardenne machine. Bobby Jindal's Republican Victory Fund also took it squarely in the face. His main concern continued to be electing a pro-John White BESE board, which he did gain some ground on. Unfortunately, he also lost important races when Lottie Polozola Beebe won BESE-3 and Louella Givens forced a run-off with Jindalista Kira Orange Jones despite Givens having some awful problems with the IRS and a DUI. Anti-Union candidate Chas Roemer was also forced into a run-off after Lane Grigsby begged him to run for re-election to Chas' BESE-6 Baton Rouge seat. Speaking of Mr. Straight Talk, the twitter tubes were lighting up over the weekend on one particular, and peculiar point: The anti-Union Alliance for Better Classrooms (ABC) PAC formed and funded by Grigsby (and headed by Bobby Yarborough, Jindal campaign chair), got a curious donation from a famous mayor... The MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG REVOCABLE TRUST at 909 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10022 gave the ABC PAC $100,000 just days before Saturday's election. Up in the big apple, that might be chump change, but in Louisiana's cash-starved BESE races, that's a whole lot of cash. Such a large bundle, at such a late time, certainly begs the question whether it was meant to fly somewhat under the radar. Did John White make this call? And should the RSD Super be making political calls? It occurs to at least one commentator and frequent correspondent with this blog that New York City has come to take over Louisiana's schools. From former NYC Education Official John White taking over RSD (and maybe DOE), to BESE Candidate Kira Orange Jones (who hails from NYC), to the legion of TFA'ers that reportedly roam the hallways of schools throughout south Louisiana, it appears clear that the anti-union bug is one supported and staffed by New Yorkers. With Bloomberg's money playing a very political game, doesn't it begin to get a little awkward for the 'reformers' here on the ground? But we digress... The Times-Picayune also covers the story from the angle of whether the GOP reached it's high-water mark. Since the Democrats decided to sit this one out, and the GOP had unlimited money at its finger-tips, it almost appears like this particular election was a lost-opportunity for corporate apologists statewide. Sure, all the major officials continue to be held by Republicans, but that hasn't changed since Buddy Caldwell turned coats. What gains were made with such great advantage? Isn't that the measure of political strength in an election like this one? And where will we go from here? |
