As part of the series mentioned below, this was such an impressive speech that I'm including it here. This does not mean that I've come to a decision about whom I will vote for, because I have not yet made up my mind.
As part of a new series showing the ads that Democratic Presidential Candidates are showing to appeal to voters, I will be putting up ads of the Big Three - Obama, Edwards and Hillary.
At 8:28 PM CST, CNN projects Senator Barack Obama to be the winner of the Iowa Democratic Caucus.
The interesting question is who will end up in second? John Edwards or Hillary Clinton? If Hillary comes in third, will she be able to hang on in New Hampshire?
The next five days will be critical for her campaign. Will she be able to resurrect the ghosts of 1992, when Bill proclaimed himself the Comeback Kid?
UPDATE: Oyster over at YRHT has some interesting thoughts on Obama, and a question regarding Edwards' strategy post-Iowa.
Well, tonight is the NIGHT our nation starts the process of winnowing the candidates to come up with the Democratic and Republican nominees for President. It all starts in Iowa, a state that I have had the privilege to visit during the crazy caucus season, and advocate for Howard Dean back in 2004.
While I appreciate the job that Iowa has done for us in the past 50+ years in starting off our crazy process for picking our Presidential candidates, I have serious concerns about a caucus system that denies many hard-working Iowans the opportunity to make their voice heard. A NY Times story highlights many voters and the reason for their inability to participate, three that I would like to bring to your attention:
One is Captain Jason Huffman of Iowa, who is currently serving with his National Guard unit in Afghanistan, and is precluded from participating because you must show up in person to participate; another is Nick Oakland, a waiter who has served Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, a Democratic contender and Representative Ron Paul, a Republican contender in the restaurant he works at in Des Moines. Nick is a college student paying his way through school, and needs to work for the tip money to do so; and the last one is Carrie Tope, an emergency room worker in Ames, Iowa who cannot find anyone to take her shift.
There oughta be a better way to start the process, rather than be flippant about it, as Iowa Democratic Chairman Scott Brennan appeared to be with this choice quote:
Scott Brennan, chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party, said the party had no responsibility to ensure that voters can caucus. "The campaigns are in charge of generating the turnout," Mr. Brennan said, and the voters who truly care will find their way to their local caucuses.
As for Ms. Tope, the emergency room worker, "there's always the next cycle," Mr. Brennan said.
That being said, there is a group of LSU students that are taking in the caucus festivities under the tutelage of Professor Bob Mann, who used to be the Communications Director for Governor Edwards, as well as Governor Blanco, and Professor Wayne Parent, the author of several informative articles and one book on Louisiana politics, including one of the best books out there - Inside the Carnival.
But the best part of their travels to Iowa is the blog they've set up - Tigers on the Trail. There are posts on the major contenders in both parties - Huckabee, Hillary, Edwards, Romney, Obama, and others. You oughta check it out, as there are some really good pieces there, as well as video of Edwards and Romney.
Oh yeah, Happy New Year y'all!
Earlier today, I put up a post about the clashes between the New Orleans Police Department and protesters of the planned demolition of public housing in New Orleans by the federal Housing and Development agency. While that story is sexy, and sells newspapers, it is NOT the important story out of New Orleans today.
The real story is about the City Council's vote to allow HUD to demolish the biggest public housing developments in New Orleans and replace them with "mixed-use" developments, which will almost certainly have a lower number of poor families living in them.
This is a continuation of the destruction caused by the Federal Flood. (For those wondering what the Federal Flood is ... it is the breaching of the levees in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Katrina spared New Orleans a direct hit, hitting land some 50 miles to the east. But the levees of New Orleans, despite federal guarantees that they would withstand a Cat 3 hurricane, toppled over.)
Today, in New Orleans, the City Council -
Arnie Fielkow
Stacy Head
Cynthia Willard-Lewis
Shelly Midura
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell
Jacquelyn Brechtel-Clarkson
James Carter
voted unanimously to allow HUD to demolish the so-called Big 4 public housing developments in New Orleans - B.W. Cooper, St. Bernard, Lafitte and C.J. Peete.
I understand the need to rebuild. But the way the City Council wants to go about it ... should leave all of us wary. They want to destroy the current projects, and replace them with developments by private contractors. That's fine ... if all the residents who were in the Big 4 on August 28, 2005 are given the opportunity to return. I say opportunity because I believe some have moved on, and rebuilt their lives outside New Orleans. And it would not surprise me if some of them decided to stay where they are now. But I'm betting most will want to return home ...
According to the liveblog over at Times-Pic
activist Don Everard, pleaded with the Council to remember the fate of the St. Thomas development in the Lower Garden District. St. Thomas was originally built for 1500 families, and was demolished in 2001 to make way for River Garden, which currently has a mere 296 apartments as of January 2007, of which 122 are occupied by public housing families. Everard believes that what happened to St. Thomas is about to happen again - times four.
This is real scary part. The mixed-use developments will have housing for lower numbers of poor families. The St. Thomas development had 1500 public housing families living in them. The River Garden project, which was built on the ashes of the St. Thomas development, only has 122 public housing families living in them, a mere fraction of the St. Thomas numbers.
Further, Mary Joseph, the Louisiana Director of the Children's Defense Fund, believes the city still lacks a true housing plan to bring back the families who want to return to their roots.
"It's about everybody having a place to stay," says Joseph, who lost her shoe during the fracas that led to several protesters being forcibly removed from the council chambers earlier. "What we had in here this morning is inability of us to listen to all of the information. I'm not here to fight. Shame on us, that it's playing out across America today that we can't get in a room and talk about something in a civil way. Our folks are trapped in Houston...Right to return truly ain't funded."
There is no doubt in my mind that all New Orleanians should be given the opportunity to return. The City Council and Mayor Nagin have finessed this issue over the last two and a half years by stressing the importance of allowing all families to return to New Orleans. But votes like the one today will make that promise harder to keep.
According to the AP, violence broke out between the New Orleans Police Department and folks who planned to voice their opinion over the planned demolition of federal housing in New Orleans.
Since the New Orleans' City Charter requires City Council approval of any demolition, the City Council set a hearing. The Council chambers seat less than 300. Once the chambers reached capacity, folks were turned away. Some of those turned away went outside onto the grounds of City Hall and an impromptu protest, complete with chants, broke out. For those not familiar with New Orleans City Hall, there is an iron gate that separates the Council's chamber building from City Hall itself.
Some protestors chose to storm the gate, with some able to squeeze themselves through the gate, before the New Orleans Police Department started using chemical spray and stun devices to subdue the crowd.
An ambulance was deployed to City Hall, but the AP is unsure if it was a precautionary measure or whether someone was actually hospitalized or received medical care.
According to New Orleans Nation, there were protests inside the Council Chamber itself. Apparently, Council Member Stacey Head blew a kiss to the protesters, which only inflamed the protesters.
Over at YRHT, Bayou St. John David asks a pertinent question regarding THIS:
"Yet again, I'm confused. I would assume that at least some of the people buying the "Piyush' paraphernalia are Republicans and other Jindal fans. But I thought "Piyush" was racist term used by Democrats and other Jindal haters."
As always, Oyster makes it crystal clear about the hypocrisy of the GOP and its adherents:
Let me disabuse you of your "confusion".
When Republicans say "Piyush", it's not racist.
Okay, it's been quite some time since I've posted. That's because I've been locked into exam mode for the past few weeks, and I completed all exams last Thursday. I needed to take some time to breathe, and catch up with sleep.
I've also been busy starting my new job with H & R Block, and making a move to a duplex, complete with a backyard for the little runt to run around in. Problem is, he sits there waiting to be let out!
And last, but certainly not least, the upcoming LA-01 special primary election to fill Governor PBJ's congressional seat on March
8, 2008. Yep, you heard that right - a primary, not a jungle primary. There will be separate party primaries for all federal level elective offices in Louisiana from here on out! About damn time if you ask me. From there, there will be a special general election on April 5, 2008.
Rumor has it that last cycle's candidate, David Gereighty, is considering another run at LA-01. Haven't heard anything definitive at this point.
There is one candidate that has been running hard, going to meetings and gatherings all over LA-01 for a quite a few months now. Her name is Gilda Reed. I've met her numerous times over the last six months, and I've got to say, the woman is ball of energy. She would be a nice change of pace from PBJ's lackadaisical manner, and she promises to represent everyone in the district, even the Northshore area that was taken for granted by recent holders of the seat. Go check out her website. NOW!
I apologize for not having anything up on the recent elections. I am currently swamped with preparations for law school finals, which start for me next week.
If anyone knows anyone who can fill in for the next week or so, please have them email me here. That being said, I will attempt to post something on the results, which, in case y'all don't know, have the Democrats retaining control of both chambers, to the dismay of Sinator Vitter and LCRM.
Then wny has a Plaquemine Parish Republican (Ernest Wooten) endorsed Jalila Jefferson-Bullock? And why has the Republican-endorsed candidate in the SD 5 primary (David Williams) put out a mailer smearing Rep. Cheryl Gray, who is running against Rep. Jalila Jefferson Bullock? Now, I'm not saying that Ms. Jefferson-Bullock is corrupt, but she is part of the corrupt Jefferson machine.
As I was driving down Perkins Road in Baton Rouge the last few days, I have seen numerous hand-painted signs on the side of the road, all with the website
www.stop-rouzan.com.
Curious, I checked it out earlier tonight as a study break. Apparently, there is a developer looking to develop the old Ford property on Perkins Road is that boxed in by Lee and Perkins. That's cool, as the site was never going to be left as green space. But the size of it has neighbors balking ... some 800 units on 120 acres. That's nearly 7 units per acre, easily the most dense new development Baton Rouge would have. Since there are major traffic flow issues on Perkins and Lee already, especially during rush hour, neighbors are understandably concerned.
Politically, Mayor-President Kip Holden is doing the smart thing by asking the City-Parish Zoning Commission to delay its decision on the development so he can sit down with the developer work out the issues that have upset neighboring residents.
But I gotta say, out of all the NIMBY websites I've seen, this one's the best by far.
This can't be good for Senate candidate Jason DeCuir. He's going around saying that we can do better, even going so far as to put an ad on a billboard overlooking I-10 near the Perkins exit saying "We can do better."
He's right. We can. Unfortunately, I am not sure that Yvonne Dorsey is better than him.
UPDATE: Just put a link to the vote tally on the 79-14; and included audio on Senator Landrieu's press conference earlier today after the vote.
Just a few minutes ago, the U.S. Senate voted to override our compassionate President's veto of the Water Resources Development Act by a final vote of 79-14. Apparently, two Democrats - Feingold of Wisconsin and McCaskill of Missouri voted nay, along with 12 Republicans.
This is crucial to Louisiana's future, as it can authorize up to $7,000,000,000 worth of projects to save our coastline, and protect our people from another devastating hurricane, or God forbid, another Federal Flood.
As soon as the vote record is up, I will update, and inform y'all which Senators don't care about Louisiana, or in the case of Florida, the Everglades. Those are the ones that oughta be targeted by the Democrats, and tied down to Mr. 24%.
This morning's Advocate story on the debris that is currently visible in the Capitol Lake is a "short-term eyesore" that will be covered up again when it rains, according to Jerry Jones, director of the state Facility Planning and Control Department.
Pardon me, but why not clean the damn lake out? Wouldn't that be better than waiting for some rain to raise the water levels so it would be out of sight, out of mind? Is it so hard to have a couple of guys put on some shrimping boots and go pick that trash up and throw it in one of the numerous dumpsters around the Capitol?
Yesterday, Senator Mary Landrieu, (D-LA), announced that in working with congressional negotiators on a pending defense bill, she was able to secure $3,000,000,000 to help cover the Road Home shortfall. The money has been attached to The Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations Conference Report. Earlier this year, both the House and Senate passed defense appropriations bills, but with different funding levels. When that happens, there is a conference between members of the House and the Senate to iron out the differences and come up with a compromise. The bill is now pending floor action in both chambers. The text of the press release she sent out is posted in its entirety below.
As many of you know, Road Home has been plagued by a funding shortfall, thanks to the Bush Administration's refusal to cover wind damage from both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, despite initial approval from HUD. It also didn't help that GOP leaders in the Congress capped Louisiana's share of recovery money at 54% in 2005 and 2006, despite the fact that Louisiana suffered 70% of the damage!
We should also express our gratitude to Senators Byrd (D-WV) and Murray (D-WA) for working with Senator Landrieu to secure the $3 billion. Here are the phone numbers to call and thank them:
Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) (202) 224-3954 Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) (202) 224-2621
And as always, thank the good Senator from Louisiana:
Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) (202) 224-5824
Please note it is not guaranteed that Louisiana will receive this, as Republican leaders have indicated that they may attempt to block passage of this legislation, and the President himself may veto it in the name of fiscal responsibility.
Yesterday, the United States House of Representatives overrode President Bush's veto of the Water Resources Development Act, which would authorize $7,000,000,000 for coastal restoration projects here in Louisiana ALONE. Yes, that is 7 billion dollars, folks. And our President, the one that this state voted for TWICE(!), vetoed the bill in the name of fiscal responsibility. I find it interesting he wants to ignore the HUGE credit card bill he's rung up for our children by keeping the war off the books.
But that's not the point of this piece. I received an email from Mark, the blogger behind Levees Not War, regarding a letter he sent to the President, which I post in its entirety below. Before you go read that, please do the following:
Call or email the White House and express your dissatisfaction with the President's veto:
White House e-mail : comments@whitehouse.gov
White House phone : 202-456-1111
Call or email Senators Landrieu and Vitter to thank them for their work on this bill.
Senator Landrieu: (202) 224-5824
Senator Vitter: (202) 224-4623
You can also call the Capital Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. They will connect you with whatever Senator you ask for.
Now for the letter sent by Mark ... it's a beauty.
According to the 
This morning's 
