Can a REAL Democrat win in Lousiana?

[AntiCoup2K4]

Landrieu's a DinoWhore. Breaux was worse. Is there an actual Democrat who can represent that state?

Because this is simply unacceptable.

[Doomsayer13]

1. Landrieu is the most liberal democrat to ever come out of LA

sadly, Lousiana is a pro-development state. There is nothing anybody can do about it.

[iconoclastNYC]

3. There is a right-wing frame if i ever heard one.

PRO DEVELOPMENT! Geez...who is against Development. PUKE.

[Doomsayer13]

7. I come from a place where pro-development is a bad thing

if you can think of a better term, I'd like to hear it.

[iconoclastNYC]

10. "Pro-drilling" in the case of ANWR

Anti-wilderness. Pro-big oil. Anti-conservation.

[Doomsayer13]

18. fine, substitute the term you wish

but don't go around calling me a puke.

[iconoclastNYC]

20. I didn't call you a puke.

It was an expression of my displeasure.

[ArtVandaley]

13. What about Huey Long?

nt

[tx_dem41]

24. Huey Long was not left-wing...

he was a fascist. He was nothing to revere.

[Jacobin]

44. Well....

He taxed the railroads and used the money to give school books to kids in public education and paved lots of roads. He was dangerous and used completely awful means to get to his ends.

Hard to define, but believe me, the corporations HATED him, so fascism is probably the wrong word.

[Radical Activist]

46. Most of his major reforms

were things that every state does and takes for granted today. Like funding education and passing bond measures to build roads and improve state Universities.

Louisiana politics was always a corrupt power game. The difference is that Long was corrupt in favor of the working people and the poor instead of being corrupt for the oil and business interests like most LA Governors. A lot of people didn't like that.

[tx_dem41]

47. The corporations that bribed him and contributed to his slush funds...

absolutely loved him.

[Jacobin]

49. Which ones were those?

Most of his slush fund came from the 'deduct box' from state workers and public teachers.

[Jacobin]

43. Russell Long was probably more liberal

Huey was very liberal,but also dangerous.

At least Mary is pro-choice and is helping with the neo-con judge problem.

I could slap her silly little face for the bankruptcy reform bill vote.

[dolstein]

50. Think again. Just look at his voting record.

Mary Landrieu is by far the most liberal Democrat to represent Lousiana in the Senate.

[iconoclastNYC]

2. Yes a progressive populist.

How about a new triangulation? Running against Republicans and moderate Democrats? They are politics as usual.

[dolstein]

4. When was the last "progressive populist" elected statewide in LA?

NT

[iconoclastNYC]

6. History is made. Fortune favors the bold.

[bvar22]

11. Huey Long??

:shrug:

a charismatic candidate who could blend christianity and populism backed by ALOT of money might win in La.

Edwin Edwards (the crook governor in the 80s) had that kind of appeal. He was a Democrat and a populist.

[dolstein]

14. Was Huey Long anti-lynching?

NT

[Radical Activist]

22. Yes. he was

and he tried to abolished the poll tax. I'm not sure if it passed or not.

[Radical Activist]

28. He also signed a law

that banned wearing masked hoods in public. It was aimed at the KKK.

[Radical Activist]

16. People act like LA has always been conservative

It has a history of being very liberal on economic issues. It was even a socialist stronghold of the south for a time in some parts of the state.

The problem is that the DLC approach is the exact opposite of what Dems need to do in LA. We need to emphasize economic issues in the South. Becoming corporate sell-outs on economic issues AND moderating on social issues at the same time gives the voters no reason to vote for us instead of the Republicans.

[bvar22]

23. Louisiana is in a category by itself.

It is a mistake to lump La. in with the other Southern States.
The OIL Industry in La. collapsed in the 80's, and their power in La politics may be more illusion than substance. To automatically assume that the Democrats need to run a republican in order to win in La. is a HUGE mistake.

[Radical Activist]

48. Very true

LA politics is unique. I still think that economic populism is a message that will work with some variations throughout the South.

[tx_dem41]

26. It also has always been very pro-oil industry.

This will not hurt her re-election chances in the state in the least.

[bvar22]

30. The OIL Industry in La. is NOT the POWER it used to be.

It collapsed in the 80's turning the Gulf Coast into ghost towns from Lafayette to Morgan City. The majors still keep corporate offices in New Orleans, and they still monitor falling production from the Gulf (mostly automated).The State still makes some declining revenue on Leases and royalties from production, but most of the thousands and thousands once employed by BIG OIL have moved on. Their political power may be more myth than substance.

[sadiesworld]

32. What does oil have to do with her bankruptcy bill vote?

[tx_dem41]

33. Agreed....

if you can find a Democrat to the left of her that can also WIN the seat...go for it! Good luck.

[sadiesworld]

37. I'm glad we agree it's worth a try!

:toast:

[sadiesworld]

34. Yep, the DLC's answer to a culturally conservative state...

is to put up a corporate sell-out. :crazy:

[Al-CIAda]

19. Exactly. La. is this way because there aren't any candidates with

the stones to confront the corporatists. It is also why La. recovers very little in proceeds from allowing the offshore drilling.

If a populist cultural conservative were to crop up, they would sweep the state IMO.

[sd_UDO]

8. Yes!

I agree!

Moderate Democrats (LBJ and HHH) built up the Vietnam War.

Right wing Rippys (Bush) invaded Iraq.

The Democratic Party is gone!

Long live the progressives!

Try UDO, you'll like it!

[Frances]

5. The Repubs keep winning

because they focus their energies on vulnerable Dems like Landreau.

I think we Dems should start focusing our energies on vulnerable Dems like Snowe and Collins. We should offer them the chance to get into our party or face Dem opponents.

[Justitia]

9. NEW RULE: Only N'Awlins gets to vote. -eom

[funkybutt]

29. Amen! and speaking of New Orleans...

Saturday at Noon New Orleans will once against infuse local culture into its political movement for social change and poltiical justice with traditional brass bands and the Bone Men!

Anyone in the area, please come out and join us at Congo Square at noon. The march will take us to the steps of the Supreme Court building on Royal.

http://www.newdemocracyrising.com

[housewolf]

12. It's about the oil & gas interests in Louisiana. n/t

[DaveinMD]

15. nope

Landrieu and Breaux are the best you are going to get there. Its sad, but true. You need to take 50 percent over 0 percent in a state like Louisiana.

[panbanger]

17. nope

The only reason we have a Democrat in the governor's mansion is because the Republican who ran against her wasn't white. The hardcore racists had to stay true to their race rather than their party in that election.

[brentspeak]

21. My guess is no

Landrieu won the last election by the skin of her teeth. She's about as Democratic as it gets in Cajun Land, unfortunately.

[fujiyama]

25. No

That's all I can say. The state has gone over to the dark side.

All said and done at this point, I don't care one whit about the state. The people there seem to have drank the koolaid big - one of the poorest states, yet they vote for scum like Vitter (I think that's his name - David Duke's buddy).

[tx_dem41]

Yep...screw the 47-49% of the people that didn't vote for Vitter...

just screw the whole state. :eyes:

Ummmm...have you actually been listening to Dean? Do you respect him? I think not.

[fujiyama]

31. If the state

cares more about abortion and gays, they can live in perpetual poverty.

That's all I will say.

[tx_dem41]

35. Okay...so I'll put you down as not supporting the chairman of our party...

thanks for your time.

[fujiyama]

36. I support him

and if we can find a good candidate in La, I'd support them as well.

And let me make this clear, while my first two posts did seem to blame the residents of La for the person they voted for this time, it's partly the Democrats fault as well. Landriu isn't serving her constituents by voting for the bankruptcy bill, and I think the DLC's corporate strategy is making it impossible to reframe any of the issues.

But that still doesn't excuse the voting habbits of those that put stupid wedge issues above all else.

[bvar22]

38. You just need to spend a week end...

..in New Orleans. Eat some oysters, listen to some jazz, enjoy some mulit-ethnic spiritual expansion.

You will agree with us that La. is worth saving.

[tx_dem41]

39. I'll consider that an invitation, bvar!

What's your address? I'll be there Friday afternoon. :)

P.S. I grew up in New Orleans. In-laws still live there.

[fujiyama]

40. Thanks for the invitation

That does sound like a nice experience. I'd like to visit New Orleans some day. I'm sorry to any La DUers I may have offended. I know there are some decent people in all parts of the country.

It's just so frustrating though. I mean we see people voting against their interests all the time, including my state, which only barely went blue (so I'll admit some 47% of the people in my state are brain dead).

[bvar22]

41. I live in Minnesota, and its still freezing here...snow tomorrow.

But I lived in New Orleans for many years.I owe my ultra liberal politics to my Louisiana roots. Louisiana politics is ALWAYS interesting. In the 80's Governor's race between Duke(KKK) and EDWARDS, a popular bumper sticker read:
VOTE FOR THE CROOK.
ITS IMPORTANT!

When the OIL Industry collapsed in the 80's, I migrated North,
so I can't invite you over (unless you want to come to Minneapolis), but I'd love to meet you at ACME's Oyster House on Iberville anytime!

[tx_dem41]

42. Yummm...Acme's my fave....

for lunch...Mother's is my other fave.

[bvar22]

45. Just thinking of Acme's (or Felix's) make

my mouth water.
Cassimento's on Magazine St is also superb for oysters.

New friends in Minneapolis who learn about my Southern roots ask me if I ever get homesick.
I respond, "No, but sometimes I sure get hungry."

cheers!

[Al-CIAda]

27. 'Yes' to cert. the selection fraud. 'yes' to bankruptcy, 'yes' to ANWR

Maybe she is commiting treason for the sugar subsidies as well.

[drthais]

51. I certainly the hell HOPE so

because there is no way I can vote for Landrieu again