I love New Orleans, but they sure make it hard sometimes

I read an analysis that said the powers-that-be in NOLA lined up behind Jefferson, because they know he is a lameduck who will soon be indicted/forced out.

If Carter (a relative youngster) had won the seat, she could have held it safely for 40 years. Now the seat will come back into play, probably before the next election cycle, and the real local-pol heavyweights can get into the action.

 

In the event he changed parties.

The T-P quoted a UVA poli sci prof who said, "Jefferson's re-election can't do much good for Louisiana's reputation, which is not high anyway on the scale of political ethics. That hurts the ... state needs all the backing in the country and the Congress that it can get from the long rebuilding from Katrina that lies ahead."

Of course, they'll start over when Jefferson is indicted and forced to resign from Congress.

 

Actually, he's pretty much in line to be a federal inmate, and Karen Carter's in line for that seat about a year down the line.

 

Or, probably as likely, she'll get beaten again in a special election. I don't know all the ins and outs of the reasoning, but she's pissed off the Jefferson Parish sheriff who put the kibosh on her in the runoff. The person who finished third in the general election may be a more likely successor.

 

I remember fondly when Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards -- under indictment for shaking down casino operators, I believe -- won re-election and then flew two 747s full of supporters to Paris to celebrate. Les Bon Temps Roulet!

 

Interesting, Del.
What's the deal with the third-place finisher?

 

I always felt sorry for Buddy Roemer (I think I butt-sechsed his last name). He was the incumbent and a moderate Republican, and he lost to an indicted embezzler and a Klansman. How on earth do you live that down?

 

Presumably these were the same person. Otherwise, that's a helluva field there.

 

Embezzler -- Edwin Edwards (to be fair, I realize now he didn't embezzle, just did a lot of other stuff).
Klansman -- David Duke

Clearly the lack of alliteration was his downfall.

Vote for the Crook. It's Important.

 

One of my favorite bumper-stickers of all time.

 

Edwin Edwards still had one of the greatest political quips of all-time in the race against Duke.

"I'm a wizard under the sheets myself."

 

Better Edwin Edwards --
"I can't lose unless they catch me in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."