[StBernard] State Democratic Party Response

[Westley Annis]

Let me concur with John's statements.

I said it in a previous email, but it bares repeating, let's throw all of
them into the MRGO and blow the levees.

To think they even have the gall to go on the WWL radio and tell the public,
"Gov. Blanco didn't twist my arm hard enough."  That's just saying she
didn't offer any promises in exchange for them voting favorably on the
legislation.  For the issues that are facing the state right now, it should
not require political favors to get anything passed.

I say we throw them all out of office and start with Ken Odinet.  The man
has not done a damn thing for St. Bernard since the storm.  Unless he was
fighting the levee consolidation bill, you didn't hear anything from him.

Pabt!

Westley

PS For those that don't know, I am a Republican and was sent that message by
a close friend is true yellow-dog democrat.  Since it thru the list just
cause I'm so disgusted with the whole thing, from the Feds on down.

-----Original Message-----


Democratic Party state chairman Chris Whittington either doesn't know
Louisiana legislative politics or he's using Friday's legislative inaction
to "play politics" and pull one over on us.  As someone who worked several
years in Baton Rouge as staff for the both the House and Senate, and as a
lobbyist, let me tell you what everyone in Baton Rouge already knows - party
politics really don't play much of a hand in the Louisiana legislature.

I've witnessed legislators from other states visit ours when in session and
marvel at the fact that Republican and Democrats aren't separated on
different sides of the isles or that there isn't a huge letter "D" or "R"
next to the legislator's name on his/her desk plate.  Once a visiting
legislator from Florida asked me "aren't there political subdivisons within
your legislature?"  I responded, "sure, but the political divisions in
Louisiana's legislature aren't Republican vs. Democrat, it's more like
"trial lawyers" (association) vs. "business and industry" (as in LABI) or
it's "northern" Louisiana legislators vs. "southern" Louisiana legislators
and all these groups cross party lines.  It's "special interests" not
political parties that rule in Baton Rouge.

Further proof of this are the lobbyist.  Some of the biggest lobbyist in
Baton Rouge will be representing "conservative" interests on one bill then
"liberal" interests on the next.  It's whomever hires them first.

If Friday's legislative actions (or inactions) appeared to be along
(Republican) party lines, trust me it's only a coincidence.  And what's
really sad is Chris Whittington knows this all too well, but I guess he
figured this was an opportunity to try and play the people of Louisiana who
he thinks do not know any better.

John Scurich