Liberty and Justice for All!

Today a protest took place at City Hall and apparently some people got tased during what some are calling a riot. During the events that took place, it seems that Stacey Head referred to the people protesting as “outside agitators”. Jeffery over at Library Chronicles doesn’t believe that people will complain about that as much as people complained about Bobby Jindal’s outside agitator comment.

Well, Jeffery is wrong. Martin Luther King stated that in the United States that no person should be considered to be an outside agitator. So it was wrong when Bobby Jindal said it and it is wrong when Stacey Head said it as well.

On the 99.5 website, there is a story pointing to some losses by “progressive Democrats” and that shows that support for Bill Jefferson is waning.

The definition of progressive is someone who seeks progress. With all of the scandal surrounding Bill Jefferson, i find it hard to see any progress. While I am a firm believer in the idea that someone is innocent until proven guilty, I have a big problem believing that someone who represents an old style political machine is someone who is going to bring us forward in the highly conservative south.

The problem is that people try and use labels to try and sell themselves as something they are not. I am unsure how many actual Democrats who are actually progressive who would associate themselves with the politics of Bill Jefferson. It is just like the so called “Regular Democrat Organization” who backed a Republican against Democrat Deborah Langhoff.

So what is to be done? Well, actual progressives need to get out there and show the media what it actually means to be a progressive Democrat.

These are my personal endorsements for the elections tomorrow. I do suggest that everybody research the candidates for themselves and make their own decisions. I hope my suggestions help.   

Elections I can vote in:

Attorney General: James D. “Buddy” Caldwell, Democrat, Ballot # 23

I voted for Caldwell in the primary and I will do so again in the runoff. Royal Alexander just does not impress me at all and if he was a quality candidate, one would think that the Republican Party would get behind him a little more than they are already doing.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff: Newell D. Normand, Republican, Ballot # 82

I know people on the JPSO and this is who they want as their boss. They feel that he will bring the crimefighting abilities of Harry Lee without the questionable decisions. Their opinion is good enough for me.

Kenner Propositions 1-3: Yes to all.

I sat on the charter committee and these are some of the items that are needed. The text of the changes can be found here. On the first amendment, unlike the T-P, we felt that eliminating the residency requirement for department heads would unbind the hands of the Mayor in choosing quality people to work for the city. The T-P reasoning is just plain silly.

The current residency requirement provides an added incentive for key managers in the administration to do their best work.

Say what? The incentive for key managers to do their best work is for them to keep their jobs! I think they pump something into the air system at the T-P offices. On the second amendment, the section is no longer needed so the amendment remvoes it. The third amendment clarifies a situation that could occur now that the council president can come from a district seat. A vote no on the third amendment would keep the charter vague.

Elections I cant vote for:

State Representative, 92nd Representative District: Michael McMyne, Republican, Ballot # 55

Michael McMyne made fighting corruption in Kenner City Hall a top priority during his tenure as interim District 2 Councilman. He acted under the idea that doing the right thing is not always the popular thing. He helped to expose the actions of the Capitano administration and was one of the reasons that Phil Capitano lost in 2006. Tom Wilmont flat out lied to me when he stated that he would be running as a Democrat. His last minute switch was typical of Louisiana politics. I also fear that he might be getting support from what I have called “Capitano Light”. If so, and if he willingly accepts this help, then I have to question the ethics he will bring to his seat.

State Representative, 94th Representative District: Deborah Langhoff, Democrat, Ballot # 54

Deborah is a community leader who brings a passion for doing what is right. The passion for doing what is right is something that is sorely needed in the legislature. She narrowly missed the runoff in the special election earlier this year because of other Democrats pulling votes away from her and because of smear tactics from the LCRM. In this election, the incumbent states that his being the only candidate in this election to support Blueprint Louisiana qualifies him to support Bobby Jindal and his claims to support ethics reform. While Langoff did not sign Blueprint Louisiana (because she felt the plan was missing some important issues) Bobby Jindal did not sign Blueprint Louisiana either. And with the conflicts of interest that have been raised  about her opponant with the insurance industry, I firmly believe that Deborah Langoff is the only candidate that can bring true ethics reform. Deborah has also stated that she will bring campaign finance reform to ethics reform, which is worth 14 plusses is my book.