Nagin Wins Another Term in New Orleans

[CaptainF]

Lets face it, people like to elect leaders that lead them through a crisis. Thats why George W. Bush got reelected, thats why Nagin got reelected too.

 

[MobBoss]

Lets face it, people like to elect leaders that lead them through a crisis. Thats why George W. Bush got reelected, thats why Nagin got reelected too.

Well, if you call what Nagin did leadership......

But I see what you mean and I partially agree....its also why I think Rudolph Giuliani is a shoe in to win in '08 if he should run.

 

[Phlegmak]

I knew some troll would have to bring this up.

Its like an itch that liberals must scratch every 24 hours.

Wrong on several accounts.

I'm not a liberal.

It's the perfect analogy.

It's genuinely what I think about the situation.

 

[Ethics]

So why are we trying to rebuild NO? Not only is that fact that the city is sinking, but the (wet)land is being eroded away. Now i know we need a port down there, but why don't we just build a new on,.. Oh idk solid ground.

Ok ok, I know a lot of people live there, and it sucks for them to lose there homes and everything. But that would change the fact that in 50 to 80 years its likely that all that land will be gone.

Sorry for being off topic

We're rebuilding Nawlins because now that the social ills and crime has been dumped on Houston (trust me, no politician black or otherwise will be planning to bus in and rebuild the government housing), the money can come back in and turn it into the drinking paradise of college students everywhere.

Nawlins: Safe, Cultured, and a Party Haven!

...and Nagin, in true Nawlins politician fashion, will reap rewards of political success in Nawlins.

 

[blackheart]

It seems like there's a tone of underlying racism in this thread.

That being said, Nagin is a dimwad.

Racism for what, pointing out that Nagin got the black votes because he is black?

 

[GenMarshall]

Sad to see a racist mayor on the helm in New Orleans .

 

[Brian_B]

Lets face it, people like to elect leaders that lead them through a crisis. Thats why George W. Bush got reelected, thats why Nagin got reelected too.

If you are interested pick up a copy of Douglas Brinkley's "The Great Deluge." He's extremely harsh on Nagin's 'leadership' before and during the crisis. He obviously has an agenda against Nagin but he does quote eyewitnesses who saw Nagin react as events unfolded. In the end you just have to determine if you trust the various accounts.

Long story short: Nagin basically hid for the majority of the time, feared the angry mobs were coming to kill him, and was overall ill-equipped to do anything.

I still remember his buddy and police chief appointee Eddie Compass crying like a baby in an interview with Oprah while the crisis is going on.

 

[Olorin0222]

Well, if we ever had any ideas of New Orleans cleaning itself up, those hopes just dissipated in a cloud of smoke.

 

[The Yankee]

Not really. It was an odd coalition. In all honesty Nagin is the more conservative of the two candidates, he's basically a Republican that switched to a Democrat since no Republicans win office in New Orleans. He garnered enough of the ultra conservative and pandared to the majority of african-americans on the issue of race, e.g., "Chocolate City." If any white candidate for office suggested his city should be "Vanilla" because "God intended it that way," he wouldn't be elected dog catcher.

The whole situation is pretty sad, especially when you let people who probably have zero intention of ever returning to the city vote in an election that will determine it's long-term future.

I figured it'd be at least a little more complicated than race. I do remember that he was a Republican who went Democrat to win (just like my Mayor Mike Bloomberg went Republican to avoid going through the Democratic Party), so I figure the Republicans in N'Awlins had nowhere else to go, even after he was mildly villified by people, especially those who love to point at the current D next to his name.

I'll have to ask my politics professor about it...he probably kept tabs on the whole thing.

 

[The Yankee]

The Landrieu family is extremely powerful in Louisiana, so there were a lot of people voting against Landrieu rather than for Nagin, people who probably wouldn't have voted if Mitch Landrieu wasn't Nagin's opponent.

How badly do you think it hurts Mitch's future ambitions to be Governor (as he couldn't do it with the current Dem still in office and not retiring, and banking on a NO win would have boosted his stature at this time)?

 

[Phlegmak]

Sad to see a racist mayor on the helm in New Orleans .

Don't worry; that's normal for New Orleans.

 

[newfangle]

Racism for what, pointing out that Nagin got the black votes because he is black?

Who knows.

But I think its fair to see that the tone of this thread would be very different had he been a white [moron].

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Who knows.

But I think its fair to see that the tone of this thread would be very different had he been a white [moron].

Definitely. Theyd love him, just like they love Bush.

 

[TrailblazingScot]

Ain't too bright in New Orleans.

 

[Brian_B]

How badly do you think it hurts Mitch's future ambitions to be Governor (as he couldn't do it with the current Dem still in office and not retiring, and banking on a NO win would have boosted his stature at this time)?

I'm not sure I fully understand: why couldn't Landrieu turn around and run against Blanco in the next gubinatorial election? In fact I think it's highly likely. He's also probably thinking of running for U.S. Congress if they end up taking Bill Jefferson off in handcuffs (although there are people that would still probably vote for him even if he was convicted). His biggest opposition for Governor will be Bobby Jindal (currently in Congress representing the suburban New Orleans area). Jindal is one of the few politicians that have distinguished himself during the whole disaster and could probably have his pick of the Governor's mansion or Mary Landrieu's Senate seat. He'd be heavily favored in either race.

 

[malclave]

Oh God, what were they thinking?

I think it was due to his tireless efforts to revitalize the business and tourism industries in New Orleans by lobbying corporate officials in an effort to wrest the title of "Chocolate City" away from Hershey, Pennsylvania.

 

[Elrohir]

There's a sucker born every minute. And apparently they're all born in New Orleans.

 

[The Yankee]

I'm not sure I fully understand: why couldn't Landrieu turn around and run against Blanco in the next gubinatorial election? In fact I think it's highly likely. He's also probably thinking of running for U.S. Congress if they end up taking Bill Jefferson off in handcuffs (although there are people that would still probably vote for him even if he was convicted). His biggest opposition for Governor will be Bobby Jindal (currently in Congress representing the suburban New Orleans area). Jindal is one of the few politicians that have distinguished himself during the whole disaster and could probably have his pick of the Governor's mansion or Mary Landrieu's Senate seat. He'd be heavily favored in either race.

That's a good point...if he's living in New Orleans in hopes of becoming mayor, then why not be where he has to be to win a job for life in Congress?

Running for Governor wouldn't work as it'd split the Democratic hierarchy with the race and just end up creating a fresh opportunity for someone else to stroll in and send them both home (such as Jindal).