Friday, October 31, 2008

Benham & Bourgeois: Dumb and Dumber!




The runoff for District 12 East Baton Rouge Metro Council is like a bad dream between two candidates Dumb and Dumber aka Jim Benham and Smokie Bourgeois.

This is the second time that these two candidates have met in a runoff for the Metro Council. In the late 90's Councilmen Jim Behham was a one-man crusade trying to ban alcohol in East Baton Rouge. Benham's anti-alcohol policies angered most of the restaurant and bar owners in Baton Rouge. Smokie Bourgeois a local cult hero and the owner of Georges's Restaurant decided to run against Benham in the 2000 election. Bourgeois forced Benham into a runoff. Benham with the help of his fellow council member Lori Burgess won the race by a very small margin.

Now in 2008 Jim Benham only campaign promise is that he is going to rid the South Downs area of Tommy Spinosa Rouzan development. Who knows what Smokie’s platform is, maybe more drinks for everyone?

Benham is not taking any direct contribution nor is he putting his money in the campaing, he is taking in-kind contribution on items like yard signs and push cards. Bourgeios has raised a small amount of money. Both of these campaigns are very low budget.

Unfortunately it does not matter who wins, the real losers in this race are the citizens of the 12th District and the citizens of East Baton Rouge.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

HOLDEN & TASSIN






























Smiling faces sometimes pretend to be your friend Smiling faces show no traces of the evil that lurks withinSmiling faces, smiling faces sometimes They don't tell the truth uh Smiling faces, smiling facesTell lies and I got proof.



This 1970's song written by Barrett Strong and made famous by the Temptations and latter by the Undisputed Truth sums up the relationship of Mayor Kip Holden and his dear friend Martha Jane Tassin.


Martha Jane Tassin is in a fight for her political life with Donna Collin-Lewis for her 6 District seat on the Baton Rouge Metro Council. Since Mayor Kip Holden was elected Tassin has been one of his strongest allies and the Mayor has made a promise to her that he would help her get re-elected and how important she is on the Metro Council and the Planning Commission.


Tassin demographics have changed radically since 2005 because of Hurricane Katrina and now African Americans are the majority voters in her district. Martha Jane's opponent in the run-off is Donna Collin-Lewis who is a very well connected African American that is closely aligned with Yvonne Dorsey. When Mayor Kip Holden is at white groups such as Good Growth Coalition he talks about how important Martha Jane Tassin is to the city and that it is very important for her to be re-elected. But the facts are that Holden is also helping Lewis and that his number one lieutenant Alfred Williams is running Lewis campaign.


Kip Holden could help Martha by actively campaigning for her but he has chosen only to help her with false words of help. In District 1 Mayor Holden has endorsed Gerald Handy over Bones Addison. In Handy's race the mayor has become very active and very public in his campaigning for Handy. He has sent out letters of endorsement for Handy and he has helped raise money for him. The Mayor has not in any way helped Tassin. His promises to help her have been empty lies. As Kip Holden smiles and reassures Martha of his support he is stabbing her in the back.


Republican like Mike Waker and Mike Futrell should take the advice of Barrett Strong song when dealing with Mayor Kip Holden:

Beware, beware of the handshake that hides the snake I'm telling you beware, beware of the pat on the back It just might hold you back.

I understand that Mayor Kip Holden has promised Mike Walker that he is going to help him become the next mayor pro-tem. Yea, right.




Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes they don't tell the truth, uh

Smiling faces, smiling faces tell lies and I got proof.


Thursday, October 16, 2008

Joe The Plumber at the bat!





To use a baseball analogy last night John McCain was able to dink out a single with a pinch hit by Joe the Plumber (or was it an error by Obama?). John McCain now has a runner on first base but his situation is dire. It is the bottom of the ninth, two outs a base runner on first the home team is down by four runs and the fat lady is warming up her voice. Most of the loyal home fans are walking
towards the gates thinking the game is over.


In the words Yogi Berra, "It ain't over till it over" and "It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." but it sure looks bad for John McCain and the home team.

John McCain was able to seize on the error that Obama made with Joe the Plumber. Earlier this week when Barack Obama was in Holland Ohio he had a dialog with a local businessman Joe Wurzelbacher (aka Joe the Plumber). In this dialog Obama was trying to explain to Wurzelbacher why it was good for him to pay higher taxes ( http://www.nypost.com/seven/10152008/news/politics/obama_fires_a_robin_hood_warning_shot_133685.htm)

Obama tells Wurzelbacher that he intends to "spread the wealth around". John Mcain was able to put a face on the Obama tax plan and was able to show how his tax plan hurts ordinary people.
John McCain chances of winning are slim to none but if he can keep relating to ordinary people he might have a chance.
If John MCain wins it will because of Joe the Plumber.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Poll Shows Congressman Cazayoux with 17-Point Lead




Cazayoux 46

Cassidy 29

Jackson 9


How accurate are these numbers?


The 6 district has an history for voting repub and will carry John McCain.
In the special election a very weak Woody Jenkins almost won the election and it was the independent candidates that took votes from Jenkins that allowed for Cazayoux to win by a simple majority.
If Jackson can get half of the Baton Rouge Black vote and Cassidy can get the majority of the McCain vote I believe that Cazayoux is defeated.

It is hard for me to believe that someone who is voting for McCain will not vote for Cassidy and it is also hard for me to believe that someone who is voting for Obama won't vote for Jackson.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Scott Lemoine, Tax Accountant on Steroids!


Scot Lemoine is in a runoff for East Baton Rouge Metro Council person for District 11 with Alison Cascio. I do not know either candidate nor I do not have a dog in that fight.

In the September 24 issue of the Advocate there was an article concerning Scot Lemine, that was entilted "Candidate claims bias in police s" ( http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/29512024.html?showAll=y&c=y ) .
Lemoine was issued a misdemeanor summons for simple battery. Apparently he was involved in an altercation with one of his tax client and police were called and the summons was issued.

I never knew that tax preparation is a contact sport. I always thought that it was the IRS who did the beating up not your CPA!

If a business man can not conduct himself in a more professional manner he does not have the temperament for public office and should withdraw from the race.

I fear what he might do when tension are high in the Metro Council meetings. Is he going to assault another person with a pile of papers? Watch out for those wild CPA's.
Scot do the right thing and withdraw. Apparently you can't take the heat.

Friday, October 10, 2008

BEAT THE GATORS!



GEAUX TIGERS BEAT THE GATORS!

Last Saturday was bad day for Les Miles and the Tigers. The Tigers were pummeled by a gator named Tebow. It is hard to believe that Chase Daniel is a better quarterback than Tebow.

THE BAIL OUT!


The American public was told that Congress had to pass Bush's $700 Billion take over of the mortgage industry for financial stability.
Congress passed the Bailout on Oct 3 and the President signed it into law that day. On Oct. 2 the Dow Jones Industrial closed at 10,483.85 today one week latter (Oct. 10, 2008) the market closed at 8,451.19 a drop of 2031.66 a 20% decline in thehe market.
It reminds me of the word of Ronald Regan, "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'


"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem."

Thanks Bush and the Congress for all of your help!


New Ethics Board learns limitations

(Bobby Jindal's new ethics board)

www.2theadvocate.com/news/30731584.html?showAll=y&c=y

The law, pushed by Gov. Bobby Jindal and key legislators, takes away the board’s judicial authority to decide whether people have violated state ethics and other laws it polices.The Ethics Board is left to investigate and decide whether charges should be filed. Ethics attorneys become prosecutors who try cases before a panel of administrative law judges hired by a governor’s appointee.




I am glad that the nation loves Bobby Jindal and his ethics reform but in reality these reforms are a joke. It is my understanding that there are a limited number of administrative judges and not nearly enough to handle the load that will be created once the Ethics Board starts charging individual with ethics violations and referring them to these judges.

To paraphrase C. B. Forgotson, with he, he, ha, ha Louisiana new ethics reform we have the nations toughest laws with no one to enforce them. Louisianan is open for business!!!




Moore verses Claitor?

(Dan Claitor while working for Harry Connick, Jr)



The question that must be asked is why did DA"Dan" Claitor, R (great name to run for DA) go down in flames to Hillar Moore, D?

This was an open seat and for both Moore and Claitor this was the first time they had ran for public office. Both of these guys come from great Baton Rouge families and both of their campaigns were relatively well financed.

This should had been a classic democrat verses republican match up.

Baton Rouge in the past has been a very friendly town to republicans. It does not make sense that Hillar Moore a democrat would win his election with almost 75% of the vote while running for a open seat against a quality opponent.


I believe there are two reasons for Hillar's landslide. The first reason and probably the biggest reason is Hillar has practice law in Baton Rouge for his entire professional life while Dan worked for the New Orleans DA's office. There is such a divide between Baton Rouge and New Orleans and there is great resentment between these two cities. In the inter-city of Baton Rouge after hurricane Katrina the gang factions divided between the 225's and the 504's. The Baton Rouge gang bangers were not going to let the newly arrived New Orleans gang banger tell then how to run their business this has been the reason for much of the violence in Baton Rouge's intercity.

It is not only with the gang bangers this divide go into all aspects of Baton Rouge society. People from New Orleans see people from Baton Rouge as backwards and people from Baton Rouge resent that attitude.

When DA (Dan) Claitor ran television commercials stating that he worked in the New Orleans DA office and that he prosecuted more cases in New Orleans than the entire East Baton Rouge DA office, this was absolutely the wrong message. It was as if Claitor was saying, "I am from New Orleans and I am going to show you backward people how to clean up your city, like we did in New Orleans". The average Baton Rouogean thought that his message was very insulting and kindled the fires of the 225ers verses the 504ers.

Bottom line is that Baton Rouge is Baton Rouge and it's not New Orleans nor does Baton Rouge want to be New Orleans.

The second reason that Hillar won in such a landslide is because of Hillar's community involvement. He has coached the sons and daughter of Baton Rouge in Baseball, he has raised money for policemen who had been injured on duty and he has acted the fool (like the rest of us) at LSU tailgate parties. Hillar has given back so much to Baton Rouge and by doing this he has touched so many different people and all of these people voted for him. When Dan said, "If you want a baseball coach vote for Hillar” this only reminded the voters of Baton Rouge how Hillar and his family has been active in this city. The citizens of Baton Rouge rewarded his community services by overwhelmingly voting for him.

Someone told me they thought that Cailtor has a great political future ahead of him self. I don't think so. My advice to DA (Dan) Claitor is go beg Hillar Moore for a job and he might be merciful and give him job, after all Claitor has prosecuted more case in one week in New Orleans than the entire Baton Rouge DA's office has ever prosecuted in the history of Baton Rouge!


Baton Rouge is Baton Rouge and Hillar is the new DA, good luck Hillar!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Holden says Hicks behind opponents’ campaigns


Rhett Davis' Great Grand Father



http://www.businessreport.com/archives/daily-report/2008/oct/07/653/

According to Kip Holden, Ted Hicks was the one financing his three opponents. The reason for Hicks' opposition of Holden was because of Holden’s opposition of moving the zoo to Hicks' O'Neal property.

Holden knows that it was Hicks who paid for the poison pen letter that Scott Wilfong sent out.Another enemy of Kip Holden who recruited his opposition was Rhett Davis.

Rhett Davis and friends plan to make a load of money from a company called Redflex Group on the Baton Rouge red light photo enforcement contract. Redflex had offered Davis a royalty on every ticket that Redflex collected on if he could get their company the contract with the city. Davis had the potential to make load of money on that contract. Redflex hired the wrong consultant. Redflex did not get the contract nor were they seriously considered. Davis blamed Kip Holden and accused him of unfair dealings. Rhett Davis promised to get even with Mayor Kip Holden and other metro council members who did not vote the way Davis wanted. Ted Hicks recruited Wayne Carter to run, Rhett Davis recruited both Dan Kyle and Ron Johnson. Davis' strategy was that Holden had abandon his black base and that whites would vote for the republicans leaving making Holden the third guy out and not making the general election. The State Republican Party, aka Rhett Davis donated $10,000 to both Carter and to Kyle as seed money to get their campaign going. The money that was donated from the Republican Party probably came from Ted Hicks. Donating money to a political party is a great way to hide a direct contribution to a candidate.

Holden's opponents were lazy and did not raise any additional money. It appears that some of the expenditures of Holden's opponents were off their financial reports which means that Hicks probably paid for those.

Hicks and Davis’ plan backfired they did not realize the strength of the Mayor nor did they realize how lazy Carter, Kyle and Johnson were.

After Holden won by an unprecedented 70% of the vote he is stronger than ever and his enemies had better watch out.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Reason not to vote for Holden....

Mayor Kip Holden's support for the resolution "One Baton Rouge" is so far out of the main stream of Baton Rouge it clearly shows that Holden has an agenda that most Baton Rougeans do not agree with.

Kip Holden has made it clear that he does not consider his resolution "One Baton Rouge" as a dead issue. One can be assured that Holden will bring it to the new Metro Council next year and it will be defeated again.

Kip Holden has done many great things for Baton Rouge, his leadership in a time of disaster has been heroic. It is clear that Holden has a heart for all of Baton Rouge. BUT...his demanding for the Metro Council to pass his resolution "One Baton Rouge" is ONE reason not to vote for Kip Holden.

The only problem is , "Who else can you vote for?"

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

How Wayne Carter Plans to Change Direction of Parish?????

Yesterday I received a mailer from Wayne Carter candidate for East Baton Rouge Mayor/President. At first read I thought that it was a very well done mailer and a enjoyable read. I enjoyed reading the article on page 4 how Carter got his nickname of "Spider" and Carter's days on the rodeo circuit, there is a great picture of a young Wayne Carter riding a bull. I was impress of Carter's humble beginnings and how he through hard work started his own successful business. He appears to be a great family man and father.

BUT...On page 2 Carter blows any good will that he might of had with this simple line, "People are fleeing the parish, and white population is declining dramatically."

What are you saying Wayne? Because Baton Rouge has a black mayor people are leaving the parish?

What an idiot! Maybe people are leaving the parish because we have idiots like you leading the parish.

Edwards/Broone?

The decision by many veteran East Baton Rouge Metro Council members not to run for re-election has opened the Metro Council to a new generation of leadership.

One of these impressive new leaders is Ronnie Edwards who is running in district 5, for Charles Kelly current seat.

District five is a north Baton Rouge district that is primarily African-American.

Even though this is the first time that Edwards has run for political office, she is no stranger to Baton Rouge politics. She is a closely associated with State Senator Sharon Weston Broome and has helped managed all of Broome’s campaigns. Edwards is the founding executive director for Broome’s non-profit Urban Restoration Enhancement Corp. that has been helping people to obtain homes for the last fifteen years.

In District 5, there are five people running for office. Edwards is the only candidate that is funded. She has raised over $15,000 in contributions and on her latest financial report, she reported that she had over $8,000 of cash on hand. Her opponents have only raised a small fraction of that amount and according to financial reports they have no cash on hand for the final phase of the campaign.

Edwards has not only raised that amount of money she knows how to spend her money effectively to get her elected. She knows how to identify her vote and get her vote out on Election Day.

Even though there are five people running for that office because of money and hard smart work it is very possible that she will win in the first primary.

If Edwards can win on October 4th this opens up Edwards and Senator Broome to get involved in other Metro Council races and help those candidates that are friendly to Edwards/Broome.

Ronnie Edwards has good political instincts and is very intelligent but more than that, she knows how to bring people together of all races. She sees can see the bigger picture while representing her District very effectively.

One of the first actions of the new council will be voting for a Mayor Pro-Tem. Mike Walker has expressed an interest in this job and I would except that Bones Addison if he wins would be interest in the job also. Both men are veterans to the Metro Council and both men carry baggage to the Metro Council.

Typically, the election for Mayor Pro-Tem falls between race lines of white conservative republicans verses black democrats. Mike Walker and Bones Addison are both leaders for their respective camps. Mike Walker with a relatively easy race has been helping in other Metro Council candidate’s races and will be more active in the general election. However, the new Metro Council in January will want to have their own leadership and will want to cut from the past that could leave both Walker and Addison out. This could set up for a compromise candidate and Ronnie Edwards could be the one who unites whites and blacks, republicans and democrats.

But, the story behind the store of Ronnie Edwards is that State Senator Broone is building her political machine to run for a bigger office. Maybe Mayor in four years?