Me and my fran Max went to de Republican roundtable helt recently. Me, I liked de panel, what wuz made up uf American Press honcho Jim Beam, former state Rep. Vic Stelly, former Jindal and Landrieu aide Paul Rainwater and Jeremy Alford wit’ LA Political Weekly.
All four spoke about de huge amount uf money spunt by candidates an’ dar groups in de firs’ primary.
Day also noted de Democratic party had no need for de Louisiana vote in de Senate since de party lost control uf de Senate. But if you watch TV, you will see a whole lotta anti-Mary ads from de NRA an’ udder groups.
De panel agreed Mary couldn’t get out de New Awlins vote, which hurt her. It’s well known dat Orleans Parish has saved her in races before. Alford pointed out Mary led in 25 parishes but had a 50 percent share in only five.
Now, afta churnin’ de numbers an’ trowin’ out statistic afta statistic, all panelists agreed de race wuzn’t an’ isn’t about Landrieu or Cassidy; it’s about Obama and hiz policies. You notice Landrieu didn’t bring him down to help her in de firs’ round, and I doubt she’ll bring him for de second primary.
But all dat said, it should be brought out dat even though she iz down in de polls, she ain’t beat. Woody Jenkins had her beat and got beat; Susan Haik Terrell had her beat, and Mary won. She comes from a political family. We know she’s been on de phone an’ internet raisin’ money for de runoff. So what we are sayin’ iz don’t bet de house on de Republican.
Mary Pulls Out De Stops
De Keystone Pipeline project, which haz become de battle cry uf de Republicans, haz been sittin’ in a Senate committee. But in one week, Mary wuz able to move it to de Senate for a vote.
She also got real brave in votin’ against Harry Reid for Senate Majority Whip.
Could it be she’s tryin’ to show folks back in Louisiana she haz a little power in D.C. in spite uf losin’ de chairmanship uf de Senate Energy Committee?
Fact iz, Obama iz gonna veto de bill when it gets to hiz desk. De question iz, can de Senate make it veto-proof? Ain’t de politics uf energy wonderful?
Turnout An Issue Again
Even in Calcasieu, whare we had a buncha school boad an’ constable an’ justice of de peace races, de turnout wuz only 50 percent. Clerk uf court Lynn Jones, who attended de Republican roundtable, sed he expects no mo dan a 25 percent turnout for de Dec. 6 run-off.
Now dar’s a buncha events goin’ on, so get de dates for early votin’ if you gonna be murderin’ ducks in de marsh or headin’ to Texas or nort’ Louisiana to kill deer or headin’ to a football game or whatever.
By de way, Jones didn’t say what kinda costume he would be wearin’ az he stands on de street encouragin’ folks to vote in de primary.
Local Races Dat Deserve Your Vote
Usually runoffs have only one or two races on de ballot. Not so in dis election. In de south side uf de parish, dar’s de race for school boad between Atterberry an’ Roberts; an’ in nort’ Lake Charles, we have de runoff between Edwina Medearis and Glenda Gay az well az de race for city judge between Hood an’ Richard an’ de udder city judge race between Bice an’ McCorquodale az well az de race for district judge between Schrumpf an’ Redd.
By de way, David Palay wuz at dat Republican roundtable, and he announced he wuz endorsin’ Redd in dat runoff race.
Add to dat de U.S. Senate race an’ you have some real important races to be decided on Dec. 6.
What We Need For Growth
A study done by CRSR about de impact uf how de growth comin’ will affect us wuz released recently. Among udder tings, de study sez de school boad will be lookin’ at 6,000 more students. Wit’ a virtually new boad an’ a new superintendent, dat should present lots uf challenges.
Den dar’s roads, housin’ and a whole lot mo. You can see de whole study at www.gogroupswla.com.
Now dat report iz de kinda ting state an’ federal officials look at befo handin’ out money for mo roads an’ bridges, schools etc. All uf dis iz leadin’ to a better area, or, az KPLC puts it, “a better Southwest Louisiana.”
Highway Money Needed
A recent American Press editorial claimed dat de state needs money galore: $12 billion for a highway and bridge backlog. Who came up wit’ dat number you ax? De Louisiana Associated General Contractors — de folks dat would be in high cotton if de state gave dem dat kinda money.
Kevin Naquin, head honcho for de group, went so far az to use scare tactics by sayin dem LNG projects could go to Texas if we don’t get better roads an’ bridges.
Now, uf course legislators want to raise mo money. Day ain’t about to cut de highway department staff. Legislators want to raise de tax on gaz, claimin’ de 20 cents-a-gallon uf state an 18.4 cents uf federal we pay now ain’t enough. De contractors say dat number haz lost half its purchasin’ power in labor an’ materials in de last 10 years.
No mention wuz made uf de number uf deadheads in de highway department or de number uf lawyers an’ dar cost.
Folks, we in our state are gun shy about taxes, especially after de TIMED tax dat wuz used to four-lane Highway 171 an’ 165 an’ fund udder statewide projects. You’ll recall New Awlins did dar projects an’ den sed to hell wit’ de res’ uf de state. Dat’s when Randy Roach an’ udders had a come to Jesus meetin’ wit’ de highway department to make dem deliver what wuz promised in our area … dat bein’ Highway 171 an’ 165 an’ de Port uf Lake Charles.
What we are sayin’ iz dat folks are suspicious uf jus’ votin’ for a tax knowin’ de history uf how tax revenue has been moved to udder funds in de past. De word “earmark” iz sometimes overused, but in dis case, it better be used if folks iz axed to vote for mo money for de Department uf Highways.
Fish Hatchery Comin’ To Our Area
It wuz announced recently dat we’ll be gettin’ a fish hatchery in dis area to provide research on, production of, an’ education about sports species like drum, spotted sea trout an’ flounder. De hatchery will be located on 320 acres sout’ uf Lake Charles and built and runt by de Department uf Wildlife and Fisheries.
Included in de setup will be a 26,000-square-foot multipurpose buildin’, a visitor’s center and a youth fishin’ pond.
De hatchery iz one uf two to be built in de state. De udder will be in Plaquemines parish.
De official name uf de site will be de Louisiana Marine Fisheries Enhancement Research Center. How many bureaucrats you tink it took to come up wit’ dat name?
De price tag for de two centers will be $20 million. Dat will come from de British Petroleum coastal restoration fund.
We noticed dar wuz not one word about commercial fisherman in dis announcement. You tink Wildlife and Fisheries hasn’t gotten some phone calls about dat?
Longtime Newspeople Pass
We were saddened to learn uf de recent death uf Don Kingery an’ Shirley Perkins, both longtime employees uf de American Press. Kingery, who worked in various capacities at de Press, will be remembered for his hilarious monologues at de annual Gridiron show put on by de Ad & Press Club.
Perkins worked at de Press for many years. She wuz involved in many community activities.
We join de community in expressin’ our sympathy to all concerned.
Deep Taughts While Stirrin’ A Roux
10) How much money will electric companies make off dem cold spells?
9) Who burnt down me an’ T Claude’s duck blind?
8) Iz it time for coach Viator to go?
7) How low will gaz prices go?
6) How many times do I have to tell my Nebraska niece dat I ain’t flyin’ no mo?
5) Ain’t dem large hens dat grocery stores sell jus’ de best for gumbo?
4) Since I’m not huntin’ deer dis year, will Tom remember to get me some venison sausage?
3) Will we get legal sports bettin’ in Louisiana?
2) Why can’t we get wreckers at de foot uf I-10 and I-210 to keep traffic flowin’ durin’ peak hours?
1) How do I let my wife Sedonia know dat I want dem new El Rey ceegars for Christmas?
Final Shot
Lefty went to a Saints game a few weeks ago an’ got into a fight wit’ a fan afta he had had too much Old Crow. Me, I axed him how it wuz he got put in jail. He sed de cop wuz a woman … an’ she wuz jus’ gonna write him a ticket until he questioned her sexual orientation (not de words he used) an’ dat’s when she put de cuffs on him. Sometimes Lefty jus’ don’t know when to be quiet.
‘Til next time, lache pas la patate.
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