We Could Be Famous

• Arnie out, Eddie in

  Number of comments: 4
  WDSU says Arnie Fielkow is undecided about seeking reelection as Councilman at-large. I hear he is decided. He is not going to seek reelection. I have also heard that the "family issues" cited cryptically by WDSU involve his wife's career and not something weird.
  
  Meanwhile, 71-year-old former Councilman' [...]
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  Posted: December 10, 2009, 5:25pm EST
  by E

• Jerry!

  Number of comments: 3
  I was at the courthouse this morning to check out the open of the candidate qualifying period. It was boring, just a stupid media set piece where candidates are filmed walking up steps and answering questions like "why do you want to run for Mayor."
  
  It is exactly like [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 1:20pm EST
  by E

• The Race Race

  Number of comments: 16
  What was once a primary campaign to determine which white person and which black person will face one another in a runoff is still a primary campaign to determine which white person and which black person will face one another in a runoff.
  
  Mitch Landrieu's candidacy is so intriguing [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2009, 10:54am EST
  by E

• Mitch Again?

  Number of comments: 18
  According to sources close to the Landrieu political operation, Mitch Landrieu is expected to announce his candidacy for Mayor of New Orleans.
  This totally rearranges the field.
  Maybe he liked what he heard out of that poll he was running a few weeks ago. [...]
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  Posted: December 07, 2009, 6:38pm EST
  by E

• It's not paradise

  Number of comments: 3
  What a difference in just two years.
  
  The homicide rate is down almost 24 percent since 2007. Violent crime receded 10 percent this year.
  
  Single-stream recycling saved $400,000 in landfill fees in September alone.
  
  The number of homeless people is down 26 percent since last year, thanks [...]
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  Posted: December 06, 2009, 10:00pm EST
  by E

• Blast from the past

  Number of comments: 0
  Murderous corrupt cop Len Davis is seeking to avoid the death penalty.
  
  I am against the death penalty and I hope this man is instead forced to rot in prison for the rest of his life. I wrote about Len Davis and Warren Riley's role protecting him from [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 1:23pm EST
  by E

• I'm John Georges and I hate running for Mayor (and this prop dog)

  Number of comments: 6
  What the hell kind of campaign ad is this? Not only does the guy look like he hates the dog he's sitting with but it also looks like he hates running for Mayor. The ad is, I guess, designed to highlight Georges' aggressive desire for the office of Mayor but [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 12:55pm EST
  by E

• I'll miss Pam Dashiell

  Number of comments: 1
  I was absolutely floored by the news that she is gone. I saw her just two weeks ago at Wally Thurman's 80th birthday party in Lower Mid-City. Though we didn't know each other particularly well, it was easy to tell that she was something of a kindrid spirit. Not many' [...]
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  Posted: December 03, 2009, 10:02am EST
  by E

• Big people article alert

  Number of comments: 0
  Last Friday I wrote sumthin for the Lens about James Perry's effing campaign. [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 1:58pm EST
  by E

• Clueless

  Number of comments: 15
  Would Leslie Jacobs, Ed Murray, Troy Henry, John Georges or their campaigns like to dispute the accuracy of the Perry campaign's account of the following exchange at today's debate sponsored by the Afterschool Partnership?
  
  Gina Warner, CEO of the Afterschool Partnership, asked:

  “What is your position on the Youth [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 2:37pm EST
  by E

• Soon Only Shiela Stroup Will Be Left Standing

  Number of comments: 7
  Rumor is that this Wednesday's column by James Gill will be his last at the Times-Picayune.
  
  It is hard to believe the T-P couldn't figure out something to at least keep one of their top political columnists through the elections next Spring.
  
  Their capacity to cover important issues [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 11:48am EST
  by E

• I'M A TOTAL SELL OUT

  Number of comments: 0
  I have a new post on the politics of affordable housing in New Orleans right.... over.... HERE! [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 11:04am EST
  by E

• Don't Be Surprised...

  Number of comments: 3
  ...When YOUR Tulane Green Wave Men's Basketball Team runs surprisingly close to the 20th ranked Georgetown Hoyas in their regular season debut tonight at Fogleman Arena. Tulane Basketball: We Want It More!' [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 10:55am EST
  by E

• Rumors, Murmurs

  Number of comments: 11
  1. Might Congressman Cao be switching parties?
  
  There is confirmed chatter amongst local Democrats that this may be in the works. It would certainly make things interesting and might help Cao emerge out of a primary if other contenders end up beating up each other instead of the incumbent. [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 12:16am EST
  by E

• Who else we got?

  Number of comments: 3
  I have pretty much lost all confidence in Rep. Charlie Melancon as a legislator and candidate for Senate. His electoral strategy against seems to be do everything the same as David Vitter but don't get caught sleeping with prostitutes. That is more than a cowardly political strategy, it's also one [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 10:12am EST
  by E

• Rep. Cao steps up

  Number of comments: 6
  Joseph Cao voted yea on healthcare reform!
  This couldn't have been easy. He was the only Republican to break ranks. I'm glad he did.
  Though I am pro-choice and proud, the Congressman is clearly passionate about his side of that endless debate and at the very least, I respect [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 11:16pm EST
  by E

• Update: Meffert indictment is here

  Number of comments: 0
  Gotta love that big bold "FELONY" dominating the page.
  
  
  Meffert Indictment [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 2:25pm EST
  by E

• Urgent! Tell Congressman Cao to vote yes on healthcare reform

  Number of comments: 1
  The House of Representatives is going to vote on healthcare reform tomorrow. That's right, tomorrow.
  
  At yesterday's Bachmann-inspired rally staged at the Capital, the House GOP leaders promised that not one Republican would vote for the bill.
  
  The Republican leadership is going to be leveraging incredible pressure [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 1:20pm EST
  by E

• Federal Charges, Brah

  Number of comments: 0
  Mef lab goes down. US Attorney Jim Letten will be holding a press conference at 12:30.
  
  It is starting earlier than one might expect because it will take so much time to read off the counts. Don't they normally do these things starting at 1:30 or 2?
  [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 10:45am EST
  by E

• Clown Car: Some quick notes on the Mayor's race

  Number of comments: 25
  School Board killer and yurp magnet Leslie Jacobs is almost guaranteed to announce her candidacy for Mayor, from what I've been hearing. She can self-finance, perhaps almost to the level that local monopoly man parody John Georges can.
  
  Jacobs' likely entry into the race means that rumors of a [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 11:41am EDT
  by E

• Breaking: Impossible looking increasingly possible

  Number of comments: 18
  The Senate healthcare reform bill will create a national public option with an opt-out provision to allow states to choose not to participate.
  
  Remember four weeks ago when the public option was declared dead?
  
  A few thoughts:
  
  1. The progressive grassroots organizations that took all that [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 4:03pm EDT
  by E

• Simple solutions to simple problems

  Number of comments: 11
  Louisiana University chieftans have been talking recently about having too many students.
  
  Due to a handshake agreement, I can't name names but recently I heard a brief talk by the head of a local public university who was proudly describing the course of action he took when faced' [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 12:19pm EDT
  by E

• GO PHILLIES!

  Number of comments: 5
  The best team to ever come out of my home town is going back to the Series for seconds!
  
  CBS: Nation will be pulling for non-phony, non-corporate Phillies [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 9:42am EDT
  by E

• David Duke Vitter

  Number of comments: 20
  This is worst kind of politics. A sad legacy is revived as David Vitter's reelection strategy.
  
  
  
  It takes one second to issue a press release condemning Keith Bardwell. We're still waiting on Senator Vitter.
  
  Update: Vitter still unable to bring himself to call for [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 12:37pm EDT
  by E

• Public option gaining steam? (updated)

  Number of comments: 3
  Polls are showing support for the public option holding steady or growing. I am starting to believe that the pressure exerted from the grassroots on this aspect of healthcare reform could ultimately prove to have worked. Progressive dissatisfaction with Democrats for waffling on the issue is being noticed [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 9:39am EDT
  by E

• It's Obama's fault!

  Number of comments: 3
  Here's a hypothetical scenario that I'd really like to collect reader thoughts on.
  
  If the President or local Congressperson were to propose a $20 billion program to fund a variety of Gulf Coast infrastructure projects and social programs, would it pass? What if it were $10 billion? Or $5 [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2009, 11:17am EDT
  by E

• President Obama's visit to New Orleans

  Number of comments: 13
  I have a whole bunch of really fuzzy pictures from my increasingly useless digital camera right here on the flickr. I took pictures of political people I recognized. From the New Orleans City Council, I spotted Shelley Midura, Cynthia Hedge Morrell, Arnie Fielkow, and Jackie Clarkson. From our Baton [...]
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  Posted: October 16, 2009, 3:10pm EDT
  by E

• We touched

  Number of comments: 8
  It was a privilege to have been able to see the President speak today. I took pictures. They'll be up after the Phillies game.
  
  In other news, I won't be washing my right hand any time soon, my seasonal allergies are gone, and I don't need my glasses anymore.[...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 6:18pm EDT
  by E

• Interference

  Number of comments: 5
  According to LJI, the State Fire Marshall made a surprise visit to MLK Charter in order to nitpick enough to order it closed in advance of President Obama's visit.
  
  
  For Immediate Release
  October 15, 2009
  

  
  On Tuesday afternoon, October 13th, the Louisiana Fire Marshal made an unexpected,' [...]

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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 6:10pm EDT
  by E

• Dear Mr. President

  Number of comments: 1
  I've got this blighted property on my block. I call code enforcement. They tell me to call 311. 311 doesn't work. The street lights are still going out all the time and I blew out my tire on a pothole just the other day. I couldn't get my road home' [...]
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  Posted: October 14, 2009, 10:06pm EDT
  by E

• Jumping in

  Number of comments: 8
  I've been thinking through some things the last few days related to this discussion and the pursuit of justice for victims of unrepentant vigilantism during Hurricane Katrina.
  
  After I suggested that some instances of abuse of power might be more easily prosecutable than others and wondered aloud whether' [...]
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  Posted: October 14, 2009, 8:19pm EDT
  by E

• Don’t like to hear where I can’t go - updated

  Number of comments: 9
  Is it true that President Obama's scheduled trip to New Orleans coincides with Mayor Nagin's scheduled trip to Cuba?
  How convenient!
  
  I wonder if President Obama - juggling two wars, a limping economy, a critical healthcare reform initiative, and the coming climate change catastrophe - was asked [...]
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  Posted: October 11, 2009, 3:39pm EDT
  by E

• Not a pretty picture

  Number of comments: 10
  When the NYTimes holds up a mirror.
  
  Great article but not fun to read. [...]
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  Posted: October 08, 2009, 9:23pm EDT
  by E

• Note to the advance team

  Number of comments: 5
  I am really looking forward to President Obama's overdue visit next Thursday.
  
  

  A White House memo, provided by Louisiana members of Congress, said the president would be in New Orleans for a town hall, but didn't provide any details.

  
  

  Sorry but I'd like to know some details.

  What kind' [...]

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  Posted: October 08, 2009, 3:58pm EDT
  by E

• This sounds promising for the country but not so much for us

  Number of comments: 12
  Healthcare reform is finally creaking forward in the Senate. The CBO score on the Baucus bill should pretty much guarantee that the thing is going to finally get out of the finance committee.
  
  Senator Schumer has been leading the charge to rally Democratic colleagues to support sort of public [...]
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  Posted: October 08, 2009, 10:52am EDT
  by E

• OIG Report on Budget Processes (Updated)

  Number of comments: 4
  I've been looking forward to this report for a long time. The way we do our budget is a major source of frustration and a major impediment to some of the easier changes we'd like to see.
  
  Last year's budget battle was awful for every single member of City [...]
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  Posted: October 07, 2009, 4:30pm EDT
  by E

• Vitter condones workplace rape by defense contractor employees?

  Number of comments: 1
  He was one of 30 GOPers to vote against an amendment that would defund contractors that restrict employees from pursuing instances of workplace sexual assault in court.
  
  The basis of the amendment is the heinous story of Jamie Leigh Jones, who working in Iraq for Haliburton/KBR when she [...]
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  Posted: October 07, 2009, 12:33pm EDT
  by E

• The Best Mayor in America

  Number of comments: 10
  
  
  My man-crush grows.
  
  What this guy did to become Mayor of Newark, running in 2002 and 2006, demonstrates the incredible dedication required to triumph in cities with entrenched political machines and entrenched cynicism.
  
  If you haven't seen it, definitely check out Street Fight, a documentary made' [...]
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  Posted: October 07, 2009, 10:23am EDT
  by E

• Everybody likes comfortable furniture at rock bottom prices

  Number of comments: 10
  Kudos to Cliff for bringing us this breakthrough in race relations:
  
  [...]
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  Posted: October 05, 2009, 10:31am EDT
  by E

• WITHOUT A DOUBT

  Number of comments: 12
  YES TO HIGH SPEED RAIL
  
  Good luck with Governor Waaaambulance, Congressman Cao.
  
  His administration was working toward high speed rail before he had a child-like reaction to being made fun of for previously opposing it publicly to score a one-off political point. [...]
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  Posted: October 02, 2009, 11:23pm EDT
  by E

• Ethics Review Board works to avoid filing financial disclosure forms

  Number of comments: 11
  This is lame. And unfortunately it reinforces earlier concerns.
  
  LJI has the docs.
  
  All governmental bodies that spend more than $10,000 a year are supposed to file financial disclosure forms. The Ethics Review Board requested an advisory opinion from the Louisiana Board of Ethics seeking an [...]
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  Posted: October 01, 2009, 8:00pm EDT
  by E

• First of all, Campaign Basics, OK?

  Number of comments: 7
  John Georges is smart to make his presence known to second liners.
  
  He's going to put his money on the line for this race - he had a drop-top and logo throws ready to roll.
  
  But guess what?
  
  It doesn't take millions of dollars to go' [...]
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  Posted: October 01, 2009, 4:40pm EDT
  by E

• Mefstimony turns out to have been...

  Number of comments: 0
  ...bullshit
  
  Complete Bullshit
  
  I wonder if Meffert will be called back to the stand for a more hostile examination. [...]
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  Posted: September 30, 2009, 3:50pm EDT
  by E

• Hot on HANO

  Number of comments: 1
  Just in case you don't remember our friend Elias Castellanos, I wrote about him recently.
  
  I have been meaning to do some follow up on this amazing article by the T-P's Katy Reckdahl, which I think people may have missed because all of the goodies are buried' [...]
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  Posted: September 30, 2009, 12:18pm EDT
  by E

• Sworn Mefstimony

  Number of comments: 7
  I walked into Judge Ledet's courtroom this morning at ten past eleven right as Greg Meffert was getting up to walk out.
  
  "I gotta pee," he whispered way too loudly at no one in particular.
  
  And so I found myself in Orleans Parish Civil District Court to check [...]
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  Posted: September 29, 2009, 8:50pm EDT
  by E

• Civilized Drinking With Civilized Drunks

  Number of comments: 7
  Jay and some Batt girls talk about how to spoil children and the good old days when they'd get drunk and pass out in the backseat of the station wagon on the way home.
  
  
  
  Enjoy!' [...]
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  Posted: September 29, 2009, 6:31pm EDT
  by E

• "First of all, Michael Bloomberg, OK?"

  Number of comments: 0
  Oyster had another great post this weekend.
  
  This time, he has a laugh over John Georges' seemingly inexplicable decision to play nice around Ray Nagin in a recent WBOK appearance, contrasting it with memorable instances in which Georges has not demonstrated a penchant for respectful discourse.
  
  Georges' [...]
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  Posted: September 28, 2009, 1:37pm EDT
  by E

• Let's move on from Wilson already

  Number of comments: 0
  Sean Quinn:
  
  Importantly, Obama should take this approach and also remind people that although Wilson’s objection was not a truthful one, that if anyone out there was bothered by what they saw with that display, the best action would be to not waste energy attacking Mr. Wilson but [...]
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  Posted: September 10, 2009, 9:35pm EDT
  by E

• Feeling Bullish

  Number of comments: 1
  

  Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

  
  I thought this speech was brilliant in so many ways.
  
  He avoided drawing hard lines in the sand on most of the specific policy proposals he personally favors.
  
  But he drew several lines [...]
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  Posted: September 10, 2009, 9:41am EDT
  by E

• Leadership for a change?

  Number of comments: 10
  When I think about State Senator and Mayoral Candidate Ed Murray, the first things that comes to mind are Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, or Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
  
  Voting to facilitate the relocation of the Hornets to New Orleans is just like leading Civil Rights movement, averting [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 11:22am EDT
  by E