Can We Expect More Rule Bending From the Dems?
Jim Addison at Wizbang Politics has written that former Democratic Senator, John Breaux, has announced that he will run for governor of Louisiana now that Kathleen Blanco has bowed out of the race.
There’s just one little complication and that is that under Louisiana law, a candidate must live in the state for the five preceding years. Breaux works as a Washington lobbyist and is now a legal resident of the state of Maryland. The Louisiana state Democratic caucus has requested a legal opinion from Attorney General Charles Foti.
We have seen this before and it’s a page from the Democratic play book — you change the rules to get what you want. We saw it with Frank “the Fossil” Lautenberg in New Jersey. We saw how they fought to force the ballots in Florida and Texas to NOT reflect the name of the Republican candidates when there were vacancies. We have witnessed how they treated recounts in the state of Washington and used the courts to get the extra votes to elect the Democrat. They have fought in the courts to extend the voting hours in St. Louis when they couldn’t get all of their voters in. For Democrats it’s not the law that matters — it’s what needs to happen for them to steal elections.
One of our readers, MFG, is from Louisiana and this is what he wrote the other day about the race.
Breaux has two main problems: Louisiana law requires a gubernatorial candidate to have lived in Louisiana continuously for five years before running for office, and Breaux now lives in Maryland and is registered to vote in Maryland. It is a real question if he can overcome this issue.
The second problem is that Louisiana is a much redder state now, having changed from a swing state in ‘92 and ‘96 (narrowly won by Clinton both times)to a Republican state, won solidly by Bush in 2000 and overwhelmingly in 2004.
Bobby (Jindal) vs Breaux would be a real nail biter, but I think Bobby pulls it out by a point or two.
Attorney General Charles Foti is a Democrat. Shall we guess what his opinion will be? I think this is going to work its way through the courts. It’s the Democrat way, after all.
Posted by COgirl
March 25th, 2007 at 1:43 am
The answer is no to republicans and yes to democrats. It may not be in the law, but that’s how it will turn out.
It’s a penumbra or something.
March 25th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Perhaps it is time for the Republicans to take off the rose colored glasses and learn the rules of this game that they seem to want to play. First, the goal of the game is to control the organs and levers of power, and to aggressively work to facilitate that as an ongoing arrangement.
You fail to mention that it is a Senate rule that a written version of all testimony before a committee of that body MUST be delivered to the majority and minority staffs 48 hours BEFORE the witness testifies. This requirement MAY be waived by vote of the committee in favor of a 24 hour requirtment. Al Gore provided the mandated written testimony approx. one half hour before his testimony. The committee chair, Barbara Boxer said that she saw nothing wrong in that and so ruled that he could testify. There were only a couple of Repubs there, and they stayed and heard testimony and asked questions. Had they walked out, on the basis that the mandated written testimony had not be provided in a timely manner, the hearing could not have proceeded and Gore’s face time on TV would have been eliminated.
The point is just this, the Republicans over the last 12+ years have shown that they are incapable or uninterested in the rules of the game, the goal of the game, or even what game is being played. They can not, or will not, govern. Whether they can not or will not matters not a fig, the outcome is the same either way.
Perhaps Fred Thompson can make a difference. Ronald Reagan did. The jury, however, is still out on the verdict. In any case, as soon as Reagan left office and Bush Sr. took over, the GOP returned to it’s somnambulistic ways, and insists on gaining zero competence in the art of governance.
You get what you vote for.
March 25th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Caleb, first of all, long time no see. Glad to have you back.
Yes, you are absolutely right. Republicans behave as gentleman and rely too often on the incorrect notion that Democrats will play with honor. They do not. They play to win and will beg, borrow, cheat, steal and lie to get what they want. Yes, it’s beneath Republicans to do that, but we are living with the consequences of not playing on the same field with the gutter rats. As Dems lost elections, they became more desperate. We need to act with that same sense of desperation.
Will the party grow a pair??? I don’t know, but I hope so. Maybe Bush will set the tone for that.
March 25th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Bobby (Jindal) vs Breaux would be a real nail biter, but I think Bobby pulls it out by a point or two.
CO girl
Breaux would be considered a carpetbagger by now. Jindal should beat him handily.
March 25th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
I dunno…
John Breaux is well liked here, this could be a war
I hope Bobby J gets in; this was the bad part about Blanco withdrawing, turns a guaranteed win into a barn burner
Charles Foti has a reputation as a fair guy, let’s see what happens
Damn, how can you run for Governor in one state when you live and vote in another?!?!
March 25th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Without meaning to offend anyone, one other interesting aspect of the race is that Bobby is 35 and Breaux is 63
Bobby is very good at presenting himself as a vigorous youthful candidate with new ideas
The contrast in age could work against Breaux…
March 25th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Thanks for the insight MFG - I do wonder if the age thing cuts both ways.
Breaux has name recognition and he’s seen as a moderate.
I wouldn’t vote for him though since he wouldn’t even live in LA after he retired from the senate. Of course I don’t live in LA, so who knows if they care. I didn’t think Hillary could carpetbag NY. But there you go.
March 25th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
As I try to finalize my income tax return for 2006, it occurs to me that what Breaux did on his tax return could have an impact. Has he filed already? What did he use as his address? What state return did he file?
I know those are nerdy questions to ask, but it could be used to establish his place of residence for legal purposes.
MFG, does Breaux still have property in LA?
March 25th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Terribly sorry, boys and girls, but it is time to wake up and smell the coffee. Do you not know or do you not wish to admit that a ham sandwich could get elected in Louisana if the Democrat party closes ranks and decides to pull out all the stops. Senator Breaux is an accomplished and well liked politician. How many of you thought that the idiot Ray Nagin certainly could NOT get re-elected as Mayor in New Orleans? Maybe, if George Bush hadn’t spent so much time bowing and scraping to him, if Bush had come out strong and truthfully about the amount of blame for the fiasco of the Katrina aftermath belonged at Nagin’s door, perhaps he wouldn’t have been re-elected, but alas Bush spent the time stroking Nagin’s ego. The same case applies to that total incompetent af a Governor down there. But then that wouldn’t be changing the tone, would it? One must be compassionate towards one sworn, dedicated enemies. One must save one’s criticism for one’s own supporters. Sort of like when Bush ‘41′ said that his administration would be kinder and gentler than the Reagan Administration, which must have been meaner and harsher.
March 25th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Caleb, MFG lives in LA so I would guess he’s got some perspective on this that we don’t have. What I sense from you (and I’ve got it too) is cynicism about what will happen there. I’m not saying it’s not unfounded. I just think we need to see what happens.
My money is on the Dem AG finding some way to make it legal for Breaux to run. Something as silly as a state constitution has never stopped the dems from doing what they want to do. Why would LA of all places be different?
March 25th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Caleb, Bobby’s a real force here in LA. He’s brilliant, absolutely brilliant, by that I mean he is extremely intelligent, extraordinarily well spoken, and he radiates energy, ideas and optimism. I have heard him speak many times and have said to myself on more than one occasion, “This is the smartest man I have ever heard in my life.”
He has been working tirelessly for Louisiana in the aftermath of Katrina, of course knowing that this would advance his political career, but I am convinced he has done this primarily to benefit this state.
Plus he is a REAL CONSERVATIVE!! Bobby J is no RINO!!
Breaux is a known quantity, well liked and considered competent. Also he is not corrupt. I think he’s a good, decent man.
MFG morning line (for what it’s worth):
I make Bobby a 2 point favorite in the race
I await the first polling on this match up with much anticipation
March 25th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
CoGirl
I was thinking the same thing myself about Breaux - I don’t know if he still owns property here in LA
I’m sure this will come out in the next few days
March 25th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
I think Bobby wins if he comes to the people and says: “Look, I was here helping you every step of the way in the aftermath of Katrina while John Breaux couldn’t even be bothered TO COME BACK TO OUR STATE AND LIVE HERE!”
Bobby needs to be a little bit tougher as a campaigner - if you’re always positive, opponents can rough you up with negative ads
Bobby needs to get on the attack this time!!
March 25th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
One last comment (I’m sorry you may be getting sick of the topic):
John Breaux didn’t actually announce that he was going to run, he said he asked for a legal determination to be made to see if he could run
Why wasn’t this done privately?
Why didn’t he make a few discreet phone calls first? Why go public with this right away?
My theory is that his announcement was a TRIAL BALLOON.
If the reaction to his announcement is very negative then he won’t run
Why give up all that he has if he is able to quickly see from a negative public reaction that the “carpetbagger” attack will be fatal?
If the reaction is very negative he’ll find a way to not pursue the race
Just my 2 cents….
March 25th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
Plus this state went Republican in 2004 by 15 points, a 22% swing from 1996 when Clinton won by 7%
Plus 200,000 New Orleanians are no longer here, most of whom would have been pre-disposed to vote for Breaux
It’s no longer the 90’s down here. If Breaux wins he will have to fight like he has never fought before to win this race
I’ll bet you he doesn’t even want to do it, but was BEGGED by the LA Democratic Party to run…
March 25th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
From Bernie Pinsonat of Southern Media & Opinion Research:
The latest polls show that former U.S. Senator John Breaux would be “a significant underdog” in a race against Republican Congressman Bobby Jindal.
Pinsonat says the latest survey shows Jindal leading Breaux by nearly 30%, with 55% of those polled favoring Jindal and 25.6% supporting Breaux.
The pollster says “not a lot of people could name anything he (Breaux) has done for Louisiana recently.”
March 25th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
Could one of you guys E mail me, how do I do a link to a site?
I’m embarrassed to admit I don’t know how to do this…
March 25th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
What I read, MFG, is that Breaux cannot go to the AG as a private citizen and ask the question. That’s why the Democratic party has to go. You would know better than me why that couldn’t be done discreetly. Maybe it is a trial balloon, but would the Dems have a better candidate than Breaux to run?
March 25th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
No, they’re sunk without Breaux
Sunk
No chance any other Democrat wins, none
March 25th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
check your e-mail
March 25th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
Thanks!!
March 25th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
Guess that was what you were looking for. Try it, if it doesn’t work, I’ll fix the link for you.
March 25th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Jindal Breaux Polling
March 25th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Cogirl, thanks!
Now I know how to link!
learn something new everyday!!
March 26th, 2007 at 12:05 am
Breaux Owns Property in Louisiana
March 26th, 2007 at 12:49 am
Dang! I’d still like to know where he’s filing his income tax return! And if he’s filed a Maryland resident’s return. If you have income from 2 states, you complete your non-resident form first so that you get credit for your home state. I really want to see his returns!!!
March 26th, 2007 at 1:46 am
I would guess he files Maryland returns since the properties he owns here are a part ownership of an inherited house from when his Dad passed away and (implied but not stated) several parcels of raw land
Income is almost always taxable in the state in which it is earned, and I would think that all or almost all of his income would be earned in Maryland
Bobby J made a comment the other day that not only is Breaux not qualified to RUN in the October 20th race, he is not qualified to even VOTE in that race!