Lousiana voters oust indicted Rep. William Jefferson.
By on Dec 6th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Lousiana voters oust indicted Rep. William Jefferson.
AP reports that Rep. William Jefferson (D) has been defeated in his bid for a 10th term by Republican attorney Anh “Joseph” Cao, who will become the first Vietnamese-American in Congress. Jefferson has “pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, laundering money and misusing his congressional office.”
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I don’t like seeing us lose a Democratic seat, but this guy was an embarrassment and deserved to lose his seat. Hopefully, we can win it back in 2010 with a better candidate.
December 7th, 2008 at 12:02 amI agree entirely, bsb. I don’t care what his political affiliation is, he committed a crime and should not be called “The Honorable” anything.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:03 amI agree, Blue State Bob. Bad Congressman are bad Congressman, regardless of political party or ideology. If they seriously break the law, they should not be part of the legislative body that makes the law.
That said, congratulations to Congressman-Elect Joseph Cao. We welcome diversity in our legislative body, and your addition to Congress adds a new perspective and a background that is most welcome. Good luck in your legislative career. Be good, and be true to the Constitution first, not your political party, or former president.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:08 amRandy “Duke” Cunningham can soon have heated partisan debates with his new cellmate.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:47 amWe should have nominated someone other than Jefferson.
December 7th, 2008 at 2:07 amUnlike repubuscum, progressives do not tolerate corruption, if he lost to a repubuscum, so be it, they SHOULD REAP WHAT THEY SOW….
…corruption bad…
…doing was is right, good…
December 7th, 2008 at 2:20 amcripes, all mighty, a few vodka oranges and I lose all control…
December 7th, 2008 at 2:22 am….doing what is right, good….
doing vodka oranges, good. ;)
December 7th, 2008 at 2:33 amOT and best news of the day:
Obama vows to create huge work program
December 7th, 2008 at 3:18 amHow Jefferson got reelected, especially regarding his actions immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit, is a real mystery.
Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home
Thankfully, the voters decided they’d had enough of Jefferson.
For what it’s worth, Jefferson’s use of the National Guard was taped and shown on “Nightline”, but can’t find the video.
It really is infuriating to watch.
December 7th, 2008 at 3:47 amLousiana/Louisiana
December 7th, 2008 at 5:32 ambronzbootz Says:
“Lousiana/Louisiana”
Ur doin it wrong. It’s “Weeziana” (per local pronunciation).
:P
December 7th, 2008 at 5:40 am(a) Yes, he is indeed a worthless scumbag.
(b) It’s still possible – indeed reasonable – to wonder if the de-black-ification of Nawlins was a significant factor in his loss.
Basic demographic change data:
http://www.wwltv.com/topstories/stories/wwl080608mlcensus.1fc34742.html
“An estimated 62 percent of New Orleans residents were black or black and another race in July 2007; that compared with 68 percent in July 2005. An estimated 36 percent were white or white and another race, compared with 30 percent two years earlier. ”
It’s interesting that the AP writer doesn’t find this 12 point swing towards white folks even worth simply *inquiring* as to its electoral relevance.
December 7th, 2008 at 5:53 amBy contrast–if a Repubican bad apple loses an election, the Republicans demand a recount.
Going Bonkers:
December 7th, 2008 at 7:07 amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSGLzStgujM
I live in the Congressional District that just ousted Jefferson. A couple of things went into the mix to get us to here:
Hurricane Gustav forced the push-back of the Democratic primary to a later date – which in turn pushed the run-off back to November 4. The woman who ran against Jefferson in that run-off, Helena Moreno, didn’t stand a chance of beating him in the face of record African-American turn out in this district.
Mr. Cao campaigned well – using phrases like “a Congressman you could be proud of”. Jefferson’s campaign was bland and mostly inoffensive, but he kept surrounding himself with local cronies – not all of whom are popular with the masses – but make for a pretty, semi-diverse picture.
Last thing – Mr. Cao ran for office prior to this as an Independent and was courted – successfully – by the Republican party. Whether he remains true to himself or becomes another Rethug lackey, only time will tell.
For now, we are still picking our chins up off the floor. We expected that Dollar Bill was once again going to squeak by. We’re glad he didn’t…it’s just embarrassing.
December 7th, 2008 at 7:46 amI’ve linked this article back to this poll: Glad or Sad? Lousiana voters oust indicted Rep. William Jefferson. [VOTE] – http://www.thriveorfail.com/c1f0a
December 7th, 2008 at 8:26 amIt shouldn’t be too much to ask for elected officials to engage in ethical and moral behavior.
December 7th, 2008 at 9:12 amWhere are the trolls ? I guess it’s hard to come up with some kind of BS rhetoric about corrupt Dems when the progressives won’t stand for it either
December 7th, 2008 at 9:15 amstewarjt, spot-on, especially in these times. There neocons and repugs owned the federal government and then they proved themselves to be mouthpieces for policies that did not work and their “stars” turned out to be corrupt or just plain deviants.
Any dem that did not see what was happening and joined the lootin’ deserves what they get. Anything that undermines confidence in elected officials, especially by a dem, plays into the repug/neocon agenda.
December 7th, 2008 at 9:18 amThis is just another of many examples that we cannot just blindely vote along party lines. We need to hold dems accountable too.
*Accountable for their ethics (or lack thereof)
*Accountable for the policies and positions they support.
December 7th, 2008 at 9:19 amLouisiana’s become a cradle for electoral diversity?
The first “Indian” governor, the first Vietnamese legislator?
Who gnu?
Izzis a gret cunchry or what?
(If Jefferson had been a black GOPuke, it’d never have happened…Gay-ron-TEE, cher)
December 7th, 2008 at 9:22 amJust wondering: You think Congresscritter Cao will vote for it?
December 7th, 2008 at 9:25 amIf federal Money is designated for Mr. Cao’s district…
And the Work Program is needed and makes sense to the Voters…
And there is Total Transparency..
Then Yes, I think Mr. Cao and other Republican Congressmen will support it.
If it turns out to be a Pork Laden Waste of Money…then the Dems will have handed Republicans an Issue to run on in 2010.
December 7th, 2008 at 9:36 amgeee, badger, are you even implying that there is even a tiny possibility that dems are not 110% righteous and good, the very epitome of progressive ideals and good government?
You are gonna piss off at least one of the regulars here.
December 7th, 2008 at 9:45 amC’mon Joe,
No one here thinks the Democrats can Do No Wrong.
And No one here thinks all Democrats think the same.
And I think the Major Function of Blogs like this is to Keep an Eye on What’s going on….and Comment about it.
December 7th, 2008 at 9:56 amBadger – you must not have been reading the threads yesterday.
YES THERE ARE PEOPLE AT THIS SITE that will flame and bait you for questioning dems.
December 7th, 2008 at 10:25 amYES THERE ARE PEOPLE AT THIS SITE that will flame and bait you for questioning dems.
True, dat…but to feel the whole, bitter sting of the outrage of the ‘regulars’, dare to commit the apostasy of doubting St. Barry of Change…
December 7th, 2008 at 10:41 amdamn – tokin, think they will take away important, valued parts of your body for that.
I have decided that the nation is such a mess, we need to give the first president in 16 years that is actually elected with a legitimate majority of Americans a chance (clinton had 3-ways and I am not referring to monica and chimpy stole 2000 & 2004).
But we will see what we get – Obama is saying good things on MTP, but he has also already thrown his tax plan under the bus and now talks about continuing the chimpy tax cuts for the wealthy until 2011.
December 7th, 2008 at 10:44 amYou want so see some people really get pissed off, tokin liberal? Go to C & L and even question anything about the official story of 9/11.
The will flame, bait, and shut you down immediately.
Gotta love the crowd that thinks 9/11 was so simple – EVEN A CAVEMAN COULD DO IT!
Yup, from a cave in Afghanistan while on a dialysis machine no less!
December 7th, 2008 at 10:49 amGood riddance to this guy. Too bad he won in the primary, because perhaps we wouldn’t have lost the seat to a Republican.
December 7th, 2008 at 11:19 amas a dem, i am still happy this happened and wish rep cao the best.
December 7th, 2008 at 12:41 pmJoe, people get pissed off at you because that’s ALL you do — point out the failings of Democrats AND mischaracterize the sentiments of posters here as believing that “dems are 110% righteous and good, the very epitome of progressive ideals and good government”.
Frankly, that kind of rhetoic smacks of the kind of straw men spawned by the binary thinking of your typical right-winger.
December 7th, 2008 at 2:58 pmAnother lying, thieving democrat out on his ass. You can fool all of the electorate some of the time, some of the…
December 7th, 2008 at 4:13 pmNOBAMA SUPPORTER Says:
Another lying, thieving democrat out on his ass. You can fool all of the electorate some of the time, some of the…
December 7th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
What, “another lying, thieving democrat(sic)”, in addition to whom? There have been SH!TLOADS of lying, thieving Republicans out on their asses over the last coupla years, as opposed to how many Democrats? Twit!
December 7th, 2008 at 5:17 pmAnyone else notice in the above discussion – despite the baiting of someone who had some words against the dem, no one has posted:
Bush did it first !
Ted Stevens did it first !
or other similar useless assertions.
December 7th, 2008 at 7:26 pmJust like the cold war when everyone who didn’t agree with the U.S. was either a communist or a communist sympathizer. toki This poor crazy guy spent half a decade being tortured because a bunch of stupid politicians araç sorgulama were sure the NVA was in bed with the Russians (minimal help) and/or the Chinese (ancient enemy of the vietnamese). ssk sorgulama You would think he would have learned from others’ mistakes. Guess not. Republicans need an enemy. key ödemeleri This century it apparently will be all Muslims, health all of whom must be alQaeda operatives.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:35 pmIf federal Money is designated for Mr. Cao’s district… araç sorgulama
March 18th, 2009 at 5:16 am