Unlike Ray Nagin (and perhaps Florida), it appears that the Louisiana Democratic Party understands that it’s time to clean up some problems (Houston Chronicle):
BATON ROUGE, LA. — An eight-term Democratic Louisiana congressman whose Capitol Hill office was raided earlier this year as part of a bribery investigation failed Saturday to win the endorsement of the state’s Democratic Party.
The political climate right now is — or should be — one of absolute intolerance for corruption, in all its forms. The days of mutual back-scratches and fanny-patting “atta boys” are done. It doesn’t really matter, at this point, whether someone has been convicted or not; it’s a matter of perception, and both parties need to be strenuously cleaning house.
Obviously, Louisiana’s Democratic leadership gets it, even if Jefferson does not (NOLA.com):
Jefferson said Saturday that under party practice, the decisions by the local Democratic committees should have led to an automatic endorsement of him by the state body.
[snip]
Jefferson said the party in the past had not turned its back on other incumbent officials who had “issues with investigations.” He cited Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom, who for years has fought prosecutors in a corruption case, and former Insurance Commissioner Jim Brown, who served six months in federal prison for lying to federal agents.
Enough. Seriously.
On Friday, Nick Anderson (the Houston Chronicle’s brilliant editorial cartoonist) put out an animation about Hillary Clinton, called “Hillary’s baggage“, in which she explains away her “trunk of junk” in front of a run at the White House in 2008.
Polimom likes Hillary, but Nick’s engaging cartoon is all too true.
However, it’s not just Hillary, or folks aspiring to the presidency. Once junk starts collecting in that personal trunk, folks, politicians really need to find other career paths, because they’re nothing but polarizing lightning rods and distractions thereafter.
And we need to be done with that.
In Bob Woodward’s book State of Denial
Polimom’s been wondering the same thing about America.
Are there people in our government who can resist the corruption that power too often brings? I’m sure there are, but there are far too many who cannot… and as a result I now distrust them all. We can’t oust all of them, but we can strongly draw some lines, sending a crystal clear message that Foleys cannot be protected, Jeffersons cannot be supported, DeLays must not be excused.
I truly think Americans have had it up to their ears with the power games, pandering, and covering — in both parties. I know I am.
I’m for the Endorsement..Nagin is riding out his last term and just does not care..
At the Rising Tide conference, Jefferson’s candidacy was a topic at one point. The consensus was that he would indeed be re-elected but that he would then be indicted.
However, you mentioned something that brings to mind a conversation I had just this week re:baggage and politicians. I said that one of the reasons that we had such mediocre candidates was the total absence of privacy in this era. No one that I know is perfect (please, don’t tell me there’s a difference between “perfect” and a refrigerator full of cash, I got it!) And is there anyone out there who could withstand total, invasive scrutiny of their finances, sex lives, or any other thing without someone digging up something that they could turn into dirt? Not many of us. “Hey, she was DRUNK at Pat O’s one night last year and she told a cab driver to f*&^ off! I saw it all!”
No one in their right mind would want to go through all that, and that weeds out a lot of potentially good politicians.
Some of our greatest presidents couldn’t have withstood that and come out unscathed. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t know about crooked deals and corruption. I’m not saying the press shouldn’t tell us when they find out there’s a scoundrel among us. I’m just saying that this is a double edged sword–yes we know who the scoundrels are but some people who could actually be a positive influence on our political system are kept away from candidacy because of fear of having the front wall of their houses turned into glass.
Slate —
I agree with you that the exposure is a killer, particularly in this environment, when the opposition is poised to amplify everything to the level of mass murder.
We’ve lost all common courtesty, and common sense. We don’t want leaders, apparently; we want gods. (Well, except for here in Texas, where a lot of people think that Kinky — as ungodlike as one can get — is a solution…)
There are levels and levels of things we should not tolerate — and a number of things that become hyped all out of proportion, that we’d ignore if it was a neighbor.
That said, though — the corruption, power games, and pandering are a real political-culture problem. If votes are cast quid pro quo, or “favors” are done with an eye on a return, or somebody likes his cash chilled, I would hope voters would signal disapproval — but I’d expect the parties to. They can’t demand “perfection” from the opposition, then accommodate it internally.
Meanwhile… there’s no chance I’m ever gonna go into politics. LOTS of stuff I don’t want to explain to AC… (smile)
ME: “No one in their right mind would want to go through all that, and that weeds out a lot of potentially good politicians.”
YOU: “Meanwhile… there’s no chance I’m ever gonna go into politics. LOTS of stuff I don’t want to explain to AC… (smile)”
You made my point for me! YOU could actually do some good, but god help ya, they’d dissect every comment you ever made on this blog. . . . .not to mention whatever you don’t want to explain to AC!
But Slate — you don’t LIKE my politics (or at least, lots of them). LOL
Actually, I’m not liberal enough or conservative enough to rally a base — any base. There’s stuff in this blog to annoy (inflame?) everybody, if they look deeply enough.
Meanwhile, Ed T has tracked back with his own thoughts on corruption and politics… and has given voice to something I’ve been feeling, too, though not for all the same reasons. What’s the point of any of this anymore? Cuz we (as in the voters) really aren’t very relevant in this modern era….
You’re right. I don’t like some of your politics, but I believe you to be honest, thoughtful, and I’d know exactly what you thought on any given issue. I also believe you would work exceedingly hard to accomplish what you set out to do.
Again, we seem to always be having the same discussions. I had one this week on the electoral college and how I felt it needed to be abolished. My son-in-law, a true anti-social personality, said, “Oh great, so we’d have mob rule. That’s the very thing our Founding Fathers tried to avert.” He’s right. They did. They were a bit elitist in their view, and the geographical impossibility of having every farmer leave his crops to go vote is why the electoral college was created.
Now there’s no reason for it. One person, one vote, count them up (and I read Ed T’s piece—great stuff–loved the “hanging chad” thing).
I’m pretty tired of feeling irrelevant. I’m tired of our President saying he doesn’t care what the polls say. He’s not the only one. HEY BUDDY, you work for US, not the other way around. You SHOULD be paying attention. It’s allegedly a respresentative government. All of y’all need to start representin’.
BTW, I think the fact that you’re neither liberal nor conservative would be in your favor.
Just sayin’.