There's hope for New Orleans yet!

[LauraMc]

I see $Bill finally lost his seat.........if only we can get him convicted now. :whip:

[justagirl]

Oh, he'll be going to jail. No doubt about that. The feds don't indict you if they don't have everything they need to send you away.

I'm so excited for New Orleans. An awesome day today!

Arrogant Jefferson lost the race he thought he already won. I love it! His lazy ass supporters couldn't get out one more time to go vote for him...Too bad sucka.

[buzd]

I am shocked, shocked I tell you. Just when I had totally given up on the populace of New Orleans, they go and give us an early Christmas present.

[Gourmondo]

When I woke up this morning and heard this (on the national news, mind you), I was truly shocked, but likewise ecstatic. I am curious as to why the Jefferson machine failed this time when it pulled off the last two elections. Surely his base has not suddenly become enlightened. Maybe the freezer is empty now. I assume Cao got a really good turnout. I was so pessimistic I had a notion to not even bother to vote yesterday. But I'm a compulsive voter so I went anyway as I always do and I am so glad I did. I was the only voter present for the three precincts at my polling place when I was there. I didn't even see Bill as I sometimes do (we live in the same precinct).

This is a great day for New Orleans and Louisiana. I also think sending another non-black ethnic minority to Congress (sort of a Jindal redux) sends a very strong message to the rest of the country that it is no longer business as usual down here.

This gives me some hope for the mayor's race next time. I see there is already a Facebook page for a "Arnie Fielkow for mayor" group.

A great Christmas present for Orleanians: hope.

[Jerry]

I am shocked, shocked I tell you. Just when I had totally given up on the populace of New Orleans, they go and give us an early Christmas present.

Ditto! :D
All week long I reminded the Orleans residents in our shop to vote yesterday...some of them Vietnamese.

Maybe $bill's people were too busy still trying to hook up the TVs and stuff they got last Friday...

[justagirl]

Dollar Bill's folks thought they already won the race. So they were too lazy to get off their oversized asses to go vote and ensure that their guy gets back in. And for once I'm glad they are lazy pos's.

I went by the Cao headquarters a couple times to pick up stuff (pamphlets, signs, stickers, ect) and they always had the phones set up for volunteers, sign up sheets for banner wavers out at intersections and things like that. People said it wouldn't/couldn't happen but Cao didn't give up. I think the boost from the RNC helped motivate him and his supporters. And I'm glad. So ****ing excited for this energetic, wonderful man.

Next stop, Nagin and Riley. Let's get them out and people who loves New Orleans in.

[JudiB]

buzd, I cracked up at your note.... I feel the same way. I had given up not just my hopes for the city... but my faith in people.

I'm thrilled that Cau won. But my faith isn't really restored. Most folks didn't even know there was an election Saturday.... and when it comes down to it, I think the Vietnamese vote made the difference.

What I'm saying is, I feel like the election once again was voted by race.

I'm old enough, (but just barely) to remember the "colored only" water fountains and bathrooms. As a very young child, I was outraged on one of those famously HOT August afternoons on Canal Street... ALL dressed up, and seeing that sparkling refreshing arc of water from the fountain... and having my mother's gloved hand hold me back. I didn't understand why. I kept questioning... what does "colored" mean? Why can't we share? Will I get sick? No, well then, that's stupid..... (I was thirsty!)

I hate bigotry.

I'm thrilled Cau won... but saddened that people didn't hold their nose and vote for Morena, ala the Duke/Edwards election.

After Nagin's re-election, Bill Cosby was here to address the graduating class and said something like, don't whine about the state of your city when you were stupid enough to vote that guy back in. Next time, be smart enough to look past the color of a person's skin and vote for leadership and integrity.

Oh well... baby steps.

I wanted to reach out and KISS him when he said "the American dream is well and ALIVE". :) His English is fluent, but in that moment of great excitement his syntax reverted... I loved it, it was very endearing.

[Alex]

I am estactic about this as well. My wife and I did not even watch TV Saturday night because we figured $Bill would win again and it would be depressing. Imagine my shock when I logged on to the internet and saw it as a news item on Yahoo news!

Congrats to Mr. Cao and I wish him well!!

[cstoehr]

I guess there were no buses to Houston this time. :whip:

Finally, maybe this is the beginning of good change for LA.

[NoNoNanette]

I am SO HAPPY for you guys! Heck, I hadn't even heard the name CAO until about a week ago.

Good job, Orleans voters! :)

[edible complex]

I guess there were no buses to Houston this time. :whip:

Finally, maybe this is the beginning of good change for LA.

and no sightings of the two headed reverend down here.

[Suzy Wong]

We voted Saturday mid morning, a LOT of precincts are at our voting place and there may have been 10? people in the whole room!


In todays paper:

Cao, a soft-spoken lawyer from Venetian Isles, managed his unlikely win by taking advantage of a remarkably low turnout in heavily black neighborhoods -- dipping to just 12 percent in areas that are more than 90 percent black -- as well as strong support from white voters and Republican groups.

Also an interesting article in Sundays paper on some reaction of the Vietnamese community:

http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base/library-160/1228750214178720.xml&coll=1

[bam bam]

This was a sensational upset. Unfortunately, there is little hope for Mr. Cao to hold onto to the seat unless he is able to bring home the bacon. And as the least known, most soft spoken member of congress in the minority party, there's little chance of that.

But I do intend to enjoy the fact that for one day, the voters of New Orleans said No to the politics of the Obama/Jefferson regime.