I’m confused. Perhaps somebody can explain the commercial to me.
Last night, I saw for the first time, a Ralph Abraham campaign commercial that said something I found both shocking and curious. According to Abraham, as he looks directly and sincerely at the video cameras, the rigs are employing no one and current Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards is to be blamed.
When qualifications for elections in Louisiana concluded recently, only two of the seven statewide officials are facing major and well-funded opposition. Incumbent Governor John Bel Edwards faces eight challengers including five republicans. But only two GOP candidates are considered serious; Congressman Ralph Abraham from Northeast Louisiana and Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone.
It is never easy to defeat an incumbent Governor of Louisiana. Our Governors are very powerful with access to plenty of statewide appointments, ever present publicity opportunities and enormous amounts of funds from the state budget.
Not surprisingly, the last time an incumbent lost the race was in 1991 when then Governor Buddy Roemer failed to make the runoff. Of course, that was the infamous election between Edwin Edwards and David Duke.
A year and a half ago, according to a Bernie Pinsonat--Southern Media Opinion Research poll, John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, polled at a whopping 65 percent. Today, Pinsonat believes Edwards polls in the low 50’s.
Edwards is up for re-election against major candidates such as Congressman Ralph Abraham and multi-millionaire Eddie Rispone.
So, what gives? The Louisiana budget crises, for now, is a thing of the past. The last legislative session this spring was boring, meaning, it was successful. A storm just slammed Louisiana which emergencies normally help a governor show leadership during a crises. So, why would there be a drop of perhaps fifteen percent since last year?
The debate over abortion continues to rage among our citizens. It is the most divisive political issue in our country. It is also the main reason there is so much contention whenever there is an opening on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Liberals realize that the decision establishing abortion rights, Roe v. Wade, may be overturned if President Donald Trump is allowed to successfully nominate another conservative Supreme Court Justice.
And, they're off!!
Well, not actually. If you've been laboring over Louisiana favorite sport lately, the once-every-four-years gubernatorialcampaign, you can rest a spell. The ponies really haven't even goten up to the starting gate. Not yet. And that won't take place, according to Louisiana pollster Bernie Pinsonat, until after Labor Day. And when it does arrive and we all collectively wake up and smell the prospects of a real horse race, all bets could be off as to the outcome.
Well, kinda.
A voter would think that former Governor Bobby Jindal is running again in the coming fall elections. Rarely does current Gov. John Bel Edwards make a speech where he does not lay all the state’s financial woes at the feet of Jindal. Why has Jindal become such a political punching bag with such a high negative among Louisiana voters?
If you didn't know better, you might think that President Donald Trump was running for governor as a Republican against John Bel Edwards, the incumbent and a Democrat.
Newbie political candidate, Eddie Rispone, a Baton Rouge businessman, who has his own rags to riches story to tell, essentially has made Trump his running mate with his TV advertising. Rispone backs Trump, donated to him and mentions the president throughout the ads. Rispone, a virtual unknown in the state had to introduce himself to the voters for the first time. He chose to align himself with the national figure that the vast majority of Republican voters adore.
There is nothing bigger in Louisiana politics than a Governor’s election, especially a competitive one, like the upcoming campaign. In this race, voters will have the option of three well-funded candidates, Governor Joh Bel Edwards, U.S. Congressman Ralph Abraham and businessman Eddie Rispone, as well as six other contenders, including one, Gary Landrieu, who is a member of a family with a 60-year history in Louisiana politics.
I took a quick tour of two political websites this morning. One was Dr. Ralph Abraham and the other was businessman Eddie Rispone. Both are Republicans. Both are running for Governor.
We're hours away from qualification closing time and unless there are any surprises at this point, it appears these will be the candidates for the statewide offices. John Bel Edwards, the incumbent is facing two Republicans Congressman Ralph Abraham and businessman Eddie Rispone. They of course are the top tier with money, name recognition and background support. Other candidates in the mix are a democrat, an Independent and two other republicans.
Qualifications have ended and it’s now a sprint to election day. So what top issues should the candidates for governor and the legislature talk about in the coming weeks? There is an abyss of a state with massive fiscal problems, an educational system that is dysfunctional, a healthcare system that needs a major overhauling, a highway system that has been neglected for years…get the picture?
Mike Yenni, the beleagured but successful President of Jefferson Parish has made his future decision. He will not run for re-election.
Yenni, the former Mayor of the City of Kenner, was voted parish president in 2015. Shortly afterwards, he became embroiled in a personal controversy. The two candidates who seek to replace him are Councilwoman Cynthia Lee Sheng and former Jefferson Parish President John Young. Here is the just-released press statement from his media advisor Greg Buisson:
How do you put a dollar value on the worth of a public official? Attorneys working full time for the LSU Health Sciences Center are asking to be paid more than $400,000 a year. So how do you justify such large increases? How about this idea? Shouldn’t receiving such large salaries be based on results?
LSU football coach Ed Orgeron will pocket some four million dollars this year, making him one of the highest-paid football coaches in the nation. He received such an enormous salary package based on results. It’s the old adage that you get what you pay for, and with Orgeron, LSU ended the season with a top ten ranking.