New Orleans: Still Chocolate
Ray Nagin has retained his position as the mayor of New Orleans, defeating challenger Mitch Landrieu 52.3% to 47.7% in the runoff. The pedestrian AP report can be found here, while NOLA.com has a more thorough recounting of the issues and details.
In some ways, this is not surprising at all. There is a two-term limit rule, and the incumbent seeking a second term has not lost in 60 years. Also, Nagin was an absolute lock for re-election prior to Katrina -- he would have won any primary outright. On the other hand, he has really taken it on the chin over the past 8 months, not least from a federal government intent on scapegoating him to deflect attention from their own massive failures. That alone makes me sort of happy he won.
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I don't think you'll stay even 'sort of happy' for long my friend.
I find it mildly funny that it didn't take Mr. Nagin 12hr to re-insert his foot in his mouth and drive another stake into the heart of the rebuilding process.
from the Times Picayunne
Quote:
At St. Peter Claver Catholic Church on Sunday, Nagin said he hoped businesses would join him in creating a "new paradigm" and would stay, "but if they don't, I'll send them a postcard."
Some business leaders were outraged.
End Quote.
Outraged?? They thought that Rob Couhig had led them to the right (no pun intended) candidate? Mr. Nagin appears to have an agenda that is nothing akin to his public statements of reuniting the city and rebuilding the economy. OR as THE head of the city government, he has yet to learn the every sentence uttered in public can destroy what he says he wants. Either way race & class will continue to be the schism points in this city. Mr. Nagin's wildly undisciplined tongue will be sure to fan the flames if they begin to die.
May 23, 2006 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I must confess that business leader "outrage" fails to move me, given the caliber of the buisiness leadership in this city. Nagin's tongue get him into trouble with other political and community groups, and he needs to watch that, but if there's one place he knows what he's doing, it's in dealing with business leaders.
May 24, 2006 8:00 AM | Reply | Permalink