Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman Claude "Buddy" Leach, Jr. announced today that Former Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco has joined the party's Executive Committee.
"We are honored to have Gov. Blanco join our ranks, and we welcome her aboard," Leach said. "She has been more than a statesman and astute politician over the years; she has pushed the state forward in areas of education and economic development as part of her mission to lift Louisiana out of poverty. In her long career as a public servant, she has gathered a wealth of knowledge and experience she hopes to pass on by serving as a liaison to Democratic elected officials, and we are excited about that opportunity. We look forward to the active participation of elected officials in bringing the state Democratic message to the public."
Kathleen Blanco served as Louisiana's first female governor, from 2004-2008. She began her career as a public servant in 1984, when she became the first woman ever elected to represent the people of Lafayette in the state Legislature. Five years later, she was elected to the Public Service Commission, where she became the first woman to serve as a Commissioner and, later, as the first woman to chair the Commission (1993-94). Before serving in the state's top office, Blanco completed two terms as Lieutenant Governor, first elected in 1995, and overwhelmingly re-elected in 1999, winning 80 percent of the vote.
"I am pleased to have been invited to this opportunity to serve Louisiana citizens again," Blanco said. "Louisiana's Democratic Party is experiencing a renaissance, there is so much new energy and enthusiasm at every level, and I am eager to help. Our state is faced with powerful choices that will dramatically affect our future - from health care to higher education to the basic functions of government and how it will deliver services to our people. While I am enjoying my retirement, I cannot sit idly by! I look forward to working with Chairman Leach, the party leadership and all those seeking to better our state by sharing what I have learned."
Blanco beat current Governor Bobby Jindal in 2003. After Hurricane Katrina, she decided not to run for re-election.
At least Blanco had the excuse of the hurricane.???///??? Sad thing about it, that hurricane shouldn't have been an excuse.... Excuses are like ^ssholes... Everyone has one, and they all stink..... Written by
on 3/17/2010
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So why keep bringing Jindal or Blanco up? In as far as effectivess goes, neither one is worth discussion aside from perhaps one centered on how to keep classical fixes like those two from ever obtaining the office of Governorship... Face it, just like the superbowl, Louisiana elections are set up/fixed or rigged, plain and simple... Written by
on 3/16/2010
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Both have/had leadership problems, as I stated earlier. Jindal has the leadership skills of a duck flying at the end of a V formation. I wonder if you realize that most of the economic development projects Jindal takes credit for (except for the chicken plant and the mystical car plan) started when Blanco was in office. Still, he can't bring many of these projects to fruition. At least Blanco had the excuse of the hurricane. Jindal has the excuse of not being in the state. Leadership? Where?
Written by CWM
on 3/15/2010
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Nifty little spiel there - - - Blanco was a more affable leader than Jindal. Before the hurricane, Blanco's people followed her direction without the need for intimidation. - - - Affable does not a leader make… People with ideas, plans, and the will to hang in there no matter what the naysayers may be babbling in a back room somewhere is what a leader is… Being affable merely means, “well, if you want Barabbas instead, then you may have Barabbas….” And Jindal? The only thing he intimidates is a Chips A’hoy Chocolate chip cookie just before his cookies n’ milk Brady Bunch re-runs watching session….. Get a life…. Written by
on 3/15/2010
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Well, finally something that causes me to feel that I can honestly say “New Orleans is probably getting better”…….. A hotel somewhere in New Orleans has extended the offer to the students of Itawamba High School in Mississippi that they may use the hotel facilities as an alternate location for their upcomming Itawamba High School Prom which had been cancelled. This after the high school had canceled the prom because someone with a different viewpoint on life wanted to attend the prom with ‘her date’… Thank you hotel in New Orleans, whoever you are, for stepping in so that all those students from Itawamba High School don't have to suffer the wrath of the powers that be by missing out on their prom night just because those “powers that be” couldn’t figure out how to deal with a difference in views and instead decreed that everyone was going to suffer evenly if they didn't goose step to the cadence…. Very sad thing.... it would appear that the freedom and liberties of one is considered unimportant in mob rule which in reality only amounts to a very small handful of people behind the scenes pulling the strings, and often to the detriment of the masses…. Written by
on 3/15/2010
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Thanks for showing us what to expect from the democratic party in Louisiana. Buddy Leach and Kathleen Blanco!! Maybe Cleo Fields and soon-to-be-released Edwin Edwards can also take some leadership roles. Where's Bob Odom, they need to dust him off, too. Written by
on 3/15/2010
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Syd, Blanco proved she was not a leader "before" Katrina hit. When she did not see that the plan to evacuate New Orleans was implemented 48 hours before the storm their fate was sealed. The decision to allow the opening of the Super Dome was another mistake. The visual of her and Mary Landrieu wringing their hands and praying that the winds would lessen or go east and hit someone else will forever be in my mind. A true leader does not wish others harm to spare her state but instead does everything in her power to make sure that every plan is implemented. She should have had the National Guard ready to move in with water, food, and medical supplies once the storm passed. That was in her power. Instead she blamed the Feds and waited for the Feds. Written by Sharon
on 3/15/2010
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Still, we don't know Jindal's leadership skills under such dire circumstances. Storm aside, Blanco was a more affable leader than Jindal. Before the hurricane, Blanco's people followed her direction without the need for intimidation. Jindal leads through intimidation of his staff. Two different leadership styles. I throw out, for discussion, that those who lead by the iron fist are not truly leaders. Jindal hasn't been tested, and I pray that, in the future, he isn't.
Written by CWM
on 3/14/2010
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The katrina debacle tested Blanco, she failed. She was not and is not a leader. She proved that after the storm hit. Written by Sid
on 3/14/2010
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Blanco made some mistakes. We (hopefully) will never know how Jindal would have reacted to/reacted after a hurricane like Katrina. My bet is that he would have been no better in the face of disaster. The only thing that would have been going for him, back in 2005, is that the Republican leadership in D.C. would have been telling him what to do and how to do it. Now, he'd blame his failures on the Obama administration -- it's never his fault -- actually, never any politician's fault. Blanco has leadership problems/Jindal has leadership problems. I think Blanco actually had/has more leadership skills than Jindal. Partisan politics and idealogy aside, if it were not for Hurricane Katrina, Blanco would still be in office and would have probably been ranked among the top governors in Louisiana's history. What a difference a storm makes. Jindal's success is based on disaster -- the hurricane and the present revolt against Democrat leadership in D.C.
Written by CWM
on 3/14/2010
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