On Saturday, September 20th, the Republican Party of Louisiana will host its first “Super Saturday” grassroots effort. Republican activists will gather to walk door-to-door to educate voters about their Republican candidates. Locations will be across the state.
The Louisiana US Senate Race is fast degenerating into mudslinging and few issues.Every day, the email boxes fill with each campaign calling out names, making charges and "political spinning" like a top.
The airwaves are being polluted with nonsense commercials that appear to do little but infuriate the voters.
The only way that Louisiana is going to be able to intelligently pick a candidate is when Mary Landrieu and John Kennedy debate one another which should have occurred months ago.Two or three debates in October will only tell a snapshot of who these people are now and how they differ on the issues.
Interestingly, however, Chairman Roger Villere recently sent out an email newsletter touting polls and positives of the party and there was nothing in the newsletter that even mentioned John Kennedy.Was it an oversight?Or, is Kennedy not faring well in the polls right now that the GOP did not even poll the election?The last public poll showed he was far behind, yet, polls can change as time proceed and voters become focused.
Also, Kennedy is using a statement from a Washington organization that has put Senator Landrieu into the “most corrupt” list.Meanwhile, Landrieu is touting her endorsements which include the respected US Chamber of Commerce and is claiming that Kennedy is twisting the truth about her.Landrieu is also using the position as current US Senate to constantly send out messages to the media and others depicting her being steady at work, doing her job and staying above the political fray. But her campaign and others are doing the political talking for her as she attempts to take the statesman “high-road”.
Which means, other than party adherents, the candidates are not going to really reach the independents and non-partisan voters until the “real candidates” start discussing the “real issues:. The commercials are pure trash and demean the campaigns.Worse, Louisiana really needs a US Senator who can fight their battles.We do not need, nor do we want political boxers who are maligning each respective opponent through surrogates.Too many of us are living here and ready to move elsewhere.Not only are the storms getting the best of us, but the political pollution is putrid.
You are spot on with your observation and analysis there Mr. Robert Desmarais Sullivan. It is a sad state of affairs when head games trump common sense practicality. Written by
on 9/18/2008
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Your point about fleeting incidents and picturesque name-calling taking precedence over discussion of issues is actually true of ALL our campaigns, including the current presidential one. Why else would Obama select Biden instead of Clinton, or McCain a pretty fundamentalist face instead of a solid woman leader, if he wanted a woman? Maybe it's always been true in politics even before there were elections, but it seems to me that the psychologists have led us astray by training us to nurture the deep, dark passions that swirl in our imagination instead of attempting to examine rationally the issues of importance. And if we continue to teach our kids how to prepare for standardized tests instead of stimulating them to think critically, we can kiss responsible democracy good-bye. Written by Robert Desmarais Sullivan
on 9/17/2008
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John Kennedy is Karl Rove's candidate and is following Rove's slash and burn campaign strategy. However, it won't work because Kennedy has lost all semblance of credibility with his flip-flops. Written by David Quidd
on 9/17/2008
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HELP! I am really confused. We have a choice in the Senate race between Mary and Kerry, oh I mean John. I have never thought about voting for Mary, but when a man supported Kerry four years ago, his spots changed pretty fast. John Kenndy may be a fine man, but I worry about where he stands. First I was for Kerry, now I am for Bush. Someone needs to explain this to me. It is a lot likle social security is broke yet Washington wants to add 21 million aliens to social security which 14 million ? are illegal. Is that what you call funny math? Maybe someone from both sides can enlighten me. thank you bobby Oh, add in the totalization bill and aliens ? can qualify for social after 18 months, but you and I need ten years. Is this some more funny math? Help! Explain all this to me. Steve, maybe you can enlighten me. Written by Bobby
on 9/17/2008
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You said, " Too many of us are living here and ready to move elsewhere."..Man oh man- you got that right... about one evacuation away. Written by KjunLady
on 9/17/2008
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The republican party of Louisiana is a joke and not a good joke. I thought that Steve was chastising kennedy for wanting debates and not mandating that Bobby jindal debate more during the last Guv election?? So now your advocating more debates? Mary doesn't want to debate because she can't do anything but spit out prepared remarks. When you get her off target she's lost. Yes we need debates when are we going to have some debates, enough of the lies and crap being spewed on the airwaves! Written by Sid
on 9/17/2008
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Well said Steve-o!!!!!!!!! Why don't you run for senate? Written by Boudreaux
on 9/17/2008
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Being as Mary Landrieu is so involved with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, I would only ask one thing; "Has she ever once advocated STRONGCONCRETE?" That is the benchmark, and it is one that I utilize during examination and dismissal processes... We need to bring in some new blood before the State of Louisiana goes into cardiac arrest. The old blood lineage we currently have in place is coagulating and causing clots in the heart…… And Governor Jindal along with his priorities, plans, and effectiveness needs to be scrutinized to an even higher degree as well….. Image be damned, we want prudent and timely results………. Written by
on 9/17/2008
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On Saturday, September 20th, the Republican Party of Louisiana will host its first “Super Saturday” grassroots effort. Republican activists will gather to walk door-to-door to educate voters about their Republican candidates. Locations will be across the state. 
