In furious debate that lasted past midnight on Thursday, Jan 14, the Greater New Orleans Republicans opted "no endorsement" in the New Orleans Mayor's race, a blow to the campaign of the official GOP candidate Rob Couhig.
In fact, all evidence points to the fact that Couhig probably would have earned the endorsement of the organization, had the Republican Party State Central Committee not censured the group the previous weekend.
The Greater New Orleans Republicans is not an official party organ, but it is the primary club for Young Republicans in the Metro area--defined as those under 40. (The former President of the organization Audra Shay now serves as National Chairman of the Young Republicans.)
The GNOR had chosen to endorse Democrat Ed Murray, who as a State Senator had a long-standing relationship with the organization. Upon his departure, conversations reveal the group apparently had been leaning towards two men, John Georges, who when still a Republican had help originally found the organization and the official endorsed GOP candidate Rob Couhig.
Mike Bayham, a board member of the GNOR and a member of the Republican State Central committee, had fought off an attempt at censure by the committee the previous Saturday stating that "the Republican Party should not be in the business of censuring groups" and challenging the RSC to endorse Couhig itself instead of attacking the GNOR.
Couhig has the endorsement of the Orleans Parish Republican Executive Committee, the local parish party, and of the Chairman of the State GOP Roger Villere. The entire Republican State Central Committee as a whole did not take up Bayham's challenge and endorse Couhig. Instead, they censured the GNOR.
One has to wonder after speaking with the board members if Couhig would not have sailed to an endorsement if not for censure. Some have speculated that the GNOR members believed that "an endorsement by Couhig would have validated the state party's actions".
Georges, who enjoyed great support in the group saw it collapse in the last seven days, by all accounts.
Of the Council races, the most furious debate surrounded Algiers Assessor and current Council "C" candidate Tom Arnold. A long-time Republican elected official, he earned the GNOR support though community activist and preservationist Kristen Palmer had her advocates.
The other Council races had far more unanimity. Democrat Cynthia Hedge Morrell won it in "D" for her support of ending the residency requirement for police officers. Democrat Austin Badon, the sponsor of the school vouchers bill, won the GNOR endorsement in "E". Democrat Stacy Head, a favorite of local Republicans, earned it in "B". And the official GOP candidate in District "A" Jay Batt, the incumbent of the seat, won easily.
In the At-Large races, Democrats Arnie Fielkow and Jackie Clarkson, both with long-standing strong Republican support citywide, won the GNOR endorsements, over Republican candidate Lance von Udhe.
We should all be supporting candidates that we think could do the best job, not be placing bets on who we think will win. A month ago, very few Republicans in Massachusetts would have thought they had much of a chance to win the US Senate race special election. But now it is a tossup. Had those MA Republicans been as stupid as the ones in New Orleans, they would have quit before even starting.
Betting on who will win is an old tradition in Louisiana - and in Chicago. It is based on the expectation that one will get something in return for his support, and punishment for his opposition. But we have secret ballots: vote your conscience. And send small campaign contributions to those you think, if elected, would do the best job.
It's pretty obvious that most of the candidates for mayor will change very little. Couhig has the courage to change a lot: New Orleans is at the tipping point, and Landrieu style timidity will not suffice. Written by andouille
on 1/16/2010
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Let the tax wars and the price gouging begin~~!!!!! - - - Obama confident bank tax plan will pass Congress - - - By DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press Writer – 16 mins ago - - WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama expressed confidence Saturday that lawmakers would approve his proposed tax on banks to recover bailout money, despite opposition from Republicans and the financial industry….. "Like clockwork, the banks and politicians who curry their favor are already trying to stop this fee from going into effect," he said, using his weekly radio and Internet addresses to promote the plan he announced this past week….. "The very same firms reaping billions of dollars in profits, and reportedly handing out more money in bonuses and compensation than ever before in history, are now pleading poverty. It's a sight to see."……………………………………….Six of the biggest U.S. banks are on track to pay $150 billion in total executive compensation for 2009, slightly less than the record $164 billion in 2007 before the financial crisis struck, according to the New York state comptroller's office….. Obama challenged those who say banks can't afford the tax without passing the costs on to shareholders and customers….. "That's hard to believe when there are reports that Wall Street is going to hand out more money in bonuses and compensation just this year than the cost of this fee over the next 10 years," he said. "If the big financial firms can afford massive bonuses, they can afford to pay back the American people."………………….< …………………..>>>>> CHEAP CAR FROM INDIA COULD COST $8,000.00 IN U.S. - - - Ultracheap Nano could come to US in 3 years with $8,000 price tag - - - By Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer - - DETROIT (AP) -- The world's cheapest car is being readied for sale in the U.S., but by the time India's Tata Nano is retrofitted to meet emissions and safety standards, it won't be that cheap….. Tata Technologies Ltd., the global engineering arm of the Tata group conglomerate, brought the tiny car to Detroit as a publicity stunt for the engineering group….. Tata officials, while maintaining that they couldn't speak for Tata Motors, maker of the $2,500 Nano, said they were involved with the Nano from concept until it launched last July in Mumbai….. They wouldn't say when the Nano might arrive in the U.S. or how much it might cost here, although Ratan Tata, chairman of the group of Tata companies, has said it should be ready for U.S. distribution in about three years….. Tata Motors already has made a European version of the four-seat car that will cost about $8,000 when it debuts in 2011, and a Tata Technologies official said privately that the U.S. version is expected to have a comparable price. The official did not want to be identified because the price has not been made public….. Warren Harris, Tata Technologies president, would only say that the price would be more than the roughly $2,500 charged in India….. "The structural changes that would need to be made, the changes that would be required as far as emissions are concerned, and some of the features that would be appropriate to add to the vehicle for the North American market, obviously that would drive up the price point," he said….. Tata Technologies could be involved in bringing the car up to U.S. standards, said Tony Jones, associate vice president of the global automotive practice….. Before it can be sold here, the car's two-cylinder, 623cc engine would have to be engineered to meet stronger U.S. pollution standards, he said. Airbags would have to be added, the roof strengthened and the front bumper lengthened to meet U.S. requirements to limit damage in a 5-mph crash.... The Spartan interior, with flat bucket seats, three knobs, a horizontal switch and a steering wheel, also would have to be changed to comply with U.S. safety standards that limit movement of passengers not wearing seat belts…… Jones said the Nano Europa has airbags and has passed European safety tests with flying colors……. The Nano, with 12-inch diameter tires, electric windows in the front and crank windows in the back, gets 50 mpg on the highway and has a top speed of 65 mph……..……….. ………. ………. And blah-blah-blah - - -- Written by
on 1/16/2010
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It seems like this group has a good understanding of reality as it relates to citywide races in New Orleans. Let's face it, Republicans make up roughly 15% of the voters, so I don't understand why the State Central Committee censured the group for endorsing Murray in the first place. It is one thing to back Republicans in State and National elections, but in local elections when the demographics are clearly not in the GOP's favor it may not be in the best interest to select the GOP candidate especially if he/she is not a truly viable candidate just to say a Republican was endorsed. There are many Republicans in the city of New Orleans who look to an organization like this for an endorsement of a candidate who will work in the best interest of the citizens of New Orleans. Written by GOPgal14
on 1/15/2010
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Chris, maybe you need a better fact checker. Contrary to your assertion, Jay Batt is not the District A "incumbent." The incumbent is Shelley Midura, who beat Batt 4 years ago. You may recall that was his second defeat in three tries.
Keep up the great work. Written by District A Voter
on 1/15/2010
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By Christopher Tidmore, 
