While many in Louisiana are waiting for the Coronation of Bobby I of Jindal, there is the burning question that so far has not been answered:  Why would C. Ray Nagin consider running for Governor?

From a pure political standpoint, his entry into the race would be the Democrat Party’s worse nightmare.  He is the one candidate that could best stop the instant kingdom.  However, he’s the one candidate who would best lose in a runoff, should there be one.

The reason is obvious.  An African American candidate has never come close to winning a Louisiana statewide election.  A black candidate certainly would not win now in a state where the black population has decreased in overall political power.

So, why would Ray run?  Probably nobody really knows for sure right now if he will be a candidate for Governor.  Should he make the plunge, we’ll all be speculating over his real reasons for jumping into the fray. 

Some might say it is for personal power.  One very high state official told me his run is “all about Ray”.  I have heard that statement repeated numerous times.  Ironically, four years ago when Nagin was the “great white hope” he once joked at a Jefferson Parish Chamber event that Marc Morial wanted so much attention that he placed his name on everything including the trash cans.  Some might joke that should Nagin run and even win Louisiana, C. Ray would have his name all over the “biggest trash can of all”—Louisiana. 

Others say that should he run he would be doing it for the African American community.  Then some believe his motives are to give New Orleans a voice.

Many have expressed that the last thing Louisiana needs is “Nagin’s voice”.  These past two years, he has hit us with some real winners from “Chocolate City”, to send those wanting to leave New Orleans “a post card” to those opposing him entering into “the red light district” to the “New York hole”, to the “superdome of prostitutes” to the “double edge swords”.  There has been many more “Naginisms” not mentioned above, you can be certain.

I believe all of these reasons (personal political motivations, voice for African Americans, voice for New Orleans) would play a big role in identifying his motivations for a possible run for Governor.  Think about it.  If he feels that crime keeps New Orleans in the minds of the world, he certainly would think that Nagin, as Governor, would do the same.

Unquestionably, he would be running for his own self interests as others are doing.  But, I also feel he now sees himself as the “great black hope” and the “great New Orleans hope” although some might feel the two are incongruent.

Katrina changed Ray Nagin.  It was most painful for him to see his city under water, to know his people were dispersed to the wind and to watch women and children in a panic which, in part, was his own fault. 

He went from a mayor who during a pre-Katrina Martin Luther King day event railed against black ministers for not doing enough to stop the violence to calling for a “chocolate city”.

Days after Katrina, he walked the New Orleans streets with a handkerchief over his own dome watching his own people as victims of the broken Superdome.

After the storm, for one of the first times in his political and business career, he felt totally powerless.  State government, federal governments were useless.  In so many ways, he was the eye of the storm and the anger against him boiled over, and the frustration within him broiled.

Then, during the recent mayoral elections, he saw Judas all around him—from black ministers to white uptown preppies.

His anger due to betrayal of local leaders, due to the failures of big government has cemented his feelings.  Thus, he just might be making the biggest mistake of his life-- running for an office he cannot win and angering his own citizens and members of the Democratic party statewide for even trying.

Ray Nagin is an enigma within a paradox within a mystery.  He is a black businessman who has found his roots as a result of a horrific hurricane, but might de-route a political party that needs the sure thing.

There is nothing sure or certain about Ray Nagin—from crime fighter to advocating crime branding New Orleans.  He has been anti-ministers yet he has ministered the helpless and homeless. 

Ray Nagin is the man for all seasons.  Unfortunately for him, the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana, he goes where the season takes him.  In this case, it might be the season of a long, winding and windy road of another campaign that he will never, ever win. 

Election Notes:

Smor Poll

Bayoubuzz has released a poll from Bernie Pinsonat and SMOR which indicates that Bobby Jindal is virtually unbeatable which could be very true.  Bayoubuzz has received a number of requests from its readers regarding who paid for the recent poll and we have forwarded this information to Bernie Pinsonat.  Pinsonat’s reply is: “The survey also contained questions that were paid for by special interest groups relating to legislative issues. No candidate or representative of any candidate had input nor did they have any knowledge of questions relating to governor’s race. SMOR does not work for any candidates for governor. Governor’s race questions are developed and conducted solely by SMOR. Governor’s race questions are asked first. No negative or positive questions about any candidate for governor were included in survey.”

Fact or Fiction

Bayoubuzz received the following from Timmy Teepell attempting to refute allegations against the Jindal candidacy.  His email is labeled “The Smears Begin”. Here is his letter.  Bayoubuzz did attempt to contact Teepell to question him about the source of the smear, but, the Jindal campaign did not respond to our attempts for obtain information.

Team Jindal:

We knew that the defenders of the status quo would fight Bobby's war on corruption every step of the way. It is not surprising that they have already resorted to misrepresenting reality and rewriting history. Yesterday, old-guard party bosses began airing a nasty attack ad against Bobby which works to distort his strong record on health care and veterans issues.

Below, I have included for you the TRUTH about Bobby's votes and positions which sets the record straight. Bobby has a strong record on strengthening health care and supporting our nation's veterans, and nasty attack ads from the old-guard party bosses can't change it.

This attack ad is just more proof of what we already know - those who don't want change in Louisiana will do anything to fight against it.

Timmy Teepell
Campaign Manager
Bobby Jindal 2007

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT:

MYTH:
"Proposed limiting Medicaid patients to five prescriptions a month"

FACT:
Bobby Jindal supported eliminating the waste and abuse in the state's Medicaid system, which was projecting a $10 million cost overrun. Reforms concerning prescriptions, however, could be overridden by a doctor, and were not applied to nursing home residents or children.

In 1996, the Advocate reported: "To cut pharmacy spending by $3 million to $4 million annually, the Department of Health and Hospitals had proposed the five-prescription limit, which includes a provision letting doctors override the cap if medically necessary. The proposal exempted nursing home residents and children." ("Exempting Medicaid patients from 5-prescription limit eyed." The Advocate. 12/21/96.)

MYTH:
"Voted against lowering the cost of prescription drugs" (1/12/07)

FACT:
Bobby Jindal opposed this legislation because allowing the federal government to "negotiate" prescription drug prices would result in a system which gives government bureaucrats the authority to decide which drugs are available to our seniors, and the Washington Post and Congressional Budget Office have concluded it would have little to no effect on reducing costs. ("The Wrong Prescription: Government should not negotiate drug prices in Medicare." Washington Post. Saturday, January 13, 2007.)

Former Senator John Breaux weighed in against this legislation in a April 1, 2007 interview, saying, "If the government just set prices, the result would be that a lot of drug manufacturers would simply not agree to the price that was set for a particular drug, so that drug would not be offered. That would be highly detrimental to seniors. It could have a very serious rationing effect on seniors, which I don't think is acceptable, and a lot of restrictions on seniors as to where they can get their drugs, etc." ("Sen. John Breaux: advising on healthcare policy; Q&A." Healthcare Financial Management. April 1, 2007.)

MYTH:
"Supported raising the Medicare eligibility age"

FACT:
This is a blatant misrepresentation of reality. The Bipartisan Commission for Medicare Reform made no final recommendations on reforming the system. Former Senator John Breaux was the proponent of the Medicare change which proposed raising the eligibility age.

"It is unclear whether [President Bill] Clinton would support Breaux's idea of raising the eligibility age from 65 to 67." ("Medicare Panel Fails to Agree on Recommendations." Amy Goldstein and John F. Harris, Washington Post. 3/17/99.)

MYTH:
"Failed to support our troops and veterans - by voting against fully funding TRICARE - a veterans health care program"

FACT:
Jindal supported legislation agreed on by the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate which provided $106.8 billion in funding for the TRICARE Program and called on the Department of Defense to fully fund the program. The legislation said, "... Congress should provide sufficient funding to the Department of Defense to offer members of the Reserve Component continuous access to TRICARE, for a premium, regardless of their activation status."
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_reports&docid=f:hr062.109.pdf