What can I say, things are looking pretty good for the incumbent. In the recent “Best of New Orleans” poll done by Gambit, Congressman Cao was named the Best Political Rising Star. There’s also this recent article by Stephanie Grace from the Times Picayune, highlighting Cao’s non-partisan perspective and relationship with President Obama (which I elaborate on in another posting). All in all, things are looking very good for Joseph Cao.
Adding to this is the continued coverage of Cedric’s law-license suspension for “knowingly making false sworn statements in the public record,” according to the Supreme Court Recommendation . According to the recent James Gill column, Cedric doesn’t have to lie this time.
But that doesn’t mean he’ll be forthright. As Open Secrets reported, Cedric is mum on the accusations that he lined his pockets with money from a nonprofit he established that was supposed to help children.
We all remember the moment at the Wall Street Reform Bill signing ceremony when the President beamed, pointed at Congressman Joseph Cao, and said, “Good to see you, Joe!” (and if you don’t, or would just like to relive the moment, the video is below). Last month, the Gambit ‘s Jeremy Alford wrote, “The greeting came from the belly and bore a touch of bromance.”
Well, turns out the feeling’s mutual. Congressman Cao was recently quoted by the Times Picayune’s Stephanie Grace as saying, “I love the president, and I believe he truly likes me.” The video makes me inclined to agree. The Congressman’s declaration has made a splash in the national media, getting picked up by The Washington Post and The Hill, just to name a couple. Are we witnessing the beginning of a beautiful friendship?
Click read more to view links to referenced articles.
There’s been a lot of attention given to the big-ish name Repubs running for Lt. Governor, but it looks like a couple of the Democratic candidates are beginning to gain some traction.
Butch Gautreaux takes a strong stance in this ad, pushing BP to start a $50 million marketing fund to restore tourism and fishing industries in Louisiana to match the $50 million plus they’ve spent on their own P.R.
But Butch isn’t the only one on the uptick. Looks like Caroline Fayard is on the verge of some huge momentum. Look at the attachment to see which beloved ex-President and fellow Democrat is making a special guest appearance at an event for her in New York. You can go ahead and open it too, if you like, but I think the name of the document kind of gives it away...
Attachment:
clintoninvite-1.doc
Mayor Landrieu, Councilman Fielkow, and others all made us feel good
Coca-Cola gave $25,000 to America’s State Parks to support the Louisiana Outdoor Outreach Program (LOOP), operating in City Park and part of the Louisiana Office of State Parks. “The Ropes Course is a program added to City Park’s many activities after Katrina. The funds will pay for public school students to use the team-building activities at the Ropes Course, near Scout Island.
And I pay good money for this bad hair, thank you very much!
That's me. Hit Girl. I think you can read through KOT yourself to see that this attachment by Tracie Washington is not true, but I wanted to disclose that these things are being sent around so you can decide for yourself.
Attachment:
tracie washington expose .pdf
Final Richmond Question: Did his top Aide Murder Someone?
8/17/2010
Bail Bondsman Blair Boutte now Target by Richmond attacks
In the WDSU TV debate, Richmond's opponent Gary Johnson questions why Richmond helps bail bondsmen, but doesn't quite do a knock-out punch about Cedric's ties to Blair Boutte, who travels with Richmond on campaign swings and serves as one of his top advisors. Then in my email box appears an"anonymous" email about Richmond taking a "known murderer" to meet with Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. The attachment is a news article about Blair's indictment for murder in 1988.
Since this email, we've received a lot of calls asking if this is true, since so many, us included, have worked with Mr. Boutte and find him an excellent campaign worker. But when Mr. Boutte was released from jail, we were asked by Bernard Charbonnet and Ike Spears to get an article written about how Mr. Boutte was released from jail, had given the victim's mother a job at his bail firm, and was forgiven for the murder by the victim's family. So for all you wondering, yes, Mr. Boutte has a murder conviction for shooting a teenager in the back during a drug deal gone wrong. Mr. Boutte was also running drugs at that time, according to his story.
Attachment:
_0816123549_001.pdf
As if American Zombie wasn't enough, large Democratic donors are complaining about the endorsements lining up behind Richmond. Politico reports that some large donors want other democrats to know: "You should be aware that State Representative Richmond has had some serious black marks on his record including suspension from the Louisiana State Bar Association for perjury on an election application." The upshot appears to be that there is some growing support for Richmond's opponent, St. Rep. Juan LaFonta. LaFonta sure appears to be out-working Richmond, going door to door, doing phone banks, and appearing just about everywhere in the district.
Popular Investigative blogger dishes up the dirt http://theamericanzombie.blogspot.com/
Well, it didn't take long to go from 'anyone but jefferson' to 'anyone but richmond', but that appears to be what's happening in the Democratic field in Congressional District 2, where the primary is Aug. 28. It's going to be a low turnout election, of chronic democrat and independent voters, and the news ain't good for St. Rep. Cedric Richmond, who appears to be the target of some well-heeled research.
The attacks fall into two categories.
A PROBLEM WITH LYING. As we reported earlier, the Supreme Court decision about why they suspended Richmond's law license is pretty damning by itself. But American Zombie indicates this is a pattern which extends through Richmond's management or mis- management of non-profits he has founded or is linked to.
THE COMPANY HE KEEPS. The second wave of attacks appears to be over Richmond's ties to Ike Spears, who seems intent on ruining the political careers of everyone he touches, including his own wife's, former Judge Sonja Spears.
Zombie's most Damning: Richmond, Rolexes and Non Profit Credit Cards
8/17/2010
We'd like to hear more about this item...
American Zombie writes in its expose of Richmond's non-profit dealings: It seems the Louisiana Stadium Exposition District has been very accommodating to Rep. Richmond's grant requests.... in fact I've heard he's made over 40 of them. I wonder if they are aware of the track record of his chosen grant recipients... I wonder if they care.
Now the story gets juicier and I want to be very careful about how I word this. The first question is what the nature of Richmond's relationship was with the NOCE director. I have been told it was more than casual, and I'm confident that was the case. This, of course, leads one to question whether or not Richmond was a beneficiary of the NOCE credit card expenditures, or bank account.
Well, interestingly enough, I have been told by two separate sources that Cedric Richmond used non-profit funds to purchase a diamond bevel from a prestigious downtown jeweler for his blingiddy-bling, white gold, Rolex watch ....here he is sporting that bad boy: (photo on site)
How certain of this am I? I'm certain enough to print the allegation and await his response. I have contacted his campaign for an interview but I have not yet received a response.
You know, if this is true, this is a new low. When Ellenese Brooks-Simms got busted for the software package she pushed into the NOPS for Mose Jefferson, she claimed she needed the money because her husband was sick. I have some sympathy for that. Yes she was exploiting children for her own gain, but she was also doing her best to help an ill family member.
Using children as a means to acquire cash from public entities so you can get your bling on....that's beyond shitty....that's McShitty shitty...that's Filet o' Fish McShitty. That's fake theater popcorn butter shitty. That's Airline Highway motel shitty. You get my point? Not only is it abhorrent, it's in extremely poor taste.
It's been so quiet...and then this in my email box. Demos upset about Demos endorsing before primary decided; alleges Richmond was in a bar fight?
Even the involvement of the DCCC in a contested congressional primary raises red flags...It’s not like Richmond has a blemish free past, either. In a press release from the Supreme Court of Louisiana, dated December 2, 2008, Richmond had “made knowingly and materially false statements when he represented in his February 11, 2005 Notice of Candidacy”, to which Richmond denied knowledge of. The Louisiana Supreme Court later ruled that, “The documentary evidence and testimony indicates that this false statement was made knowingly.” Not only was his law license banned for six months, but he has a history of bar fighting, too! In the words of Gary Johnson, also a candidate for the seat, “You know the law, you make the law, break the law, now you want to make the law?” Which leads one to wonder, with his past, why does the DCCC, along with several top democrats, want Richmond to win the election?
And despite his votes against key aspects of Obama's agenda, including the stimulus package and the final version of the health care overhaul, political handicappers refuse to brand Cao a one-term fluke.
The TP's article about the CD2 race brings up Richmond's law license suspension as does the new email campaign trying to discredit the Richmond candidacy. What both fail to mention is some of the tough language applied to Richmond. I've attached the full report. Read the highlighted sections. This decision came out AFTER Richmond lost the 2008 primary and many didn't report how angry the Supreme Court was that he used his office to intentionally lie to the public; that he brazenly lied repetitively; that he was basically (their words) dishonest, deceitful, fraudulent. That's what you really need to know.
Attachment:
westlaw_cedric_richmond.pdf
Particularly in the wake of Katrina, as well as the current aftermath of the BP spill, concerns about federal support and funding have loomed large in the district. Though Cao has yet to begin hitting the trail in earnest, his campaign has already launched a website with a Google Map tracking all the federal dollars that have come into the district. To a certain extent, Cao may simply be riding the coattails of veterans like Landrieu, who have the political clout to secure the funds. But the hope— according to Karen Carvin Shachat, a New Orleans-based Democratic political consultant—is to send the message that "if somebody's been delivering, why mess with success?"
What's not to like? He makes us feel good. Saw an old pal from the Dutch Morial days at Rue de la Course this a.m. Toasted to Nagin's departure and this new sense that someone's finally in control.
Attachment:
land 100 days.zip
NOLA.COM: The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation agreed to consolidate the litigation over the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in federal court in New Orleans before Judge Carl J. Barbier.
LOUISIANA WINS THANKS TO STUART SMITH AND ATTORNEYS WORKING IN GULF OIL DISASTER RECOVERY Statement from Mary Lee Orr, Louisiana Environmental Action Network (225) 588-5059
"The MDL decision favoring New Orleans as the venue for the BP catastrophe litigation is due in large part to the excellent and hard- fought representation of fishermen, environmentalists, public entities and property owners by Attorney Stuart Smith and his team. They were the first to get legal victories against BP in this on-going fight and we believe they will in the end hold BP responsible for this unprecedented disaster that has impacted the people of the Gulf Coast, but especially the families of Louisiana. This is the first step in a long-road to recovery."
STATEMENT FROM STUART SMITH ON OIL SPILL LITIGATION SITE DECISION
“The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation agreed to consolidate the litigation over the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in federal court in New Orleans. This is a victory for our team of attorneys who fought so hard for this. We have been at the forefront of fighting BP on all its foot-dragging, paper-chasing and affronts to the fishermen and citizens of the Gulf Coast. This catastrophe has taken away something irreplaceable: our fisheries and our way of life. BP must be held accountable and this decision assures a better chance of this.”
Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser Holds Substantial Lead Over Opponents
National Pollster, Dr. Vern Kennedy of Market Research Insight, finds Plaquemines Parish voters giving Parish President Billy Nungesser high job performance marks and he holds a commanding lead over his opponents who all remained in single digits going into the October 2nd primary election. A poll of 400 likely voters conducted in Plaquemines Parish during the period of July (16-17 and 19-21) found 77% of Plaquemines Parish voters want Nungesser to remain in the top office in the parish. His opponents Amos Cormier received 8%, Past Parish President, Benny Rousselle received 5% and 9% were undecided.
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