Huey Long Lives!: Gov. JBE discussion thread

[Miles]

With the election behind us, I'm creating a thread to track Governor Edwards' tenure.  

[Miles]

One thing that's looking good is Medicaid expansion:

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[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Is there enough votes to make it happen in the legislature? Is there a potential workaround like we saw in Ohio?

[Miles]

^ Most in the business community are for it, so odds are looking very good.

[RINO Tom]

Did he actually invoke Long, or did you create that image?  Wouldn't seem like the best way to drive up Black turnout...

[Miles]

^ MungBeans actually came up with that line, and I think it fits.

Why? The blacks were very loyal to the Longs. Huey, and Earl, didn't use the racially-charged politics most southern pols did back then. The Longs' whole paradigm was uniting the lower class vs the elites, as opposed to exploiting racial divisions.

[RINO Tom]

^ MungBeans actually came up with that line, and I think it fits.

Why? The blacks were very loyal to the Longs. Huey, and Earl, didn't use the racially-charged politics most southern pols did back then. The Longs' whole paradigm was uniting the lower class vs the elites, as opposed to exploiting racial divisions.

Wasn't he a segregationist?

[Miles]

^ Nope. In fact, he was often critricized for being too progressive on race relations.

His home parish, Winn, actually voted against secession and Long's relatives at the time of the war were pro-Union.

[Miles]

JBE names more cabinet appointments.

The most notable is ex-Rep. Charlie Melancon, who'll lead Wildlife and Fisheries. Like JBE, Ol' Charlie ran against Vitter in 2010, but came out on the other end - good to see him back.

[Ebsy]

I bet Louisiana Republicans are pissed they lost all their cushy government jobs.

[Miles]

JBE wants to remove the work requirement for food stamps.

David Duke won't be happy about this...

[Oldiesfreak1854]

JBE wants to remove the work requirement for food stamps.

David Duke won't be happy about this...

I'm not sure I am either.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

^ Nope. In fact, he was often critricized for being too progressive on race relations.

His home parish, Winn, actually voted against secession and Long's relatives at the time of the war were pro-Union.

That's strange.  I thought he was a segregationist, too.

[Miles]

^ Again, no, and I think his stance of segregation is beside the point anyway in this context.

In the 1934 legislative session, for example, Long was pushing for a bill to enfranchise most blacks and poor whites. His opponents killed it, IIRC, but shows you where his intentions were.

Even before this year, Edwin Edwards, campaigned as an obvious heir to the Longs and perhaps did the most of any Governor to get blacks involved in the political process.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Just last night I was reading about the battle between Gillis and Speedy Long and how Edwin Edwards essentially screwed Speedy over by having Progressive Whites and Blacks added to the district leading to Gillis Long winning it back eight years after losing it.

Ironic for all the years I have been hating Huey Long, I generally seem to be coming around regarding his political heirs, mainly because their opponents were/are such dreadful people.

I hope JBE is a great Governor!

[smoltchanov]

^ If i remember correctly Speedy was an "old school" conservative Democrat, quite good for 1960th Louisiana, but Gillis was more of progressive type, better suited for his not especially conservative district of 1970th and 1980th. But a progressism here has it's limits - in 1986 district refused to elect liberal Black Democratic candidate (Faye Williams) and elected very conservative Republican (Clyde Holloway) instead...

[Miles]

As expected, JBE and Dardenne will have their work cut out for them in fixing Jindal's mess:

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[Miles]

Edwards, being the high energy badass he is, kicked off the new year duck hunting with his son:



A great way to remind us that he's much better than this fraud:

[DC Al Fine]

Have to give my approval to a pro-life, pro-medicaid expansion Governor, even if I never got the appeal of hunting

[Miles]

Have to give my approval to a pro-life, pro-medicaid expansion Governor, even if I never got the appeal of hunting

There's a reason Louisiana is known as the Sportman's Paradise, as even most license plates there say. Yet another way that JBE is a perfect fit for the state.

My grandpa ran a gun club in Jefferson Parish for years and some of JBE's brothers would shoot there. Its a huge part of the culture.

[Kingpoleon]

Have to give my approval to a pro-life, pro-medicaid expansion Governor, even if I never got the appeal of hunting

There's only like, seven or eight of those?

[Miles]

#Can'tQuellTheBel:

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[smoltchanov]

I came really admire JBE character during campaign. Hope he stays the same during all period of governorship...

[Miles]

JBE is dealt something if a blow on his first day, as his choice for Speaker, Walt Leger, will stay as Speaker Pro Temp instead. Taylor Barras (R) will be Speaker.

[smoltchanov]

JBE is dealt something if a blow on his first day, as his choice for Speaker, Walt Leger, will stay as Speaker Pro Temp instead. Taylor Barras (R) will be Speaker.

Barras is forner conservative Democrat as i remember? Still - no Cameron Henry...