re: Louisiana politics at its finest, LSMSA

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a pass. For his brother and the fact the has lost a lot in a short period. And he is term-limited.

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I do not at all. He was at the board meeting where this was discussed. He sat back and didn't say a word while the board voted to name the new dorm after Jimmy. He then said he would have his good friend Francis Thompson handle the bill.

Long and Thompson then pulled a bait and switch to name the school and said that was actually their intention all along. SCUM.

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But not much to be done as he will probably run unopposed.

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He may, but he now has a solid opposition from a lot of pissed off people. He angered a lot of folks yesterday.

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Francis Thompson. What can I say but frick him and his corrupt arse. He is term limited BUT has said he is going to switch and run for the House. A GREAT opportunity for supporters of LSMSA to fund whoever he runs against. Thompson said he has been in politics for over 40 years. That's long enough.

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He and Alario embody what is wrong with Louisiana politics. He is a deplorable human being without a shred of honesty or dignity.

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Curious what year did you graduate?

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'04.

He was one of the founders of the school and considered a prime influence on educational matters in the La leg.

I mean, it's not like it's completely out of nowhere like I thought when I first read the thread.

The name of the school right now is waaaay too long.
The first elite magnet school is Bronx Science.
It's not The New York City School for Math, Science, the Arts, some Geography and P.E.

"Francis Thompson. What can I say but frick him and his corrupt arse. He is term limited BUT has said he is going to switch and run for the House."

Agree re FT, but how does the term limit thing work? He was a Rep for many terms till the term limit thing came in, then he has been a senator for however long the limit is. Surely he can't go back to the House, right? Or did the MFers give themself that rat hole, lets just say we are limited as to CONSECUTIVE terms, not lifetime?


Officers[edit] From the Wikipedia

ETA: YUP, the MFERS DID!
'Members of both houses of the legislature serve a four-year term, with a term limit of three terms (twelve years). Term limits were passed by state voters in a constitutional referendum in 1995 and were subsequently added as Article III, §4, of the Louisiana Constitution. The year 2007 saw legislators termed out of office for the first time. The term limits are CONSECUTIVE rather than LIFETIME."

The Advocate coming in strong on the issue

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Regulars at Louisiana’s State Capitol often think of it as the house that Huey built, a legacy of the Depression-era governor who masterminded its construction.

Huey Long didn’t build the Capitol, of course; taxpayers did. But in Louisiana, where elected officials tend to treat public institutions as personal fiefdoms, such distinctions tend to get lost on the leaders who frequent the Capitol’s corridors.

That reality was sadly evident when the House Education Committee voted this week to rename the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, despite the presence of an overflow crowd of citizens who had come to object.

Located in Natchitoches, LSMSA is a state-run boarding school for gifted teens from around Louisiana. Since the school opened in 1983, students and staff have worked hard to build its national reputation. It was recently recognized by The Washington Post as one of the best high schools in America.

State Sen. Francis Thompson, a Delhi Democrat, is sponsoring a bill to rename the school after the late Jimmy D. Long Sr., a lawmaker who had a pivotal role in creating LSMSA. The school’s supporters acknowledge Long’s contribution and want to name a new dormitory after him, but they rightly point out that renaming the school after Long would confuse its national brand and also shortchange others who helped found it. They’ve made that point in hundreds of emails and phone calls to lawmakers, and the depth of their opposition to Thompson’s bill was obvious last Wednesday, when so many citizens showed up to register their reservations that an overflow room was opened for visitors.

The crowd included lots of average folks who had taken time from work and family to testify, as well as LSMSA students, newly liberated for summer vacation, who had nevertheless chosen to spend a day at the Capitol arguing their case.

Those students got a sobering lesson in legislative politics.

Much of the 15-member committee didn’t show up, prompting speculation that panelists were dodging a controversial vote.

Thompson, on hand to defend his bill, seemed irritated that citizens — mere citizens — had arrived to speak their minds. He cynically suggested that the crowd had been orchestrated, as if there’s something sinister in a free people gathering to petition their own government for what they believe to be right and good.

Thompson, who’s been in the Legislature since 1974, said he hadn’t felt it necessary to assemble a crowd to testify for his bill, and as things turned out, he was right. After the testimony, with almost no comment, the committee voted 5-2 to send it to the full House for consideration, leaving the clear message that the wishes of a fellow lawmaker trumped the public will.

It was a sad thing for youngsters to see — and an unwelcome postscript to the life of Jimmy D. Long, whose record of public service is beyond dispute.

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Broadwater, I know and normally am very supportive of him. He was VERY disappointing. But not much to be done as he will probably run unopposed.

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Broadwater is a bag toter for JBE. I am told the law firm he is a member of has new found business with the state since JBE came to power. I do not know.

He better not think his seat is safe. He has the downtown Hammond academic and lawyer votes and the Edwards machine vote but the rural folks are tired of him and his BS efforts to get emergency funding for the Dunnington bridge repairs.

(no message)

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Thompson, who’s been in the Legislature since 1974

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I mean ... c'mon ... good grief....over 40 fricking years at the trough.

SMH.

The people of Louisiana don't want good government. They want pretty good government. They shamelessly use "wiggle room" and veiled threats as substitutes for pragmatism. Objectivity is not their strong suit. The common good? Good luck with that.

LSMSA Class of 2004 here as well.