re: NOLA Mayors Over the Past 18 Years

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So I got a bit of insight on Nagin because I was involved and connected to some of the highest politics at the State level at that time.

As with everyone, Nagin was blindsided by Katrina but he wasn’t prepared to navigate through a federal response, deal with the red tape or traverse communications on a national level. This was truly a ride it out, Cush local level job for him. This is what he intended and wanted. There were no bigger aspirations. Combine that with Blanco’s...RIP...ability to manage a crisis beyond the legislature...he had no support or guidance from all levels of Govt.

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Wow that's some deep insight. You must either have some real political connections or you just paid attention to the news at the time.

Your news must have been a lot better than mine.

I would see him regularly at a breakfast place on canal (not Betsy's). He was always pleasant. Even went to a fundraiser for him once.
Don't know what went wrong.

When the city is a piece of shite, you need a turd to run it.

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Mitch was a great mayor for everyone who isn’t triggered by muh confederate heroes

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Yeah or corruption or incompetence.

Otherwise great.

Stupid fricking idiot.

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The rot in the permits and safety office started on his watch

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My buddy’s father was in commercial construction and told me that Nagin was taking payoffs almost from the day he took office. This was when Nagin was at his height and doing some good pre-Katrina stuff. I thought the guy was talking shite and making stuff up. Once the indictment and conviction happened I saw my buddy’s dad again and he was all “told you so.” He related that he was even interviewed by the FBI during the investigation and had documentation of bids they lost during that period that ended up being related to some of the case.

Yes. But he was also requiring payoffs simply to get Permits. Which, if I recall, is what got him the jail time.

Payoffs to get a permit for a private commercial (non public bid) deal is pretty egregious. It’s one thing to play hanky lanky with a public bid job but fricking with people who are trying to build without public dollars is pretty bad.

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the lack of muzzle awareness in that pic is triggering me

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Same here. But at least they're practicing good trigger discipline. That annoys me more than anything. Keep your goddamn finger out the trigger guard!

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the lack of muzzle awareness in that pic is triggering me

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Never point the gun at anything you're not willing to destroy.

I'm OK with how C-Ray is holding it in that picture.

I think people overestimate the extent to which Nagin was an honest businessman before his political career. He worked in management for a de facto monopoly.

I doubt Ray ever made a decision that really could have made a big difference in terms of profit / loss. He just slapped the right people on the back or something. Checked a diversity box without being completely insufferable. Pulled in a big salary on the backs of a lot of other people doing the real work.

Most of us know the type, and wouldn't want the examples we know personally running anything important.