Lots of big words this week from local personalities—
1. First is Mayor Ray, who claimed that mayors across the country are jealous of his position as Mayor of New Orleans right now. As evidence of this jealousy, the Mayor cited a strong local economy and the pending $1 billion LSU-VA joint hospital venture. I wonder if fellow mayors are equally jealous of the Mayor’s record-low approval rating of 24% among New Orlenians, which included a whopping 8% among white voters. I know where I weigh in–I’d rather be a human lab rat for Dr. Kevorkian than Ray Nagin right now.
2. Big words from mayoral candidate James Perry, who maintains his (apt?) comparison with Barack Obama. Does Mr. Perry really have the political and inspirational chops to make this comparison stick? With Arnie Fielkow apparently making a deal with John Georges to forego his candidacy, it looks like Mr. Perry has a decent shot to wrap up the liberal vote. Georges is a Republican ladies and gentlemen–don’t let him trick you. Check out his track record. check out the new profile on Perry and Nola’s post-Katrina race problem: http://www.flypmedia.com/issues/27/#1/1
3. And finally, big words from Clancy Dubos: “I think we have a citizenry that is educated, more engaged, and more politically astute than at any time in recent memory.” Hallelujah brotha! Let’s hope so, and let’s hope that the new mayor’s election reflects this.
4.. While I’m a big supporter of the hospital joint venture, in rare agreement with Nagin and our absentee governor, my well-respected fellow blogger BV vehemently disagrees: http://lettersinbottles.blogspot.com/. Check out Letters in Bottles for frequent and thoughtful updates on this brewing controversy.
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Total rubbish. Fielkow is running for Mayor period. He hates John Georges which makes this so-called deal even dumber than when it was first mentioned and quickly rejected. Georges planted that story in an attempt to steal some of Feilkow’s support. It was an idea pushed by the New Orleans Tribune political dynasty & Spears as a way to find some way to knock Fielkow out of the race. This is also why they pushing Eddie Sapir. They are scared shitless of Fielkow becoming the next Mayor and rightfully so because the trough will dry up very quickly.
Interesting. i agree with you–Spears et al. are scared of Fielkow running. Would they really like Sapir though? I’m too young to remember much about the guy. Do you think the Spears establishment will support James Perry? One of the knocks on Perry is that the churches and black establishment don’t like him. What do you think?
I hope youre right—i’d love to see Fielkow run.
Perry doesn’t have a shot. The Mayor’s race will mimic the past races in Orleans Parish where you have to have serious money to run and win. Fieklow has the money and the people with money, including all of the reformer money, will go into the Fielkow coffer. Sapir is actually one of Spears gang dating back to thhe 70s. They want him in there to try and sipher off a couple of percentage points of white vote or african american vote in the hopes that someone will beat Fielkow by dillution of the numers.
Furthermore, the next mayor is not going to come from NOE or Gentilly.