She says Let them eat cake ... err ... well ... beignets
It is finally official. Recall procedures have been started to oust Kathleen Blanco from her now disrespected post as Governor of Louisiana. Kat Landry could stand no more or this political, partisan bumbling that Blanco has done and continues to do. recallgovenorblanco.comLink
Most recently notable would be the half million dollar upgrades done to the 6th floor of our state capitol. We are talking some really needed stuff here. Mounts for flat panel TV's, imported granite counter tops, frosted glass and walnut trim are among the lavish accoutrements that our government had to go forward with while our state is in financial shambles.
The states response? "We could have been sued."
Debunk - The state puts a clause in most contracts that they sign stating that they have the right to back out with just cause. This contract, that was signed just 2 days before Katrina, had that clause included. Worse, when the contractor was contacted he said he would have let the state out of the contract without need for legal rambling. That's right! He would have let them walk. No questions.
I am so happy to see this process beginning. It will take a minimum of 900,000 signatures to force a recall vote. 676,000 voted against her in the first place. She won the election with only 52% of the vote. I am certain that the recall will take place. 180 days to gather 900,000 signatures across the state.
Look to the poor folks of Southwest Louisiana. I am sure that a large part of that population is ready to sign. The Governor is so wrapped up in New Orleans (most of this is the medias fault - she has to go where people might actually see her do good) that she is missing the other 90% of her state.
Higher crime rates, higher housing cost and FEMA trailers stranded at an airport in Arkansas. She just can't seem to put her foot down. Too scared to act, or not to. Yes, there are people who don't want a FEMA trailer park in their back yard. You have to understand though; they want to place these parks in more rural residential areas. The local police forces, already strapped for cash can't take the additional people. Not to mention, lack of transportation for such paltry things as employment and basic needs.
Where is the concern for how these people are going to get by after all of the FEMA money is gone? The folks who own land can get their FEMA trailer moved, pretty much, right in. When FEMA gets ready to kick them out, they will have the option of purchasing the trailer for $.25 on the dollar. How sweet is that? At least the federal government has a plan and so far they have stuck to it where it needed sticking to and modified it where it needed change. The state government could learn a couple of lessons from the feds. Make a plan and stick to it, but most of all make a plan.
The residents of our state know as much about reconstruction as they did the day after the levees broke. Our state government can't go to the feds with a single plan for reconstruction. And, of the many plans that are floating about, they are asking for hundreds of billions of dollars to squander and line pockets with.
There is only one thing that seems to be thriving in Louisiana right now. With all of the construction and cleanup projects going on, the political payoffs are flying. A new Governor may not be able to change that but at least we would have the opportunity to elect someone with a plan.
At the very least we would have the opportunity to remind the folks in Baton Rouge who is really in charge, the people of Louisiana.