Nagin Wins Re-Election in Fake New Orleans Election
Sunday, May 21, 2006 at 01:14AM By MICHELLE ROBERTS, Associated Press Writer
Mayor Ray Nagin, whose shoot-from-the-hip style was both praised and scorned after Hurricane Katrina, narrowly won re-election over Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu on Saturday in the race to oversee one of the biggest rebuilding projects in U.S. history.
"We are ready to take off. We have citizens around the country who want to come back to the city of New Orleans, and we're going to get them all back," Nagin said in a joyful victory speech that took on the tone of Sunday sermon.
"It's time for us to stop the bickering," he said. "It's time for us to stop measuring things in black and white and yellow and Asian. It's time for us to be one New Orleans."
Nagin won with 52.3 percent, or 59,460 votes, to Landrieu's 47.7 percent, or 54,131 votes. While the vote was split largely along racial lines, Nagin was able to get enough of a crossover in predominantly white districts to make the difference. He also won a slim majority of absentee and fax votes cast by evacuees scattered across the country.
Nagin, a former cable television executive first elected to public office in 2002, had argued the city could ill-afford to change course just as rebuilding gathered steam.
His second term begins a day before the June 1 start of the next hurricane season in a city where streets are still strewn with rusting, mud-covered cars and entire neighborhoods consist of homes that are empty shells.
With little disagreement on the major issues — the right of residents to rebuild in all areas and the urgent need for federal aid for recovery and top-notch levees — the race turned on leadership styles.
Nagin, a janitor's son from a black, working-class neighborhood, is known for his improvisational, some say impulsive, rhetoric. After Katrina plunged his city into chaos, Nagin was both scorned and praised for a tearful plea for the federal government to "get off their (behinds) and do something" and his now-famous remark that God intended New Orleans to be a "chocolate" city.
In his victory speech, Nagin promised his cheering supporters, "You're not going to get a typical Ray Nagin speech. I'm not going to get into trouble tonight, trust me."
He reached out to President Bush, thanking him for keeping his commitment to bring billions of dollars for levees, housing and incentives to the city.
And as for Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, with whom he feuded in the wake of the storm, Nagin thanked her "for what she's getting ready to do."
"It's time for a real partnership," he said. "It's time for us to get together and rebuild this city."
Nagin's speech capped a night of jubiliation that began building as it became evident that he would win. Frequent cheers went up from Nagin supporters watching vote tallies come in. A jazz band played at his election night headquarters on the same Canal Street block where emergency responders and journalists took refuge when the city was covered in water nine months ago.
Landrieu, who served 16 years in the state House before being elected to his current post of lieutenant governor two years ago, had touted his polished political skills and his ability to bring people together.
He's the scion of a political dynasty known as Louisiana's version of the Kennedys — the brother of Sen. Mary Landrieu (news, bio, voting record) and son of New Orleans' last white mayor, Moon Landrieu, who left office in 1978.
In conceding the race, Landrieu echoed the theme of his campaign — a call for unity.
"One thing is for sure — that we as a people have got to come together so we can speak with one voice and one purpose," he said. "Join with me in supporting Mayor Nagin."
Fewer than half of New Orleans' 455,000 pre-Katrina residents are living in the city, and a large number of blacks scattered by the storm have yet to return.
Evacuees arrived by bus from as far as Atlanta and Houston to vote. More than 25,000 ballots were cast early by mail or fax or at satellite polling places set up around Louisiana earlier in the month — 5,000 more than were cast early in the primary.
Turnout appeared to be on-par with the April 22 primary, when about 37 percent of eligible voters cast ballots.
Nagin, who had widespread support from white voters four years ago, lost much of that support in the primary but got a much stronger showing this time.
Voter Elliot Pernell was philosophical about his vote for the incumbent.
"He's been through the experience already," he said, "and won't make the same mistakes."
Among the first to vote was 61-year-old Alice Howard, who was rescued after three days on her roof following Katrina and evacuated to Houston.
"I want the city to come back," she said. "This is my city. This is home to me. ... I want to make sure the correct person takes care of home."
Reader Comments (1)
Honorable Mayor
C. Ray Nagin
New Orleans City Hall
1300 Perdido St.
New Orleans, La, 70112
Honorable Sir:
Even though you may never get to read this letter, I felt that I should try and write to you anyway and hope that the Holy Spirit guide it into your hands. I wanted to write so that you could understand the events- or rather more precisely the failure of certain events to take place surrounding the disaster and its aftermath. The same methodology has been used in the past- for instance the 'Hoover Dam'. I don't believe that any individual no matter how well informed and how kind-hearted can achieve their purpose- even if it be noble; if they are operating within a crucible that is constructed to achieve opposite ends: unless they understand the opposition and the stratagems employed so that efforts can be made BOTH to do what you intend and defense against the undoing of those noble efforts you endeavor and persist in. What I am writing to you about is a very seditious method- that does not involve action but rather purposeful inaction. The facts are clear and without dispute, however the larger view has perhaps escaped the belief of good-hearted people who could never believe the depth of wickedness in the hearts of those whom you live amongst: just ask the first nations people or contemplate the past enslavement of peoples and then it will be easier for you to understand.
The facts that are not in dispute:
1) FEMA analysts had already generated an extremely exhaustive study and simulation of the scenario that in fact came to be. This analysis which addressed the weaknesses in the levy and pump system both as to their present and optimal ability to deal with a category 5 hurricane. This analysis provided a 'mock' scenario which in fact was worse than the real event that was to occur;
2) Not only was nothing done of recommended action to: address the inability of present condition levy and pump systems- ineffectiveness to manage even lesser events
: address the inability of optimal condition existing levy and pump system- ineffectiveness to manage event as simulated
: prepare for aftermath due to systems failure- breach of levy and overload/ failure of pump(s) system; But in fact as is seen FEMA is being dismantled and the evidence of this inaction is being 'massaged' and the purpose for this deliberately obscured
3) Congress has appropriated massive funds and relief efforts through charity has also generated a large monetary fund
4) Infrastructure is not being restored for neighborhoods based upon need; but upon influence
5) Poor people are being housed elsewhere;
These facts simply have various interpretations that are generated mainly by political affiliation; socio-economic standing; personal interest. Many of the interpretations have grains of truth in them. Just as the 'truth is too horrible to speak' causation of the Iraq war and the INTENDED CIVIL WAR that has been generated there under the 'Kissinger doctrine' of 'manageable chaos': what other way to control that country and it's assets without taking casualties that would force withdrawal through domestic political pressures-via Viet nam? Simple: go there as 'liberators' and be 'forced' to stay there due to the 'civil war' -by killing Sunni's and blaming Shia's and vice-versa- The U.S. troops can then sit in the background with 'acceptable' casualties.
The 'unspeakable horrible truth' about your city is a tale that mirrors the 'land grab' surrounding the Hoover Dam, (if you like your history easy then see the Polanski film: "Chinatown" with Jack Nicholson). That was a similar land grab for pennies, (while the project was delayed-'planned'), and then once the Colorado river was diverted- this same land overnight was worth billions- see title holders and their occupations.
New Orleans, like Iraq has a serious problem- it has resources. The think tanks generate analysis and it is up to the politicians to be honorable with that information; unfortunately the corruption of the political classes is seemingly an ever present burden to humanity.
A group of very wealthy and very powerful people convinced those around them that their interests in 'saving' the country required certain unpleasant necessities and thus it is that the geographic areas of the world that contain oil, and natural gas reserves were deemed 'National security areas of consequence and interest' I am sorry to inform you that the gulf and your city in particular were on that list.
Thus when the FEMA analysts' did their work believing that they were providing the necessary causes and recommendations for resource allocation to address both the failing systems that existed and the inadequacy of the systems existing even at optimum performance for an event, (very probable), as predicted- they had no way of knowing that this good work would be used in such an obtuse and seditious manner.
The decision had been made that due to National Security concerns 1/5 th of all domestic energy production could not be allowed to continue 'unmanaged'. Who can blame someone for: 'An Act of God'- see: your own speeches!
Who can assert negligence in a court of law for affirmative actions the federal and state governments did not take- in a time of war; based upon analysis and recommendations that have for the most part disappeared from the public record, analysis generated from a government institution that ceases to exist with the purposely appointed idiot fall guy already 'dishonored' and dismissed- with the doctrine of sovereign immunity controlling?
You see the perfect murder... like the state troopers standing over the body of Bessie Smith as she bled out over the roadway...Like the secret service stripped from JFK's motorcade... it isn't what you do-you can be blamed for that... it's what you purposefully do not do! Who is to judge that failure!
That is why everyone is being housed NOT in their own homes. That is why your city WILL NOT BE a 'chocolate city'. The mortgages will not be met and the property will return to the banks and lenders- all that land had for pennies on the dollar- then like the agricorps that arose on the west coast- the few will manage these resources... For the public good...of course!
I hope you received this letter and have read it through so you will ask yourself: how is it we can send spacecraft throughout this solar system, walk on the moon, build modern cities for our military in hostile occupied countries... yet we cannot get water to people in New Orleans... yet we cannot get them back in their homes- 1 month; 1 year, 1 decade- no never!
Those neighborhoods will not be re-settled by their original inhabitants- their will not be a 'chocolate city' Just a sterile and innutritious white bread white sugar city with a few Judas chocolate chips for dressing... You wouldn't give your child a white sugar, white bread sandwich and con him into believing it was a good snack by throwing in a few chocolate chips would you?
That is exactly what is going on in your city and that is why everything that did, is, and is going to happen, will so result- unless good-hearted people see what these insatiable seditious wolves are up to. I hope you will prevail and New Orleans will be exactly as it was before- maybe then we can use our analysis and equity to address injustices and make the country what it is supposed to be- instead of purposefully creating injustices and then using that as an excuse to 'write-off' whole communities and peoples' lives using the money and methods to correct injustice and avert disaster:
INSTEAD TO GENERATE DISASTER AND FURTHER INJUSTICE AND THEN CAPITALIZE ON THE SUFFERING, PAIN, AND DEATH THAT RESULTS.
I will continue to pray for you and the people of New Orleans- you will need the Holy Spirit and a whole lot more to succeed against the evil and wicked-hearted people who are the cause of the troubles- They are few but nothing is too evil or wicked for them to do- Please be careful and pray for me as I pray for you and yours.
A Friend