Apparently, being a so-called 'conservative Republican' in Louisiana means standing up for the divine right of kings. OK, at the very least hereditary (read that 'dynastic') claims to political power.
We this courtesy of Friday's blatant attempt to manipulate the election process and calendar by long-time Republican state Representative Emile 'Peppi' Bruneau. Peppi, it seems, has grown weary of using his position at representative of the Lakeview area of New Orleans as a podium to flog whatever administration happened to lead (and that term must be used loosely) New Orleans. But, rather than serve out his term and let the electoral process run its course (Yes, we do have state elections this year), Peppi has announced his intention to resign effective the first day of the next session of the state Legislature.
The reason for this abrupt pull-out is that Peppi wants to help his son 'Jeb' get elected to succeeed him.
Apparently Peppi is afraid that Jeb might not be able to hold is own in a regular election, thus the early resignation which will necessitate a special election that will have a very short run-up time to the primary and run-0ff (March 10 primary; March 31 run-off).
Peppi is tearing a page out of the Billy Tauzin, Jr. play book. It was Tauzin Jr. who tried to get his son Billy Tauzin III elected to Congress from Louisiana's Third District in 2004. Big "Tauzin Congress" billboards filled the district, giving the distinc impression that incumbent Congressman Billy Tauzin was seeking re-election, rather than his boy (and BellSouth lobbyist) Billy III seeking election.
Funny how these Republicans can spout paeans to democracy and use that as justification for just about any action in some other part of the world but they appear to be deathly afraid of the real thing at work in their own back yards.
What is kind of shocking about this is that for 30 years in the House, Bruneau earned a reputation of railing against alleged manipulation of the political process by those he considered his opponents. He also railed against 'big guv'ment'. Yet, as he tries to ensure his son's succession, Peppi Bruneau has resorted to political manipulation and acting in a way that reflects nothing so much as one of the more recent big government boondoogles: No Child Left Behind.
Peppi! Who knew that for all these years you've just been impersonating a good government conservative. Certainly not your House District 94 constituents!
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