On Dec. 6, 2014 the Huey-Long Era May Be Over

On Dec. 6, 2014 the Huey-Long Era May Be Over

Sen. Mary Landrieu is in a heap of trouble in her reelection bid this Saturday, Dec. 6.  Republicans have united behind Congressman Bill Cassidy, and Landrieu appears very vulnerable. Imagine this: Saturday could be the end of the political careers of both Mary Landrieu and Edwin Edwards!

In a real sense, this could be the end of an era — the end of the Huey Long era in Louisiana politics.  The roots of both Landrieu and Edwards go all the way back to Long.

John McKeithen was a floor leader for Gov. Earl Long and part of the Long machine.  When Edwards was in the legislature, he was a floor leader for McKeithen.  The trail of corruption continues right up until today.

Mary Landrieu was elected in a stolen election in 1996 and, fittingly, sat in Huey Long’s seat when she got to the United States Senate.  As Earl Long said, if he owned the commissioners in a precinct, he could make the electronic voting machines sing Home Sweet Home.

Landrieu’s supporters in New Orleans did just that in 1996, even breaking the seals on the voting machines along with the voting registers before the public opening of the voting machine warehouse.

Fast forward to today.  Just a couple of weeks ago, Opelousas Mayor Don Cravins urged attendees at a Landrieu rally to vote during early voting and go back to their precinct and vote a second time on election day! Then he said, don’t worry about getting caught because they were electing Earl Taylor as District Attorney and he won’t prosecute them! Ironically, Landrieu’s Chief of Staff in Washington, Don Cravins, Jr., didn’t speak up and contradict his father.  It was all in the family. Landrieu’s defeat would remove from statewide office the last Democrat.  But, more than that, it would be the end of an era, an era of corrupt politics that goes back 87 years to when Huey Long was first elected.

Look Who I Found! The photo above is Mrs. Estelle Morrison! She and her husband Dutch had Dutch’s Lawnmowers & Bicycles on Plank Road at Evangeline for 30 years. I bought my bicycles there as a teen, and my dad always had Dutch repair our lawnmowers. Later, the Morrisons were loyal advertisers in the North Baton Rouge Journal. They always supported Istrouma and the North Baton Rouge community. After they retired, their children had the business until the mid-1990’s. North Baton Rouge was a wonderful world for those of us who were blessed to grow up there. I met Ms. Estelle Friday at the KCS Christmas Train where she was serving as an Elf guiding families through the train. Isn’t she beautiful!

A New Owner.  In 1994, Kim Le fled Vietnam, where her father had worked for the U.S. Army.  Once here, she met and married another refugee from Vietnam, Nhan Le.  Mr. Le was worked hard as a master mechanic, and the couple had four children.  But two years ago, Mr. Le came down with lung cancer, and he has been struggling to survive.  In order to keep the family afloat, Kim Le has to work.  In June of this year, she acquired Flowers Alterations from Mrs. Flowers who has been in business in Central for 20 years.  Now Mrs. Le, a skilled tailor in Vietnam, is available to do our alterations and make custom clothing. Visit her at 13414 Hooper Road.

10th Anniversary of Central City News.  We are honored to have served Central since just before the city incorporated in 2005. 370 issues of the paper! We’ll be celebrating all next year!

Twitter Digg Delicious Stumbleupon Technorati Facebook Email

No comments yet... Be the first to leave a reply!