Nagin is starting to get on my nerves....

[Tennessee Gal]

Did you see him with Bush come out of that helicopter on that ship? He is kissing Bush ass, big time!

[elehhhhna]

1. Has he gotten the Bush Headrub Black-guy Blessing yet?

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. A lot of us think he was "got to" by the junta

[bahrbearian]

10. He's the Huntas "GO To"

He swithced parties to run for Mayor. Always supported Repugs


Well, This's for Them: NAGIN Was/Is a Repuke Who Ran Dem
**************QUOTE*********

Before his election, Nagin was a member of the Republican Party and had little political experience; he was a vice president and general manager at Cox Communications, a cable communications company and subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. Nagin did give contributions periodically to candidates, namely President George W. Bush and former Republican U.S. Representative Billy Tauzin in 1999 and 2000, as well as to Democratic U.S. Senators John Breaux and J. Bennett Johnston earlier in the decade.

Days before filing for the New Orleans Mayoral race in February 2002, Nagin switched his party registration to the Democratic Party. Shortly before the primary election, an endorsement praising Nagin as a reformer by Gambit Magazine gave him crucial momentum that would carry through for the primary election and runoff. In the first round of the crowded mayoral election in February 2002, Nagin received first place with 29% of the vote, against such opponents as Police Chief Richard Pennington, State Senator Paulette Irons, City Councilman Troy Carter and others. In the runoff with Pennington in May 2002, Nagin won with 59% of the vote. His campaign was largely self-financed.

Shortly after taking office, Nagin launched an anti-corruption campaign within city government, which included crackdowns on the city's Taxicab Bureau and Utilities Department. Nagin also made a controversial endorsement of current Republican U.S. Representative Bobby Jindal in the 2003 Louisiana Gubernatorial Runoff over current Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco, and only reluctantly endorsed U.S. Senator John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential race.

Nagin received a B.S. degree in accounting from Tuskegee University in 1978 and an M.B.A. degree from Tulane University in 1994. He and his wife, Seletha Smith Nagin, have three children: Jeremy, Jarin, and Tianna.

[...of J.Temperance]

27. I've NEVER liked Ray Nagin...Richard Pennington would have been better

I don't care if Nagin went off ranting and raving...I've never trusted or liked him. Also some people have often called him Ray Ragin(pronounced Reagan) and for GOOD reason. He's not actually even a Democrat, I wouldn't be surprised after this if the Bush bastard has promised him a job.

Nagin's praising the Bush bastard and hangin' with him today and earlier today Nagin was bashing Governor Blanco and that's just NOT on in my book.

Governor Blanco IS the better person, she's far better than Mr. Corporatist Nagin.

I'm just being honest here, so please don't beat me up.

[clichemoth]

38. Got to?

Nagin is the walking definition of DINO. I'd bet his party switch had more to do with winning an election than anything ideological. A little spin and promises to get a Giuliani-type push probably brought him straight back into the fold. Anybody want to bet that he runs for something in his new Dallas home with an R after his name?

One excellent radio interview doesn't a committed progressive make.

[crispini]

40. It's my understanding that the Dallas home

is temporary... that said, if he runs as an R here, he's very likely to get his ass kicked. Dallas is Democratic majority now. :evilgrin:

[202 456]

3. I've seen him serveral times with Bush I've also seen Blanco with him....

I don't think its a big deal.

[annabanana]

4. Is Carlisle in his future?............eom

[phusion]

5. What do you expect him to do?

Bush is in charge of the billions of dollars that Nagin needs to rebuild his city. Maybe he is talking with Bush to make sure the money goes to the people of New Orleans instead of some multinational corporate fatcats.

[H2O Man]

7. Right.

It shows a lack of insight and common sense to think he can or should behave otherwise.

[napi21]

14. I expect him to stick with his original anger!

I don't think it matters if Shrub is in charge of handing out the $$. If the Mayor is convinced he was right when he was damning ShrubCo for not responding to the people of NO fast enough, he should stick with it! There's enough reporters in the MSM now who would air his positions and the American people would force ShrubCo to back off!

I look at this the sand way as I look at the damn Dems who keep appologizing when some Pub gets offended by some truthful remark!

[H2O Man]

16. One might take note

that when it was important for him to take that stance, he did. His responsibilities are that of mayor. that means he must respond in a mature manner to changing circumstances, to best help the people he represents.

[napi21]

24. I agree, but I now view him as I do Colin Powell.

I respected Colin. In fact, he was the only person in this admin that I did respect, but he caved in too. He now admits that his presentation to the UN will be a blotch on his record forever.

I'm seeing this Mayor in the same light. Perhapse information that comes out in the future will change my mind, but that's the way I see it right now.

[Teaser]

29. I expect you to stop

trying to use this guy for our ends.

[Imagevision]

26. Lie nagin said; "everyones' record should be investigated from the prez on

down to him...! everybody, who did exactly what and when...!

http://downingstreetmemo.com/

[Merrick]

6. I wouldn't blame the guy

they probably have his family tied up in a basement somewhere.

[Teaser]

8. I'm sure he cares.

The guy is trying to secure all the federal help he can in rebulding his city.

How much cash you got to help?

[MADem]

9. Y'all know he used to be a Republican

He used to be a bigshot with Cox Cable, he is not without influence. He switched parties when he ran for mayor.

He probably figures it is best not to be totally shitty, he made his point at the outset, and now, if the Feds play ball, he will be nice. Of course, the minute they fail to deliver, he can point to the fact that he TRIED to be civil and a team player, but they screwed him again.

He can't lose--the minute they let him down, he can say "the bums lied to me, not once, but twice."

[Mass]

11. Why are you surprised? He has be trying to blame Blanco for days now.

This morning, he was certainly blaming FEMA, but at the same time, avoiding anything about Bush.

I think that he is still a Republican at heart (not that Blanco is that liberal herself) and that his reaction was linked more at a very understandable outrage at the events happening than at a real outrage against Bush himself).

[Teaser]

28. I just love how so many DUers

just want to use this guy to condemn Bush.

He wants to rebuild his city. That's his priority. Get the FUCK off his back.

[Mass]

30. If he had stopped criticizing Blanco, I certainly would get off his back.

But I think some people on DU have made him a hero a little bit too quickly.

[nonconformist]

34. This includes condemning Blanco at every turn? nt

[dogindia]

12. link to DU Political about Nagn

see comment 8

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2082466

[Tennessee Gal]

13. The problem is that I think he could easily be....

persuaded to turn against Blanco. I think he is on the verge of it.

[eleny]

15. I'd like to see him reach out for a handshake but yank W to ground

Then kick the shrub's ass six different ways. But he can't. He just can't.

[Bumblebee]

17. I never trusted him, in all honesty -- he is obviously playing

the game of shifting the blame on the state government when convenient. He apparently changed parties out of expediency -- so out of expediency he is as easily changeable in the other direction.

[Catherine Vincent]

18. He is, after all, a republican.

[blossomstar]

19. I don't trust him... he is a former repug and only changed to Dem

to get voted in... he's all for corporate types.

[RallyInDC]

20. nagin=shameless hack....

these are not competent people.....they are incompetent fascist wannabes.....they blow things up out of just doing it for their business interests, and blow them up by accident sometimes while ignoring they blew it up.....

get rid of them all.....we are FAR stronger than them...

[H2O Man]

21. You are silly. n/t

[applegrove]

22. I don't think you can say no to Bush when he has all the Billions of

$$$$ for aid to your people. Nagin is over a barrel. His job right now is to kiss so much as - the people of NO get the best deal possible.

[Roland99]

23. Geez...will you all knock it off? Ridiculous

The mayor wants his city rebuilt. What's he supposed to do? Completely ignore the President?


Get a clue...it's politics.

[Fatima]

41. Exactly right.

He became a folk hero of sorts because of his rage, which was understandable given the circumstances, but he has basically proven himself to be a finger-pointer like so many others. That said, he has the unenviable job of getting his ruined city going, and he can ill afford any more tirades. In short, he needs all the help he can get. If the residents (what's left of them, any way) want to remove him from office later, that is their right.

[gcbrown1147]

25. Nagin is facing some stark realities

1. The city will need to be rebuilt with the contractors picked by Republicans.
2. The population will need to be reconstituted, initially from the reconstruction personnel. This is a very different constituency than the one that elected Nagin.
3. Nagin is up for re-election early next year. Bush is in a strong position to influence this election.

That's my take.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

31. I'm not sure about number three...

Nagin may be hitching his wagon to a quickly dimming star. He may find that bush is in no position to influence any election. And he may regret any type of alliance with bush, no matter how good his motives.

[gcbrown1147]

32. You may well be right, tin

and I should have been clearer that my post represented my impression of Nagin's political calculation at this early point. I'm not saying he's right, I'm only saying that's my guess as to his thinking.

Good point on your part, though.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

39. Forgot to welcome you to DU!

Where are my manners?:(

[dansolo]

33. Bush can ensure that his campaign coffers are full

I expect Nagin to get a lot of campaign contributions in exchange for him shifting the blame from Bush to Blanco.

[202 456]

35. WAIT A SEC! He never shook hands with Bush, I don't believe they even...

looked at each other also he never walked with the President down the ship I don't get why you are so pissed off Tennessee Gal, unless I'm missing something.

[DoYouEverWonder]

36. Looks like the Swift Boaters are out again

Nagin is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

Hey folks, it's not up to the Mayor of any city to speak out again the current President, especially one as vindictive as Bush. That is up to our Congress Critters which seem to be a vanishing breed lately. It is their job to figure out how to deal with the traitors in the WH, not Nagin.

[Tatiana]

37. Nagin needs resources to rebuild his city.

As far as him being a Republican, he worked for Cox Communications. Would you expect the VP of Walmart to be a Democrat?

I think politically he tends to be more of an Independent. He ran on an anti-corruption platform and managed to clean up the PD and many other city agencies where corruption ran unchecked. He also had an ambitious educational plan for the lowest performing schools in NOLA.

The guy is no Zell Miller. Lets look beyond D's and R's and research policy. There are many ex-Republicans who have seen the light. Are we to say that once you are a Republican, you will always be a Republican?

Look at Brock and Huffington. Are they still Republicans?