Sure it did. And pigs fly. And the moon is made of green cheese. And Kathleen Blanco will now magically transform the struggling state of Louisiana into a successful, fully employed model of wealth and efficiency through increased tourism. Sure she will.
This race and the runoff election were widely touted as something special because both major candidates were considered as "clean" with no skeletons in their closets. That tidbit alone shows you just how sordid and pathetic the political process is today. The simple fact that these two leading contenders for governor were also widely viewed as "decent human beings" tells you all that you need to know regarding the status quo.
Douglas Brinkley writes, "Never have I seen such a well-conducted campaign in Louisiana. Both candidates have behaved with dignity and constant humor. There have been some tense moments, but neither candidate has resorted to unreasonable negative advertising. I think Louisiana wins either way. Jindal will be good at balancing the budget and Blanco will help promoting tourism. Each will be good for the state."
But the reason that this race came down to the wire was because these candidates’ platforms were indistinguishable, up until just before the runoff election when Blanco, a Democrat, finally went negative, attacking Jindal, a Republican.
"[Blanco] gave credit for her victory to her attacks on Jindal's record as a former state health and education official and her final debate appearance…. Sam Jones, the mayor of Franklin and a Blanco supporter, said the final debate clearly delineated distinctions between Blanco and Jindal, who often sounded alike in their positions -- touting tax cuts, improving economic development and continuing education reform."
Adam Nossiter writes, "‘You have demanded change, and we will deliver,’ Blanco told cheering supporters. ‘We're going to do this by working together. We're going to usher in a new Louisiana.’ [Emphasis mine.]
Sure they will.
"A 20-year veteran of public office, Blanco, 60, has had a low-key career first as a legislator, then as a Public Service Commissioner, and finally as lieutenant governor, where she oversaw the state's tourism efforts. Blanco's campaign sought to portray her as a warm, family-oriented public servant, while depicting Jindal, a former assistant health secretary under President Bush, as a heartless number-cruncher. [Emphasis mine.]
"Blanco's campaign aides said her edge came from strong turnout, particularly in New Orleans. Oliver Thomas, president of the New Orleans City Council, said they used phone banks and had workers standing on corners, ‘pulling people out of their cars to get them to vote.’ [Emphasis mine.]
"Thomas also noted Blanco successfully shifted campaign strategy in the last two weeks, trying to define the differences between the two candidates -- particularly on health care and education, issues Blanco said mattered to women and minorities. [Emphasis mine.]
"One key attack was a TV ad that harshly criticized Jindal's record as the state health secretary, and Jindal never responded effectively, instead hoping to brush it aside as ‘negative campaigning.’" [Emphasis mine.]
Far from making history, what this runoff election produced was more of the status quo. The aging and entrenched incumbent, 60-year-old Blanco, blew her competition out of the water the old-fashioned way, by negative campaigning and banging on the traditional drums of the Welfare State: health care and education.
The much younger Jindal, age 32, learned the first lesson of politics: nice guys finish last. Negative campaigning is the trump card in politics today, as incumbents well know. Only rookies and deluded ideologues think otherwise.
The end result: Blanco, a moderate Democrat and virtually indistinguishable from Jindal, now rises to power, defeating Jindal and his "Bubbas for Bobby" bumper sticker supporters the old-fashioned way. So much for making history. So much for "usher[ing] in a new Louisiana."
There’s a reason why the status quo remains popular: change is painful. Discipline is difficult and personal responsibility is heresy to the Welfare State and the deluded voters who continue to support it by electing candidates like Blanco.
"Oh, but she will be different!" they cry.
Sure she will.
Joe Blow
Published originally at EtherZone.com
