A new low for area voters …
Pardon me, but last night's election returns have me a bit wobbly. Yesterday I cast what could well be my last vote in District 2. I joined the 15% or so of the electorate who thought this election "deserved" their vote.
I was one of the 43% who felt that we should "Vote against the crook. It's important." Jefferson concedes that he will be indicted. As some pundit says "An indictment is not a conviction, but then it is no great honor."
Sure there is that pesky rule about presumed innocence, but based on developments in the case so far most observers see little chance of acquittal. The term "caught red-handed" comes to mind.
Here's how Reuters reported "Dollar Bill" Jefferson's re-election:
New Orleans area U.S. Rep. William Jefferson won a ninth term to Congress in a surprising landslide on Saturday as loyal black voters shrugged off a federal bribery investigation into $90,000 found in his freezer.
Voter turnout was believed to be very low at under 20 percent, a testament to New Orleans' shifting demographics after flooding displaced half of the residents and slow rebuilding thwarted their return.
Jefferson's victory may bode poorly for the area's ability to win recovery money in Washington since Democrats led by California Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who will become House speaker next month, ousted him from the powerful Ways and Means Committee following the bribery accusations.
Jefferson has said repeatedly he has not accepted bribes. But he could face indictment during his new two-year term.
From UPI, via neworleansnews.net:
Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., who gained notoriety after the FBI found $90,000 in his freezer, was elected Saturday to a ninth term in Congress.
Jefferson defeated Democratic state Rep. Karen Carter in a runoff -- even though Carter had secured all the major endorsements and had a better funded campaign, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported.
The congressman remains the target of a federal investigation for allegedly taking payoffs. Alleged co-conspirators have pleaded guilty, and Jefferson has said he expects to be indicted.
I was one of the 43% who felt that we should "Vote against the crook. It's important." Jefferson concedes that he will be indicted. As some pundit says "An indictment is not a conviction, but then it is no great honor."
Sure there is that pesky rule about presumed innocence, but based on developments in the case so far most observers see little chance of acquittal. The term "caught red-handed" comes to mind.
Here's how Reuters reported "Dollar Bill" Jefferson's re-election:
New Orleans area U.S. Rep. William Jefferson won a ninth term to Congress in a surprising landslide on Saturday as loyal black voters shrugged off a federal bribery investigation into $90,000 found in his freezer.
Voter turnout was believed to be very low at under 20 percent, a testament to New Orleans' shifting demographics after flooding displaced half of the residents and slow rebuilding thwarted their return.
Jefferson's victory may bode poorly for the area's ability to win recovery money in Washington since Democrats led by California Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who will become House speaker next month, ousted him from the powerful Ways and Means Committee following the bribery accusations.
Jefferson has said repeatedly he has not accepted bribes. But he could face indictment during his new two-year term.
From UPI, via neworleansnews.net:
Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., who gained notoriety after the FBI found $90,000 in his freezer, was elected Saturday to a ninth term in Congress.
Jefferson defeated Democratic state Rep. Karen Carter in a runoff -- even though Carter had secured all the major endorsements and had a better funded campaign, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported.
The congressman remains the target of a federal investigation for allegedly taking payoffs. Alleged co-conspirators have pleaded guilty, and Jefferson has said he expects to be indicted.
posted by John V at 7:58 AM
1 Comments:
I am sorry to hear you are leaving, but I understand the frustration. Personally I don't think the election will make a difference because the US government deserted New Orleans a long time ago. Her resurrection depends on her residents alone. A hard task, to be sure. It WILL happen though.
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