SHAKEUP IN LOUISIANA? UH... NOT MUCH

Electorally, Louisiana is unlike any other state in the Union. They have their own rules and set of bizarre electoral regulations. Sometimes I find the state so frustrating that I'll look at all 49 others before trying to figure out what's up in the Bayou (State). On top of that, the Democrats are as reactionary and corrupt as the Republicans so it barely matters which party's candidate wins anyway. Every single member of the state's House delegation is a reactionary. The least reactionary member, William Jefferson-- in a solidly Democratic New Orleans-based district-- is one of the more corrupt members of a very corrupt body. After Jefferson's Progressive Punch score of 84 (which is actually more moderate than reactionary overall, although considering the district he should have a score in the 90s), the next highest score is an out and out reactionary, Charlie Melancon (71.37-- between Melissa Bean and Jim Matheson, if that gives you an idea of how right-wing he is). The Republican members are, predictably, to the right of Attila the Hun. And one of the worst of all is the dean of the GOP delegation, Richard Baker (4.39). Look at that voting record! And if you did down a little, you'll notice he voted with Bush and Cheney on every single Iraq-related bill without one exception. Today's Roll Call announced that he'll probably be resigning from Congress to take a high-paid job as a glorified lobbyist, pushing pro-hedge funds legislation. Really revolting. I guess nothing every came of that revolving door crap they keep talking about on the Hill, huh?

Baker earlier this month told The (Baton Rouge) Advocate that he would make a decision about the job before today, and, if he decided to take it, would step down within a month to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest. [A little late for that, no?]

The development will come as welcome news for Democrats, who are rallying behind the candidacy of state Rep. Don Cazayoux. But while Baker's departure sets up a scramble among potential GOP replacements, the district has been solidly Republican.

Baker will become president of the MFA [Managed Funds Association]at a time when the industry is
facing heightened scrutiny from a Democratic-led Congress looking for new sources of funds to meet their own pay-as-you-go budget rules.

The House in December passed a bill that would have limited the ability of hedge fund managers to defer taxes on their pay by keeping it in offshore shelters. The provision, aimed at helping cover the
cost of alternative minimum tax relief for middle-class taxpayers, is likely to be resurrected this year.

Most financial services lobbyists said Baker is more than up for the challenge.

Elected in 1986, he has served since 2001 as the top Republican on the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government-Sponsored Enterprises.

...[O]ne Democratic financial services industry lobbyist, speaking on background, questioned the MFA's decision to hire a Republican. "Democrats are going to expand their control in both the House and Senate and have a better than 50 percent chance of winning the White House. So why they're hiring a Republican mystifies me."

Back in Baker's district, Democrat Cazayoux has already been lining up support among state and national party leaders and, just last week, officially announced his intention to challenge Baker.

"We're getting a lot of encouragement and we're exciting about running for the seat," said Cazayoux. "He would have been a tough opponent and certainly we take the news with optimism."

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman Kyra Jennings said the DCCC had already targeted Baker, and was trying to persuade Cazayoux to run "when Baker was heavily stating that he was not leaving.

"So we think a special election in this seat presents a great opportunity for Democrats," she said.

...Baker's Baton Rouge-based 6th district has historically been reliably Republican territory, with President Bush winning it with 59 percent of the vote in the 2004 election and 55 percent in 2000. In 2006, with no Democratic opposition, the district re-elected Baker with 83 percent of the vote.

But this time around, with a Democrat in the race and thousands of potentially new Democratic voters who moved into Baton Rouge after Hurricane Katrina, it remains to be seen whether the district's traditional voting patterns will play out in an open-seat race and special election.

Anyway, Brownsox over at today's DKos sees some reason for optimism in Baker's probable just confirmed resignation. Last year we were all about MORE AND BETTER DEMOCRATS. Screw that; this year what I care about is just the BETTER Democrats. Leave the "more" to Emanuel and Pelosi and the DCCC. I'm not going to get too worked up over a reactionary Democrat like Don Cazayoux replacing Baker and, after he votes to have the Democrats (Pelosi, Emanuel and Hoyer) organize the House, reverts to voting very much like Baker on key substantive issues. Better than a Republican? Sure. But I'd rather put my energy into real progressives who will be part of the solution to our problems, not someone who is likely to hold back progress.

Of course, on the other hand, it's less likely that a Democrat, even a reactionary one, would spew out the racist hatred that Baker was famous for (not that the hedge fund industry gives a damn):
"We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did." Good luck and Godspeed, Republican warrior.