Swamp Yankee said, “In a Blue district, there are two options for a conservative; straddle the fence, pick your battles and survive or follow your principles and fall on the proverbial sword. Cao has chosen the latter; to fall on the sword. He believes his vote will kill his political career.”

Assuming Rep. Cao lives in a district where a majority of the voters simply do not want to be responsible for their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness and would prefer socialism, I think Swamp Yankee is exactly right.

On the other hand, if Mr. Cao respresents votes who are persuadable by principled arguments, believe that Mr. Cao might be able, with an explanation of why the Constitution and his principles require him to fight for the individual rights of his constitutents, to persuade enough of them to reelect him. If he can explain that socialized medicine will actually cause more people to die than otherwise, and that the powers reserved to the states and the people over this area of the people’s rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness will be preserved if these matters are left to the states and the individual, he can demonstrate that he is actually PROTECTING his individual constituents’ rights to decent healthcare.

I hope he’ll try.

Thank you.

Cold Warrior

The Twilight Zone.

Almost everyone who runs for Congress and certainly those who win seats seem to envision a lifetime of “service” in politics or perhaps a lifetime judicial appointment of some sort.

Jindal seems to be the type who wants to be where he can do the most good. If yesterday that was as a congressman and today it’s as governor and tomorrow it’s as a private businessman, so be it. He is not going to live his life from one election to another.

I can’t say I’ve followed him that closely, but I suspect Cao is like that as well. I don’t image he pictures himself in politics 40 years from now.

Doing the right thing, knowing that it will cost you dearly, is somehow very liberating. I think the country yearns for people who have this freedom, especially politicians.

I can’t imagine they want the embarassment that would come with running Dollar Bill Lite. Any candidate who’s a true schmuck would look like a schmuck when compared to Rep. Cao.

it will only be open if Landrieu runs for Gov. There are no term limits for Lt. Gov.

n

Youd rather us get an extremely liberal Dem in that district that a Moderate-to-Conservative Republican?

I, for one, find Rep. Cao’s candor refreshing, though it may gain him few friends in his district or among some ideologically pure activists. He’s far better than the lib that would have held the seat even if Jefferson had been impeached, and I prefer that he tells me what he really thinks about “social justice”, even if I disagree with him, than that he whisper sweet nothings into my ear that don’t reflect where he’s coming from.

but not so negative.

His more complete statement included this:

Cao also told the Times-Picayune that he is still undecided about the merits of including a public option in any health reform redesign. He believes that it may ultimately lead to the destruction of the private insurance market and a “government takeover” of health insurance.

It seems that even if the abortion funding is dropped, he could still vote against it on other principles, so I believe you were too hard on him. Sometimes, even principle needs to be expressed in the least inflammatory way possible, for practical reasons.

She won’t be up for re-election again until 2014. David Vitter (R) is the Senator from Louisiana that’s up for re-election in 2010.

sorry.

so well have to wait until 2014 for that.

Landrieu 2014
Vitter 2010
Maybe if he loses he can
A) Run for Lt. Gov
B) Run for Congress again, in a friendlier district post-redistricting
C) Run for Gov if Jindal doesn’t run
D) Another LA Statewide position