The Hayride

It’s hard not to like Jim Brown. The former Louisiana Insurance Commissioner-turned-blogger/radio host is one of the few statewide pols who will throw his honest opinions into the fray, and what he says is usually thought-provoking stuff. Brown has been around a while, knows most of the players involved in Louisiana politics and policy and [...]

Filed under: Business, Culture, Jim Brown, Mitch Landrieu, New Orleans | 1312No Comments »http://thehayride.com/2010/02/brown-landrieu-should-emulate-crooked-movie-mayor/Brown%3A+Landrieu+Should+Emulate+Crooked+Movie+Mayor2010-02-11+16%3A01%3A51macaoidh

This column marks the debut of Oscar, TheHayride.com’s resident voracious rodent and all-around pestilential influence. We want it known from the beginning that any relationship between what the little guy says and the editorial position of TheHayride.com staff is completely coincidental – were it not for certain contractual and/or economic factors unfortunately in play we [...]

Filed under: Abortion, Barack Obama, Bobby Jindal, Culture, Elections, Humor, Jay Dardenne, John Georges, Media, Mitch Landrieu, New Orleans, Oscar, Sports | 12751 Comment »http://thehayride.com/2010/02/oscars-thoughts-on-the-super-bowl-etc/Oscar%27s+Thoughts+On+The+Super+Bowl%2C+Etc.2010-02-09+02%3A52%3A27Oscar

Polls had shown Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu lingering below 50 percent in his attempt to subdue an 11-candidate field in the New Orleans mayoral race held Saturday, but as it turns out there might not be any need for a runoff.
With 37 of 366 precincts tallied, Landrieu is carrying better than 65 percent of the [...]

Filed under: Elections, John Georges, Mitch Landrieu, New Orleans | 1246No Comments »http://thehayride.com/2010/02/blowout-mitch-landrieu-winning-big-in-mayoral-primary/BLOWOUT%21+Mitch+Landrieu+Winning+Big+In+Mayoral+Primary2010-02-07+03%3A15%3A49macaoidh

In the two weeks since the New Orleans Saints won the NFC Championship Game and launched the NFL franchise into its first Super Bowl, a good deal of national attention and well-wishing has descended upon the city.
That’s been a good thing. But along with the kudos and good feelings have come an aggravating, and, frankly, [...]

Filed under: Aaron Broussard, Bobby Jindal, Business, Economy, Education, Elections, George W. Bush, Jim Letten, Mitch Landrieu, New Orleans, Sports | 12383 Comments »http://thehayride.com/2010/02/saints-super-bowl-trip-hopefully-washes-away-katrina-pity/Saints%27+Super+Bowl+Trip+Hopefully+Washes+Away+Katrina+Pity2010-02-06+16%3A19%3A31macaoidh

Louisiana state government is filled with unneeded positions that only add to our bloated budget. One perfect example is the office of Lt. Governor. Maybe in good economic times, such a ceremonial position can be justified, but not today.
For years, budget reformers have recommended the elimination of this unnecessary position. Now advocates for streamlined [...]

Filed under: Bobby Jindal, Elections, Mitch Landrieu | 1228No Comments »http://thehayride.com/2010/02/lt-governor-position-does-little-time-to-abolish-it/Lt.+Governor+Position+Does+Little%3B+Time+To+Abolish+It2010-02-05+20%3A59%3A39Jeff+Crouere

Until recently, it appeared that Louisiana was going to have a comparitively boring election year.  Oh sure, there are going to be two interesting congressional races, but Sen. David Vitter is unopposed  [Oh, what's that?  Charlie Melancon is running against him?  That's right -- I keep forgetting about him.] essentially unopposed.
Anyway, this fall’s elections are about to get [...]

Filed under: Baton Rouge, Bobby Jindal, David Vitter, Democrats, Elections, John Kennedy, Louisiana, Mitch Landrieu, The GOP | 10971 Comment »http://thehayride.com/2010/01/louisianas-lieutenant-governor/Louisiana%27s+Lieutenant+Governor2010-01-31+05%3A06%3A27Ryan+Booth

Last night, the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians held their annual cocktail party in advance of this weekend’s Mardi Gras balls, and The Hayride sent spies out to gather political tidbits and rumors at the event.
What we uncovered was, surprisingly, a rather downcast set of Republican politicos even amid the rays of light breaking through the [...]

Filed under: Barack Obama, Bobby Jindal, Congress, Conservatism, Elections, Jay Dardenne, Mary Landrieu, Michael Steele, Mitch Landrieu, Scott Brown, Tea Parties, The GOP | 9662 Comments »http://thehayride.com/2010/01/republicans-still-timid-grouchy-at-d-c-mardi-gras-confabs/Republicans+Still+Timid%2C+Grouchy+At+D.C.+Mardi+Gras+Confabs2010-01-22+18%3A05%3A01macaoidh

No one denies that Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu is the frontrunner in the New Orleans mayor’s race. But a new poll released Wednesday by WWL-TV in New Orleans indicates the third-time candidate could be in some familiar trouble from here on in to Election Day.
Landrieu has a big lead at the moment, with 45 percent of respondents [...]

Filed under: Elections, John Georges, Mitch Landrieu, New Orleans | 9339 Comments »http://thehayride.com/2010/01/wwl-poll-could-indicate-coming-repeat-of-history-for-landrieu/WWL+Poll+Could+Indicate+Coming+Repeat+Of+History+For+Landrieu2010-01-21+07%3A12%3A55macaoidh

Per Rasmussen:
Incumbent Republican David Vitter now holds an 18-point lead over his likeliest Democratic opponent, Congressman Charlie Melancon, in Louisiana’s race for the U.S. Senate, suggesting for now at least that concerns about the national Democratic agenda are outweighing those about Vitter’s 2007 link to a prostitution ring.

Filed under: Bobby Jindal, Charlie Melancon, David Vitter, Jay Dardenne, Mitch Landrieu | 9041 Comment »http://thehayride.com/2010/01/vitter-takes-commanding-lead-on-melancon-in-rasmussen-poll/Vitter+Takes+Commanding+Lead+On+Melancon+In+Rasmussen+Poll2010-01-20+01%3A04%3A30macaoidh

After seven years of Ray Nagin, the people of New Orleans are all too familiar with the idea of a buffoon as their mayor.
It’s questionable whether an appetite exists for another pea from that pod. Such an appetite would have to be ravenous in order for it to do John Georges any good in his [...]

Filed under: Democrats, Elections, Jim Letten, John Georges, Mitch Landrieu, New Orleans | 778No Comments »http://thehayride.com/2010/01/yep-hes-a-joke-all-right/Yep+-+He%27s+A+Joke%2C+All+Right2010-01-13+07%3A41%3A47macaoidh