Will Lt Gov Mitch Landrieu replace David "Pantsload" Vitter as Louisiana Senator?

[ProgressiveEconomist]

Has a governor ever appointed herself or himself Senator when a vacancy occurred?

Is Landrieu still popular statewide? Is there a better choice for Gov Blanco should Vitter be shamed and shunned out of office three years early?

Here's part of Landrieu's official bio, from http://www.crt.state.la.us/ltgovernor :

MITCH LANDRIEU: A RECORD OF REFORM & LEADERSHIP
MAKING GOVERNMENT WORK AS THE LT. GOVERNOR

Mitch Landrieu was inaugurated the 56th Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana in January of 2004. When Landrieu took office, his concept was simple - build a streamlined and efficient organization that eliminated bureaucracy, created better opportunities, focused on results and was accountable to citizens.

Leadership to Rebuild Post-Katrina and Rita: As Lt. Governor, Landrieu is responsible for rebuilding tourism, the state's second largest industry. Immediately after hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged southeast and southwest Louisiana, Landrieu brought together industry leaders and national experts to develop a strategic plan, Louisiana Rebirth: Restoring the Soul of America. As a result of this initiative, the tourism industry is speaking with one voice and hitting the marks established in the strategic plan.

Transforming Government: After just one year in office, Landrieu increased the state's advertising budget by almost 20% by implementing cost-savings and streamlining operations. In three areas of customer service, Landrieu improved the delivery of services and saved nearly $100,000 annually. Landrieu also implemented a new budgeting process focused on results....

Principles of Governing: Landrieu's reforms are guided by his five governing principles: Our diversity is a strength, not a weakness; we must work to expand and diversify Louisiana's economy; we must work regionally to compete globally; we must add value to raw material, native talent and intellectual capital; and, we must set our goals to international standards, not the southern average. ...

[ProgressiveEconomist]

1. Meant to say: "should Vitter be shamed, shunned, and LAUGHED OUT of office"

[mindwalker_i]

2. Dude,

That's a loaded question.

-mwalker

[babylonsister]

3. Is he related to Mary? If so, I don't know. But I also don't live there. nt

[ProgressiveEconomist]

4. Good point. That would make both LA Sens brother and sister, but

it's my opinion that in Lousiana politics there never can be too many Landrieus.

[Lasher]

5. 'Pantload' Vitter, that's a good one!

:rofl:

Edit:

Allen J. Ellender was a US Senator from Louisiana who died on July 27, 1972. Elaine Schwartzburg Edwards, first wife of Governor Edwards, served as interim Senator until the General election that year, so it appears LA state law gives the governor the authority to appoint a replacement for Senator 'Pantload'.

[RB TexLa]

6. He's not going to resign, but if he did Blanco would appoint her husband to fill out the term

Just as Edwards appointed his wife when Ellendar passed.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

7. The three years until Vitter's scheduled re-election is a lot longer than the 3 months

for which Edwards appointed his wife.

It seems to me a chance to pick up a seat for the foreseeable future would be lost if Blanco appointed just a placeholder for three whole years. I suggested Mitch becuase of his strong showing in the N.O. mayoral race, in addition to his solid-gold last name for a statewide race.

Do you think there's another candidate who would stand a goog chance in 2010?

[RB TexLa]

8. There would be a special election called to fill the remainder of the term

Wasn't necessary when Ellender died. Was when Long was shot, Governor Allen appoint Rose Long and she ran in and won the special election but didn't run for a full term.



added on edit. The next statewide election dates are Oct. 20 and Nov. 17.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

12. I suspect you are correct, but I don't understand state variations in law and tradition

for appointments to the US Senate, even though I've found some authoritative references at senate.gov . Their definitive reference on interim Senate appointments, at
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/Vacancies.pdf . It lists some states as deviating from the norm on Senate appointments, but Louisiana is not one of them.

There also is a complete list of Senate appointments since 1917, at http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/senators_appointed.htm .

But I still have a question, though: When can appointment last until the next even-numbered November?

The site points out that current Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) was appointed in January of 2006 after Senator Corzine became Governor. Menendez's bio (at http://menendez.senate.gov/biography ) says he was elected to a full 6-year term in November 2006.

In contrast, when Rose Long was appointed in January 1936, she won an election in April 1936.

[RB TexLa]

13. The law says they have to call for a special election to fill the term

It's always been interpreted to be the next state wide election dates, municipal elections usually in the spring and state elections in the late summer or fall, and of course federal elections in the fall.

[merh]

24. And there was the death of Kookie Robert's father

Or rather his assumed death, his disappearance - the plane he was flying in disappeared and has yet to be found. Hale Boggs was a Louisiana dem, and the House Majority Leader when his plane disappeared in Alaska.

His wife Lindy was appointed to fill his term. She was elected to the seat and served until 1991.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

9. How about Harry Anderson?

[autorank]

10. 1958, California - Gov runs for Sen; Senator runs for Gov

Popular California Governor, Goodwin Knight, a true liberal Republican, and William Knowland, Republican Senator switched races in 1958. Knight ran for Senate and Knowland for Governor.

Californians didn't dig it. Knowland lost to Pat Brown and Knight lost to Clair Engle.

[book_worm]

11. Vitter is not going to resign. LA has a political heritage of less than stellar

behavior by its politicians. He has until 2010 election to rehabilitate himself and the GOP will not want to risk losing a seat. There doesn't seem to be any huge outcry nationally or within LA that he resign.

And yes, there have been instances of governors who have appointed themselves to office, I believe when Walter Mondale became VP in 1977 that MN Gov. Wendell Anderson appointed himself, but this is usually not politically wise. Anderson was later defeated when he ran for a full term in the '78 election.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

14. You well may be right. But I suspect that, because of the daily presence of CSPAN

since the early 90s, and the ramping up of the 24-hour news cycle since the OJ trial and 9/11, "this time may be different",

How could his Senate colleagues avoid being seen with an utterly disgraced Vitter for more than three years? How could Vitter deal with a hostile press for such a long time? And would the comedians ever let go of him?

I suppose Vitter could "go into rehab"--for toilet training!

But would such a "rehab ruse" work for such a bizarre and rare psychiatric problem as coprophilia? I know Louisianans are very tolerant. But there's a limit, especially when the deviant is such a hypocrite on issues of "morality".

[aquart]

15. Which leaves us free to ridicule him every single day.

Bill Clinton will hear Monica jokes till he dies. Vitter will hear diaper, diaper, diaper until he goes insane.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

16. "There doesn't seem to be any huge outcry." Not yet, but just wait until somebody

gets witnesses from whorehouses to testify on-air about Vitter's predilections. So far, only Jay Leno is fanning the flames around the stake to which Vitter is tied. But IMO eventually the sleazebags on cable news won't be able to resist this story. And once again the NY Times and the Washington Post will be recycling material from the National Enquirer.

[Longhorn]

22. The Daily Show and Colbert Report come back with new episodes tonight.

You think Jon or Stephen will mention it? ;)

[last_texas_dem]

17. Landrieu seems like a good option should Vitter resign

At this point, I don't see his resignation happening. Like another poster said, Louisiana seems to put up with a little more screwiness than your typical state when it comes to their politicians. Bob Livingston was a special case, because of what was going on with Clinton-Lewinsky at the time. It would be smart for Vitter to resign so he won't appear to be a shameless hypocrite, but he's a Republican politician, so I'm sure he figures that goes with the territory.

Mitch Landrieu seems like a good choice should Vitter's resignation come about. I believe he's one of the most popular Democratic politicians in the state. And it would definitely be cool to have a brother and sister pair as a state's Senators. I doubt that's ever happened before.

Perhaps Vitter will at least have a much tougher battle when he runs for re-election in 2010. (Although for that situation, I guess it would be better if this story hadn't broken for a couple more years.) I think he had an easier shot than he should have the first time around because he ran in a Presidential year, and * was pretty popular in Louisiana at the time.

[kevinbgoode]

18. I loved Mitch Landreiu during the Katrina disaster

With all of the madness going on around him, I remember seeing him live at a few press conferences and he has such a calm, reassuring voice. But what impressed me even more was that Landreiu was out himself in a fisheries department boat rescuing people. Now that is leadership to me, and when he would talk about it, he wasn't brandishing the act...instead he treated it like an obligation for every Louisianan who could find or muster a boat.

[Hippo_Tron]

19. I love Mitch, but I don't think Louisiana would like two Landrieus in the Senate

Plus he lost the Mayor's race (I voted for him), unfortunately and so people would definitely question whether he is electable or not. IMO Charlie Melancon is the best choice.

[ISUGRADIA]

20. The GOP will try to hold out until Jan 2008

when (an if) Bobby Jindal is Gov he can appt a successor.

[Alexander]

21. The best choice if Vitter resigns is John Breaux.

That used to be his Senate seat anyway.

[Vadem]

23. Not John Breaux! Corporatist Extraordinaire!.... n/t