Louisiana Politics: Alexander Race Wide Open

It's hard to find a politics as sleazy as Louisiana politics, home of former Klansman David Duke. Even New Jersey, when compared to The Big Sleazy is like Hyperion to a satyr. But, apparently, some semblance of order is rising from smoldering Cajun Country.

After Congressman Alexander's bitch switch, a judge -- a Democrat judge, tellingly -- is opening things up.

The AP is currently reporting:

"A judge called Rep. Rodney Alexander's last-minute switch to the Republican Party an attempt to subvert the election process and ordered that the sign-up period be reopened for new candidates for Congress.

"Alexander infuriated Democrats this month when he switched to the GOP just minutes before the deadline for getting on the ballot. The move made it virtually impossible for the Democrats to field a promising candidate to run against Alexander.

"'Mr. Alexander has attempted to subvert the electoral process for his own personal gain. His action deprived voters of the right to vote for a Democratic candidate,' said District Judge Allen Edwards, a Democrat."

Unfortunately, the fact that the judge is a Democrat may come back to hurt the party. Frankly, Democrat or Republican, the ruling was fair. Alexander has every right to switch parties, by all means, but to do it in such a way as to subvert the opposition parties equal right to run a candidate against him is rotten to the core. (The Corsair snaps his fingers and does a neck roll as he says:) "Viciousss."

And make no mistake about it: the timing of the defection so as to make it virtually impossible for the Dems to oppose him was on purpose.

"The judge did not throw Alexander off the ballot, as the Democrats had asked. He did not immediately set a new deadline for the sign-up period."

Right. Again: fair. The Dems, playing an ugly game of partisanship, lost the moral high ground by trying to throw Alexander off the ballot altogether.

"Calls to the Louisiana Democratic Party seeking comment about possible challengers were not immediately returned. The only Democrat in the race is Zelma 'Tisa' Blakes, a political newcomer who called herself a 'domestic engineer' when she signed up."

Reason #798 that the Democrats get their asses kicked by Republicans frequently. The Democrats finally got an even break in the big sleazy, and they are running a housewife. Nice. That's as stupid as running a milk dud munching pencil necked geek like Gray Davis against Arnold Schwazenegger for the most important governorship in the last standing superpower in the world.

"... Alexander's defection means Democrats must gain another seat, 12 in all, to win back the House this fall.

"Alexander won the seat formerly held by Republican John Cooksey by less than a thousand votes in 2002."

Stay tuned. The Corsair will be following this, especially if the news continues to be this slow.