I can't frickin' believe this!!! (Well...YES I CAN!!)

[ThePhilosopher04]

John Edwards was in Louisiana today, making his first stop this morning at 8:00 a.m. in Baton Rouge. I wasn't able to attend because of work, but according to WAFB-TV, roughly 1,000 people showed up at the steps of the Old State Capitol.

The unbelievable part is, they saw fit to make it the third story of the evening, and when they did finally report it, the headline was "Edwards campaign official arrested after scuffle with police!"

Apparently, the campaign official (don't recall the name) was unloading campaign signs, or something of the sort, when the police confronted her and asked her to move. Apparently she refused and they demanded she show identification. When she refused that, they hauled her to jail!!! Now I wasn't there and can only go by what was reported on the news, but if I had money to bet, there was targeted harrassment involved here!

If anyone else was there and has more info...please share!

[tnhatesbush]

1. I can, I have been there and

Louisiana has some of the most Republican idiots I have seen. The people were not friendly and most of them that appeared to have anything were all snooty....No offense, but Baton Rouge is a disgusting, nasty city. Or at least the parts I have been to has been awful. Most of the people were nothing more than street trash that whino's that were riding the welfare system. I am not trying to offend anyone, but I just wasn't impressed with it at all. We were near the Sherwood Forest area one time and then the other area was near the Campus of LSU and it was the nastiest place I had seen in Louisiana.

[quaoar]

2. I lived in Baton Rouge for four years

And taught at LSU.

The campus is modeled after Stanford and is quite striking and beautiful.

You may not have intended to offend anyone but you succeeded greatly.

[tnhatesbush]

4. I apologize

I just know what I saw and that is what I saw. What I saw was out of business shopping centers, pawn shops, drunks on the side of the street just looking like they are going to rob you any minute.... People who copped an attitude, especially people who work in the restaurants and service stations.... I guess we are just friendlier here in TN.

[ThePhilosopher04]

3. I agree concerning the "republican idiots" line...

and I also agree that in general, Baton Rouge isn't the most pleasant city in America in which to live or visit; however, like anywhere else, there's good and bad. The Sherwood Forest area isn't one of the better parts of town anymore and the area surrounding LSU is horrid. But there are nicer parts of Baton Rouge I think you would find more appealing if you visit again.

[Sugarbleus]

5. That is a depressing report. (Calif. here)... Gee, I one would

think that "welfare riders" would be more receptive to a Liberal candidate.

I haven't heard many good reports come from that part of the country, sadly. I wasn't/am not impressed with that John Breaux<sp? either.

Well, that's a shame. But onward we go....

[tnhatesbush]

6. My point exactly

when i am talking about people here in TN. Most of the people here in Tn are low income, myself included and they still vote for the Republican party... I have no idea why... It baffles me...

[ThePhilosopher04]

7. Actually, Louisiana has a female Dem. governor in...

Kathleen Blanco, and two Dem. senators, Mary Landrieu and John Breaux. Additionally, there are more registered Democrats than are Republicans. The key, as always, is getting out the vote. Although the latest polls show otherwise, I truly think Louisiana is in play.

[Sugarbleus]

8. Yes..I heard about Kathleen..that was GREAT!!

I don't live there so I can't say; it just "appears" that Mary and John, though good people, seem to shift to the right a wee bit more than I prefer....not unlike our own Diane Feinstein *gag*

But.......get out the vote. We need Louisiana...very special, beautiful, and culturally unique state. :hi: :bounce: :hi:

[Merusault]

9. I agree 100% (n/t)

[LSU_Subversive]

11. I, too, have been offended by many of your statements and I question

whether you truly did not intend to offend anyone. Who are you to assume that the "people were nothing more than street trash that whino's that were riding the welfare system" or that your probably limited Baton Rouge experience was an accurate representation of the area?

Before you assume (wrongly again) that I'm just offended because you dissed my town, let me clear up a few points. First, I'm originally from one of the most beautiful areas of the country and am sorely out of place here. Second, I'll be the first to admit that at the first chance I get, I'm leaving this place like it's on fire. I guess I'm contributing to the Brain Drain.

Now, I suspect that you were in the area for a relatively short time and did not have a chance to experience all that there is to offer. You're obviously not aware of this, but the LSU campus has been repeatedly cited as one of "the most beautiful campuses in the nation." Granted, much of Baton Rouge really is a disgusting and nasty city. It is economically down-trodden and barely staying above water. But there are plans in the works to help rid the state government from it's well-earned reputation of crookedness, through a federal crack down. Also, there are plans in the works to beautify the downtown area and bring in more businesses.

The last point I want to make is that maybe a more empathetic response to the Baton Rouge situation is in place. Did you ever think that part of the reason the area is so bad is that it has been used and abused by the people in power, elected, as well as the oil and chemical industries (which are the major economic sources for the area). Just think twice before insulting the populace. They aren't all bad. As someone someone else has already said, the problem is that a huge portion of the local population does not get out and vote.

[LSU_Subversive]

10. I would also like more info regarding the arrest

I was actually at the rally and was never aware that an arrest of a campaign official occured. So, if anyone has info please post.

In regards to the crowd, though, there was certainly more than 1000 people. I could conservatively (no pun intended) say there were at least 1500. And as far as the protesters are concerned, AP has stated that there were 4 dozen, but really it was more like 2 dozen.