Louisiana News Briefs

From the Advocate:

Bloggers and the Louisiana Republican Party are beating up on U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, for not holding a “Town Hall Meeting” concerning a proposed overhaul of health care.

Melancon, who attended a rally last week at which about 500 fishermen protested the price they are being paid for their shrimp, said he is meeting with smaller groups to discuss proposals to expand health care coverage.

The reason is because opponents in Louisiana and across the country have been disrupting the meetings of Democratic elected officials and keeping others “from asking honest questions,” Melancon said.

“They’re picking up the talking points of the fear mongers,” he said. “They don’t want to discuss the issues, they want to control the meeting.”

Melancon is considered a possible candidate to run against U.S. Sen. David Vitter.

I wonder how one gets to meet with Charlie in a small group.

Howevah! If Charlie runs against David Vitter for the Senate seat, he'll have my vote.


Again from the Advocate:

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie may have a new property in mind for their ever growing brood: The Louisiana Governor’s Mansion.

Pitt joked to HBO talk show host Bill Maher last week that statewide office interests him more than running for New Orleans mayor, the job for which some are half-facetiously recruiting him to run.

“What I ought to do is run for governor of the great state of Louisiana (against) Bobby Jindal,” he said.

“I’ve never met Bobby. It’s not fair to say,” Pitt added.

Pitt’s campaign platform: He’s pro gay marriage, pro legalized marijuana and anti religion.

Pitt and Jolie purchased a home in the French Quarter two years ago, making his eligibility to run in 2011 iffy.

The Louisiana Constitution requires a gubernatorial candidate to have lived in the state for at least the preceding five years.

Now wouldn't that be a contest? Jindal is incompetent. Could Pitt, the actor, be more incompetent? I think not. Brad's not just a pretty face. He has done more for New Orleans than either Jindal or Mayor Ray Nagin.