so what do you think about mayor ray nagin's comments on his interview?
445735
he is an idiot and his comment about how new orleans should be a chocolate city was racist.
175345
Our current mayor has not demonstrate the ability to support the people in our community let alone have the wherewithal to do so for the entire State.  However, I am supporting our district’s Congressional representative for governor this election.\n\nI must admit to being astounded that anyone would not know who their mayor is.  I also admit that my county is small in population (just over 128,000) but I know the mayors of its nine cities and most of the council members as well as knowing the members of the county board of supervisors and many on the township boards of trustees.  I know them not just as names but as friends and neighbors within the community. \n\nIn the communities I've lived in over the years in different States I have always got to know the elected officials.  How can you vote if you don't know them.
35353
I liked many of the things he stated, such as . . . . . . \n\nTax relief in rate reductions, elimination of the marriage penalty and increasing child credits, the ending of double taxation of dividends.  That these things will assist business (particularly small and middle sized business) will help all people in particular the young seeking jobs.\n\nMaintaining the line on discretionary spending (personally I believe that discretionary spending should be done away with).\n\nAffordable high quality health is a laudable goal but one tough to implement.  The controversy about high medical costs due to doctor possible liability is true but not in the way most people think about it.  That is, because of the possibility of being sued for misdiagnosis, doctors order far more tests and more complex tests than are usually required.  Suing a doctor to recover costs and cover damage is right and should be supported, but awarding punitive damages does not benefit anyone.  If doctors (or hospitals) need to be penalized for bad treatment, then the course is for the State medical associations to remove their licenses.  This does not hurt the good doctor through increased insurance costs which are passed on to the patient or result in reduced medical services.\n\nMost importantly was his reference to energy independence for our country.  One way to do this is to increase the use of coal.  Technologies exist today which will make such use non-harming to the environment.  Coal reserves within our borders exceed 500 years of heavy use.  Hydrogen is another approach which has existing technology for use right now.  Distribution is one of the largest problem  However, such could be started in the agriculture industry by producing hydrogen from agricultural biomass and distributing it right back into agriculture production through the coops.\n\nThere are many other elements within the State of the union which are solid positive proposals, but getting them done is the challenge.  All has to move through congress and that is like walking in mud.  \n\nThere is the added problem of the federal government being involved with things it shouldn’t be involved in.  An example is education.  There is no delegated power in the Constitution for the federal government to be involved in education in any manner.  If it was not so involved the federal budget could be reduce in major ways.  Education would not suffer.  Since the federal government has been involved in education (primarily starting in the Carter years) education results have decreased throughout the country.  Education is a local job and the federal government has no business being in it.\n\nGetting things done, in general, is a local responsibility except in a few areas of responsibilities delegated to the federal government (re: U.S. Constitution Article 1, Section 8, Clauses 1 through18).  \n\nOver all it was a good speech, but making it happen is doubtful.
421187
I love him!  I was going to serve on his first campaign for governor in Virginia in 2001 before I moved out of state.  I think he is the best kind of Democrat.  He has experience as a Southern governor (but not too Southern).  He is a self-made millionaire.  He is a person of faith without being cheesily so.  He looks like a President.  And most importantly, he did a great job in Virginia working with Republicans and Democrats.  \n\nI think the only way the Dem's will be able to win is to elect a Southern governor.  We need to quit running Senators.  There are just too many things they have had to vote on and the electorate is too stupid to understand the intricacies of the votes Senators must make.  We need someone who can draw back some of the moderates who have left the "crazy" Democratic party with mainstream ideas and great credentials.  That is Mark Warner...\n\nAnd yeah, I would love to be hired by the campaign... : )
988639
f_chuck...\n My rights are being violated, as a New Orleans citizen.\nYour rights as an American period!\nwhat color they are wearing doesn’t mater ,what matters is the fact that we are staring down the barrel of automatic rifles, illegal stops and searches, and the overall military presence in the city.\n I listen to my police scanner, I hear what they are doing and saying, I travel all over the greater New Orleans area, everyday.\n \n and pam....you should Google a little before you comment!\nthis is not the first place the National guard has done this, Knoxville, New Mexico, all over. \n \nA few months ago, during Katrina (when the police ran like sissies) maybe their presence was a little more understood, overboard considering the rescue crews but somewhat understood.\n\nSo the same guns that protect our boarder, are the same guns pointed at our kids in New Orleans...\n\nAs far as the Mayor goes, I kinda agree as most politicians are just a pawn in the over all bigger, more sinister plan. He does still make decisions that affect me directly.\n\nJust to answer the question you’re asking now! No, I’m not a criminal, I’m a white female law abiding citizen that wouldn’t violate a single law. It's not just the stereo types being affected by the new police state, it's anyone with chrome wheels, on the streets after dark, anyone that stands out in any way.\n\n I guess if 60% of New Orleans wasn’t still destroyed almost a year later, more New Orleans citizens would have the internet and ability to comment on this sad situation.
946941
I would have thoroughly explained my case for the war, aggressively gone on the offense against the media, false allegations, treasonous activities, listened to my speech coaches, and made sure that my party was more cohesive and focused on the mission.\n\nYour #9 is flawed because Nagin and the state Governer passed the blame to Bush.  And  Nagin became elected again.  The man is a coward without any leadership abilities.  He was the authority to begin evacuations.  When he found his voice, he just whined.  He is also in the position to rebuild.  Has he completed this yet?  Is he still blaming Bush?  The governor had the jurisdiction to ask the federal government for assistance.  The governor froze.  She whined.  She blamed.  Local government failed your state's misplaced residents.  Blamining Bush rings hollow when you review the facts.\n\nI agree with your #s 1,2,6, and 8.  Thanks for laying them out.  I especially like your #6.\n\n#7 - with or against:  That statement was directed towards nations of the world.  Check the transcript.  It was the speech addressed to congress.  Many people in the US hate America.  It comes to no surprise that they took affront to Bush's stand.
461460
I read a few of minister Kip's post's and he gives some pretty good, honest and sincere answers.  He seems to be a good guy.  I'm not too familiar with the other minister though.
627908
There are a couple of theories:\n\n1.) All the political analysts were saying that voting for Nagin would be like a turkey voting for thanksgiving. The voters got confused with the message and thought they were voting for a turkey each, not a turkey to run their city.\n\n2.) The Katrina refugees are having the best time of their lives in other states. With Nagin in charge it will be years before enough of New Orleans is rebuilt and they will have to go back.\n\n3.) The voters held their breath too long during Katrina.
339525
Have you heard his speeches? this guy is an awesome speaker. and he's not blowing wind like most politicians. He answers questions with good answers. while most politicians deflect questions.
636949
Tom did a good job in the interview.  I found it interesting, and also a bit disgusting, on how the mass media took obviously joking comments completely out of context.  Any reason why this civilization cannot have a simple honest unbiased media who simply reports data without bias?  That sort of a civilization would be an improvement over what we have today.
1069721
Your statement quoted a Councilwoman as saying "black people can not be racist".\n\nThis is a statement of arrogance and overzealous pride.  This is an opinoionated statement, not one based on fact.\n\nAfrican Americans can be racist, however it's a little complicated and all revolves around the definition of the word that is used in context with how it is intended.  In our society, it is called Reverse Racism.  Racism is the act of a majority putting down a minority (any minority...black, brown, red blue, green...you name it us human's have a colorful rainbow name for it, whatever it is)  Where as an African American can not be racist they can be guilty of Reverse Racism...which is a lesser crime in the eyes of the Federal Courts.  "No one really has time for that silly kind of argument", as one federal judge said about 10 years ago.  I happen to believe that racism is racism, let's not candy coat it here.  If it's good one its good for all.--sorry there went my Social political views, how dare I think about Socialism.\n\nNow a "white boy cop" as you refered a quote that was said, that is a definitive example of Reverse Racism, Gender Specific Slander and Job Title Related Slander.  One, it defines the --offender's--ethnic origin...two, boy denotes that male is not a man and therefore unable to properly do his job...three, cop is a derogitory term of police officer.  Cop is slang and is not proper.  While not every officer in America will take offense to the term, there are a select few who will, as they are not cops-they are Trained Police Officials who are employed by the city.  (Police are city, Deputies are county)  If this Councilwoman wishes to continue to be taken seriously by her fellow coworkers, not just the underlings below her that restore order and patrol crime, this Councilwoman needs to realize the error of her words and how she is counter productive to the movement she wishes to  better for the next generation.  If she is a Councilwoman, she is there because she was elected and represents the people of her area, which may or may not include those "white boy cops" as she so eloquently put it.\n\nThis Councilwoman needs to seriously take a look at what it is she is doing and why.  Please do me a favor and post some sort of contact for this Councilwoman's office and the local News Paper for this Councilwoman's area so that I might write her office a letter of complaint.  The squeaky wheel always gets the oil first before the quiet ones.\n\nAnd to state a response to another posters "very strange" report.  It is not very strange for an Officer to do their job, even if it means doing their job at 2 am.  If a vehicle is not in proper street condition, by that I mean legal so that it would pass an inspection, then the officer has the right to pull the offender over, state the nature of his involvement and has the ability and jurisdiction to give a ticket for the offense.  A single headlight on a vehicle that requires two by model specification is an infraction of the street legal law.and gives the Officer the jurisdiction and opportunity to pull a malfunctioning vehicle over.  It does not matter how the Officer saw the single headlight, it matters that it was seen.  Had the Officer seen the single headlight and not pulled the vehicle over, the Police Officer would be guilty of not properly doing his job.
547952
I can not for the life of me understand why Ray Nagin got re-elected. He failed miserably during a crisis moment in the history of New Orleans.\n\nHe is not a leader, did not take charge of the situation when leadership skills were needed.\n\nHe left all those buses to be flooded when they could have been used to haul people that had no means of leaving the city a chance to get out. He should have had them placed in strategic places to pick up those with no means of getting out and offerring them the chances with the buses.\n\nHe also blamed everyone from the President on down for his errors and mistakes.  \n\nHis job was to alert the governor that his city was in trouble and he needed help. He probably did not know or understand the procedures to get help. Once he alerted the governor the governor should have notified the president that her state was in trouble and wanted it declared a national disaster area.\n\nNone of this was done. There was complete confussion on the part of the mayor and the governor. \n\nNagin went on TV and made statements about the president when he should have been looking at himself for answers. \n\nHe had people on roof tops when they should have been taken out of the city on the buses and by the local authorities of the city headed up by the mayor.  Many Many people died because of his failed leadership. \n\nHe should have been brought up on charges, for failing to do his elected job.\n\nHe never sat up an emergency room to have his top staff members in one area so he could get up todate intelligence about the situation as it was happening.\n\nNew Orleans should be ashamed for re-electing this individual to the office of mayor again. They get what they pay for and that is one that has no leadership skills, is not a calm individual under stress. Make remarks that public officials should not make to the media about other elected officials especially the President.\n\nI hope this has been of some use to you, good luck.\n\n"FIGHT ON"
826274
No! I think he did very badly. I was really worried - he appeared cruel and mean. He needs to soften his image. I will never vote liberal while he is there.
434692
Once a dumb*ss, always a dumb*ss.  \n\nIf 40 trillion dollars spent on social programs can't improve you lot in life, nothing can.  \n\nEspecially another dum*ss dem-on-crack mayor who has already demonstrated his complete ineptitude and ineffectiveness as a leader.
87215
No I don't think so and I am so sick of hearing the race card get played.\n\n1st of all Mayor Nagin had the power to evacuate his City before even bothering to contact the President but Mayor Nagin failed.\n\n2nd of all a lot of residents of New Orleans chose to stay in their homes when they were warned.
600101
That statement was the last line in the death threat letter sent to Mayor Villaragosa people...it's not a thought that originated with the asker of the question...HELLO..watch some damn news and quit bagging on the asker of the question.\n\nI come from a family that immigrated here LEGALLY from Latin America and I have some strong opinions about what's going on in our great nation today...however\n\nWhat I think about this statement in particular is this...\n\nIt was obviouly written by an ignorant fool who apparently failed to notice that the immigration issues facing us today involve a hell of alot more races and nationalities than just the mexican people.\n\nAnd threats and barbaric statements such as that one do nothing but create an even bigger rift between the races.\n\nLets just pray that "the patriot" doesn't breed.
1094577
It's probably not his worst thing. The many offensive statements and actions he has made as mayor are worse for mine. He is under threat of suspension for offensive comments to a reporter last year. \n\nKen Livingstone was publicly criticised in February 2005 when he compared an Evening Standard reporter to a concentration camp guard after the reporter had tried to interview him following a reception marking the 20th anniversary of Chris Smith's coming out as a homosexual. The reporter, Oliver Finegold, turned out to be Jewish and said he took offence at the comparison, but Livingstone refused to withdraw the remark and was subsequently accused of anti-Semitism. Finegold had an audio recorder running and he released the following recording of the conversation, which contained twelve seconds of silence - which Livingstone claims is where abuse by Finegold was edited out, an allegation supported by the Standards Board for England:\n\nFinegold: Mr Livingstone, Evening Standard. How did tonight go? \nLivingstone: How awful for you. Have you thought of having treatment? \nFinegold: How did tonight go? \nLivingstone: Have you thought of having treatment? \nFinegold: Was it a good party? What does it mean for you? \nLivingstone: What did you do before? Were you a German war criminal? \nFinegold: No, I'm Jewish, I wasn't a German war criminal and I'm actually quite offended by that. So, how did tonight go? \nLivingstone: Ah right, well you might be [Jewish], but actually you are just like a concentration camp guard, you are just doing it because you are paid to, aren't you? \nFinegold: Great, I have you on record for that. So, how was tonight? \nLivingstone: It's nothing to do with you because your paper is a load of scumbags and reactionary bigots. \nFinegold: I'm a journalist and I'm doing my job. I'm only asking for a comment. \nLivingstone: Well, work for a paper that doesn't have a record of supporting fascism. \n\nThis last comment was a reference to the Standard's sister paper, the Daily Mail, which endorsed Oswald Mosley's fascists in 1934 and supported the Nazis until 1939. Livingstone also claimed the Standard was guilty of "harassment of a predominantly lesbian and gay event" He has also made offensive statements about the Reuben brothers Iraqi immigrants.