Vote for the Crook. It’s Important.
July 12, 2021 9:37 AM Subscribe
Edwin Edwards, the charismatic, famously corrupt four-term governor of Louisiana -- the man who soundly defeated David Duke, Grand Wizard of the KKK* -- has passed away at the age of 93.
"Vote for the Crook. It's Important" was the text of a very popular (albeit unofficial) campaign bumpersticker during the '91 Louisiana gubernatorial election.
SEE ALSO: "Vote for the Lizard, not the Wizard."
"Vote for the Crook. It's Important" was the text of a very popular (albeit unofficial) campaign bumpersticker during the '91 Louisiana gubernatorial election.
SEE ALSO: "Vote for the Lizard, not the Wizard."
"We're going to clean up corruption in politics" has historically been a rallying cry for fascists. It's a big part of what helped Jair Bolsonaro come to power in Brazil, among other recent notable examples (e.g. "Drain The Swamp!")
posted by Atom Eyes at 10:02 AM on July 12, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 10:02 AM on July 12, 2021 [7 favorites]
I just finished Slow Burn Season 4 on David Duke. Edwin Edwards sure was corrupt as hell but he beat one of the monsters of US politics. Recommended listen to anyone interested in how Trump used Duke’s playbook (and base) to get elected.
. -Edwards wasn’t the best dude, but he also wasn’t a neo-nazi / KKK fascist piece of trash
posted by glaucon at 10:08 AM on July 12, 2021 [6 favorites]
. -Edwards wasn’t the best dude, but he also wasn’t a neo-nazi / KKK fascist piece of trash
posted by glaucon at 10:08 AM on July 12, 2021 [6 favorites]
When asked what he and David Duke had in common (the womanizing) Edwards said "We're both Wizards in the sheets"
posted by JPD at 10:13 AM on July 12, 2021 [23 favorites]
posted by JPD at 10:13 AM on July 12, 2021 [23 favorites]
David Duke lost in 1991 with 39% of the vote, 78% turnout.
Donald Trump won Louisiana in 2020 with 58.5% of the vote, Biden got 39.9%, with 69.4%.
I don't think we're making a lot of progress.
posted by jzb at 10:20 AM on July 12, 2021 [3 favorites]
Donald Trump won Louisiana in 2020 with 58.5% of the vote, Biden got 39.9%, with 69.4%.
I don't think we're making a lot of progress.
posted by jzb at 10:20 AM on July 12, 2021 [3 favorites]
All due disrespect to Edwards (and no pun intended) he's just the latest in a Long legacy of that kind of power in Louisiana and bad as he was , some would say he's a piker compared to the Kingfish .
As Randy Neman so famously sang of Huey's infamous rise and reign, "Loo-eez-ee-ann-a, Loo-eez-ee-ann-a, they're tryin' to wash us away, they tryin' to wash us away." Same as it ever was.
posted by thecincinnatikid at 10:28 AM on July 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
As Randy Neman so famously sang of Huey's infamous rise and reign, "Loo-eez-ee-ann-a, Loo-eez-ee-ann-a, they're tryin' to wash us away, they tryin' to wash us away." Same as it ever was.
posted by thecincinnatikid at 10:28 AM on July 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
I actually thought the "Dead girl or live boy" quote was Long's...
posted by JPD at 10:46 AM on July 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by JPD at 10:46 AM on July 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
When asked what he and David Duke had in common (the womanizing) Edwards said "We're both Wizards in the sheets"
IIRC this was said to Tim Russert on "Meet the Press", just to put it in context. (That's from memory, I could be wrong.)
posted by gimonca at 11:04 AM on July 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
IIRC this was said to Tim Russert on "Meet the Press", just to put it in context. (That's from memory, I could be wrong.)
posted by gimonca at 11:04 AM on July 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
Live question from a local news reporter at a campaign event: "What's it like to be out on the campaign trail again, kissing babies?"
Answer: "It'd be more fun to be kissing the mommies!"
posted by gimonca at 11:11 AM on July 12, 2021 [9 favorites]
Answer: "It'd be more fun to be kissing the mommies!"
posted by gimonca at 11:11 AM on July 12, 2021 [9 favorites]
Back a few decades ago, I was visiting my grandparents in very rural SW Louisiana. This was about the time legalized Native American casino gambling was about to roll out in the state. One morning, here's the Sunday edition of the Lake Charles newspaper on the front stoop. There's a big color photo of Gov. Edwards in Vegas or somewhere, with a flamboyant, busty showgirl on each arm and a shit-eating grin on his face. Headline: GOVERNOR RETURNS FROM FACT-FINDING MISSION.
posted by gimonca at 11:16 AM on July 12, 2021 [18 favorites]
posted by gimonca at 11:16 AM on July 12, 2021 [18 favorites]
The Louisiana College where I taught in the 1990s hosted Edwards for a speech on ethics in government.
posted by doctornemo at 11:53 AM on July 12, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by doctornemo at 11:53 AM on July 12, 2021 [5 favorites]
Duke would win if that election happened today.
posted by bshort at 11:59 AM on July 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by bshort at 11:59 AM on July 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
North Carolina GOP Primary Winner Says God Is a White Supremacist, Jews Are Satanic (newsweek)
Sorry, this isn't an article from the distant past, this is from two weeks ago. He's going to be on the ballot next to ??? and I hope ??? wins. I won't blame anyone for voting for ???, they couldn't be worse than this guy.
posted by adept256 at 12:57 PM on July 12, 2021
Sorry, this isn't an article from the distant past, this is from two weeks ago. He's going to be on the ballot next to ??? and I hope ??? wins. I won't blame anyone for voting for ???, they couldn't be worse than this guy.
posted by adept256 at 12:57 PM on July 12, 2021
Duke would win if that election happened today.
posted by bshort at 11:59 AM on July 12 [+] [!]
? Duke ran for Senate and got 58,606 votes, 3.0% of the vote, peaking at 8.1% in St Bernard Parish. Louisiana has a democratic governor, put in power by Black Louisianans reacting to Trump and Rispone.
So, doubtful at the least.
posted by eustatic at 12:59 PM on July 12, 2021 [12 favorites]
posted by bshort at 11:59 AM on July 12 [+] [!]
? Duke ran for Senate and got 58,606 votes, 3.0% of the vote, peaking at 8.1% in St Bernard Parish. Louisiana has a democratic governor, put in power by Black Louisianans reacting to Trump and Rispone.
So, doubtful at the least.
posted by eustatic at 12:59 PM on July 12, 2021 [12 favorites]
he had but a shade of the 'petro-populism' inaugurated by Long, who created the road network and university system. Edwards also promoted oil and gas and focused on education and infrastructure ("who built the four-lane to Abbeville?"), and really he only fell because oil fell (which it does, more and more often)
"This state belongs to the people, I belong to you"
posted by eustatic at 1:25 PM on July 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
"This state belongs to the people, I belong to you"
posted by eustatic at 1:25 PM on July 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
> He's going to be on the ballot next to ??? and I hope ??? wins. I won't blame anyone for voting for ???, they couldn't be worse than this guy.
That story is datelined 2018. Garland Pierce has been re-elected twice since then, and to date he is a 9-term incumbent. Walker, the racist, didn't stand a chance.
On the upside Pierce is an African-American Democrat. On the down, he was one of the few Dems to support the odious, economically suicidal HB2 bill in 2016, one of the first statewide bathroom laws targeting transgendered people. His voting record is fairly mixed in ways you would expect for a Dem representing rural districts, in a state legislature dominated by a Republican majority.
posted by ardgedee at 1:45 PM on July 12, 2021 [4 favorites]
That story is datelined 2018. Garland Pierce has been re-elected twice since then, and to date he is a 9-term incumbent. Walker, the racist, didn't stand a chance.
On the upside Pierce is an African-American Democrat. On the down, he was one of the few Dems to support the odious, economically suicidal HB2 bill in 2016, one of the first statewide bathroom laws targeting transgendered people. His voting record is fairly mixed in ways you would expect for a Dem representing rural districts, in a state legislature dominated by a Republican majority.
posted by ardgedee at 1:45 PM on July 12, 2021 [4 favorites]
Quick note to point out that the term is "transgender", without the "-ed".
posted by tigrrrlily at 3:32 PM on July 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by tigrrrlily at 3:32 PM on July 12, 2021 [2 favorites]
My apologies, I'll try not to make that mistake again. Thanks for the correction!
posted by ardgedee at 4:10 PM on July 12, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by ardgedee at 4:10 PM on July 12, 2021 [4 favorites]
On the subject of Louisiana politics, I cannot recommend highly enough the documentary Louisiana Boys. Do what you can to find the whole thing.
(More snippets here. You'll have to check there yourself, alas.
posted by BWA at 5:03 PM on July 12, 2021
(More snippets here. You'll have to check there yourself, alas.
posted by BWA at 5:03 PM on July 12, 2021
The Louisiana College where I taught in the 1990s hosted Edwards for a speech on ethics in government.
Ha! I went there! I know you! I love MetaFilter! (you ruled and were respected by the students, fwiw)
I might have told this here before, but in middle school I had to play David Duke in a mock election (this was the Roemer/Edwards/Duke election). My LA History teacher let three kids draw names out of a hat to play the candidates, and I drew Duke. The (amazing, influential) gym coach stopped the "ceremony" after Edwards and Roemer spoke, saving me from having to get on stage to give my concession speech. I felt sick to my stomach all day having to think about it.
The "good ol' boy" network in Louisiana politics, at every level, cannot be understated. I'm sure you'll tell me that's every state of the union, but Louisiana takes pride in it.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:05 PM on July 12, 2021 [5 favorites]
Ha! I went there! I know you! I love MetaFilter! (you ruled and were respected by the students, fwiw)
I might have told this here before, but in middle school I had to play David Duke in a mock election (this was the Roemer/Edwards/Duke election). My LA History teacher let three kids draw names out of a hat to play the candidates, and I drew Duke. The (amazing, influential) gym coach stopped the "ceremony" after Edwards and Roemer spoke, saving me from having to get on stage to give my concession speech. I felt sick to my stomach all day having to think about it.
The "good ol' boy" network in Louisiana politics, at every level, cannot be understated. I'm sure you'll tell me that's every state of the union, but Louisiana takes pride in it.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:05 PM on July 12, 2021 [5 favorites]
The "good ol' boy" network in Louisiana politics, at every level, cannot be understated. I'm sure you'll tell me that's every state of the union, but Louisiana takes pride in it.
This.
I grew up in Louisiana, moving away at 24, though I attended college in Ohio during this election. It was hard to explain just how corrupt Edwards was to my classmates. I tried explaining this to my Ohio-raised, 16-year-old daughter that a certain level of flamboyant corruption was seen as a feature in Louisiana politicians, at least at that time.
Someone upthread observed that, were this election to be held today, Duke would win. I think, to a certain level, that’s an understatement.
posted by MrGuilt at 5:15 AM on July 13, 2021
This.
I grew up in Louisiana, moving away at 24, though I attended college in Ohio during this election. It was hard to explain just how corrupt Edwards was to my classmates. I tried explaining this to my Ohio-raised, 16-year-old daughter that a certain level of flamboyant corruption was seen as a feature in Louisiana politicians, at least at that time.
Someone upthread observed that, were this election to be held today, Duke would win. I think, to a certain level, that’s an understatement.
posted by MrGuilt at 5:15 AM on July 13, 2021
Was he the one who, when asked about what to do to improve prison conditions in the State, said "What we need is a better class of inmate"?
posted by thelonius at 7:09 AM on July 13, 2021
posted by thelonius at 7:09 AM on July 13, 2021
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. for not being as bad as he might have been?
posted by tavella at 9:41 AM on July 12, 2021 [1 favorite]