Originally Posted By Darkbeer <a href="http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071021/D8SDLUFO0.html" target="_blank">http://apnews.myway.com/articl e/20071021/D8SDLUFO0.html</a> >>U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal easily defeated 11 opponents and became the state's first nonwhite governor since Reconstruction, decades after his parents moved to the state from India to pursue the American dream. Jindal, a 36-year-old Republican, will be the nation's youngest governor. He had 53 percent with 625,036 votes with about 92 percent of the vote tallied. It was more than enough to win Saturday's election outright and avoid a Nov. 17 runoff. "My mom and dad came to this country in pursuit of the American dream. And guess what happened. They found the American dream to be alive and well right here in Louisiana," he said to cheers and applause at his victory party. His nearest competitors: Democrat Walter Boasso with 208,690 votes or 18 percent; Independent John Georges had 167,477 votes or 14 percent; Democrat Foster Campbell had 151,101 or 13 percent. Eight candidates divided the rest.<< >>Jindal, who takes office in January, pledged to fight corruption and rid the state of those "feeding at the public trough," revisiting a campaign theme. "They can either go quietly or they can go loudly, but either way, they will go," he said, adding that he would call the Legislature into special session to address ethics reform.<< Here is hoping that the new Governor can do better than Kathleen Blanco, but then, that shouldn't be too hard.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer <a href="http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110010765" target="_blank">http://www.opinionjournal.com/ diary/?id=110010765</a> >>One reason Mr. Jindal was able to win votes across ethnic and demographic lines is that while he treats his Indian background as an overall plus, he won't trade on it. He has in the past left the space for "race" on government documents blank. "I'm against all quotas, all set-asides," he says. "America is the greatest. We got ahead by hard work. We shouldn't respond to every problem with a government program. Here, anyone can succeed." << What a great quote, and philosophy!
Originally Posted By Darkbeer <a href="http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110010765" target="_blank">http://www.opinionjournal.com/ diary/?id=110010765</a> >>Bureaucracy busting is Mr. Jindal's specialty, and he has already announced he will call the Legislature into special session shortly after he is sworn in and demand an up-or-down vote on his anticorruption agenda, which has 31 points. "Ethics reform is the linchpin for change," he told supporters Saturday night. But while he prepares to take office with high hopes and good wishes, there are some sobering obstacles that could impede his agenda. Louisiana ranks third in the nation in the number of elected officials per capita convicted of crimes. That means that some power brokers will have real incentives to preserve the status quo. In 2004, the agent in charge of the FBI's New Orleans office described Louisiana's public corruption as "epidemic, endemic and entrenched. No branch of government is exempt."<<
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <In 2004, the agent in charge of the FBI's New Orleans office described Louisiana's public corruption as "epidemic, endemic and entrenched. No branch of government is exempt.> Boy howdy. Louisiana has been known nearly since its inception as "corruption central." It transcends party, and Jindal will have his hands full. I hope he succeeds.
