Oops, that's my number (Senator Vitter)[MULTI-MERGED]

My friend, you smoked me out.

Am I biased? Yes. In that I have an opinion on many political issues, I have a bias as to most political issues. Am I a registered Republican? Yes. Am I terribly partisan? Not really. At least not terribly so.

Steve, where you and I disagree is the relative importance of Mary Landrieu being re-elected. The window is closing on how much Washington is going to send to Louisiana.

I don't particularly like or dislike Mary--strangely, the same attitude I have towards David Vitter. When it comes to foreign policy decisions, both have been generally supportive of the Bush administration, though Vitter more so than Landrieu (and some who spend time on the EE board know I am highly critical of Bush with regard to foreign policy and defense issues).

When it comes to appointing Supreme Court justices, I am very conservative and would prefer a Repulican senator. When it comes to whether I would like to see the state Democratic party weakened by the loss of a US Senator, I have to say yes. When it comes to whether I want a US Senator with friends in high places (that is, the White House), I have to say yes. And when it comes to whether I generally like the idea of having senators from different parties, I have to say yes.

And on a lot of issues, there isn't much difference between how a moderate Southern Democrat votes and how a Republican votes. Am I voting for Landrieu in 2008? I don't remember whether I voted for her last time, and I honestly don't know whether I will be voting for her in 2008. It depends on several things. November 2008 is a long way off--for Landrieu and the presidential contest--though Hillary as the nominee is going to kill Landrieu.

This is the first time (I think) Mary is running in a presidential election year. It is going to make a difference in 2008, just as Vitter running in a presidential election year allowed him to win in the first primary.

I will say this: I am much more interested in the 2007 elections--who becomes governor and the composition of the state legislature--than I am in the US Senate seats. The Louisiana GOP has had its share of failures and problems. But on the whole--I repeat: on the whole--if you are for progressive, honest government emphasizing business and economic development in Louisiana, you have to generally favor in state government--I repeat: in state government--Republicans over Democrats.

My eye is on the 2007 elections in Louisiana much more than who we send to Washington. If we are going to overcome not just the 2005 hurricanes but our failures over the past generation, it is going to come down to what we do rather than how much money Washington sends us.