Ray Nagin is at it again!

[beggingforrelief]

Yesterday the AP reported that New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin stated that New Orleans needs to be rebuilt to be the "chocolate" city. It seems like this is a new spin from someone with questionable leadership skillls.

New Orleans is a city with great historic and cultural values that all races can admire and enjoy. From Mardi Gras to Jazz music, people of all races and cultures have a vested interest to see the city rebound from the natural disaster that it endured.

The downfall of New Orleans will be the political leaders of the city. To have a Mayor who during the hurricane lost all sense of decision making and basically mis-informed the citizens of New Orleans to their potential demise shows that he lost control of his facilities (common sense).

What would happen to New Orleans if all the "vanilla" tax base and relief funds were sent to an area where both chocolate and vanilla people could utilize the money?

Good Luck New Orleans, your going to need it with this nut in charge.

[aaron]

If the government keeps subsidizing these kinds of decisions, then people will keep making them. If he were really worried about a tax base, he wouldn't make statements like that.

[Claire Voyent]

You don't have to be a seer to know that God is only mad at Ray Nagin, not New Orleans. Ray Nagin says those things only so he can be re-elected. There is no truth in his statements.

[wilebill]

I just don't get it. Why is it okay, or why does he feel it's okay, to make statements like "NO will be a chocolate city", when if someone were to say "NO will be a vanilla city" that person would be declared a racist? Isn't Nagin a racist for making that remark?

[IGID]

I saw on the news today when some young reported ask Nagin about the chocolate statement and Nagins reply was " do you know how they make chocolate?". The reporter said no and Nagins reply was " they mix dark chocolate with white milk and come out with something great, thats what I meant when I called N.O. a chocolate city". IMO, Nagin had some time to think about his racist statement and was able to come up with some spin.

[lamarrebel]

After hearing Nagin's comments this morning, I actually felt a little, albeit very little, better about the situation in the City of Hattiesburg.

[wilebill]

Looks like Nagin backtracked a little. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060118/pl_nm/hurricanes_mayor_dc)

But he's still an idiot.

[reality]

I completely agree Wilebill. He is such an idiot! -- such an idiot that I guess he doesn't realize by making comments like this he's going to keep big business from coming back/rebuilding there.

[wilebill]

Check this site out! (http://www.imnotchocolate.com/)

Willy Nagin and the Chocolate Factory. :smt118

WDAM just reported this link.

[fuzzis]

I completely agree Wilebill. He is such an idiot! -- such an idiot that I guess he doesn't realize by making comments like this he's going to keep big business from coming back/rebuilding there.

I highly doubt that. People aren't mayors forever and if he keeps making an ass out of himself, the folks who have come back to New Orleans will vote him out in the next election.

fuzzis

[reality]

Check this site out! (http://www.imnotchocolate.com/)

Willy Nagin and the Chocolate Factory. :smt118

WDAM just reported this link.

Wow, that is hilarious! :smt038

[reality]

I highly doubt that. People aren't mayors forever and if he keeps making an ass out of himself, the folks who have come back to New Orleans will vote him out in the next election.

fuzzis

According to the 2000 census, New Orleans’ population of 484,000 included approximately 136,000 whites, and 326,000 African-Americans, so I don't know that he would be voted out.

I read somewhere recently that forty-three percent of the evacuees planned to return to New Orleans, a survey found. But just as many -- 44 percent -- said they will settle somewhere else, while the remainder (13%) were undecided. Many of those who were planning to return said they will be looking to buy or rent somewhere other than where they lived. Overall, only one in four said they plan to move back. And with the Mayor making these types of remarks, surely this will discourage a lot from wanting to make a home there.

Also, our own Mayor has made an ass out of himself for the last 5 years and he's still in office.

[IGID]

With European-Americans making up only about 1/4 of the population inside the city limits of N.O.. Nagin will be mayor as long as he runs. Same as Dupree in Hattiesburg since most European-Americans are moving outside the city.

[wilebill]

With European-Americans making up only about 1/4 of the population inside the city limits of N.O.. Nagin will be mayor as long as he runs. Same as Dupree in Hattiesburg since most European-Americans are moving outside the city.

I don't know. From what I understand, a lot of African Americans were upset at what Nagin said, too.

[fuzzis]

I suppose I naively believe that people won't keep re-electing idiots, although the American public certainly doesn't bear that out.

As wilebill pointed out, African Americans are upset over his comments, and plenty of them were pissed off at the situation he put them in to begin with.

I highly doubt, though, that Nagin will be the deciding factor in whether businesses return or not. Business will come back if it is economically feasible for them to do so. I'm not a business person, but I wouldn't think that too many big businesses make such a decision based on the words of one person.

fuzzis

[aaron]

With European-Americans making up only about 1/4 of the population inside the city limits of N.O.. Nagin will be mayor as long as he runs. Same as Dupree in Hattiesburg since most European-Americans are moving outside the city.

I'd put 20 to 1 that Nagin is out, but your on the right track, another african-american will take his place. It's really going to be interesting to see what N.O. becomes after this. A lot of people were forced to try out a new city. It gives them a chance to leave things behind and get a new start. What if Hattiesburg got completely wiped off the map, but kept the same local government? Would USM rebuild or move? Would the residents rebuild or relocate?

[beggingforrelief]

I agree with reality. DuPree and Fairley are almost complete in making Hattiesburg a "dark chocolate" city. The difference between Nagin and DuPree is Nagin can't keep his mouth shut and DuPree and Fairley quietly do things that have caused white flight from Hattiesburg.

[jmack]

I agree Nagin is an idiot but getting back to one of his statements that God is punishing New Orleans, I may be in the minority, but I'm not sure that he may be wrong on that one. I know people love New Orleans but the French Quarters smells like puke, there are often sexual acts performed in public there as well as the topless and bottomless women in plain view of anyone. I would never wish any harm to the people but I'm not sure God isn't showing his wrath and trying to get our attention.

[IGID]

What did Gulfport, Biloxi, Long Beach, Pass, Waveland, etc. do wrong?

[wilebill]

Good editorial cartoon below.

http://images.ucomics.com/comics/tmate/2006/tmate060118.gif

[fuzzis]

What did Gulfport, Biloxi, Long Beach, Pass, Waveland, etc. do wrong?

My guess would be gambling. :smt102

fuzzis

[jmack]

God did it to a city in the Bible. I think wide spread disaster would help get the point across.

[JB2379]

I definitely do not agree with Ray Nagin's comments about New Orleans being rebuilt as a chocolate city. Sometimes the guy speaks before thinking. But i do have to defend Nagin when it comes to the media, especially CNN, trying to make him look like an inconsiderate political dummy. Nagin is a pretty smart guy, who was simply faced with making some tough decisions.

[RevranAL]

I definitely do not agree with Ray Nagin's comments about New Orleans being rebuilt as a chocolate city. Sometimes the guy speaks before thinking. But i do have to defend Nagin when it comes to the media, especially CNN, trying to make him look like an inconsiderate political dummy. Nagin is a pretty smart guy, who was simply faced with making some tough decisions.

Dear Honorable JB2379
Throughout my monthly travels thru the great City of New Orleans and the Times Picayune bein's one of my daily literary accompanyments, I feel you is givin's Maya Nagin way too much credit.
RevranAL is voirce fo all peoples, and he will speak out against all that commit wrong..Maya Nagin was elected by the majority of white voters during his first campaign, and appealed to many white business and political allies to repay campaign favors. Now, due to political incompetence and poor city planning (post Katrina), he feels that he has lost the white vote. He now show'n how big an Unca Tom he has been, by crawfish'n back fo the DEMOCRATIC voters to return, and cryin' bout the change of local demographics, he hopes to regain the strength from the former demography of the area.
But that has all changed, cause we know that half the 9th ward seems to have fled to our area (evident by the rise of local crime rate and all the baggy pants and gold teef that are flash'n round town), and they probably will not return..
Now my question is, like Brotha Deans and his infamous howl on the campaign trail, was Brotha Nagin just caught up in the moment try'n to appeal to his DEMOCRATIC crowd or is he really that big a FOOL...
Chocolate City ---Lord have Mercy upon us....
Can I gets a Witness
RevranAL

[fuzzis]

I thought I'd read somewhere that Nagin's victory was attributed to white voters. Anyone know that breakdown?

fuzzis

[reverand]

Mayor Nagin, wanted to make a great speech Monday on Martin Luther’s holiday
Instead of an oratory masterpiece, he revealed he must be suffering from brain decay.

He speaks of a Chocolate city, and one occupied by a minority power base.
A city once populated by all races, into one ruled only by only the black race.

Has the Mayor suffered brain damage? Did he press down to hard while shaving his baldhead?
Now he’s trying to back off of his statements, after his white supports are all turning red.

Dr. King preached of a colorblind society, and all races he tried to unite.
But it’s evident that the Mayor believes, that only his race has the exclusive rights

We shall overcome
Glory Glory

[wilebill]

I think this C-L editorial (http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060119/OPINION01/601190332/0/OPINION) says it all. Not only did Nagin do a disservice to NO, but to everyone affected by Katrina.

[SoMissTV]

It is truly sad when the mayor of a major American city speaks of color on the very day designed to honor a man whose goal was a colorblind society.