UPDATE: The Senate Guru had a link last week showing how the Sinning Senator has cast aside his "fiscal restraint" in the name of helping Louisiana rebuild from the hurricanes of four years ago. The cynical amongst us would say the Sinning Senator has been earmarking like a pig since 2007 because he is in re-election mode.
The Sinning Senator sent out a massive fundraising email last week despite being over 500 days from the 2010 elections. And it wasn't an email that you normally get at the end of a quarter from a political candidate seeking to buttress their FEC filing. No, there was a sense of urgencydesperation expressed in the email sent out by the Sinning Senator:
But as you know, modern campaigns are expensive, and I'm fighting an uphill battle. Obama's special interest allies are already spending their savings to defeat me. That's why I'm asking you to make a donation of $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, or whatever you can give as soon as possible.
I will not back down in this fight, and any amount you can give today will help me make sure that our conservative voices are heard in the face of the Obama-led union attack-machine.
Sinning Senator ... trust me when I tell ya, you're not even the top 100 on the President's to-do list these days. Hell, I'm not even sure you're on the to-do list, thanks to Senator Spector, the soon to be Senator Franken, and the far easier to win open seat challenges in Florida, Missouri, New Hampshire and Ohio.
All that aside, is it possible that you are feeling threatened by your opposition? You currently have no announced Democratic candidate. There is as of now, no elected or former elected GOPer seeking to challenge your lying, deceitful ass. So the only reason you can possibly be threatened, Sinning Senator, is because of the challenge presented by Ms. Stormy Daniels.
I'm hearing from folks on your side of the aisle, Sinning Senator (yep, that's right, the Kingfish has got some GOP sources) that you're digging for dirt on Stormy. Specifically, since you're scared that she'll dredge up your prostitute-loving ways, you're going into the gutter ... looking for history of drug use or other illegal activity by Stormy.
Well, I got news for ya, Sinning Senator ... Stormy's been doing a much, much better job of rehabilitating her image than you have been. Hell, she's got a book coming out entitled "Stormblazer: Stormy Daniels and the Triumph of Responsibility."
What you got? Solicitous fundraising emails, a family that is no longer on your campaign website, and a mere $3 million in your campaign bank account, and a skeptical electorate that hates the negative attention you bring down to Louisiana every time the national media mentions your name in the news.
It's ALMOST official. Potential Senate candidate Stormy Daniels just sent out this press release:
Today, I am excited to announce that I am taking the next step in exploring a possible run for United States Senate. Two weeks ago, I embarked on a listening tour where I had the pleasure of hearing the thoughts and concerns of my fellow Louisianans. These conversations were highly encouraging and convinced me to officially explore the possibility of running for the United States Senate. To this end, I have formed an exploratory committee to gauge Louisianans' support for my potential candidacy.
I do not take this step lightly. While I have been humbled by the overwhelmingly positive response my potential candidacy has generated thus far, my decision to run for United States Senate will only be made after I have had the opportunity to discuss this prospect with as many people across the state as possible. Too many in government ignore the voices of those whom they claim to represent. I promise you that I will not.
Forming this committee will allow me to raise the funds necessary to explore a possible run and will provide Louisianans an opportunity to continue sharing with me their concerns and ideas. I invite you to visit www.teamstormy.com and join me in taking this next important step.
In the coming months I will continue my listening tour and am eager to visit western and northern Louisiana. I look forward to discussing further the vital priorities facing our state and nation-including reforming the tax code to a system that rewards, rather than penalizes, success, protecting our children and promoting personal responsibility as an alternative to government intrusion.
Potential Republican Senate candidate Stormy Daniels gave an interview to Bayou Buzz about her motivations for running against SINator Vitter after talking with Louisianans at the Roux House in Baton Rouge today.
Not a bad start. As she spends more time talking about the issues, she should get much, much better.
The Draft Stormy folks sent out an press release this afternoon announcing the start of a listening tour in Louisiana to allow the rookie political candidate to get her feet wet in the Louisiana political scene.
It all starts on Tuesday in Baton Rouge and then continues into New Orleans on Wednesday. If you can make it, and want to ask serious questions about her candidacy, all ya have to do is show up for lunch!
On Tuesday:
Who: Stormy Daniels and fellow Louisianans When:Tuesday, May 5th at 12 P.M. Where: The Roux House, 143 3rd Street, Baton Rouge
On Wednesday:
Who: Stormy Daniels and fellow Louisianans When:Wednesday, May 6th at 12 P.M. Where: Serio's Po' Boys and Deli, 133 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans
Now it's time to see if Stormy is legit. The other question is, will Louisianans consider voting for her against SINator Vitter?
This past Saturday, the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee held a meeting in Shreveport. One of the issues on the agenda was whether or not to open up the party primary to Independent and third party members. It was voted down by a vote of 114-5. They even made it one of the bylaws of the Louisiana Republican Party, making it even tougher to change it, as such a change would require a 2/3 vote to open the GOP primaries.
What does this mean? It means that the Louisiana GOP just made it much, much tougher for a challenger to defeat David Vitter in a GOP primary, especially since John Cooksey, and Tony Perkins have decided NOT to challenge the mercurial SINator.
The only potential challenger left standing amongst GOP elected officials is Secretary of State Jay Dardenne. While he has pointedly kept his name circulating in GOP circles by not issuing a Shermanesque statement closing the door on a potential challenge, I cannot see him challenging the SINator, as I believe he wants to keep his powder dry until 2015, when Governor PBJ will be term-limited, providing, of course, that he wins re-election.
All of this leaves Stormy Daniels as the only candidate still seriously considering a challenge to the SINator.
Reports came out yesterday that Louisiana Family Forum head Tony Perkins is considering, yet again, running for the Senate. This time, however, he'd be running against Sinator Vitter and presumably, Stormy Daniels, in a Republican primary.
This would be quite an entertaining threesome primary ... a hypocritical Sinator who likes to commit the crime of prostitution, all the while pontificating about family values; an up-from-the-bootstraps gal that has moved from being a porn star to being a producer of adult films; and a religious political wanna-be that has associated with unsavory characters in the past:
Sinator Vitter once again calls for a resignation. Unfortunately, it's not his own, but that of Illinois Senator Roland Burris, for:
Vitter said that Burris "clearly, at a minimum, misled the Illinois Legislature and the voters of the Illinois" by giving incomplete answers about his contacts with and fundraising efforts for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.) as Blagojevich was considering appointing Burris to the state's Senate seat.
[When asked about his own sex scandal, he replied]: "I honestly don't know anybody who would compare these situations. They are dramatically different."
Dramatically different? Sinator, clearly, at a minimum, you misled the voters of Louisiana about your family values in every single campaign you have ever run!
"Originally, the focus wasn't even about making me as a candidate. I think it was about bringing attention to the Senate race in general. Then the response was overwhelmingly positive. And I think everyone is just running with it."
When Mr. Sanchez told her that SINator Vitter would be a tough fight, she stated that she is "always up for a good fight."
"I think anyone that knows me ... is more than aware of that. Politics can't be any dirtier of a job than the one I am already in."
My unsolicited advice to Ms. Daniels would be to run as an Independent to ensure that she can give SINator Vitter a fight all the way into November 2010.
I also disagree with Mr. Clancy DuBos' (of the New Orleans Gambit) claim that someone with a clean record on family values is needed to make a dent in SINator Vitter's base ... as the TV commercials that come out of such a campaign would essentially compel the media to print her broadsides against the good SINator's hypocrisy, which would in turn, force the SINator's base to confront it as well.
The race for 2010 just got more interesting ... as Stormy Daniels, the subject of an intense grassroots Draft Stormy effort initiated on the ground here in Louisiana will be appearing today on the Rick Sanchez show on CNN at 3:20 PM EST, which is 2:20 EST for us here in Louisiana.
She makes it clear that if she were to run, she would make exposing SINator Vitter's hypocrisy a major part of her campaign. The question today is, will she give a Shermanesque statement closing the door on a run for the Senate, or will she keep the door open?
Editor's Note: CenLamar has some background info on the activities of the Draft Stormy folks at DC Mardi Gras.
Washington Mardi Gras is being held this week, so the folks behind the Draft Stormy movement decided to make Draft Stormy beads to hand out amongst the political elite attending the event.
For those unaware of what Washington Mardi Gras is, here's The Advertiser's take on it:
For many of the more than 2,000 Louisianians who've come to Washington to participate in a swirl of parties and receptions, this Mardi Gras is all about business.
It's not known how many deals are cut over hors d'oeuvres at the hospitality suites that Louisiana cities like Lafayette and Shreveport operate in the Washington Hilton - the main site of the Mardi Gras.
Former Sen. Russell Long firmly established a tradition in 1957 by forming the Mystick Krewe.
During one of the festivities, presumably at the Washington Hilton, there were many, many beads handed out and worn quite proudly by patrons. Amongst the revelers in a Draft Stormy effort are:
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-LA-01: (although admittedly, he seems confused)
Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-LA-06:
Who knew even the Republican Members of the Louisiana House delegation are as eager to insert some good ol entertainment into next year's Republican primary?!
Last week, Chris Tidmore set the water cooler talk circuit of Louisiana ablaze with his article about how the porn star has been found ... now they are looking for staff. But the identity of the potential Senatorial candidate was unknown. Not anymore:
Ms. Daniels was born and raised in Baton Rouge, LA. The product of a single mother, Ms. Daniels epitomizes the up by the bootstraps story that our Sinator constantly invokes. She was the editor of her high school newspaper and president of the 4-H club.
She then chose to enter the adult film industry, where she worked her way up from being an actress to directing and producing adult films.
Her citizenship should not be an issue, as she owns a home in the state, and comes home to cheer on her beloved Tigers at Death Valley during football season.
The question is, will she run? If y'all want an entertaining Senate race next fall, especially since the scuttlebutt is that old retread Chris John is being courted to run against Vitter, I suggest y'all go on over to the website to sign the petition to convince Ms. Daniels to declare her candidacy.
The 
Washington Mardi Gras is being held this week, so the folks behind the 
