Louisiana is a very poor state and only worse after Katrina.  It recently worked out a deal with the MMS to receive a proportion of the offshore oil and gas royalties.  I'm not sure of the specifics, but Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas stand to make a bunch of money in this way - a percentage of the royalties and production.  Cutting Big Oil could be construed as "shooting yourself in the foot."

In addition to being the energy capital of the world (Houston is the refining and petrochemical capital of the world), many jobs in the offshore industry are found in Louisiana.  Let us not forget the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is mostly located in Louisiana - and another huge storage dome is proposed to be constructed (at great risk to the environment from the pumped salt brine).

Third, Big Oil is happening off Louisiana, moreso than Alaska could ever deliver.  Several huge offshore platforms, once on line, could boost total energy stocks by as much as 5% (just by themselves) and more rigs are planned.

Let's just say that Louisiana Democrats are a wee bit different from your more traditional concept of what a democrat should be...  

Onward through the fog

Mary's office should be relocated to a deep ravine in the 9th Ward.  

...and the shocking thing about this headline is that she essentially just voted for more shoreline erosion.  The story of Louisiana's coastline disappearance is well chronicled.  Along with Florida, Louisiana stands to lose vast amounts of its land base (not to mention its wonderful homes to incredible biodiversity) from the rising sea levels.  By delaying progress, and thus ensuring more sea level rise, Landrieu has traded some of her State's territory for short-term political cover.  Disgusting to say the least.

Much of my family lives in Louisiana.  I asked them to vote for her in the last election because, sadly, her opponent was a Republican who would certainly have blocked progress.  I'm starting to wonder about any hope for change down there.

I was interested in your comment about Mary's vote on coastal erosion control projects.  She was against them during the Congress over-ride of the special water bill?  I thought the bill would send billions to eroded Gulf coastlines.  

Sorry for the diversion, but my brother lives in the Miss/Louisiana area and has commented about entire islands that were once on the nautical charts, but no longer were there, or just little humps.

Onward through the fog

Any politician in Texas or Louisiana or Texas is going to be in bed with the oil industry to some degree. Big oil is an especially big player in Texas and Louisiana politics.

As I understand it Sen. Mary Landrieu initially voted for the bill, but then said no. She probably voted yes because her single vote would not matter in the outcome, but when it came down to one vote there would have been negative repercussions for the democratic party in Louisiana.

Texas and Louisiana democrats are different than most democrats. I joke with people I know in New York that Texas democrats are more conservative than New York republicans.