Collection:LPB

Genre: News, Public Affairs

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2005-12-16

Duration: 00:07:53

Subjects: Politics | Government | Hurricane Katrina, 2005 | Hurricanes | Hurricane Rita, 2005 | Blanco, Kathleen Babineaux, 1942- | Louisiana. Legislature

Contributors:

• Ekings, Robyn Host
• Whinham, Charlie Host
• Ekings, Robyn Producer
• Bush, Charles Photographer
• Cross, Pearson Interviewee
• Stonecipher, Elliott Interviewee
• Sutherlin, John W. Interviewee

This segment from the December 16, 2005, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Robyn Ekings’ report on the impact of Hurricane Katrina on Louisiana politics. Ekings interviews three political experts: Dr. Pearson Cross, a political science professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette; Elliott Stonecipher, a pollster and political analyst; and Dr. John W. Sutherlin, a history and government professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. They discuss: the pre-Katrina months of 2005 as the “Good Old Days” when Louisiana had problems that seemed manageable; 2005 as a watershed year in Louisiana political history; Hurricane Katrina as a defining moment when Louisiana’s government imploded; the break-down of government at every level; their differing views of the performance of Governor Kathleen Blanco following Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita; the possible re-mapping of the voting districts because of the population shift caused by the storms; the North-South political division in the state; and the need for Democrats and Republicans to work together in rebuilding the state. Hosts: Robyn Ekings and Charlie Whinham