Buddy Roemer considering run for president

Commentary: Talk about coming out of obscurity.

In an event in Baton Rouge, Roemer announced that he was launching an exploratory committee to consider a run for the presidency. He also announced a campaign different from the campaign of every other candidate. A president, Roemer told his audience, "must be free to lead" -- free of commitments to anything save the principles he commits to. So Roemer's campaign will take no PAC money. It will take no more than $100 in contributions from any individual. And everyone who contributes anything regardless of how small will be disclosed. His will be the first true small dollar campaign for the presidency, and the first that is truly transparent. The single message he will preach is that (practically) every single problem that we as Americans face can be tied to the corrupting influence of money in politics. His success will turn on how powerfully he can prove that claim.

This is not the first time Buddy Roemer has run a campaign like this. When he was elected governor in Louisiana in 1987, there were no limits on contributions at all. Corporations as well as individuals could give as much to a campaign as they wanted, and those contributions were not disclosed. Roemer ran a campaign similar to the one he has announced for president -- limiting the size and the source of the contributions he would take, and disclosing the name of every single contributor. He beat an incumbent (and later to be convicted for corruption) governor and changed the character of the governorship in Louisiana ever since.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lawrence-lessig/on-the-significance-of-th_b_831166.html

Sounds nasty. ;)

Especially for a republican. His best contribution to the election would be raising awareness on the nature of campaign spending, not what he personally would bring to the office if he somehow won.

About the last sentence, I can't agree that he changed the character of the Louisiana goverorship, when the crook he beat in '87 took back the office in '91. He's been obscure since his term, I was surprised to see his name here in any context.

are so widespread these days but continue on without any accountability. Edwards took bribes from those seeking casino licenses. He was so charismatic, the Republicans had the same level of hatred toward him as they did for Clinton. He was a modern-day Huey Long, & he was loved.

I grew up with Edwards as governor, (Same ol' guvna, same ol' Saints). He seemed to aquire his reputation early on, and just kept going, and kept winning the governorship. I certainly don't remember him being a bad governor, or think of him only as a crook. I used the term to counter the point that Buddy Roemer's election changed the governorship of Louisiana. Roemer was a speed bump for Edwards, and a footnote for the rest of the state.

I'd watch that sonovabitch a dozen times!

LoL

He hasn't been in the news in Louisiana since the mid-'90's when he ran for governor against Edwards & lost.

He was a Democrat who changed to a Republican. Since he's been off the radar for several decades, I have no idea what his political views are. I remember he had respect for the Roe v. Wade decision & big on improving education. I'll have to do some research, but in this current highly divisive atmosphere, I wonder about his intentions.

He also lost to the other Republican, David Duke.

:rofl: