Hurricane Katrina's Impact on La. Politics (2005)
Louisiana: The State We're In

Details
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
Description
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