Rod Dehrer's Piece on Death of GOP Anti David Duke Activist

Rod it is sort of getting it over the head by quite a few conservatives the last week (He enjoys opening these can of worms) so I will post something nice for Louisiana solidarity . Rod had a nice piece on the death of Beth Rickey. See Beth Rickey, Republican (and American) hero

I sort of had my political baptism in this era. I was working in a judicial race and Duke was the hot potato that just seemed not to go away.

I met David Duke twice. When Duke came to town everyone went because well everyone was talking about him.. I think people seem to forget that Duke was a extremely good speaker.

At the event I was at he came by and extended his hand to me. When I shook it I felt the evil. I don't exaggerate that either.

Beth Rickey who truly was a hero in this did the Lord's work in exposing him. She also exposed his seamy sexual side. His rampant womanizing was known for those of us following him. He did have a thing for young college girls. I witnessed this when he made a appearance at a local Frat house. It was all so creepy. I think sleeping with David Duke would be like sleeping with Randall Flagg in the book The Stand.

After he ran for U.S. Senate I thought we had seen the last of him. Then he ran for Governor and it was then that through some incredible series of events the perfect disaster came.

In Louisiana we have open primaries and the race was mess. The Establishment Republicans were divided over two Candidates. Those being Governor Buddy Roemer and former Congressman Holloway. In other words the Louisiana GOP was in major schism and being it's usual circular firing squad. This is when Duke arrived on the scene as to this race. Edwin Edwards ran and of course was a shoe in to get into the run off.

Buddy Roemer had not only GOP problems he had North Louisiana problems which is where he was from. He had neglected to shore up that base and people sort of resented it. The implosion of the Roemer campaign and the degree of it was not expected. Holloway did not recieve a huge amount of the vote but it was enough , plus the trama that it caused in GOP circles to keep Roemer out of the runoff. So Duke squeezed in and we woke to our horror to see that we had to choose between Duke or Edwards. So a good many of us had "Republicans for Edwards" and "Vote For the Crook It's Important" bumperstickers. I was like living a bad movie.

Well the rest his History. Duke lost Edwards became Governor and in few years both Duke and Edwards got sent to Federal Prison. Before serving a year for Fraud Duke ran in a couple of other races but never was a significant threat.

Beth Rickey played a role in all that. May she Rest In Peace