Post-Mortem Fact Check: Louisiana Politics

"To what extent can truth endure incorporation?"

           Nineteenth century German philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

"I've always wanted to be in the position [to] just be honest as hell."
          Former U.S. Sen. John Breaux of Crowley, LA

There's no shortage this year of examples of campaigns fudging the truth, candidates speaking in half-truths and political operatives spreading downright nasty lies. With the campaigning all but over, here's a quick look at a few outrageous fibs, misleading headlines and harsh realities from the recent political season:

Hitting the Pipe? � When the Southeastern Louisiana University Social Science Department released a poll last week showing GOP state Treasurer John Kennedy trailing incumbent U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat, by 19 percentage points, the Kennedy camp was not pleased. Kennedy spokesman Lenny Alcivar told reporters that those responsible for the poll were "smoking crack." Unfortunately for Alcivar, he not only smeared SLU's faculty, but also a handful of students who helped conduct the poll. Everybody who was anybody in the Louisiana Democratic Party immediately demanded an apology.

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But behind the scenes, the scheming and positioning continues. Meanwhile, what you see is not always what you get in Louisiana politics, as state Sen. Danny Martiny, a Metairie Republican, pointed out in a recent legislative session. "We're not in the reality business," Martiny said, "we're in the perception business."

Amuse yourself and relieve some of the Pre-Election Stress Syndrome with more of the Gambit's FactCheck: