Monday, October 17, 2011

Lowrie-Thompson race heats up

Not surprisingly, the race between Duke Lowrie and Jeff Thompson has heated up - again.  This is Lowrie's latest flyer.
In response, an email was sent out today from Thompson's office to various lawyers in the area.
Dear Colleague:
As you may know, Jeff Thompson is a candidate for the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 08. The election is this Saturday, October 22nd. Getting people to the polls is going to be crucial, and is made more challenging by the LSU home game against Auburn that day.
Rather than address the issues, Jeff’s opponent has resorted to negative and false attacks. Lowrie has already spent more than $175,000 of his own money in this race and now recognizes the fact he must resort to false allegations and attacks to in an all-out effort to defeat Jeff at any cost. He has even filed a completely meritless lawsuit alleging that Jeff violated attorney/client privilege. This suit is a political stunt and is an abuse of the legal system. It is an example of frivolous litigation Lowrie claims to oppose.
The attacks Lowrie has resorted to also include a series of all out assaults on our profession. Attached are copies of the various direct mail pieces sent throughout the district. Please take a moment to read over them and see for yourself the ridiculous claims asserted. If you share my frustration at the implications and assault not only on Jeff, but on our profession, I ask that you please join me in this final week of the campaign and help.
How can you do that?

 Make a financial contribution to help offset the tens of thousands of dollars in media buys and efforts Lowrie is making as a final effort in continuing the vicious, unfounded attacks which are certain to come in the last days leading up to the election. You can do that by making a secure online donation right now by clicking (LINK). You can also write a check, which we will gladly come and pick up. Just call me at (318) 747-7466 and let me know and someone will be right over.

 Early voting has already ended, so if you live in Bossier or Benton, please be sure to vote this Saturday, October 22, and take your family and friends with you!

 Help us with volunteers. You, your family members, runners or office staff could be used to assist with the campaign in these final days. We have things to do all day every day, so no matter when someone wants to help, we can put them to work! We are particularly working for a large turnout of volunteers for this Friday and Saturday. No amount of time is too small and all efforts would be very much appreciated. Just let us know by reply email or telephone call when volunteers may be available.

Desperate candidates do desperate things, and this election cycle has seen some incredible instances of mudslinging, misrepresentations, unfounded attacks and outright lies. We cannot sit idly by and allow these meritless assaults to continue. The price of getting that message out to the voters is increasing and your assistance in defense of not only our friend and colleague, but of our profession, calls us all to action. Please act now (CONTRIBUTION LINK). Please also ask others to join us.
Thank you.

45 comments:

  1. WOW!
    Looks like Jeff is desperate now.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 7:56,
    Those are my thoughts as well. It you weren't desperate then why are you begging for money in the last week?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Guess duke can look forward to a lot of love from Jeff in the comming days.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I don't know many firefighters who have $175,000 lying around to spend on a political campaign.

    ReplyDelete
  5. thanks for sharing this letter from Jeff. I am a lawyer and did not get the email or see the flyer. I am sending him a check this week.

    Jeff is not a trial lawyer by the way.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am very very disappointed in Duke for all of the mudslinging. I thought he was above that. I will be voting for Jeff.

    Duke, you may want to fire that trashy lawyer that you hired to file your suit. I can't believe you hired a trial lawyer! What gives!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Come on Saturday! I'm wore out from hearing about these elections!

    ReplyDelete
  8. @ Duke for all the mudslinging? Please, 10:00 PM, tell me what mud?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Duke has been the best fundraiser for Jeff. Sounds to me like Thompson is rallying the troops. Lawyers write checks in every election. When you attack them as a group they write two checks.

    The vast majority of lawyers are honest, hard working people who sacrificed a great deal to become a lawyer. To attack the entire group and bring them together for a common cause was a foolish move on Duke's part.

    175k of his own money? Wow.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The lawyers were already with Jeff, but true not all. Still nobody answers the question, what is untrue about what duke has said?

    1. Does Jeff practice law before a jury?

    2. Has Jeff ever advertised for personal injury?

    3. Does his finance report reflect a majority of doners being lawyers?

    4. Is Louisiana ranked the second worst legal climate for business in the nation?

    The answer to these questions are all yes.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh I wish there were someone to vote for besides one of these two characters.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Just heard Jeff's last commercial claiming he had been personally attacked. I don't know how. I definitely don't know how his family has been attacked. Looks like this is another one of his blatant political whoppers. It is sad to see someone try to get votes that way.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This sums up this race. From Political Science Professor Jeff Sadow's Blog:

    "In the open seat House District 8, retired firefighter and businessman Duke Lowrie squares off with trial lawyer and former U.S. House candidate Jeff Thompson. While both Republicans, they appear to have adopted different campaign strategies. Lowrie and his campaign confidants for months have engaged in an extensive walking strategy in the district, while Thompson’s has been more media-intensive, heavy on gaining special interests’ endorsements, and with surrogates presenting the appearance that Thompson has been visiting residences."

    ReplyDelete
  14. Mr. Wells. The answer to all these questions is Thompson started the mudslinging. Duke had no choice but to respond to the allegations. I work for the legal profession. . . Jeff you do have other attorneys who do not respect you. I do not know the attorney that Duke hired but I've seen where he has M.D. behind his name, maybe this explains why he is willing to stand up to Jeff. I admire him for standing up against the Bossier Attorney group.. I know that Duke and his wife donated to and worked diligantly for Judge Mike Craig's campaign and Judge Craig's family has donated to his campaign. So a message to Jeff, Duke is not grouping all attorneys as bad. The facts are the facts and the tactics you have used is exactly the reason the majority of people distrust attorneys. I have witnessed attorney abuses first hand at the hands of the innocent people that were paying them. To the person that bragged about attorney's writing two checks to support their own. That explains why we don't need special interest in Baton Rouge. That is exactly what Duke didn't want. He used his own money to attempt to change the status quo in Baton Rouge. I feel sorry for a attorney who can't manage his money wisely to be able to afford a campaign to be a yes man for his profession and not represent all the people of his district. It is apparent he will be bought and paid for. Duke has earned every dollar of the money he has used. No one has given him anything. More than you can say for Jeff. And as for as Sammy Halphen supporting or endorsing him. WAY to go with Sammy. You really got a lot of votes with that endorsement..

    ReplyDelete
  15. ANON 3:44 is right on many levels.

    I believe Duke's point was originally that Jeff claims to be a businessman, but refused to share with any voters WHAT his business was.

    At the same time, Duke was straight with voters from the beginning. Even with this trial thing, we've seen Duke's documents and Jeff hasn't produced anything.

    Add to the equation those letters from Jeff claiming to walk neighborhoods. Now, he is claiming to be attacked personally, but we've seen those attacks just like we have seen him at our front doors.

    My question is what will Jeff come up with next? It doesn't matter how many people show up on this blog with personal attacks against Duke, I just won't be able to take Jeff seriously at this point. Just my perception.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Moon Griffon held a lunch today for Jeff at Silver Star. Moon Griffon is conservative.

    ReplyDelete
  17. the jobs not lawsuits PR campaign is shallow. we all know that lawsuits do not effect the community. Last two years in Bossier we have as less than five civil jury trials. I don't know how "trials" and "lawyers" effect jobs. Seeing how there were fewer that 5 trials. Maybe what effected jobs was our leaders getting the state into billions in debt. All trial lawyers did was get the state billions in settlements with Tabacco and BP.

    I do know that insurance companies spend millions each year on PR to make lawyers look bad. I doubt Jeff Thompsons practice actually has any effect on Louisiana job climate. This is such a stretch.

    Duke should do a little research beyond the insurance companies mantras before casting such a broad net.

    Duke should know that Mike Foster ushered in a boat load of Tort reform in the 1990's with the promise that we would jump way ahead. We did not jump way ahead. This was not a true statement.

    In fact, all that really happend in that our premiums went up, but our coverages went down. This makes it a worse climate for businesses.

    what would help my business is reducing taxes and regulations AND telling the insurnace lobby that they need to stop using the chamber as their voice peice to spread untrue propaganda that misleads the public.

    Might be good if the next rep does a little reseach on this issue before jumping in with both feet.

    ReplyDelete
  18. 5:24,
    One problem with tour argument is you stated that our leaders got us billions of dollars into debt. Well those same leaders are the ones who are supporting jeff Thompson.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Perhaps someone can answer the question of trust. I'm sorry, but if Jeff wouldn't have attempted the "appearance" of walking the neighborhoods; if Jeff would defend why lawyers are good for the legislature rather than feign victimhood for someone pointing out to voters his profession; if Jeff wouldn't have blatantly misrepresented (like a stereotypical lawyer on tv) the facts in Duke's case, THEN voters might be inclined to support him. But, it appears that his chosen campaign tactic was to use smoke and mirrors from the start. I'm sure die-hard supporters are willing to overlook that, but how can those who are intelligent and open minded?

    ReplyDelete
  20. This post has been rejected several times but bears repeating. I wouldn't send a lawyer to fight a fire and I wouldn't send a fireman to draft laws.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm pretty sure that hasn't been rejected, unless it had a lot more with it.

    ReplyDelete
  22. so you think that only lawyers should be qualified to run for the legislature?

    ReplyDelete
  23. By the way, Moon "attended" a lunch for Jeff, he did not "hold" a lunch for Jeff. Big difference.

    ReplyDelete
  24. The districts with lawyers fare better

    ReplyDelete
  25. That is probably true that lawyers make better legislators than others

    ReplyDelete
  26. Well I don't agree that is always true. If you can go to baton rouge and get along with the governor and other legislators to bring projects back to your district you should be re-elected. The problem in our area is we have a void in our delegation. I think Henry burns is catching on pretty well though

    ReplyDelete
  27. What make a lawyer a better representative than a person, let's say, with just good values and common sense?

    ReplyDelete
  28. Yep, I agree. A district that is being represented by a baker is doing just fine. Guess we don't need any lawyers.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Man the desperation in this race continues. Thompson strikes again, he claims duke to be the aflcio guy but he sought the endorsement of the fireman himself this year. Not to mention he had it when he ran for congress, this man knows no limits.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Well with the area legislators we have, we need someone who can actually accomplish something

    ReplyDelete
  31. Henry is a great legislator because he is a business owner, a retired colonel in the military and former school board member. Henry is like Ronald Regan, he has humble intelligence.

    Henry will most likely be the best legislator that we have hands down simply due to his intelligence and people skills. He does bake a mean cookie.

    But unless we can clone Henry and move him to Bossier City, a lawyer would be the best partner Henry could have in the legislature.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hey 5:24, Lydia Jackson wants you to call her, she needs a testimony.

    ReplyDelete
  33. As long as we have our arrogant senator down there we will get nothing

    ReplyDelete
  34. I see where former judge Cecil Campbell is backing Jeff Thompson and he never backs a loser.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Lowrie seems to always be the victim. First it was he was suspended unfairly from the fire department. Then he lost a suit locally that went to the appeals court where he lost again over not paying a woman what she was legally owed. Then his own lawyer betrays his trust according to the lawsuit.

    Sounds like a man with everyone out to get him doesn't it? So Im really wondering how he plans on getting along down in BR with career politicians-how is this man going to get anything done?

    The other thing is this. Lowrie makes a great effort to advertise he is a Christian. But then he is quick to mudsling Thompson after he is called a liar. I thought Christians were suppose to not judge, and turn the other cheek? Remember, Duke only claims he is not a liar-a panel on the civil service board determined they had cause to suspend him.

    Duke is pretty good on camera I will give him that. Kind of reminds me of Obama, he sounds pretty good but something doesn't smell right.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Lawyers are there to stand up for those who otherwise feel they do not have a voice and would be steamrolled by big$$ and the "machine"- "duke" knows this well as evidenced by his 1st suit ( and his 2nd according to his crew). Shame on him for forgetting this by becoming a cog in the big$$ propaganda insurance machine. Those good hands and neighbors just want to help and return your premiums to you when mayhem strikes. Funny how their propaganda gets more vicious during market downturns. Not even elected and already beholden to big insurance.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Jim, what judge is the duke lowrie lawsuit assigned to?

    ReplyDelete
  38. Well I think I know how that lawsuit will turn out

    ReplyDelete
  39. It sounds like Jeff and the boys have this one in the bag.

    ReplyDelete
  40. In the bag? I don't think so. As much as some of Jeff's bloggers would like to think, their rhetoric and partisan approach will not overcome Jeff's mistakes in this race.

    In regards to his appearance of walking the neighborhoods, his misleading attack ad on Duke's record, and now his feigned victimhood on attacks that Duke has never made, the voters will prevail. They will not work.

    In all of these cases and more, he should apologize to voters once it is done. Finally, he should take a long look in the mirror. If Duke's ONLY attack (that points out for voters that Jeff is a lawyer) is so bad, then perhaps Jeff should go back to school, get some more training and shift careers.

    Oh, and get a puppy too.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I believe jeff would make the better representative. I have seen nothing in dukes background of any leadership abilities. His career as a fireman is commendable but let's face it, that is a civil service system where promotions are based on length of service and not your abilities Jeff's background of service , on the other hand, shows that he has the ability to lead others , gather a coalition and solve problems and accomplish goals. That is what is needed to be a good legislator

    ReplyDelete
  42. So I guess Duke's leadership abilities and decision making is nothing compared to Jeffs. The difference being he had to use his critical thinking skills and lead the EMT's working with him to make life and death decisions. While Jeff had days and weeks to work things out and lead "his team".

    ReplyDelete
  43. My last comment should have been anonymous

    ReplyDelete

Rules of the road:
1. No personal attacks or insults.
2. No accustory statements about wrongdoing or criminal acts against anyone.
3. Say all you want about the pros and cons concerning the candidates and the issues, or the general subject of the blog post, just follow Rule #1 and Rule #2.