Free Republic

WASHINGTON -- The FBI is investigating a possible threat against the north Louisiana teenager who was on the receiving end of suggestive e-mails from disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley, a Louisiana congressman said Tuesday. Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman, said Tuesday that the young man's life wasn't threatened, "but close to it." "There are people out there who feel like he is the one who (accused) Foley," Alexander said. "There are some bloggers out there who sent him some ugly stuff."

When a Monroe teenager first contacted a member of Rodney Alexander's staff about email messages from former Florida Congressman Mark Foley the young man asked the staff member not to say anything. But once a reporter contacted Representative Alexander, the congressman said he had to report the incident. The young man in question says he wants all the media attention to just go away. "He's in school and trying to understand whats going on," U.S Congress Rep. Rodney Alexander said. "He is upset, needless to say, and his parents are concerned." Out of Washington and in his Monroe office, Representative...

Well this is wonderful isn't it. The local Newspaper reports Rep. Rodney Alexander said a former male House page from Monroe has received threats since reports surfaced Friday that former Congressman Mark Foley sent him inappropriate e-mails. "This teenager and his family have gone through hell," Alexander, R-Monroe, said Monday. "It's just not fair that they got caught up in this and became casualties. His mother is just broken up by it. Naturally, she's concerned about her child." Foley, R-Fla., resigned on Friday after reports were published about the e-mails connected to the Monroe teenager, who's now 17. Though the...

Rules: link only http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061003/NEWS01/610030310/1002

Alexander defends late party switch in 5th District debate By ADAM NOSSITER Associated Press writer MONROE -- Congressman Rodney Alexander defended a last-minute party switch that infuriated Democrats Sunday night, in the sole televised debate of an otherwise quiet race to represent a broad swath of central and north Louisiana. Alexander, boosted by polls showing him way out in front and likely to win the 5th Congressional District race without a runoff, spoke calmly about an issue that initially threw his race into an uproar, and had Democrats from Louisiana to Washington denouncing him in harsh terms. He brushed off...

Scott says not allowed at Bush headquarters opening By The Associated Press Jock Scott, the Republican 5th Congressional District candidate left out in the cold when his party embraced ex-Democrat Rodney Alexander, complains he was pushed off the platform at the ceremonial opening of Bush campaign headquarters in Monroe Friday. Republican organizers confirmed that party officials demanded Scott be kept away, since their new favorite -- incumbent Alexander -- was going to be a featured speaker. The congressman caused a furor in August when he switched parties in the final minutes of qualifying; Scott, and Democrats, sued him, unsuccessfully. Ed...

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A state appeals court ruled Monday that a longtime Democratic congressman who switched to the Republican Party at the last minute may run as a GOP candidate, and overturned a lower-court decision that ordered the ballot reopened for new candidates. Rep. Rodney Alexander filed to run for re-election as a Democrat on Aug. 4, then refiled as a Republican two days later, just before the deadline to sign up for the race. Angry Democrats sued, and a state district judge ruled last week that the qualifying period for the election should be reopened. But the...

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- A state appeals court ruled Monday that a longtime Democratic congressman who switched to the Republican Party at the last minute may run as a GOP candidate, and overturned a lower-court decision that ordered the ballot reopened for new candidates. Rep. Rodney Alexander filed to run for re-election as a Democrat on Aug. 4, then refiled as a Republican two days later, just before the deadline to sign up for the race. Angry Democrats sued, and a state district judge ruled last week that the qualifying period for the election should be reopened. But the...

ALEXANDER RE-ELECTION BID OK'D BY APPEALS COURT By BRETT TROXLER btroxler@wbrz.com 2theadvocate.com staff From a report by WBRZ's Marvin McGraw A state appeals court ruled Monday afternoon that U.S. Congressman Rodney Alexander could run for re-election as a Republican in the upcoming Nov. 2 election. The Louisiana 1st Circuit Court of Appeal also said no new candidates will be allowed to join the race against him. Alexander originally filed to run for re-election in the 5th Congressional District as a Democrat on Aug. 4. Two days later he filed again as a Republican, just minutes before the deadline came to...

Lawyers to argue case today on Alexander's switch to GOP By The Associated Press Arguments are scheduled for today at a state appeals court in a lawsuit over U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander's last-minute switch from the Democrats to the Republicans in the congressional 5th district race. In court papers, two challengers in the Nov. 2 election -- one Republican, one Democrat -- said Alexander should be tossed off the ballot. Alexander was a longtime Democrat who filed to run for re-election as a Democrat on Aug. 4, then refiled as a Republican two days later, just before the deadline to...

PLAQUEMINE, La. (AP) - A state judge ruled Monday that the sign-up period should be reopened for the Nov. 2 election in Louisiana's 5th Congressional District, where incumbent Rep. Rodney Alexander infuriated Democrats by switching to the Republican Party minutes before the qualifying deadline. District Judge Allen Edwards did not set a date for the new sign-up period in his Monday ruling. He said the new dates should be set after appeals - which are likely - have been exhausted. ``Mr. Alexander has attempted to subvert the electoral process for his own personal gain,'' Edwards said. ``His action deprived voters...

GOP backs state's newest Republican His rival gets left out in the cold Wednesday, August 11, 2004 By Ed Anderson Capital bureau BATON ROUGE -- The state and national GOP are backing U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander of Quitman, a newly minted Republican, rather than throwing their support behind longtime party member John "Jock" Scott, a former state House member who is running for Alexander's 5th District seat, party brass said Tuesday. "We are behind Congressman Alexander," said Jon Bargas, executive director of the state Republican Party. Bargas said state party officials are discussing ways to approach Scott about bowing out...

ALEXANDER BROKE LAW, LAWSUIT ALLEGES By Chris Frink cfrink@theadvocate.com Capitol news bureau A lawsuit filed Wednesday seeks to kick U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander out of his race for re-election. A hearing is scheduled at 4 p.m. Friday in Plaquemine. Meanwhile, state Democrats are scouting out a way to insert a candidate of their choosing into the race. Alexander of Quitman is in his first term representing the 5th Congressional District, which covers the eastern part of the state from Baton Rouge to the Arkansas line. He stunned Democrats when he switched to the Republican Party in the waning minutes of...

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander switched his party affiliation to Republican on Friday — making the surprise flip in the last minute of registration for the Nov. 2 ballot virtually assuring the seat for the GOP. Alexander, a first-term congressman from Quitman, had registered at the start of qualifying on Wednesday as a Democrat. At that time he said, "I'm not ashamed to be a Democrat but I vote what I think the people of the 5th District want me to represent." There is another strong Republican in the three-candidate field. He is Jock Scott,...

Just heard on WTIX. Mike Skinner, head of the La Democratic Party is seeking to disqualify Rodney Alexander from the November ballot as retribution for switching parties. No details on what legal basis he has to seek such an action. "Sour Grapes" isn't part of the Louisiana Election Code.

Rep. Rodney Alexander's switch late Friday to the Republican Party brought swift and vitriolic responses among Democrats from the Bayou to the Beltway, including from his entire Washington staff that resigned in protest yesterday morning. "He's a traitor," fumed Andrew Koneschusky of the Louisiana Democratic Party. "He betrayed the people who elected him to the U.S. Congress and the people who supported his re-election."

SWITCH HIT For once, Republicans were able to play and succeed in a political game at which Democrats almost always seem to be better. Last Tuesday, Republicans had 228 members and a 23-seat margin over Democrats in the House of Representatives. On Friday, they had 229, and their newest member appeared to beat his old party at their own game. Last Wednesday, Democratic freshman House member Rodney Alexander, who represents Louisiana's 5th District, registered his name for the ballot as a Democrat. Louisiana has an open election, and Alexander was already facing both a Republican and a Democratic challenger on...

Louisiana congressman switches to GOP Alexander leaves Democrats for re-election bid The Associated Press BATON ROUGE, La. - Rep. Rodney Alexander switched his party affiliation to Republican on Friday — making the surprise flip in the last minute of registration for the Nov. 2 ballot, virtually assuring the seat for the GOP. Alexander, who ran as a Democrat to win his first congressional term but voted along conservative lines, had remained a Democrat Wednesday when he registered at the start of qualifying. At the time he said, “I’m not ashamed to be a Democrat, but I vote what I think...

NEW ORLEANS - In 48 hours, Rep. Rodney Alexander (news, bio, voting record) went from Democrat to Republican, friend to foe — or foe to friend, depending on your political persuasion. Democrats reacted to the news by calling the first-term congressman a turncoat and a coward. They must now gain another seat, 12 in all, to win back the House this fall. The count today: Democrats 205, Republicans 229. A new ally, on the other hand, rang him up Friday to say congratulations. President Bush (news - web sites), according to White House spokesman Scott McClellan, welcomed Alexander to the...

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — In 48 hours, Rep. Rodney Alexander went from Democrat to Republican, friend to foe — or foe to friend, depending on your political persuasion. Democrats reacted to the news by calling the first-term congressman a turncoat and a coward. They must now gain another seat, 12 in all, to win back the House this fall. The count today: Democrats 205, Republicans 229. After announcing his new affiliation Friday afternoon, Alexander said he had been struggling with his conservative votes for his entire term — backing the Bush tax cuts as well as the war in Iraq...

At last! Some good news today! Congressman Rodney Alexander has switched parties!

Just announced about 10 minutes ago. Rodney Alexander is at the Secretary of State's office and may refile to run as a Republican. This is only a rumor right now. The last day to file is today at 5PM so we'll see soon enough if it pans out.

<p>Fifth District U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander is considering switching from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, he confirmed late Thursday afternoon.</p> <p>"I'd be misleading you if I said I haven't talked to the Republican leadership about it," said Alexander of Quitman. "I'll make a decision within the next few days."</p>

<p>BATON ROUGE - Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster will end two scandal-free terms Jan. 12, leaving an eight-year legacy of clean government and improved funding and attention to public schools. But he likely will be remembered for failing to address major problems in health care and missing key economic development opportunities for a state still struggling with intense poverty and joblessness.</p>