For the past several months, a controversy has bubbled slightly beneath the surface in New Orleans society (I started to say it had “raged,” but that suggests a forest fire whereas this is more of a bonfire that won’t go away) over whether President Bush should pardon four-time former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards who is serving a long sentence at a federal pen for racketeering. In the early 1990s when he led our state, Edwards asked for and received kickbacks from those seeking to be awarded licenses for casinos. A vigorous investigation and prosecution by the U.S.Attorney nabbed him and sent him up for, I think, twenty years.

Former Republican Governor (for one term) Dave Treen is leading the effort to get the president to make Edwards one of his last minute pardons. This is rather bizarre because Treen was always the sole of integrity in his political career and Edwards was anything but; they were political enemies for decades. Now Treen points out that Edwards is old and has already put in eight years (I think it is) on his term, and “more years won’t accomplish anything.” He urges us all to have mercy on Edwards.

That has generated a number of pro and con letters to the editor. One said, “So, if you’re old, go ahead and break the law because we’ll let you out of jail early because of your age. What kind of sense does this make?”

Other writers plead for mercy for Edwards, say he has suffered enough, and wonder about the Christian charity of those who say he ought to serve every day of his term. More than one writer has pointed out that Edwards is as responsible as any human for the sordid reputation for politics in this state.

To date, I have refrained from writing the editor and chiming in with my point of view — although I have one, as you will see — and doubt if I’ve mentioned the “cause c