August 6th, 2008

Jim is on vacation all this week, out of cell and web range, high in the North Carolina mountains. He’s back in business next week with a new column, and plenty of updates on this site. So keep checking.

Have we too many federal laws on the books in this country? I think so. Take a look at my column now up about the federal government being way too far involved in parochial law enforcement. And let me know what you think. If you agree or disagree, let me know. Post your comments at the end of my column. You can read it now by Clicking Here.

I also put up on the Jim Brown jukebox my favorite Garth Brooks song, The Dance. Let me tell you about the first time I ever saw Garth Brooks in person. It was in the late 1970s, and I had just been elected Secretary of State and moved to Baton Rouge. Now I love to listen to honky-tonk singers, and I drove up to the Bear Creek Restaurant and bar in the center of St. Helena Parish. There is always a good crowd on Saturday night, with some country singer who hopes to make the big time. A short stocky guy was up on the stage with a pretty darn good voice. I asked one of the bartenders who he was. “Oh he drives in here every month or so from Oklahoma. Got a pretty fair voice. His name is Brooks. I think it’s Garth Brooks.”

When I was asked time and time again, after my altercation with the federal government, as to whether I regretted going into politics, I often quoted Garth Brooks’ final line of the song. “Life’s better left to chance. I could’ve missed the pain. But I’da had to miss the dance.” Give a listen and thanks for spending a little time on my site.