Everyone seems to be talking about the Supreme Court giving former President Donald Trump all kinds of immunity. But is he really immune from any private act he undertakes? I have some personal experience with private versus public actions, and you would be surprised to know that I’ve been sued on many occasions as a...Read More

My friend Kinky Friedman, one of the real Texas musical outlaws, died a few weeks ago. I called him my friend. I heard him perform on any number on occasions, and he’d like to talk about Louisiana politics. If you haven’t followed Kinky, he and his band, the Texas Jewboys, won acclaim for their satirical...Read More

          Monday, July 8th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana LOUISIANA COURTS FIRST RULED WHEN A PRESIDENT IS ABOVE THE LAW!  These days, it’s hard to find a political controversy on the national stage that does not, in some way, involve Louisiana.  You may be surprised to know that a lawsuit involving land...Read More

  Our country is close to having a new national election, and the issue of voter fraud continues to permeate the discussion. Almost half of all Americans think there will be  voter fraud involved. So is there? And what can we do about it? I have a few suggestions. Take a look at my new...Read More

  Monday, July 1st, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana VOTING MACHINE CHANGES NEEDED ACROSS THE COUNTRY!  After former President Donald Trump lost his reelection in 2024, there have been continuous allegations that election fraud has taken place all across the country. So here is the question. Can voting machine computers be hacked? Can the election process be...Read More

Louisiana is back in the news, as it generally is across the country with something that happens down here, by requiring the posting of the Ten. Commandments in all public schools throughout the state. Good idea or bad? Lots of opinions about this. Are such requirement a violation of the constitutional requirement of separation of...Read More

June 24th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana TEN COMMANDMENTS UNDER ATTACK IN LOUISIANA! You just cannot keep Louisiana out of the national news. As Roseanne Roseannada used to say on Saturday Night Live: “It’s always something” Here in the Bayou State, there are happenings that stir up both interest and dismay from coast to coast. In...Read More

Take a listen   at the ups and downs, behind and lows, the good and bad at the recent Louisiana Leslie session. It’s all available on this week’s podcast. Go to www.datelinelouisiana.com.Read More

Several recent polls show the United States Supreme Court has dipped to its lowest level of approval.  Only 41% of American motors think the Supreme Court is doing an adequate job. Americans are just losing confidence in the Supreme Court and all their antics. They don’t work very much, and there are any number of...Read More

Monday, June 17, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana                                                                                       APPOINTING FEDERAL JUDGES A BAD IDEA!...Read More

Well, we’re full blast into  the election season, and the national conventions for both the Republicans and the Democrats are close at hand. I’ve been to a few in the past. Seven to be exact. And I’ve got some interesting stories about the Louisiana connections between both Republicans and Democrats. You could read all about...Read More

Monday, June 10th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana BIDEN AND TRUMP-WHO COULD HAVE BELIEVED IT! The county is just weeks away from our two national conventions. The Republicans meet in Milwaukee in the middle of July and the Democrats convene in Chicago several weeks later. We all know it will be Trump vs Biden. I wonder...Read More

Were you stunned by the conviction of formal President Donald Trump? I wasn’t. If you read over the charges, and  Trump’s responses, it was obvious from the get-go that Trump was going to be convicted. A combination of factors were involved. And uneven playing field, and quite frankly, a poor defense bvy Trump’s legal team....Read More

  Monday, June 3rd, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana TRUMP’S CONVICTION NO SURPRISE ! I wrote in my column over a month ago that no one should be surprised over former president Donald Trump’s conviction in a New York Court last week. As we say in the South, Trump was a gone pecan from the get-go....Read More

It’s Memorial Day weekend, and most Americans are enjoying a Long holiday weekend. Nothing wrong with that. But what about remembering just why we even have a Memorial Day? No, it’s not to remember our veterans. It’s to pause and look back over the many lives that have been lost so that our families can...Read More

May 27th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana WE NEED TO DO MORE TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY! I hope everyone enjoyed their recent Memorial Day weekend. Many Louisianans were vacationing over the long holiday or enjoying a cookout with family and friends. Many stores held sales advertising for us to have a “Happy Memorial Day.” All well...Read More

What a pleasure it was to travel to Alexandria, Louisiana this past Thursday to make a presentation before the CenLa Writers Book Group. Many in attendance were first time writers working on their first publication. Enjoyed talking about my writing experience of seven books as well as many questions of how one gets a book...Read More

Well, it’s graduation time for students at all levels. Kindergarten right up through doctorate degrees.  Do you remember any advice that was given to you by commencement speaker at your graduation? Few of us do. I take a stab at it and give my advice to students graduating this time of year.  Yes, I have...Read More

Monday, May 20th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana TO GRADUATES-THE WORLD ACCORDING TO ME!  Students all over America are graduating this  week from kindergarten, grade school, high school, college and graduate schools. And there is always a commencement speaker. Most of you will never give a commencement address. But as a former Louisiana public official, I was...Read More

Well, it’s that time again. Under federal law, legislature all over the nation have to reapportion congressional districts. And boy what a mess there is in Louisiana. It’s the heck with the voters.  The only priority seems to be protecting those in office. What a mess. I write about this “insider trading” in my new...Read More

Monday, May 13th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana GET THE POLITICIANS OUT OF REAPPORTIONMENT! If you want to witness political favoritism and inside political wheeling and dealing  at its worst, just witness the mess that has been created by the legislature as well as federal judges in Louisiana.  Dysfunctional politics is about the best way to...Read More

May 6th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana                                                                                       I’M TOO YOUNG TO BE EIGHTY...Read More

Another year, another birthday. Right? I’ve had a number of them, but it’s hard to believe that I’ve reached the hallmark of being 84. That really sounds like an old guy. I guess I should not be that concerned as long as my health holds up.  What’s the Toby Keith song? Don’t let the old...Read More

It’s my birthday this week. Hitting  the 84 year mark. So what do I do to celebrate? Simple. Gather a few family members and friends for a crawfish boil. How can you beat that!Read More

It’s open season as the Louisiana Legislature tries to jam through a new constitution in a matter of days. How irresponsible. Take a listen to our new podcast to see what you think. You could get it by going to ww.datelinelouisiana.com.Read More

The public’s right to know is under attack in Louisiana. The old saying certainly makes sense today. “Beware and keep your guard up when the legislature in session in the Bayou state is in session.”   There is a major effort to limit the public right to know, and keep public records and deliberations under...Read More

Monday, April 29th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana OPEN GOVERNMENT UNDER ASSUALT IN LOUISIANA! Does the average Louisiana citizen have a legal right to follow the internal workings of government in Louisiana? Not just in Baton Rouge at the state capital, but in deliberations that take place by school boards, city councils, police juries and any...Read More

The trial of former President Donald Trump is underway with the jury having been selected.  So now it’s up to the judge to see that the rules are followed, and that Trump gets a fair shake, right? Will not quite. Whether you like Donald Trump or not, any neutral observer would determine the Trump has...Read More

Monday, April 22nd, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  TRUMP HAS FAT CHANCE IN NEW YORK COURT!  Let’s just call it like it is. Former President Donald Trump doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of been found not guilty in his current New York Court case. Now I know the case has just barely started. But...Read More

One of the most colorful and controversial characters in American history passed away this week.  Some called him the Juice, others called him  O.J., and even others called him a killer. His trial for murdering his wife captivated America like no other. So many highs and lows. One of the greatest football players ever to...Read More

April 15th, 2024. (Tax Day) Baton Rouge, Louisiana THE SAGA OF O.J. SIMPSON! O.J. Simpson died last week. Many younger people will just say “So?” To anyone over 50, his life and his actions created riveting news, and poised him, both good and bad, as one of the most recognizable personalities in American history. O....Read More

State constitutions are important. They sit out the framework that affects every citizen in the state. Louisiana has needed a new state constitution for years. I know. I helped write the last constitution. I write about what’s going on in the Louisiana legislature in my new column. The Governor is pushing for a new constitution,...Read More

Monday, April 8th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana TREAD CAUTIOUSLY FOR A NEW  LOUISIANA CONSTITUTION!  There has been a lot of chatter in recent months about the need to rewrite Louisiana’s Constitution. And for good reason. This original slim document has now blossomed into the nation’s seventh longest state charter with over 83,000 words. The United...Read More

Let me tell you this. Throughout most of my life, I’d loved riding motorcycles. But there was a caveat. I always wore a helmet. Now in Louisiana, the legislature is coming close to doing away with the mandatory requirement that motorcycle riders wear a helmet.  Is this really a freedom of choice issue? I write...Read More

Monday, April 1st, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana FREEDOM OF CHOICE IN MOTORCYCLE HELMET DEBATE! One of the hot issues in the current session of the Louisiana Legislature, meeting at the state capitol in Baton Rouge, is the repeal of a law that currently mandates the wearing of a safety helmet when riding a motorcycle.  Proponents...Read More

Madness taking place all this month and April. It means big money for the college oversight group, the NCAA, as well as many individual basketball players. There are pros and cons to how the present system works. Some things I don’t like. I take a look at March madness in my new column now posted,...Read More

Monday, March 25th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana MARCH MADNESS MEANS BIG BUCKS FOR COLLEGE ATHLETES! Are you all fired up and into March madness? It’s my favorite sports time of year. Now I understand you may disagree, but I’ll take the college basketball tournament over any other sporting event, even the Super Bowl. The college basketball...Read More

Is there anything that could be done about the outrageous insurance rates that Louisiana drivers and homeowners are paying? The little Southern state leads the entire nation in the high cost of basic insurance. A new legislature has a governor committed to helping the new insurance commissioner with the problem. But can any official really...Read More

To listen to Jim’s new podcast, go to www.datelinelouisiana.com.  Read More

Monday, March 19th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana GOOD AND BAD NEWS FOR LOUISIANA INSURANCE! Throughout Louisiana, it’s common knowledge that the Bayou State has the highest insurance rates in the country when it comes to ensuring both homes and automobiles. This is not new news. This current unworkable insurance market has been the same old,...Read More

The Louisiana legislature met recently to find ways to crack down on crime. And yes, there are so many solutions that are being implemented all over America. So what did our Bayou State guys and gals do? They just stuck it to the old guys. Violent crime is taking place all over Louisiana by young...Read More

Monday, March 11th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana LOUISIANA LEGISATURE PUNTS ON CRIME SOLUTIONS!      The Louisiana legislature just finished the special session on crime spending several million dollars to come up with more ways to reduce the violence that continues to plague the Bayou state. Their solution seems to be to stick it to...Read More

It’s Super Tuesday week with presidential primaries taking place all over the nation. So where is Louisiana in the mix? Irrelevant! Louisiana does not get into the race for president until March 23, several weeks away. By that time, decisions on other candidates have been made all over the nation. Why are we last? Why...Read More

Monday, March 4th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana LOUISIANA SHOULD HAVE HAD THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY!      This is a big election week all over America.  Super Tuesday is the name given to the holding of presidential primaries and caucuses  in 15 states and one U.S. territory, all who will hold elections on March 5, 2024....Read More

What’s all this talk about being too old to run for public office? OK, OK. Biden and Trump are both pretty old guys. Kind of like me. So are all of us over the hill and not fit to serve in making policy and running the state or the country? Good question! I take a...Read More

Monday, February 26th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana HOW OLD IS TOO OLD TO BE IN PUBLIC OFFICE!  Age has never seemed to be such a big issue in American politics. Do we let our elected officials stay in office way too long? Should there be restrictions as to when older politicians must step down?  Or...Read More

A blockbuster sale of Louisiana’s largest insurance company has been put on the back burner, and it’s probably dead on arrival. Well it should be. Hundreds of thousands of policy holders in Louisiana get their health insurance she will cross. I most satisfied. So why the necessary reasoning to sell the company? I know something...Read More

Monday, February 19th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana WHY THE BLUE CROSS SALE FAILED! Blue Cross, Blue Shield is Louisiana’s largest health insurer, and one of the state’s largest employers. A major effort was undertaken by the Blue Cross Board to sell the whole system to a company called Elevance Health located in Indianapolis Indiana. Elevance...Read More

There are lots of Louisiana parties in the nations capital last week. The annual Washington Mardi Gras ball. All well and good. Besides partying and asking for campaign contributions, how do your congressman actually vote? Do you know? There are lots of important issues that come up before the Congress. Do you know what position...Read More

Monday, February 12th, l2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana BESIDES RACKING IN CAMPAIGN DOLLARS, WHAT ELSE DOES YOUR LOUISIANA CONGRESSMAN DO? So have you been following the antics of your congressmen in Louisiana recently? Oh yeah, we all read were they had a huge gathering. in Washington DC last week. Lots of partying. And, of course, numerous...Read More

There is growing support all over the country for either abolishing or restructuring the federal bureau of investigation. The FBI has become an embarrassment for America, and find the respect with countries all over the world. Here’s the latest article from the Future of Freedom Foundation “Among the worst mistakes America has ever made is...Read More

Look out, are you Swifties and you Mega supporters.  The election police may be after you. That’s right, the new Supreme Court decision has determined that it’s OK to prohibit people from The election police may be after you. That’s right, the newif you do, you will be kicked out of the building both. Is...Read More

Monday, February 5th, 2024 Baton Rouge, Louisiana HERE COME THE ELECTION POLICE! Alright all you Swifties.   I have some bad news for you. When you go to the polls to vote for president on election day,  no Taylor Swift hats or shirts will be allowed. This policy of cutting off poor Taylor’s paraphernalia will no...Read More

                                                                                      New Podcast now ready for listening at www.datelinelouisiana.com.Read More