Thursday, August 14th, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  DID LOUISIANA MAKE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL OVER OIL? Do energy companies have a responsibility to mitigate the damage caused by their drilling for oil and gas in Louisiana? That’s the issue now being litigated in the controversial levee board lawsuits now in the courts. Louisiana was...Read More

Energy production has been a mainstay of the Gulf Coast states, particularly in Louisiana, for well over a half a century. Actor Jimmy Steward echoed the prevailing view in his 1950s movie, “Thunder Bay,” when he told the oil production naysayers: “There’s oil under this Gulf. We need it. Everybody needs it. Without oil, this...Read More

So are you happy with the job your congressmen and senators are doing up in the nation’s capitol? Most Americans are not, as congress has an all time disapproval rating at 10% favorable. Those 10% must have been living in a hole. So you want to do something about it and protest? You can, and...Read More

If you want to read about a remarkable young man, look over the business success story of my nephew, Gary Solomon, Jr. It seems like no major sporting or entertainment spectacle takes place anywhere in the country without the Solomon group being involved. The Essence Festival, the Superbowl, the NBA All-star game, and major conventions...Read More

Thursday, August 7th, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  RICHARD NIXON AND LOUISIANA! Forty years ago this week, Richard Nixon became the first and only president to resign from office. Those of you too young to remember the events surrounding Watergate missed one of the most riveting episodes of American history. Nixon survived a number of bitter...Read More

Former President Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace 40 years ago this week, as Watergate brought him down. He did it to himself by taping all his office conversations. But is the Watergate scandal his only lasting legacy? I met Nixon on two different occasions, and I take a look back in my new column. He...Read More

Weekend Radio is close at hand and we have a lot to talk about this weekend. Stations coast to coast, so check local listings for times and stations carry our program. Or you can listen live over the Genesis Communications Network by going to the Genesis box on the upper left side of this website....Read More

Well if you have not been following the major educational debate taking place from coast to coast, daughter Campbell is leading the charge for change in the teacher tenure laws. And boy has she stirred things up. Check out her appearance below on The Colbert Report, and then the comments in support of Campbell’s efforts...Read More

Lynn Drury is a New Orleans gal that has been apart of the Southern music scene much longer than her young looks let on. She has a great southern outlaw flare with music that is soulful and that reflects a tough life-Maybe Mississippi grit. I enjoyed her concert last week in Baton Rouge at the...Read More

So what’s up in the Louisiana U.S. Senate race? Can you believe that not many voters like any of the candidates? Incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu has to deal with the President as an anchor around her neck, and Republican Bill Cassidy seems to only know how to say NO. Tea Party candidate Rob Maness seems...Read More

Thursday, July 31st, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  VOTERS UNHAPPY WITH CHOICES IN U.S. SENATE RACE! If recent polls are any indication, Louisiana voters are not too keen on any of the choices for U.S. Senator in the coming fall election. A number of national surveys have found that every candidate running has a higher negative...Read More

Radio Weekend is at hand, and there sure will be a lot to discuss this Sunday. Is the president lost his way and out of touch? The world is in chaos, and he and his family are leaving for a 16-day vacation to Martha’s Vineyard. Oh, I know it’s a “working vacation.” But the perception...Read More

Well, daughter Campbell has not slowed down a bit in her quest to dramatically improve public education in New York. She is presently heading up an effort to dramatically revise teacher tenure rules, and hold wayward teachers much more accountable. She is the force behind a new lawsuit that challenges a number of present rules...Read More

David Eagan has been around singing at concerts and Listening Rooms through the South and Midwest for many years. He’s a talented singer, a great storyteller and first-rate musician. I’ve heard him on several occasions and he’s quite a guy. Please keep David and his family in your thoughts and prayers. I was informed yesterday...Read More

Thursday, July 24th, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  TOO MANY INNOCENTS GETTING THE DEATH PENALTY! There is a reason the death penalty is rarely enforced anymore, particularly in the federal judicial system. Too many innocent victims are being convicted, based on cover-ups and the withholding of exculpatory evidence by some federal and state prosecutors. A recent...Read More

The death penalty is rarely enforced anymore, and there is a good reason. It seems a week does not go by in the U.S. where some convict sitting on death row has good lawyers who turn up evidence of prosecutorial misconduct. There have been convicts here in my home state of Louisiana who have comes within...Read More

The weekend is closing in, and there is so much going on in the news for us to talk about on the Common Sense Weekend program. We were not able to connect, because of international transmission problems, with our guest David Dellit. He will be on our show this weekend to continue our discussion: it...Read More

Ray Bonneville, a great southern blues singer, came to my hometown this past week for a solo concert at the Red Dragon. I’ve heard Ray perform on several occasions. He stops the rhythm with both feet, plays the harmonica, and is a first rate guitar picker. Below is a song about New Orleans.Read More

I hope to have all the energy you can see in this delightful older gentleman in the video below. I certainly agree with the premise that you are only as old as you feel. Seeing him on the dance floor, he still has a lot of living to do. Take a look.Read More

Must be some big weather problems a comin’ down in the Bayou State.  Just has to be.  Why else would Louisiana property owners be stuck with sky rocketing insurance rates?  The state’s biggest insurer, State Farm, just went ahead and raised their rates on homes by as much of 20%.  What?  How can that be? ...Read More

Thursday, July 17th, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  WHY ARE PROPERTY INSURANCE RATES GOING UP IN LOUISIANA? What on earth is happening out there?  Is a major hurricane churning in the Gulf and taking dead aim at Louisiana?  Is the Mighty Mississippi on the verge of overflowing its levees and about to flood thousands of acres, driving...Read More

Weekend Radio is fast approaching and we have a lively and active full-blown program for our listeners. There is so much in the news.  But how about this topic?  Is it necessary to believe in God in order to be a good, moral person? Unlike the rest of the industrialized countries surveyed by the Pew...Read More

I’m just amazed at the number of drivers who look down at cell phones, text, read email, all while they are driving.  Our smart phones have led to a dramatic increase in a number of highway deaths.  The video below is a chilling reminder of how irresponsible a driver can be.  Take a look.  It’s...Read More

The Wasington Post  published an in-depth article this week about daughter Campbell’s major battle with teacher’s unions in New York and her personal crusade to bring major changes to public education.  The article is well balanced, and worth a read.  You can see it by Clicking Here.Read More

Friday, July 11th, 2014 New Orleans, Louisiana  THE SEARING OF A GREAT CITY’S SOUL! The Queen City of the South is under siege.  No, not from hurricanes. This time, the siege is from within.  New Orleans is known as the city that care forgot.  But it’s been hard to let the good times roll in...Read More

Your heart has to go out to the poor average Joe living in New Orleans.  The Crescent City is in a battle to stay afloat as it deals with major street crime, corrupt politicians, and a dysfunctional criminal justice system where even federal officials can no longer be trusted.  And the murder rate, actually the...Read More

The Weekend Radio schedule will be posted on Friday.Read More

Special holidays like the 4th of July always have, for good reason, a special acknowledgement of those military service men and women who have defended our country for so many years.  There are few veterans in congress today.  Most politicians reflect the comment of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who, when asked why he did...Read More

The rest of the nation has been grumbling for years over the massive federal bailouts that seem to go to hurricane prone states along the Gulf Coast year after year.  “Maybe those folks down there should pack up and move,” some Yankees have suggested.  But oh how the debate has changed.  Wildfires out west, tornadoes...Read More

Thursday, July 3rd, 2014  New Orleans, Louisiana HURRICANE SEASON — DO YOU FEEL LUCKY?  WELL DO YA?  It’s the kickoff for hurricane season and forecasters are predicting 8 to13 named storms with anywhere from 3 to 6 of these storms growing into major hurricanes. Here on the Gulf Coast, we certainly perk up when this...Read More

Even though this is the 4thof July Weekend, we have prepared a full packed, lively program for our listeners.  I’ll be broadcasting from New York City and hope to meet a good number of our listeners who catch our program over WVNJ, 1160 AM in New York City as well as stations WPPG, 1400 AM...Read More

A musician named Dave Carroll recently had difficulty with United Airlines.  Dave spent over 9 months trying to get United to pay for damages caused bybaggage handlers to his custom Taylor guitar.  During his final exchange with the United Customer Relations Manager, he stated that he was left with no choice other than to create...Read More

What Would America Be Like If We Lost The Revolutionary War?  The Brits are still smoldering over their loss and our yearly efforts to “rub it in.”Â  Since I was in school in England (Cambridge University), I had a jolly ole’ time rubbing it in, but my British friends didn’t think it was all that...Read More

Twenty-Eight years ago this week, President Ronald Reagan traveled to West Berlin, and at the Brandenburg Gate admonished: “Mr.Gorbachev take down that wall.”Â  The Berlin Wall had been erected by the puppet soviet state of East Germany. Unless you are over sixty five or are a history buff, you may not understand the tensions that existed...Read More

Thursday, June 26th, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  A LOUISIANA KID AND THE BERLIN WALL! Twenty-Eight years ago this week, President Ronald Reagan traveled to West Berlin, and at the Brandenburg Gate admonished: “Mr.Gorbachev take down that wall.”Â  The Berlin Wall had been erected by the puppet soviet state of East Germany. Unless you are over sixty...Read More

It’s almost radio show time and we have arranged a jam-packed and interesting program for this weekend.  We begin with Dr. Joel Wallack, an internationally renowned health expert on genetics as well as the developer of a whole series of vitamins and minerals.  His new book is called  “EpiGenetics: The Death of the Genetic Theory...Read More

A new advocacy group is helping parents prepare a challenge to New York’s teacher tenure and seniority laws, contending that they violate children’s constitutional right to a sound basic education by keeping ineffective teachers in classrooms.  Campbell Brown, a former CNN anchor who has been a critic of job protections for teachers, launched the group,...Read More

What a weekend for live music in my home city of Baton Rouge. A great show Friday night with Ramblin’ Jack Elliott playing at the Red Dragon Listening Room in downtown Baton Rouge. Ramblin’ Jack is 82 years old going on 30. I had the great pleasure of spending an hour listening to him spin...Read More

Iraq is imploding as Republicans and Democrats alike are scratching the heads as to what went wrong.  Meanwhile, party gridlock in Washington has brought any sense of responsible governing to a standstill.  The President faces what may well turn out to be his single biggest crisis during his time in office, and he spent most...Read More

Radio weekend is close with a number of topics on the front burner.  What, in the good Lord’s name, is happening in Iraq?  Things seem to be much worse from when the U.S. got involved, or when Prez Obama pulled our troops out.  The whole involvement has been a colossal mismanagement blunder.  So what are...Read More

June 19th, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  A HOUSE DIVIDED-IN AMERICA AND IRAQ! Iraq is imploding as Republicans and Democrats alike are scratching their heads as to what went wrong.  Meanwhile, party gridlock in Washington has brought any sense of responsible governing to a standstill.  The President faces what may well turn out to be his...Read More

Well, there’s a big controversy down my way in the Louisiana swamps over feeding alligators. A local tour guy who takes folks through the alligator infested swamps just likes to jump in the water and feed these critters. And the Gators take food out of his month. Local game agents are appalled and think this...Read More

Thursday, June 12th, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  TO GRADUATES — THE WORLD ACCORDING TO ME! Kids all over America graduated last week from kindergarten, grade school, high school, college and graduate schools.  And there was always a commencement speaker. Most of you will never give a commencement address. But as a public official, I was...Read More

  So did you attend a graduation in the past few weeks for a family member?  Maybe a college grad, high school, or even grade school?  I’ve given a number of commencement addresses, and can’t remember a word of what I told these young folks.  “Change the World, do good works, follow your dreams?  Naah. ...Read More

Our regular nationally syndicated Weekend Radio Show is shaping up well, so get ready for a jam-packed list of topics to be discussed.  A huge upset in Washington as the House Majority Leader is ousted by a complete unknown.  The lesson here is that incumbents are in trouble and we may see a house cleaning...Read More

There is a reason that Japanese students consistently outperform American students in standardized testing.  Japanese kids spend more time in the classroom and work harder.  That’s just a fact.  Japanese students spend 240 days a year at school, 60 days more then their American counterparts.  And take a look below at a Japanese bus taking...Read More

Boy, we really have some responsible public officials in this country.  Check this out.  Dennis Kneier, the mayor of a wealthy Los Angeles suburb, is apologizing after he was caught on camera in a “poo-dunnit” case. Surveillance video shows the San Marino mayor tossing dog waste onto a neighbor’s lawn.Read More

Former Louisiana Governor John J. McKeithen would have been 96 years old this week.  History has shown him to be Louisiana’s transition governor during the 20th century.  And “Big John” was the fellow that got me interested in Louisiana politics.  My column this week looks back to the 1960s and the impact that he had...Read More

Thursday, June 5th, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  JOHN McKEITHEN ““ LOUISIANA’S TRANSITION GOVERNOR A popular Louisiana Governor died 15 years ago this week. John McKeithen was the first Governor I ever met.  When he was elected as chief executive in 1963, Louisiana was still a 19th century state struggling to operate in the 20th century. ...Read More

The weekend is coming, and that means it’s time for the “Common Sense” Radio Show.  We welcome three new radio stations to the “Common Sense” network of radio stations all over America. KLID (1340 AM) in Poplar Bluff, Missouri WKRO (1490 AM) in Cairo, Illinois “¨KVOC (1330 AM) in Casper, Wyoming -Our old friend, Steve...Read More

This week in Brevard County, Florida, a public defender got beaten at arraignment, literally. Judge John Murphy is accused of punching veteran public defender Andrew Weinstock in the face repeatedly, after the two exchanged words in the courtroom. Murphy reportedly wanted Weinstock’s client to waive his right to a speedy trial, and when he refused,...Read More

We all know that politicians tend to exaggerate from time to time.  But then comes along a brazen public official who outright falsifies the facts.  So be it with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, from my home state.  Kudos to government watchdog C.B. Forgotston, who pointed out how Jindal twisted the facts in a recent interview....Read More

Friday, May 30th, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  A NEW SUPERDOME TO GET A SUPER BOWL? COME ON MAN! There is a great deal of whining going on down in the Crescent City over the loss of the 2018 Super Bowl.  Many New Orleanians who were part of the bid process felt they were far and...Read More

So just how does a city win the right to host the Superbowl? New Orleans thought it was a cinch to get the 2018 bid, and were shocked to see the nod to Minneapolis.  But it really shouldn’t have been a surprise.  Minneapolis is building a one billion dollar state of the art stadium.  Is...Read More

As we kick off the summer season, our “Common Sense” radio program picks up peed with a number of hot topics to discuss.  Did you go to graduation with a commencement speech?  I personally can’t remember a word of any commencement address I have ever attended (many) or a word of any of the addresses...Read More