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

You will note a number of articles on the right column of “Relevant News” that pertain to the FBI’s new policy of taping interviews of witnesses and suspects.  The legitimate question is raised of why the FBI has, for so long, been afraid of a small tape recorder.  They are being accused of being intrusive...Read More

Thursday, May 22nd, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  JINDAL AND OBAMA — TWO PEAS IN A POD!  A week doesn’t go by without Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal taking a potshot at President Obama. The Prez has kept a tight lip and publicly ignores Jindal, but it’s obvious from press reports that there is no love lost...Read More

The Democratic President and Louisiana’s Republican Governor seem to square off regularly.  Bobby Jindal, from down in the Bayou state, never misses a chance to take a pot shot at the President, Obamacare, the economy, disaster relief; you name it and Jindal loves to direct the fault at the White House.  And from all reports,...Read More

A big weekend ahead. I’ll be handling our “Common Sense” program from San Diego, California on Sunday, so it will be a treat to get out on the west coast.  Banning, California (KMET-1490 AM) is one of our large station that carry my show, and I’ll be in that part of the country to check...Read More

What a delightful day this past week in Amite, Louisiana, a small town between New Orleans and Jackson, Mississippi.  Some old friends invited me over to address the Amite Kiwanis Club, and boy did I enjoy all the seafood at Mike’s Catfish House.  My old friend, television promoter and Action17  News Website Editor Ken Benetiz...Read More

Thursday, May 15th, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana DARK MONEY DRIVING U.S. SENATE RACE! Millions of campaign dollars from all over America are pouring into Louisiana in a calculated effort to influence the outcome of the state’s up and coming U.S. Senate race. Incumbent democratic Senator Mary Landrieu is in the fight of her political life and...Read More

Like Lisa Minnelli sang in Cabaret, it’s money, money, money that makes the world go round, and that’s certainly true in politics today. Candidates for public office, especially in Congress, are obsessed with raising campaign dollars.  And we are seeing massive sums of “dark money,” campaign dollars from unknown sources outside the state, pouring into...Read More

The “Common Sense” radio weekend program is fast approaching with a full agenda on the schedule this week.  We will pick up on the national story that I commented on in the blog below, about revelations of widespread spying on all Americans.  In fact, it is far wider and more extensive than anyone has revealed...Read More

There were two chilling reports this week about both the federal government and private businesses that continue to watch, gather information and keep tabs on so many things we all do.  Oh, its for our protection or for our commercial interests for the to do so-right?  Baloney.  Invasion into our private lives increased dramatically as...Read More

I had the pleasure of being in New York City last week and attending a dinner attended by some 1000 people in honor of my daughter Campbell.  The speaker at the dinner was former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, and I had the chance to have a nice visit with him. I asked him head up...Read More

Charter schools are in the forefront of the news both here in Louisiana as well as all over the country.  There are those who want the status quo and fight efforts for parental control of these schools.  My daughter, Campbell, is leading the charge for a number of Charter Schools in New York City.  Take...Read More

Thursday, May 8th, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana EDUCATIONAL REFORM  LIKE PULLING TEETH! Achievement in U.S. elementary schools lags behind many industrialized countries. The U.S. comes in16th in science and 23rd in math. Our major economic competitors — China, Japan, Canada, Germany and Korea — are far ahead. So why is it so hard for us...Read More

Weekend radio is almost here, and we have a full plate to talk about.  Will Jeb Bush run for president?  I talked with him about it last week, and will give you my opinion.  We will also discuss some chilling recent Supreme Court decisions that greatly diminish basic freedoms of all Americans.  And the big...Read More

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I don’t know about you, but I’ve always wanted to be an artist. Yes I have the paint, several easels, lots of drawing paper, tracing paper and a variety of pencils. I just have not acquired much talent. But here is really an exceptional female artist that really has excelled. Watch her work below.Read More

We all have friends”¦some of us lots of friends.  But if you are into social media, then how many genuine friends do you really have?  So many of us, including yours truly, have become so obsessed with Twitter, Facebook, texting, and so many other social venues, that we often do not put all these electronics...Read More

Friday, May 2st, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana     FLOOD CONTROL HINDERED BY LEVEE BOARDS? Legislation is working its way through the Louisiana legislature that would strip levee districts of their autonomy.  Board members of several large levee boards are crying foul, and charge that flood protection will suffer and emergency responses will slow down. ...Read More

They are fighting and feuding in the Louisiana legislature over what to do about a run-a-way levee board that wants to, can you believe, hold oil companies liable for years of damage to the Louisiana coast.  It’s a political insiders game, as the Governor wants much more control over appointing levee board members.  Louisiana has...Read More

The “Common Sense” radio weekend is fast approaching, and we are planning a full schedule of information, and, as always, some hard hitting opinion that may ruffle a few feathers.   Let’s start with tis question?  Is sugar making you fat?  Or even more, doing great harm to your body.  You know we are health conscious...Read More

Daughter Campbell continues her efforts to shake up the educational ingrained establishment in New York City by demanding more accountability from teacher’s unions. Fox News in New York strongly endorsed her efforts in a TV editorial this week. Campbell was honored earlier this week in New York by the Success Charter Schools Association where former...Read More

New Orleans socialite extraordinaire Mickey Easterling was a longtime family friend who passed away recently at 83. Thanks to some extreme embalming, a New Orleans socialite attended her own funeral with a cigarette holder in one hand and a champagne glass in the other. And she wanted it that way.  At the funeral, Mickey was...Read More

Thursday, April 24th, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  TO BOBBY JINDAL —-JUST DO IT! Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal made a splash of headlines a few weeks ago by proposing his alternative to Obamacare.  Many of his ideas are the part of the same list he’s been shopping around for years, some of it pieced together from...Read More

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal made a splash of headlines a few weeks ago by proposing his alternative to Obamacare.  Many of his ideas are the part of the same list he’s been shopping around for years, some of it pieced together from a litany of Republican proposals. But here is Jindal’s Achilles heel. In my...Read More

Hey folks, we have a great radio show lined up for you this weekend, and we hope you will listen in.  Welcome to the growing list of new stations that have joined the “Common Sense” Network of radio all over America. KQEW 102.3 FM-Fordyce, Arkansas KMET 1490 AM-Banning, California WTHV 810 AM ““ Valdosta, Georgia...Read More

Like you, I have my favorite movie stars. And guess what? I actually have photos of me with them. Take a gander at the Jim Brown rogue’s gallery.  I’ll sure put in a good word for you if you want to meet any of these well-known ladies. Let me start up with Saundra Bullock below....Read More

So what are they going to do about “the Kissing Congressman” down in Louisiana?  Oh, if you haven’t heard, Fifth District Congressman Vance McAllister has gotten himself into quite a mess. Smooching with one of your staffers doesn’t go too well in red neck country, at least as far as public officials go.  The Governor...Read More

Thursday, April 17th, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  THE KISSING CONGRESSMAN AND FIFTH DISTRICT VOTERS! Down on the Bayou in my home state of Louisiana, there’s a feeding frenzy going on.  Now, if you live in the state but have been on vacation, say in the Ukraine, you may not be aware that the Fifth District...Read More

Our “Common Sense” weekend radio show is close at hand with a lively Easter program planned and scheduled.  Hey, do you believe in reincarnation?  A record Number of Americans Now Believe In Reincarnation – Who Were You In A Previous Life?  We will talk with Lisa Caza  is psychic medium, teacher, and author who says she works...Read More

Daughter Campbell has formed a non-profit educational support organization in New York City, and is keeping a close eye on all aspects of public education there. She will be honored for her educational commitment, sponsored by Success Academy Charter Schools Association, on April 28th in New York with former Florida Governor  Jeb Bush as the...Read More

Hey, you are running for election in the U.S. Senate and you are putting up on TV new campaign ads.  So you say: “Let’s fake a Senate hearing!   No one will ever notice.”Â  That’s apparently the thought process of the Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu campaign.  Well, her “fake” senate hearing has created quite a stir.  ...Read More

Lots of states have a special talent where they are number one in the nation.  It’s Hawaii for healthiest, Rhode Island for governing, Connecticut for basketball.  And my home state of Louisiana?  It leads the nation with the worst drivers!  Drunk driving is a major reason.  Way too many drunks on the road and lax...Read More

Thursday, April 10th, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  WHY ARE LOUISIANA DRIVERS THE WORST IN THE UNITED STATES? For the fourth year in a row, Louisiana is number one.  That’s right!  Once again, the Bayou State has been named as the home of the worst drivers in America. One of the major causes of such ranking...Read More

Weekend radio on the Jim Brown “Common Sense” Network is close at hand, and we are planning a lively program for or listeners. Could We Become An Un-United States”¨Â In Our Lifetime? “¨Historian David Richards says ignorance of our history”¨Â threatens our democracy.  He makes some chilling comparisons between today and 200 years ago when George Washington...Read More

My regular viewers to this site know that I often post Google Hangouts, where I either interview, or am being interviewed on a wide range of subjects.  My weekly columns appear on a major Louisiana website, Bauyoubuzz.com, and publisher Steve Sabludowsky just posted an interview we did concerning the upcoming Logician U.S. Senate race.  A...Read More

If you love the water and have been around an ocean, you certainly knowhow to follow the ebb and flow of the tides. For 8 years, Michael Marten has been taking photos from different spots of the British coast line, documenting the daily rhythms of the tides. He has produced some amazing videos of the...Read More

Thursday, April 3rd, 2014 Baton Rouge, Louisiana MARCH MADNESS ARE COLLEGE ATHLETES BEING SHORTCHANGED? Millions of rabid college basketball fans have been glued to their TVs over the past month as March Madness reaches its crescendo. And the big bucks have been rolling in.  With coaches getting bigger salaries, and colleges splitting huge TV and...Read More

March Madness is reaching its crescendo with the NCAA basketball men’s finals taking place this Monday night.  And there sure is a lot of money involved.  Well over $2 billion, with the universities and the coaches making more and more every year.  But there is one group that is being both exploited and shortchanged. It’s...Read More