The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c Rick Santorum Leaves Presidential Race www.colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video ArchiveRead More

It the political rage throughout the country to demand that English should be the official language.  And quite frankly, I agree.  That is, from the public perspective.  I occasionally get a bit irritated when I’m told to “press one for English, two for Spanish” etc.  If a U.S. governmental body insists on printing forms, giving...Read More

Thursday, April 5, 2012 Redneck Country, Louisiana DON’T TELL ME TO SPEAK ENGLISH OR LEAVE! I was at a book fair recently, hawking some of my Lisburn Press publications, and I was asked to comment on the nation’s immigration problem. One fellow apparently didn’t like my response. “Oh, I know all about you writers out...Read More

A pleasant Easter Sunday nationwide, and a great surrounding for the “Common Sense” radio program all set for this weekend.  I hope you will have the chance to tune in.  National politics freedom  to speak whatever language you want in America, the history of Easter, getting ready for tax season, and a look back and...Read More

What a weekend at the Final Four in New Orleans as March Madness came to a peak.  Whether you are a basketball fan, or just like to take in all the excitement of a big Big Easy event, I was all there from Bourbon Street to the Superdome.  Some 80,000 fans jammed into the dome”¦the...Read More

If you check out this blog on regular occasions, you will know that I’m a diehard bluegrass music fan.  I’ve played a variety of sting instruments all my life.  I started with the guitar, went to the banjo, and more recently, the mandolin and even the fiddle.  But my favorite has always been the banjo. ...Read More

April 5th, 2012Read More

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c Indecision 2012 – Endless Suffrage 2012 – Jump on the Blandwagon Edition www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on FacebookRead More

  March 29th, 2012 New Orleans, Louisiana  THE DEBATE IS OVER A LOT MORE THAN HEALTHCARE! For three days this week, the national news focus was on the U.S. Supreme Court’s hearing concerning the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.  To most Republicans, the new law is a massive stretch of...Read More

THE DEBATE IS OVER A LOT MORE THAN HEALTHCARE! For three days this week, the national news focus was on the U.S. Supreme Court’s hearing concerning  the constitutionallity of the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.  So for  folks like you and me, what do we know and what should we know about all...Read More

We are jam packed for the “Common Sense” program schedule for this weekend.  The Supreme Court hearings on Obamacare will receive our attention. (See this week’s column on this subject)  So will the Travon Martin killing in Florida.  Are “Stand your Ground” shootings always justified?  And how do you react when you see someone in...Read More

     I have been a Pat Boone fan for some 60 years. (oops!  Showing my age.) Pat gained fame in the 1950s with covers of tunes like “Tutti Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally,” and “Ain’t That a Shame.” Now he’s helping the 60 Plus Association, an advocacy group that bills itself as “the conservative alternative”...Read More

 I hope you were able to read my column last week concerning prosecutorial misconduct that seems to be so rampant throughout the country. By coincidence, 60 Minutes did an in depth investigation into several cases, including one here in my home state of Louisiana on this subject.  It’s well worth watching.  This is a continuing...Read More

  STOP THE PROSECUTORIAL  MISCONDUCT! Week after week, there are new reports of prosecutors, on both the federal and state level, engaging in premeditated acts of prosecutorial misconduct. Coaching witnesses to lie. Hiding evidence from the defense counsel that would favor the accused. And even calculated cover-ups that put a falsely convicted person on death...Read More

  Thursday, March 22nd, 2012 New Orleans, Louisiana STOP THE PROSECUTORIAL  MISCONDUCT! It seems to be spreading like a communicable disease. And apparently there is no cure. Week after week, there are new reports of prosecutors, on both the federal and state level, engaging in premeditated acts of prosecutorial misconduct. Coaching witnesses to lie. Hiding...Read More

The nation will be watching Louisiana this weekend as the Republican presidential primaries reach the half way mark.  Will Louisiana make any real difference?  The former governor down here, Buddy Roemer, was running as a Republican.  But he became disillusioned when he was shut out of the national debates.  So he is taking his campaign...Read More

If you don’t live in the New Orleans, area, you may not be aware of the vile and disgusting shenanigans of Assistant U.S. Attorney Sal Perricone. He is one of the top dogs in the U.S. Attorney’s office, and has been hounded for questionable practices and prosecutorial misconduct for a number of years. But now,...Read More

  Nick Vujicic, 26, was born without arms and legs, but nothing and nobody can stop this brave guy. Despite the absence of limbs, he is doing surfing and swimming, and playing golf and soccer. This is what it means to have the real strength of mind. He is a preacher, a motivational speaker and...Read More

March 22, 2012Read More

  LOUISIANA — WHERE BEING NUMBER ONE IS BAD NEWS!  My home state of Louisiana again has the distinction of having the most expensive auto insurance rates in the nation.  Forbes magazine just released national figures indicating that not only do Louisiana’s drivers pay more than drivers in any other state in the country, but...Read More

  Thursday, March 15th, 2012 Baton Rouge, Louisiana  LOUISIANA — WHERE BEING NUMBER ONE IS BAD NEWS! My home state of Louisiana again has the distinction of having the most expensive auto insurance rates in the nation.  Forbes magazine just released national figures indicating that not only do Louisiana’s drivers pay more than drivers in...Read More

If, like me, you are a regular listener of the great national radio program, A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keeler, you will recognize the voice of Kacey Jones.  She is a regular in many of the skits with Keeler on the show.  Kacey is a popular song writer, humorist and a really good folk,...Read More

March 15th, 2012Read More

We have lived and relived the events and tragedy of 9/11 over and over during this past 10 years.  And new stories of special people who rose to the occasion still become public.  Here is a video I never saw about the courage of many boat owners who immediately began rescue efforts for the thousands...Read More

The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video ArchiveRead More

  IS IT BASEBALL OR POLITICS?  Just what is America’s favorite pastime?  Is it baseball or politics? The past few years have offered interesting comparisons. On one hand, the country is enmeshed in a full-blown presidential campaign with deep divisions over how to stimulate the economy and how to define America’s role in the world....Read More

The Springtime means a busy radio time for us here at the “Common Sense” show.  There is so much going on as you can tell from looking over this website this week.  I will, of course, have a full report from baseball spring training in Tampa, Florida, as I do every year at this time. ...Read More

          Thursday, March 8th, 2012 Tampa, Florida IS IT BASEBALL OR POLITICS?  Just what is America’s favorite pastime?  Is it baseball or politics? The past few years have offered interesting comparisons. On one hand, the country is enmeshed in a full-blown presidential campaign with deep divisions over how to stimulate the...Read More

March 8th, 2012Read More

This time of year, every year, you ought to know where I’m hanging out.  It’s Spring training for all of us die hard baseball fans, and Tampa, Florida is the place to be. Within a few miles of Tampa, you can “hang out” with the Yankees, the Pittsburg Pirates, the Cincinnati Reds, the Baltimore Orioles,...Read More

Rick Santorum has been the surprise of the current presidential season. What were the odds 6 months ago that he would be in a neck and neck race for the Republican nomination? I was in New Orleans for the Southern Republican Convention back in August, and had a long visit with Santorum. He was quite...Read More

      The president seems to be scurrying recently to “firm up” his support on Israel with the American Jewish community.  He met must this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the U.S. and Israel seek to deter Tehran.  But there are some solid concerns from pro Israel supporters that the President...Read More

  A real legislative atrocity, created by Congress, now gives to this president, and any future president, the power to give an order to the military to detain and arrest American citizens, and indefinitely hold them without charges. That’s right.  No charges, no trial, and hold them indefinitely. What happened to the Fourth, Fifth and...Read More

  Thursday, March 1st, 2012 Baton Rouge, Louisiana CONGRESS SHOULD CLEAN UP THE MESS IT CREATED! Two time presidential contender Adlai Stevenson had a quote concerning two-faced public officials. “A hypocrite is the kind of politician who would cut down a redwood tree, then mount the stump and make a speech for conservation.”Â  Well said,...Read More

The Common Sense program has a full packed schedule for this weekend.  We will update the presidential race, with Mitt Romney moving a step closer to the nomination.  And how about Louisiana’s own Buddy Roemer, who says he will run as a Third Party candidate?  Maybe he won’t garner that many votes, but in a...Read More

Fred Eaglesmith has rapidly become one of North America’s most heralded and adventurous rock songwriters. There is no other musical artist quite like singer-songwriter Fred. Since his first album in 1980, he has forged his own distinctive and highly independent career path to acclaim and accomplishments, and built a timeless catalog of songs and recordings....Read More

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It was a heck of a Mardi Gras this year.  If you have never been “way down yonder in New Orleans,” you need to add it to your “must visit” destinations, especially for Mardi Gras.  Parades wind through the streets day after day.  The food choices are fantastic.  But it all has to come to...Read More

Febrary 23rd, 2012Read More

  A MAJOR SHAKE UP NEEDED IN CONGRESS! We all know the approval of Congress is at an all time low.  Just how bad is it?   .  More Americans approve of polygamy than they do of Congress in Washington.  .  The most recent Harris and CBS polls show approval rates dropping to an all time...Read More

  Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 New Orleans, Louisiana A MAJOR SHAKE UP NEEDED IN CONGRESS! The approval rate for members of Congress seems to be in free call.  Few constitutients approve of the  dysfunction taking place in the nation’s capitol.  Just 10 years ago, Congress had an approval rating of 65%.  But no more.  The...Read More

Mardi Gras is over so it’s time for all of us to get healthy again.  The “Common sense” show kicks off this Sunday with Dr, Debra Braverman, who has a startling new procedure that helps overcome heart disease noninvasively.  That’s right.  No cutting or internal operations.  It could well be the wave of the future. ...Read More

Texas songwriter, author and twice a candidate for Governor Kinky Friedman came to Baton Rouge last week.  He’s writing a new book with Willy Nelson, and has plenty of stories to tell.  I caught up with Kinky several hours before his show, and he keep me laughing.  We both swapped stories of our quixotic gubernatorial...Read More

Well it’s’ nice to find a little clean but funny humor from time to time.  Remember George Younce?  He was Lisa Doolittle’s father in My Fair Lady.  Here is one of his final appearances. He sings a unique rendition of Side By Side, originally written in 1927, lyrics by Gus Kahn and music by Harry...Read More

February 16th, 2012Read More

  Thursday, February 16th, 2012 Baton Rouge, Louisiana THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM! I’m confused about the controversy surrounding the debate over the President’s new birth control rule.  Some religious leaders, especially U.S. Catholic Bishops, as well as a litany of republican politicians, have criticized the White House proposal that all health insurance plans...Read More

  THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM! Have you been following all the controversy surrounding the debate over the President’s new birth control rule?  Some religious leaders, especially U.S. Catholic Bishops, as well as a litany of republican politicians, have harshly criticized the White House proposal that all health insurance plans have to offer birth...Read More

  Well, it’s a big Mardi Gras weekend “way down yonder” in New Orleans, and it goes without saying that the “Common Sense“ program will be broadcast live from the City that Care Forgot.  I’ll give a full report on al the colorful activities taking place, and try to educate those of you who don’t...Read More

Hey, it’s Mardi Gras time down here in Louisiana, and the good times and revelry will flow all this weekend and right through “Fat Tuesday,” the final day of celebration before the Lenten season begins.  Mardi Gras is hard to describe.  The season is much more than just a lot of parades, although the parade...Read More

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Feb. 10, 2012Read More

Funny or Die’s Presidential Reunion from Will FerrellRead More

I don’t know about you, but I’m a Facebook guy. I try to post something on my site five times a week, and keep in touch with my legions of friends. Hey, it’s fun and enjoyable to many to be able to stay in touch. But Facebook has gone public now. So is it a...Read More

Thursday, February 9th, 2012 Tucson, Arizona SO WHO’S GOING TO BUY THE NEW FACEBOOK STOCK? NOT ME! The announcement has captivated business news publications all over the world. Facebook is going public. It could be America’s greatest business success story — especially for a start up. Facebook has turned into a huge cash cow.  Why...Read More

The Common Sense on Sunday will continue to update our listeners with information that is informative, compelling, and bizarre.  How much more bizarre could this year’s Republican presidential nomination become.  I’ll give you an update and my perspective.   And remember, the Mayan calendar, written some 2000 years ago, says the world will come to an...Read More

February 2nd, 2012Read More

(Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and I visited last week in Baton Rouge.) Endorsements are coming right and left from major party officials in the Republican primary presidential race. The Wall Street Journal ran an opinion page column last week that concluded endorsements don’t make all that much difference in the final outcome. Nevertheless, the...Read More

   Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 Baton Rouge, Louisiana WHICH REPUBLICANS ARE NOT ENDORSING  IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE? Endorsements are coming right and left from major party officials in the Republican primary presidential race.  Even so, The Wall Street Journal ran an opinion page column last week that concluded endorsements don’t make all that much difference...Read More

   Well if James Brown was the hardest working man in show business, Jim Brown has just gotta be the hardest working man on the radio. Jim is now on weekends as well as every weeknight. Just check out his schedule below .  Friday, February 3rd. Jim will host one of the nation’ most listened...Read More

Well, all these public issues we talk about each week can be a bit depressing. So it’s time to lighten it up a bit. Here is a little humor for you to get you through your day.Read More

Well, you music affectionautos know that I love Texas grassroots music, and we have plenty of musicians coming over to Baton Rouge on regular occasions.  One of my favorite groups is the Fabulous Ginn Sisters from just south of Austin.  These ladies offer great singing, stunning sister harmonies, smart and melodic writing “” an all...Read More

  SOME OCCASIONAL COMMON SENSE FROM THE SUPREME COURT Is privacy dead in America?  Many of us thought it was after a disastrous year of almost total usurpation of both freedom and privacy by the federal government. Since the founding of our country more than 200 hundred years ago, Americans have enjoyed the core rights...Read More

Sunday means the Common Sense show is close at hand with a solid program for all our listeners.  Mitt Romney pays a 15% tax rate because of capital gains.  Is that fair?  We will talk to Wall Street Journal columnist John Berlau who will help us analyze the pros and cons of the tax system. ...Read More

   Thursday, January 26th, 2012 Baton Rouge, Louisiana SOME OCCASIONAL COMMON SENSE FROM THE SUPREME COURT Is privacy dead in America?  Many of us thought it was after a disastrous year of almost total usurpation of both freedom and privacy by the federal government. Since the founding of our country more than 200 hundred years...Read More

In the present presidential campaign, few words are ever spoken about international confrontations and the plight of our troops serving all over the world.  Many of us do not know any family that has a son or daughter serving overseas, so we can’t comprehend the anxiety and worry that they go through every day.  It’s...Read More

North Carolina has always been my second home, since I went to Chapel Hill as an undergraduate and we travel up to the western North Carolina mountains several times a year.  I always drive through Hendersonville and pass by the We Buy Gold store on the route through this small town.  I’ve never stopped in,...Read More

January 19th, 2012Read More

I don’t know what’s happening where you live, but in my home state of Louisiana, property insurance rates have skyrocketed since 2005 — by an astounding 40%. No other state in the country has experienced such dramatic increases. And we continue to read that it’s all the fault of Katrina. There have been no major...Read More

Thursday, January 19th, 2012 Baton Rouge, Louisiana FEDS AND STATE REGULATION CAUSE HIGH INSURANCE RATES! A headline in several regional newspapers caught my eye. “Homeowners Insurance Rate Increases Have Slowed,” said one front page banner. I guess that’s supposed to be good news. But in my home state of Louisiana, rates have skyrocketed since 2005...Read More