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It was back to my old hometown of Ferriday this week will try was the guest speaker at the Ferriday Chamber of Commerce. A good chance to talk abut my new book and visit my old stomping grounds and renew friendships with a number of friends that go back to the mid-1960s. Actually, under some...Read More

  Just when you thought that insurance regulatory problems in the Department of Insurance could not get any worse in Louisiana, more problems, and even outright violations of the law, raise their ugly heads. Just this week, the insurance department was blasted by the Legislative Auditor in a 60 page scathing report alleging that the...Read More

Thursday, November 20th, 2008 Baton Rouge, Louisiana BIG THREE AUTO PROBLEMS HIT HOME IN LOUISIANA To bail out or not to bail out? That is the question being debated in Washington this week as the Big Three Auto Makers plead for a $25 billion bailout. Members of the Louisiana congressional delegation are either strongly opposed...Read More

Since the election of new Pres. Barack Obama, gun sales have skyrocketed. A lot of people are apparently worried that Obama will make a major effort to control who can own a gun. I think there’s fat chance of this happening. But the two videos below tell you a lot about what you do to...Read More

Regular readers of this site know that I’m a die hard basketball fan. I walked out of a dinner party this past Tuesday evening so I could go home and watch the UNC- Kentucky game on television.  I am a real Tar Heel fan since my days at Carolina in the early 60s. (Sports trivia...Read More

    Now that the election is over, we need to get back to the really important matters in our lives like football and hate crimes. That’s what my column is about this week. I know you’re wondering how the two are intertwined. Well Alabama’s Nick Saban came to town last weekend, and when he...Read More

Thursday, November 13, 2008 Baton Rouge, Louisiana NICK SABAN, THE HANGMAN’S NOOSE, AND LOUISIANA LAW Whoever thought that Alabama football Coach Nick Saban would be in the eye of a Louisiana political storm involving a new state public intimidation law? Last Friday night on a parking lot beside the LSU campus, the coach of the...Read More

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  Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has wasted no time, once the presidential election was over last week, traveling the country, giving numerous national TV interviews, and making no bones about the fact that he plans on being a major player in Republican politics on the national scene. His Achilles’ heel may possibly be not addressing...Read More

The outrageous lack of oversight continues as more troubling audits show widespread mismanagement and outright theft on the part of those running the state created Citizens Property Insurance Company. Citizens has been called the biggest financial disaster in Louisiana’s history. And for good reason. This notoriously mismanaged company was on the road to disaster from...Read More

It was Veterans Day on Tuesday of this week. And very few people remembered in any fashion. There are only one or two American flags in my large subdivision. State employees in Louisiana were given a holiday, but it was merely a day away from work. Nothing special.  I know of no public official in...Read More

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Now that the election is over, I wrote this week about some of the winners and losers in the past election.  The list includes La. Gov. Bobby Jindal, Tina Fey and Joe the Plumber.  Yu can read it now by Clicking Here.   If you know anything about Louisiana politics, you are well aware of...Read More

I have always been a big fan North Carolina US Sen. Libby Dole.  I had a delightful dinner with her in Natchez, Mississippi back in the early 1970s. But she was soundly defeated in her re-election efforts this past Tuesday, and she only has her own self to blame. Dole has always been a Washington...Read More

Baton Rouge, Louisiana Thursday, November 6th, 2008 LOUISIANA WINNERS, LOSERS, AND SPOILERS After a day of letting Louisiana electoral results sink in, it’s time to assess the winners and losers.  As is often the case, Louisiana went “against the grain” and was far out of sync with national trends. The new president received less than...Read More

Presidential Candidates. Funny Pictures. – For more amazing video clips, click hereRead More

Thursday, October 30th, 2008 Baton Rouge, Louisiana LOUISIANA VOTERS ARE IRRELEVANT IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Louisiana voters are gearing up for election day in record numbers.  Spurred on by the presidential election,   more than one quarter of a million people cast absentee ballots which is an all-time record.  And for good reason.  This is certainly one...Read More

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Atlanta high school kids below  give an energetic presentation of your right to vote for whoever y9u want for President, but how it’s important to vote.  And by the way, I think the pundits are going to be surprised at the high number of yunger voters who will go to the polls on election day....Read More

Campbell Brown “cuts through the bull” and raises questions about how McCain insiders are calling Sarah Palin a Diva.  Check her comments below. Embedded video from CNN VideoRead More

  Are you happy that you as a taxpayer have plowed some $120 million into the AIG insurance company?  Yet insurance regulators over the country seem to be quite blasé about the shenanigans of AIG.  And you may not realize what a big presence this giant company has right here in Louisiana.  You can read...Read More

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 Baton Rouge, Louisiana   MORE BAD NEWS ABOUT INSURANCE IN LOUISIANA   The financial crisis on Wall Street has filtered down through the insurance industry, with a number of major insurance companies facing a rocky road in the coming weeks.  The New York Times concluded this week that “insurance companies are...Read More

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  Would you like to get an idea of how Sarah Palin would operate if she would end up as President?  Well click on the link below, and take a look.  Be sure and click on different parts of the office to see her various reactions.  I hope you will find the experience amusing.  To...Read More

In less than two weeks, we will have a new president elect.  The first president I remember watching on election night was John F. Kennedy.  I was in my apartment at the University of North Carolina, and stayed up until the early morning hours watching his first comments as the new president.  Like most Americans,...Read More

Some political observers are puzzled over the last minute endorsement by Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana State Treasurer John Kennedy, who is running for the U.S. Senate.  Kennedy’s opponent, incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu, is solidly ahead in recent polls.  So why would Jindal get in the middle of what seems to be a losing cause? ...Read More

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If you live down here Louisiana, we are use to seeing and reading about movie stars throughout our state all the time.  That’s pretty neat, but we pay a price for the small pleasure.  The state is giving away millions of dollars to movie producers in order to lure them to do their work here...Read More

Thursday, October 15th, 2008 Baton Rouge, Louisiana LOUISIANA IS HOLLYWOOD EAST BUT PAYING ONE HECK OF A PRICE   How much is it worth for Louisiana taxpayers to have movies made throughout the state?   Apparently, quite a lot.  Recent studies have shown that for every new dollar created in jobs, equipment, catering and all the...Read More

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In the heat of a presidential campaign, there are charges, innuendos, inaccurate statements, and outright lies that plague any major candidate.  We have certainly seen this take place in the present McCain-Obama slug fest.  That’s why it is refreshing for a political commentator to deal with misinformation head on, and try to keep this heated...Read More

  Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal traveled to Gainesville, Florida for the LSU ““ Florida game last week, and held a rally in front of a Florida fraternity house.  He injected a little humor into his remarks by giving his top 10 reasons why LSU and Florida fans agree on a number of things.  You can...Read More

How many of you have ever attended your 50th year anniversary of your high school reunion?  I had the great pleasure last weekend of becoming reacquainted with so many old friends, a number of whom I have not seen in the past 50 years.  I graduated from a first rate high school in the suburbs...Read More

The presidential race is coming to an end for two candidates, but would you believe, the jockeying is already beginning for 2012.  And Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is right in the mix.  You can check out my thoughts by reading this week’s column about a major fundraiser in Florida this weekend, and why Jindal may...Read More

    Thursday, October 9th, 2008     Baton Rouge, Louisiana A VISIT WITH BOBBY JINDAL For 25 GRAND So you are going to the LSU ““ Florida game this Saturday night in Gainesville”¦ right?  And while you are there, why not stop off at a local residence in nearby Alachua, Florida.  Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal will...Read More

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oct-9-2008.mp3Read More

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Jimmy Davis was the first Louisiana governor I ever met.  He took me under wing back in the 1960s and supported me every time I ran for public office. Whenever he came through  my hometown of Ferriday, he would stop for coffee and share numerous stories of his years in public life. When he ran...Read More

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Daughter Campbell has caused a lot of controversy  on the cable news circuit.  She was profiled in Saturday’s New York Times on the growing popularity of her weeknight evening television show and how she has become more opinionated during the current Presidential campaign.   You can read the Times article by Clicking Here. And you...Read More

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008 Baton Rouge, Louisiana SHOULD LOUISIANA SECEDE FROM THE UNION? We all know that all good things have to come to an end.  We in Louisiana have tried the statehood thing for 205 years, but “maybe it’s just not working out.”Â  Hey, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has flirted with the same idea...Read More

Lousiana Lawmaker Faults Media For Focusing Attention On His Eugenics Proposal» Louisiana State Rep. John LaBruzzo (R) recently stirred controversy by advocating a form of eugenics to decrease the number of poor. “I realized that all these people were in Louisiana’s care and what a massive financial responsibility that is to the state,” he said....Read More

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Despite how busy the last week has been, it would be a major faux pas not to acknowledge the passing last week of Paul Newman. He was simply the quintessential movie star. A handsome guy with penetrating blue eyes, who graced the screen with his style, humor and great talent. After can you begin to...Read More

How can you make any sense out of this present financial crisis? Exactly how did we get into this mess? I gave it my best shot in this week’s column. And it’s just not a problem in New York or Washington, DC. For those of us who live in Louisiana, those representing us here are...Read More

I know something about stirring up controversy. But my oldest kid did a pretty good job of stirring up the pot this week. She has begun a campaign to “Free Sarah Palin.” Her knock is that the McCain political handlers have muzzled the Alaska Governor, and won’t let the press grill her as they like...Read More

Thursday, September 25rd, 2008 Baton Rouge, Louisiana GREED IS GOOD IN LOUISIANA The national financial crisis finds Wall Street and financial regulators scurrying for cover, and trying to find a quick fix to financial problems that have festered for years. It’s puzzling that there is been nary a peep out of Louisiana officials, particularly in...Read More

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During the almost 12 years I spent as an insurance regulator, I continued to hear the cry that there was “too much regulation taking place.” Limit the regulation, and let the free market work its magic. Well, the so-called “magic” has come to pass. As I wrote last week, not just on a national level,...Read More

So you are confused about the upheaval of the national financial markets, and want someone to tell you just what’s happening, and what we should do about it… right? Well you are not alone. On my radio show this past Sunday, caller after caller expressed concern, rage and disgust over how our elected officials have...Read More

As anyone who regularly follows my website knows, I am an unabashed country music fan.  And it should not be surprising.  After all, I lived in Ferriday, Louisiana for a number of years, and got to know all the musical legends there including Jerry Lee Lewis, Reverend Jimmy Swaggart, and of course, my longtime friend,...Read More

Thursday, September 18th, 2008 Baton Rouge, Louisiana WHILE NATIONAL STAR SHINES, JINDAL COULD FACE BIG FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IN LOUISIANA To say that Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s political stock continues to rise would be an understatement. He has been regularly profiled as a future presidential candidate in a number of national publications. And on the speaking...Read More

Both political parties should have received wake-up call this week following the crash of key financial institutions in New York. But the problem hits right home here in Louisiana with a potential collapse of AIG insurance group. You might be surprised at what a huge presence AIG has right here Louisiana. I wrote about it...Read More

Charges continue to fly in the current race for the White House, and depending upon what side you are on, one could make a pretty good case against either candidate.  But realistically, both McCain and Obama are pretty solid candidates for each of the respective political parties.  McCain is both a war hero, and has...Read More

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If you wanted to pick the perfect typecast for VP candidate Sarah Palin, it would be an easy pick. Tina Fey, formerly a regular on Saturday Night Live, made a return visit this past Saturday to play her look a like double, the Alaska Governor. She was a big hit, and we will certainly see...Read More

Bobby Jindal for President? The Louisiana Governor? Wait. You mean Vice Prez don’t you, and that didn’t happen, right? Well some, can you believe, are already talking about Jindal for the top spot in 2012, with or without Sarah Palin. Jim’s NEW column is now up, and he takes a look at the present campaign,...Read More

Thursday, September 11th, 2008 Baton Rouge, Louisiana BOBBY JINDAL VS SARAH PALIN IN 2012? For most of us living along the Gulf Coast, national politics has not been of major concern in the past week. Our focus has been post-Gustav and pre- Ike. Many homes did not have electricity in the waning days after Gestalt’s...Read More

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Now that the storm has passed along the gulf coast and (fingers crossed) Hurricane Ike seems to be moving away from Louisiana, insurance issues are now on the front burner for many residents. Wind this time, not water. And that’s good news, for insurance companies cannot hid behind questionable water claim denials. Losses in Louisiana...Read More

The Brown Family was well represented during convention week this time around. My sister, Madalyne (upper left) was a delegate at the Democratic Convention in Denver. She met up with my daughter Campbell who covered both conventions for CNN. Madalyne has been a delegate for a number of conventions, and is escorted by her husband...Read More

Hey, we all like a good kiss. But sometimes you end up with some that are clumsy or even bizarre. I’ll let you be the judge. Take a look at some of the more famous kisses, political and otherwise.  And to read about appropriate political hugs and kisses, Click Here. How about Angelina Jolie and...Read More

Well we are cleaning up in the aftermath of Gustav that caused some $10 billion in damage to Louisiana. Two million customers lost power, and there is a great de3al of cleaning up to do. But wait. HURRICANE IKE is on its way into the Gulf and could pose a real new threat to the...Read More

Thursday, August 28th, 2008 Baton Rouge, Louisiana   FORTY FOUR YEARS OF NATIONAL POLITICAL CONVENTIONS Some 4000 delegates are converging in Denver this week, and Minneapolis next week. Millions of voters are expected to view the televised events, which are meant to convey an image of party unity. For political groupies like most of us...Read More

I’ve just returned to Louisiana after a week in the North Carolina Mountains, followed by another week out west in Hood River, Oregon where my youngest daughter lives with her husband. And there certainly is a lot to catch up on, with problems to address. On the national front, the Democratic convention is dominating the...Read More

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It’s pretty obvious that New Orleans Congressman Bill Jefferson has his hands full over $90,000 in cash seized by the FBI in his home freezer. Check out the following video and see what options the Congressman had when it came to putting the money in refrigerator stocks rather than in the refrigerator itself. Take a...Read More

What is hands down the worst run agency in Louisiana State government? Jim takes his annual review, and the final competition is not even close. If you want to read Jim’s annual pick, just Click Here. You can see from the photos below that Jim was on vacation in North Carolina last week. He will...Read More

Thursday, August 21, 2008   Baton Rouge, Louisiana     THE MOST DYSFUNCTIONAL AGENCY IN LOUISIANA It looked like it was going to be a real horse race.  Who would win the title of being the most dysfunctional political body in Louisiana?  The final choices were whittled down to three. The mayors of both New...Read More