I really enjoy listening to somewhat eccentric outlaw Texas singers. Ramsey Midwood is one of the best. We had a nice visit during his recent gig at the Red Dragon Listening Room last weekend in Baton Rouge. I hope he comes back to play again soon. Check out his unique style in the video below.

Well the Louisiana Republican Party is in open warfare against a candidate for governor who has endorsed a democrat. Republican Lt. Governors Jay Dardenne, after a bruising first primary, has now endorsed Re. John Bell Edwards, and the GOP top honchos say Dardenne has betrayed the cause? But don’t both parties do this? And how about crooked elections? I talk about both these issues in my new column now posted. Read it by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

A full agenda for our weekend “Common Sense” radio show. So we just had Friday the 13^th. Why is this day considered show unlucky? I’ll talk to Dr. Tiffany Sanders who’s a licensed psychologist out of Chicago about why so many people have this view of what we thought was just an average day in the week. Then we are going to explore why it took so long for the US and Cuba to open up and restore diplomatic ties. Dr. John Gronbeck-Tedesco is an expert on our relations with Cuba and will help me review.

Finally, I’ve always loved a good hot dog. What are they now considered bad for you? Nutrition counselor Kathryn Guylay will help us with the pros and cons of eating hot dogs and meeting general. So tune in for lively show. Check local listings for times and stations. We will see you on the radio.

A lot of us take for granted the beauty that is found all over America. I’ve traveled to about every state in the nation, but still find so many places I have yet to discover. Here’s a marvelous panorama of the country that I think you will enjoy. Take a look below.

Is it time to open up the prison doors and let all non-violent convicts out? Many politicians are saying so to save money. Is that a justifiable reason to cut sentences or move many prisons in to re-hab programs? And just who is a non-violent felon? Is the driver of the getaway car at a bank robbery non ““violent? There are many unanswered questions in this whole prison reform debate. I raise a number of these questions in my new column. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above or by Clicking Here.

Hey, we have a lively program this weekend. Have you heard of approval voting? Voters can vote for as many candidates as they want. Aaron Hamlin, director of The Center for Election Science will join us. Then we will explore the pros and cons of being in a relationship with someone who has opposing political views with Psychologist Dr. Frieda Birnbaum. And we will lend by talking about national “Love your Lawyer Day.” No Joke, with attorney Nader Anise, executive director of the American Lawyers Public Image Association. So be sure and tune in.

How better to spend a rainy Halloween night in Baton Rouge than with the guy who made probably the most famous touchdown run in college football history 56 years ago on a similar rainy Halloween night? I was with the Tiger legend at the Louisiana Book Festival on Saturday, the same time All American Billy Cannon made his famous run in Tiger Stadium. Check out his famous run below.

So you have a party and no one shows up? That’s what it felt like way down in Louisiana last week, when a big gubernatorial election took place. It seems like nobody cared. Only 38% of registered voters even showed up. And many more are not registered. So what to do? How do you get more people to register and show up to vote? Check out my ideas in my new column. You can read it now by Clicking Here or by going to the Red Flashing Box above.

It’s close to time for Weekend Radio, and we sure have a lot to discuss with you. Is the U.S. declining in a number of categories? Many think so. Let’s talk about it. And how about these new studies showing too much red meat and processed foods can cause you to have a significant cancer risk? Dr. Gerald Edelman, who has been a guest on our show before, will give us his opinion. His website is found by Clicking Here.

Then we will talk about A new political book, 20/20: A Clear Vision for America written by Bill Muckler, that flips the current political climate on its head, outlining bipartisan solutions for everything from immigration to tax reform using the process consultants use on businesses and applying it to government. You can read more about it by Clicking Here. So join us for a lively program. See you on the radio.

Despite all the problems  throughout the world, it’s still a pretty cool place to live and to observe the spectacular beauty all around us.  A friend sent me this video, and it’s worth putting all your other work on the back burner, and just take a few minutes to observe.  Time well taken.

So a new governor comes into office with a legislature that is confused over how to solve Louisiana’s financial mess. And boy, it is some mess! Say, two billion dollars in debt. That ain’t chump change by any means. So what to do? Does the legislature continue to live from year to year, just putting s finger in the fiscal dyke that is about to break wide open? There are some ways out of this financial chaos. Take a look at my new column. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Well it’s pre-Halloween weekend to make some “Common Sense” out of the news for all you listeners. Do ghosts really haunt homes? Do dead relatives try to communicate with the living? Are near-death experiences real? Louisa Oakley Green will share stories of real people experiencing other-worldly visitors and glimpses into the other side. See her new book, “Sightseeing in the Undiscovered Country” by Clicking Here.

And then, with so much spying going all over the nation, we will discuss whether we must give up our liberties in exchange for safety. Ex military contractor Larry Correia will join us. His new book is part of an international series called the “Grimnoir Chronicles,” and you can read more by Clicking Here. So tune in for a lively show. Check local listings for times and stations. See you on the radio.

If you follow college football, you surely are aware of the fact that the leading runner and top favorite to win the Heisman Trophy this year is LSU’s running back, Leonard Fornette. This young sophomore is just awesome on the football field. Last week, he only ran for hundred 60 yards, and that was considered a bad day. Take a look at the video below, making a parody of how tough Fornette is. He is destined to be the most exciting college football players in recent years, and you should take the time to watch him in action. Some humor about him below.

Can you believe, so little interest in the coming Louisiana gubernatorial election? In past elections, the turn out oven topped 75%. But on October 24th, don’t be surprised if the voter turn out is 45% or even lower. So what’s the problem? Why are not more Louisiana voters going to the polls to cast their choices? Check out my new column now posted to find out what I think. You can read it by Clicking on the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Weekend Radio is shaping up as a lively program. We will talk about way too much money in politics, often tainted money. Author Gareth Porter, an Middle East expert, will join us to help explain what is at stake in our relationship with Iran. And Chaplain Hy McEnery will explain why he thinks America is loosing its Christian identity. So tune in for an interesting show. Check local listing for times and stations. See you on the radio!

Louisiana has more statewide elected officials than any other state in the nation. Are Bayou State voters getting the best bang for the buck? Why should so many public officials be elected? Or maybe even more should be elected from Governor down to dogcatcher. Check out my new column and see what you think. You can read it now by Clicking on the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here. In the video below, candidates for Lt. Governor in Louisiana were asked at a recent forum just why the job should be elected. Check it out.

One of the fall highlights for lawyers who are members of the Louisiana bar is the annual Red Mass that is held at St. Louis Cathedral on the first Monday of October. Judges and lawyers from throughout the state gather at the beginning of the judicial year in Jackson Square, then proceed into the nation’s oldest Cathedral for an ecumenical Mass. I’m not Catholic, but it’s a wonderful annual tradition that I don’t want to miss. I had the pleasure of visiting with Archbishop Aymond after the service.

For years, I have enjoyed listening to the 70s Song “Wildfire.” I always thought the song is very much about escaping hard times.

Oh, they say she died one winter when there came a chilling frost. And the pony she named Wildfire busted down its stall.

 The composer and singer of Wildfire, Michael Martin Murphy, put on a really enjoyable concert last Friday night at the Red Dragon in Baton Rouge. He’s a real cowboy and lives most of the time in Wyoming. I hope he returns again soon.

She ran calling Wildfire. She ran calling Wildfire.

The cards do not read well for Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s last ditch and quixotic effort to gain the Republican presidential nomination. General Custer made his last stand, and now it looks like Jindal is doing the same. NO, the Fat Lady has not begun to sing, but I’m told she is lurking behind the curtain ready to make her move. So what happened to the fair-haired boy, once praised as the future of the Republican Party? Check out my new column now posted. You can read it by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Weekend radio begins with a look at Donald Trump’s proposed tax plan for the country. Does it make any sense? Gabby Morrongiello writes for the Washington Examiner, and will brief us on what Trump’s ideas are all about.

We will also talk with Ivy League scholar Brian Swain in comparing how Pope Francis reflects on America’s religious beliefs. You can read more about Brian by Clicking Here. And where does the country stand on immigration into the U.S.?  Peter Brimelow will talk with us about how to accomplish major immigration reform.  See more by Clicking Here.  So check local listings for times and stations. See you on the radio.

An old friend of mine died this week. He was a New Orleans dynamo. Rock and roll and rhythm and blues singer Frankie Ford, whose 1959 hit Sea Cruise brought him international fame, is passed at the age of 76. I’ve heard Frankie sing on any number of times, and his Big Hit, Sea Cruise is still one of my all time favorites. Frankie was always in my corner during a number of my political campaigns. I’ll sure miss his singing and his friendship. Take a listen to Sea Cruse below.

Time for a few laughs before we hunker down for our new column now posted and getting ready for our weekend nationally syndicated radio program.  Take a look and smile.

The Pope is making a big splash on arrival in the U.S., but I was hoping he would make a stop in America’s most classic Catholic city, New Orleans. I am an “almost Catholic convert” as I spell out in my new column. Take a look at my views on the Pope’s visit, and a few other thoughts abut the future of the Catholic Church. You can read the column now by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking here.

The Pope’s visit, migrants, scarcity of water, and the rise of women in politics-[all part of the lively discussions that will take place this weekend on our “Common Sense” radio program. Jason Berry has become an expert on a variety of problems facing the Catholic Church in recent years. He will join us and discuss his most recent book, “Vows of Silence, The Abuse of Power in the Papacy of John Paul II.” To find out more on Jason and his numerous books, Click Here.

Then we will talk about the growing shortage of water throughout the world. The U.S. government predicts that forty of our fifty states-and 60 percent of the earth’s land surface-will soon face alarming gaps between available water and the growing demand for it. Without action, food prices will rise, economic growth will slow, and political instability is likely to follow. We will talk with water expert Seth Siegel about his new book, “Let There Be Water: Israel’s Solution for a Water-Starved World.” Click Here to find out more. See on on the radio.

One of baseballs all-time greats, Yogi Berra, died this week At 90. He one of baseball’s greatest catchers and characters, who as a player was a mainstay of 10 Yankee championship teams and as a manager led both the Yankees and Mets to the World Series. But he will always be remembered by his Yogisms. Nobody could turn a phrase like Yogi. I met him several years ago at spring training where the Yankees begin their season in Tampa. Here are a few of his best sayings.

“It’s deja vu all over again!”: “You can’t think and hit at the same time.” … On a restaurant: “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” … “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.” … On the 1973 Mets: “We were overwhelming underdogs.” … “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” … “I usually take a two-hour nap from 1 to 4.” … What time is it? “You mean now?” … On a spring training drill: “Pair off in threes.” …

“Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.” … “You can observe a lot by watching.” … On his team’s diminishing pennant chances: “It ain’t over ’till it’s over.” … On his fractured syntax: “I really didn’t say everything I said.” … A final piece of advice. “Always go to other people’s funerals. Otherwise they won’t go to yours.”

Voters all over America are telling elected officials that they want to “throw the bums out.” A poll released this week news finds that “72% of Americans believe that politicians cannot be trusted and two thirds think the countries’ political system is dysfunctional. But apparently, not so in Louisiana. Almost 50% of all elected officials standing for re-election, including half the legislature, were returned to office with no opposition. So what gives? Where is all the anger? Check out my analysis in my new column. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Business leaders from all over the state of New York we’ll gather this week in New York City to attend the Business Council of New York State’s annual conference. Speaking to the state’s leading business organization will be daughter Campbell, who as most readers know is the former news anchor at both CNN and NBC news. She has become a major advocate for educational reform all across the nation.

She is founder of the reform group Partnership for Educational Justice, and recently kicked off a major educational reform publication called The Seventy Four, a website she describes as a mix of news and opinion pieces on education. You can follow her man activities by Clicking Here.

Wow, what a full agenda coming up this weekend on the “Common Sense” radio program. We will review the past week with so much news. The Donald Show, the Republican presidential debate, Refugees flooding into Europe and much more.

And did you know that innocuous liquid hand sanitizer used in many schools tastes good, like strawberry. It also contains enough alcohol to make a child dangerously drunk. Dr. Rachel Docekal, who deals with addiction treatments, will explain the dangers of hand sanitizer. Her website is www.originsrecovery.com.

Then how do you find a good lawyer who is reasonably priced? We will ask attorney Jasen McDaniel, who is executive director of a major law firm. See www.jdsalaw.com.

Finally, Professor Emilio Iodice has spent more than three decades as a senior executive in the public and private sectors. He is a prolific author on public affairs and we will talk with him about what we should look for in our next president. He is the author of a new book “Future Shock 2.0, The Dragon Brief 2020.” You can read about it by Clicking Here. So tune in for a lively show.

Pittsburg Steeler linebacker James Harrison, announce to the world that he has confiscated the trophies of his two sons, ages 6 and 8, apparently to teach them a lesson that you should not get a trophy for participating, but only if they “earned” it, whatever that means. And a lot of people agree with him. I sure do not. If week after week, a kid practices and supports his or her team, they should be rewarded like all the other kids. Should they not be rewarded? Check out my new column now posted. You can read it by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

We will look back at 9/11 and Hurricane Betsy, as well as the worldwide migrant crisis.

Then we will discuss rising insurance rates: Why is cheap gas raising your car insurance? Ken Davidson, Insurance Industry Expert will join us to explain why. His website is www.eagleinsuredadvisors.com.

And the Justice Department is saying that they will undertake a major crackdown on corporate executive wrongdoers. But will they? Our guest will be Bart Naylor with Public Citizen. Check out his website at www.citizen.com.  See you on the radio.

I don’t know if you have seen the popular Broadway show, Jersey Boys, but it’s a real favorite of mine. I was in high school in the 50s when many of the Jersey Boys’ songs wee big hits. The U.S. Navy carries on the Oldies tradition with the Jersey Boys biggest hit. Check it out below.

At Carnegie Hall recently, gospel singer Wintley Phipps delivers perhaps the most powerful rendition of one of my favorite spiritual songs, Amazing Grace. He says, “A lot of people don’t realize that just about all Negro spirituals are written on the black notes of the piano. Slaves were not permitted to use the white keys. Probably the most famous on this slave scale was written by John Newton, who used to be the captain of a slave ship, and many believe he heard this melody that sounds very much like a West African sorrow chant. Take a moment to view and listen.

Video from KarmaTube

 The results are in for 2015, and it comes as no surprise that Louisiana continues to lead the nation in having the highest automobile insurance rates. A new study, just released by the Bankrate Group “ranked all 50 States according to a number of factors that determined where it’s the worst state to drive a car.” The analysis concluded that Louisiana is the worst state for drivers due “in large part because of the nation’s highest car insurance costs and above average fatal crash rate.”  Check out my thoughts as to why in my new column now posted. You can read it by going to the Flashing Red Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Guests on this week’s radio program.

 Dallas Attorney Byron Henry to discuss legality of Kentucky Clerk of Court refusing to issue marriage license to gay couple.

Dr. Joel Kahn to discuss heart health.

Dr. Jack Moller to discuss flying cars in the future.

Well whether you are a Donald Trump fan or not, you have to admit that he sure has brought the question of illegal immigration to the forefront. Most Republicans and Democrats alike don’t seem to want to touch the issue with a 10-foot pole. Here’s an amusing look at the thousand’s of immigrants who continually push their attempt of coming to the USA illegally.

It’s amazing what just a little kindness can do. It can be infectious, and spread, and I hope we all agree that the world could use a good bit more concern for those around us. ” The only real measure of the stature of a life is it’s positive impact upon others.” Jackie Robinson If you want to get more out of life, you have to give more to life.  Take a look at the TV spot below. Yes, it’s for an insurance company, but the substance of the spot itself still makes sense. Take a look.

Just as most Americans remember where they were on 9/11, those of us living on the Gulf Coast remember well the fear and concern that enveloped our region ten years ago this week. A lady named Katrina changed many of our lives. In looking back, many Louisianans felt that maybe New Orleans really was a city that care forgot, and the whole Gulf Coast was thrown in for good measure. This human tragedy has haunted the Bayou State over the past decade as even today the rebuilding effort continues.  Check out my new column about this terrible tragedy.  You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Weekend Radio information will be posted Thursday afternoon.

Daughter Campbell continues her assault on educational mediocrity as her new educational reform organization, The 74, hosted the various republican presidential candidates last week in New Hampshire. Take a look below as to how she handled her continuing reform efforts.

We are rapidly approaching the 10^th year anniversary of Katrina. If you are not from the Gulf South, you world find it hard to imagine the terrible toll this storm had on so many of us down here. Over 1000 killed, mainly in the New Orleans area. But New Orleans has a special ability to weather the worst, even if it’s call the City that Care Forgot. My old friend, Vince Vance, is a well know New Orleans rock and roll singer who has performed for years. It’s well worth your time to listen and watch his special tribute to the Crescent City below.

We continually hear of new evidence proving that diet is the key to health and weight loss. Health Think Tanks regularly report that sugar is particularly a dangerous ingredient in much of what we eat and drink. Sure, exercise helps, but what you eat and drink is key for wellness. So when a respected research center says differently, it seems puzzling and even suspect. Check out my new column that looks at a new study by the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. And you might be surprised at just who paid for their conclusions. You can read it by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Radio Program show time is quickly at hand, and we have a loaded program scheduled for our listeners. Donald Trump, illegal immigration, high crime rates, are all on the table. Then we will talk about the pros and cons of using credit scores to set your automobile insurance rates with insurance expert Ken Davidson. Check him out at www.eagleinsured.com.

Then we will be joined by crusading legal scholar Adam Benforado, whose new book exposes the powerful psychological forces that undermine our criminal justice system and affect us all. He says our criminal justice system is broken””but not for the reasons we think. Check out his new book by Clicking Here.

And finally, should the federal government spend billions on students that won’t pay back their student loans. Educational scholar Jean Burk will join us to discuss. Her new book and website are accessed at www.collegeprepgenius.com. So a lively show, and be sure and check your local listing s for times and stations. See you on the radio.

I’m an avid biker, but bad knees and getting a little older limits my riding to fairly flat surfaces.  But in my younger years, I enjoyed dirt  biking and charging up and down hills.  I’m really envious of the fellow in the video below.  What a way to bike, and what a view.

Louisiana continues to have the highest insurance rates in the nation with any policyholders unable to pay the high cost. Certainly the legislature in the Bayou State should be giving some possible solutions a close look-right? Well, maybe not. In fact, in their way too often cavalier manner, this astute body of lawmakers raised the rates of both homeowners and folks who drive autos. That’s right. Get ready for an increase. Check out my new column, now posted, that looks at this troubling problem. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Radio Weekend is close at hand, and we have prepared a lively show for our listeners. We will give a presidential primary update, and fill you in with our take on the latest national news. And do you travel much? If you do, you have to be concerned about the TSA. Every day, passengers file property claims with the TSA for more than $1 million in missing & damaged items but many people are never compensated. What can passengers do to protect their property at TSA checkpoints?  How about in their checked luggage? Evan Cutler founded TSAWatch to help end TSA intimidation, theft, and molestation of travelers nationwide. See more by Clicking Here. He will be our guest.

Then we will talk about how Airline baggage fees can put a dent in your travel budget, not to mention a crimp in your style when you’re trying to fit everything in a small carry-on. Ultra-economical travel expert Russell Hannon finds luggage hassles totally unacceptable and says there are ways to bypass pesky baggage fees and surcharges. See more by Clicking Here.

Finally, good health news. If you like eating spicy foods, researchers have fond you’re likely to have more years to enjoy them. Genome, a magazine dedicated to the latest research on health and longevity just did a cover story on Food as Medicine. Publisher Susan McClure joins us to talk about a new study on spices in food that can give you longer life, maybe even help you live past the century mark.  Click here to find out more on Genome Magazine. See you on the radio.

Why are there “Sanctuary Cities,” where illegal immigrants are immune from arrest for breaking the law, or cannot even be questioned when crimes are committed?  Some cities are opening up their arms to illegal immigrants, as crime rates rise, and (would you believe) the cost of auto insurance is tied to their being allowed to drive. Check out my new column now posted about the tolerance of illegals across the nation. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or By Clicking Here.

And take a  look at Ray Stevens’ funny but on point video about illegal immigration below.

I’ll take our weekend radio program to Portland, Oregon this weekend, so we are looking forward to a more cool weather from the Pacific Ocean. We begin the show with guest David Sehat and his new book, THE JEFFERSON RULE: How the Founding Fathers Became Infallible and Our Politics Inflexible, shows how both the Left and the Right cite the Founders as though they would unanimously support widely divergent, even contradictory, present-day policies. Just what did Jefferson think? You can find out more on the book by Clicking Here.

We will continue our Thomas Jefferson discussion with author Mark Beliles. Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers intended a strict separation of church and state, right? He would have been very upset to find out about a child praying in a public school or a government building used for religious purposes, correct? Actually, the history on this has been very distorted. Mark discusses all this in his new book, Doubting Thomas. See more by Clicking here.

And finally, an update on the terrible shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana. Professor John Tures, a political science teacher at LaGrange College in Georgia, will be our guest to discuss domestic terrorism. So be sure to check local listings for times and stations. We will see you on the radio!

I really like to  see  good magic tricks.  I’ve sen David Copperfield several ties, along with a bevy of other really good magicians.  Here i really an exceptional fellow.Not only can illusionist Darcy make doves appear out of nowhere, he also has an even bigger trick up his sleeve.  Take a look.

Here’s quite an inspirational story to share with you. A good story and good outcome. An English conservationist named Damian Aspinall was able to transfer captive gorillas back to wild of course with the help of the whole Aspinall Foundation.  Damian Aspinall took care of a gorilla he named ‘Kwibi‘ for 5 years and then it back to wild to have a normal life. After so many years, Damian decided to go look for Kwibi in the jungle.

He was quite losing his hope to never finding Kwibi again when a familiar gorilla suddenly appeared. And just like the old times, they bonded like father and son. Damian even fed Kwibi again and all of this was filmed and had already inspired lots of people! Take a look below.

Was the terrible shooting in a Lafayette, Louisiana movie theatre an isolated incident, or are we seeing an increase in what has to be considered domestic terrorism? I was there at the Grand Theater just a few hours after the killings. There are some troubling issues over how a deranged mental case even was able to purchase a gun. How did the system fail? You can check out my new column a out my personal experience that tragic night. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Much more on domestic terrorism as our weekend radio program shapes up. The Lafayette, Louisiana shooter hit right in my backyard, and I have more to tell than perhaps you have read in the national media. The first presidential debate takes place this eek. Will it all be about Donald Trump? Who has the best change to rise above the fray? We will talk about it.

Then Michael Daugherty will join us to talk about the shocking exposé of the US government surveillance and overreach into cyber security, your medicine, and small businesses. Our country is in trouble, and we will take a look at his new book, “The Devil Inside the Beltway.” Read more about it by Clicking Here.

And finally, are you aware of the “Cambrian explosion” — a remote period of geological history in which numerous animal forms appear to have arisen suddenly and without evolutionary precursors in the fossil record which poses a potentially fatal threat to Darwin’s theory of evolution, as Darwin himself admitted? David Klinghoffer will be my guest to discuss what possible could have happened, in his new book, “Debating Darwin’s Doubt.” For more information, Click Here. We will see you on the radio.

I’ve always been a Coach Lou Holtz football fan.  Particularly when he coached up at Notre Dame.  Not only was he an outstanding football coach, he also was a real  inspiration to all those around him.  Last year, he was the commencement speaker at a small Catholic college, Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.  He was practical, funny, withy good advise for these new graduates.  It’s well worth taking a few minutes to listen to Coach Holtz.

Daughter Campbell  continues her drive to change the face of public education all over America.  Google News interviewed her this week, and should commented specifically about the controversy over Common Core.  She says the  nationwide Common Core debate is merely a blip on the screen of reform.  To read the entire interview, Click Here.

How can I say this delicately about Donald Trump? I’ll be diplomatic and gentle. He’s a blowhard, a draft dodger, a conceded ass, and a big mouth that should be and will be taken down. I wrote a fairly favorable column about his presidential aspirations a few weeks back. I liked how he put the other presidential wanabes on the spot. But he now has crossed the line in his criticism of our POWs. I’ve washed my hands of him. Check out my new column to see why. You can read it now by going to the Flashing Red Box above, or by Clicking Here.

We will begin with the tragedy in Lafayette, Louisiana, my part of the country. The tragic shooting in a movie theatre will be discussed with security expert Catherine Smit-Torrez. Her website is www.stilettospyinvestigations.com.

And the Iran nuclear deal-good or bad? We will talk with retired Colonel Robert Sholly about the pros and cons. He is the author of “Young Soldiers, Amazing Warriors, and you can find out more by Clicking Here.

Finally, football season is right around the corner, and will be joined again by Sportsbook Review publisher Peter Loshak about the odds for the Super bowl and the college national championship. So join us.

With Donald Trump disparaging our military heroes, here is some good entertainment and a fine ending recognizing those who serve to keep us free. A short video, but well worth watching. Take a look below.

There are way too many thugs robbing businesses and rampaging our communities. Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. (my old neck of the woods) was such a thug. Take a look below at this storekeeper who said, not just no, but Hell No, to a thug who held her up. She stood up to lawbreakers and three cheers for her.

After taking 10 years off, country mega star Garth Brooks is back and big as ever. He wowed a jam-packed crowd in New Orleans last week singing most of his 27 number one hits, with more energy that anyone could have imagined. But what was it like when he first began singing as a career? I can share some past remembrances about him when he performed in Louisiana many years ago. Check out my new column now posted. You can read it by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Radio weekend is close at hand, and will anticipate a jam-packed program. Iran nuclear restrictions, the continuing Donald Trump saga, Confederate war monuments, new baseball intrigue, all will keep us talking. And are serious problems with Darwinist theory — as author STEPHEN MEYER tries to make clear in his New York Times best-selling book Darwin’s Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design? We will talk about it. Click Here to read more.

 

Finally, co-authors Mark A. Beliles and Jerry Newcombe suggest America take a step back and look at how far our country has come”¦ or strayed”¦ from the God-given rights our Founders fought to give us. One of the reasons is because this one man and his words have been misunderstood: Thomas Jefferson. Doubting Thomas: The Religious Life and Legacy of Thomas Jefferson, presents new evidence and little known facts that may change your view of Thomas Jefferson. Click Here to see more.

 

Check local listings for times and stations.  See you on the radio!

The Miss USA pageant here in my hometown of Baton Rouge went off without a hitch last weekend, in spite of all the Donald Trump controversy. The city put on a first rate performance, and although the TV ratings were down, millions of folks across the nation still say the Capitol City in a good light. If you missed it, you can eat your heart out while taking a gander of me hangin’ out with Miss USA and Miss Universe.

Daughter Campbell kicks off this week The Seventy Four, an online education newsroom she co-founded, that seeks to drive a much-needed conversation about reforming America’s education system.Coinciding with the launch, The Seventy Four announced that it will host a series of live forums in New Hampshire and Iowa moderated by Campbell and others. They will gather prominent elected officials, political influencers, and education thought leaders to discuss the greatest challenges facing America’s education system. Below are a series of news articles from publications across the country talking about her efforts. Her website is www.the74million.org.

New York Times-Click Here.

CNN-Click Here.

Broadway World-Click Here.

ReaClearEducation-Click Here.

Ole’ Donald Trump sure knows how to stir up a hornet’s nest. His incinerary comments on illegal immigrants have caused NBC and multiple sponsors to pull out of the Miss USA pageant, partly owned by Trump, this weekend in Baton Rouge. Other Republican presidential candidates have lashed out at Trump calling his comments divisive, inaccurate and offensive. But is he wrong in what he is saying? Take a look at my new column now posted. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Our weekend radio show is shaping up as a full packed sow of ideas and current news. Is Donald Trump for real? Will he show up for the Miss USA contest Sunday night in my hometown of Baton Rouge? (  Why so many shark attacks? We will talk with shark expert Veronica Grey about what’s going on. Check out her book, “Swim Without Sharks,” by Clicking Here. And should Greece just go away? Ivan Eland is a senior fellow and director of the Center on Peace and Liberty at the Independent Institute, and will give us his thoughts. Be sure and tune in. Check local listings for times and stations.

There is a great deal of controversy over the Miss USA pageant scheduled this week in my hometown of Baton Rouge. But we also have a beautiful young lady from New Orleans who represents the state at the Miss America pageant as Miss Louisiana, April Nelson. I ran into her at Jackson Square in the French Quarter last week, and you can see how pretty she is. She is a singer and will have a chance to be Miss America this September in Atlantic City. Good luck to April.

Last week was our special holiday to commemorate the founding of our country, and I was remiss in not putting op a special video to remember those who have served us to defend our country today. I’m not familiar with Food City, but kudos to this company for producing this exception TV spot so we don’t forget. Oh yes, you can also check out my 4^th of July salute with my buddy, Jessica Simpson.

Well, the battle lines have been drawn and the South is (again) under assault. Not just the Confederate flag, but also a whole host of what some consider “politically incorrect” symbols that have been a way of live in many parts of the country for years. What do we do about Confederate monuments, names, Dukes of Hazzard, Aunt Jemima syrup, Uncle Ben’s rice, Gone with the Wind; they all gotta go? The cultural cleansing in the Bayou state has begun. Do you agree that there is a middle round or do we rive up the controversy? Check out my new column now posted you can read it by going to the Flashing Red Box above, or by Clicking Here. And check out Wal-Mart’s dilemma with the Confederate flag below.

We have a full packed 4^th of July weekend program scheduled, so wherever you are, we hope you can carve out some time to listen. Will we update on the Confederate flag, Donald Trump, and much more of the ridiculous  news flooding the airwaves. Then, our first guest is James Robenalt, author of “January 1973: Watergate, Roe v. Wade, Vietnam, and the Month That Changed America Forever,” the first book to look at both (a) what really happened at the Supreme Court behind the scenes of Roe v. Wade and (b) how Roe has affected national politics ever since. You can check out the book by Clicking Here.

Then we are joined by military historian Christopher Kelly, who is the author of America Invades: How We’ve Invaded or Been Militarily Involved With Almost Every Country on Earth, which outlines American military activity around the globe from the birth of the United States””and, at times, even before””up to the present day. Learn more about the book by Clicking Here.

Finally, LISA DURDEN is an African American Pop-Culture/Political Commentator who has some strong words about the Confederate flag, Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, and “Gone with the Wind.” You and I will disagree on some of the things she says, but it should be interesting. So tune in for a lively “Common Sense” program. Check local listings for times and stations. See you on the radio.

I often wish  President john F. Kennedy were still around.  We cold use some calm and thoughtful rhetoric in our country today, not the insidious bomb throwing we see almost daily from both political parties.  Look at his sensible words:

There is a major push to put a woman on the face of paper money. Good idea, but some current face will have to be removed. I make the argument in this week’s column that President Andrew Jackson should stay on the twenty-dollar bill. If you happen to live in Louisiana, then there is even a stronger case for Jackson’s image to stay, as he played a vital role in saving New Orleans and the Bayou State from being taken over by the British. You can read my new column now y going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Another fully packed radio program set for this weekend. Most listeners across the country hear the “Common Sense” program from 9:00 am until 11:00 am on Sundays central time. But many stations delay and repeat the program, so check local listings for times and stations.  Our full  radio schedule will be posted Thursday afternoon.

Here is one of the lead stories in Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal.

“Campbell Brown to Launch Non-Profit Education News Site That Won’t Shy From Advocacy”

Daughter Campbell has kicked off a major new publication on educational reform.  To read the whole article about here efforts, Click Here.  and to read the detailed press release of Campbell’s new efforts to change the face of American education, Click Here.

Here’s a presentation that, if it doesn’t move you to tears, nothing will.  It’s all about Mothers, and how we don’t appreciate all they do for us.  Take a look.

Raising taxes and legalizing marijuana. Who would have thought this would be what folks remembered from the recently completed legislative session in Louisiana. Actually, the legalization is for medical marijuana. But the easy part was passing the law. Now the real problem solving begins. Take a look at my new column for this week where I raise some troubling questions about how the law is to be implemented. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above or by Clicking Here.

Weekend Radio Program Schedule to be posted Thursday afternoon.

For months following Ferguson, Long Island, Cleveland and South Carolina, we have heard the rallying cry “Black Lives Matter.” And they do. But are we being so parochial that we forget all lives should matter? Racial tensions have polarized races in many parts of America today. In my new column, I take a look at the complications of this difficult problem. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

We have a great “Common Sense” radio program set for this weekend, and we hope you will have a chance to catch the show. We will begin by discussing a disturbing new study that raises questions of statin use to lower cholesterol and memory loss.  Dr. Pamela Smith is the author of the book “What You Must Know About Memory Loss & How You Can Stop It.” She will help evaluate this study for the millions of Americans who regularly take statins. More information about Dr. Smith by Clicking Here.

Then we will look at the massive increases in the costs of hospital care. Some hospitals mark up their costs by as much as 1000%. Dr. James Pinckney, who has been on our show before, joins us to discuss this growing problem. More on his medical group by Clicking Here.    We will also talk about why it is so hard for a third political party to grow in the U. S. with Alexandra Shapiro, who is anxious to open the presidential debates.  See more at www.presidentialdebatenews.com.  And there is plenty of national news to review from this week past. So join us for a lively program. Check local listings for times and stations. We will see you on the radio.

I have flown primarily Delta Airlines for most of my life. It’s the major carrier in my part of the country, and was founded in Monroe, Louisiana, close to my hometown of Ferriday. So I’ve always been a bit partial to Delta. They do a great job in honoring those who gave their lives for our country. Look at the video below, and the special honor guard of Delta airline employees. Kudos to them for their patriotism and remembering those who gave it all.

A special weekend coming up celebrating the life and literature of Walker Percy. Louisiana has never produced a better novelist, and many feel he was America’s most significant Catholic writer. He really cared for his home state, and I wrote this week about my relationship with the giant literary figure. Take a look at my fond remembrances of Dr. and writer Walker Percy. You can read the column now by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Radio weekend is right at hand and we are all ready to broadcast from Jackson Square in the French Quarter-in the heart of downtown New Orleans. After a review of the week’s news, we will be joined by Dr. Gerald Gianoli, a Neuro-otology and Skull Based Surgeon, who says we are all paying way too much for medical care. He will describe how shopping around can get you a much cheaper cost of god medical care. Check out his website by Clicking Here.

Then we will explore the chilling question as to why some people kill in the name of God. Paula Fouce knows firsthand how religion can be misused after being trapped in a religious riot and nearly losing her life. Afterward, she began a quest to find solutions to this crisis of intolerance and fanaticism. “Not in God’s Name” is her book, and film, and you can learn more by Clicking Here.

So join us for a lively program. Checking local listings for times and stations. See you on the radio.

The Louisiana Governor’s race is gearing up with less than five months to go until Election Day. Unfortunately, the debates so far have been little more than a bob and weave show, with candidates cautious not to get too specific. But with Louisiana being at the bottom of the barrel in so many categories, shouldn’t any serious candidate be quite specific as to how they will lead the Bayou State out of the abyss? What’s their plan? How will they implement? Check out my new column now posted and see if you agree with my list of suggestions. You can read it now by Clicking on the Red Flashing Box above, or by  Clicking Here.

The “Common Sense ” Show schedule will be posted Thursday afternoon.

Personal freedoms in America are under siege by the neo cons that see a threat to our country around every tree.   Remember the words of one of our nation’s founders, Benjamin Franklin that “Those who give up freedom in the name of security end up getting neither.” Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is one of the few members of congress standing tall for our freedoms. Take a look at his candid comments to Jon Stewart in the video below.

It’s nice to hear abut a “feel good” story now and then. Check out below a woman who found a badly injured lion in the forest. She took it with her and nursed it back to health. When it was better, she made arrangements with a zoo to take the lion and give it a new and happy home. This video was taken when she returned to the zoo some time later to see how her lion was doing. Watch the lion’s amazing reaction when he sees her!

The election for Louisiana’s next governor is just five months away, and some say it’s too late for any new candidate to enter the field. Three Republicans and one Democrat are running. So is the race locked up? Hardly. The fastest growing group of voters in Louisiana is Independents, and a formidable name says he may well enter the race as an Independent. Can that “John Wayne Dude,” Katrina hero General Russell Honore’ have a solid chance if he enters the race? Watch the video below to see how the General takes no gruff from the press. Check out my new column and see if you agree. You can read the column now by going to the Flashing Red Box above, or by Clicking Here.

We are fast approaching Weekend Radio “Common Sense” time, and, as we always try to do, we have a full-blown and interesting program scheduled. A full review of the week’s news, and several special guests. I talk a lot bout staying healthy and germ free.  When you fly, you may eat from the tray table on an airplane, but would you still do so if you knew the person sat there before had changed their baby’s diaper on it?   And would you even think about just how dirty your luggage is?  Tricia Holderman is internationally recognized as one of the leading authorities on cleaning. She can dish the dirt on where most of the germs are lurking when you fly. Her website is http://elitefacsys.com.

 Then why so many teenage driving accidents? Proms, graduation parties ““ teens are gathering, partying and getting in a lot of accidents this time of year. Certified defensive driving instructor Robert Ragazzo heads up SaveYourTeenDriver.com, and we will talk about this growing problem. So join us for a great program. Check local listings for times and stations.  And we welcome several new stations to our growing “Common Sense” network.

 WRMN, 1410 AM in Elgin, Illinois

KLID, 1340 AM in Poplar Bluff, Missouri

KFAR, 660 AM in Fairbanks, Alaska.

KVOC,1330 AM in Casper, Wyoming.

WMQM,1600 AM in Memphis, Tennessee

This week is the last for David Letterman on CBS. I’ve been a Letterman fan since his first shows on NBC Late Night, and favored Dave over Leno and all the rest. I hate to see him go off the air. But did you know that I participated in one of Dave’s early programs. Initially, his show was not aired here in my hometown of Baton Rouge. I led an effort to get the Letterman show back on , and you can watch the video below to see how successful I was. Dave comes on the air to thank me about one minute into the video below. What a treat to be talked about on the show. Take a look below.

Louisiana’s next governor faces massive financial problems, and it only seems to get worse by the week. What to do? Where to begin to find workable solutions? I just have a few ideas that I hope you feel make some common sense. It’s time to quite just governing from crisis to crisis, and stop having to put political fingers in the leaks that seem to grow and grow. How about a Master Plan? Check out my new column now posted. You can read it by clicking on the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Radio Schedule will be posted Friday Morning.

One of the most interesting photo galleries in New Orleans is located right in the heart of Jackson Square. The work of Louis Sahuc is featured throughout the gallery, Louis has been a photographer since 1972, and here you can buy originals and prints of his work in all sizes. His lovely art varies from pictures of New Orleans during a hard rainstorm, to St. Louis Cathedral in the fog and the people of New Orleans. Louis is a good friend and is affectionately known as the Mayor of the French Quarter. We are pictured at a recent reception in his honor at Tujague’s restaurant on Decatur Street in the Quarter. Tujague’s is the second oldest restaurant in New Orleans, and a regular stop for me. Hats off to Louis.

Frank Sinatra considered Kate Smith the best singer of her time, and said that when he and a million other guys first heard her sing “God Bless America” on the radio, they all pretended to have dust in their eyes as they wiped away a tear or two.

Here are the facts. . . The video at the bottom  shows the very first public singing of “GOD BLESS AMERICA. The time was 1940. America was still in a terrible economic depression. Hitler was taking over Europe and Americans were afraid we’d have to go to war. It was a time of hardship and worry for most Americans.

Kate was also patriotic. It hurt her to see Americans so depressed and afraid of what the next day would bring. She had hope for America, and faith in her fellow Americans. She wanted to do something to cheer them up, so she went to the famous American song-writer, Irving Berlin (who also wrote “White Christmas”) and asked him to write a song that would make Americans feel good again about their country. When she described what she was looking for, he said he had just the song for her.

This video starts out with Kate Smith coming into the radio studio with the orchestra and an audience. She introduces the new song for the very first time, and starts singing. After the first couple verses, with her voice in the background still singing, scenes are shown from the 1940 movie, “You’re In The Army Now.” At the 4:20 mark of the video you see a young actor in the movie, sitting in an office, reading a paper; it’s Ronald Reagan.

Now that you know the story of the song, I hope you’ll enjoy it and treasure it even more.

So just how long do you want to live? Is 75 long enough? Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel a vice provost of the University of Pennsylvania, and he says that when you get to be 75, you have lived long enough. Hogwash I say. And this really hits home to me, for, guess what? I turned 75 this week. Take look at my new column, where I emphatically say I still have a good number of years yet to live. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Radio  Show Weekend is close at hand, and are anticipating a really good program.  Can we begin to handicap the 201 presidential election?With the 2016 election cycle in full swing, I  reached out to an expert in odds making as a potential source to supplement our election coverage. Peter Loshak, SportsBookReview.com, is a sports handicapper who is an independent source who will be able to discuss the odds that online Sports Books are placing on each of the major candiates for President as well as a few long-shots.  This will sure be lively.  Then we will talk with energy expert Jordan Goodman about why energy prices are going up.  So stay tuned and check local listings for times and stations.  See you on the radio.

Did you see the big fight last Saturday night? Floyd Mayweather made $200 million for basically dancing around the ring for 12 rounds. Poor old Manny Pacquiao chased him the entire fight, but he rarely landed a blow. You have to feel sorry for Manny. He only made off with a mere $140 million. Tough luck. Overall, the fight was BORING!  I’m a big boxing fan from years back, but good matches are hard to find, and the sport has really taken a dip.

Man, is the State of Louisiana in a real financial mess. And higher education, with good reason, is clamoring that they could receive a knockout blow. The LSU president is shouting from the rooftops that the state financial commitment is crumbling to the ground, the LSU fiscal sky is falling, and he is about to declare “academic bankruptcy.”. So what’s really going on, and does LSU and other colleges have a case to make? And better yet, where have they been year after year when continuing cuts have been made? Check out my new column now posted. You can read it by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

It’s a full agenda radio weekend close at hand. Rioting, Looting & Protests have caused civil war in Baltimore. Angry crowds swept through Baltimore on Monday night and early Tuesday – smashing windows, looting stores and setting fires – after the funeral of a 25-year-old man who died after suffering a spine injury in police custody. Local leaders, as well as residents and even gang members, decried the violence, but the rioting continued. What’s going on? Dr. Frieda Birnbaum is a Research Psychologist, Psychoanalyst and Author of “What Price Power,” and she will join us to discuss what went wrong.

 

Then we will be joined by Professor William Anderson, Professor of Economics at Frostburg College in Virginia, who writes extensively about problems with the Justice Department and the FBI. This past week, the FBI finally was forced to admit that the vaunted “hair analysis” was bogus, another episode of the “junk science.” When combined with the scandals coming from state crimes labs and the FBI crime lab scandal of the 1990s, what we know now ““ beyond any doubt ““ is that much of the so-called scientific analysis upon which prosecutors have depended to bolster their criminal cases in state and federal courts has been worse than worthless, since it often was used to convict innocent defendants and place some of them in death chambers.

 So join us for a lively weekend. Check local listings for times and stations.

Not much of anything good has come out of the riots in Baltimore.  Death, destruction, rioting mayhem-all tearing the city apart.  But kudos to a mother who caught her son rioting in the streets.  See the video below of her doing what more parents should do.

I am greatly disappointed in the confirmation of Loretta Lynch as the new Attorney General. As a U.S. attorney, she made a number of questionable decisions about withholding evidence from accused that were innocent. In addition, Lynch negotiated a controversial settlement with HSBC, a foreign bank in 2012, after the bank admitted to facilitating money-laundering by Mexican drug cartels and helping clients evade US sanctions. The bank principals should have gone to jail, but Lynch let them off with a fine. She just is not qualified to be the country’s highest law enforcement officer. A bad choice.  To read about her questionable decisions, Click Here and Click Here. 

Are you a hyphenated-American? I sure am. Like most folks throughout our country today, I’m a proud U.S. citizen, but I also take great pride in my heritage, which in my case happens to be Scottish. But a presidential wannabe and Governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, says enough of all this traditional legacy and cultural pride. Jindal says forget where you came from, and then ignore your ancestry. No more Italian-Americans, Scottish-Americans, Africans-Americans, Irish-Americans, and the like. Everybody’s cookie cutter and one big dull mix according to Jindal. Man, how I disagree. Check out my new column now posted. You can read it by going to the Flashing Red Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Radio Weekend is shaping up to be a full agenda of interesting topics that we are sure you do not wan to miss. Did you know this is the fifth anniversary of the BP Oil disaster that caused massive damage to the entire Gulf Coast? Our show will begin with a review of damages still not repaired and how much still needs to be done. Lube JOB: HOW LOUISIANA GOT SCREWED, is a new film that exposes the shocking truth behind what may be greatest environmental holocaust the world has ever known… an unstoppable ecological disaster that threatens to eradicate one of the most treasured cultures in America. STEPHANIE KOVAC is an award-winning freelance journalist who produced the film, and who will be our guest. So join us for a lively program. Check local listings for times and stations.

Louisiana is facing a $1.6 billion deficit with a governor most believe will run for president””and no money budgeted for a presidential primary. By law, the Governor has to include some $3.5 million to hold the presidential primary”¦.so what gives? Below is a story that quotes me extensively that appeared on Shreveport television station KTBS. I set out just why the Governor may not want to have a primary. Take a look.

KTBS.com – Shreveport, LA News, Weather and Sports