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

 Some are calling it “prosecutors gone wild.” For some reason, there has been a major increase in the charges of prosecutorial misconduct, both in Louisiana and throughout the rest of the country. A day does not go by in recent weeks when some terrible report is released that documents how innocent victims and accused of crimes they did not commit. And in many cases, the prosecutors hid evidence that might clear them. So what’s up? Check out my new column now posted about this troubling and chilling miscarriage of justice. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Radio Show Weekend picks up where I, unfortunately, left off last week. You see, a cold came on and my voice just left me. So we reluctantly had to play a re-run of “the Best Of.” A good show, but I like to keep it current. So we will begin by reviewing a busy week of news with all the presidential wannabes. Then we will pick up with Civil War historian William C. Davis to discuss his dual biography of Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, “Crucible of Command.” Quite timely at the 150th anniversary of the ending of the Civil War. See full information listed for last week’s program.

Then we will talk about the rapidly rising cost of insurance with expert Alec Stewart. He will tell us the 8 things insurance companies do not want us to know to save money. So be sure and tune in. Check local listings for times and stations. See you on the radio.

Soul Singer Percy Sledge,  who died this week, was  my good friend for over 50 years. He was  sometimes called the King of Slow Soul, was a sentimental crooner and one of the South’s first soul stars, having risen to fame from jobs picking cotton and working as a hospital orderly while performing at colleges and clubs on the weekends.

“I was singing every style of music: the Beatles, Elvis Presley, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Motown, Sam Cooke, the Platters,” Mr. Sledge said. “When a Man Loves a Woman” was his first recording for Atlantic Records, after a patient at the hospital introduced him to the record producer Quin Ivy. It reached No. 1 on the pop charts in 1966 and sold more than a million copies, becoming the label’s first gold record.  Check it out below. I’m sure Percy is singin’ for the Good Lord right now.

Hey, it’ crawfish time in Louisiana. For you out-of-staters, these “mudbugs” grow in the south Louisiana swamps, and are often farm raised. Succulent, juicy red tasting meat that it hard to describe. Tastier than a shrimp. You won’t find them on many menus outside Louisiana, because 95% are sold locally. Everybody, and I mean everybody has a crawfish boil on regular occasions. So come on down!

A sad hallmark in American history is, not celebrated, but acknowledged this week. The bloody Civil War came to an end 150 years ago. What a tragedy. Every other country was able to abolish slavery without killing one another. What harsh lessons learned. Did you know, that from beginning to end, Louisiana played a major role in supplying the leadership of both North and South? From the first shot fired to Sherman’s vicious march to the sea, Louisiana generals and politicians were right in the mix. Check out my new column now posted, by going to the Red Flashing Box above, of by Clicking Here.

Continuing our Civil War discussion, April 9th marks the 150th anniversary of the official end of the Civil War. Civil War historian William C. Davis will be our guest to discuss his dual biography of Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, “Crucible of Command.” He’ll debunk the myths about these legendary generals using things the men wrote themselves, or that were written about them at the time by people in a position to directly observe and know them. “Grant especially did a lot to shape the way the divided nation came together again and the direction it was to take in the difficult immediate postwar years. As for Lee, his myth and memory after the war have been among the most powerful influences on American attitudes towards our past, and especially in the way Southerners dealt then and with the fact of losing the war. And of course, between the two of them, they are responsible not just for us, but around the world.” Davis is one of America’s top Civil War historians. He’s authored or edited more than fifty books and is a frequent historical consultant for television and film. Click Here to learn more.

I pride my self on story telling. Just ask my kids, grandkids, and assorted nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews, and the like. Jerry the Giraffe, Freddie the Frog, the Viper, and many more are all in my repertoire. Sad to say this cartoon reflects a way too busy world where adults look for shortcuts to send their kids off to bed. You know another four-letter word for love? TIME! We all need to find more for the ones we love, young and old. I hope you agree.

Great news from The Lisburn Press, which is our publishing company and an integral part of Brown Communications. We are pleased to announce that Nice Guy Finishes First: The Clarke Williams Story about the creation of Louisiana’s largest company, CenturyLink^®, and author Leo Honeycutt have been awarded the 2015 Axiom Business Book Award as one of the top 3 business ethics books in the nation. The reward will be received in May at the BookExpo America in New York.

Competing with over 400 entries across 20 categories, mostly from Ivy League schools, New York publishers, and New York Times bestselling authors such as Walter Isaacson and Tony Robbins, Louisiana’s book garnered the Bronze Medal in the Business Ethics category.

“We are proud not just for the book’s success but for Louisiana,” says Jim Brown, the publisher. “In Nice Guy, Clarke Williams shatters the stereotype and proves Louisiana is great for business. The company today is America’s third largest telecommunications giant, just behind AT&T and Verizon, and our book ““published in Louisiana about Louisiana”“ is taking that story to the world.” You can find out more on the book and order information by Clicking Here.

 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 spin off income, Louisiana taxpayers are paying out more than four times that amount. Bring a dollar in and pay from the state treasury four dollars out.  What kind of deal is this? A lousy one I say. Check out my new column now posted by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Weekend Radio Program Schedule. A jam-packed agenda beginning with a discussion of what began 20 years ago as a bipartisan drive to protect the rights of people to follow their faith against an overbearing government erupted this week into a divisive dispute over gay rights and religious freedom.  Byron Henry is a legal strategist who has a lot of experience with Constitutional cases. He’s been studying the events in Indiana and Arkansas and will weigh in on this controversial dispute. His website is http://www.cowlesthompson.com.

 

Then, as it’s Easter Sunday, It is the season for the faithful, but religious author Shane Hayes brings us a timely discussion about a different way of looking at the existence of God. “I call it faith in its simplest form””one step out of atheism, instead of the great leap to Christianity and its complex doctrines. His book, “End of Unbelief: A New Approach to the Question of God,” suggests a strategy designed for hardcore unbelievers. Learn more by Clicking Here. We will see you on the radio. Check local listings for times and stations.

It was twenty-five years ago that Emeril Lagasse opened up his first restaurant, Emeril’s, in the warehouse district in New Orleans. He was a guest on a local TV show I was hosting at the time. It was hard then to imagine that today, he would own 16 restaurants coast to coast, and is one American’s superstar chefs and restaurateurs. I had the honor of attending his 25th anniversary dinner this past Saturday night in New Orleans. You can see I’m back in his kitchen giving him a few tips for his special hollandaise sauce. (Yeah, right!) Great food, exceptional evening.

Kudos to Brother-in law Gary Solomon, who was  honored this week by receiving the Times Picayune’s annual Loving Cup Award, for his outstanding civic contributions and leadership throughout the New Orleans area and across the state. The Loving Cup has been awarded since 2001 to men and women who have worked unselfishly for the community without expectation of public recognition or material reward.

Gary’s focus has been New Orleans: housing, schools, improving city governance, disaster relief. His leadership record stretches long: American Red Cross of Southeast Louisiana, City Park Improvement Association, the Bring Back New Orleans Commission, Communities in Schools, the University of New Orleans Foundation, Fore!Kids Foundation, the Sewerage and Water Board, the New Orleans Business Council, Bayou District Foundation and the board of the University of Louisiana System. Congrats to a great Louisianan. We are pictured below at the ceremony in New Orleans this past Tuesday.  And yes, Gary did celebrate by drinking champagne out of the cup.

Louisiana is scheduled to have its presidential primary on March 5th of next year, but there is one little problem. The state is broke and the Jindal administration has allocated no money for the legally required election. So what happens next? Does Governor Jindal really want a primary? And is there a way to hold an election for free and get huge national coverage in the process?  Check out my new column now posted.  You can read it by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking here.

Our Weekend Radio Gala is close at hand and we hope you will join us this week for what we hope will be a lively and interesting program. Utah’s legislature has recently passed a bill reintroducing the firing squad as an alternate form of execution when lethal injection drugs are unavailable. Professor Andrew Novak is a lawyer who teaches at George Mason University and is the author of several books including “The Global Decline of the Mandatory Death Penalty.” We will discuss with him discuss the current state of the American system of death. Check out his book now by Clicking Here.

We also will have author Mark Anthony join us to discuss his new book, Evidence of Eternity. It brings spirit communication into the 21^st century while reaffirming that God and heaven exist, the soul is an immortal living spirit, and that we will be reunited with our deceased loved ones. Mark introduces new and innovative terms and concepts explaining spirit communication based on science, theoretical physics, theology and evidence. Pretty heavy, right? Find out more by Clicking Here.

And, as always, we will cover the gamut of interesting, amusing and controversial news reviewing all this happened the past week. So with so much to talk about, we sure hope you will join us. Check your local listings for times and stations. We will see you on the radio.

If you live down our way in Louisiana, one of our favorite events is the annual strawberry festival located in the southeastern town of Hammond. There is always a poster painted to commemorate this event. This year’s poster, pictured above, is by artist Kalle Siekkinen, and has become a lightning rod of controversy. Some folks are saying that the image is derogatory to African Americans. I don’t agree, and I like the poster, and see it as a simple somewhat abstract image of two kids having fun. See what you think?

You can’t even set down at a coffee shop any more without race being a factor in starting off your morning. Starbuck’s initially announced that their employees would engage customers in discussions about race relations in America today. And yes, we need such a discussion. But over morning coffee? Starbuck’s is now postponing this new agenda a bit but CEO Howard Schultz says she is committed to kick off this new focus soon. I have visited with Schultz and believe he is genuinely committed to improving race relations in America that certainly is needed and a noble cause. He really stirred up his coffee mix, however, by bringing race into the morning brew. I’ll have a flat white,” read one cartoon, referring to an espresso drink the company has recently started serving. “No racism intended.”

I’m pictured with Starbuck’s CEO Howard Schwartz.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal says he is the king of governors traveling all over the Bayou State, and that no governor has crisscrossed Louisiana as much has he has. Yeah, right! In my new column, I say that Jindal has been around the state far less than any governor in recent memory. It’s part of the job for any governor to speak and relate to constituents. Jindal’s “constituency” has become the rest of the nation, and not Louisiana. Check out my column now posted. You can read it by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

First of all,  hats off with belated St. Patrick’s Day best wishes to several of our new affiliates that include:

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

We are approaching our “Common Sense” radio program kicking off this weekend. And we sure have a lot of ground cover. The Israeli elections, and what it means for peace in the Middle East, Immigration, stalemate in Washington DC between Republicans and Democrats, We can go on and on with no shortage of hot button issues.

Dr. Laura Cassidy, wife of U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, will join us to discuss education topics, including charter schools, and kids with dyslexia. And let’s take a look at March Basketball Madness, with EMMY award winning sports expert Kate Delaney, aka the Sports Princess, who will give you the background on this year’s NCAA Tournament. Kate is one of the first women to ever host a solo Sports Radio Talk Show in a Top 10 market ““ WFAN in New York City and KRLD in Dallas, Texas. She currently hosts a nationally syndicated radio show called America Tonight.

 We will also talk about all the disfunction and gridlock in the nation’s capitol.  It’s worse than ever.  You can protest by flying the flag above to clean house.  Order the flag by Clicking Here.  So be sure and tune in. Check local listings for times and stations.

Have you taken the ice bucket challenge yet? People everywhere can be seen dumping buckets of ice water on their heads to raise awareness and funds to fight ALS. Children, adults and celebrities alike are joining the social media phenomenon to fight back against a disease that currently has no cure. I took the challenge twice in on day. I’ll challenge each one of you viewers to take up my challenge and make a donation. You can find out how to give by Clicking Here.

John Whitehead is an outspoken opponent of government invasion of our privacy.  He has been a guest several times on my syndicated radio program, and he is deeply and rightly concerned that privacy as we once knew it is dead. We now find ourselves in the unenviable position of being monitored, managed and controlled by our technology””specifically the technology employed by the government against the American citizenry. Is it possible that we are becoming a nation where even the most virtuous citizen risks becoming an outlaw.? Take a look at his compelling comments below.

How damaging is Hillary Clinton’s admissions about using a private e-mail account when she was Secretary of State? Normally, it could be a bigger problem for her. But low and behold! We now find out that most of the major GOP presidential candidates, including Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal, have done the very same thing while in office, using private e-mail accounts for public business. So is it a washout? Read my new column now posted. You can find it by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

The “Common Sense” Radio Show schedule will be posted on Friday morning of this week!

So who  should replace John Stewart on the Daily Show?  Daughter Campbell is not one to shy away from her strong opinions.  Get her  take in the video below as she co-hosts a segment on Bloomberg News.

One of my heroes is Ida Keeling.  She’s 99 years old! NINETY NINE! She STARTED running at age 67. She just broke the record of the 100M sprint in her age group. (Can’t imagine there are too many 90 years olds competing, but nevertheless) THIS inspires me and motivates me to be the BEST I can be at ANY age. Mind you, she STARTED running at age 67, so for all of you who might think its too late, its NEVER too late!

In his quixotic quest to run for president, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has been out of the state 50% of the time in recent months. So the question is “” who’s in charge when the Louisiana Governor is on the campaign trail? The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate posed this question to Jindal’s press secretary recently.  The response was, “the Governor remains the Governor wherever he is.” Not so, says me and the Louisiana Constitution. Check out my new column now posted. You can read it by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or also by Clicking Here.

On Sunday’s “Common Sense” radio program, we will cover all that’s happened over this busy week. Presidential politics, how to handle North Korea, Israeli-Iran problems, all will be part of our discussion. And are you ready for St. Patrick’s Day? We will give you some history and highlights.  William Federer is the author of many books including “Saint Patrick: The Real Story of his Amazing Life from Tragedy to Triumph.”  And good news. Coffee can help reduce cholesterol. Dr. Al  Johnson from Dallas will join us to discuss. So join the discussion for a lively show. Check local listings for times and stations. In Baton Rouge, it’s WJBO -1150 AM from noon to 2:00 pm on Sunday. We will see you on the radio.

Daughter Campbell continues to stir up the educational pot of controversy wading full blast into the debate over Common Core. She is cynical about the flip floppers who initially confected and supported Common Core, but now, for political reasons, have backed away form support. Check out her Op Ed piece in this week’s Washington Post by Clicking Here, along with her appearance below on NBC’s Morning Joe.

Cheering on the LSU Fightin’ Tigers basketball team, who are making a last run stretch to make the NCAA tourney that begins in two weeks. That’s me with Mike the Tiger. I’ve been a regular at LSU games and a season ticket holder for some 35 years. But, as many of you know, I’m a Tar Heel basketball fan as heart. See my recent column on the loss of the guy who recruited me to North Carolina, Coach Dean Smith, by Clicking Here.

The question for the day: Does the Good Lord need politicians to pontificate and help him out? Apparently, a number of governors and other elected officials seem to think so. Prayer rallies seem to be springing up on a regular basis. Now there is nothing wrong with prayer. We need much more of it. But what about politicians who making it a part of their official duties?   Does this cross the line in the separation of church and state? Read my new column now posted. You can read it by going to the Flashing Red Box above or by Clicking Here.

First of all let me welcome a new station to the “Common Sense” network, WRMN-1410 AM in Elgin, Illinois in the suburbs of Chicago. We have a growing listenership throughout the Midwest, and we sure are glad to have these Midwesterners join us each week.

 Tax season is close at hand, unfortunately, and we will have tax experts Ali Hashemian join us to answer questions about how you can save on your taxes. Also, , we will be joined by Kiplinger Newsletter Deputy Managing Editor David Morris, who will discuss future trends in finance and world affairs, with particular emphasis on the turmoil in the Middle East. So join us for a lively program.

Are you a Michael Bolton fan? The crooner has been around for a good while and has had numerous hit songs. And he is really a busy guy. Multiple Grammy Award-winning Singer, Songwriter and Social Activist, who has sold more than 53 million albums and singles worldwide, continues to tour the world every year, all while writing, recording and taping for a wide array of projects spanning music, film, television and theater. He performed in my hometown here in Baton Rouge last weekend, and we had the chance to visit. My favorite of his melodies, Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay below.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani rightly has held the title for a number of years as “America’s Mayor.” I’ve always liked Rudy, and have had the chance to visit with him on several occasions. When 9/11 happened, there probably could not of been a better person to lead a rally of renewal than the Mayor. I also like what he did in cleaning up New York and instituting a “No broken windows” policy. Clean up crime, big and small.

 Having said all this, I think he crossed the line, and went way overboard in questioning whether or not President Obama loves America. A lot of us disagree with many of the things the President has proposed. He’s been a big disappointment. But saying he does not love America is not productive, reflexes badly on Giuliani, and is just wrong. Maybe it’s his way of trying to stay relevant. But in this controversy, Mayor Giuliani made a big mistake.

So it should be mandatory that everyone in America speaks English-right? Well, according to Louisiana’s ambitious governor and presidential candidate, Bobby Jindal, you should speak English or ship out. But if Jindal would hang around his home state a little more, he would notice that a number of languages are spoken here in the Bayou State. Of course Cajun French, but many other languages are openly spoken. Take a look at my new column that tells politicians to quit telling what we can and cannot speak. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.  Also, check out the humorous video below on speaking English.

“Common Sense Radio Weekend is shaping up nicely, with a lively list of guests and topics. I want to take close look at the Middle East and how on earth a small band of a Islamic radicals called ISIS has the whole world focused on their destruction and mayhem. What is it they want, and how do we bring and end to the chaos that is now seeping outside the Middle East?

 

Why is it liberals and conservatives can no longer get along? In his new book, The Great Divide: Why Liberals and Conservatives Will Never, Ever, Agree, renowned author William Gairdner explains why the chasm between the two ideologies is wider than ever and helps adherents of both get past the shouting and outrage to the point of civil discourse””even if they never agree. Find out more on the book by Clicking Here.

And are you really cold this winter? After trying different ways to stay warm outdoors, Harvey Huffenblum knew there had to be a better way..so he created the first ever lozenge that keeps you warm. “B-warm is a revolutionary new formula that helps give you the positive warming affect of niacin, Simply, take 1-2 lozenges every 30-60 minutes” Huffenblum says. Check it out by Clicking Here.  Anything to this? We will find out. So be sure to tune in. Check you local guide for stations and times on Sunday. See you on the radio.

So it’s springtime, and you are setting your priorities and riles to govern your life in 2015.  Just to help out, here are a few “rules of the road” I might suggest.

I urge you to take a few moments to watch this chilling video, narrated in poetry, that shows us what we are up against in understanding a culture half way around the world that we do not comprehend.  The events that take place seem surreal, yet they happen everyday.  For our own protection, we have to pay much more attention to the violence and mayhem taking place around the world.

One of the all time great coaches in college basketball passed away this week. North Carolina’s Dean Smith had retired with more wins than any coach in history, along with capturing two national championships. But to those who knew him, and I consider myself in that elite number, he was much more than a coach. He was a teacher, an innovator both on and off the court, a role model, and a real humanitarian. Check out my new column of my personal remembrances of this great American icon. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by just Clicking Here.

The “Common Sense” radio weekend show is fast approaching with a full schedule of topics and guests on tap. And by the way, there is a real shake up in media from NBCs Brian Williams’ suspension to a number of other media changes. I know many of the players involved, including Williams, and we will talk about what’s happening.

 We will also explore whether or not the U.S. should we sending weapons and getting sucked more and more into the Ukraine crisis. Defense expert Colin Clark will join us to analysis this sticky situation. And do we drug test welfare recipients? Many politicians think so. Kyle Simon is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Center for Lawful Access and Abuse Deterrence, and we will discuss the pros and cons with him. So tune in for a lively program. Check local listings for times and stations.

Hey, all my kids are smart. Good genes, of course. But one writer thinks my oldest daughter is, well, just about the most important gal in America. Maybe a bit of an exaggeration? Probably so. But heck, it’s still good reading, and she has seized the mantel of America’s educational reformer. Check out this latest accolade on the work that Campbell is doing. You can read an elevation of her by Clicking Here.

What a soap opera. In Louisiana, all they are talking about is the Tom Benson family squabble over who will take over the Football Saints and the basketball Pelicans once Benson steps down. And it has become a real slugfest with ole’ Tom’s grandkids trying to get him declared incapacitated. A major concern is the fact that Louisiana taxpayers have poured in massive tax dollars to compensated Benson. Are the taxpayers at risk of losing these teams? Check out my new column now posted. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above, or by Clicking Here.

Radio Schedule will be posted Friday-PM.

Gotta Love these Guys!
Our troops have not lost their sense of humor.

A lot  of people email me or stop me  to ask why daughter Campbell got out of television  and became so intensely involved in educational reform.  She explains why below.  Take a look.

Are you ready to once again bail out the Wall Street Fat Cats who take enormous risks, knowing full well that if they fail, the taxpayers will be there to bail them out? Little folks like us just have to “suck it up.” But congress has been inundated with campaign contributions from Wall Street and big insurance. So your congressman has given them special privileges, and once again, the financial industry is too big to fail. And by the way, all you Louisiana taxpayers had your entire congressional delegation, with one exception, right there in support of the Fat Cats and against the average American taxpayer. Take a look at my new column now posted. You can read it by going to the Flashing Red Box above, or by merely Clicking Here.

Weekend Radio Schedule will be posted Friday morning.

Daughter Campbell went viral on Bloomberg TV this week in talking about “inflate-gate” and the New England Patriots breaking the rules to get into the Superbowl.  She’s a Tom Brady fan, but check out her comments below.

FRED EAGLESMITH’S TRAVELING ROAD SHOW performed at the Red Dragon in Baton Rouge last weekend. Fred is a Canadian who is really funny with a wacky band to back him up. He’s a rock n’ roller from the 60s and puts on one heck of a show. Check out his video below.

Well, Louisiana’s controversial Governor, Bobby Jindal has stirred up a hornet’s nest with his claims that Muslims better start shaping up and speaking out. Jindal told us to “brace ourselves” cause he wasn’t going to pull any punches over all these cities in Europe where Muslim communities are enforcing sharia law on residents, ignoring the laws of the country in which they are living. And the rain of criticism poured down on Jindal. So, as Jindal implies, even thought all Muslims are not terrorists, are all terrorists Muslin? Take a look at my new column now posted to get my views. Jindal may not like what I have to say, but see what you think. You can read it now by going to the Red Flashing Box above or by Clicking Here.

Weekend Radio Schedule will be posted Thursday afternoon.