In Louisiana, the Governor’s office annually presents an award that recognizes extraordinary service by an individual who has enhanced opportunities for persons with disabilities. The award was given this week at the old State Capitol in Baton Rouge. This year’s statewide 2008 Volunteer of the year Award, I’m proud to say, went to my brother-in-law, Gary Solomon from New Orleans.  Gary has devoted a good part of his life to a number of major volunteer activities throughout the greater New Orleans area as

 

well as throughout the state..

A host of dignitaries attended the ceremony to honor Gary.  Pictured above, our lieutenant governor Mitch Landrieu, Gary Solomon, Federal Judge Jay Zainey, and yours truly.

 

 

Can you believe all this outrageous criminal behavior by the Governor of Illinois? His name is Ron Blagojevich, and to put it gently, he is a corrupt bonehead. The FBI (who as we well know you cannot always trust) apparently have tape recordings of the Governor  discussing the withholding of state funds from a Children’s Hospital until the chief executive made campaign contributions, and outright trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat recently vacated by president — elect Barack Obama. How can this guy be so brazen? How stupid to even talk about these criminal activities. Not only is he a crook, he’s a dumb crook.  And when you talk about the corruption Louisiana, did you know that the Governor before Blagojevich is also in jail?  Maybe they can share a cell, and talk about all the damage they have done to the state of Illinois.

To read details of the charges against the Governor, Click Here. In the first video below, the charges against the Governor are set out in some detail. The second video shows the Governor holding a prèss  conference the day before he is arrested telling any and all to tape his conversations.  Well they did, and his term as Governor is about to come to an abrupt end.

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Finally, my daughter weighs in on how the President elect gives a weak response to his reaction of the brewing Illinois scandal.  Check her out here.

I’m a big Holly Clegg fan.  Besides being longtime friends, I really admire the numerous cookbooks she has produced.  Here’s her latest, just in time for Christmas, and the proceeds go towards helping fund wetlands preservation, so vital to Louisiana.  The book is available at all bookstores.  Hwer website is www.hollyclegg.com.

trim&Terrific™ Gulf Coast Favorites 

Best selling trim&Terrific™ cookbook author, Holly Clegg presents over 250 easy, healthy and delicious recipes from her Louisiana kitchen inspired by the Gulf Coast  

Think you have to spend hours in the kitchen to prepare healthy, delicious meals inspired by the unique flavors of the Gulf Coast?  Think again!  Holly Clegg is spicing things up with an exciting collection of recipes indigenous to the Gulf Coast region.  In her new cookbook trim&Terrific™ Gulf Coast Favorites (Holly Clegg Publications, September 2008; soft cover/ $24.95; ISBN: 978-0-9815640-05), Clegg presents over 250 easy, everyday, mouth-watering recipes that celebrate the abundance of fresh seafood and local ingredients that define the cuisine of the Gulf Coast.

 

I don’t know about you, but I have been watching Meet the Press each Sunday morning for as far back as I can remember. Even now, when I do a Sunday morning radio show, I have one eye on what guest is appearing on what has to be the most popular new show on television. There always was a “comfort ability level” with hosts Tim Russert before his death, and lately with Tom Brokaw.  Now, David Gregory, takes over the show this Sunday. Gregory was a colleague of my oldest daughter Campbell, when they both worked at the White House for NBC. I met David in New Orleans a few years back, and he could not have been more personable. I look forward to his long tenure, and his keeping me informed on what’s happening throughout the country and the world each Sunday morning on Meet the Press. See below the announcement of his new job.

 

There’s a three hundred pound gorilla loose in Louisiana called “public healthcare” that continues to eat up a growing sector of the state’s tax dollars.  Meanwhile, the state’s efforts are focused on trying to stop the bleeding, with little emphasis on offer affordable healthcare to over one million people who do not qualify for pubic assistance.  The working poor, many who are middleclass, just cannot afford the high cost of healthcare insurance. And just this week, a new study was released concluding that Louisiana is the most unhealthiest  stae in the nation.   (To read the full study, Click Here.)

  

 The Legislature hasn’t even considered any options for those in need of cheaper health insurance.  And the Governor, who cut his teeth on healthcare issues, is under criticism for traveling the country rather than dealing with this front burner issue. (See story on his travels by Clicking Here.)  Jim looks at this serious problem in this week’s column.  You can read it now by Clicking Here.

 

I’ll have to tell you”¦..I’m an unabashed Angelina Jolie fan.  She is a captivating women and one really fine actress.  I haven’t missed any of her recent movies.  A few of my favorites are “Life or Something Like it,” Original Sin, Wanted, and Beyond Borders.  I have watched her in Laura Croft-Tomb Raider several times.  And she deserves an Academy Award (she has one already) for her compelling role in Changeling.  She has mesmerized New Orleans with “Jolie watches” being posted on the internet regularly when she is in her new adopted home. Below are her video comments about New Orleans.

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Here is a real tough one.  How much control should you have over your life, particularly if you are withering away and perhaps have five or six months to live?  Should you have the right to pull the plug?  Most states say no.  It’s a difficult issue, and I’ll be talking about it on this Sunday’s radio show on WRNO.  You can read a compelling article that appeared in last Sunday’s Los Angeles Times, entitled  “Time for Dad to Die,” by Clicking Here.  And spend a few minutes listening and watching a few case histories in the video below.  Then you make your choice.  Should someone have the right to die?

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Remember my column written last month when I proposed that Louisiana become its own country?  Well would you believe it?  There are voices worldwide who are predicting that the U.S. will splint up into various countries in the years to come.  In fact, a leading Russian political analyst has said the economic turmoil in the United States has confirmed his long-held view that the country is heading for collapse, and will divide into separate parts. (To read full story, Click Here) 

 

Now, national radio host Glenn Beck (who is a regular on my station WRNO) has his break up plan, and agrees this may happen.  Far fetched?  Of course.  But the world is obviously changing.  And Louisiana, with its mineral wealth, would be one of the richest countries in the Americas.  To read my previous column, Click Here.  And to read all the international fuss by Glenn and the Russians, Click Here..

 

Can American automobiles continue to be competitive on the international market?  I wrote last week about the financial impact of the GM in Louisiana that directly has created some 25,000 jobs.  To read my column, Click Here. Take a look at the following video that tells the story of Ford Motor Company’s success in Brazil.  Why can’t we duplicate this same approach right here at home? Click Link below to see the video .

http://Info.DetNews.com/video/ index.cfm?id=1189

 

I’m taking a little break this week over the Thanksgiving holidays, so there will be no new column posted, and just a few changes here on my website. I will be doing my Sunday radio show on WRNO Sunday morning as usual from 11 AM to 1 PM. If you’re not able us and throughout South Louisiana, you can listen to the whole show right here on this website. In addition, I’ll also be hosting a four hour show on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. I’ll be on WRNO beginning at 5 AM and staying on the air to 9 AM. So if you getup that early in the morning, be sure and tune in.

So long, dear Rambler Luderin Darbone, the Cajun swing fiddler and co-founder of the Hackberry Ramblers, died on Friday in Sulphur. He was 95 years old.  I heard him perform some months ago at the Shaw Center in Baton Rouge. Born in Evangeline and raised in Texas, Darbone co-founded the Hackberry Ramblers with Edwin Duhon in 1933. The band combined Cajun music with the popular western swing and country music of their day, and in 1935 the Ramblers recorded for RCA Bluebird. Sixty-four years after the band’s inception, the Ramblers were nominated for a Grammy Award for their album Deep Water for the best traditional folk album of 1997. That same year, Darbone and Duhon received a National Heritage Fellowship from the Folk Arts Program of the National Endowment for the Arts.   His most famous song was the cajun classic Jolie Blond.  He he is, playing the fiddle, in a 1936 rendition of this popular french tune. [kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/znDv9ddJtd4" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

It was back to my old hometown of Ferriday this week will try was the guest speaker at the Ferriday Chamber of Commerce. A good chance to talk abut my new book and visit my old stomping grounds and renew friendships with a number of friends that go back to the mid-1960s. Actually, under some new political leadership, this part of the state seems to be growing, has cleaned itself up, and has a brighter future than just a few years ago.  Pictured below with me are (from left) old friend Leo Young, Delta Music Museum Director Judith Booth, State Representative Andy Anders, and Ferriday Mayor Glen McGlothlin. (To read news coverage of my talk, Click Here.)

               Photo by Joey Martin with Concordia Sentinel

Take a look at this week’s column now posted. What about all this bail out talk in Washington? How much effect does it have right here in Louisiana? Will quite a bit, I point out in the column. Did you know that some 20,000 jobs are in our state will be directly affected if the Big Three auto producers go out of business? You can read this week’s column by Clicking Here.

 

 And after you read the column, take a look at the video below. It’s a great parody of how our Washington bureaucrats come up with all their crazy numbers.  Will go actually made many years ago, or I think you agree to meet is right on the money will how many of our officials will come up with their projected dollar amounts. Will hope you enjoy it.

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Just when you thought that insurance regulatory problems in the Department of Insurance could not get any worse in Louisiana, more problems, and even outright violations of the law, raise their ugly heads. Just this week, the insurance department was blasted by the Legislative Auditor in a 60 page scathing report alleging that the insurance department has allowed the troubled and under fire Citizens Property Insurance Company to operate in direct violation of state law.  Citizens was charging illegal rates, and the insurance department was accused of refusing to provide requested information. The State Auditor stated that there was complete lack of cooperation from the insurance department. In addition, the department continues to stonewall continuing requests by the auditor’s office by refusing to turn over internal e-mails and other information that clearly is in the purview of the legislative Auditor to receive. The insurance commissioner is accused of “violating state laws buy not making the documents available.” To read more on this brewing scandal, Click Here or Click Here.

Since the election of new Pres. Barack Obama, gun sales have skyrocketed. A lot of people are apparently worried that Obama will make a major effort to control who can own a gun. I think there’s fat chance of this happening. But the two videos below tell you a lot about what you do to give yourself protection, and how you can cut down on crime with handguns. Between approaches taken by William Shatner and Chris Rock, they both have things figured out pretty well. Take a look.

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Regular readers of this site know that I’m a die hard basketball fan. I walked out of a dinner party this past Tuesday evening so I could go home and watch the UNC- Kentucky game on television.  I am a real Tar Heel fan since my days at Carolina in the early 60s. (Sports trivia question — who was UNC’s legendary basketball coach Dean Smith’s first recruit? Go to the boxes on the left, hit “press comments”, and click on article 1.)  And whatever you think of Pres. Barack Obama, he still is quite a basketball player. Take a look at the video below, and watch him hit quite a three-pointer while talking to our troops overseas.  And to reqasd about the importance of basketball in Obama’s life, Click Here.

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Now that the election is over, we need to get back to the really important matters in our lives like football and hate crimes. That’s what my column is about this week. I know you’re wondering how the two are intertwined. Well Alabama’s Nick Saban came to town last weekend, and when he was hanged in effigy, the door opened on the possibility of new law violations in Louisiana. Read all about it by Clicking Here.

 Also, be sure and take a minute to listen to a new song on my jukebox by Mary Gauthier.  She is quite a balladeer of soulful and soulless music, and she appears in person at the Shaw Center on Friday night. I’ve been listening to her music for a number of years. And I also hope you take a few minutes each week to listen to my podcast. You really need to. It’s my therapy to be able to ramble a bit each week about what I think is important, and sometimes irrelevant. Take a listen.

 

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has wasted no time, once the presidential election was over last week, traveling the country, giving numerous national TV interviews, and making no bones about the fact that he plans on being a major player in Republican politics on the national scene. His Achilles’ heel may possibly be not addressing numerous growing problems he will face in Louisiana. The state faces a $1 billion shortfall in the coming year, and there is a litany of problems including a restructuring of the health system, a crumbling infrastructure, and insurance rates across the board that are the highest in the country.  Jindal is certainly a talented fellow, but he is juggling a lot of balls right now, and needs to protect his turf at home in Louisiana. I wrote about this balancing of interests in last week’s column that you can read by Clicking Here. If there’s any doubt about Jindal’s national ambitions, just take a look at the following video.

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The outrageous lack of oversight continues as more troubling audits show widespread mismanagement and outright theft on the part of those running the state created Citizens Property Insurance Company. Citizens has been called the biggest financial disaster in Louisiana’s history. And for good reason. This notoriously mismanaged company was on the road to disaster from day one. Proposed by the Department of Insurance, and created by the legislature, the debacle of Citizens has cost Louisiana taxpayers well over $1 billion. A new audit, just released, shows widespread abuse and misspending on everything from football tickets, to fancy resorts, cigars, Mardi Gras balls, all with no justifiable ties to helping policyholders and taxpayers who have to pay for the Citizens mess.  You can read a summary of this new troubling audits will I Clicking Here or Here.

It was Veterans Day on Tuesday of this week. And very few people remembered in any fashion. There are only one or two American flags in my large subdivision. State employees in Louisiana were given a holiday, but it was merely a day away from work. Nothing special.  I know of no public official in the state who attended and spoke at any remembrance gathering. How quickly we forget the losses and sacrifices of so many men and women who fought to give us or freedom.  Younger people reading this site will have no comprehension of the draft and the choices one had to make it enlist in the armed services. Do you have a couple of minutes? If you do, who and you’re not moved by the video below, then it’s easy lesson as to how little our patriotism means in this country today. Take a look. It’s only two minutes of your time.

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Now that the election is over, I wrote this week about some of the winners and losers in the past election.  The list includes La. Gov. Bobby Jindal, Tina Fey and Joe the Plumber.  Yu can read it now by Clicking Here.

 

If you know anything about Louisiana politics, you are well aware of how exciting election night can be.  The Secretary of State’ office is a buzz counting the precinct returns as they come in from Clerk of Court’s offices all over the state.  In the old days (pre-1980), there was a wait of several days before complete results were known.  I changed all this when I was elected as Secretary of State, and the system has been updated ever since.  I paid an election night visit to the office and visited with current Secretary of State jay Dardenne (below) as the returns came in late Saturday night.

I have always been a big fan North Carolina US Sen. Libby Dole.  I had a delightful dinner with her in Natchez, Mississippi back in the early 1970s. But she was soundly defeated in her re-election efforts this past Tuesday, and she only has her own self to blame. Dole has always been a Washington insider, having headed up the national Red Cross from Washington, D.C.  office, and being married to former US Sen. Bob Dole. But she took the people in North Carolina for granted, and in the year 2006, only came home to the state on 13 days. That’s just not doing your job. In her re-election efforts, she ran a highly negative TV spot against her Democratic opponent, state Sen. Kay Hagan, accusing Hagan of not believing in God.  Hagan is an elder in her church and attends regularly.  For good reason, Dole was overwhelming voted out of office.  You can see her negative TV spot as part of Campbell Brown’s commentary below. 

 

 

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

You just will not believe the dream I had last night.  It was the strangest thing you can imagine.  Now those of you who have followed my years of public service know full well that I’m a quiet, non— controversial kind of guy.  But in my dream last night, I was right in the center of this massive national controversy.  Now here’s what happened.  Oh well, it might be better for you to take a look yourself.  Check out the video below show you too can find out about the nightmare I experienced last night.

Atlanta high school kids below  give an energetic presentation of your right to vote for whoever y9u want for President, but how it’s important to vote.  And by the way, I think the pundits are going to be surprised at the high number of yunger voters who will go to the polls on election day. With the economic breakdown in this country and the war in Iraq, many of these young people are realizing they have a lot at stake.  I think the turn out will be at an all time high.

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

 

Are you happy that you as a taxpayer have plowed some $120 million into the AIG insurance company?  Yet insurance regulators over the country seem to be quite blasé about the shenanigans of AIG.  And you may not realize what a big presence this giant company has right here in Louisiana.  You can read all about how Louisiana policyholders are really taking a hit because of the outrageous actions of this company.  You can read Jim’s new column by Clicking Here.

And you won’t believe how AIG officials live so extravagantly.  Check out their $85,000 partridge hunting by Clicking Here.

There been several major national stories on Jim’s daughter Campbell, who is making quite an impact each night on CNN.  You can read the New York Times story by Clicking Here, and the Washington Post story by Clicking Here.

 

 

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

In less than two weeks, we will have a new president elect.  The first president I remember watching on election night was John F. Kennedy.  I was in my apartment at the University of North Carolina, and stayed up until the early morning hours watching his first comments as the new president.  Like most Americans, I was captivated by his energy, his youth, and his inspiring words.  Take a look below at Kennedy’s first public gathering once he knew he would become the 35^th president of the United States.

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Some political observers are puzzled over the last minute endorsement by Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana State Treasurer John Kennedy, who is running for the U.S. Senate.  Kennedy’s opponent, incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu, is solidly ahead in recent polls.  So why would Jindal get in the middle of what seems to be a losing cause?  Jindal has been traveling around the country in recent weeks laying a foundation for a possible Presidential bid in 2012 if the McCain-Palin ticket looses.  One would think Jindal would not want a vindictive Senator Landrieu undermining his efforts.   And why did Jindal wait so late to get involved?  Here is Jindal’s endorsement below.

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If you live down here Louisiana, we are use to seeing and reading about movie stars throughout our state all the time.  That’s pretty neat, but we pay a price for the small pleasure.  The state is giving away millions of dollars to movie producers in order to lure them to do their work here in the Bayou State.  Is it worth it?  Take a look at my new column and see if you agree with the glitter of Hollywood that could well be taking advantage of Louisiana taxpayers.  You can read my new column by Clicking Here.

I have a new book out.  It’s really an easy title to remember. 

It's called:  "Adventures in an Alternative Reality of Living in Louisiana-Enter at Your Own Risk."

Quite a title.  You can check out the new book, and find out how to order it by simply going to his publishing site at:http://www.authorhouse.com/bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=54455.

 The book is a continuation of Jim's perspective, often zany and offbeat, but full of "on the mark" insights of Louisiana political and social life.  So give it a look.  It's available in both hardback and paperback

The book is a continuation of Jim's perspective, often zany and offbeat, but full of "on the mark" insights of Louisiana political and social life.  So give it a look.  It's available in both hardback and paperback.

In the heat of a presidential campaign, there are charges, innuendos, inaccurate statements, and outright lies that plague any major candidate.  We have certainly seen this take place in the present McCain-Obama slug fest.  That’s why it is refreshing for a political commentator to deal with misinformation head on, and try to keep this heated race in a proper perspective.  The fact that the commentator happens to be my daughter brings a great deal of pride when she forcefully speaks out, as she does each night on CNN.    Take a look below at her no bull commentary.

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

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And more Jindal news.  Conservative columnist Josh Trevino, the co-founder of RedState.com, writes on his blog that he couldn’t bring himself to vote for John McCain, and instead, penciled in Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal as his choice:  Check out his inner turmoil by Clicking Here.

And remember, the first presidential primary is in 2012.  So who’s going to Iowa to speak just two weeks after the Nov. 4th election?  Why Gov. Bobby Jindal.  He is being touted in Iowa as a presidential candidate. Check out the article by Clicking Here.

 

How many of you have ever attended your 50^th year anniversary of your high school reunion?  I had the great pleasure last weekend of becoming reacquainted with so many old friends, a number of whom I have not seen in the past 50 years.  I graduated from a first rate high school in the suburbs of St. Louis back in 1958.  You can learn all about my high school class by Clicking Here.  I am pictured below with a number of old friends, and we’ve all agreed to stay in much closer touch in the years to come.

 

The presidential race is coming to an end for two candidates, but would you believe, the jockeying is already beginning for 2012.  And Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is right in the mix.  You can check out my thoughts by reading this week’s column about a major fundraiser in Florida this weekend, and why Jindal may have alreadystarted a campaign for president.  You can read this week’s column by Clicking Here.  And if you can believe it, there are people in Florida who will raise $25,000 just to visit the Louisiana governor.  Check out the invitation below.

EVENT CO-CHAIRS

Peter Baronoff

Slater Bayliss

Dr. A.K. Desai

 

Dr. Jason and Denise Rosenberg
Dr. Steven and Rebecca Scott

Kathleen Shanahan

HOST COMMITTEE

Carlos Alfonso

Brian Ballard

John Beebe

Robert Bernstein

Travis Blanton

Matt Bryan

Bob Burleson

Tim Cerio

Chanta Combs

Bryan Day

Jim Frogue

Danny Gaekwad

Jillian Hasner

Randal Johnson

Mark Kaplan

Steve Madden

Gene McGee

Will McKinley

Van B. Poole

Jim Smith

Denver Stutler
Jason Unger

 

(Host Committee In Formation)

 

With special guests

The Honorable Dean Cannon, Florida House Speaker Designate

The Honorable Adam Hasner, Florida House Majority Leader

 

SAVE THE DATE

For an event honoring

The Honorable Bobby Jindal

Governor of the State of Louisiana

 

Saturday, October 11

Time TBD:  based on kick-off time of UF/LSU game

At the home of

Dr. Jason and Denise Rosenberg

16008 N.W. 78th Avenue, Alachua, FL 32615

 

Event Co-Chairs/Roundtable discussion:  Raise $25,000

Event Hosts/Photo Opportunity:  Raise $10,000

Event Guests: $2,500

 

Formal invitation to follow with exact time

For more information please contact:  Mary Kate Johnson at 301-379-6630 marykate@themkgroup.net

Checks should be made payable to:  Friends of Bobby Jindal. The maximum allowed by Louisiana law is $5,000 per individual and $5,000 per corporation.

Jimmy Davis was the first Louisiana governor I ever met.  He took me under wing back in the 1960s and supported me every time I ran for public office. Whenever he came through  my hometown of Ferriday, he would stop for coffee and share numerous stories of his years in public life. When he ran for governor in 1971, I was running my first race for state senator. When Gov. Davis came through my district, he would always call, have me up on the stage, and introduce me as the next senator before taking off on a chorus of one of his many  songs.  He died at 101 and would have been 109 on his birthday in a few weeks.  I’m pictured below stopping off at the Jimmy Davis Tabernacle in Jonesboro, Louisiana where I paid a visit a few weeks ago.  All over the world, people can sing one of America’s favorites.    Take a look at the video below.   You will hear the Governor himself singing You are My Sunshine.

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

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Should Louisiana Secede from the Union ?

Don’t laugh.  You might find the logic interesting.  Check out my NEW column on how the Bayou State has been continually short changed.  YOU can read my reasoning now by Clicking Here.

LATEST POLLS

The current financial crisis has not been helpful to Sen. John McCain's candidacy. That's the analysis from consultant dick Morris, who is a regular on conservative talk shows like Sean Hannity. Take a look at the electoral map put together by Morris to see his take on where the electoral votes are for both McCain and Obama. by the way, Dick Morris took the first poll I ever paid for back in 1986. He told me then I should have run for U.S.Senate. And I should have listened to him. To see his state by state analysis, Click Here.

Lousiana Lawmaker Faults Media For Focusing Attention On His Eugenics Proposal»

Louisiana State Rep. John LaBruzzo (R) recently stirred controversy by advocating a form of eugenics to decrease the number of poor. “I realized that all these people were in Louisiana’s care and what a massive financial responsibility that is to the state,” he said. “I said, “˜I wonder if it might be a good idea to pay some of these people to get sterilized.'” His plan would also give tax incentives to the rich to encourage procreation.

Appearing on CNN today, LaBruzzo defended his proposal by arguing that “the taxpayers of America are kind of getting fed up” with supporting welfare programs. He cited the “totally reliant” residents who relied on government evacuations during Hurricane Katrina. When CNN’s Kyra Phillips asked why he couldn’t invest in education and poverty-reduction programs, LaBruzzo faulted the media for focusing too much attention on his eugenics program:

Every one of the ideas you brought up were talked about in the brainstorming session. Obviously the media thought this was the one they could get some ratings out of. We talked about getting involved in the community. “¦ We talked about a lot of those issues. This is one that the media grabbed hold of because it gets ratings.

He also blamed the “tremendous influx of illegal aliens” for “bringing down the economy even more.” Watch it:

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But this week, LaBruzzo explicitly ruled out more common sense solutions. “LaBruzzo said other, mainstream strategies for attacking poverty, such as education reforms and programs informing people about family planning issues, have repeatedly failed to solve the problem,” the Times-Picayune reported.
LaBruzzo seems to be dead serious about implementing the plan. He “gathering statistics“ now and is planning to introduce legislation “if he finds that the number of people on welfare has increased” over the past decades.

Despite how busy the last week has been, it would be a major faux pas not to acknowledge the passing last week of Paul Newman. He was simply the quintessential movie star. A handsome guy with penetrating blue eyes, who graced the screen with his style, humor and great talent. After can you begin to pick the best Paul Newman movie? Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid of course. And what a classic The Sting was. Hud, The Long Hot Summer, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, I saw them all. Remember The Drowning Pool? It was filmed in Franklin, Louisiana; in the same house were former Gov. Mike Foster lives today. He was my favorite actor, who gave away over $200 million to charity. Check out the film tribute below.

How can you make any sense out of this present financial crisis? Exactly how did we get into this mess? I gave it my best shot in this week’s column. And it’s just not a problem in New York or Washington, DC. For those of us who live in Louisiana, those representing us here are just as responsible. You can read my analysis in my latest column now posted by Clicking Here. There is as lot more commentary about the Wall Street mess further below

The weekends have really become busy for me. Last Saturday, my niece got married, and it would be hard to find a prettier bride. You can see me below beaming over niece Amelia, who married former LSU football star Jack Hunt.

And I’m off this weekend the St. Louis for, can you believe, my 50th year class reunion I’ve enjoyed staying in touch with a number of old classmates. If you’re interested, you can read about the gathering of Ladue High School‘s class of 1958 by Clicking Here.

I know something about stirring up controversy. But my oldest kid did a pretty good job of stirring up the pot this week. She has begun a campaign to “Free Sarah Palin.” Her knock is that the McCain political handlers have muzzled the Alaska Governor, and won’t let the press grill her as they like to do. We don’t always agree, but she is right on the money this time. You can read about the uproar she has caused by Clicking Here, and listen to her strong opinion below.

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During the almost 12 years I spent as an insurance regulator, I continued to hear the cry that there was “too much regulation taking place.” Limit the regulation, and let the free market work its magic. Well, the so-called “magic” has come to pass. As I wrote last week, not just on a national level, but right here in Louisiana. So regulators stood aside, and the element of Wall Street greed has taken over. $20 million annual cash bonuses. Sell sell sell, with little concern for the stability of the financial market. The mentality of Gordon Gekko, right out of the movie Wall Street, has apparently taken over the whole system. Remember Gekko’s words? “Greed is good.” You can hear the wisdom of this Wall Street philosopher below.

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So you are confused about the upheaval of the national financial markets, and want someone to tell you just what’s happening, and what we should do about it… right? Well you are not alone. On my radio show this past Sunday, caller after caller expressed concern, rage and disgust over how our elected officials have handled the financial mess we seem to be in today. Why were these banks, insurance companies, and other financial entities allowed to run rampant with little or no regulation? And it hits right home to Louisiana when companies like AIG take a nosedive, as I wrote in last week’s column which you can read by Clicking Here. So who do you turn to for the best overview of where we’re been, and where we ought to go? I can suggest two sources to watch or listen to below. CNBC’s Jim Cramer lays it all well with his no holds barred approach. (See video below.) And yours truly, on this past Sunday’s show, summed up how irresponsible the financial oversight has been. You can also listen to a short clip of my comments below. Unfortunately, we will be talking about this problem for a long, long time to come.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Online Videos by Veoh.com

As anyone who regularly follows my website knows, I am an unabashed country music fan.  And it should not be surprising.  After all, I lived in Ferriday, Louisiana for a number of years, and got to know all the musical legends there including Jerry Lee Lewis, Reverend Jimmy Swaggart, and of course, my longtime friend, country music singer of the year Mickey Gilly.  Mickey and I are pictured below along with current La. Secretary of State Jay Dardenne as we all dedicated a country music museum in Ferriday this past May.  But take a moment to watch the video below if you want to hear the latest country song that will really grab your heart.  It’s worth a view.

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Both political parties should have received wake-up call this week following the crash of key financial institutions in New York. But the problem hits right home here in Louisiana with a potential collapse of AIG insurance group. You might be surprised at what a huge presence AIG has right here Louisiana. I wrote about it at length in this week in my weekly column, and concluded that the buck stops with Governor Bobby Jindal. You will also read about Gov. Sarah Palin making here first visit to Louisiana on October 6^th. You can read the column now by Clicking Here.

And how about the Governor’s new official portrait along with the first lady by popular Louisiana artist George Rodrigue. You get a first look right here on my website.

 

Charges continue to fly in the current race for the White House, and depending upon what side you are on, one could make a pretty good case against either candidate.  But realistically, both McCain and Obama are pretty solid candidates for each of the respective political parties.  McCain is both a war hero, and has been an appealing political maverick for most of his career in the U.S. Senate.  Obama is the young visionary, and an agent for change.  Following are appealing commentaries showing both candidates in a favorable light. Lots more to show with just six weeks to go until election day.

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If you wanted to pick the perfect typecast for VP candidate Sarah Palin, it would be an easy pick. Tina Fey, formerly a regular on Saturday Night Live, made a return visit this past Saturday to play her look a like double, the Alaska Governor. She was a big hit, and we will certainly see Fey back for repeats. Whether you are a Palin fan or not, you will have to admit that Tina Fey does one heck of a great imitation.

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

And be sure and check out Arron Tippin’s brand new song, just released this week, about how it’s time to drill for oil in the U.S. Titled (appropriately) “Drill Here, Drill Now,” you can play it on the juke box. And what kind of kisser are you. Take a look below.

Now that the storm has passed along the gulf coast and (fingers crossed) Hurricane Ike seems to be moving away from Louisiana, insurance issues are now on the front burner for many residents. Wind this time, not water. And that’s good news, for insurance companies cannot hid behind questionable water claim denials. Losses in Louisiana will top $15 billion, significantly above what is being projected by the La. Insurance Department. (You can read about their low ball numbers by Clicking Here.) Many homes took a lot of damage and electricity has not been yet restored. But it’s important to contact your property insurance company as soon as possible.

Another blow to Louisiana homeowners is the sharp rise in what they get for their money.  At the urging of the La. Insurance Department, the legislature irresponsibility allowed insurance companies operating in Louisiana to impose deductibles as high as 5 %.  This has really put many homeowners in a financial bind.  As a national insurance consumer group asked: “Who’s looking out for Louisiana homeowners?” To read of the hardships being caused, Click Here.

If you have any trouble reaching them through normal channels, here are two options. First, you can get the storm number of insurance companies operating throughout Louisiana by Clicking Here. Look on the top left side of the page. Second, is all else fails, don’t hesitate to email me, and I will be glad to try to steer you in the right direction. You can contact me at info@thelisburnpress.com.

The Brown Family was well represented during convention week this time around. My sister, Madalyne (upper left) was a delegate at the Democratic Convention in Denver. She met up with my daughter Campbell who covered both conventions for CNN. Madalyne has been a delegate for a number of conventions, and is escorted by her husband Jiff, who (would you believe) is the Republican Sheriff of Plaquemines Parish below New Orleans. My first convention was 44 years ago, and you can read about it by Clicking Here.

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

How about Angelina Jolie and her brother?

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The Gores?

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Obama and Mrs. Biden?

Well we are cleaning up in the aftermath of Gustav that caused some $10 billion in damage to Louisiana. Two million customers lost power, and there is a great de3al of cleaning up to do. But wait. HURRICANE IKE is on its way into the Gulf and could pose a real new threat to the Gulf Coast. That’s what the weather experts are saying. So keep an eye out yourself if you live down our way, and we will up to the minute information on our site but can also get it by Clicking Here.

RADIO UPDATES- I’ll be giving regular updates on 99.5fm, WRNO out of New Orleans. . So be sure and tune in. Back to normal program scheduling beginning next week. You can contact me on the air either by email at jim@wrno.com, or by phone at 504 260-0995. And thanks to so many of you who are listening over the internet. I really appreciate your calls and emails. I’ll read your emails on the air, so send your thoughts to Jim@WRNO.com.

I’ve just returned to Louisiana after a week in the North Carolina Mountains, followed by another week out west in Hood River, Oregon where my youngest daughter lives with her husband. And there certainly is a lot to catch up on, with problems to address. On the national front, the Democratic convention is dominating the news. I’ve been a delegate on a number of occasions in the past, and my sister, Madeline, is representing the Brown family as a.delegate in Denver. I of course keep up with the proceedings by watching CNN as my oldest daughter Campbell does the play by play. Check out my column this week on remembering past conventions, both Democratic and Republican. You can read it by Clicking Here. And whaqt are the options for the Republicans if Hurricane Gustav does hit the Louisiana coast? Ge the latest update of what Republicans will do by Clicking Here.

Below, you will see some of the scenes from the beautiful mountainous region around both Mt. Hood and Mt. Saint Helene just south of Portland.

 

Some of the Brown gang is pictured above after a day of hiking this glorious mountainous region. My son James is on the right, and my son-in-law Tom is on the left. It was a treat to spend some time with my youngest daughter, Meredith who lives with Tom on the mountainside right on the Washington –Oregon border.

The bridge in back of me connects Oregon and Washington, and it is privately owned. Similar bridges and roads all over America are not built with public funds. Unfortunately, many legislators in Louisiana want everything to be built and run with public funds. What a waste.Think about how much more could be accomplished and how much money could be saved if the private sector could be more involved in public projects.

 

Yes, they believe Bigfoot is alive and walking the woods in the Mountains of Oregon. My daughter Meredith and I stopped off for a bit of hobnobbing with members of the Bigfoot Society and their Bigfoot Bash and Bounty along the Columbia River Gorge. And low and behold, take a look at who we stumbled on.

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

What is hands down the worst run agency in Louisiana State government? Jim takes his annual review, and the final competition is not even close. If you want to read Jim’s annual pick, just Click Here.

You can see from the photos below that Jim was on vacation in North Carolina last week. He will take this Sunday off his regular radio show, and he ventures on to Hood River, Oregon for some kite surfing with his son and one of his daughters. But he’s back on the air next week, and will no doubt have plenty to say about the Northwest. Enjoy some of the features listed on this week’s gathering of politics, good music, and a little humor.

The North Carolina Mountains offer me a little therapy each year, particularly in the heat of a Louisiana summer. I’ve been a regular this time a year for a long time. One of my trip highlights is to hike Grandfather Mountain, which is located about an hour and a half northeast of Ashville. A trek up and down the Profile Trail takes me about 2 ½ hours, and can really get the blood flowing. I try to make the trip up here several times a year. You will note my LSU hat that stirred quite a reaction from Appalachian State fans that live in the surrounding area. They are really gearing up for their first game against LSU next Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.

 

Now I’m not what you would call a great dancer, but I did stop by the Mountain Breeze Boogie Dance last week in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The Shag is the hot new dance sweeping this part of the country. A little swing and a little shuffle. You see me here trying to “cut a rug” with the club president Elaine Crowall. They all get together for lessons once a week.

 

 

As I travel through out the South, I make it a point to stop by any bookstore that carries my first book, Justice Denied. Since I am just weeks away from publishing my next book, staying in touch with book sellers is an important part of the writing process. I stopped below at Black Bear Books in Boone, North Carolina last week to visit with Rhea Buck who works at this quaint mountain location. And by the way, there was much talk about the LSU– Appalachian State football game that is just a week away.

My 15 minutes of Fame.

We always hear about someone having their 15 minutes of fame. I really did have just about 15 minutes of fame back in 1963. I was a senior at the University of North Carolina, and a hurdler on the track team. In that year, a new race was authorized call the 300 meter hurdles. After this one year, they move the race up to the 400 meter hurdles. The first time the race was run was on the track below at Furman University in South Carolina. I won this race, and since it was the first time it was ever run, I legitimately held the world record. But remember now. I told you my fame lasted 15 minutes. A short time later, another race was run on the West Coast, and someone beat my time and also took away my world record. Ah, say le vie. But it was great while it lasted. I came back to visit the track and renew old memories.

Is it really down to a two man race this November for President? Yes, there are some minor candidates that have qualified, but none that seem to be creating any excitement. Well this is Louisiana so what about a local named Breaux? Take a look at the following video, then judge for yourself. I certainly would like to hear your thoughts. Hummm!

Game time for numerous colleges is only a week a way. Will LSU repeat as national champion? If not, who’s your pick? You can sign up to make your choice and get a lot of clear and concise college football news by Clicking Here. Go ahead and have some football fun.

Well you just have to check ot the new Paris Hilton political ad. Sure she’s a dingbat, but guess what? Her energy plan makes pretty good sense. Check it out and see what you think.

For you political groupies who want the daily tracking polls and trends on the coming presidential election, here is a site you might want to check out. Nate Silver is the publisher and you can find his daily evaluation of political information by Clicking Here. You can see below an interview with him on Countdown as to the latest updates.

. Oh all right. I’ll admit it. I am a card carrying member of the AARP. And for good reason. You qualify at 55, and you get great discounts on hotels, rental cars, and a number of other purchases. Power to us old guys. And here’s a great service. Below is just some of the neat bumper stickers I have to choose from. Pick your favorite, and definitely put one on your car. You know I will right?

 August 6th, 2008

Jim is on vacation all this week, out of cell and web range, high in the North Carolina mountains. He’s back in business next week with a new column, and plenty of updates on this site. So keep checking.

 

Have we too many federal laws on the books in this country? I think so. Take a look at my column now up about the federal government being way too far involved in parochial law enforcement. And let me know what you think. If you agree or disagree, let me know. Post your comments at the end of my column. You can read it now by Clicking Here.

I also put up on the Jim Brown jukebox my favorite Garth Brooks song, The Dance. Let me tell you about the first time I ever saw Garth Brooks in person. It was in the late 1970s, and I had just been elected Secretary of State and moved to Baton Rouge. Now I love to listen to honky-tonk singers, and I drove up to the Bear Creek Restaurant and bar in the center of St. Helena Parish. There is always a good crowd on Saturday night, with some country singer who hopes to make the big time. A short stocky guy was up on the stage with a pretty darn good voice. I asked one of the bartenders who he was. “Oh he drives in here every month or so from Oklahoma. Got a pretty fair voice. His name is Brooks. I think it’s Garth Brooks.”

When I was asked time and time again, after my altercation with the federal government, as to whether I regretted going into politics, I often quoted Garth Brooks’ final line of the song. “Life’s better left to chance. I could’ve missed the pain. But I’da had to miss the dance.” Give a listen and thanks for spending a little time on my site.

If you did not listen and see the last lecture Professor Randy Pausch, you really missed something special. Randy was a computer-science professor from Carnegie Mellon University. He died at his home this past week at the age of 47 of pancreatic cancer.
Knowing that he was going to die, he gathered up his class and many friends to get his last lecture. His words serve as an inspiration to number of people who go through difficult times in our lives. I would urge you to take a few minutes and listen to Randy’s final comments. You’ll be glad you did.

Are you a dancer? I wish I were much better than I am. And how about a trip that takes you dancing all over the world? Take a look at the video below of young Matthew Harding who did just that. He traveled the world to dance. And what exotic places. I’m quite envious. And like Garth Brooks sang “I could’ve missed the pain, but I’da had to miss the dance.”

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

So how is Louisiana handling its insurance crisis. Poorly argues Jim in his new column now posted. Louisiana now has the title of having the highest property, auto and health rates in the country. And there is no relief in site as the most recent session of the Louisiana legislature punted on any meaningful reform.,. You can read all about this crisis in Jim’s new column by Clicking Here.

Me run for President? Well, there has been a real draft movement that seems to be sweeping the country. Have you witnessed it? I’m on TV, on Billboards, everywhere you look are signs about the “Brown for President” movement. So take a look. Check out this video on my campaign (and yours too if you want to put your own video together.)

The big fall election is just a few months away, and active campaigning is underway. Check out JibJab’s new video about the upcoming presidential race.  See if you can spot both Bobby Jindal and yours truly in the video.

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

Oh, that’s right. I have met Jesse Jackson several times through the years, and talked about a number of issues with him. Now we don’t hang out together, but I do have a theory about the guy. He’s dumb like a fox. And he ain’t stupid. I just wonder about all this talk of making Barrack Obama a eunuch. When he made his comments abut defrocking the Democratic Party nominee, he was in a TV studio. Look, I’ve been in many such studios and anyone and everyone knows the mikes stay “hot” even when the camera is not rolling. Jesse had to know that his comments were being recorded. So maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t that dumb of a thing to say after all. It did nothing to lessen support among black voters for Obama. And many white voters saw all this controversy in a sympathetic light for him.

Jackson was critical over Obama’s comments about more responsibilities of fathers in the black community. Most whites agree. So here’s the question”¦.was ole Jesse actually helping Barrack? I guess we will never know for sure.

So the eunuch comments might have helped Obama, but The New Yorker cover made the candidate really mad. The magazine seems to have winkled out an essential truth about Barack Obama ““ he doesn’t do satire. I’ve been a subscriber for years, and that’s what the magazine does so well. Make fun of any and every one. It shows the presidential candidate dressed in a turban, fist- bumping his wife, Michelle, in an afro, with an AK47 over her shoulder. An American flag goes up in flames in their fireplace, while a portrait of Osama bin Laden hangs above the mantelpiece.

Hilarious to the sophisticated readers of The New Yorker, it was infuriating for Mr. Obama, whose campaign is waging a daily battle against a viral internet campaign of rumors, lies and innuendo against him ““ a problem neatly summed up by the cartoon. The Obama campaign was not happy, and began immediately denouncing the cartoon as “tasteless and offensive.” But by protesting so much, Obama’s supporters just caused more publicity and a huge run on copies of the latest edition of the magazine. I’m glad my copy came in the mail.

I’ve been a Billy Joe Royal fan for as long back as I can remember. That gives you some idea as to how old he is. He has some great old songs including Out in the Boondocks, Cherry Hill Park and I Knew you when you were Lonely. Billy Joe is aging a bit, and spends more time at home in Morehead Beach, North Carolina, one of my favorite stomps. We visited last weekend at his concert at the Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge,and I haven’t missed a local concert of his in years. I guess my favorite Billy Joe song is playing right now on the Jim Brown jukebox to your left. Give a listen to Billy Joe singing Tell it Like it is.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

The focus of my radio show this past Sunday was a fellow named Joe Horn from Pasadena, Texas. A grand jury last week cleared him from any charges related to the shooting of two burglars who entered his neighbor’s house. Horn killed them both with a shot gun. Website publisher Greg Aymond (Central La. Politics)did a profile on the story comparing Louisiana law to Texas law. You can read Greg’s conclusions by Clicking Here. And check out the videos above and below. What would you have done if you witnessed a burglar breaking in to your neighbor’s home?

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Shame on you Governor Bobby Jindal! How could you stand by and allow our lawmakers, who sacrificed so much, to sleep in their cars? That’s right! According to comments from state Rep. Joe Harrison, who represents St. Mary, Terrebonne and Assumption parishes, legislators in Louisiana are so broke that some can’t afford a room on the $143.00 a day per diem, and have to sleep in there cars. Now I live in Baton Rouge and I did not know that our city has New York City hotel rates? Here’s what Joe had to say: “I would have hoped the governor would have come up with a solution instead of just vetoing the bill. . “There were legislators sleeping in their cars. That’s a sad situation when we allow ourselves not to recognize the seriousness of the situation.” You can read the whole article by Clicking Here.

JIM’S NEW COLUMN NOW UP

IS GOVERNOR JINDAL STILL IN THE VP HUNT?

CLICK HERE TO READ IT.

 

Louisiana State Sen. Ann Duplessis, from New Orleans, said the legislative pay raise issue was skewed by those who do not believe elected officials are credible. She was the author of the proposed legislation that had voters rise up in arms.

As an example, she pointed to the photo of her Mercedes that popped up on the Internet before the governor vetoed the pay raise. Duplessis, D-New Orleans, said the car is part of her compensation package as a banker. Hey, some job….How many people do you know that are given a Mercedes as part of their job benefits? So she gets a 500SL and is a FULL TIME employee of a bank, but she still needs and takes the lead to get a 200% pay raise. Any wonder she made so many voters angry?

Ray Nagin, the Mayor of New Orleans, has no problem spending tax money to wind and dine his wife and just about anyone else he cares to entertain. And all on the public’s dime. I talked about Mayor’s reprehensible actions on my talk show this past Sunday. Nagin says his wife is one of his “key advisers” as well as the city’s first lady, and when the couple is dining out, people often pull up a chair and talk about city business. So is this justification to buy his and others lunch or dinner? Not just heck no, but hell no. To read about his attitude, Click Here.

As many of you know, I’m a product of the 60s. My time in college, studying abroad in England, and finishing law school. The time in my life that formed my values, my persuasions, and my future goals. When I listen to the oldies today, the music generally comes from the 60s. This was a time when it was the norm to drive an American car, fly the American flag on your front porch all year long, and either serve in the military or do extensive volunteer service. Boy how our values have changed. If you want to stroll back with me with your own memories, go to the 60s site and CLICK HERE.

My good friend, Attorney Paul Hurd, up in Monroe has spent a great deal of time evaluating the performance of our recent Louisiana legislature, and has come up with a Legislative Competence and Proficiency Test.  Take a look and put a grade to your legislator.  Better yet, email the test to those who represent you and ask them to send it back for your review.    You can look over the whole test by CLICKING HERE. 

VIDEO PRESIDENTIAL ASSASSINATION GAME

Now here’s one hard to believe. For the aspiring young assassin, a popular online games site offers kids the opportunity to assume the identity of a leading presidential contender and then shoot their political opponents in a series of armed confrontations in the White House. While the ammo is paintball, the game on the highly trafficked miniclip.com site allows kids to train a rifle scope on six presidential aspirants and squeeze off a hail of shots (which are accompanied with a rat-a-tat sound). The game, “Presidential Paintball. I guess next we will be taking air at al the Biblical characters.  To check out the game, CLICK HERE.

 

JIM’S NEW COLUMN (JINDAL AND PAY RAISES) NOW UP

JINDAL NEEDS TO PICK A FIGHT!

TO READ, CLICK HERE.

The “Anti-Pay Raise Rally” WILL BE HELD JULY 7 at the STATE CAPITOL from 2 to 4 p.m. For more information, contact steve@bayoubuzz.com to help or to attend. Rally is being sponsored by Citizen Can and was idea initiated by Bayoubuzz Publisher, Stephen Sabludowsky.

AND WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS TO SAY

“The easiest thing for me would be veto it,” Jindal said to cheers as he discussed the pay raise bill in Shreveport on Tuesday. “I would be the most popular governor in the state’s history.” He was heckled by one man when he added, “I don’t want to give legislators or anybody else an excuse to slow down the reforms that are so important for our state.” You promised to veto!” the heckler said.” id. See this two video clips of the protest:

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It is obvious this issue is not going away. I’ve been around the state capitol for over 30 years dealing with issues like Right to Work. But I’ve never witnessed such animosity. And you can get a good sense of what voters are thinking in other parts of the state by checking out my good friend, Grey Aymond’s website by Clicking Here.

And the news articles against the payraise continue to flow:

Jindal’s Reform Policy is going Backwords

Protesters greet Jindal at Stelly tax signing

Citizens Consumed by Payraise Flap

Jindal’s Choice: Back Voters or Legislators

Kudos’ to J.R. Ball, the feisty editor of the Baton Rouge Business Report, for his just published article on the La. Legislative pay raise. It’s worth the read by Clicking Here. And you just gotta bring the Kingfish into the mix as J.R. does with the following poem.

So, with apologies to Gov. Long and Randy Newman, please join in the singing of “Every Lege A King:”

Why weep or slumber in Baton Rouge
Land of L-S-U
With billions in spending and NGOs
All from us to you

Evry lege a king, evry lege a king,
For we should all be millionaires

There’s a pay raise belonging to all of us
There’s enough for tax-payers to share
When it’s sunny June and December too
Or in the winter time or spring
There’ll be cash without end
Even Jindal’s our friend
And evry lege a king!

[Editor’s note: To hear Randy Newman’s original version, or to sing along with the new lyrics, click here.]

Here is a list of other pay raise articles that are dominating Louisiana news:

Veto Heat on Jindal
Do Right By Us!
Getting Off the Gravy Train
Payraise Compendium
Bobby Jindal Is A Total Wuss, Everyone In Louisiana Agrees & Hates Him
The train’s still on track–for now
Jindal Not the Political Tough Guy
Pay Increase Generates Recall Petition
Roemer: Jindal can Veto the Raise.
Striking Out on Reforms in Louisiana
Payraise Defines Session, Possibly Legislature

Louisiana Emperor Jindal Has No Clothes

Looking For a Veto and a HeroLegislators Raise Pay-La. Gov. Pays Price

Not Bad Work, if You Can Get it.

“I’m As Mad As Hell, And I’m Not Going To Take This Anymore!”

Mad As Hell … From the movie “NETWORK” (1:40) -Great show from 1976- a must see clip.
Faye Dunaway character- “They’re Yelling in Baton Rouge

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Do these words sound familiar?

“So, I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window, open it, and stick your head out and yell . . .

“I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”

The year was 1976 and the movie was “Network”. Howard Beale was addressing the public in a radio talk show on the high cost of living, increase in violent crime, poor air quality, and unemployment rate. Ironically, he addresses the fact that writing your congressman will be of no effect. Could apply to our state legislator too.

Talk about history repeating itself. It’s almost prophetic for our current scenario in Louisiana

Go ahead! Get up out of your chair! Throw the window of communication open! Holler at your elected officials and get mad as hell and tell them you are not going to take it anymore!

It looks like Gov. Jindal has dug himself into a deep hole on the Louisiana legislature’s pay raise issue. He has said repeatedly he will not veto the 200% increase in salary and benefits. But as Mike Hasten just reported for the Gannett news service, Jindal took a much different approach during his gubernatorial campaign last fall. He’s what the Governor had to say about pay raises then:

In his “Jindal Action Plan,” the candidate spelled out numerous stances he would take as governor. Under a heading “Make the Legislature More Accountable to the Citizens They Represent,” one of the key points is “Prohibit legislators from giving themselves pay raises that take effect before the subsequent election. Any increase in salary approved by the Legislature should take effect after the next election so the public can decide who deserves the compensation.” (For Jindal’s full Action Plan, Click here.)

You can bet the talk shows and websites will be full of commentary on the Governor’s inconsistencies. To read Gannett’s full story, Click here.

 

And take a look at the video of the limited debate in the State Senate on the legislative pay raise bill. In all my years in public life, I’ve never seen such public outrage, over both the amount of the raise and the process that occurred with very little debate and no public impute. This issue is not going away.

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The untimely death of NBC’s Tim Russert hit home personally to my family.  I was a regular viewer of Meet the Press that he hosted every Sunday morning.  He also hired my oldest daughter, Campbell, when she was a fledging local news reporter, and took her under wing.  What a tragedy to die at 58.

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 JINDAL ON FACE THE NATION

Despite a full plate of legislative problems back home, the Louisiana Governor continues his fast paced appearances on national TV shows. On face the nation Sunday, he covered a litany of topics including intelligent design and some nice words to say about Barack Obama. His star has lost a little luster in Louisiana because of his “hands off” stance on the controversial legislative pay raise, but he still is high up on the list of Vice Prez candidates according to numerous press reports and continuing accolades from major Republicans throughout the country. Here are his Face the Nation highlights:

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So I’m hangin out with my Buddy Pete Rose”¦. Well, there is a little more to the story. Legendary former major league baseball star Pete Rose was the guest of honor at a baseball dinner last week over at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi. I was lucky enough to be an invited guest. Pete holds a whole slew of baseball records including most career hits (4,256), most games played (3,562), most at bats (14,053), the list goes on and on. Pete and I are pictured below at a pre roast dinner.

I was always a Steve Garvey fan during his years playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Starring for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres in his illustrious career, Garvey was nicknamed the “Iron Man” for setting the National League consecutive games record with 1,207 straight. He’s quite a personable guy and I enjoyed my visit.

I’m sitting here with Toney “Big Dawg” Perez, who made the baseball Hall of Fame. Pérez notched more runs batted in (RBIs) than any other Latin American player in history. One of a group of Hispanic players who dominated major-league play in the 1960s and 1970s, third baseman Pérez was a linchpin of the Reds’ legendary offensive “Big Red Machine.” He’s one of the biggest stars to ever come out of Cuba.

His son is more famous today, but Ken Griffey, Sr. was quite a baseball player not too long ago. Though he possessed blazing speed as part of the talented “Big Red Machine” outfield in the 1970s, Ken Griffey was at his best with a bat in his hands. He lost the 1976. An eight-time .300 hitter, Griffey posted a career .296 average, collected more than 2,100 hits, and stole an even 200 bases in his 19-year career. He lasted long enough to play in the same outfield for the Mariners with his son, Ken Jr., and the pair actually homered back-to-back in the same game.

And finally, my longtime friend, Tim Brando. When I first was elected Secretary of State in 1980, I would make a weekly trip across the river in Baton Rouge to a small radio station in Port Allan. Tim was the host of a local sports show, and I joined him to gossip about the sports scene on the air. We have attended a number of events together over the years, and today Tim is one of the country’s top sports announcers nationally.

The British Prime Minister does it. And Sen. John McCain says he will do it if he is elected President. So how about La. Governor Bobby Jindal? Look at my column this week now up. (Hit here.) I say Jindal should weekly “go to the well” of the state House of Representatives and answer questions from our legislators. What do you think?

Are you for the legislative pay raise in Louisiana? A new poll is up to let you express your opinion. And check out the lack of any discussion about the proposed raise on the video below. Be sure and check out the highlights of LSU’s big baseball victory this past Monday that will send them to the college world series. And how about one of your kids being on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno? You can see one of mine on this week’s video. And my latest jukebox song? Hey, I’m a product of the 70s and no one accentuates these years more than Barry White. Read over, take a look, listen, and enjoy.

And by the way, if Bobby Jindal ends up as the Vice Prez choice of McCain, he will have a chance to ride the Straight Talk Express. Well I beat him to it. That’s me below “hangin out’ by the bus during a recent McCain visit to Baton Rouge.

 

So what do you think about this 300% pay raise the legislature is close to giving themselves? It has passed the State Senate with NO opposition, and passed the House committee this week with only minor protests. Is it a fait accompli? In my day as a Senator, I would have been recalled and run out of Ferriday on a rail if I had voted for such a large increase.

Is this a new day? Take the new poll up on the left to express your opinion. And below is the latest summary of the major opposition growing over the proposed legislative pay raise push .  There was not one speaker in either the House or the Senate who spoke up on his controversial legislation.  No debate. Amazing!

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 And take a look at what happened in Pennsylvinia when a similiar payraise bill was passed last year.  Loisiana legislators might want to think this through a little more.

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Former state senators get together once a year during the regular legislative session in Baton Rouge to fraternize and “remember when.” I look back on my days in the Louisiana Senate as some of my most enjoyable times, with a group of Senators that did a great deal for the state. Unfortunately, most of the gang I started out with have passed on. I enjoyed a long visit with to old friends who began serving with me back in 1972. Pictured below are former Senate President Sammy Nunez and Sen. Hank Laracella from Jefferson Parish. We had apartments side by side at the Pentagon Barracks across from the state capitol, and regularly opened up our kitchens and porches for after session suppers for a number of years. It was good to see these two old friends again.

Even if you are not a baseball fan, it was an unbelievable weekend for LSU and their baseball team scraping their way to the college world series in Omaha. After a loss on Saturday, the tigers pulled out a 9th inning victory Sunday,then just plummeted Cal-Irving Monday night by a score of 21-7.  Check out these highlights.  Go Tigers!

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When it comes to real American heroes, they don’t come more authentic than Captain Jack Lucas.  He was on my radio show last year when he was visiting New Orleans, and what a pleasure to have him on my show. He was the youngest soldier to ever receive the Medal of Honor at 17.  You can see us visiting in the photo below. That’s Captain Jack on the left in the suspenders.                                 

Why was he awarded the Medal of Honor? In 1945, he was fighting Japanese soldiers in a foxhole on Iwo Jima when he dove on top of two grenades to save three fellow Marines.  Somehow he survived, but underwent 20 operations and continued to live with more than 200 metal fragments all over his body.  He went on to live a full life and died at 80.  A true hero that I had the great honor to spend a little time with on the radio.

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Graphic: Police Release Video Of Hartford Hit-And-Run

 

HARTFORD, Conn. — Hartford police are looking for help from the public to find the driver police said struck a 78-year-old man in Hartford on May 30. Police found Angel Torres, of Hartford, on the ground in front of 33 Park St. Friday, May 30, at approximately 5:45 p.m. Torres had suffered head injuries when he was hit by a car, police said. He was taken to Hartford Hospital, where he is in critical condition and is paralyzed from the neck down.

Here’s What’s so Chilling. Nobody seemed to care on the street. Look at the video. A number of people just stood around and did nothing. Nothing. How would you react if yo witnessed such an event? Would you go to the victim’s aid? Would you call for help? Take a look.

And I wonder if we should not have a good Samaritan law that gives immunity form a law suit to those who, in good faith, try to be of help.  Many people say they shy away from helping in certain situations because they do not want to be sued. So should we give legal protection to one who tries to help?What do you think?

The Ku Klux Klan and a house of ill repute? How much wilder can it get than that? My new column talks about the wild and troubling days of my old home in Concordia Parish. It’s up now, so take a look.  Just click here

Below is a photo of the great Haney’s music hall in Ferriday burning to the ground about the time I arrived to practice law in Ferriday. The rumor was that the Klan burned it down because whites were slipping in to enjoy the music.

And if you want to listen to you a really racist speech, look at the new video up of comments by Rev. Michael Pfleger, a white Obama supporter. His chilling words point out how deeply the racial divide still is throughout this country. And take a listen to the musician that brought me to rock ‘n roll. Bo Diddley died a few days ago. Take a listen to his classic, “I “˜m Sorry” on our jukebox on the left. 

If you are a sports fan and you ever go to New York City, a must stop is Mickey Mantle’s restaurant located right on Central Park South. I’ve been a Yankees fan all my life, and made a number of pilgrimages to the Bronx so I can see “The Mick” in action back in the 1960s. All I know its hip to hate the Yankees. But there is just something special about the Yankee tradition that has had me follow this world-class baseball team for many years. Maybe it’s because we don’t have a major league baseball team here in the deep South. But whatever their highs or lows, I will always be a Yankees fan.

 

My First Rock and Roller

 .I grew up with the advent of Rock and Roll in the 50s.  And the first 33 1/3 album I ever bought was by Bo Diddley.  It all seemed to start with Bo. He was born in Macomb, Mississippi just north of the Louisiana border.  He invented his own name,   his own guitar, his own beat and had a lot to do with inventing rock ‘n roll.

 

 Jerry Lee Lewis, from my hometown of Ferriday, once told me that Bo Diddley was a major factor in his kind music.  It was a combination of Southern Gospel and rhythm and blues all that developed from the postwar black American vernacular culture that would shape our music for years to come.  You can find elements of Bo Diddley in the music of the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, the Grateful Dead and the Doors.  Bo was the guy that just started it all.  He died last week at the age of 79.  Bo’s most famous song was simply called “Bo Diddley.”  You can watch this classic at, Click Here. 

 

Isn’t this adorable? The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (or the other ABC) put this site up for the kiddies. Take a look at:

http://www.abc.net.au/science/planets…e_calc.htm

ABC managing director Mark Scott said the site was not designed to offend certain quarters of the community but to engage children in environmental issues.

How do they “engage” the children? By telling them when they should die. Why should they die? Because they’re using too many resources of course!

Do it yourself and discover a perfect window into true environmentalism. Try putting in reasonable “green” sacrifices. I’ll bet you barely make it into your teens before you “should” die. In fact–to hit the levels they say are acceptable, you need to emit approximately the same amount as the average person in Malawi. To refresh your memory about Malawi, people leave it to live with Madonna. That’s how crappy life is there

 

 

Governor Bobby Jindal continues to build strong support from conservatives throughout the country as a possible vice presidential running mate with Republican presidential nominee John McCain. Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh started the ball rolling, and a number of conservative organizations continue to sign on in support Jindal. You can read a summary of Jindal’s support by clicking here.

You can also read a complete analysis of all the potential candidates for Vice President, including Jindal, written by national talk show host Michael Medved. He puts Jindal in the most favorable light. Click here.

Pictured below are potential V P candidates with wives at Sen. McCain’s ranch over the weekend.  Besides Bobby Jindal, Mitt Romney is on the left and Fla. Gov. Charlie Crist on the far right.

 

New York was my last stop on this lengthy road trip that took me into North Carolina, Connecticut, Massachusetts and then on into to the Big Apple. And I certainly had a full agenda. A nephew’s graduation, a long visit with a daughter and a new grandson, a little business, a lengthy lunch with my old friend Kevin Salter who practices law in New York, and I even had Senator John McCain staying at my hotel, the Hilton, right off Central Park. Below, I’m passing the time of day with Sesame Street character Elmo, who just happened to be walking around Manhattan on the cool Saturday afternoon.

There certainly is something special about taking in the latest Broadway hits. “Jersey Boys” continues to be the hottest ticket in town, and a large family gathering headed towards the August Wilson Theater on 52nd St for the Friday night performance. Below I’m all smiles taking in the lights of Broadway after thoroughly enjoying Frankie Valli’s great hits. You can listen to my favorite, “You’re Just to Good to Be True,” on my jukebox on the left side of the page.

Ever try to get a cab in New York during rush hour? I may be a big shot in my hometown of Ferriday, and even get an occasional recognition in Baton Rouge. But New York cabdrivers couldn’t care less, as I spent some 30 minutes trying to get a cab to head downtown

La. Gov. Bobby Jindal will spend this weekend in Arizona with Republican presidential nominee John McCain. This certainly will increase speculation over the possibility of gentle join McCain on the GOP ticket this fall. With Jindal will be Florida Governor Charlie Crist whose name is also been batted around a good bit as a potential vice presidential candidate. I was in New York over the weekend and Senator McCain was staying in my hotel, the Hilton. The general talk of Jindal as a possible running mate was strong, and it looks like our Louisiana Governor is in the final cut. Interesting to note that the Washington Times this past weekend endorsed Jindal for Vice Prez.  See story here.To read an analysis of Jindal’s chances and why McCain has a strong interest, Click here.
Also, here’s a shot of the Gov and I trying on our tuxes just in case he wins and we will need these for the Inaugural Ball…..yeah right!

So you always wanted a tattoo, right? Well here’s your chance to see what your name would look like on someone else. Give this link a try and you will be surprised at the results.

Well it looks like Senator Barak Obama has his dander up, telling one and all to leave his wife out of the coming presidential campaign. Is that a fair request from the Senator? Michelle Obama has been quite outspoken, raising questions about pride in America, and proving to be a quite controversial figure in her own right. The wives of presidential candidates in the past have been open to criticism when they make public statements. What better example is there than Hillary Clinton.

Go to this link, and take a look at the Obama statements on how open for criticism the candidate’s wife is susceptible to. And take my poll on the left side of this page. My opinion? Any candidate’s wife who takes strong public stands and is running as a partner in the race for President certainly is open to scrutiny and criticism. Michelle Obama gets no special consideration.

Every now and then, I just had to take a break and get away… right? Well that’s just what I am doing this week, revisiting local haunts, beginning at my old alma mate at, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I try to get back to Carolina, several times a year, particularly during basketball season. But on my way up the East Coast, I couldn’t resist a least one day where I spent some happy and productive years. Can you believe that the little house I lived in is still standing? 48 years ago, I was hanging out on Church Street, a few blocks from the campus. Here I am, sitting in the same front porch.

I also paid a visit to an old friend who is now the head track coach at Carolina. Coach Dennis Craddick was not there what I ran the hurdles back in the late 50s and early 60s. He has been quite successful since coming to Carolina, and has trained a number of Olympic competitors. Here we are pictured below, then I sneaked off to the track to jog a bit, and try my hand at the hurdles. How do I look?

Besides my other vices, I am a bookaholic, and visited a number of bookstores throughout western Massachusetts during this journey. This area is called the Pioneer Valley and could arguably be the most author-saturated, concentrated area of bookstores anywhere in the country. Yu can find numerous bookstores in Northampton. (Smith College), in South Hadley (Mount Holyoke College), and Amherst (Amherst College). Amherst is probably my favorite college town, very similar to Chapel Hill. Below, I’m in front of one of the popular local bookstores.

By the way, you are definitely in WASP country when you are traveling through these eastern states. Until recently, all white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestants. But not anymore. Hispanics have located throughout this area, and hold a variety of jobs. I saw Mexican policemen, security guards, telephone techs, you name it. Below is a photo of yours truly dining at one of Amherst‘s most popular restaurants, right on the main street.

If there was ever any question as to how hard it is to get affordable property insurance in Louisiana, check out Sunday’s front page story in the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate here. Rather than being aggressive like Florida, Louisiana has chosen to sit by and do little more than give corporate welfare to insurance companies. So much more could have been done, and it’s a tragedy that Louisiana has stood by and done so little. For more on the Louisiana property crisis, check out my column of April 30, 2008.

If you’ve never heard Billy Joe Shaver sing his songs in person, you’ve really missed quite a show. Willie Nelson says “Billy Joe Shaver may be the best songwriter alive today.” His songs have been recorded by the likes of Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, the Allman Brothers, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, the Oak Ridge Boys; the list goes on and on. Billie Joe’s songs are really country poetry, as he sings about hard times, wild living, and a forty-year long passion for his late wife. He comes to Louisiana once or twice a year for a concert, and I have to admit I become both a regular and a groupie. Below are several photos of me and Billy Joe when he is in Baton Rouge singing last week. You can also hear my favorite Billy Joe Shaver song, Live Forever, on my song box this week.