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.

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.

I don’t understand while horses that break legs are “put down” right on the track, in full view of the fans and the TV cameras. It happened Saturday at the Kentucky Derby. Runner-up Eight Belles had to be euthanized on the track after breaking both of her front ankles, marking the first time in the Derby’s 134-year history that a horse died. At least a tent could have covered the horse while all this was going on. And do you have to kill a lame horse? There is no way to set the bones in casts and let this philly live a quite life in someone’s pasture? Hey, this is 2008, yet modern veterinary medicine can’t respond.? I just don’t understand.

I’m puzzled by how the Disney Company operates. If you pick up the May issue of Vanity Fair off the newsstands, you will see this rather risqué picture of Hannah Montana, clutching a satin sheet to otherwise naked torso. A Disney spokeswoman told the New York Times that “a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines.” But then I see a picture of a young girl who looks all of 12 years old, on billboards all over China, reclining in a matching bra – and – panties set adorned with Disney signature mouse-ear design. So is the Disney Company trying to have it one way in America and another way around the world? I think old Walt is turning in his grave over what happened to the company he formed.

 New York Times conservative columnist William Kristol keep the Jindal for Vice President effort alive and well today (Monday) with a column touting Jindal’s benefit on a McCain ticket this fall.  Jindal had quite a week last week with appearances on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, a speech to the National Press Club, and a lengthy private dinner (reported here exclusively) at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans.  You can read the full New York Times article here.

And how about this really troubling story also from the Derby. Cops busted a couple who took a gamble by leaving their baby alone in a car while they went to watch the Kentucky Derby. Police say the 2-month-old was left unattended for more than 20 minutes during Saturday’s race. Police say the baby’s mother, Krystal Rose Downes, later told officers she thought her infant was safe enough because the car’s heat was on. She said she hadn’t endangered the baby “because after all, she didn’t leave the baby out in the cold,” and “she made sure she left the vehicle running so the heat could be kept on.”

The car was left running in a busy parking lot. Downes was arrested on misdemeanor child-endangerment charges. A real unfit mother. Charges should be greater than a misdemeanor.

So I’m hanging out with my buddy Chris”¦”¦. What’s that?  You think I’m putting you on?  Well, OK.  I was in Biloxi for the Chris Rock show last week.  Now I’m not saying he pulled me out of the audience.  But after the show, I did get a chance to visit and have a picture taken.  My son James, who is also a big Chris Rock fan, was there with me. Chris Rock does not hold back on the foul language.  But putting that aside, he is on the level with Robin Williams as one of American’s best social commentators of the current scene, and of race relations in American today.

This time of year, there are festivals galore throughout Louisiana. Now I am a die hard Bluegrass Country music fan. I have a whole slew of string instruments, including several guitars, a five string banjo, a 12 string guitar, a dulcimer, and my latest acquisition, a mandolin. That’s not to say I am that good of a musician. But I do like to strum or pick along, and you’d be surprised at the number of music festivals I attend. Of course I was a jazz fest in New Orleans this week. And last week, I traveled up through Washington Parish towards the Mississippi state line in the small town of Angie. They have several bluegrass festivals there each year with a lot of campers that come in from all over the country. Pictured below is my old friend Wes Thibodaux from Gonzales who played with his band the Cajun Travelers. I’m sure I’ll be seeing Wes and the boys in other festivals over the summer months.

Sen. John McCain brought his presidential campaign to Louisiana this week traveling on his well-known bus, The Straight Talk Express. The Senator held a fund raiser in Baton Rouge at the office of former Governor Buddy Roemer with several hundred people in attendance. On the evening before, McCain had a quiet, private dinner at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal continuing the ever increasing talk throughout the state that Jindal might end up on the Republican ticket as the vice presidential candidate. Being a recovering politician myself, I could not pass up the chance to have my picture taken with the Senator in Baton Rouge as you can see below. Joining me in visiting with the Senator is my brother-in-law, Republican Representative Steve Carter from Baton Rouge.

JINDAL VICE PREZ WATCH- Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s status as one of the final choices of joining the McCain ticket as the vice presidential nominee picked up steam last night, as Jindal met with McCain at a private dinner held at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans. Odds makers in Washington say the McCain list has been whittled down considerably, to less than five names, and Jindal is very much in that number.  Jindal is in the middle of quite a week.  Dinner Monday night with the President (also at Commander’s Palace), a private tete -a -tete with the current Republican nominee, he speaks to the Washington Press Club early next week, and tops this off with an appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno this Monday night.  All while keeping a tight reign on the Louisiana  legislative session now in progress. What’s next?  His own sitcom?  The JIndal Bunch.

Golf Tournaments are pervasive this time of year, particularly as fundraisers for elected officials. One of the biggest I have ever attended was sponsored by the high Sheriff of Plaquemines Parish in the deepest of south Louisiana Parishes, Sheriff Jiff Hingle. I’m pictured here with the Sheriff just before I teed off. Oh, by the way, the lady with us is the Sheriff’s wife, Madalyne, who, by the way, just happens to be my sister.

Was former US Attorney Eddie Jordan involved in a bribery scheme when Edwin Edwards’ trial took place in 2000? That is an allegation being made by one of the attorney’s in the Edwards case. You can read the full story here that appears in news stories all over the state this week. Check out the Business Report story here,

It points out just how little our government, at both the national and state level, has done to address this continuing and serious problem. To these happy go lucky revelers, flying the American flag upside down is just an occasion to celebrate. By the way, are you one of this 9/11 knee jerker’s who only fly the flag when there is a crisis? There are a number of major crisis’s in the country today that can drastically affect our future. We all should be fling the American flag outside our home. And fly it right,…that’s right side up.

Politics, Food, and Good Music

This week’s column is now up, and Jim talks about the flack Barrack Obama is receiving over his comments that rural America is bitter over their economic plight, and take comfort in religion and guns. Is he off track? Read what Jim has to say. And take the political quiz listed in the column. YOU might be surprised as to your “tastes.”

Also, check out Jim’s radio show beginning this Sunday on WRNO (99.5fm) from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. The Pope is in our country, yet they are closing catholic churches in New Orleans. One of the reasons is the lack on priests. So is it time to let priests marry? That’s just one of many topics you can here Jim talk about on Sunday.

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There are some special people profiled on my home page this week. Go to the music box on the left. If you’ve never listened to Eva Cassidy sing, you really missed a special voice. She died of cancer at 33 years old, her music is timeless, and she still sells many CDs all over the world. No one is saying this “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” any better. You can hear her and see her on you to at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUwTdqPkluY.

Also, I would urge you to spend a few minutes listening to the last lecture of Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch. This was truly a one-of-a-kind at last lecture, for posh has cancer, and was giving his final words to his class. It would be an understatement to say that his last words were anything but inspirational.

Take the time to watch this riveting video now up on the right side of this page.

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch, who is dying from pancreatic cancer, gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium. In his moving talk, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals. For more, visit www.cmu.edu/randyslecture.

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JIDAL FOR VICE PRESIDENT?

There have been a number of recent political commentaries about Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal being a serious contender for the Republican vice presidential nomination? Does he have any realistic chance to be selected by John McCain? Jim writes about it this week in his new column. Be sure and check it out

Would you like to check your unconscious attitudes towards blacks and whites in a confrontation situation where there is a gun involved?  Check out the following test to measure your personal attitude.  . . Joshua Correll at University of Chicago has created an on-line test called “the police officer’s dilemma,” in which you encounter 100 pictures of black and white men, some armed and some unarmed. The idea is to shoot those who are armed and holster your gun when you see someone unarmed “” and the program measures how fast you do these things. Try it .  Who are you most likely to shoot”¦.a black guy or a white guy?

 

 

All of us die hard Tar Heel fans are in mourning this week. As many of you know, I’m a rock solid Carolina basketball fan. If you scroll down this blog page, you’ll see a number of photographs from my visit a few weeks ago to Charlotte for the ACC basketball tournament. Well, you can imagine my huge disappointment this past Saturday when my team suffered a humiliating defeat to Kansas in the semifinals of the Final Four.

I try not to be a fair weather friend, but this is the second post season major disappointment in the past two years. Last year, Carolina held a commanding 11 point lead in a quarter final game against Georgetown with only five minutes to go. Then they started lobbing unnecessary three point shots, and let the game get away. But it was a slaughter on Saturday night. At one point, Carolina was down 40-12. This is the number one team in the country and they are getting beat 40-12. And Coach Roy Williams just sits there and calls no time outs. I’m dumbfounded.

By the way, I wrote these sentiments in the Charlotte Observer earlier this week, in response to a column the sports writer there publishes. I’m getting emails from all over the country in agreement. The team is going down in flames and the Coach just sits there. You can read these comments here.

Check out Jim’s NEW column now posted.  Can you pay public officials base on performance?  Jim says you can.  Check it out under Jim’s New Column  box on the left.

Skiing!

Thursday 04-03-2008 7:53am CT

Well I hate to fess up to you, but I am still traveling a good bit, and playing hooky from many of the things I ought to be doing. But hey, I’ll be sixty eight next month, so cut me a little slack. I have really enjoyed myself this past month, and hope to continue doing so. I did have some concerns about some joint pain in the knees, and was reluctant to get out on the ski slopes. But I really do love to ski, and decided to give it a try several times this spring. I was off to a slow start out in Park city Utah, but I probably did not warm up properly. So I gave it a try again last week in North Carolina. I was cautious, took my time, worked around some little problems and could not have enjoyed myself more.

You have to be a little careful when dealing with man-made snow, particularly as the weather warms up. I took a bad fall some years ago in late afternoon on slushy snow around moguls, and paid the price of having to have surgery on my knee. I sure do not want to go through that again, and that’s why I’m cautious on the slopes. But I really look forward to skiing with my grandkids, so it was important to make the effort and keep myself tuned up for it.

I will share this story with you. Last year, I was skiing in Colorado on a delightful spring day where I only had to wear a sweater. It was late afternoon, and I was alone on the route I was taking. I skied up to the top of a ridge, and looked out over the breathtaking mountain view. Then I glanced to the side, and saw where someone put a sign in the snow. It read simply: “go home and face your responsibilities.” So that’s what I will do, and will write from Louisiana next week.

Delta Music Museum

Tuesday 03-25-2008 7:50am CT

Louisiana is synonymous with good music and great musicians.  Whether it is classical, Cajun, New Orleans Jazz, or the roots of country music that came from the Louisiana hayride, the state is loaded with musical talent.  To commemorate all this talent, the legislature created the Delta Music Museum that is located in my old hometown of Ferriday.  Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggert and cousin Mickey Gilly all are natives of Ferriday.
I had the pleasure last week traveling up to my old neck of the woods to dedicate the renovation of the old Arcade Theater that had been the movie theater there for many years.  It is now been turned into a musical auditorium right next to the music Museum.  Present Secretary of State Jay Dardenne invited former country musician of the year Mickey Gilly and me to take part in a dedication.

After the formal ceremonies, Mickey got up on the stage and entertained all the locals just like he has for over 30 years.  In 1978, over a thousand people turned out for Jim Brown fundraiser when Mickey Gilly was the special guest and entertainer.  He still does a great rendition of his longtime hit, “The girls they all get prettier at closing time.”

Jay Dardenne is doing a first-rate job of supporting and encouraging the growth of local museums throughout the state.  If you’ve not been a Ferriday, it is worth the trip to get a sense of this local musical culture, and enjoy the hospitality of my old hometown.

I’M IN TO MARCH MADNESS!

Wednesday 03-19-2008 3:11pm CT

If you are a die hard college basketball fan like me, this is easily your favorite time of year.  March Madness!  As basketball sportscaster Dick Vitel would say: “It’s ShowTime Baby!”
There was no better place in the country to be this past weekend than in Charlotte, North Carolina to watch the Atlantic Coast Basketball Tournament.  I was there for the full four days, cheering on my North Carolina Tar Heels.  Charlotte is quite a place to hold any event, and I talked about what a first rate tournament location it is in my column this week, now posted.

There is nothing like a good hot dog at a sporting event.  It’s unfortunate to say that we don’t serve a grilled, all beef, jumbo, juicy hotdog on a warm bun in many of our Louisiana sports locations.  Below you will see me enjoying a first rate dog (not a shriveled boiled weenie like you find in Tiger Stadium).  I will not confess to you how many hot dogs I ate during the four-day tournament.

Really authentic Tar Heel fans like me would never consider going to a game without having a Carolina tattoo.  You will see below me getting my display right before the game.

One of the best rivalries in all sports is Duke-Carolina.  We do a lot of good-natured ribbing of each other with our opponents before each game as you can see below.

Just in case the Tar Heels get in a jam  and need someone to substitute, I thought it prudent of me to warm up a bit at the practice facility.  How do I look?

I’m on the road again, this time heading towards the east coast. A trip from Baton Rouge start on Wednesday, made my way up Highway 61 to my old hometown of Ferriday. I had the pleasure of joining current Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, in dedicating a new state music auditorium, adjacent to the Delta Music Museum in Ferriday. Former country singer of the year Mickey Gilly joined the festivities, and put on a concert following the dedication.

I’m traveling for the next few days now, heading toward Charlotte, North Carolina, for the Atlantic Coast conference basketball championships. My alma mater, the University of North Carolina, is the number one ranked college basketball team in the country. I will be attending four days of basketball in Charlotte, and of course cheering on the Tar Heels.

Then it is up to Grandfather Mountain, northeast of Asheville, for some skiing, fly fishing, and bluegrass music. Are you envious of me? Keep an eye on my blog, and I will pass on some reports from the road from time to time.

Rayburn Memorial

Monday 03-10-2008 4:57am CT

A large crowd of state officials and local friends gathered at a small Baptist Church outside of Bogalusa this past Saturday to memorialize and bury former state Senator B.B. “Sixty Rayburn.  The service lasted for almost 3 hours and a number of us who served with Senator Rayburn were able to reminisce and share some wonderful stories about this legislator who served the state for some 50 years.
I am pictured below with former Governor Dave Treen, and U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, who also spoke at the Rayburn funeral.

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell had some great stories to tell about being in the Senate with Sixty Rayburn.  We visited for a while after the service.

Louisiana’s Insurance mess still continues to boil over with, unfortunately, no end in site. One of the real tragedies, as I have written about before, is the disaster created by the formation of Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Co. As the Baton Rouge Business Report said, Citizens is turning into the biggest financial disaster in the state’s history. There has been a class action law suit filed against Citizens. If you want o to stay updated, go the the class action website at http://lacitizensfairplanclassaction.blogspot.com/. I’ll keep you posted as to the legal activities in the weeks to come.

A lot to peruse on this week’s site, so spend a minute to look over a number of new postings. You might want to begin with a new video on the right. Many of you know that my daughter Campbell hosted the recent Democratic Debate on CNN. It was spoofed on Saturday Night Live last week, and they even used the same outfit Campbell wore at the debate. You will find it amusing.

My new column is up, giving some advice to Louisiana‘s new Governor. What should be his new priority? I suggest he play a strength that no other Governor has. Check it out.

Last week was concert week for me. I saw Bett Midler’s new show in Las Vegas and Michael Buble in New Orleans. You can find their music on the left where a new song is posted each week. And be sure and take the new poll up. Is Hillary toast? Stay tuned.

“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the
intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved
body, but rather to skid in sideways – Cabernet in one hand, chocolate
in the other – body thoroughly used up, totally worn
out and screaming ‘WOO HOO!? What a Ride!’ ”

AND……

For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the
final word on nutrition and health.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer
heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer
heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer
fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer
fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of
sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like.? Speaking English is
apparently what kills you.

To give you readers a “Jim Brown update,”? I’m still on leave from my radio show, and will probably get geared back up around the middle of March.? Quite frankly, I? have enjoyed some time to myself and the chance to get caught up on many projects that were put on the back burner.? I was on the air for a year and a half with no breaks, so you can imagine have many things to do just piled up.? I’m out west for a while, visiting a daughter and other relatives, and getting in a little long overdue skiing.

In the meantime, I am still writing a weekly column and will share some experiences along the way.? Check out this week’s column where I write about the head aches of getting through airport security, and some thoughts on LSU and the challenges of the new president.

Here is a quiz to let you know how you line up with the views of those running for President this year.? Hit the link below, and take this simple test.? You might be surprised as to who you philosophically are closer to.? Go to: http://www.vajoe.com/candidate_calculator.html

The Brown Family was well represented at the recent Washington Mardi Gras Ball. Pictured above Sister in Law Pam, my brother Jack, Niece and Orange Festival Queen Kari Eve, my sister Madalyne, all who joined me at the celebration.

For a look at a whole series of photos on the Washington Mardi Gras Ball, go to http://www.new995fm.com/pages/jimbrown.html

I have been attending the annual Washington Mardi Gras Ball for over 35 years.? It is been a “must attend event” for any Louisiana politician.? I have taken many family members over the years, including my mother, who made it again this year at her ripe young age of 92.? I even had to my nieces who were presented at the ball this year, and will have their pictures here on my website in the next several days.

Louisiana Congressman Charlie Melancon was the Washington Mardi Ball Chairman this year.? H never missed a dance, and seemed to be everywhere.? Charlie is a Democrat, and is a cinch to be re-elected this fall.

Jim’s New Column is now up, and he takes a look at the coming Louisiana US Senate race.? It looks to be a barn burner with republicans making an all out effort to unseat incumbent Mary Landrieu.? But what about the possibility of a major? independent candidate in this race?? Read about it in Jim’s NEW column.

Washington Mardi Gras

Tuesday 01-29-2008 7:17am? CT

Some three thousand Louisianans flocked to the nation’s capitol over this past weekend for the annual; Washington Mardi Gras Ball.? If you have any interest in Louisiana politics, this was the place to be. The new? Governor of Louisiana joined me in watching the various queens and princesses be presented.

A “News update” from Jim Brown
Tuesday 01-29-2008 7:18am CT
A little “news update” from Jim Brown in the Morning. We all need a break every now and then, and it’s time for me to take one. Did you know that I have been on the air here at 995FM.com since November of 2006, each weekday, for three hours? I have really enjoyed my daily routine and making so many new friends with so many listeners.

Now, I’m not going anywhere. Just taking a pause in putting on my show. Please tolerate my enjoying the Mardi Gras holidays and a few weeks thereafter. I’m off to the east coast to visit my new grandson, and visit some old friends. It’s also time for a ski trip, and finishing up a new book I have been writing. I’ll be back on the air here soon at a new time slot that will be announced in the weeks to come.

In the meantime, you can keep reading this blog site, and I will be reporting on my travels and keeping you posted on items of interest. Thanks for being a listener. I’ll be talking to you again soon right here at 995FM.com.

Gaming sign

There is a sign at the front door of many of our local gambling establishments in New Orleans that reads you can enter at 18, but you cannot gamble or drink until you are 21.? Makes good sense, right?? I supposed if you are 18, about all you can do is to stand around for a few years until you are 21. If you live in another state and this makes no sense to you, remember, this is the Big Easy.? We live a little differently down here.

Anderson Baker

Insurance continues to be a front burner issue in Louisiana, and I try to do a segment on the many problems being faced by homeowners and small business each week.? Insurance Agency head Anderson Baker joined me this week to answer questions from listeners, and help me explain the long process we need to go through to eventually obtain lower insurance rates throughout the Gulf Coast.? There are some solutions out there but the former Governor and present Insurance Commissioner have shown little indication that they are willing to make hard choices like surrounding states have done.

The John Wayne of the U.S Army has just retired.? Lt. General Russell Honore stepped down this week after over 20 years of service to his country. New Orleans will remembers his arrival shortly after Katrina, so bring order to a chaotic city.? He’s a Louisiana native, and many of us hope he retires back her at home.? He was a guest on my radio show a few months ago.

Tiger Fans in Iraq

They were even cheering LSU’s BIG BCS Bowl victory over in Iraq. It’s nice to see the worldwide attention garnered by Louisiana this week.