Your Right Hand Thief is reporting that, on a nationally syndicated radio show state Republican Central Committee member, Vincent Bruno, made the following statement:
"I think I am going to run against the Senator in the next election and I am going to say, you know, when they say "can you beat him" and will say, ahh, I don’t know. But I tell you what, if Senator Vitter will sign an affidavit that he never had a homosexual encounter, I will get out of the race." (See: "RSCC member challenges Vitter to sign affidavit saying "he never had a homosexual encounter").
The Thief also writes that "over the past eight years, on this issue, Bruno has made very accurate claims about Vitter's criminal activities with prostitutes. He's been impeccable, actually. Bruno was the first to publicly state that Vitter was visiting prostitutes. He was the first to break the Wendy Cortez story." id.
Below are some of the major news stories of the year 2007, as well as the photo of the year. It is interesting to notice which stories were ranked as being tops depending upon the area.
From National Geographic, we see the top stories for 2007 (See here) were:
1. Jindal wins; Blanco leaves. 2. LSU in BCS; Miles stays. 3. Sen. Vitter, escorts linked. 4. Rep. Jefferson indicted. 5. Thousands rally for Jena 6. 6. Road Home gets bailout. 7. Gautreaux elected sheriff 8. Well fire closes I-10. 9. Chatman resigns.
10. Manganos acquitted
And the Alexandria Town Talk top stories of 2007 (See here):
The downtown Giordano law office murders
The 'Jena Six'
The Donahue Family Church and its Cenla Christian Academy controversy
Recapture of Richard Lee McNair
And the top photo of 2007, according to NBC's Today Show, on December 31, 2007, is this John Moore photograph:
"It took the Mississippi River 6,000 years to build the Louisiana coast. It took man (and natural disasters) 75 years to destroy it. Experts agree we have 10 years to act before the problem is too big to solve." (See: "Last Chance").
Whether it is due to nutria rats eating the marsh grasses, protectionist laws prohibiting us from getting the appropriate dredging equipment, artificially altering the natural course of the Mississippi River, government bureaucracy, or hurricane destruction of our natural barrier islands, it is a fact that the sea is taking back Louisiana's coast land and coastal marshes.
Watch this video, which discusses the formation of our delta, the problems, and what we need to do about it:
Also, see this video showing what Dubai is doing, and why we aren't:
An editorial of the Houma Courier says that we, the citizens of Louisiana, are ultimately responsible for ethics reforms. (See: "Guess who’s responsible for ethics reform?").
An excerpt from that editorial states:
"Legislators are much less inclined to take tough action, the kind required to clean up the state’s image, if their constituents are asleep at the wheel. Voters and taxpayers will need to get beyond apathy and demand that their elected legislators make ethics reform a priority. Jindal rides into office after an election in which only 46 percent of the state’s registered voters bothered to cast ballots, the lowest percentage turnout in decades. Voters will need to show more interest than that if Jindal is to stand a chance against the inertia and resistance he will likely get in the Legislature when he tries to impose higher ethical standards." id.
At the end of the day, the buck stops with us, insofar as ethics reforms.
For those who thought that we had seen the last of Republican Royal Alexander, right, think again. Being a career government employee, I had no doubt that we would see Alexander enter a political race of some sort, as he has no training or experience doing anything else. In fact, I expected him to run for Congressman Jim McCrery's Louisiana 4th Congressional seat, after McCrery announced his retirement. (See: "McCrery decides against seeking 11th term").
But alas, a strange twist of fate, in Alexander's favor, happened with the resignation of the state House District 6 seat by Republican Mike Powell, photo at left. It was strange, because Powell just won his reelection bid in October, and then suddenly announced his resignation last Thursday (See: "District 6 state Rep. Mike Powell quits La. District 6 representative; says he wants more time for family"). Now what could possibly go through this man's mind that made him fight a campaign for reelection, win it, then promptly resign?
Enter Royal Alexander. The Dead Pelican announced tonight that Alexander will run for Powell's Louisiana House seat (See: "ROYAL ALEXANDER ANNOUNCES RUN FOR STATE REP"). Alexander's announcement stated:
"This area of Shreveport is the place in which I grew up and care deeply about. (I also received a large number of the votes in the recent AG race in this district.) For these reasons and others, I am going to run for this seat. This area needs to elect a conservative reformer who has years of legislative experience. I feel I am a good fit for this district." id.
It is a fact that Alexander did rather well in the recent Attorney General's race in his home area of Shreveport, even though he lost that election. As was noted in that previous race:
"..."the voters should be reminded that Alexander is still dealing with a legal matter stemming from his tenure as chief of staff for Congressman Rodney Alexander, who is not related to Royal Alexander. The legal matter concerns a sexual harassment lawsuit. Royal Alexander has maintained his innocence. Meanwhile, we learned several weeks ago that Alexander offered to use his contacts on Capitol Hill in exchange for campaign contributions for his bid for attorney general. What's worse, or strikingly dumb, is Alexander communicated his solicitation for campaign money in an e-mail with a couple of men who are involved in the ambulatory business, or a business that's relies heavily on federal funding to care for elderly and poor patients. The whole mess smelled of a quid pro quo. At the very least, it was Louisiana politics at its worst. That begs the question. Isn't Alexander portraying himself as the candidate who wants to clean up corruption in Louisiana? Maybe Alexander should clean up his own actions." (See: "Caldwell for attorney general").
Something does smell rotten in Denmark, err I mean Shreveport.
Louisiana Attorney General, Charles C. Foti, Jr. released an opinion Friday that could have an impact upon several local politicians who hold both an elected office and, at the same time, a government job. Those that could be affected are Alexandria City Councilmen, Charles Frederick Smith and Roosevelt Johnson, with their employment with the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Department, and Pineville Councilwoman, Carol Van Mol, who is employed by the Rapides Parish District Attorney's Office.
According to a report in the Advocate, Foti "released an opinion Friday stating that legislators cannot hold a position in a sheriff’s office, even if that position is appointed or part time." (See: "Politics Notebook for December 30, 2007"). Of particular interest to the above named local politicians is the rest of the reporting opinion, which says that:
..."state law prohibits elected officials from holding another elective office, a full-time appointed office, or employment in state government or a political subdivision of state government. However, the attorney general concluded that holding even a part-time appointed position in a sheriff’s office is prohibited..." id.
The full opinion, and its impact upon the above named local officeholders, will be reviewed once that opinion is published.
C.B Forgoston, in a satirical view of a recent murder in New Orleans, in which a woman was bludgeoned to death in the French Quarter, writes that:
"In what could be considered a victory for gun control advocates, the latest victim was NOT shot. She was “bludgeoned” to death. That begs the question of whether “bludgeons” should be outlawed. For those that don’t know, a “bludgeon” is a short stick with one end is larger than the other and is used as a weapon. Perhaps trees should be outlawed because without trees there would be no sticks, short or otherwise." (See: "New Orleans Murder Update an anomaly").
But remember that trees don't kill people, anymore so than guns do. People kill people. It is a shame that the U.S. Constitution doesn't give people the right to keep, bear and grow trees, like it does with the right to bear arms.
Whoremonger, liar and dirty politicial trickster, Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, is being requested to be sent to jail, by the D.C. madam's lawyers.
"The attorney for the "D.C. Madam" wants Sen. David Vitter, R-La., held in contempt of court for failing to adequately respond to a subpoena in her prostitution case. Lawyer Montgomery Sibley asked U.S. District Judge James Robertson to lock up the senator until he complies. Vitter was subpoenaed to testify in mid-December at a hearing about telephone calls he placed to an escort service between 1999 and 2001, but the hearing was canceled. According to court papers, his attorney, Hank Asbill, said that the senator had no records requested by the defendant, Deborah Jeane Palfrey. Nonetheless, her attorney told the court that Asbill "refuses to indicate what efforts were made by Sen. Vitter to comply with the subpoena of his documents" and that he wants the senator held in contempt. The judge has not ruled. Vitter's office didn't comment." (See: "ON THE HILL; News from the Louisiana delegation in the nation's capital").
I realize that, due to voter turnout, many naysayers, particularly Democrats, argue that Louisiana Governor-elect, Bobby Jindal, did not receive a mandate from the voters. Despite what they say, however, Jindal did receive a mandate from those that bothered to cast their votes, and those are the only votes that count. But all is not guaranteed 'smooth sailing' for his proposed reforms. (See: "Study supports mandate for Jindal platform").
"On Oct. 20, Louisiana had 2,826,047 registered voters. Of these voters, 53 percent were registered Democrats, 22 percent were registered Republicans, and 25 percent were associated with other parties. The demographic breakdown of the voter rolls shows that white voters comprised 66 percent of the electorate while African Americans made up 30 percent and other races made up 4 percent, according to the GCR report." id. These figures prove that Jindal won a mandate from the voters, because there is no way he could have won without crossover votes from Democrats and Independents.
However, insofar as Jindal's planned reforms, it was noted that "for instance, most of the legislators on whom Jindal must rely to approve his plans attracted more votes in their districts than he, leaving them less beholden to the governor-elect. Also, the analysis reveals that the expected shift of Louisiana from a Democratic state to a Republican one failed to materialize, despite the advances made by the GOP." id. But with the Blueprint Louisiana pledges by most of the Legislators, and the promise of Blueprint to hold them to them, together with the popular tide demanding reforms, especially in ethics, I believe that there will be "Hell to pay" if the Legislature does not adopt meaningful reforms.
It is also possibly a good thing that the state GOP didn't win an outright majority of the Legislature, as David Vitter's dirty tricks LCRM wished, because a multiple party system keeps in check the excesses of both major political parties.
Shreveport attorney, and acquitted accused tax dodger, Tommy K. Cryer, has filed a lawsuit in federal court, seeking damages from the I.R.S. (See: WST's "shreveport attorney tommy k cryer back in the news").
As you may recall, Cryer was acquitted by a federal jury for not paying income taxes, upon Cryer's arguments that there is no lawful basis for the I.R.S. to tax an American citizen's income.
In his editorial, in today's Town Talk, executive editor of The Town Talk, Paul V. Carty, writes on attempts to reopen the grand and historical Bentley Hotel, located in downtown Alexandria, Louisiana. (See: "Warm history can't take chill off the Bentley").
The Bentley, which has been closed since Dec. 12, 2004, became the centerpiece of grandiose plans to reopen it, by Brace B. Godfrey Jr. and John Schneider, principals in Cyntreniks Hospitality Co., who had an agreement with the hotel's owner, Robert "Bob" G. Dean Jr., but made it dependant upon some cash from the City of Alexandria. id. As you will recall, the City Councilmen running for reelection, amidst photo opportunities standing next to the hotel, touted the reopening of the Bentley as one of their major accomplishments. The problem is, however, that it never came to pass.
"A letter from Mayor Jacques M. Roy to hotel owner Bob Dean on June 13 spells out in some detail how far the city might be willing to go to resuscitate the moribund Bentley. The incentive package proposed by the city involves using the city's economic-development Enterprise Zone to provide tax relief, a break on utilities, city-provided security and a parking plan. All told, the package is worth up to $2 million over six years." id.
Well I, for one, am glad the deal fell through. While I have no problem with the Enterprise Zone concept, whereby the hotel's guests would pay a room tax to help pay for the hotel, I do have a problem with the City's other guarantees, which amount to nothing more than Socialism and playing fast and loose with OUR tax dollars, all in the name of economic development. My office, and a lot others, could also use tax breaks and deals on our utility bills. Or does 'economic development' mean that such breaks just go to large businesses and rich businessmen? The old saying that 'the rich get richer and the poor get poorer' comes to mind. Economic Development is becoming a code word for getting around the state Constitution's prohibition against giving away the public's funds or property, be it the Bentley or Cabrini Hospital. It is Socialism for the wealthy!
Town Talk editor, Cynthia Jardon, said today that she is no "fan of lawsuits". (See: "Signs of the devilish times? Nah, just usual kookiness"). Ms. Jardon says, in that editorial, that she favors a lawsuit against a medical examiner, who mistakenly declared someone dead that really wasn't, but not against Walmart for selling a used MP3 player, loaded with porn, as new. id.
Well you can see the problem. Unless we are going to elect Cynthia as the ultimate decider on which lawsuits can be brought and which can't, we will just have to stick with the old fashioned method of determining which lawsuits have merit and which don't. A JUDGE AND A JURY!
A poignant letter to the editor appeared in this morning's Town Talk, from Mr. Leonard Compton, entitled "Serve the common good". That letter is reprinted below.
"We the People are the first three words of the Constitution of the United States. Local, state and national officials are elected to serve our interest. They are not living up to their sworn duty.
They are serving the interest of large companies, being influenced by lobbyist and political action committees.
The lobbyists are showering our elected officials with vast amounts of money and valuable gifts, trips to exotic places and retreats. The lobbyist and PAC, also make large financial contribution to the political campaign of their selected politicians. The PACs influence voters to vote for their favored politician. Lobbyists walk the halls of the congressional office building and the Senate office building at will. They write bills that are given to official elected to represent the American People. These bills are introduced on the floor of Congress or the Senate and voted into law. These laws favors the companies the lobbyists represent, to the detriment of We the People.
The democratic form of government established in 1776, is being stolen from the people. It is becoming a government of the companies, for the companies, by the companies. We the people must demand that laws be passed banning lobbyists and PACs. Then and only then can the people regain control of government.
Politicians that accept any type of gratuity from organizations and their representatives must be held liable."
If they don’t like it, that’s just tough. Statement reported to have been made by JI Barron Official at the beginning of school year 07-08 about PBS. On December 07, 2007, a JI Baron Faculty member stuck a student with a clip board in the forehead, the principle decided to not send home to the parent an accident report, and decided to not call the parent about the incident, and decided that no one else in the school would report this to the child’s family. See photo.
The principal was asked with the Vice Principle present if they knew anything about a student being struck in the forehead with a clip board. The principal’s replied yes, it was reported immediately to the Principals Office, but the Principal did not feel that it was anything reportable. Look at the Photograph again. Is it ok for them to not call you about them striking your child?
When asked if the principle routinely withholds information from parents the answer was no. When asked when incidents and accidents are reported, the principle replied the Principals Office decides if accidents and injuries are severe enough to warrant anything more than first aid.
When asked if JI Baron routinely with holds information from parents about faculty striking students, the principal replied they did not feel there was any malicious intent in this incident so it was not reported to the parent.
Secrecy is the accepted standard operating procedure at JI Barron when it comes to abusive practices like this and others.
One of the biggest abusive practices being used at JI Barron currently is called Positive Behavior Supports. It’s beautifully packaged with a marketing name that makes it easier to sell to the public.
I saw an article in the Town Talk today that caused me to ponder the term 'culture'. I clicked on a link in the article that took me to the webpage of Rive Rouge, which has as a motto "supporting culture on the banks of the Red River in Central Louisiana". The first few events advertised were orchestra music. That got me to wondering, are symphonic orchestras and operas really a part of our Louisiana culture? I also began to wonder if referring to these artistic endeavors as 'THE' arts wasn't a bit snobbish and elitist?
Of course symphonies and operas are a part of our Louisiana culture, as many of us are of European descent and those art forms originated there. I myself enjoy hearing some Wagner, Beethoven, Bach and Vivaldi. But I also enjoy listening to Country, Cajun, Rock, and Zydeco music as well.
Culture has been defined as:
"the shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, cognitive constructs, and affective understanding that are learned through a process of socialization. These shared patterns identify the members of a culture group while also distinguishing those of another group." (See: "What is Culture?").
Therefore, based upon this definition, it would seem that the primary "shared patterns" of our group, Louisianians, are hunting and fishing, Southern, Cajun and African cooking, and the non-"classical" music forms previously mentioned. So to refer to classical music and opera as "The" arts, meaning exclusive, is downright snobbish, elitist and incorrect. It is also racist, as it leaves out the tremendous Black Louisianians' cultural donations to our culture, such as to food and music. This snobbery is also seen in the support of classical arts by the government, as opposed to what is given to the support and advancement of true Louisiana cultural activities.
So when we use the term "The" arts, just keep in mind that it carries a much larger connotation than classical music and operas.
" I am a veteran. I was a staff sergeant in the Army. Being a veteran, I get to go to the Overton Brooks Hospital. I am very fortunate to be able to go to the VA Hospital. They have very good doctors and they see to it if I have any illness. They will see to it that I am treated for it, although what I read in the newspaper and magazines is that the American people are having a rough time with their health care. So I decided to write my opinion about what I read and observed about what is taking place
Our health care in America is costing the people of America way too much. What is really sad is that we are not getting what we pay for, and the people are compromising their own well-being because of the soaring prices they have to pay for their own well-being. have learned that health care consumes 16 cents of every dollar, and prescription drug prices outpace inflation. We are now paying double for Medicare premiums in the last seven years. I just found out recently we have a lower life expectancy and higher mortality than other industrialized countries. I also know now that there are 47 million uninsured Americans. Half of all Americans with health insurance are saying that because of the higher prices doctors are wanting for office visits, they've limited them to only serious conditions or symptoms. I also have read and heard that about 28 percent say they skipped or did not fill prescribed medication.
This brings us back to presidential priorities. We must take a closer look at the candidates' attitudes. Let's look at Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden and John McCain to see their attitudes about and attention to the importance of health care. The American people have placed health care on its priority list for the upcoming presidential campaign. I hope and pray that the new president has an ambitious plan to expand the nation's public health services. You can see the way people treat their families reveals their priorities about important issues. God bless America and also the American people." id.
The Republican Party must come to grips with the health care crisis. And I mean in a meaningful way. Tax credits for self-insured accounts may be fine for the wealthy, but offer little meaningful help to the millions who cannot afford to set up such an account or to those who cannot purchase insurance, at any price, due to preexisting conditions. Wake up politicians, the health care issue could cost you the election!
Ankner, 60, a resident of Dixon, Mo., is the former director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. id. "Ankner currently runs a transportation consulting business." id. "Ankner recently served as a senior financial advisor to the U.S. Department of Transportation loan program, a panel member for National Transportation Finance and Revenue Commission and as an advisor to two state transportation departments on their long-range plans. Ankner also served as the executive director of the Missouri Transportation Institute, or MTI, and as a professor of business management at MTI for two years. MTI was responsible for 40 Missouri transportation department research projects and managing $1.5 million in federally funded research." id.
For you 'smart-growth' fans, Ankner has written extensively on transportation's impact upon 'smart-growth'. (See an example here).
Jindal described Ankner as a "superstar" (Advocate article supra.). With Jindal's history of budget cuts and streamlining, and with Ankner's transportation finance background, I smell some much needed reorganization and trimming coming to D.O.T.D. Imagine, we may soon see an entire crew of D.O.T.D. workers actually doing something, rather than the usual one working while six watch.
"The motivation for the fire wasn't racial, as many suspected, but solely to destroy records of bad grades and shut down the school, said LaSalle Parish Sheriff-elect Scott Franklin, who is CEO of the Sheriff's Office. "Some of the students involved were doing poorly in school and decided that setting the school on fire would be a great way to get rid of their records and not have to go to school for a long time," Franklin said." id.
Well well now, the house of cards that the civil rights protest of the century, known as the 'Jena Six', was built upon is falling down fast. The 'Jena Six' incident is being exposed for what it truly was, nothing more than a gang of thugs beating a boy at school.
First, it was reported that the noose hangers' expulsion from school, was overturned by the school board and a less harsh suspension was ordered, as was commonly done on appeals to that body. Next, a Black Constitutional Law professor told the NAACP that the display of the nooses was a Constitutionally protected freedom of expression. Black U.S. Attorney, Donald Washington, did in fact investigate the incident, and found that the 'Jena Six's' beating of Justin Barker was unrelated to the nooses incident. Mychal Bell was originally convicted by an all white jury, simply because no blacks showed up for jury duty. The beating of Justin Barker was sparked, not by the use of the "N" word, as originally reported, but, rather, by the use of the "F" word. Despite twice being told by Louisiana Governor Blanco that she had no power to pardon the 'Jena Six', without it first going through the Pardon Board, the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus persist in demanding that Blanco issue pardons for the thugs. And now, the arson committed upon Jena High was not race related, but was due to a desire to destroy bad grades.
Yes, the 'Jena Six' incident, and resulting outcry, is being shown in its true light. It was an artificially trumped up sham civil rights incident staged by the likes of Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, the New Black Panther Party, the Nation of Islam, and others, in which both black and white politicians, eager to pander for the black vote and appear in the news, jumped on board. The news media also shamefully played to the mob rule and crowd hysteria. There are enough legitimate civil rights causes to champion, such as unequal sentencing for crack cocain, sufficient low rent housing in New Orleans, sagging pants ordinances, and black on black crime, without creating one form misconceptions and lies.
I found an editorial appearing in today's Lafayette's Daily Advertiser to be very hypocritical, coming from a member of the press, and downright discriminatory. John Winn writes, in his opinion piece entitled "Commentary: 'Movement' brings more tribulation to town of Jena", that, referring to the Nationalist Movement, the proposed marchers "practice cowardly acts". Winn then attempts to mislead his readers into believing that the temporary restraining order which the Movement is seeking to be issued against the Town of Jena, to be primarily about Jena's prohibition against the marchers bearing firearms.
While American citizens have a Constitutional right to bear non-concealed weapons, that's not the primary issue in the Movement's lawsuit. The primary issue is Jena's attempts to restrict the group's First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble and speak freely. Winn writes that "At least when Martin Luther King demonstrated, he appeared in some of the Confederate states's larger strongholds: Montgomery, Selma and other bastions in the path of integration." id.
Well Mr. Winn, I suggest that you return to a high school civics class to take a refresher course on the U.S. Constitution. In doing so, you will learn that the Nationalist Movement has the same rights to peaceably assemble and speak as did Dr. King. Those Constitutional rights are not dependant upon whether you like what they have to say or not, nor the burdens placed upon the Town of Jena, which will certainly be less than it faced with the pro -'Jena Six' march. You see Mr. Winn, that is the American way!
And yet another "Jena Six' myth, which was used to whip the Al Sharpton crowd into a frenzy, at this past Fall's Jena, Louisiana march, has been exposed.
As you may recall, the attack upon and beating of the white student, Justin Barker, was alleged to have been prompted by the use of the "N" word. (See: "Jena 6 Update: Mychal Bell is Released on $45,000 Bail"). However, it turns out, according to Mychal Bell's lead counsel, Louis Scott of Monroe, that it was the "F" word which was actually used. (See: "Defendant’s plea might not affect Jena 6").
Of course, legally, it doesn't matter whether it was the "N" word or the "F" word which was used, because you cannot beat the crap out of somebody for using either. But for Sharpton and Jackson's goals, of creating a sham civil rights issue to enhance their own national standings and importance, claiming that the "N" word was used fit more nicely in their scheme.
"On Christmas Eve and Christmas day, Hindu nationalists in the Kandhamal area attacked churches and convents and set fire to houses belonging to Christians, killing one person and injuring at least two dozen more. Since then, more than forty Christian houses have been set ablaze despite curfews and increased police patrols. Local Hindus say the violence began after Christians attacked a Hindu leader. Christians say the attacks — the latest in several bouts of religious violence that have plagued the state over the past few years — were sparked by church plans for a performance to celebrate Christmas." (See: "A Christian-Hindu Clash in India").
"India's right-wing Hindu groups and political parties allege that Christian groups are forcing Hindus to convert against their will, in an effort to change the nature of India. "They want to convert people to Christianity and convert the country into a Christian land," Swami Laxmananand Saraswati, head of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council), one of India's biggest Hindu nationalist groups, told Indian reporters. "We are opposed to that and that is the source of all disputes and fights." Other low-caste groups and so-called "tribals" — ethnic minorities who stand outside the caste system but have historically been poor and neglected — who benefit from affirmative action programs that reserve for them government jobs and school places, worry that minority Christians may one day receive affirmative action places themselves — diluting their chances of moving up India's social ladder." id.
These attacks could mean some bad 'karma' on some Hindus.
"Hindus believe in the repetitious Transmigration of the Soul. This is the transfer of one's soul after death into another body. This produces a continuing cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth through their many lifetimes. It is called samsara. Karma is the accumulated sum of ones good and bad deeds. Karma determines how you will live your next life. Through pure acts, thoughts and devotion, one can be reborn at a higher level. Eventually, one can escape samsara and achieve enlightenment. Bad deeds can cause a person to be reborn as a lower level, or even as an animal. The unequal distribution of wealth, prestige, suffering are thus seen as natural consequences for one's previous acts, both in this life and in previous lives." (See: "HINDUISM; A general introduction").
I was fortunate to be able to secure this interview with Mr. Richard Barrett, Esq., who is the attorney for the Nationalist Movement. As you will recall, Mr. Barrett, who is also the chairman of the Movement, filed a lawsuit, on the Movement's behalf, The Nationalist Movement vs. the Town of Jena and Murphy McMillan Civil Action Number 07-2168-A, in the Alexandria Division, of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana, in which he is seeking a temporary restraining order to prohibit the Town of Jena, Louisiana from imposing a $10,000 bond requirement for his group's planned January 21st, 2008 "No to Jena Six - No to King" Justice Day parade in Jena.
A hearing has been set on this matter, in Alexandria, before the Honorable Dee Drell, for January 8, 2008.
Have you heard, this Holiday Season, someone wishing you a Happy Kwanzaa, or perhaps heard those wishes expressed on radio or television? Perhaps you read an editorial in the Alexandria Town Talk giving beads to a local Kwanzaa celebration (See: "Our View: Talk of the town: Roy's road trip, reindeer food")? But do you really know anything about this Black racist holiday, which the politically correct that infest American Society has embraced?
Dr. Maulana Karenga, also known as Ron Karenga and Ron Everett id., pictured at right, 'invented' Kwanzaa, in California, in 1966. (See: "History of Kwanzaa"). Kwanzaa was:
As he (Karenga) "himself states, Kwanzaa was originally established as “…a Black alternative to the existing holiday [Christmas] [to] give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society.” Although some people think Kwanzaa was adapted from traditional African ritual and celebration; that is in fact not the case. Kwanzaa was constructed in such a fashion as to feel traditionally African since African-Americans, in the opinion of Kwanzaa’s founder, would be less likely to celebrate it if they knew immediately of its American invention. The time Ron Karenga chose for Kwanzaa’s celebration also had practical articulations, as the time between Christmas and New Year’s Day was the height of party season for large street gangs like the Bloods." id.
After inventing Kwanzaa, Karenga served a stretch in a California state pen in 1971, "when he was arrested and convicted of assaulting a female...". (See: "Maulana Karenga). Karenga is also on the board of the National Black United Front", which supports "Black People's Demand for Reparations from the United States Government and other private and public institutions in America", describes itself as:
"a coalition made up of individuals and organizations working together for the benefit of all people of African descent."
Now if that isn't enough to convince you that Karenga is a racist, let's look at his official Kwanzaa website. One need only look at the self-professed racism found within the "Seven Principles" of Kwanzaa, also called the "NGUZO SABA", to see the true racist and divisive nature of this so-called holiday.
Umoja (Unity) To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia (Purpose) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Kuumba (Creativity) To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Imani (Faith) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
This made up holiday steals its forms of celebration from other holidays. Taking from the Jewish menorah of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa involves:
"there is one black candle, three red and three green candles. These are the mishumaa saba (the seven candles)... The black candle is lit first on the first day of the celebration. And the remaining candles are lit afterwards from left to right on the following days." (See Official Website here).
Kwanzaa takes place from December 26 through January 1, with a 'karamu', which is a Kwanzaa feast, on December 31. (See: "How to Celebrate Kwanzaa). At midnight, on the 31st-1st, a fireworks display is conducted for Kwanzaa (See: "Ring in the New Year in Downtown"). Sound like New Years Eve to you?
So, to any of you politically correct idiots, who are thinking of wishing me a "Happy Kwanzaa", save you breath. I do not recognize this racist trumped up holiday, and will not be politically correct enough to wish you one back. I'll stick with "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year"!
Quoting Aristotle, who said: “Good laws, if they are not obeyed, do not constitute good government”, and Darconville, who said: “Politics without ethics is anarchy masquerading as liberty,” C.B. Forgoston takes a poke at a Baton Rouge Advocate editorial and tells that news paper to "leave politics to the politicians. (See: "Leave the politics to the politicians").
The editorial that has Forgoston's feathers ruffled is a December 23, 2007, editorial entitled "Our Views: Local officials and ethics laws". In that editorial, the Advocate basically sells out the Louisiana voters, and suggests that the inclusion of local officials in the upcoming Special Session of the Legislature on ethics reforms could kill the reforms, similar to as it did this past Session.
Forgoston writes, on ethics reforms, that "Doing things the political (and easy) way is seldom the right way. Doing things the political way is why LA has the image that it does. If we are going to change our image, let’s start doing things the RIGHT way." supra.
I agree with C.B. Local officials have the potential, and have in the past, of being guilty of the vast majority of ethical violations in this state. To leave the locals out of ethics reform, especially financial disclosures, would make the term 'ethics reform' a joke.
The Times-Picayune announced yesterday that the number of Louisianians who lack health insurance fell in 2007. That report stated that "Overall, an estimated 64,355 Louisiana children are uninsured, down from 97,403 in 2005, a change that's mostly due to increased enrollment in the LaCHIP program for children in low-income households." (See: "Uninsured numbers decline in state"). Additionally, among adults, "the uninsured percentage fell from 23.4 percent in 2005 to 21.2 percent this year, which translates to 546,348 uninsured adults, a drop of 108,381 in two years." id.
Who would have thought that Hurricane Katrina would have improved our health care? That's exactly what happened, as the better insured adults numbers are primarily due to the hurricane's displacement of the poor.
In a 2005 survey, " 43 percent of Americans surveyed named high costs as one of the two most important health care issues for government to address; –34 percent flagged the lack of insurance and access." (See: "PUBLIC OPINION: Americans Concerned About Health Costs, Access to Care").
Whether you can't afford health insurance, which in many cases costs up to twice the amount of your house note and with a high deductible, or you cannot obtain any coverage, at any rate, due to preexisting conditions, public concerns over affordable health care is increasing. And to you naysayers who spread fear and alarm about socialized medicine and universal public health care, let me remind you that we already have it. We have already taxpayer supported health care coverage for government workers, for members of Congress, SChip for the children, Medicaid for the elderly, and Medicaid for the poor and disabled, even illegal aliens. In fact the only group that doesn't have publicly provided health care is the working class taxpayer who pays for it for all other groups.
Mr. Douglas Doremus, of Baton Rouge, had a letter to the editor published today in the Advocate, which shows that he is madder than Hell at the Legislators getting reserved BSC and Sugar Bowl tickets.
Mr. Doremus wrote:
"Mr. Chuck Smith had it right in his Dec. 12 letter to the editor about distribution of LSU BCS tickets. I’ve been a season-ticket holder for more than 20 years, but that means essentially nothing in distributing tickets for the BCS game. That is bad enough, but what is worse is that state legislators get to cut in line in front of everyone else to get tickets. Is Gov.-elect Bobby Jindal listening? If he wants to talk about ethics, he can start here and eliminate any and all preferential treatment for state legislators. In the Dec. 12 Advocate, House Speaker Joe Salter said, “But I think, by and large, the public doesn’t care who buys the tickets.” This is spoken like a true legislator who doesn’t care much about the “little guys” out here. Well, there are about 60,000 season-ticket holders out here who do care about legislators cutting in line ahead of us. Mr. Salter just might be the reason Chuck Smith and I didn’t get tickets. Douglas Doremus engineer/teacher Baton Rouge" (See: "Fan angry about lawmakers’ tickets").
Besides getting a sweetheart deal, by being allowed to cut in line to get the tickets, the Louisiana Legislators were allowed to pay face value for the tickets. But WAFB Television reports that:
"The most expensive "deal" right now is a luxury suite at the Superdome. It seats 30 of your closest friends. The going price as of 3:30 was a mere $44,100. That particular eBay auction ends late Thursday, so the price will likely climb before then. For tickets outside of the suite, the highest price group of ten tickets we found on eBay was close to the five yard line and going for $5100. That comes to $510 a ticket." (See: "Quest for Championship Tickets Gets Expensive").
It would seem that these tickets, at a premium price, good field position, and a guaranteed spot at the head of the line to get them, is the receipt of "something of value" that would violate the state's Ethics laws.
"The National Rifle Association has hired private investigators to track down hundreds of gun owners whose firearms were seized by New Orleans police in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, according to court papers filed this week. The NRA is trying to locate gun owners for a federal lawsuit that the lobbying group filed against Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren Riley over the city's seizure of firearms after the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane devastated New Orleans." (See: "NRA looking for owners of guns seized by police after Katrina").
The lawsuit claims that "the city violated gun owners' constitutional right to bear arms and left them "at the mercy of roving gangs, home invaders, and other criminals" after Katrina." id. "Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Bellevue, Wash.-based Second Amendment Foundation, said the police department has returned only about 100 of the 1,000 seized guns. id.
New Orleans says that it "took only guns that had been stolen or found in abandoned homes." id. But look at these videos and you will see that is complete bull crap:
For those of you that think that the U.S. Supreme Court's hearing of the D.C. Circuit's ruling, in PARKER v. DIST. OF COLUMBIA, 478 F.3d 370 (D.C. Cir. 2007)is not important, one look at these jack-booted thugs, who have no respect for the Second Amendment or rights of private ownership of property, should wake you up.
Mr. Richard Barrett, Esq., pictured at left in a photo clip from the 'Dr. Phil' show, the Mississippi attorney who is also the chairman of the Nationalist Movement and the lawyer who filed the lawsuit against the Town of Jena, Louisiana called me today to discuss my being local council with him in the U.S. District Court lawsuit. (See: The Nationalist Movement vs. the Town of Jena and Murphy McMillan Civil Action Number 07-2168-A). I told Mr. Barrett that, although I did not agree with his racial views, I would assist him due to my belief that his, nor any other, group should not be charged a permit fee in order to exercise their first amendment rights.
As you will recall, Barrett sent an October 15, 2007, letter to Mayor McMillan, of Jena, announcing his group's intentions of holding a January 21, 2008, "No to Jena Six - No to King" Justice Day parade in Jena. (See the Town Talk's "Jena Documents"). Mayor McMillan responded with several prerequisites for the march, including the posting of a $10,000 bond. (See: "Nationalists sue Jena over rally requirements"). See this video of Barrett explaining the civil rights aspects of the planned march:
Barrett, as the attorney for the Nationalist Movement successfully argued, before the U.S. Supreme Court, the case of FORSYTH COUNTY, GEORGIA v. NATIONALIST MOVEMENT, (U.S. S.Ct. 1992) 505 U.S. 123, in which the Court struck down a similar parade permit fee of only $1,000. Recently, the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals:
An Augusta, Maine ordinance was held unconstitutional by deciding "that the 30-day advance notice and meeting requirements were unconstitutional. It also ruled that the city may charge a fee, but it found that the fee charged in the case that led to the lawsuit was excessive." (See: "1st Circuit: Parts of Augusta parade permit law unconstitutional"). The permit fee is this case was $1,500, which is much less than the $10,000 required by Jena.
The Nationalist Movement has the same first amendment rights of freedom of speech, assembly and protest as did the pro-'Jena Six' protesters. And, I believe, that the group has those rights free of exhorborant bonding requirements.
"The First Amendment played a crucial role in the epic struggles of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and '60s, when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and countless others engaged in sit-ins, protests, marches and other demonstrations to force social change. The rights of free speech and assembly enabled civil rights protesters on the streets of Birmingham and Selma, Ala., and other cities throughout the South to force society to improve the treatment of African-Americans." (See: "Civil Rights and the First Amendment; Overview").
The U.S. Supreme Court:
" ... recognized the importance of this freedom in the 1937 case De Jonge v. State of Oregon, writing that "the right to peaceable assembly is a right cognate to those of free speech and free press and is equally fundamental." According to the Court the right to assemble is "one that cannot be denied without violating those fundamental principles which lie at the base of all civil and political institutions." (See: "Assembly; Overview").
The Court also advanced the cause of the right to assemble in:
" the famous 1977 case of National Socialist Party v. Skokie, in which the American Civil Liberties Union successfully argued that the First Amendment prohibited officials of Skokie, Ill., from banning a march by the National Socialist Party. Skokie is a Chicago suburb that is home to many Holocaust survivors. One federal judge reasoned that "it is better to allow those who preach racial hatred to expend their venom in rhetoric rather than to be panicked into embarking on the dangerous course of permitting the government to decide what its citizens may say and hear." id.
In my opinion, the Jena parade permit ordinance also denies Equal Protection, in that it exempts, from the bonding requirements, labor unions, churches, schools and Mardi Gras crews, for example.
These First Amendment rights are important to the very nature of our form of government, whether you agree with the messages of Al Sharpton or the Nationalist Movement. By Jena imposing a $10,000 bond requirement, before allowing the exercise of such rights, it seeks to restrict and chill the free exercise of the First Amendment.
The Town Talk reports today that Alexandria Police Officer, former Sgt. Kenneth Rachal, will in fact appeal his firing, over his tasering of Doris Moses, to the Civil Service Board at 5 p.m. Jan. 30, 2008. (See: "Appeal set in Taser case").
With Mayor Roy setting up several community advisory committees, I still think that he should set up a citizen's committee for police oversight.
"When it comes to scandal-mongering, Sabato said, the Internet is viral in every sense of the word. "It's just taken what was a serious problem and turned it into the bubonic plague," he said." (See: "Web rumors fuel campaign fires; Blogs can be a double-edged sword").
Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political scientist, says that "Salacious e-mail messages accusing candidates of every manner of misdeed arrive every day, Sabato said. The blogosphere is a perpetual wellspring of innuendo, and the mainstream press, desperate not to be left behind, finds itself ready to rationalize reporting on rumor." id. "Over the last decade we have seen the flourishing of the Internet and the rise of bloggers, and nobody's policing discourse anymore," West said. "You can basically say anything you want." id.
But Blogs have done some legitimate reporting of true scandals, such as "when a year ago a then-anonymous blogger posted suggestive e-mail messages between U.S. Rep. Mark Foley and a male former congressional page, it might have been a tree falling in the woods. But Wonkette.com, a popular D.C. gossip site, linked to it, and by the next day ABC News posted a story on its Web site. A day later, Foley resigned"Were it not for YouTube (and the Internet), George Allen of Virginia might still be serving in a Republican-controlled Senate, perhaps a candidate for president himself. Instead, an Indian-American videographer working for his opponent caught Allen on camera calling him a "macaca," an apparent slur. Soon enough, it was on YouTube for the world to see, and Allen lost his 2006 bid for re-election." id. "Only about 6 to 8 percent of Internet users read political blogs," said Kevin Wallsten, a Berkeley political scientist who studies them. But reporters and others in the political elite read them voraciously." id.
Blogs are similar to so-called newspapers. You have the rumor mongering, character assassinating, sensational, and often anonymous Blogs, which are similar to the National Enquirer. These Blogs are often used by the supporters of various political sides to spread disinformation and untruthful attacks upon the other sides of an issue or a different candidate. Other Blogs, however, offer commentary and analysis of news items and political matters, often in more depth than the traditional news media. Unfortunately, as with other areas of our society, some people have evil motives and are misinformed, but feel a sense of participation and self-importance by posting false information onto Blogs. But do we want to throw the 'baby out with the bath water'? I think not. But there should be some strengthening of slander and defamation laws applicable to the Internet, to cut down on the runaway excesses.
A Shreveport Times editorial today suggests that a recent Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal ruling could jeopardize future bequests to non-profit institutions. (See: "Tulane endowment controversy jeopardizes La. nonprofits"). On May 12, 1898, Mrs. Josephine Newcomb left a couple of million dollars to Tulane University for the establishment of the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, a woman's college on the Tulane University campus. Tulane has operated the College for over 100 years. However, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Tulane implemented its' Renewal Plan with respect to merging the undergraduate programs of seven colleges, including Newcomb, and take the, now, over $40 million endowment. (See: "Tulane Lawyers Argue Newcomb Institute Case").
A lawsuit was brought by Newcomb's heirs, seeking an injunction to force Tulane to carry out the Mrs. Newcomb's wishes and maintain Newcomb College. However, in HOWARD v. ADMIN. OF THE TULANE EDUC. FUND, 2006-1276 (La.App. 4 Cir.), the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal held that the heirs of Mrs. Newcomb lacked standing, or the right, to bring that action. The heirs are applying for a writ to the Louisiana Supreme Court.
The Shreveport-Times' editorial wrote:
"Though the judges may not have had this intention in mind, by denying the plaintiffs legal standing — meaning the right to sue — the judges gave notice to both high-dollar philanthropists and ordinary citizens that charitable organizations will not be bound by the terms of restricted gifts after donors die." supra.
The Ouachita Citizen printed some poignant views of the celebration of Christmas. The Citizen wrote that: "The birth of Christ more than 2,000 years ago will always be one of the greatest stories ever told, one of great hope in a world that certainly needs hope more and more as the years pass." (See: "Christ's birth greatest story told").
"Along the way, though, the story about the birth of Christ has been overlooked in some corners." id. The Citizen added:
"It's been overlooked because we live in a time when Christmas displays depicting the nativity are banned on government property, when prayer is considered offensive to some parents of school-age children, when the Ten Commandments cannot be displayed in a court of law, and when Christ is considered a myth or legend, untrue and too simplistic. Those who rush through this wonderful season without a thought of Bethlehem and the Christ child and the heavenly magic of the birth of Christ are missing much." id.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was not room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying, which was, told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things, which were told them by the shepherds, But Mary kept these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Pope Benedict XVI delivered his Midnight Mass homily last night, saying:
"Man is so preoccupied with himself, he has such urgent need of all the space and all the time for his own things, that nothing remains for others, for his neighbor, for the poor, for God,". (See: "Pope's Midnight Mass ushers in Christmas").
"Officials unveiled the life-size Nativity on Monday, revealing the statues of Mary and Joseph, Jesus' parents, in a huge house-like structure located next to the Vatican's giant, twinkling Christmas tree." id.
The Pope also addressed the Church's growing environmental concerns by saying:
"He came to restore beauty and dignity to creation, to the universe: This is what began at Christmas and makes the angels rejoice. The Earth is restored to good order by virtue of the fact that it is opened up to God ... Thus Christmas is a feast of restored creation." id.
Democratic U.S. Senator from Louisiana, Mary Landrieu, pictured at right along with her fellow traveler, Ted "dunk em and leave em" Kennedy, had her hand caught in the cookie jar.
Seems that Mary "steered $2 million in federal funding to a campaign contributor for a reading program in District of Columbia schools", even though the school district "had picked a different reading curriculum." (See: "Landrieu assists fundraiser"). "The Washington Post reported last week that in 2001, Landrieu directed the money for the Voyager Expanded Learning literacy program for kindergartners and first-graders... Voyager’s political action committee, executives, employees, their relatives and lobbyists have contributed $80,000 to Landrieu, according to campaign finance reports". id.
Poland High School; B.S. in History, with minors in Political Science and Economics from Louisiana College; Post graduate work in History at Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe, La.; Juris Doctor from Paul M. Hebert Law Center, LSU. Former Public Administrator of Rapides Parish. Former member 1st Airborne Div., Ltd., member of Gen. Leroy Stafford Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Your Right Hand Thief is reporting that, on a nationally syndicated radio show state Republican Central Committee member, Vincent Bruno, made the following statement:
For those who thought that we had seen the last of Republican Royal Alexander, right, think again. Being a career government employee, I had no doubt that we would see Alexander enter a political race of some sort, as he has no training or experience doing anything else. In fact, I expected him to run for Congressman Jim McCrery's Louisiana 4th Congressional seat, after McCrery announced his retirement. (See: "
.jpg)
