Tag: Louisiana

Closing Thought–18Feb22

As elections loom large on the horizon we are getting out typical political ads…..some aging white guy with preacher hair and his dutiful wife and 2/3 children in tow telling us all about the future of our state….(most of which is all lies)…..

Then there is a candidate that breaks the rules of polite BS……this one is in Louisiana…..

A Louisiana candidate for the US Senate is making waves with his ads, which show him smoking marijuana and burning the Confederate flag. Baton Rouge community activist Gary Chambers Jr.—who had a viral moment in 2020 when he called out a school board member for online shopping during a discussion about the renaming of a school named after Gen. Robert E. Lee—is running for the seat held by first-term Republican Sen. John Kennedy, per the AP. In an ad released Wednesday, he’s shown hanging a Confederate flag on a clothesline, dousing it in gasoline, and setting it on fire.

“We must burn what remains of the Confederacy down,” Chambers says, condemning a system that’s “producing measurable inequity” for Black people. He adds that gerrymandered election districts are “a byproduct of the Confederacy.” The ad came a day after Chambers rallied at the Louisiana Capitol in support of the creation of a second majority-Black congressional district, which the Senate rejected, per the Daily Advertiser. As a third of the state population is Black, supporters argue two of the state’s six districts should have Black majorities, per the AP. In an earlier ad, viewed 6.6 million times on Twitter, Chambers smoked a marijuana blunt from a wingback chair in a field while dressed in a suit.

The ad was recorded in New Orleans, where there are no longer penalties for possession of small amounts of pot. Marijuana use in Louisiana could lead to jail time, though Chambers says that should change. In the ad, he decried the money wasted on enforcing marijuana laws, adding that arrests disproportionally affect Black people. “Most of the people police are arresting aren’t dealers, but rather people with small amounts of pot. Just like me,” he said. Chambers and fellow Democrat Luke Mixon face an uphill battle in trying to unseat Kennedy. The Republican has almost $10 million in campaign cash, compared to about $170 for Chambers. The latter spent about $400,000 last year in a House race in which he finished strong but lost.

Of course this guy will not win….but at least he is not a cookie cutter image of the guy he is trying to replace.

But watch the ad for yourself….it is unusual and for me memorable…..

If he was running in Mississippi I would vote for him…..but sadly all I can do is watch from afar.

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I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Educational Stupidity

I have ranted many times on the problem of stupidity being taught to our children…instead to teaching the need for civics and history they instead want to pass on BS and misinformation to our children.

These two examples illustrate the stupidity that is being considered as part of the educational curriculum….

First from the great state of Louisiana……

A hearing erupted in laughter when one Republican legislator was compelled to tell another that “There’s no ‘good’ to slavery, though.”

The Louisiana House Education Committee held a hearing on HB 564 on Thursday, during which the bill’s author and committee chairman State Rep. Ray Garofalo was grilled by fellow Republican Rep. Stephanie Hilferty on the bill’s prohibition on “divisive concepts” in education.

Hilferty began by grilling Garofalo about the sources of complaints that led him to author the bill.

“Can you give examples of what they told you?” Hilferty asked.

Garofalo described teachers and parents complaining about “handouts” that they’d been given.

“Like what does the handout say?” Hilferty asked.

“Handouts saying the United States is a racist country, that corporations are inherently racist, and have a bias against…” Garofalo began, as Hilferty interrupted to ask “Can you share examples of these with the committee?”

WATCH: Hearing Erupts in Laughter When GOP Legislator Confronted for Suggesting Schools Teach ‘Good’ Side of Slavery

The ‘Good’ side of slavery?

Seriously?

The term indicts that there is and was NOTHING good about slavery.

Next stupidity comes from the great state of Idaho….a bill that would prohibit the teaching of racism….

A bill that would ban teaching critical race theory and other similar teachings in schools in Idaho is awaiting Gov. Brad Little’s signature. 

The bill, HB 377, passed in the state’s senate on Monday after passing through the house last week. It would prohibit public schools from teaching that “any sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin is inherently superior or inferior,” which it says can be found in critical race theory. 

The bill also bans teachings that argue that people should be treated differently based on things like race or gender and that people are not responsible for past actions committed by people who share their same demographics. 

https://www.businessinsider.com/idaho-wants-make-it-illegal-schools-teach-students-racism-2021-4

Red states just keep pushing the culture war crap down the throats of idiots that voted for them.

Personally I believe that there should be a national standard for the teaching of history and civics.

Why is this?

Textbooks help skew history to the absurd.

https://www.realclearpublicaffairs.com/public_affairs/2021/05/06/skewed_history_textbook_coverage_of_early_america_and_the_new_deal_775956.html

Once again the problem is in the education of our children.

Be Smart!

Learn Stuff!

Turn The Page!

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

The Assassination Of Huey Long

I feel compelled to help my fellow Americans to learn the history that is left out of most history books…….history is interesting as well as fascinating….there is something for everyone.

On this day, September 8 in 1935 an assassin shot and killed presidential candidate Huey Long of Louisiana.

On this day in 1935, a Sunday, Sen. Huey Long was shot in the Louisiana state Capitol by the son-in-law of a political enemy. He died about 30 hours later at age 42. News of Long’s death made headlines around the world. Some 200,000 mourners flocked to Baton Rouge for the funeral.

Branded a demagogue by his critics, Long was a larger-than-life figure who boasted that he bought legislators “like sacks of potatoes, shuffled them like a deck of cards.” He dubbed himself “The Kingfish,” saying: “I’m a small fish here in Washington. But I’m the Kingfish to the folks down in Louisiana.”

https://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/08/huey-long-assassinated-sept-8-1935-242325

A fascinating individual…some called him a socialist, others a populist and his popularity was amazing especially in his home state of Louisiana …….

Huey Long was a fiery and charismatic Louisiana politician who moved up the ranks at a young age. Branded a demagogue and radical by his opponents, and known for turning his back on established processes to gain political victories, Long controlled a vast political machine in the name of courting working class and poor constituents.

https://www.history.com/topics/huey-long

There are those that say that Long was targeted by FDR because he was so popular and was gaining in the presidential polls.

Long did much for Louisiana……built roads, schools took on oil industry and made them pay taxes to be used for education and schools….Long was a colorful figure from the history of the South….his story makes excellent reading.

If you are interested in this American politician than a visit to a website dedicated to him and his story is available……all things Huey Long……

https://www.hueylong.com/

In closing of this post a short musical interlude from Randy Newman in honor of Huey “the Kingfish” Long…..

*****Warning:  The “N” word is used in the song below…if you are offended then you might pass on the video.*****

In closing I would like to let you guys hear some more of Randy Newman and the “Good Old Boys” album….warning the “N” word is used but please listen to the words before you condemn for Newman makes fun the “Rednecks” of the South of the past……

Just had to drop some local history on you, my readers ….now time for my Saturday to kick off with those damn “honey dos”…..

The Horror That Is The NOLA PD

I do not know if my reader has heard the horrors of the New Orleans Police department…..they have had problems for decades…..corruption, felonies, intimidation and brutality…….but I recently read a report that made me ashamed that these dicks are sent out to “protect and serve”….a concept that is foreign to the NOLA PD……..

In the latest blow to New Orleans’ scandal-weary police department, a city inspector general’s report claims five detectives failed to do substantial investigation of more than 1,000 cases of sex crimes and child abuse—with one detective cited for stating that simple rape should not be considered a crime. The report, out yesterday, examined the detectives’ work between January 2011 and December 2013 and found “an indifference to our citizens that shouldn’t be tolerated.” They have been transferred to patrol duty pending further investigation. More particulars, per the report:

  • A detective failed to investigate a case involving a 3-year-old brought to the ER for an alleged sexual assault, closing the case without charges even though the child had a sexually transmitted disease. The same detective closed the book with no charges on two cases involving children brought to the ER with fractured skulls.
  • Another detective allegedly told several people that simple rape—sex without consent of one party—should not be considered a crime. This detective handled 11 simple-rape cases, five of which saw no follow-up reports and one with no initial report.
  • Two detectives are accused of writing six reports—on the same day in 2013—to make it appear that they had done follow-up reports years ago.
  • The detectives classified 65% of 1,290 sex crime cases as “miscellaneous,” for which no report at all was written.
  • Of the remaining 450 cases, detectives followed up on only 179 cases; 105 of those were handed over to prosecutors, who in turn prosecuted 74 cases. The report calls on police to fully investigate the 271 cases that the detectives failed to properly check into.

A shameful legacy for the PD……

You Want To Know How Stupid They Are?

From the VOMITORIUM

By now ALL Americans know the cost, the suffering and the BS that goes along with the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico….lives along the Coast will be screwed for many years to come, especially the fishermen, shrimpers and oystermen in Louisiana…….and in the past I have written about the Rational Ignorance Effect (RIE) (Go to my pages for a definition)….the reason I bring this up is to illustrate just how stupid the voter can be….why would I make such an outlandish statement?  Easy!  IT IS TRUE!

One of Louisiana’s reps, David Vitter, you will remember him from his involvement with the DC Madame case, has put his foot in his Post Toasties……

a GOP senator facing re-election to court a conservative base he alienated by cavorting with DC prostitutes: Push to limit the liability of a company that just delivered what may be his state’s worst-ever man-made disaster. That’s what Louisiana’s David Vitter is doing: Last week Vitter introduced legislation to cap BP’s liability for the Gulf oil spill at the last four quarters of the company’s profits, Time reports. Vitter also says the state needs more offshore drilling leases—no surprise to those familiar with bring-home-the-bacon Louisiana politics. Even Vitter’s Democratic opponent supports expanded drilling in the wake of the spill. Louisiana Dems are, however, definitely not with Vitter on the BP liability cap, and have taken the issue as a chance to pound him for trying to limit the damages his own constituents might claim from the oil giant.

I bring this to people’s attention because he will most likely get re-elected even though he is trying to screw his fellow state residents out of justice from the oil company, BP…..you can bet that he, Vitter, will once again return to the Senate to be a voice of the people of Louisiana….if that ain’t stupid I will kiss your butt and give you an hour to draw a crowd!

He’s Black, She’s White

Anyone that has read my stuff knows that I live in the cultural wasteland known as the “Deep South”….and in the past I have said they need to erect a sign at the statelines that read “Welcome to the Deep South, set your clocks back a 150 years”.

Yes, it is the 21st century but that makes little difference to the people in the Deep South…the area that voted against a black man in an election…..Wylie Coyote could have won the state…but they are not racists!  Just ask them…they have a pretty good way of telling you that they are not a racist….but if you listen closely to their rants…they are racists….

CNN had a story that seemsd out of place in today’s world…but then it is the South….

Civil rights advocates in eastern Louisiana are calling for a justice of the peace of Tangipahoa Parish to resign after he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple.

The demands for Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace for Tangipahoa Parish’s 8th Ward, to step down came after he wouldn’t issue a marriage license to Beth Humphrey, 30, and her boyfriend, Terence McKay, 32, both of Hammond.

However, Bardwell told Hammond’s Daily Star newspaper that he was concerned for the children who might be born of the relationship and that, in his experience, most interracial marriages don’t last.

“I’m not a racist,” Bardwell told the newspaper. “I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house. My main concern is for the children.”

Bardwell, stressing that he couldn’t personally endorse the marriage, said his wife referred the couple to another justice of the peace.

The bride says the case boils down to discrimination.

Humphrey told CNN that she called Bardwell on October 6 to ask about getting a marriage license, and was asked by his wife whether it would be an interracial marriage. Humphrey said she was told that Bardwell does not sign off on interracial marriages.

His concern is for the children of mixed marriages….I have heard this argument many times down here in the Deep South….like what culture would they raise they children…it is a cop out…raise them as an Americans….pretty simple, huh?

But the BS about  concern for the children reaches all the way back to the beginning of the country…Jefferson, who I have heard cursed the act of slavery but his only attack on the institution was to say:

There must doubtless be an unhappy influence on the manners of our people produced by the existence of slavery among us.  The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous, the most unremitting despotism on the one part. degrading submission on the other.  Our children see this, and learn to imitate…….”

Jefferson’s only concern was what effect the institution of slavery would have on children and yet historians would have us believe that he wrote the “slavery clause” that was later deleted from the DoI.  The defense will be, “things were different in those days”….a racist is a racist no matter what day it is…..

The justice used a tired old cliche to prove that he is not a racist…..”I have lots of black friends, they even use my bathroom and have eaten dinner with them”…..I paraphrase, but you get my drift…this is they type of thing every racist in the South will use in some form or another to prove that they are a racist.

You see things have not changed much in the Deep South in 50 years…some are just better at hiding their true self from the media….and then there are the ones like this justice….as obvious as hell!