Point Made

We had a primary election Saturday. As I have mentioned in a previous entry, we had several Republican candidates, four considered serious and one Democrat, who want to be the next Governor. The challenge for the eventual winner is that they are left to try to figure out how to save this state from the financial disaster that term-limited Governor and woeful presidential candidate Bobby Jindal left behind and the projected deficit in the next budget. This morning we find that there will be a runoff. The Democrat, John Bel Edwards, and the Republican David Vitter, currently a US Senator, will face off. Vitter suffered a horrendous attack by his own party contenders during the race. He survived because of his reputation as a staunch conservative and the truckloads of money spent by his Super PACS. Bel Edwards is a West Point Graduate, former army ranger, and minority leader in the state legislature. As a "southern" Democrat, he runs on credentials that feature pro-gun, pro-...

Post Disaster I refer to this post-disaster period, not because of Katrina or Isac, two hurricanes that inflicted physical and psychological terror on this area. No, I'm referring to the horrible start to the season by the local NFL Football Team, The New Orleans Saints. Said team made an effort toward respectability when they beat the Dallas Cowboys and unexplainably fell back in a rout inflicted by the Philadelphia Eagles. Ah, but our Prime Time showoff's really performed in the smacking down of the previously unbeaten Atlanta Falcons. And so, the air is fresher. Really the humidity has abated, and it has become cooler. There is a smile on most faces. Even here, not everyone lives and dies for the "ain'ts," as they are affectionately referred to when they are losing. If there was only a way of playing their entire schedule in the Primetime slots of Monday, Thursday, and Sunday night Football, this team might go to the Super Bowl. Instead, they languish at 2...

The cloud under which LSU resides. Normally a university under a cloud implies scandal, but fortunately for Louisiana State University, it really is clouds that are affecting their football program. Earlier this fall, LSU had scheduled one of those games all of the big schools put on the calendar. If the game didn't count in the standings, it would kindly be referred to as a scrimmage. Unfortunately, it does count. Like all of the big powerful teams, LSU was granted the privilege of getting drubbed by their team, which is spoken about as a possible National Champion and a Heisman Trophy candidate at running back, to McNeese State. The shadowy benefit to our sacrificial lamb is "national" exposure. Coach in Visitor's Locker room The steam rolls in from the shower room. The overhead lights flicker seemingly in time with the muffled chants of the LSU fans screaming for blood. "Gentlemen, I know that we did not play our best half of football today. L...

Travel to Wisconsin: Appleton's Art on the Street allowed me to touch base with some old friends. My friend Lenny Nagler was exhibiting at Coventry Gallery for this Friday night event. Some of his friends in this circle are also friends of mine.  A big surprise was the appearance of the somewhat reclusive Bob Levy. Bob is a long-time friend and member of The Royal Order of Toads. Since his divorce, he has been in a long-term funk. His decision to move back to the East Coast seems to bring him some peace. Bob agreed to attend a film and join us for dinner the following day. It was good to see him on the road to recovery. The Family got it together for me on Sunday morning. I had a jolt when my 14-year-old Granddaughter, Grace, walked out of her bedroom in high heels. It seems you have to practice walking in that type of shoe. The Homecoming dance is coming up, and she was getting in shape.  My Princess Warriors are, one by one, evolvin...