Louisiana Voice

60 Days

“Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers. Who were the good guys in this war?”

—Donald Trump, in 2018, rejecting the idea of a visit to Aisne-Marne American Cemetery where more than 1,800 Marines who lost their lives while stopping the German advance toward Paris at Belleau Wood in 1918 are buried. [If Trump’s attacks on John McCain, who spent more than five years as a prisoner of the North Vietnamese, his ridiculing the parents of Humayun Khan, an Army captain who was killed in Iraq in 2004, or his insistence that wounded veterans be barred from military parades because “Nobody wants to see that (amputees),” fails to temper your enthusiasm for Trump, I don’t expect this will because you are either complicit in his contempt for this country or you’re too stupid to understand the significance of the above quote from The Atlantic magazine on Sept. 3, 2020.]

“I think there are some situations where statistics would suggest that they are treated differently, but I don’t think that that’s necessarily racism.”

—Attorney General William Barr, in interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Wednesday. [Words fail me.]

“Kim Jong-un hit on you!” He did! He f**king hit on you! Well, Sarah, that settles it. You’re going to North Korea and taking one for the team! Your husband and kids will miss you, but you’ll be a hero to your country!”

—Sarah Huckabee Sanders in yet another (yawn) Trump book. [It’s difficult to feel sorry for Sanders after her countless lies on behalf of such a crude man. And now that’s she’s trying to capitalize on her tenure, it’s even harder. She stayed on long after her shelf life had expired.]

“In my view the American voter needs to know as much about this as can be revealed. They need to know if someone is attempting to influence their vote or manipulate them.”

—John McLaughlin, former deputy CIA director, on the decision by John Ratcliffe, director of national intelligence, that he would no longer provide in-person briefings on election security.

“So, send it in early and then go and vote. You can’t let them take your vote away; these people are playing dirty politics. So if you have an absentee ballot . . . you send it in, but I’d check it, follow it and go vote.”

—Donald Trump, urging voters in North Carolina to test his theory that vote-by-mail is fraught with fraud. [In other words, vote early and often.]

“It is imperative that the Federal Government review the use of Federal funds by jurisdictions that permit anarchy, violence, and destruction in America’s cities.”

—Donald Trump, ordering an investigation into the possibility of withholding federal funding where violence is permitted. [Of course, that would have to include the entire district of U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, who has certainly promoted violence on Facebook.]

Interview that went awry:

Laura Ingraham: “Let’s say for the sake of argument you have a deficit among female voters who may be in some cases, you’re too aggressive, your tone or your tweets. What do you say to them directly about what you’ll do in a second term?

Donald Trump: “Okay. I have to be aggressive, because I’m like standing here in a sea of incompetent people, stupid people, and violent people — very violent people.”

Ingraham: “But that’s the kind of language, stupid people, a lot of women don’t like that.”

Trump: “Well, where are we? We’re in the White House I see,” he said. “See? Okay.”

[And Trump claims Biden has dementia.]

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More B.S. on Facebook (another reason I’m not on social media; this story had my B.S. needle all the way into the red part and wrapped around the meter post).

In typical Trumpian fashion, a message posted on Facebook today will probably come full circle when Trump reads it and then goes on Fox News claiming it to be fact – like that ridiculous claim by Mr. Sweet Potato Head that “someone” saw sinister-looking thugs and looters dressed in black and armed to the teeth and “this and that” board a plane bound for Washington, D.C. “looking for trouble.” (Question, Tangerine Toddler: if they were able to board a commercial plane fully armed, then they must be law enforcement personnel. Otherwise, don’t you think TSA might’ve stepped in before they got that far?)

That same claim was posted by an Idaho man who said he saw those same thugs and looters on a plane bound from Seattle to Boise but no “this and that.” No matter, Trump just adopted the story as his own – for his own political agenda.

The latest Facebook post, like the thugs and looters on the plane, also turns out to be pure meadow muffins put out there by someone with an IQ approaching 3 who’s been smoking too many mushrooms.

Now that I have your curiosity burning up, here’s the message involving hurricane recovery efforts in Southwest Louisiana:

“Governor Edwards refused to let linemen in from other states because of Covid19 (sic). Trump overrode him. Trump trumped him and let them in! We have workers from all over (the) U.S. working on our power. Thanks to OUR president! Y’all need to remember that when y’all go vote!”

This mouth breathing, booger-eating moron even writes in redneck.

A quick call to Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office was all it took to dispel this rotgut bit of fabricated fertilizer that would require a dozen gold-plated porcelain toilets to fully flush.

“There’s all kind of misinformation floating around out there,” said the person who answered the phone at the governor’s office before transferring me to Chief of Staff Mark Cooper’s office.

Chancely Coursey, assistant to Cooper, was quick to put the kibosh on the report. “We’re trying to get people in here to work,” she said. “We’re not turning anyone away.”

She said there was another story that probably gave birth to that one. “There was another report that we were quarantining everyone from out of state for two weeks,” she said. “That’s not true, either. We do require that they wear masks, but we’re not quarantining or turning anyone away.”

The immediate question is where in the world do these wild-eyed stories originate? Why don’t these idiots conduct a minimum amount of verification before putting it out there for all to see when it’s so easy to check out?

And what’s worse is Trump will probably see that post and adopt the story as his own and go on Fox and Friends to say that he overrode the Louisiana governor, a Democrat, who didn’t want to allow outside assistance in hurricane recovery. And his base, so dependent on someone doing their thinking for them, will take it as gospel.

“Y’all need to remember that when y’all go vote!”

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Today’s lesson, class, is on double standards.

Oh, but where to begin?

For openers, let’s go back to February 2018 when Fox News host and resident bigot (I’m sorry, Fox News has so many bigots that again, it’s a question of where to begin) LAURA INGRAHAM said of NBA star LeBron James, now with the Los Angeles Lakers but then with the Cleveland Cavaliers, should “shut up and dribble.”

For some unknown reason, National Public Radio referred to Ingraham as a “journalist.” Right, and I’m Walter Alston, based on my 10 years coaching a sandlot baseball team that won exactly one championship – while I was on my honeymoon – or better yet, Robin Williams, based on my 15 years as (emcee) emcee of a local comedy club with exactly one actual tour under my belt.

I’m not sure where Laura Ingraham gets off saying James was unqualified to speak out on political and social issues and to add insult to injury by saying he was “barely intelligible” and “ungrammatical.” This from a “journalist” who supports a president who routine butchers the English language with words like “bigly” and “Yo -somite” and who has difficulty speaking in complete sentences.

Perhaps Ingraham should just shut up because I certainly question her qualifications to speak on issues of national importance.

But at the end of the day (as Bobby Jindal was fond of saying), that is her right and I support that right. I do not support her right to tell others to shut up just because they happen to be athletes.

That’s why I support the right of sheriffs to support whichever candidate for president he or she chooses – but I do question the reasoning behind the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association’s ENDORSEMENT of Donald Trump.

Setting aside the fact that it was the first presidential endorsement in the association’s history, the assertion of Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard that “President Trump has repeatedly sided with law and order” is somewhat dubious at best. In reality (and that word is fitting for this president), Trump is anything but a “law and order” president. He has flaunted just about norm of law and order on the books, from obstruction of justice through his lap dog attorney general William Barr to open violations of the emoluments clause to cheating workers and students at his “university” to defaulting on multi-million-dollar bank loans.

Why the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association would want to align itself with such an obvious law-breaker, one who openly insults the leaders of Canada, England and Germany while snuggling up to North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and one who defiantly pardons convicted criminals and former office holders who violate their oaths of office is simply beyond my comprehension.

This is a man who, instead of trying to calm the waters of unrest in our cities, only fans the flames of discontent, division and destruction. That’s not “law and order” in anyone’s book.

Ard went to say, “The men and women who choose to serve and protect across our great country know we have a proven leader in Donald J. Trump.”

Really? And just how has he “proven” his leadership? Certainly not in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. has now lost more lives to COVID-19 than any other country on the planet. Certainly not in building that damned wall. Despite his claims that 300 miles of wall have been constructed, not one foot of wall has actually been constructed. About 30 miles have been repaired, but that’s not constructed. And what happened to that promise that Mexico would pay for it?

For that matter, what happened to promises to bring manufacturing jobs back to America, that the country’s infrastructure would be upgraded? No “leadership” as far as I can see. He even lied about signing a veterans’ bill that was actually signed in 2014 by Barack Obama. He lied about economic recover when in fact, he inherited a strong economy from Obama and simply rode the momentum from the previous administration until the coronavirus turned everything on its head.

Thank God the sheriffs of this state have not followed the example of Trump by conducting law enforcement via twitter.

It seems somewhat hypocritical for the sheriffs’ association to falling back on the argument of “law and order” in supporting Trump when the association has done a pretty pitiful job of keeping its own house in order.

• Where was the sheriffs’ association during the reign of terror perpetrated by former Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal? No one heard a peep out of the association while African American prisoners were dying in Ackal’s custody, one of whom somehow managed to shoot himself in the chest while his hands were cuffed behind him.
• Where was the sheriffs’ association when former Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter was raiding the home of a local blogger because he didn’t like what the blogger said about him?
• Where was the sheriffs’ association when Sheriff D.J. “Cat” Doucet was running whorehouses in St. Landry Parish?
• Where was the sheriffs’ association while three consecutive sheriffs in St. Helena Parish were being carted off to prison?
• Where was the sheriffs’ association while Sheriff Bodie Little was helping his girlfriend run drugs up in Winn Parish?
• Where was the sheriffs’ association when Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee was cavorting with Carlos Marcello down at Grand Isle?
• Where was the sheriffs’ Association while innocent motorists driving through Louisiana on I-10 were pulled over by the Jefferson Davis Sheriff’s Department and their cars and cash subjected to asset forfeiture?
• Where was the sheriffs’ association when the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office was pulling people in off the street and holding them illegally without benefit of a phone call or consultation with an attorney – and without a warrant – in a campaign of intimidation in attempts to gain information from people who were not suspects in any crime?
• Where was the sheriffs’ association when St. Barnard Parish Sheriff was running his con? Sheriff Jack Stephens was a co-owner of Amigo Enterprises which was leasing a marina from the Arlene & Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation for $1,700 per month. After its disastrous Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf, BP needed the marina as a staging point for recovery operations, so Stephens sub-leased the marina to BP for (brace yourself) $1.1 million per month.
• Where was the sheriffs’ association when St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain was running his private prison scam involving a deputy? Or when he was subsequently arrested for rape and incest?

And while I’m aware that the sheriffs’ association doesn’t police its members, it can – and should – advise them and issue strong position statements when members go astray. All the foregoing examples of ethical, moral and legal lapses on the part of Louisiana sheriffs – and more – can be found in my book Louisiana’s Rogue Sheriffs: A Culture of Corruption. (You can order a signed copy of the book for $30 by clicking on the yellow DONATE button in the column to the right of this post).

Yet, the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association has seen fit to endorse Donald Trump as the “law and order” candidate.

Not included in my book is the case of DENNIS PERKINS, who headed up the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Department SWAT team because the story of Perkins and his schoolteacher wife, Cynthia Perkins didn’t break until after publication of the book.

Perkins and his wife were arrested and booked on multiple counts of child pornography, rape, sexual relations with a dog, and various other charges.

The one who vouched for and recommended that Perkins be hired by the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Department?

That would be then-deputy Jason Ard, now sheriff and president of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association.

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As LouisianaVoice moves to day three of its fundraiser, we are exactly two months from choosing who will be president for the next four years. And as long as I am soliciting contributions to help us to keep our investigative stories coming, it is equally important that everyone check to be certain of their eligibility to vote. If you are not registered, please do so. There quite possibly has never been an election in this country that is more important than the one 61 days away. And while some say that voting is a privilege, I would suggest that it is an obligation as a citizen – a responsibility to take time out to ensure that our Bill of Rights are preserved and that we pass a free country on to our children and grandchildren.

A major part of my job is to point out the shortcomings of our public servants – those who put their own interests and the interests of major contributors ahead of the interest of their constituents. I have attempted to do that for 10 years and will continue to do so as long as good health allows.

I am presently working on a major story about the abuses of the rights of those who are victimized by local prosecutors who care about little other than a high conviction rate regardless of the strength of their case. And yes, I am fully aware that some of the accused are guilty but some are convicted only by prosecutors’ withholding of exculpatory evidence or by employing questionable methods and unreliable witnesses and experts as a means of obtaining convictions or coerced confessions.

That’s just one story I am investigating. But these investigations require substantial expense in terms of time and money. That’s why I hold two fundraisers each year.

As I said yesterday, if you are under any kind of financial stress brought about the coronavirus, please don’t tax your resources further. I don’t want your contribution. You need it for your own expenses.

But if you are in a position to help, I humbly asked that you do by clicking on the yellow DONATE button in the column to the right of this post. It looks like this to pay by credit card. But don’t click on this one because it doesn’t work. Go to the column on the right and click on that one. If that doesn’t work for you or if you prefer to pay by check, you may do so by sending your contribution to:

LouisianaVoice

P.O. Box 922

Denham Springs, Louisiana 70727

I failed to mention earlier that if you contribute $100 or more, you will receive a signed copy of my latest book, Louisiana’s Rogue Sheriffs: A Culture of Corruption. Those who have already given that amount will also receive a book.

I have set a goal of $5,000 to finance our operations until our April fundraiser. Don’t forget, because LouisianaVoice is a non-profit entity now, your contribution is fully tax-deductible. Upon request, I will be happy to provide our non-profit credentials.

As always, thanks for supporting independent journalism.

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(Two months from today)

“One-way ticket fellas. Have your affairs in order. Me? I wouldn’t even spill my beer. I’d drop any 10 of you where you stand. Nothing personal. We just eliminate the threat. We don’t care what color you are. We don’t care if you’re left or right. if you show up like this, if We recognize threat…you won’t walk away. That’s not a challenge, fellas. It’s a promise. We don’t want to see your worthless ass, nor do we want to make your mothers cry. You’re the ones threatening, if you show yourselves, aggressively natured and armed in my presence, in my neighborhood, where I work, anywhere close enough to put my family or my fellow citizens in danger. That is where your journey will end. Fast. How fast? 1,450 FPS fast”

—U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, in a Facebook post, in which he threatened anyone who shows to protest the fatal shooting of Trayford Pellerin by Lafayette police on Aug. 21. Facebook took the post down because of its violent content. [Yet another example of the idiotic mindset of the man who, because of his sheer stupidity, would easily qualify as the worst member of the U.S. Congress were it not for his ineffectiveness. This coward would probably be the first one to run for cover if trouble started. My only question for Higgins is this: where are your hood and sheet?]

“No, I did not remove my post. America is being manipulated into a new era of government control. Your liberty is threatened from within. Welcome to the front lines, ladies and gentlemen. I suggest you get your mind right. I’ll advise when it’s time (to) gear up, mount up, and roll out.”

—“Captain” Clay Higgins, in an even more incendiary response to Facebook’s removal of his post. [Captain? Captain of what? Where did you obtain that rank? In the military, or in your abbreviated law enforcement career? Or was it during your days as a used car salesman? “Gear up, mount up, and roll out”? Can anyone take this Barney Fife moron seriously? Even as he issues overt threats against Black protesters, he says nothing about the presence of White Cajun Militia members in Lafayette on Tuesday. This clown is almost laughable with his false bravado. What civilian, other than a narcissistic, puffed-up buffoon, feels the need to cling to a former rank – especially one no higher than a mere captain, and especially when he was fired from one law enforcement position and forced to resign from another? Truly a legend in his own mind.]

“This is the same man who criticized the use of protective face coverings, yet coronavirus infections continue to spread throughout his congressional district. To put on social media that he would drop 10 protesters if they were open carrying arms was a clear adolescent ploy designed to stoke fear, incite violence, garner social media clicks and raise money for his campaign. In short, this is a clear example of dividing and distracting instead of addressing the real issue,”

—Rep. Cedric Richmond, on Clay Higgins’ lowlife mentality. [At least one member of Louisiana’s congressional delegation had the cajones – and human decency – to call Higgins out on such inflammatory demagoguery. What about the others? Crickets. Steve “Sleazy” Scalise, whom one might think would be somewhat sensitive to such violence-laced rhetoric? Mike Johnson? Ralph Abraham? Garret Graves? Bill Cassidy? And what about John Kennedy, who so loves to pontificate in front of a TV camera or microphone? Cowards, one and all.

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