“For the sake of my kids and grand kids (sic), let’s just do this Civil War thing now before I get to (sic) old to fight. I just can’t believe what these antifa (sic) leftist little punks are doing and getting away with right now. I’m fed up with it.
Where do I sign up..”
—Facebook post by BRANDON BROWNING on June 11, 2020.
Brandon Browning was an unsuccessful candidate for Livingston Parish tax assessor in 2019, losing to incumbent Jeff Taylor by a convincing 57-43 margin.
Browning, the Denham Springs resident, apparently was unaware that antifa is short for anti-fascist and it was the anti-fascists who defeated Hitler and who today stand in opposition to the likes of David Duke.
Browning, the self-described super-patriot, has been strangely quiet about the “punks” who invaded the U.S. Capitol back on Jan. 6, intent on overturning the election that unseated Donald Trump.
Without getting into the merits of Trump v. Biden (the face-off that again had me asking if this was the best choice this country has to offer), an armed incursion is not the manner in which our Constitution meant for us to seek redress for our grievances.
Undaunted by his failure to unseat Taylor, Browning is again seeking public office, this time for sheriff of Livingston Parish.
In an unusually drawn-out (49 minutes) YouTube PRESENTATION, Browning laid out his reasons for trying to dislodge incumbent Jason Ard who the last time he was opposed – in 2015 – dispatched his opponent with a whopping 92 percent of the vote.
It took more than five minutes for him to get to the crux of his motivation for running. In giving his platform, he used the same tired arguments of sexual orientation, immigration, crime and family that all candidates rely on to inspire voters.
Browning, a 12-year veteran of the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office and five more with the Baton Rouge Police Department. He also served as a reserve deputy with Livingston Parish until earlier this year. He currently is employed as a realtor.
While his YouTube announcement was for the most part low-key, Browning, with that 2020 quote promoting a Civil War, nevertheless sounds like an advocate of the so-called constitutional sheriff movement which takes the position that sheriffs do not answer to the judiciary, the legislature, the governor, Congress or even the U.S. President. Instead, they answer only to voters.
The Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA) is a radical MOVEMENT that espouses complete autonomy, allowing sheriffs to literally pick and choose which laws they want to enforce and which to ignore. No other elected official in America has that option – at least not on paper.
There is much wrong with the country today. We are divided like we’ve never been since the Civil War. Division means weakness but Democrats and Republicans alike in Congress appear to be unwilling to practice the art of compromise where no one gets everything they want but somehow, things still get accomplished. Social Security, Medicare, Civil Rights, voting rights would never get out of committee today, much less get enacted into law. And make no mistake: both sides share equally in the blame.
Maybe the comic was correct when he observed that con is the opposite of pro; therefore, congress must be the opposite of progress. Except the joke really isn’t very funny these days.
Jason Ard isn’t perfect. I’m sure he’d be the first to tell you so. His hiring of accused sex predator Dennis Perkins will forever be a negative mark on his tenure as sheriff, no matter what positives he achieves. But do we really need a sheriff who openly condones another Civil War? And between whom? Whites v. Blacks? Christians v. Jews? Republicans v. Democrats? Antifa v. the white nationalists? Straights v. gays? Conservatives v. liberals? Who, Mr. Browning, who?
And while the Democrats and Republicans are busy sniping at each other in Washington, and while all the other factions are drawing lines in the dust, the last thing we need is a bunch of sheriffs deciding they can cherry-pick which laws to enforce.
The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association has enough political clout already, thank you, without the added influence of the CSPOA.
Louisiana Voice 
I heard about this a few days ago and I was hoping you would write an article on it. The person that gleefully told me about his announcement was previously VERY critical of his run for Assessor. It’s funny how they’ve changed their tune, and can’t praise him enough now.
Ard lost me when he lashed out at the media in defense of Perkins. But, this guy is definitely not the answer. If only Mickey McMorris would consider running again…
We have to hope the CSPOA is not gaining significant ground and that Mr. Browning has no knowledge or understanding of it – as seems to be the case with more than one subject. His espousals sound, more than anything else, like the philosophy still exhibited by our penultimate POTUS.
Let’s assume the enemy in his hoped-for civil war is no better defined than in the opening quote. That makes it even more dangerous than if it was more restricted. Since he clearly doesn’t know who the enemy is, it could be anybody he decides it is. My guess is that universe of enemies would include anybody who supports the current president and/or is a member of the Democratic Party, but it would not be necessary to establish either – a random statement or physical appearance or any number of other things could define the person as the enemy and, as we all know, the only good enemy is a dead enemy, right?
I hope Ard pulls more than 92% if he is in a runoff with Mr. Browning.
Regarding your second paragraph, unfortunately, I think he does know pretty well what “anti-fascist” stands for and that they were against Hitler. That’s why he doesn’t like them. He’s another (please pardon the ensuing dearth of hyphens) dime a dozen supposed freedom and constitution loving actual anti-freedom and anti-constitution fascist himself.
It’s so disappointing to see how many of these people are relatively young these days. So many boomers have turned into their parents and so many of their children have turned into their grandparents, or in many cases worse.
Tom, I thought of each Livingston Parish joke reading your article but I cannot use such bad language/humor in your fine column. One has to do with incest but not sure your readers would see the humor.. We, as a Nation have been seriously harmed by Trump and his followers. So what!! If we sit back and just complain, we deserve to become losers like Trump. Browning will lose big time against Sheriff Ard. We must keep the high road open and as you noted, we must unite and compromise. Recommend reading LTC Vidman’s book, Here, Right Matters, An American Story. thanks ron thompson
Ha! What a joke this article is. Jason Ard and his department continually choose what laws to follow and what laws to ignore. LPSO is corrupt from the top down and needs to be gutted. It’s time for some integrity in that department. You want to talk about a good ole boy system look at Ard. Where’s the diversity? How many female and minorities does he have working for him compared to white men? In what compacity do they serve? The face of LPSO on the street is overwhelmingly white males. People do your own research. You may find yourselves surprised at just how much Ard has covered up and just how corrupt he is.
So are you condoning the riots and destruction ANTIFA has been involved in the last couple of years? People lost businesses, lives and not to mention all the damage done. I enjoy reading your articles even though many seem one-sided on a regular basis.
It is odd that militant groups ranks are rising at alarming rates not seen in our history. That being said, who is right and who is wrong? What does the populous want?
No, Rob, I didn’t say that at all and if you go back and read the post, you won’t see that I condone violence – from either extreme – anywhere in anything that I’ve written so please don’t try to put words in my mouth.
But I do agree with you that militant groups are cropping up at “alarming rates.” But it’s not just Antifa or BLM; you also have the Proud Boys, the 3 Percenters, the Boogaloo Bois, QAnon, and the Wolverine Watchmen, to name just a few.
As to your question of who’s right and who’s wrong, I would simply say that most of these groups claim to be Christians but the Christianity I was taught says to love one another, feed the hungry, heal the sick, help the less fortunate. I don’t see these ideals in QAnon, the Proud Boys, or any of the other white supremacist groups. And I certainly see nothing in the Scripture that says I am better than you or that you are better than I because of skin color, sexual orientation, economic status, or religious belief.
Matthew 25:40 tells us: “Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me.”
Tom, You said: “And make no mistake: both sides share equally in the blame.” I respectfully disagree. One side supports the constitution, the rule of law, good government including compromise, truth, science, etc. The Rethuglicans don’t.
I see the writer could not even put their name on this garbage. Maybe before attacking a man and his character you should talk to the man. Obviously you have your head stuck so far up the liberals behind like the idiot Governor we have that you can’t see what really happened Jan 6. All you have to do is look at the evidence. All signs point to the leftist elite setting up the Jan 6 attack. Also, if you are not from Livingston Parish sit your mouth and mind your business like your Mother and Father taught you or should have taught you. It’s time for change in Livingston Parish. We have to get rid of the “Good Ole Boys Club”.
Number one, my name is on the “garbage.” you just need to learn to read. But for your benefit, I’ll repeat it: Tom Aswell.
Number two, I have talked with the individual. In fact, I had coffee with him at the Whistle Stop Coffee Shop in Denham Springs, which brings us to
Number three. I am from Livingston Parish. And just for the record, the post did not endorse either candidate.
Any other astute observations on your part?
There are a few problems with your statement:
#1. Your “evidence” is in critical dispute. Perhaps you need to thoroughly re-evaluate your sources.
#2. I also am from Livingston Parish. I was raised here, and after retiring from military service, I retired here in full disability from that service. I’m pretty goddamned sure I’ve earned the right to speak my piece about matters here.
#3. Although I can agree that the good-ole-boys-club needs to go, your boy isn’t try to get rid of it… he’s trying to get into it.
Your move slick…