Louisiana Voice

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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Today is day two of our September fundraiser.

It also happens to be the 10th anniversary of LouisianaVoice. (Thanks, Bobby Jindal, for helping to kick of off a decade ago.)

I only conduct fundraisers twice a year and this year, only once, because I did not hold an April drive because of the economic hardships on so many people because of the coronavirus pandemic, which Trump continues to downplay.

But with our expenses mounting, I am asking those who have the resources to do so to help us. Please, if it would be a sacrifice for you to give—don’t. I do not wish to create a hardship for anyone. I’m asking only those who can afford it to contribute by clicking on the yellow DONATE button in the column to the right to contribute by credit card. It looks like this: but don’t click here, it doesn’t work; go to the column to the right.

If it doesn’t work (and for some, it won’t), you may donate by sending a check to:

LouisianaVoice

P.O. Box 922

Denham Springs, LA. 70727

As you know, I write about a multitude of issues, like the one on the 4th Judicial Court and the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal that was posted yesterday. I am working on several other major stories even as I write this. But it takes time and money to do so and I am setting a goal of $5,000 to last until next April’s fund raiser.

Please consider helping.

With sincere appreciation for your continued loyalty,

Tom Aswell

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“People that you’ve never heard of, people that are in the dark shadows. There are people that are on the streets, there are people that are controlling the streets. We had somebody get on a plane from a certain city this weekend, and in the plane, it was almost completely loaded with thugs, wearing these dark uniforms, black uniforms, with gear and this and that.”

—Donald Trump’s wacko conspiracy theory, given in an interview with Laura Ingraham of conspiracy theory Fox News. [Mark my words here, there are idiots out there who will swallow this entire line of B.S. and regurgitate it all over the Internet.]

“I’ll tell you some time. It’s under investigation right now. [A] lot of people were on the plane to do big damage.”

—Additional unsubstantiated claims by Trump in the Ingraham interview. [Yeah, right. They’re going to fly on a commercial airline completely decked out in “uniform” with signs around their necks identifying themselves as “Looters” for all to see as they set about on their mission to do “big damage.” Does anyone in his right mind actually buy this crock? Someone please call out this damned fool and hold him accountable before he instigates a race war from which this country may never recover.]

“I will see whether or not I can get that person to speak to you, but this was a firsthand account of a plane going from Washington to wherever, and I’ll see if I can get that information for you, maybe they’ll speak to you, maybe they won’t.”

—Donald Trump, on those “looters” and “thugs” supposedly on that plane. [Any bets on whether or not he can get “that person” to come forward? If they do, it will be the very first time Trump will have come through on a promise – any promise.]]

“[A]t least a dozen males got off the plane in Boise from Seattle, dressed head to toe in black. Be ready for attacks downtown and residential areas. [O]ne passenger had “a tattoo that said Antifa America on his arm.”

—Facebook post last Tuesday (Aug. 25) by an Emmett, Idaho, resident, warning residents there apparently of these same thugs and looters who seem to really get around. [So, now we know where idiot child learned of those “looters” and “thugs” on the plane – but in Washington, D.C., not Washington State. Another conspiracy theory harvested from the good ol’ reliable Internet. Trump obviously resides in a blissful, delusional world, free from all the burdens of reality.]

“All I ask is that he keep his disrespect, his foul language far away from our family. We need a president that’s going to unite and take us in a different direction. We want the same right he’s got, and we want to be able to get our children home safely. They should be able to go anywhere they want in this nation and get home safely, and not get shot seven times.”

—Justin Blake, uncle of Jacob Blake who was shot seven times in the back by Kenosha police, on Donald Trump, who he called “the orange man,” during his trip to Kenosha on Monday.

“It seemed like it was almost inevitable and it was almost planned. They knew if they came down, they would meet the protesters that have been here for three months, and you saw what happened — people got hurt, one person got killed and a lot of just unbelievable situations.”

—Portland, Ore., resident Nick Sonies, following the shooting death of Patriot Prayer member Aaron Danielson last Saturday.

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