RSS Feed

Almost all of the largest cities in the United States are governed by hard-left Democrats. In fact, there is only one Republican Mayor among the top 15 cities in the country and only three among the 30 largest cities.
All of the problems in our urban areas today are almost exclusively the result of the failed Democratic Party leadership. While previous generations of Democrats might have tried to find bi-partisan solutions to long standing problems, the party’s leaders in 2021 are woke leftists interested only in pushing their radical agenda.
The result has been outmigration, soaring crime rates, a drug epidemic, broken families, failing public schools, an increasing number of blighted properties, high poverty and unemployment rates, an obsession with a race-based agenda and rising antipathy toward law enforcement officers. No wonder people are fleeing our cities in hopes of finding safety and a better quality of life.
Recent headlines show the absolute destruction that is ongoing. In New Orleans, there was another shooting early Saturday morning on Bourbon Street, in the French Quarter, the city’s premier tourist destination. In this case, five people were shot. Sadly, this type of carnage is becoming a regular occurrence in the Crescent City. New Orleans is suffering from a shortage of police officers and an abundance of criminals.
In Philadelphia, police department leaders are lamenting a shortage of officers as few new recruits are coming forward to replace the large number of retirements. Currently, the department is already understaffed, and the problem will only grow worse.
In Los Angeles, crime is skyrocketing while George Gascon, the new woke District Attorney, is pledging to dismantle his office’s Hardcore Gang Division. This decision is baffling to many citizens as statistics show that gang violence has contributed to approximately 60% of the murders in the first 110 days of the year.
Portland, Oregon has been a cesspool of rioting and looting ever since the death of George Floyd made national headlines last Memorial Day. Incredibly, it has never stopped. Last weekend, stores were set ablaze and burglarized. On Friday, a large mob of anarchists spray painted storefronts with graffiti, broke windows, and terrorized diners in a restaurant.
After the latest incidents, the far-left Mayor of Portland, Ted Wheeler, asked citizens to “call the police” if they see protesters “dressed in all black.” It is much too little, much too late for Wheeler, who has been punched and ridiculed by Antifa affiliated thugs. He has not been able to enjoy a meal in a restaurant or even live peacefully at his home. Protesters, dressed in black, staged a sit-in at Wheeler’s condo building and even hurled “bags of rubbish” and other objects at him as he was walking down a street.
The chaos is also continuing in Seattle, the epicenter of Antifa related violence. In this city, the far left created an autonomous zone, attacked a police precinct headquarters, and basically declared war on law abiding citizens. The craziness never stopped due to incompetent and fearful leadership.
This week, Motion Church, based just south of Seattle, was forced to cancel a speech by Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA. After the speech was announced, a Seattle Antifa organization threatened to destroy the church.
This threat forced the church’s Pastor, Roger Archer, to make his decision. According to Archer, “cops don’t have the manpower to protect the several properties used by the church.” He claimed, “the soft targets of churches, the elderly, women, children, and law-abiding citizens are vulnerable to anarchists who live free of the fear of reprisal.”
Archer also correctly noted that “What recent history has taught us is there’s an apparent lack of interest at the state level of leadership to protect decent, taxpaying citizens. Those terrorist mobs know that there is no consequence for their lawlessness. They have nothing to lose and nothing to fear.”
Archer is right, while the FBI and Department of Justice are busy arresting and prosecuting all the individuals who entered the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, there have been few, if any, repercussions for those involved in approximately 275 riots that have occurred in Seattle and other cities across the country since last summer.
Americans can thank the woke Mayors and the woke Department of Justice for contributing to the anarchy and destruction on the streets of America’s cities.
This is especially true in New York City, led by hopelessly left-wing Mayor, Bill de Blasio. During his tenure, New York is being decimated by not only the pandemic, but also by rising crime. In 2020, shootings increased by almost 100%, while murders increased by 44%.
One factor in this increase is that New York police officers do not feel any support from the Mayor. There have been multiple incidents, many captured on video, of police officers being viciously attacked by criminals, who face almost no penalties for their actions.
It is no surprise that in 2020, an astounding 5,300 police officers retired or quit. This is a 75% increase from 2019. As more police officers leave, the crime rate will continue to rise, and taxpayers and business will continue to flee. In response, Mayor de Blasio has continued to pander to the far left and failed to address the concerns of police and terrified citizens.
In Minneapolis, weak, woke leftist Mayor Jacob Frey has turned over his city to protesters demanding “justice for George Floyd.” However, the no-go zone created near the intersection where Floyd died has seen an enormous reduction in customers, mostly hurting local African American business owners.
One area restaurant proprietor, Alexander W., told the New York Post that city leaders “left me in danger.” He said, “They locked us up…left us behind…left me with no food, no water, nothing to eat.”
Hopefully, the citizens in these woke hellholes will eventually realize that the best way to improve their plight will be to stop voting for Democratic Party politicians, who deliver only poverty, misery, violence and, ultimately, failure.

Jeff Crouere is a native New Orleanian and is a political columnist. For more information, email him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com

When the going gets tough, the idea of turning back is tempting. However, progress in life is never achieved by retreating. “I can’t do this,” “Nothing ever works for me,” or “I always have bad luck,” are thoughts we first experience as children. Carrying them into adulthood is self-defeating.
Anything worthwhile in life takes effort. Nothing is ever accomplished by turning back when faced with adversity. Reaching your goals requires solving problems and overcoming obstacles. The more ambitious your goals, the more effort is required to attain them.
The only way of reaching the top of a mountain is by climbing up. Turning back before getting to the summit prevents you from reaching your goals. Regardless of how steep it gets, you must keep going.
Turning back is a retreat from success. Turning back is akin to failure. Once your forward progress ceases, your objectives won’t be obtained. Only by persisting will you achieve your goals.
Not everything you attempt will work as planned. Encountering roadblocks is normal. Pitfalls are to be expected. Unanticipated problems materialize. Challenges are part of the process. That’s why the maximum, “When the going get tough, the tough get going,” is so true.
Mistakes are never justification for turning back. Mistakes indicate areas needing improvement. Mistakes are a learning opportunity. Mistakes drive innovation and discovery. Mistakes enable you to move forward with more wisdom.
Your life is your responsibility. Turning back negates any progress you’ve made. Don’t whine, complain, or blame others. You have to pick yourself up if you fall, no one will do it for you.
Focus on your strengths in order to move forward. Dwelling on what you consider weaknesses drives the desire to turn back. Your assets are what you already have. Utilize them to push ahead.
Complaining pulls you backward by fixating on problems. Complaining obsesses about what is wrong. Once a problem is identified, devote all of your energy to finding a positive solution. Replace complaining with taking the action necessary to solve your problem.
Eliminate self- defeating thoughts. Tell yourself what you can and will do. Regardless of what obstacles you are facing, there is a way to move forward. Tap into your drive and determination. Unwavering perseverance is a key component of success. If you are going through hell, you must keep going until you emerge.
Keep learning with each step forward. Adapt and adjust as needed. Notice which actions are effective and which are not. Do more of what works while eliminating ineffective strategies. Be willing to make changes when appropriate.
Adversity makes you stronger by identifying areas needing improvement. The more challenges you overcome, the more you are prepared for new challenges. Successful people are adept at problem solving. They understand that obstacles are a part of the journey.
Be friendly to everyone, but be selective as to who your friends are. Connect with others who share your ambitions. You will motivate each other to keep going. Ignore naysayers because they pull you backwards.
Don’t look for issues to be offended by. There is enough to deal with without looking for problems. If someone is offensive, ignore them. If you don’t like what you are watching or reading, stop watching or reading it. When you allow people or circumstances to offend you, you are wasting energy you could be using to move forward.
The road to success starts with leaving your comfort zone. The prospect of turning back towards what is familiar is tempting. Life moves forward, never backwards. Always keep your focus on where you want to go, not on where you have been.

CHURCH POINT — Good loving, good whiskey and good food — that’s been the secret to long life for Church Point native Joe Richard, Louisiana’s last living Pearl Harbor survivor.
“And some Coors Light — don’t forget that,” Richard said, laughing, as he enjoyed a cold one during social hour at an April 13 American Legion Post 225 event.
The U.S. Navy veteran, 97, will visit the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas, on April 30.
Richard will be driven to the museum by American Legion Post 225 Commander Dennis Hart and his wife, Carolyn, as well as Richard’s daughter, Connie Figureon. American Legion Post 225 Vice Commander Lee Daigle Jr. whose father, Leander Daigle Sr., the post’s oldest Legion Rider, will also make the trip to Fredericksburg.
“It’s a good way to honor one of these guys,” Hart said. “For 97 years old, he is doing mighty well. It’s (the trip) going to be fun.”
Richard will be escorted by others from Post 225, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9903, the American Legion Riders, Patriot Riders from Louisiana and Texas and the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Prior to leaving Church Point on April 29, the caravan will drive by Church Point’s elementary, middle and high school and Our Mother of Peace Elementary for the students to wish the group a safe trip. Hart said plans are in the works for an escort from the Texas State Police and a reception when Richard and the tour group arrive at the museum on April 30.
Also along for the trip will be Ted Stout, of Sunset, who organized the excursion. Stout is also a member of American Legion Post 225 and VFW Post 9903.
“We were talking one day — I’ve been to the Nimitz Museum a couple of times — and Mr. Joe here served under Admiral (Chester) Nimitz in the Pacific. I was telling him about the museum I went to, and that’s when he had the desire to go to the Nimitz Museum. We’ve been talking about it (going to the museum) for a couple of years.”
Stout will be part of the caravan’s motorcycle escort.
“We’ve got four motorcycles and three vehicles, about 12 people so far,” Stout said. “We have motorcycle groups of combat veterans from different organizations that are supposed to join and drop out along the route.”
Those interested in being part of the motorcycle or vehicle escort can contact Ted Stout at 337-662-5529, Lee Daigle at 318-453-4121 or Dennis Hart at 337-326-1945.
Richard was a shipfitter first class, serving as a ship tender on the USS Rigel, based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He had only been stationed there for a handful of months before the Dec. 7, 1941, attack would become a memory he would never forget.
“We were at the old coal docks, that’s where the ships were,” Richard recalled. “We had no power, nothing — the ship was there for repairs. In November, the tugboat brought us in to Pier 13. That’s where we were at when the bombing started. Where we were at, the planes had to fly over us to get to where they were going (to bomb). The pilots were flying so low, they would wave at me, and I could see their eyes.”
Immediately following the attack, Richard helped rescue comrades from the USS Arizona, and he would still be rescuing people a few days later.
“Three days later, we happened to pass by the USS Oklahoma, which was also damaged in the bombing, and I thought I heard some knocking,” Richard said. “I made the boatswain cut the motor off, and we paddled around and we knocked.
“We went back and got our gear and cut out three of them (survivors) that had been in there for three days. They had just their heads sticking out of the water.”
That was the last he saw of the three men he helped rescue that day, but that would change almost six decades later.
“They went to the sick bay, and we went on our way,” Richard said. “Fifty-seven years later, at a (survivor’s) reunion in Las Vegas, we were sitting at a table and a fellow that we cut out said, ‘You know, I’d like to meet the ones that cut me out. I’d like to thank them. So my buddy who was sitting there with me told him, ‘You want to meet him, well just go on the other side (of the table) — that’s one of them.’ So he did.”
Richard said he and the man kept in touch after the reunion, and Richard said that the man went on to have nine children — all daughters.
“He passed away about two years ago,” Richard added.
As Richard continued his service in the U.S. Navy, he was eventually sent to Japan and was in Hiroshima and Nagasaki following the bombings there.
“I went to both places,” he said. “There was nothing there for miles.”
When his service ended, Richard returned to Louisiana.
“I had a girlfriend who was working for the VA in Baton Rouge,” he said. “A company there was looking for someone to work at a culvert plant. She said, ‘I’ve got just the guy.’ She called me up, and I went to work that same day. They put me in charge of the whole thing.”
Richard said he later opened a service station on Airline Highway until his property was needed to expand the roadway.
“I said, ‘Well, I’m going home,’” Richard said. “I built a welding shop, and I stayed in there 54 years.”
Richard, who has visited the WW II Museum in New Orleans and was interviewed for one of the displays there, said he looks forward to seeing everything at the National Museum of the Pacific War.
“It’ll be something new for me,” he said. “They say it’s beautiful (the museum), and he (Nimitz) was my big boss, so I’d like to see his museum.”
He continued, “He’s (Nimitz) the one who won the war in the Pacific. He was sharp.”
When asked how he felt about being Louisiana’s last living Pearl Harbor survivor, Richard’s reply was simple.
“Makes me feel old — old but young.” he said, laughing. “I’m 97.”

Here are the results of the District 6-3A track and field meet held at J.H. Williams Middle School in Abbeville. The top four advance to regionals.

Girls Results

1. Crowley, 147; 2. Kaplan 145, 3. Abbeville, 89, 4. St. Martinville, 74, Erath, 46, 6. David Thibodaux STEM, 38;

Field Results

Pole vault - 1.Maryah Harrington, Kaplan, 8-6; 2. Corrine Harrington, Kaplan, 6-0;
Javelin - 1. Jayah James, David Thibodaux, 94-1; 2. Kayle Meaux, Crowely, 80-0; 3. Spiritual Guidry, Crowley, 75-10; 4. Trynidi Hebert, Erathm 61-1;
Triple Jump - 1. Anajae Kneeland, Crowley 32-6; 2. Dycie Touchet, Crowley, 30-9; 3. Treniah Amos, St. Martinville, 29-9; 4. Ava Langlinais, Erath, 28-11;
Long Jump - 1. Dycie Touchet, St. Martinville, Crowley 15-0; 2. Anajae Kneeland, Crowley, 14-10; 3. Jaida Lacombe, Kaplan, 14-7; 4. Treniah Amos, St. Martinville, 14-6;
Discus - Marlesha Batiste, Abbeville, 82-3; 2. Noble Hebert, Kaplan, 80-2; 3. ZArria Williams, St. Martinville, 78-0; 4. Ava Langlinais, Erath, 77-7;
Shot put - 1. Zarria Williams, St. Martinville, 31-1; Kaylee Meaux, Crowley 31-0; 3. Bailee Bessard, Abbeville, 30-7; 4. Alexia Bell, Abbeville, 29-8;
High Jump - 1. Dycie Touchet, Crowley, 4-10; 2. Sophia Fontenot, Crowley, 4-8; 3. Ellen LeBouef, Kaplan, 4-0; 4. Noble Hebert, Kaplan, 4-0;

Track Results

100 - 1. Gloryyona Walker, Abbeville, 13.12; 2. Ramyiah Malcombe, Abbeville, 13.15; 3. Jmya Jones, St. Martinville, 13.70; 4. Jayah James, David Thibodaux, 13.87;
200 - 1. Ramyia Malcombe, Abbeville, 26.98; 2. Makaya Damon, Crowley, 28.07; 3. Emma Hebert, Crowley, 29.04; 4. Jayah James, David Thibodaux, 29.44
100 hurdles - 1. Jmya Jones, St. Martinville, 18.08; 2. Janya Davis, St. Martinville, 18.25; 3. Tajah Greene, Abbeville, 20.81; 4. Gabby Brown, Kaplan, 21.34;
300 hurdles - 1. Janya Davis, St. Martinville, 54.05; 2. Maryah Harrington, Kaplan, 56.26; 3. Jmya Jones, St. Martinville, 57.24; 4. Khali Crooms, Abbeville, 1:02.23
400 - 1. Morgan Comeaux, Kaplan, 1:06.68; 2. Malaya Gable, Crowley, 1:07.24; 3. Jordan Bias, Crowley, 1:07.93; 4. Bailey Pommier, Kaplan, 1:10.30;
800 - 1. Makaya Damon, Crowley, 2:38.92; 2. Morgan Comeaux, Kaplan, 2:51.16; 3. Jada Quibodeaux, Erath, 3:11.78; 4. Ellen LeBouef, Kaplan, 3:15.44;
1600 - 1. Grace French, David Thibodaux, 6:07.27; 2. Katie Romero, Kaplan, 7:04.57; 3. Bailey Stelly, Kaplan, 7:07.34; 4. Bre Bright, Erath, 8:05.14;
3200 - 1. Grace French, David Thibodaux, 13:37.26; 2. Katie Romero, Kaplan, 16:03; 3. Bailey Stelly, Kaplan, 16:11.74;

Relays

4x100 - 1. Abbeville (Ramyiah Malcombe, Quinisha Campbell, Lyla Fletcher, Gloryyona Walker), 50.66; 2. Crowley, 53.05; 3. St. Martinville, 55.38; 4. Kaplan, 56.24;
4x200 - 1. Abbeville (Malcombe, Tajah Greene, Fletcher, Walker), 1:52.98; 2 Crowley, 1:52.98; 3. Kaplan, 2:01.04; 4. Erath, 2:01.87;
4x400 - 1. Crowley (Jordan Bias, Malaya Gable, Maleigh Grant, Makaya Damon), 4:31.58; 2. Abbeville, 5:08.24; 3. Kaplan 5:17.00;
4x800 - 1 Kaplan (Katie Romero, Caroline LeMaire, Hannah Carlson, Zoe Dartez), 13:07.84; 2. Erath, 13:51.10;

Boys

Team Standings

1. St. Martinville, 134; 2. Erath, 125.5; 3. Abbeville, 119; 4. Kaplan, 75; 5. Crowley, 73.50; 6. David Thibodaux STEM, 46;

Field Results

Triple jump - 1 . Tyron Goodley, Crowley, 42-3; 2. Xavier Kately, St. Martinville, 39-6; 3. Tyrein Domino, Crowley, 38-10; 4. Braylon Jones, St. Martinville, 38-4;
Javelin - 1. Johnathan Matthews, Abbeville, 132-8; 2. Daniel Dartez, Abbeville, 131-0; 3. Calbe Judice, David Thibodaux, 120-5; 4. Andre Okelly-Farrell, David Thibodaux, 120-5;
High Jump - 1. Tanner Harrison, St. Martinville, 6-0; 2. Harvey Broussard, St. Martinville, 6-0; 3. Tyler Cherry, Abbeville, 5-8; 4. Christian Pillette, Erath, 5-4;
Pole Vault - 1. Kamren Earnest, Erath, 9-0; 2. Nathan Touchet, Erath, 8-0;
Discus - 1. Orlando Roy, Kaplan, 123-4; 2. Javin Griffin, St. Martinville, 118-4; 3. Te’Zarron Stewart, Abbeville, 116-6; 4. Ahman DeRouen, St. Martinville, 116-4;
Long Jump - 1. Tryon Goodley, Crowley, 20-11.5; 2. Jaylin Clay, St. Martinville, 19-10; 3. Tanner Harrison, St. Martinville, 19-1; 4. Daniel Dartez, Abbeville, 17-0;
Shot put - 1. Quinton Butler, St. Martinville, 47-3; 2. Javin Griffin, St. Martinville, 45-4; 3. Kavin Comeaux, Kaplan, 42-5; 4. Te’Zerron Stewart, Abbeville, 41-3;

Track Results

100 - 1. Kavian Trice, Abbeville, 11.53; 2. Nalen St. Julien, Abbeville, 11.67; 3. Mandrel Butler, St. Martinville, 11.67; 4. Jace Hebert, Kaplan, 11.76;
200 - 1. Omar Butler, Crowley, 23.29; 2. Kavian Trice, Abbeville, 23.30; 3. Nalen St. Julien, Abbeville, 23.75; 4. Jose Valezuela, Erath, 23.97;
400 - 1 Gabriel Clement, Kaplan, 52.21; 2. CamRon Scott, Crowley, 54.21; 3. Braylon Jones, St. Martinville, 52.74; 4. Dax Boudreaux, Erath, 55.37;
110 hurdles - 1. Rashad Cormier, Abbeville, 16.27; 2. Xavier Katley, St. Martinville, 17.55; 3. Chase Hernandez, David Thibodaux, 17.73; 4. Jayton Stutes, Erath, 18.0
300 hurdles - 1. Rashad Cormier, Abbeville, 40.14; 2. Xavier Kately, St. Martinville,, 42.72; 3. Chase Hernandez, David Thibodaux, 44.54; 4. Christian Pillette, Erath, 45.39;
800 - 1. Jason LeBlanc, Erath, 2:07.50; 2. Joel Allen, Erath, 2:10.46; 3. Kaleb White, Kaplan, 2:14.60; 4. Jackson Jarrett, David Thibodaux;
1600 - 1. Jason LeBlanc, Erath, 4:41.60; 2. Joel Allen, Erath, 4:44.77; 3. Eli Melton, David Thibodaux, 5:14.23; 4. Gage Smith, Kaplan 5:17.67

Relays

4x100 - 1. Abbeville (Kavian Trice, Brendon Shelvin, Rashad Cormier, Nalen St. Julien) 43.96; 2. St. Martinville, 44.63; 3. Crowley, 44.94; 4. Erath, 47.03;
4x200 - 1. Crowley (Marks Jonkeyvan, Travantre Ben, Tyron Goodley, Omar Butler), 1:31.92;
4x400 - 1. St. Martinville (Harvey Broussard, Jaylin Clay, Xavier Kately, Braylon Jones), 3:39.53; 2. Crowley, 3:41.20; 3. Kaplan, 3:44.62; 4. Erath, 3:51.11;
4x800 - 1. Erath (Evan Spaziante, Joel Allen, Dax Boudreaux, Jason LeBlanc), 9:02.27; 2. Kaplan, 9:09.55; 3. David Thibodaux, 9:18.94; 4. Abbeville, 9:59.22