Billy Tauzin Toll Road Story
The New Orleans Times-Picayune ran a story in today's edition concerning the calls Capt. Kirk received on KLRZ's Talk on the Bayou against naming the new elevated portions of La. 1 to Fourchon, which will only be accessable by paying a toll, in honor of drug industry whore extraordinaire Billy Tauzin. Sort of appropriate, ain't it? We'll keep getting reminded how badly Billy F' ed us everytime we pay a toll to go home, or to work or play, to Grand Isle or Fourchon. You know, like if Billy really had been taking care of us instead of simply feathering his nest, there would be no toll.

Also, interesting in the same story is how Sen. David Vitter is in favor of forbidding Medicare from negotiating drug prices with the drug industry after he touted allowing Seniors to import drugs from abroad in his last campaign. Don't you just love how easily Republicans fall into lock-step.

I'm thinking about changing the name of this blog to "How They're F_cking Us". What do you think, George?

Pitre Prefiles Ray Cheramie Memorial Generator Bill
State Representative Loulan J. Pitre, Jr. of Cut Off has prefiled a bill, HB212, for the legislative session beginning April 30, which would prohibit "a public servant from converting to personal use certain governmental property or resources or from allocating certain governmental property or resources to his immediate family members in a manner that is preferential over members of the general public during gubernatorially declared disasters or emergencies". This bill comes as a direct result of the generators loaned by Lafourche DPW Director Ray Cheramie to members of his family and friends after Katrina, which was first revealed here May 26, 2006.

If the bill becomes law, it would make these actions violations of the Code of Governmental Ethics punishable by "censure and/or a fine of up to $10,000, removal, suspension, reduction in pay, or demotion."

While this writer applauds Loulan for recognizing the problem and for this effort, as presently worded, the bill begs the question whether it should ever be legal for a public servant to convert governmental property to his personal use or that of his family, not solely "during gubernatorially declared disasters or emergencies."

Hunting for witches in Iberia Parish

I guess now that they are about to make cockfighting illegal, we'll have to find some other activity to take its place. Maybe our boy Iberia Parish President Will Langlinais has the answer: Witch Hunting.

Pouvre Will! Last week he saw conspiracies, now he thinks he's a witch. It appears that since the Legislative Auditor's report came out, the machines of local and state law enforcement are gearing up to drop the hammer. The DA there, Phil Haney, will be convening a grand jury to look into the wrongdoing found in the audit. And the State Attorney General and State Police may join the party too.

There is even a call to impeach po' Will just because the Louisiana Legislative Auditor found he had "directed public funds to improve private property; was inappropriately reimbursed for meals already paid for with parish and state monies; entered into contracts in violation of the parish charter; used public funds for charitable donations and to pay for employee meals and social events; and pressured parish employees to solicit donations and work on his campaign fund-raising golf tournament during parish work hours." CHI OH!

Will says, may, what about all dat the Council done? Dunno, Will, but it looks like you are going to have to be spending alot of money on lawyers.

What about ya'll Charlotte, George and Ray, you think witch hunting will be coming to Lafourche Parish anytime soon?

Is This The Issue That Pushes
Charlotte Over the Edge?

For some yet to be determined reason, Charlotte & George Randolph seem to have decided to make their last stand with their Tommy-violated-the-charter complaint. Now, they are accusing Councilman Mark Atzenhoffer of lying about verbally passing the Gervais family request for garbage pick up to Jerome Danos last November and whether Mark did his "job" as a Councilman. Presumably, in their disturbed minds, they are also accusing him of siding with Lasseigne.

While Mark and I disagree on alot of issues from a political philosophy perspective, I believe him to be a man of his word. If he said something happened, I would tend to give alot of credit to what he said.

Why is this the issue in which to invest this much political capital?

First, they draft a misdated, incoherent letter to Cam Morvant laying out their case that Tommy violated the charter getting SWDI to pick up garbage down the Gervaises' street. Cam decides the matter is not worth his time. Two or three weeks ago, Charlotte confronts Cam in his office, accusing him of siding with Tommy. Sources tell TPRTK that Charlotte used profuse vulgarity and was highly hysterical in her accusations.

Next they go after the media in a similar vein after Friday's Comet story blows up in their face.

Then last night, I get three awefully similar sounding anonymous comments accusing me of not being fair and Atzenhoffer of being a liar. Me, not being fair? I don't promise fair, baby. I promise scrutiny of public officials. Yes, I am biased! Big time! I'm biased in favor of the Public knowing what's going on! This blog serves as a counter-balance to ya'll trying to keep secrets.

Apparently, Charlotte has gotten away through much of her life with using this cheap and tawdry manipulative tool to get her way. You accuse someone of being unfair in favor of someone else, the accused feels guilty and relents and you get your way. I guess that game ain't working no more, honey! Ya'll credibility is at an all time low. It will be hard here on out to get anybody to believe anything ya'll say. Ya'll done run out of green stamps.

The most mystifying thing about this issue is why is this the issue on which Charlotte and George have decided to make their last stand? Or is it just crack-up time?

Trad. Media Refuses Charorge Propaganda Overture?
Multiple reliable sources connected to two local traditional media outlets inform TPRTK that the complaint-against-Lasseigne ain't turning out quite like Charlotte and George Randolph planned it. You see, what the Toxic Twins anticipated was that traditional media would accept their side of the story as gospel. Notwithstanding the fact that Charlotte once worked for a newspaper, Charlotte and George either don't understand professional journalism requires the journalist to be impartial and objective, which calls for covering both or several sides of the story, or they believe they can dictate how traditional media covers a story involving them. Sorry Charorge, too much water done gone under that bridge. Unlike the Sheriff, you ain't got the muscle to force trad. media to carry your propaganda.

The facts are Mark Atzenhoffer, the Councilman in the district where Mr. Gervais and his family live, did his job; he verbally submitted a work order to Jerome Danos last November for Charlotte and George's maladministration to secure the necessary paper work, in this case a simple liability waiver, so that the Gervais family could get garbage picked up down their street. As with many other similar cases, Charlotte and George dropped the ball. Months passed. No one from the administration showed up to have the Gervaises sign.

On the other hand, unlike Charlotte and George with a staff of several hundred, Tommy Lasseigne, alone, got the job done for the Gervais family. He carried the waiver around to the various effected households, secured the necessary signatures and turned the paperwork in. Tommy wasn't directing a contractor, he was simply doing Charlotte and George's leg work. It wasn't quite as glamorous as ribbon cutting photo ops or DC Mardi Gras, but it's getting the Public business done.

It appears that it is more important to Charlotte and George that there is an appearance that they are doing a good job, or be able to take credit, rather than actually getting things done for the people of Lafourche Parish.

Get A Copy of Cajun Mariners, Right Now!
There will be a quiz.

If you haven't gotten a copy of Woody Falgoux's book yet, you need to. If you were raised in the 10th Ward, you will not be able to put it down.

Rich and lovely job, Woody! You got IT. Besides preserving this part of our history, you have done alot to improve Thibodaux/10th Ward relations, as far as I'm concerned.

Here's a link to the Comet article. It contains some places you can buy it. I checked Amazon, and it's not available there yet. Here is a link to Woody's website for the book. You can order from there. I hope you brought an 18-wheeler's worth of copies to Birdsall's, Woody. Everybody wants a copy down here.

Quiz: In what famous WWII battle was Nolty Theriot wounded? Of the four main subjects of the book, which was never a boat captain? Sidney, Minor, Bobby or Nolty? What was the name of Minor's first boat? How much was Bobby paid by his father to captain his boats prior to Bobby enlisting in the Air Force? Who was Minor's "Benefactor" and what entertainment establishment did he own? Is a Texien only from Texas?

A Wasted Brain Is A Terrible Thing To Have
The headline in Friday's Comet reads "Lafourche president accuses councilman of wrongdoing". The councilman is Tommy Lasseigne, Charlotte & George Randolph's announced opponent this Fall. The complaint is that Lasseigne arranged for garbage pick-up for citizens of Lafourche Parish residing on Pep's Lane in Raceland off Highway 182. Charlotte & George claim that he violated the charter by not making such arrangements through their maladministration. They want Lasseigne punished. Informed sources tell TPRTK that the citizens Lasseigne helped do not reside in his district and that they had attempted to get help from Charlotte & George and their own councilman without success, which is why they turned to Lasseigne.

The moral of this story from Charlotte & George appears to be "FUCK YOU average citizen of Lafourche Parish who needs help" and if a political opponent gets something done for a citizen to which he is rightfully entitled, the political opponent should be punished.

Mr. Marvin Gervais's reaction to the new service was: "It’s very, very nice."

I wonder if Charlotte & George can count on his vote this Fall?

Will some responsible family member PLEASE step forward and have these two interdicted?!?! This story can definitely be used to show how mentally incapacitated they have become. They're like a boxer who is out on his feet and continues to get hit. Horribly, there doesn't seem to be a referee to jump in and stop the fight in Charlotte & George's case.

It's A Conspiracy!!
Parish Presidents are being conspired against everywhere, all the time, by almost everyone! It's a problem. Here's our boy Iberia Parish President Will Langlinais airing part of the problem.

Will, what up with the neck, dude? Have you swallowed a small animal of some sort?

Mo' Hoin'
Here's a link if you want to see a video report on the West Feliciana warden resigning after being caught in a Ray Cheramie. Just click on the "W. Feliciana Warden Resigns" link.

Charorge Shaft 10th Ward Again;
Is It Time To Incorporate?

In a showing of what little regard Charlotte & George Randolph's Misadministration have for the people of the 10th Ward, they proposed stripping $2.1 million allocated for the South Lafourche Levee District lock and reallocating only $750,000 of $2.2 million needed to make necessary repairs to keep the Cote Blanche bridge operational, and $142,000 for repairs to a pump station in the District in which Charorge and DPW Director Ray Cheramie reside at Tuesday's Council meeting. A majority of the Council went along with the proposal.

The Corps of Engineers have committed to replacing the same pump station in the near future. No one has committed to replacing the Cote Blanche bridge. Additionally, there is no certainty that the money for the lock can, or will, be restored at a later date or that other money will be allocated to complete the repairs to the Cote Blanche bridge.

Furthermore, since Charorge proposes to perform the repairs to the Cote Blanche bridge in 3 phases, the users of the bridge will be inconvenienced three times as the bridge is shutdown for repairs, instead of once.

Can you say its time to incorporate the 10th Ward? At least that way, we get to keep, and decide locally, how some of the 65% of the tax revenues generated in the 10th Ward that go to Thibodaux annually is spent.

Headline Reads: Backhoe misused; warden resigns

The Baton Rouge Advocate carried a story today about backhoe misuse in West Feliciana Parish. Neither Don Imus nor nappy-headed hos were involved, as far as I can tell from the article. But, the warden of the Parish jail was. And, you guessed it, he pulled a Ray Cheramie.

According to the article, he used inmates and "a Sheriff’s Office backhoe to remove stumps on his property". (Wait, what use does a Sheriff have for a backhoe?) He was caught on tape by a television crew, called to the Sheriff's office and "resigned". Reading between the lines, I presume he resigned in lieu of being fired. The po' operator of the backhoe got suspended for 30 days. The Sheriff called it gross ignorance and gross negligence. Up in Ouachita Parish, they call it criminal.

So, Ray, besides using the excavator at your homeplace, how many of your cattle pastures did you use Parish equipment and personnel on? (See TPRTK, Monday, June 19, 2006, "Parish Equipment And Employees Performed Work On DPW Chief's Private Property, Part 1" and Comet, August 02. 2006 )

What is it I am missing, Charorge, Cam and Craig?

FEMA Says: Get A Written Contract

Advice FEMA gives home owners when contracting damage repairs:

"Insist on a written contract. A complete contract should clearly state all the tasks to be performed, all associated costs and the payment schedule. Never sign a blank contract or one with blank spaces. Make sure the contract clearly states who will apply for the necessary permits or licenses. Have a lawyer review the contract, if substantial costs are involved, and keep a copy for your records."

Wait, we don't have a written contract for DA BAGS, right? "...all the tasks to be performed, all associated costs and the payment schedule." How about the number of BAGS used? The period of time they are to be used?

What's your advice Charorge?

Do Lafayette Schools Have BAG Problem?

I stumbled across this article this morning. It appears the Lafayette Parish School Board has questions about contractors being "paid federal funds without written contracts." Sounds familiar? The Board asked for the Legislative Auditor's assistance in looking into the propriety of the matter. One Board member also contacted the US Attorney.

Maybe it's time for the Lafourche Parish Council to similarly call in the Legislative Auditor to look at DA BAG issue, and, maybe, a few others as well.

APPARENT ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT FAILS!
An apparent assassination attempt upon the life of this writer failed miserably late Tuesday afternoon when an automobile took out a fence and came to rest feet from the entrance of my office in Golden Meadow. Reliable sources tell TPRTK that the driver alleges he "dozed off" right before the "accident". Reliable sources also tell TPRTK that my office was not harmed. Unfortunately for the would-be assassin, this writer was unharmed and secure in Lake Charles at the time of the "accident". Reliable sources further tell TPRTK the vehicle in question did not appear to be one owned by the Parish nor did it sport red lights or a siren.

More details and pictures of the scene as they become available.

They Wouldn't Vote For Her Again
I placed a poll in the Daily Comet Forums on March 4, 2007 asking the question "If the election for Lafourche Parish President were held today, would you vote to reelect Charlotte Randolph?" Here are the results up to now:

13 (38%) Yes
21 (62%) No

On March 28, 2007, I placed another poll, this time with named opposition. 42 votes were cast. The question: "If the election for Parish President were held today, for whom would you vote?"

7 (17%) Donald Ayo
3 (7%) Matthew Block
3 (7%) Woody Falgoust
8 (19%) Tommy Lasseigne
16 (38%) Charlotte Randolph
5 (12%) None of the above

The interesting thing both unscientific polls shared is that the same percentages of participants cast votes against Charlotte Randolph serving another term - 62%. Ironically, that is a reversal of the exact percentage by which she defeated Buzz Breaux in November, 2003.

Please feel free to disseminate this information however you please. ;) Print it, email it, fax it, call your momma and tell her about it. I don' care, me.

Promises! Promises!
Hey Charlotte! Where's the MASTER PLAN?

This is what the Daily Comet wrote in a November 13, 2003 editorial endorsing "Randolph for president":

"Randolph says she will push for the establishment of a master plan to guide future drainage and road projects. That development will be a huge step forward and will serve Lafourche well during her term in office and afterward."

O.K. its April 5, 2007, where is the master plan for drainage? Was it in Ray Cheramie's head?

The same editorial provided: "We think Charlotte Randolph will make an excellent parish president and that she will be able to work with the new Parish Council, regardless of who is in the final mix."

Want to rethink that Comet? Let's see, when did she loss the Council? About 6 months ago? Was it Ray's generators? George's wreck of a parish vehicle? Charlotte's use of the parish credit card to buy George's plane tickets, meals and booze? What about those $5.3 million levees for that lonely cattle pasture in Valentine? Shorting parish employees' checks? Low employee morale? Gaffs in the Boards & Commissions appointment process? Not handling road resurfacing contract process expeditiously? Not getting financial reports to the Council in a timely fashion? Not getting work orders processed in a timely fashion, then trying to get Councilmen booted off the Council when they felt the need to take things into their own hands? George's amateur attempts to arm twist Councilmen? All of the above?

The editorial had this to say about parish unity: "She also recognizes the horrible sectionalism that divides the parish and holds us back from the strides we could make if the whole parish pulled together for the changes we need."

If anything, Charlotte Randolph has exacerbated the divide in our parish. Huge sums of parish money have been spent in one district - the one she and her DPW director live in. That don't do much for pulling the parish together for the changes we need.

Talk is cheap.

Brand New Unscientific Parish Prez Poll
I put up yet another Parish Prez poll in the Comet forums. You'll recognize all the names. The placement of some of the names may surprise you or cause a charly horse. View it at your own risk.

The results.

Mark Dis Down
The always fun Trivia Night at the Cut Off Youth Center is scheduled for May 12. That's a Saturday. For those of you unfamiliar with the event, it is a fundraiser for the Center, a place in Cut Off for our adult mentally-challenged citizens. It's a worthwhile cause, always well-attended and a RAWKING GOOD TIME! The last few years have seen 600 or more participants.

Daniel and Louis, I promise to behave this year. I will not pass out copies of TPRTK, engage in overt political activity nor wear soiled panties as a hat. So, will ya'll let me in the building? Look, man, I donated a gallon of Absolut last year and didn't drink all of it. PLEASE!?!? I can play nice.

Although I have been banished from my beloved Rat Dog team, I have been asked to go over to the dark side with the Fond Chock team, subject to Pappa Daniel's approval, of course.

Thank You, Woody Falgoux!
I saw an advance copy of Woody Falgoux's soon-to-be-released book Cajun Mariners last night. It is a history of lower Lafourche's offshore petroleum workboat industry. Fascinating and important stuff ... Nolty Theriot, Minor Cheramie, Bobby Orgeron ... I can't wait to get my hands on about 5 copies; 1 for me, 4 for the libraries.

Meanwhile, here's a link to Woody's book about undrafted rookies trying to make it in the NFL.

(For those of you who are wondering what I will do after the success of Scarlette's Reign of Ruin, well, it's going to be a history of the Pointe-a-Sauciss ... the close-to-the-earth way of life, the knife fights, the dancehalls and bars, Te-Ya's roast beefs, being a Cheramie, Yankee Canal before they closed it, the snottiness of the people across the bayou in Golden Meadow. (That's right Thibodaux, some down here actually share your affliction of looking down their noses at folk they believe they are superior to.) HBO has shown some interest in possibly turning it into a series a la the Sopranos, Six Feet Under, the Wire, Rome, etc., if we can fictionalize it. Sullivan, we got alot of work to do, negre!)

We Sent Billy To Congress. He Became A Drug Whore
I hope you got a chance to see 60 Minutes Sunday. They did a segment on the Medicare Drug Bill shepherded through to passage by our former Congressman Billy Tauzin. The bill contained drug benefits for Medicare recipients and had a provision forbidding Medicare from negotiating drug prices with the pharmaceutical industry, thusly guaranteeing them windfall profits, at taxpayer expense. (See W's reaction below.) The bill became law at 3 A.M. in the morning after three hours arm-twisting. Billy retired soon thereafter and, within months, took a job with the same industry as their chief lobbyist at an annual salary of $2 million.

George W. Bush has threatened a veto of any changes.

Can anybody explain to me the difference between what Billy Tauzin did and what a crack whore does - offer up her body for a suck on that crack pipe? Is the difference that he sold his soul and not his hole?

The First Fanger
Here are a few pictures of Charlotte's friend, George W. Bush, President of the United States of America:

Wanted: Charlotte/Bush Xmas Card
Any of you big shots who got one of those special Xmas cards from Charlotte with her and George W. in a picture care to share it with me, please?

I'll trade this for it:

Bush Saluting Our Servicemen and women.

"Just a one fanger victory salute." George W. Bush

Here's the link for the YouTube video this animated gif was taken from.