Tom Ridge And Politicizing Terror

Why did Tom Ridge leave the Bush administration? Politicizing fear! That's right, politicizing fear.

In his new book, Ridge says, members of the Bush’s Cabinet, specifically Def. Sec. Donald H. Rumsfeld and then-Attorney General John Ashcrof, pressured him to raise the nation's terror alert level just before the 2004 presidential election. The "swift-boaters"were bad enough, but now this!

Ridge says the Bush administration's “politicizing of terror” ultimately convinced him to resign. Pres. George W. Bush created the position of “terror czar” after September 11th and named Ridge to the position.

So next time you hear Republicans rage against health care reform by talking about "death panels" and other "scare tactics," remember that's how they "politicize fear." They'll do anything to stay in power.

Auditor Begins Search of Insurance Department e-mails

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported earlier this week that the Louisiana Legislative Auditor's staff is looking through hundreds of thousands of e-mails and documents that the Department of Insurance made available as the result of a court order.

Republican Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon filed suit last year to prevent the auditor's office from accessing the records.

The media has been openly skeptical of Donelon and other Republicans who have publicly vowed “governmental transparency,” yet privately practiced “government secrecy.”

Donelon has until Oct. 14 to appeal the ruling, but has not yet made a final decision.

See, Ed Anderson, New Orleans Times-Picayune 08/18/2009 Read Article: New Orleans Times-Picayune

NOAA advises of 3 TS headed for the U.S. - Claudette, Ana, and Bill.

NOAA advises of 3 TS headed for the U.S. - Claudette, Ana, and Bill.

NOAA, as of august 16, 2009: Stay alert as Tropical Storm Ana and Tropical Storm Bill head toward the U.S.

Ethics Charges Filed in '08 Republican Smear Campaign Against Democrat Kip Holden

Republican smear tactics are challenged.

Scott Wilfong, a Republican activist, and his companies face charges and possible fines up to $25,000 by the Louisiana Board of Ethics.

The charges stem from Republican attacks on Kip Holden, the Democratic mayor of Baton Rouge, during the 2008 campaign cycle. Wilfong and his companies failed to disclose expenditures related to a controversial political flier that attacked Mayor Holden.

Wilfong doesn't deny doing it; he says he was simply taking orders: "I did what I was asked by my client to do."

During the campaign, Wilfong was associated with Republican candidates Wayne Carter and Dan Kyle.

In 2008, Mayor Holden was re-elected by a 3-1 margin.

Marsha Shuler, The Advocate 08/14/2009 Read Article: The Advocate

Opera Unite: Lafayette's

Opera Unite

David Vitter: Why are you forgetting about Louisiana?