Perhaps one of the legacies the recently deceased former Governor, Edwin Edwards, will forever maintain is his slaying of David Duke in a world-wide watched election for the state’s stop spot, Governor of the State of Louisiana.

Jim Brown.

He has worn plenty of hats. He's a former Louisiana State Senator, Secretary of State, Insurance Commissioner,. He ran for Louisiana governor and along with Edwin Edwards, Billy Tauzin, Bob Livingston and others who all were beaten by a little-known Congressman, Buddy Roemer. He is an attorney, columnist, publisher, husband, father and grandfather. He's also a story-teller.

When qualifications for elections in Louisiana concluded recently, only two of the seven statewide officials are facing major and well-funded opposition.  Incumbent Governor John Bel Edwards faces eight challengers including five republicans. But only two GOP candidates are considered serious; Congressman Ralph Abraham from Northeast Louisiana and Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone.

I have a sad announcement to make. Politics is just no fun anymore in Louisiana.

Reams of books have been written about the colorful characters that ran the Bayou state throughout its history. And the average citizen got involved, attended rallies and actively supported their candidate of choice. Few states could match the intensity and enthusiasm that was a part of Louisiana campaigning. The state’s two favorite pastimes were LSU football and Politics.

by Stephen Waguespack, President and CEO of Louisiana Association of Business and Industry

As a dad, one of my duties at home is to be a “fix-it” guy. While I may not be the handiest person out there, I can usually put some “MacGyver-esque” skills to the test and find a solution to a wide range of challenges around the house. I’ve replaced a doorbell, repaired a few windows, laid down some tile, fixed a garage door opener, hung a few ceiling fans and kept an old AC unit running for a few years longer than it ever should have lasted. I can open a wine bottle with a shoe (seriously) and once repaired some reading glasses with a chopstick. You shouldn’t hire me to build your dream home, but I can usually cobble together a workable solution or two for a project around the house when needed.

by Stephen Waguespack, President and CEO of Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI)

Not sure if you have noticed or not, but there is something called the fiscal cliff looming in Louisiana. If you haven’t heard of it yet, sit tight, because you will hear a whole lot about it over the next few months.

The 2018 crisis will be filled with plenty of drama, finger pointing and inflammatory rhetoric. Every (former, current and future) politician will say it is the other (former, current and future) politician’s fault for the deficits and lack of agreement on the appropriate mixture of taxes and cuts to fill it.

As the great John Maginnis, used to say, “I owe it all to the material”, so does political cartoonist like Fred Mulhearn,   

Earlier this week, I interviewed Mulhearn, about his work and his new book “Looziana Political Cartoons”, that is a compilation of his cartoons.

Louisiana political history for laughs--Today's focus: Governor Foster, David Duke and Edwin Edwards

Louisiana is rich in natural resources and super rich in opportunities for all of us to laugh at our political figures as they deal with the issues before them.

Twenty-six years ago this week, perhaps the most consequential and controversial election in the nation’s history took place here in the Bayou State.  Edwin Edwards and David Duke squared off in a run-off election for Governor.  Not only were voters across the nation fascinated by what was taking place down in the deepest of the deep Southern states.  There was worldwide interest in a showdown between a controversial former Governor and the former head of the Ku Klux Klan. 

by Lou Gehrig Burnett, Publisher of Fax-Net

    “We could have sold out three times.”  Those were the words of Robert Gentry, who spearheaded the 90th birthday bash for former Gov. Edwin W  Edwards this past Saturday night.