NEW ORLEANS – In response to the Deepwater Horizon incident, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District issued three emergency permits on Friday, July 16, 2010.

 

The emergency permits were issued to BP America Production Co. to install piles and booms in three separate locations: Barataria Pass, Cat Bay along Cat Bay Islands, and Cat Bay along Bird Islands. The first two permits were issued within 24 hours, and the third permit was issued in less than a day.

Despite a total blackout from the liberal media in the New Orleans area, the Northshore Tea Party attracted 2,000 people to the Fleur de Lis Center in Mandeville on Saturday. This was the group’s largest crowd in their 18 month history as part of the incredible tea party movement, the most substantial political force to hit this country in decades.

Unfortunately, hundreds of people were turned away as only 1,100 people were allowed in the building. The seating capacity was reached well before the event started. It was an enthusiastic crowd of patriotic, flag waving, God fearing Americans who are upset about the direction of this nation.

Today, Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced plans to deliver a full-service hospital in New Orleans East.  After renegotiating a flawed real-estate deal with Universal Health Services (UHS), Landrieu announced that the City will purchase the Pendleton Memorial Methodist Hospital site for $16.25 million – representing a $23.75 million dollar savings for the real estate deal alone.  Landrieu laid out a plan to renovate and open the hospital for a projected cost of $110 million – resulting in projected total savings of $53 million for the taxpayers.

Good morning and what’s up with America dipping across the pond for the replacement to Larry King? CNN has tabbed America’s Got Talent judge, Piers Morgan to fill those shoes.

Author and radio talk show host, Laura Ingraham joins the show to discuss her new book “The Obama Diaries” which has garnered silence from the Obama camp and examples of how the White House shelter the masters of blurring the lines between fact and fiction.

During the last several days, numerous speakers appeared before the President’s oil spill commission to plead for the resumption of drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Even the commission, which did not contain one representative from the oil and gas industry, was inclined to support the lifting of the moratorium.

This commission was formed by President Obama to study the oil spill disaster and to make sure that another one does not happen in the future. Yet, there have already been hearings in both Washington D.C. and New Orleans. Much is known about why the disaster occurred and the mistakes that were made by both British Petroleum and the federal agency charged with oversight of the drilling operations. To prevent future mishaps, more vigorous oversight is needed, but drilling in the Gulf does not need to be stopped.

Our political system is broken.  I confess to frequent dismay at how political actors of all stripes vote on issues, but a vote in Congress week before last ranks right up there with the worst votes of their tenure.

Once again the culprit is Senator Ben Nelson, purported Democrat of Nebraska.  He joined with Republicans to vote against extending unemployment benefits to the long-term unemployed.  

Was it a mere a coincidence that on the same afternoon a federal judge in New Orleans struck down the six-month drilling moratorium in the Gulf, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service shut down the state's sand berm construction project off the Chandeleur Islands?

Or that before that moratorium was enjoined, the chairman of the presidential commission on the Gulf disaster was open to making interim recommendations that could allow drilling to resume within six months, but then he dismissed that possibility after the ruling?

 

Northrop Grumman Corporation  announced today plans to consolidate its Gulf Coast shipbuilding operations and explore strategic alternatives for its Shipbuilding business. As a result of the Gulf Coast consolidation, the company will recognize an estimated pre-tax charge of $113 million in the second quarter of 2010.

United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., commented on today’s announcement by Northrop Grumman that they plan to close Avondale Shipyard by 2013.

Sen. Landrieu said:

“The state of Louisiana, under both the current and previous Administrations and through a unified Congressional delegation, has provided extraordinary support to Avondale Shipyard.  Despite that support and the increased productivity of the employees at Avondale, Northrop Grumman has tragically chosen to turn its back on Louisiana and thousands of workers in the state.  While the company might believe this decision will have a positive effect in the short term on its bottom line, the long-term consequences for Louisiana’s economy, our national security and Northrop Grumman itself will be devastating.  In the coming days, I will strongly appeal to Secretary Mabus and Northrop Grumman leadership to reverse this short-sighted decision.”

(Baton Rouge) Today, Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman Claude “Buddy” Leach, Jr. announced that St John Parish native Renee Lapeyrolerie has been named the party’s Executive Director. As Executive Director, Lapeyrolerie will manage day-to-day operations and head up the Louisiana Democratic Party’s efforts heading in to the fall elections.


“Renee Lapeyrolerie understands Louisiana politics, has extensive experience building coalitions and solid vision for the future,” Leach said. “The Louisiana Democratic Party is lucky to have found such a talented and smart young woman to help lead our party.”