Opinion

Earl Long-model for the modern day democrat

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. Most people that have been raised in Louisiana have to some extent been exposed to the Long’s family and their political legacy on the state and the nation. What is interesting to note is that the tentacles of this …

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Serve your country – then get swiftboated?

Jim BrownJim Brown is a former Louisiana state senator, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance and a regular contributor to The Gazette. Well here they go again.  Political extremists who work behind the scenes in both national political parties have dusted off their old playbook by attacking the military record of both vice presidential candidates. Such attacks even have a …

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The supreme court is supreme

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. Some of the most intelligent men of their time came together to decide what the complexion of a new nation would look like. Men such as Benjamin Franklin, inventor, scientist, politician and above all a patriotic statesman, met to …

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Dum-Dums: savoring a sweet 100 years

Sallie HollisSallie Rose Hollis is a native of Rocky Branch and retired Journalism Professer from Louisiana Tech University. Contact her at sallierose@mail.com. Dum-Dums are turning 100 this year. That’s right. The little candy that inspired so many childhood sugar rushes is a century old – and I’ve been helping celebrate the occasion. Maybe you’d like to get on board. I …

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Just when we thought it was safe to go in the water

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. To paraphrase a comment from the iconic blockbuster movie “Jaws”, “Just when we thought it was safe to go into the water:”. This refers to a time that people were terrified by a shark attack and then when the …

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Both political parties pose dangers

Jim BrownJim Brown is a former Louisiana state senator, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance and a regular contributor to The Gazette. When I was at a young age and growing up in the Midwest, President Harry Truman led the nation out of war. Then came General Dwight Eisenhower, who confected a plan for reconstruction throughout Europe and Asia. They …

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Move, shoot and communicate

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. The United States Army Officer Training has been a cornerstone of leadership training for our nation. A cornerstone that leaves little to doubt the ability of the U.S. Army to train America’s leader for the future. While we have …

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‘Flowerpot traumas’ to ‘Aria listening?’

Sallie HollisSallie Rose Hollis is a native of Rocky Branch and retired Journalism Professer from Louisiana Tech University. Contact her at sallierose@mail.com. Flowerpot Traumas. An interesting juxtaposition, don’t you think? It’s a word combination that’s been stuck in my head since Oct. 27, 2022. That’s the day those were the words I used to solve The New York Times’ Letter …

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Time for a rootin tootin convention

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. It’s time for a real presidential convention. We have had some real whoppers over the years. Louisiana backed Johnson when Kennedy was selected and would later win. I knew a delegate to that convention and the back room politics …

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How to lower auto insurance costs in Louisiana

Jim BrownJim Brown is a former Louisiana state senator, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance and a regular contributor to The Gazette. Louisiana legislators met last week to find legal solutions that will lower the cost of automobile bill insurance throughout the state. Hey, all you guy and gal lawmakers. There are no new laws that will make any difference. …

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