Happy New Year wishes to all of you that read my website each week.  I’m planning some new features for the coming year, including a weekly video of what’s happening in Louisiana.  I have many readers who check in from all over the world and the videocast each week will hopefully keep you abreast of much that will happen here in 2009.

My new column is up on perception and reality that will face La. Governor Bobby Jindal in the coming year.  His rocket ride to national fame will take quite a hit if he does not deal with some major looming financial issues in Louisiana.  You can read the column now by Clicking Here, or hitting the box on the right labeled “Jim’s New Column.”

Have a safe New Year.  We will visit again next year. And how about some New Year’s memories and good cheer below.

Former Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco offers a GOOP conspiracy theory in an interview with MSNBC’s Chris Mathews.  She says Bush was getting slammed “nationally and internationally” for his handling of Katrina during those early, desperate days after landfall and an executive decision was made to shift the blame.  “(Bush’s) political office decided that another scapegoat was necessary.”  Blanco says the White house even leaned on The Washington Post to run unflattering stories on its front page of her.  Come on now Kathleen!  It’s a little far fetch3ed to think that the President is in cahoots with the newspaper that continually has criticized the President.  And there is plenty of blame to go around; including that directed at Blanco.  You can see the former Governor’s comments below.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Daughter Campbell has had one busy year, with full election coverage, her “No Bias, No Bull” reports, each night on CNN, a young son to care for and a new son on the way, and a major feature in Vogue Magazine on the newsstands now.  You can read some of  the Vogue feature by Clicking Here.  And take a look at her views on the Bailout in her recent commentary below. 

My radio show on WRNO is still going strong each Sunday from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Amy Kirk was my longtime producer on weekdays and now both produces and does on air talking herself.  Amy fills in for me from time to time, and we are pictured below working together in the New Orleans Clear Channel studio. I’ll be off the last Sunday in January, as I will be in the nation’s capitol for the annual Washington Mardi Gras Ball.  Look for Amy to fill in for me on that date.

Louisiana and former Governor Edwin Edwards took some shots on the Tonight show last week as Jay Leno visited with Robin Williams. Both comedians told Edwards stories, neither of which are true, but brought big laughs from the audience. With just a few weeks left in the Bush Administration, it’s a 50/50 bet as to whether or not the President will pardon the former Governor.  For the mnost recent news story on eedwards’ pardon attempts, Click Here.  You can see the Leno-Williams exchange below.

The Governor of Illinois continues to take any spotlight off of Louisiana, so there is some local good news in all the controversy up there.  Bu how about this federal prosecutor claiming that the actions of the Governor would make Abe Lincoln “roll over in his grave?” Well not quite.  You see, ole Abe was right in the thick of financial wheeling and dealing in Illinois himself.  Check out my new column with all the sordid details.  You can read it now by accessing the box on the left marked “Jim’s New Column,’ or just by Clicking Here.

And La. Citizens Property Insurance Co., the state’s biggest financial debacle,  continues to rip off