LARGEST HEALTH CARE UNDERTAKING EVER

The United States wasn’t the first to release the coronavirus vaccine; eight other countries beat us out, but now the U. S. has taken on the largest distribution of vaccine ever. Pfizer is a German owned company producing the vaccine. The U.S. has recorded more than 16 million cases of COVID-19 with 300,000 deaths and counting. The U.S. leads the world in deaths that have been averaging nearly 3,000 a day. The virus plays no favorites. Charley Pride, one of country music’s biggest stars, who sold 70 million albums and was the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, died Dec. 12, in Dallas, of complications from COVID at age 86. On Nov. 11, he appeared at the Country Awards to present the Legend Award. He had tested negative over a dozen times since then. I never heard a Pride song I didn’t like. Unknown to most, Charley was part of the Texas Ranger baseball team ownership for the past 10 years. Charley, from Sledge, MS., was the son of a share-cropper and was raised picking cotton. I spent many days in the cotton fields with colored families just like Charley’s and at about the same time. Every time I hear of someone like Charley and the Queen of New Orleans, actor Carol Sutton, 76, who played in many movies and starred on television, who died last Thursday of COVID and the 25,000 Texans and those who died here at home, my mind always turns to the first 15 cases that we were told would miraculously disappear in a few days. I’m sorry but I just can’t forgive a national leadership who spoke of a China hoax and brushed off the deathly virus and failed to protect the American people. I will never forgive the failed leadership. There has Been more people die than in WWll, 295,000 and more than all the wars combined, including the Civil War and the Galveston 1900 hurricane, which killed 8,000. There is more to the entire story. Americans love comeback stories but look down on those who don’t graciously accept their loss and accept the will of the people who have spoken. *****I have to move on now, please come along; I promise it won’t do you no harm.

COVID-19 DEATHS HIT 303,000

I understand uneducated, but for the likes of me, I can’t wrap my head around plain, simple folks. In order for the COVID-19 vaccine to be successful, 75% of Americans will have to be vaccinated. The process began Monday with thousands of frontline healthcare workers and nursing home residents receiving the shot. Researchers warn that the hoaxes on social media will feed off of the virus and vaccine to undercut trust in the coming wave of immunizations. Already about two in 10 U.S. adults say they are “pretty certain” they won’t take the vaccine. A number of them believe its Bill Gates scheme to implant microchips in us. Honestly, I heard from one of my children that a guy I knew said that chip is the reason he won’t take the shot. It’s probably a liquid chip with plenty of information gathering technology. Don’t you just hate simple and it’s just beginning.

CONDOLENCES

We were sorry to learn of the death of Debra Burleigh, age 45, who passed away November, 28. A memorial service will be held for Debra in the springtime. A Bridge City grad, Debby came to work for us at The Record Newspapers in sales while attending Lamar in Beaumont. She was a very friendly person. She never met a stranger and was very kind. I recall she always arrived at work wearing a big smile and optimistic about the day she faced. Affected with Lupus for years, she didn’t use it as a crutch, she rose above it. May this good person rest in peace. Please see obituary.

THE BIG SUPREME COURT CON GAME

Some people say Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, filing the Supreme Court case, was more than Trump’s efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s victory that was confirmed Monday by the Electoral College board vote. It was about two things, Paxton may be facing the penitentiary in Texas and federal tax problems. He was pandering to Trump for a pardon. The other reason, at least a hearing by the Court, would have helped the “Cash Cow” that gives a lot more milk and gives Trump six out of every 10 buckets. As far as Ted Cruz’s part, the offer to present the case was a publicity ploy and it served him well with the Bubba part of Trump’s base. Ted has never quit running for president and he’s smart enough to know that regardless of what he says, Trump will never run again. He has too many deaths on his watch that he can’t ever overcome, it’s his legacy. He got the highest percent of favor ever, 47%, and it’s downhill from here. The lawsuit was a joke that a lot of congressional idiots and attorney generals signed onto. It’s a sure bet it will cost some defeats. Just watch. I don’t believe our congressman, Dr. Babin, was one of the 126 idiots.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2010

Dr. Amber Dunn said it took her five hours to travel five miles from her Cleveland hospital job to her apartment. Some folks were stranded ten hours, even over night with snow everywhere and sub-zero temperatures. Now, that’s a bad winter.*****Brett Favre’s consecutive starts streak came to an end Monday, Dec. 13 at 297, going back to 1992.***** Other big sports news: Pitcher Cliff Lee passed up an extra $50 million from the Rangers and Yankees to sign with the Phillies. He joins pitchers Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels in what could be the major leagues top pitching rotation ever.***** It should surprise no one that State Rep. Allen Ritter, who has always been a Blue Dog Democrat, has joined the Republican Party. The reason he switched is to avoid having a Republican opponent next year.***** Funeral services were held Dec. 10 for Trevin James Rigby, age 21. Our deepest sympathies to his mother Karen, father James and their families. Trevin was the grandson of the late A.J. Judice. My first thought turned to his grandmother Lois Judice who felt deep pain for her grandson and the loss her daughter felt. All good people faced with a tragedy.***** Condolences also to Roy and Mitzi Snell and their family on the death of son Cullen Snell, age 20, who passed away Dec. 11.***** Father’s sin too much to bare: Bernard Madoff’s eldest son, Mark, age 46, hung himself with a black dog leash on the second anniversary of his father’s arrest, Dec. 11. His two-year-old son slept near where his father hung. Mark had emailed his wife in Florida, who was at Disney with their four-year-old daughter, that someone needed to check on the baby. His father-in-law found him. Mark and his brother Andrew both contended that their dad told them the day before he was arrested about his illegal activities that beat people out of $60 billion. His dad, in prison for life, was informed of the hanging. *****Cam Newton of Auburn won the Heisman by a large majority. What’s amazing is that just the year before, 2009, he won a national junior college championship for Blinn in Brenham, Texas.*****A few special folks we know celebrating birthdays this week. Judge Buddie Hahn was a young lawyer when I met him. I’ve always had the deepest respect for him. *** Brown Claybar, the mayor of Orange I’ve known forever. ***Annie Hargraves, a mainstay at Bridge City Market Basket who was raised in Port Arthur, where her dad was bridge tender for the Port Arthur Pleasure Island Bridge. *** Jimmy Skadowski turns 17 on Dec. 21. He’s Pattie’s youngest and best. ***Dr. Terry Burd, a proud Bridge City graduate celebrates another one, as does our longtime friend Maac Hughes. ***Kenny Pigg, a guy that has always done to ride the range with, marks another year. *** Joy Young, Inez’s little sister, who raised the prettiest girls marks another year.***Then there is Donnie Stanton, who carries pictures of Geo. W and Mitch McConnell in his wallet. Happy birthday Donnie.*****Happy 54th wedding anniversary to Betty and Corky Harmon. ***A big congrats goes out to Larry and Betty Duhon on their 60th anniversary. They are parents of Nancy Hatton and Betty Davis. The girls are married to Mike and Richard.*****The Bobby Cormier and Oil Field Supply annual Christmas dinner was a great party. The “Gold Dust” twins, Ken and Danny, prepared the food at K-Dans and served it at the Orangefield Cormier Museum.*****Matt Bryant’s Falcons keep moving on. They beat the Panthers 31-10. Matt kicked a 39-yards field goal and made four extra points.

22 Years Ago-1998

Helen Dorothy Phillips, age 72, died last week, Dec. 7. She was a nationally known educator with many awards and had been honored by the Texas Legislature. In later years, she was a counselor at Bridge City High School. ***** Dr. Joe and Mary Majors will be traveling to Rome to visit their son, Father Beau, a Catholic priest, who is serving Pope John Paul II. Beau was raised in Bridge City. *****A great lady, Angelina Garza, passed away on Dec. 13, at age 77. She and husband Gus moved to Bridge City when it was just a prairie, you could see from one end to Bridge City to the other. For years they were the only Hispanic family in town. (Editor’s note: Gus served on the Bridge City school board for over 25 years. Both of them are gone now but they contributed a lot in their lifetime.)*****In most markets gasoline prices at the pump is selling for less than 80 cents per gallon. In a few places, as near as Houston, gasoline at some locations is selling as low as 45 cents per gallon. (Editor’s note: It’s hard to believe that gasoline was so cheap. When it hit a $1 a gallon citizens were outraged. The prices went up to $4 during the Bush Administration.)

A FEW HAPPENINGS

I finally received my copy of Joe Scarborough’s new book, “Saving Freedom, the Cold War, and the Fight for Western Civilization.” The book covers my teenage years into adulthood. Scarborough is a New York Times best selling author, a Washington Post columnist, the creator of Morning Joe on MSBC, hosted by him and his wife Mika Brzezinski. Joe is a former Republican U.S. congressman. He’s listed on Times’ 100 list of the world’s most influential people. I watch Morning Joe daily at 5:00 a.m. I presented a copy of the Truman book to our friend Phillip Welch, who likes reading the history of long ago presidents. It’s a great, historical read which covers a period I lived through Civilization at the cross-roads. *****The Mauriceville senior citizens annual supper was held despite the pandemic. It was held remotely according to our friend Nelda Burton, 120 senior citizens were delivered large Christmas type meals, prepared by Krirta Shehand. The seniors also received a gift. The response was fantastic. We also spoke with Nelda while she was at Baptist Hospital with Owen, who was undergoing a heart procedure. Best wishes on that. *****A few folks celebrating birthdays and other events. Dec. 17: It’s difficult for my mind to comprehend that this day will mark 54 years since Bridge City Cardinal football team won the state championship in 1966. It’s also will be 55 years since losing the championship game, played in Kyle Field, in 1965. Can you believe all those kids are now over 70-years-old. We attended every game and championship games in those two years. It seems like not so long ago when Bridge City shut down. Motto was “Last one in town shut off the lights.” Everyone followed Bid Red on Friday night. Hard to believe those beautiful cheerleaders are over 70 and great-grandmothers. Time doesn’t stand still.***Dec. 18: A kid I’ve known, along with his brother David, since they were pre-schoolers, sons of Margie and Lannie Claybar. The youngest, former mayor of Orange, a good guy, Brown Claybar celebrates a birthday. Best wishes.***Dec. 20: One of the truly great guys you can always go to the bank on his word and handshake, Kenneth “Kenny” Pigg, celebrates. Happy Birthday old friend.***Dec. 21: The first day of winter. I’m sure it was a cold day in West Texas when Judge Buddie Hahn was born 73 or so years ago. A lot of water has run under the bridge since Buddie first came to the county and landed in Vidor My friendship with Buddie over the years is not one you have to say, it’s just something you know. If he’s not hearing a few cases, I bet he’s bored to death.***By the way, Happy 54th Anniversary to Buddie and Carol on Dec. 23. Best wishes for many more healthy, happy years.***Dec. 22, would have been Dan and Manon Mohan’s 58th wedding anniversary. Funeral services were held for Dan on Monday, Dec. 14. *****My friend of many years, going back to when he and Cornel Thompson were West Orange teenage freshmen. I remember him delivering milk with his dad at 4 a.m. when he was 14. He then became a baseball star with master knowledge of the game. By now I’m sure you have figured out that I’m speaking of Bridge City baseball coach Chad Landry’s dad, Clint Landry. Clint unexpectedly came down with COVID, passed out, cut his ear nearly off on the doorknob and ended up with a large bump on his head. His wife found him in his bathroom very, very sick. He said he though he had bought the farm. It was a long haul back but thank God this great guy is over the virus and feeling like himself again.*****Our great friend Pat Pate had a freak accident at her home when she ran a knife through her hand. Pat ended up in a four-day hospital stay. She’s home working on trying to get back total hand movement. Accidents happen, usually human error, but shouldn’t happen to such a nice lady.

BREAUX BIRTHDAYS

Celebrating birthday on the following days. Michelle Gephart, Carol Allen, Elizabeth Uzzle, Natalie Nimitz, Beatrice Cortez, Jeremie Delano, Chris Chambless, Mandy Hoffman, Tracey Lynn Broussard, Webster Trahan, Dyann Schiler, Jimm Vaughn, Julia Alleman, Dan Brocklehurst, Christina Carpenter, Marcu McLellan, Mitch Hidalgo, Bill Cardner, Shelby Vogt, Stacey Bates, Jeremy Granger, Jeffery Huebel, Majed Jaarah, Rick Deutsch, Paula Hall, Donny Robbins, Phyllis Broussard, Rodney Harmon, Yvonne Veillon, Clivie Fontenot, Charlee Lemons, Dale Burns and Debi Foster.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

Tee Boy is passing by Comeaux’s barn one day when trough a gap in da door, he see Comeaux doing a slow and sensual striptease in front of an old green John Deere. Comeaux performs a slow pirouette and gently slides off one strap of his overalls, followed by dey otter strap. He den hunches his shoulders forward in a classic striptease move. He lets his overalls fall down to his hips revealing a torn and frayed plaid shirt. Grabbing boat sides of his shirt, he rips it apart to reveal his stained tee shirt underneath. With a final flourish he tears da tee shirt from his body and hurls his baseball cap onto a pile of hay.

Having seen enough, Tee Boy rushes in and says, “What de heck are you doing Comeaux?”

“Jeez, Tee Boy, you done scared da crap outta me,” exclaims Comeaux. Then obviously embarrassed, he says, “Me and de old lady been having some trouble lately in de bedroom and de therapist suggested I do something sexy to a tractor…..”

Political System Proves Magic

I told you a couple of weeks ago about a man who has become a pen pal. A professional political stagiest who helped turn Colorado Blue in 2008. He’s an interesting fellow who has a great story going back to when he was 15 and met Jackie Kennedy. He let me in on a system Obama wanted developed that actually scientifically predicted total national presidential turnout and the numbers each candidate received. The people developing this system were not political. The large group was made up of computer wizards, professors, number crunchers, etc. They tried it for the first time in the Trump/Hillary race in 2016. The system came in within only 12 votes of Hillary’s nation-wide vote and 151 of Trump’s total vote. In the 2020 Trump/Joe Biden race, the system predicted the largest overall vote and record turnout for both candidates. Before the votes were counted I received these system predictions. Biden would receive 79,089,414 popular votes, Trump 74,400,318. Both records, with only a difference of 4,689,096 votes, about what I had predicted, that gave Biden 50.6 percent to Trump’s 47.6 percent. The last vote results I have on Biden is 81,009,468, 51.33 percent, Trump was 74,111,419, 46.96 percent. Not as accurate as 2016 vote, however, this year the provisional votes (ballots) may have thrown a monkey wrench in the system. A lot of people requested ballots, didn’t get them, lost them, decided they wanted to vote in person, etc. The Obama bunch is on to something, despite Biden being within 2 percent of Trump in Texas and Beto begging Biden to come to Texas and spend money in the state. The system said it would still be a one percent to two percent loss. On the other hand, this data showed a dead heat in Georgia, 1,000 votes either way. Biden chose to go there because he felt they could win the turnout battle with Stacy Abrams’ ground game. They had registered 200,000 new voters and knew where to find them. Biden bet on the turnout and flipped the Red state Blue by 12,000 votes. There were a lot of other great decisions made with the help of Obama’s system but that’s all the space I have. They won every state targeted. P.S. The system covers every aspect, total registration, ages, sex, previous voting, population shift in every precinct in the nation. Mathematic experts feed every bit of info from dozen of computers, marries the millions of findings into one computer that spits out the final totals. This is far different than polls that just contact 800 to 1,000 voters by phone to make predictions. Don’t know about you but I find it so interesting and proves how little we, the American people, know about what’s going on behind the scenes.

C’EST TOUT

BARR IS GONE—SHOULD BE DISBARRED

Attorney General William Barr, the most corrupt leader and worse A.G. ever, is leaving December 23. He was Donald Trump’s henchman. He violated all legal norms, made up his own laws and misused the Justice Department to go after Trump’s adversaries and reward his friends. Trump had one more wish, one more chore for Barr that he apparently wanted no part of. He wanted him to go after Hunter Biden, appoint a special prosecutor. Barr knew, because of the Darrow investigation, there is nothing to it. Trump’s sole reason to go after president-elect Biden’s son is to hurt him. He’s just very mean and vindictive. Joe beat him its Payback. That’s how Trump with his sickness thinks. I can recall other politicians that would pluck Trump like a chicken and leave him naked. Not Joe. He is not vindictive. Just watch what Trump will do now that he has control of the Justice Department with his puppets. By the way, why is Trump loading down the Pentagon with cronies, Kevin Nunes, Newt, and his caddy. What’s he up to? Barr and Trump will both go down as the worse in United States history. *****My time is up, thanks for yours. Stay safe, wear mask and may God Bless.