By Sherlock Breaux
For the Record 

Sherlock Breaux in the Creaux's Nest

 

Last updated 1/11/2022 at 9:11pm

WHAT'S UP WITH SENATOR MANCHIN

FOLLOW THE MONEY

That question has been going around for several months. First the Democrat from West Virginia said he would not vote for Biden's Build Back Better bill. He opposed the clean air package in the bill. He's from one of the poorest states in the Union and his citizens would have really benefited from the Build Back Better bill. So why is he against it? Well, to start with, West Virginia is a coal producing state. The clean air bill would have drastically reduced, if not done away with, coal production. But Joe Manchin's reason is more personal than that. In most cases you have to follow the money. In any research, here's what is found. Straight to the point. The Senator has made millions from coal and currently has holdings in Enersystems Inc., a coal brokerage business that he founded. No doubt Manchin is in coal's pocket. So let me suggest how Biden can get the other Joe to vote for his bills, just do away with the Clean Air provision and he will be all smiles and quit being a walking conflict of interest. Example: If the government said they want to pass a bill to stop cutting trees down that makes paper newsprint, I would be against that because it would put newspapers out of business. Clean Air bill puts Joe and coal out of business. If Biden ever hopes to make a deal, he has to get around the Clean Air problem so Manchin can keep his coal cash flow coming.*****I've got a long way to go. Hop on board and come along, I promise it won't do you no harm.

BIDEN GAVE ONE HELL OF A SPEECH

Biden's criticism was blistering of the defeated president whom he blamed for the assault that has fundamentally changed Congress and the nation, and raised global concerns about the future of American democracy. "For the first time in our history, a president not just lost an election, he tried to prevent the peaceful transfer of power as a violent mob breached the Capitol," Biden said. "You can't love your country only when you win." His voice booming at times, filling the ornate Statuary Hall where rioters had laid siege, the president called on Americans to remember what they saw Jan. 6, 2021, with their own eyes, the mob attacking police, breaking windows, a Confederate flag inside the Capitol, gallows erected outside threatening to hang the vice president, all while Trump sat at the White House watching in on TV. The president's remarks, drawing a contrast between the truth of what happened and the false narratives that persist about the Capitol assault, including the continued refusal by many Republicans to affirm that Biden won the 2020 election. He said, "We are in a battle for the soul of America." "I did not seek this fight, brought to this Capitol one year from today, but I will not shrink from it either. I will stand in this breach, I will defend this nation. I will allow no one to place a dagger at the throat of this democracy." The division is a stark reminder of the rupture between the two parties, worsening since hundreds of Trump's supporters violently pushed past police, used their fists and flagpoles to break through the windows of the Capitol and interrupted the certification of Biden's victory. Rep. Liz Cheney, chair of the House committee investigating the attack, warned that "the threat continues." Trump, she said, "continues to make the same claims that he knows caused violence on Jan. 6." "Unfortunately, too many of my own party are embracing the former president, are looking the other way or minimizing the danger." That's how democracies die. We simply cannot let that happen." Other Republican leaders have spoken out in the past but have clammed up since. Sen. Ted Cruz has repeatedly called it a terrorist attack before recanting Thursday. "What happened at the Capitol was a despicable act of terrorism," Cruz said in an interview with Hearst Newspapers two day after the riot. "The violent criminals who attacked the Capitol should be fully prosecuted and they should go to jail for a very, very long time. Cruz sparked the outrage this week during a Senate Rules Committee hearing with Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger on Wednesday. "We are approaching a solemn anniversary this week and it is an anniversary of a violent terrorist attack on the Capitol, where we saw the men and women of law enforcement demonstrate incredible courage, incredible bravery, risk their lives to defend the men and women who serve in this Capitol," Cruz said. The blowback for this came with his appearance on Tucker Carlson. Cruz may be preparing for another presidential run.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

10 Years Ago-2012

The biggest disappointment at our Monday night party was LSU being skunked 21-0 by Alabama. It was the first shutout in a BCS National Championship game.***** This week, we are proud to welcome David Ball, a noted writer, to our staff. David will be covering happenings around the county.***** We ran into Donna Riley, one of our favorite people we've known since she was a teenage D.E. student at Bridge City High. Through all those years, she's done to ride the range with. She's not only nice and sweet she is always so accommodating. Donna says she and husband David, visited Roy and AnnaBelle Rost's hometown of Abbeville and spoke of how unique the Cajun town is and about the great food they ate.***** Judge David Peck and Patsy visited Ms. Ed Parker, now living in Branson. She is the widow of the late sheriff.*****Now here's a real deal if you want the world's best citrus, oranges and grapefruit, grown right here in Orange County. There are several growers in the area but the one I'm most familiar with is John Heard. John says he has plenty of juicy citrus left.*****Friday, Jan. 13, a gathering will be held for Linda Cupit, who is retiring after 31 years with Sabine Federal Credit Union (Dupont).*****Our buddy Dr. Lee Brown, founder of Brown Hearing Aids, has been under the weather and hospitalized.***** Our 93-year-old friend, King Dunn, has been under the weather.*****Some special folks celebrating their special day. City councilman/plumber, Bill Mello, is a year older Jan. 11.***A nice, pretty and sweet lady, Lyndia Permenter, celebrates her special day Jan. 13. She's the lovely bride of mayor J.W. Permenter.***Mel Kemp Campbell, a lovely child we've known since right after diapers, is now a beautiful middle-aged lady. Happy birthday, Jan. 13.***Bridge City councilman Robert Simonton marks another year Jan. 14.*** .***Ms. Ruth Berry turns 92 on Jan. 14. ***A special friend and great guy, Glenn Oliver, marks another year on Jan. 16.***Former council-lady Gail Meadows celebrates Jan. 17.***Pattie's oldest, Erin Hanks, celebrates Jan. 17.***Our buddy, attorney Jack Smith, is a year older Jan. 17.***Happy 31st. anniversary to Doug and Regina Harrington. They moved into their new home in Spring a couple of weeks ago.(Editor's note: Doug passed away a few years ago.) Thirty-one years went by fast. I remember when they came by to tell us they were engaged. Seems like only a dozen years ago.

50 Years Ago-1972

Bridge City football player John Brown is named to the All State football team. Major colleges are interested in him if he can break 5 seconds in the 40 yard dash.*****Ann and Jimmy's boy Tommy Segura is home on leave from the Air Force base in Biloxi, Mississippi. When Tommy left for the military he had shoulder length hair now, after they clipped him, he can comb his hair with a washrag. (Editor's note: That guy was something else. I haven't seen him since his Momma died. I understand he and his wife are retired from the Air Force now and now live in San Antonio. His brother Darrell still lives in Bridge City.)*****The Jack Tar Barber Shop, owned by Joe Blanda, has been sold to Lewis Gay and Jim Dugas. They also own the El Matador in MacArthur Shopping Center. Dugas will manage the Jack Tar location with longtime Blanda employee Doug Perry.*****West Orange defensive tackle Paul Taylor, Lamar's first football recruit for 1972. He will join his brother Bruce, a three year starter for Coach Vernon Glass. The Cardinals gained a tie in 1971 for the Southland Conference championship.*****The Opportunity Valley News crew of Dunn, Runnels and Grimsley are all buying new outfits for their trip to New Orleans to cover the Super Bowl between Dallas and Miami, as guest of the NFL.*****Sheriff Capt. Max Boatman sent the following letter to Sheriff Buck Patillo. Dear Mr. Patillo, after careful consideration I now find I am unable to serve the spirit of law enforcement under the present circumstances that now exist at the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Therefore please consider this letter as my official letter of resignation to the effective immediately. (Editor's note: Boatman, along with others, did run against Buck.)

60 Years Ago-1962

School board candidate C.R. "Buddy" Moore came out in favor of a strong safety program and citizen group effort. (Editor's note: I have to get Phillip Welch to pass that on to Buddy's wife Jeanne, who works at Kountze School with Phillip.*****Allen W. Peveto announces he will be a candidate for commissioner Pct. 2. He is a McLewis farmer.*****Orange Fire Marshal Henry Stanfield warns residents not to sleep with open gas heaters despite a week long siege of freezing temperatures and snow.

100 Years Ago-1922

Lutcher Stark, on his way to Canada in the interest of International Rotary, wired chamber manager Ike Hill that he was in favor of the $700,000 road bond issue soon to be voted on.*****Gen. John Pershing and U.S. Budget Director Charles Dawes were expected to tour the Orange oilfield soon.*****Hill Motor Co., 3rd and Green, advertised a new Ford Runabout for $325.00.

A FEW HAPPENINGS

Last week in this column, while writing about K.O.G.T., I wrote that I believed Eddie Lovelace had written a book and as it turns out, he did. It's called "Saints, Sinners and Eddie." Ironically, I spoke with Pat Pate, H.D.'s widow, who lives in Tyler, and she told me about the book she was reading and it's Eddie's book. She is interesting in me helping her identify some of the characters in the book. Pat was the first person that I heard of that contracted Covid-19, nearly two years ago when the pandemic started. She has since had it twice and was very sick the last time.**** We are not hearing much about the Chevron deal, however, there is plenty of movement. I understand there are over 100 folks working in Orange County, making the property ready. They are building roads, putting lights up etc.*****A few folks we know who will be celebrating a birthday in the next few days. Jan. 12: Celebrating today are Beth Linden, Donald Edgerton, Dana Sandlin, Jimmie Allen and Susan LeBlanc.*****Jan. 13: Happy Birthday to a nice lady Lyndia Permenter. Also celebrating are commissioner Robert Viator, judge Jerry Pennington, Ashton Simmons, Kent Hannigan and attorney Rodney Townsend.*****Jan. 14: A special Happy Birthday to Stephanie "Sehon" Hurst. Also celebrating is our longtime friend and former legal secretary Mel Kemp Campbell, who I have known since she and her siblings were youngsters. Also celebrating are Brittany Trantham and Tommy Thompson.*****Jan. 15: Celebrating on this day are Carson Peet, Tyler Reves, Don Thompson and Brennan Broussard.*****Jan. 16: Happy Birthday to our friend Glen Oliver, also Gary Dearing, Jerry Ashby, Clayton Gearheart.*****Jan. 17: Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. day. Our buddy John Cash "Jack" Smith is as old as Bearden today. Happy Birthday also to Gail Meadows and Tanner Wilson.*****Jan. 18: Celebrating birthdays are Brenda Oliver, Bonny Sarver, Dylan Huckebay and Tara Thompson. Happy Birthday to all. Let us know if you or someone you know is having a birthday. Call 409-735-5305.*****Job growth in President Joe Biden's first year has tripled Trump's first year. Unemployment is down to 3.8 percent. I can't ever remember the numbers being that low. In 1969, it got down to 4 percent which is considered full employment.*****One program that Republicans need to help the Demos with is drug cost. Elderly people are spending much of their Social Security paying for drug cost. Example, in this part of the country many older people have COVID respiratory illness. The medicine Symbicort or Breztri may cost up to $500 for a month's supply even with insurance. That's just one example. A senior citizen couple I spoke with spends over $800 a month on average for medication. That should be something that is worked on by a bi-partisan vote.*****We spoke with our friend Judge Rodney Price, in Vidor. He says he misses seeing everyone at the Lunch Bunch gatherings. Me too Judge.*****Quote of the week: I saw this in the Enterprise last Friday. "So one day Abbott is asking the Biden administration for help with COVID and the next day he's suing them." Here's my take on Abbott. Win or lose, this is his last run for governor. His plan is to run for president. Win or lose he would milk the cash cow. Like all presidential candidates, he gets to keep all he doesn't spend, possibly a few million to retire on.*****I finally heard from Keith and Marlene Merritt. They have been spending time at the deer lease in Hondo. The Sheriff got an 8-pointer but had a 10-pointer in mind. If he doesn't get him before the season is over, he'll settle for a doe. He's not giving up on that 10-pointer. Meanwhile Marlene is spending her time gathering arrow heads and Indian pottery that is plentiful in the area and okay to keep.*****Medical First: U.S. surgeons transplanted a pig heart in human Davis Bennett, 57, of Maryland, who was dying. On Jan. 10, in a last ditch effort, they replaced his damaged heart with the heart of the pig. Tuesday Bennett was breathing on his own. There is a huge shortage of human organ donations and transplant scientists are figuring out how to use animal organs. Here's hoping David lives. A giant leap for mankind.*****Monday, Jan. 10, Georgia won the National Championship with a 33-18 win over Alabama. Even though the saying is never bet against Nick, Georgia was a 2.5 point favorite. The score seems like a blowout but it really was a close, defensive game going into the last few minutes. Coach Kirby Smart was 0-4 against his former mentor, Nick Saban, to become only the second former assistant to beat him. A&M's Jimbo Fisher did it in October. Saban is 25-2 all time against former assistants.*****Last week, Ted Cruz got spanked by Tucker Carlson for saying the day before that the Jan. 6 invasion was by terrorists. Ted told the truth but the radical right came down hard on him. He tried backing up and apologizing but to no avail. He's cooked with those people. Stick a fork in him, he's done.*****A big surprise was FOX and Friends host Brian Kilmeade saying it is time to get past the election results and move on. Biden was elected, it does no good to keep bringing it up. However Trump is still focused on the "Big Lie." Most office holders disagree but they won't say it publicly. Everyone, including Trump, knows Biden won the election. That dog is getting tired, it just won't hunt in upcoming elections the way Trump wants it to. It soon will be old hat.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

Sostan Comeaux and Elray Thibodeaux had jus left da hamburger place and was standing at da corner waiting for da red light to change when a big flatbed truck went by loaded with rolls of St. Augustine turf. Comeaux said, "Tib, I'm going to do dat me wen I win da lotary, be rich and become a Republican."

Somewhat puzzled Thibodaux axe, "Sostan, wat you mean about dat hanh?"

Well Tib, look at dat truck, me too I'm gonna send my grass off to get cut."

C'EST TOUT

MARCH 1 PRIMARY AROUND THE CORNER

In less than two months Texas will hold its primary elections. March 1st will arrive sooner than most voters realize. So far, this close to election, I've heard less election talk than in years passed. I believe however things are ready to get in high gear. Gov. Greg Abbott is being challenged by two extreme right Republicans, Allen West and Don Huffines and a few other not well known candidates. Abbott is favored to win the nomination but if he doesn't get 50 percent he will be forced into a runoff. Abbott is leading in the polls and he has Trump's backing that should help in the March 1 primary. On the other hand, if Abbott is forced into a runoff, which he would probably win, it would weaken him in the gubernatorial race against Beto O'Rouke. The Trump influence is falling off not only in Texas but elsewhere. Only a fraction of Republican Party voters are enthusiastic Trump supporters and a quarter of Republicans are flat out Trump opponents who just want to see him go away and the Republican Party move on. Abbott has raised over $55 million for his re-election campaign in hopes he can win big enough to propel himself into a race for president in 2024. His national future is on the line. Attorney General Ken Paxton, the scandal ridden incumbent, is seeking his third term despite having been under indictment for most of his first two terms. Most of his staff resigned and charged him with corruption in an unrelated case during his current term. Paxton has three Republican challengers, land commissioner George P. Bush, former Texas Supreme Court justice Eva Guzman and radical U.S. congressman from Tyler, Louie Gohmert. Trump endorsed Paxton, who was a leader in a lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election that cost Texas tax payers about $25 million in failed lawsuits. Paxton's re-nomination is not a sure thing and could get squeezed in a runoff. Absentee voting begins Jan. 15. The last day to register for Primary Elections is Jan. 31. Early voting in person begins Feb. 14 and ends Feb. 25. The Primary Election is March 1, runoff is May 23. Any registered voter can vote in either the Democratic and Republican primaries but not in both. Winners move on to the General Election in November.*****My time is up, thanks for yours and also your loyalty over the years. Take care and God bless.

 

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