FRIDAY: G. Pearson Cross, and Kevin Cope

HOUR ONE: 

Political Science Professor G. Pearson Cross joins us from UL.  We are now 8 months and 11 days until the October primary for Louisiana governor.  Cross comments on the prospects of the candidates for governor.  He says that David Vitter is the favorite because of previously run statewide campaigns.  "The scandal is behind him," Cross says, "It won't be an issue in this race at all."  

"The real dark horse is Scott Angelle," Cross says, "...he's the most fiery and passionate."  Cross states that the most likely scenario for the run-off would be John Bel Edwards and David Vitter.

Professor Cross says that UL is "better off than most" universities in Louisiana because the previous president of the university saved money which has helped to "tide them over."  He continues commenting on the budget crisis.  

"I do believe it is very much a long shot," Cross says of Jindal winning the Republican presidential nomination.  His brand is "intellectual," Cross continues, "which nobody else is trying to sell."

After listening to a clip from political consultant Gus Weill, Cross comments on the former Olympian Bruce Jenner's gender transformation.  

Interim Director of Information Services Eric Romero discusses Mayor Kip Holden's new Open Data Initiative.  

HOUR TWO: 

LSU Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope discusses the budget cuts to higher education.  "Well I believe I would win in any kind of Roman death match," Cope says of a fight with Governor Jindal.  He calls out the previous guest, saying, "There is not university in Louisiana in good shape."  He says, "There is not a lot of waste room left," for budget cuts.  

Cope says the budget cuts to higher education are an attempt to discredit traditionally black universities.  

"I qualify for the heavy weight category, but not because of muscle mass."  

He also comments on the recent prayer rally.  Cope says, "If the governor is willing to exercise his free speech rights by praying to a higher power to fix his problems then I'm willing to exercise mine to say it's preposterous." 

A listener asks how and who will pay to make up for the budget cuts.  Cope states that raising of state university tuition does count as a tax, thereby discounting the Grover Norquist idea.  

"I don't think we need to have every program of every kind on every campus," Cope says.

"There is a gigantic rift of communication between New Orleans and everywhere else," Cope concludes of the inability of New Orleans to withstand a university.  

He states that only 8% of the people in Louisiana have a higher education degree.  

THURSDAY: C.B. Forgotston, Bradley Beychok, Stephen Handwerk, and Gus Weill

HOUR ONE: 

Political Consultant C. B. Forgotston discusses the potential candidates for the 2016 Louisiana Governor's election.  "They want to think that when they qualify, it's divine intervention," he says of those who pray about running for political office.  Forgotston comments on the budget crisis and the public's cynicism in believing the extent to which the fiscal crisis has gone.  

Bobby Jindal stated on Morning Joe that the the total tuition and fees to attend LSU is under 10 thousand dollars.  

A listener comments that Bobby Jindal's tax cuts have done a lot more harm than good for Louisiana.

"I think legislators fear Governor Jindal," says Forgotston in response to the question, 'Is it better to be feared or loved?'  

Bradley Beychok of Media Matters comments on the recent scandal regarding Brian Williams, "I think it's strange to suspend someone for six months with the expectation of them coming back to the highest paid network."  Brian Williams had lobbied to be the replacement for Jay Leno.  

Beychok comments on Rush Limbaugh's conversation with Scott Walker, advising him to say he left college so as not to be accused of rape.

HOUR TWO: 

Democratic Party Executive Director Stephen Handwerk criticizes Governor Jindal for his incorrect statement about LSU's tuition and fees totaling under 10 thousand dollars.    Handwerk says, "I think the Louisiana Democratic party has a lot of soul searching to do."  

"Each one of those Republican candidates that are running... are all different shades of Bobby," Handwerk continues, criticizing all of Jindal's "failed" policies.  Jim asks how long it will take for Democrats to get back to where they were.  Handwerk responds, saying that Democrats are right on the issues but they need to work on their tactics.  

"I think the only way he {David Vitter} would know how to do that {form a coalition in Congress} is through fear." 

Political Consultant Gus Weill comments about how Scott Walker was asked if he believed in evolution.  "I do believe in it," Weill says, "but that doesn't preclude from me believing in God."  He tells a story about an interview with a heart surgeon.  

Jim asks why believing in a higher power is a prerequisite to run for political office.  Weill says, "It's simple.  It's because they {believers} are the majority." 

Weill describes writing his books.  "Discipline is more important than talent."  

"Looks do not elect anybody," Weill says, "but they do help... Jindal is a brilliant man, but we could hardly call him handsome."

"A movie plot was stolen from my book," Weill laughs, "and I never did a thing about it." 

"Bruce Jenner is an American tragedy," Weill says, "I think it {the claws of a woman} destroyed his manhood." 

WEDNESDAY: Allan Lokos, Rudy Macklin, Jay Dardenne

HOUR ONE: 

Author Allan Lokos comments on his book, 
Through the Flames: Overcoming Disaster Through Compassion, Patience, and Determination.  Lokos describes his experiences with meditation and how this helped him through his plane crash.  "Stress is a major enemy of the human body," Lokos continues, "There is no answer to 'why me' except why not me."  He says, "We had no idea the plane was going down until it hit the ground." 

Director Rudy Macklin on the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports joins us today at 4:15.  Macklin is LSU's leading career rebounder and second leading scorer. He turns 57 on February 19th, and he can still bench press his own weight.  

When asked if other public officials should be required to bench press their own weight, Macklin says, "Getting our public officials to do anything when it comes to eating right and being active is hard enough."

Macklin comments on the LSU v. Kentucky game.  13,997 people attended the game at the PMAC last night.  He says that LSU should be put down for the Final Four next year.  

He describes his own athletic career and shares his difficult experiences over the years.  

The 'Voice of the Tigers,' Jim Hawthorne, is stepping down this year. 

Macklin says that he decided to stay at LSU so he could "build something new."  He describes his recruitment with Dale Brown, and how unlike other coaches, Brown had lunch with his family.  "He was supposed to be recruiting me, but he was really recruiting my parents." 

HOUR TWO: 

Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne discusses his quest for governor and to succeed Governor Jindal.  Both men were graduates of Baton Rouge High.  

Dardenne comments on the budget cuts to higher education and the impact it will have on future students.  He expresses his support for keeping the TOPS program as it is currently.  

He was a Student Body President when Jim was a college freshman at LSU.  

The Lieutenant Governor hopes to see more scrutiny in campaign funding in the coming election.

Dardenne says, "I say to you very clearly.  I am running."  He continues, "Education is always going to be the biggest issue, and what exactly we can do to prepare Louisianians for the workforce."  He also clarifies he is for Common Core because "it is a standard not a curriculum." 

TUESDAY: David Stewart, Tom Aswell, Joseph Califano, William Arp

HOUR ONE: 

Author David O. Stewart discusses his book, "Madison's Gift: Five Partnerships That Built America." 

Tom Aswell of LA Voice comments on the trials and tribulations of Governor Jindal.  Aswell expresses his doubt for the success of Governor Jindal in the upcoming presidential race.  

They discuss a recent article in the Louisiana Voice in which "Bobby is for immunizations but two years ago he discontinued health unit vaccinations for the poor."  

Aswell says he feels the budget cuts for higher education were planned, and that they are part of a process to privatize state schools.  69% of UNO athletic funding comes from the state.  A listener calls in to express his belief that athletics are put before academics in the state of Louisiana.  Jim says, "I think we should still have a university our football team can be proud of." The state budget is 1.6 billion dollars "out of bounds," Jim says.

HOUR TWO: 

Joseph Califano, former health secretary for President LBJ, comments on the inaccurate portrayal of LBJ in the recent movie Selma.  "I met him that first weekend on the White House lawn after coming back from the ranch," Califano says of LBJ.  He continues, quoting words of the former president to him, "What you learned on the streets of Brooklyn is a hell of a lot more important than what you learned in Harvard Law."

Califano tells the real story about the interactions of Martin Luther King Jr. and President Lynden B. Johnson.  He continues his description, calling the week in which MLK was shot, "the worst week of the Johnson presidency." 

Dr. William Arp gives his opinion on the visit of Reverend Jeremiah Wright, former spiritual advisor to Obama, to Southern University.  Jim questions if this is not the same issue as Governor Jindal's recent prayer rally at the PMAC.  Jim says, "Universities are the place controversial people speak."  Dr. Arp expresses the importance of bringing different points of views to universities.  

He calls President Obama "politically expedient" for disavowing Reverend Jeremiah Wright.  He continues, "After he <Reverend Wright> left the navy, he enlisted in the marines."  

They discuss the potential reaction of the students to the probable provocative things Reverend Jeremiah Wright will discuss in his speeches.  "It may incite the congregation, but I don't know the real impact it will have on college students," Dr. Arp says, "I teach philosophy.... This is just another philosophy the students will be exposed to, but I also think there will be a real spiritual presence."

Dr. Arp feels that the "splash by Rev. Wright" is absurd in the midst of more important issues and problems in Louisiana such as the budget crisis and the cuts on higher education.  

MONDAY: Henson Moore, Alex Martin, Tara Hollis and Roy Fletcher

HOUR ONE: 

Former Congressman and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Henson Moore shares his viewpoints on the national and state political landscape.  He comments on another round of anticipated funding cuts to higher education in Louisiana.  

Moore discusses his belief that the greatest problem in our country is the sharp divide among political ideals and the lack of compromise.  "If you want something done or you want to solve a problem, generally you have to compromise," Moore says.  
Henson Moore spearheaded the Forever LSU Campaign which raised more than $750 million.

"I don't think any of us think this will be reversed," Moore says of the budget cuts to higher education, "I don't think we will ever received more funding." 

Moore describes the year of reelection between President Bill Clinton and Ross Perot and President George Bush Sr.  He says, "It was the worst of times because we were the White House Staff, and we failed." 

"One thing I have noticed is that the government pay roll has come down since he's been there," Moore says of Governor Jindal.  He continues, "Louisiana does have too many universities for its size,"  

Henson Moore discusses the potential front runners for the upcoming governor's race.  "I'm not sure that Louisiana is a red state yet when it comes to a statewide election," Moore says.

HOUR TWO:

Deputy Managing Editor/Page One Editor of the Wall Street Journal Alex Martin discusses his opinion on NBC Anchor Brian Williams.  Alex Martin graduated from the Manship School of Mass Communication in 1981 with Jim.

Martin describes his personal experience with Hurricane Katrina and his disbelief at the flooding on Canal Street.  They discuss whether Brian Williams' career will survive the scandal.  "Everyday it's drip, drip, drip, more stories are embellished, more are misremembered," Martin says.     

Brian Williams just signed a 4 year $40 million dollar contract.  Jim points out, "Even for NBC, that is a lot of money."

Tara Hollis joins us to discuss the upcoming governor's race.  She is a teacher.  She received 18% of the vote in the 2011 Louisiana's governor's race.  In the 2011 governor's race, Hollis spent $18 thousand dollars and received 18% of the vote.  Governor Jindal spent $10 million dollars and received 66%  of the vote.

She comments on the Common Core program and parrc testing, declaring her belief that it will be a "disaster" this year.  Hollis also shares her creation for digital lesson plans.

Political Consultant Roy Fletcher joins the show to discuss how the Louisiana governor's race has changed over the past two decades.  

He describes his experiences in past campaigns.  Fletcher discusses what he thinks the big issues will be in the 2016 governor's race.  

FRIDAY: Scott Stossel, Cliff Vannoy, Matthew Patterson, Leo Honeycutt and George Sells

HOUR ONE: 

Author and editor for The Atlantic Scott Stossel discusses his book "My Age of Anxiety."  He opens the discussion explaining what exactly constitutes an anxiety disorder.  

Stossel has a phobia of cheese.  "More people would rather be the copses at a funeral than the eulogist," Stossel says.  

Stossel says that his fear of cheese, turophobia, began when he was five years old and his sister ate a piece of cheese from an airport floor, consequently becoming ill for several days.  He goes on to describe an event in which his Irritable Bowel Disorder "IBD" caused "explosive plumbing" at an ill timed moment.  

President of the LSU Alumni Association Cliff Vannoy explains that the LSU Alumni Association is organizing a lobbying effort to protect LSU campuses from significant budget cuts. LSU Alumni Association President Cliff Vannoy says they are seeking volunteers that will be part of a group called Tiger Advocates, who will have lawmakers’ attention as they craft the budget.

Vannoy agrees with Jim's assessment that "essentially LSU is turning into a private university," by default of budget cuts.  If the cuts are made, LSU will lose 1,500 course options.  

If you want to be a Tiger Advocate, go to the LSU Alumni website. Vannoy says volunteer advocates will be kept up to date on key legislation that will impact higher education and they’ll have a chance to make their voices heard.

"The only way you're going to stop cuts is if you can find the cash to recover them," Vannoy says, though he is vague about the final goal of Tiger Advocates.  

Today we remember Ronald Reagan on his would be 104th birthday.  

HOUR TWO:

Matthew Patterson from Equality Louisiana comments on Olympic gold medalist and television star Bruce Jenner's gender change.  He is joined by Dr. Dana L. Rofey, a psychiatrist and professor from the University of Pittsburgh.  

Dr. Rofey explains the difference between a transgender and a transexual is a common misconception.  She says that "unequivocable positive regard" is what is needed for someone contemplating coming out as a transgender.   

1 in 12,000 males and 1 in 34,000 females undergo sexual change.

They discuss Nicholas Kristof's article in The New York Times.  

"I never thought I would say something nice about the Kardashian/Jenner clan," Patterson says, praising their positive reactions to Jenner's potential gender change.  

He describes the discrimination against transpeople as "pervasive." Patterson continues, "Transgender people are twice as likely to be homeless."  

The only transsexual judge in the United States is a graduate of LSU. 

Author of Edwin Edwards, Governor of Louisiana: An Authorized Biography Leo Honeycutt and FOX 2 Reporter George Sells discuss NBC anchor Brian Williams and his lies about taking fire in Iraq and his experiences in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.   

Both agree that Brian Williams will survive this lie though Williams will most likely be victimized by social media attacks.  Jim jokes if Williams should or will be replaced by Dan Rather.  "I don't know of a man more hated for the wrong reasons," George Sells says of Dan Rather.