Louisiana’s spicy, colorful politics have saddled our state with a reputation for tolerating lax ethical standards in government.

American taxpayers have been generous to Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Perception often lags behind reality, and I can say from experience that the vast majority of public officials in Louisiana are much better than our reputation holds us to be.

Unfortunately, the people of Louisiana are not racists.

I looked the people of Louisiana in the eye and told them exactly what I thought in terms that normal people use.

Concede that the new government of Louisiana is only to what it should be, as the egg is to the fowl; we shall sooner have the fowl by hatching the egg than by smashing it.