Why plans by LSU administrators and Gov. Jeff Landry to use the university as a vehicle to deify the late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk would be a disgrace
I've actually been expecting this for awhile now. Landry is working hard to become Beloved Leader's number one toady. He's got a ways to go to catch up to Abbott but it's certainly not thru lack of trying. I'm still trying to understand how the hell he got elected in the first place, it's not like he didn't tell us who he was while he was the AG such as teaming up with Paxton to push "the election was stolen" agenda. At some point my fellow voters need to pay attention to policy instead of blindly pushing the sacred red R button
This disgusting guv is also hated by much of the legislature as well as a majority of the public. He keeps trying to emulate the big T guy, who is also out of favor with the public. Young folks with a brain will not choose LSU in the future if this is the pattern they see. It infuriates me while at the same time makes me so sad for this beloved university.
"Ode to Charlie Kirk"....This - as unbelievable as it sounds - has been coming for a while. Landry wants nothing more than to be considered by "that" set of voters and structured party as an ideological savior. But, further destroying a once-great educational institution to attain that will probably be a step-too-far, but might evade observation by his political base. As the Dear Leader says, "He loves dumb followers," and his voters are "dumb people." So, they mostly didn't attend university. Landry is bringing Louisiana down, not building it up. I do agree with the decision to fire Brian Kelly, but Landry shouldn't have had anything to do with it. And, as always, Gig 'em, AGGIES!
Free speech in Charlie Kirk's and his Turning Point USA world meant free speech only for those who agreed with him; held views that mostly aligned with his; or were easily-vanquished opponents who could be embarrassed, talked over, bullied into submission, or left incapable of having the final word. Trump and his MAGA supporters only like free speech when they get to exercise it freely; they don't like it when used by an opponent who is more articulate, well-armed with facts, smarter, funnier than they are.
Speaking of distractions as a part of Jeff Landry's plans, don't forget about the special legislative session now underway to delay elections in 2026 in order to enable the elimination of one, or possibly both, of the two majority-minority Congressional districts in time for the 2026 elections. These two districts were established under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, one of these two recently established by redrawn maps, long overdue by about 30 years and only done after a hard fought suit brought on by the ACLU, LDF, and others. If the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down or guts Section 2 of this law this year (or early next year), the Louisiana state legislature will be poised to gerrymander districts to severely dilute non-white voter choices in the 2026 election; like 33 to 40% of the eligible voters in our state getting a 17% share of representation (not counting the U.S. Senate).
Please enjoy your vacation......landry is no Huey Long but communication and funds are much better to exploit not the "dumb" but the deal makers. Where is Hunt Downer when we need him!!thanks
I confess that I am a bit shocked, something for which I did not believe this administration or any followers of Trumpism had further capacity. I find it so awful that I am having to think about a way to protest that will be more effective than my little voice. I wonder if other former Presidents of the LSU Student Body are reading your report, and would be willing to join me in organizing a protest among the organization. If so, please let me know. Joe Morris Doss, bishop.doss@gmail.com.
This former editor of the Daily Reveille would gladly join any protest. I told the LSU Foundation today that I would be monitoring LSU the next couple of months before committing to additional contributions. They put a statue of Kirk up and I'm done with LSU. Charlie Kirk said “People will die to protect the Second Amendment.” Thank you for your service. Thoughts and prayers.
Landry already made his true feelings about free speech clear when he called on LSU's administration to punish you for criticizing his actions as AG. And I can't believe so many are willing to make Kirk into a hero or martyr. He wasn't.
I don't recall ever knowing who Kirk was until he was dead. He apparently had great influence and I try to keep up with things, which makes it even harder to believe I'd not heard of him. I have tried to keep up with what he stood for and find much of his rhetoric archaic and divisive. Erecting a statue of him on the LSU campus does not seem appropriate. I am admitting my ignorance of why he deserves this honor and would sincerely like to hear why anybody believes it. IMO, Gov. Landry is doing no more or less than his predecessors with regard to calling the shots in LSU and our other universities, going all the way back at least to Huey Long. That doesn't make it right, but it is certainly not unique. With regard to separation of powers and other tenets of our governance, Gov. Landry is of the Trump school, i. e., just do it and dare anybody to stop it.
I wish someone would explain to me precisely what Charlie Kirk accomplished that justifies erecting a memorial in his honor. Why not a statue of Rush Limbaugh? (Yes, I know Trump gave him he Congressional Medal of Honor. Or does being assassinated automatically qualify you for a statue?
I've actually been expecting this for awhile now. Landry is working hard to become Beloved Leader's number one toady. He's got a ways to go to catch up to Abbott but it's certainly not thru lack of trying. I'm still trying to understand how the hell he got elected in the first place, it's not like he didn't tell us who he was while he was the AG such as teaming up with Paxton to push "the election was stolen" agenda. At some point my fellow voters need to pay attention to policy instead of blindly pushing the sacred red R button
Hitting the worn out nail on its tead head !
This disgusting guv is also hated by much of the legislature as well as a majority of the public. He keeps trying to emulate the big T guy, who is also out of favor with the public. Young folks with a brain will not choose LSU in the future if this is the pattern they see. It infuriates me while at the same time makes me so sad for this beloved university.
"Ode to Charlie Kirk"....This - as unbelievable as it sounds - has been coming for a while. Landry wants nothing more than to be considered by "that" set of voters and structured party as an ideological savior. But, further destroying a once-great educational institution to attain that will probably be a step-too-far, but might evade observation by his political base. As the Dear Leader says, "He loves dumb followers," and his voters are "dumb people." So, they mostly didn't attend university. Landry is bringing Louisiana down, not building it up. I do agree with the decision to fire Brian Kelly, but Landry shouldn't have had anything to do with it. And, as always, Gig 'em, AGGIES!
Free speech in Charlie Kirk's and his Turning Point USA world meant free speech only for those who agreed with him; held views that mostly aligned with his; or were easily-vanquished opponents who could be embarrassed, talked over, bullied into submission, or left incapable of having the final word. Trump and his MAGA supporters only like free speech when they get to exercise it freely; they don't like it when used by an opponent who is more articulate, well-armed with facts, smarter, funnier than they are.
Speaking of distractions as a part of Jeff Landry's plans, don't forget about the special legislative session now underway to delay elections in 2026 in order to enable the elimination of one, or possibly both, of the two majority-minority Congressional districts in time for the 2026 elections. These two districts were established under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, one of these two recently established by redrawn maps, long overdue by about 30 years and only done after a hard fought suit brought on by the ACLU, LDF, and others. If the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down or guts Section 2 of this law this year (or early next year), the Louisiana state legislature will be poised to gerrymander districts to severely dilute non-white voter choices in the 2026 election; like 33 to 40% of the eligible voters in our state getting a 17% share of representation (not counting the U.S. Senate).
Please enjoy your vacation......landry is no Huey Long but communication and funds are much better to exploit not the "dumb" but the deal makers. Where is Hunt Downer when we need him!!thanks
I confess that I am a bit shocked, something for which I did not believe this administration or any followers of Trumpism had further capacity. I find it so awful that I am having to think about a way to protest that will be more effective than my little voice. I wonder if other former Presidents of the LSU Student Body are reading your report, and would be willing to join me in organizing a protest among the organization. If so, please let me know. Joe Morris Doss, bishop.doss@gmail.com.
Joe
This former editor of the Daily Reveille would gladly join any protest. I told the LSU Foundation today that I would be monitoring LSU the next couple of months before committing to additional contributions. They put a statue of Kirk up and I'm done with LSU. Charlie Kirk said “People will die to protect the Second Amendment.” Thank you for your service. Thoughts and prayers.
Landry already made his true feelings about free speech clear when he called on LSU's administration to punish you for criticizing his actions as AG. And I can't believe so many are willing to make Kirk into a hero or martyr. He wasn't.
That statue will require round-the-clock protection given the hatred that man spread.
It was not a "cheap" trick. It was a very expensive one. Landry is trying so hard to be a Trump pet, that he hasn't noticed the headwinds he's facing.
Absolutely the most disgusting guv this state has ever seen. But he will do anything (use your imagination) to please Trump!🤮
I don't recall ever knowing who Kirk was until he was dead. He apparently had great influence and I try to keep up with things, which makes it even harder to believe I'd not heard of him. I have tried to keep up with what he stood for and find much of his rhetoric archaic and divisive. Erecting a statue of him on the LSU campus does not seem appropriate. I am admitting my ignorance of why he deserves this honor and would sincerely like to hear why anybody believes it. IMO, Gov. Landry is doing no more or less than his predecessors with regard to calling the shots in LSU and our other universities, going all the way back at least to Huey Long. That doesn't make it right, but it is certainly not unique. With regard to separation of powers and other tenets of our governance, Gov. Landry is of the Trump school, i. e., just do it and dare anybody to stop it.
I wish JBE had taken far more interest in LSU, especially as the sexual abuse scandal was unfolding. His hands-off policy was wrong in that instance.
T head- correction.
There really are no words.
Where’s William Tecumseh Sherman’s statue at LSU?
PS Bob, If time permits, please visit the grave of Galileo and his daughter Sister Maria in Florence.
www.findagrave.com/memorial/1899/galileo-galilei
I wish someone would explain to me precisely what Charlie Kirk accomplished that justifies erecting a memorial in his honor. Why not a statue of Rush Limbaugh? (Yes, I know Trump gave him he Congressional Medal of Honor. Or does being assassinated automatically qualify you for a statue?