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On Friday, President Donald J. Trump addressed the largest crowd of conservative activists in the history of CPAC. It was another memorable Trump speech, listing his many accomplishments and encouraging the crowd to support Republican candidates in the mid-term elections. For 80 minutes, the President discussed an array of issues such as tax cuts, judicial appointments, immigration and the strong economy.
To the delight of the crowd, Trump claimed that “we have got seven years to go folks.” Of course, this did not thrill the President’s many enemies in the national news media. MSNBC’s Ali Veshi said the president’s speech was similar to what he has “heard from Hugo Chavez or Fidel Castro or Erdogan. President Putin gives something like this every year, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used to give speeches like this.” Both Veshi and his co-host, Stephanie Ruhle claimed that the speech was filled with “lies.” They were also aggravated that the President discussed 31 topics but did not mention Russia.
This kind of media abuse directed at the president is nothing new. Ever since Donald Trump officially entered the presidential race on June 16, 2015, the national news media has treated him with total disdain. It has been even worse since he was elected President despite their best efforts. Since that time, liberal cable news outlets like CNN and MSNBC have devoted almost their entire broadcast schedule to attacking his personality, his temperament and his administration’s agenda. Donald Trump has received the worst media coverage of any president in modern American history. According to a recent study by the Media Research Center, the press coverage of the President by the major broadcast networks has been negative 91percent of the time.
With such hatred toward the president, it must be especially upsetting for his critics to see the recent upsurge in his approval rating. In the latest Rasmussen survey, President Trump registered a strong 50 percent approval rating, his highest level of support since June of last year.
At this point in his administration, Barack Obama had only a 45 percent approval rating. Incredibly, Trump with almost universal media condemnation is more popular than Obama, who received undying adulation and praise from the press.
The same so-called journalists who idolized Barack Obama have been relentlessly hounding President Trump about non-existent “Russian collusion.” One Trump critic, Jeff Zeleny of CNN, once asked President Obama at a news conference what “enchanted him the most” about the position. This type of fawning behavior was typical of how the media treated Barack Obama. They made obsequious comments and asked President Obama no probing questions that would ever upset him. The lap dog media during the Obama years has become a rabid attack dog media during the Trump administration.
Fortunately, more Americans understand the nature of the liberal mainstream news media. Consequently, millions of Americans are consuming more of their news from other sources such as news websites, talk radio and social media. This is a good development and explains why the president has been able to grow in popularity despite the daily negative media onslaught against him. In contrast, the ratings for CNN have plummeted recently as Americans turn away from their hateful coverage of President Trump.
Another major factor in the president’s surging popularity is the tax reform bill that passed Congress last December. The bill is associated with President Trump and as more Americans appreciate the many benefits of the bill, his popularity will continue to rise. The Democrats and the news media denounced the tax cut bill, but Americans are getting raises, and bonuses and are starting to see more money in their paychecks. The reality of their improving financial situation is trumping the “fake news” being delivered by the President’s many media critics.
With an improving economy and a rising approval rating for President Trump, the Republicans have a better chance of retaining control of Congress in the mid-term elections. This is news that will not enchant the liberal news media, which will start to wonder why their abusive treatment of the President is not working. Luckily, the American people are starting to understand what the liberal media is all about.
Jeff Crouere is the Host of “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at RingsidePolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.

Submitted Photo
M C Bank recently made its annual Adopt a School donation to Patterson High School. Pictured are Patterson High School Assistant Principal Natasha Jackson; Vicki Laubach, M C Bank assistant vice president/consumer loan officer; and Patterson High School Principal Lane Larive.

Chez Hope Family Violence Crisis Center will hold its 15th annual Trivia Night fundraiser on Saturday, March 17 at the Legion on the Bayou, located at 1330 Irish Bend Road in Franklin.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and trivia begins at 6 p.m. There will be contests for the best dressed team and table along with raffles, live auctions, door prizes and more.

The event is a fundraiser for Chez Hope, which serves victims of domestic violence in St. Mary, St. Martin, Assumption and Iberia parishes, according to its website. Chez Hope was founded in 1982.

The theme this year is superheroes and participants are encouraged to wear costumes.

“We feel like all of our volunteers are superheroes to us,” Chez Hope Community Advocate Tammy Rogers said at Tuesday’s Morgan City Council meeting.

Trivia Night is Chez Hope’s largest fundraiser, and last year’s event, which was held in Patterson, raised over $12,000, Rogers said.

“It’s been a way to make new friends and new supporters,” Rogers said.

Tickets are $120 for up to six team members of at least 18 years old. Eight teams have already signed up in addition to “lots of sponsors,” Rogers said.

Chez Hope is also partnering with the St. Mary Council on Aging to do concessions for the night.

For more information, to reserve your spot or to become a sponsor, call Chez Hope at 337-828-4200.

Also during the Morgan City Council meeting, Ryan Smith, who recently became St. Mary Parish nuisance alligator hunter, spoke to the council. He has a permit through the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries as a nuisance alligator hunter and a separate permit for all nuisance wildlife besides deer, bears, and migratory birds.

“For years, we’ve been struggling with an out-of-town nuisance abatement officer that has struggled to get here in a timely fashion,” Morgan City Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi said.

But Smith, who lives in Berwick, has taken over that role. Due to different problems in the past few years with trying to handle the nuisance alligator issue, “the need for St. Mary Parish just wasn’t being met,” Smith said.

Smith also owns St. Mary Wildlife Solutions, which deals with other nuisance animals but mainly coyotes, Smith said.

However, all complaints regarding nuisance alligators must be made through Wildlife and Fisheries by calling its New Iberia office, 337-373-0032.

In other business, the council

—Approved Morgan City Main Street’s request to host its second annual Basin Brew Fest & Restaurant Crawl on March 17 in downtown Morgan City. Organizers had planned to hold the event on the city’s riverfront wharf, but they may have to slightly alter the location because the Atchafalaya River is projected to crest March 18 at 4 inches above the wharf, Main Street Director Beth Portero said. A final decision hasn’t yet been made on the exact location.

—Approved Morgan City High School Project Graduation’s fundraiser, which raises money for graduation-related activities, said parent Kimberly Crappell. Project Graduation isn’t affiliated with the school, but is organized by parents. Organizers plan to hold a fundraiser to sell dinners and have a band play at Lawrence Park probably on a Sunday in April. Final plans for the fundraiser haven’t been made yet.

—Approved renewing the city’s health insurance administrative services agreement with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Louisiana for the self-funded plan option for the year ending Dec. 31.

—Approved an ordinance to allow the city to issue up to $2 million in revenue anticipation notes for 2018. The measure would allow city government to borrow money through a line of credit, if necessary. The council first approved the issuance of revenue anticipation notes in 2017.

—Approved a resolution of support for the efforts of St. Mary Community Action Agency’s Head Start Program to ensure all school readiness components have been properly implemented.

—Approved liquor and beer permits for Clarion Inn and Rite Aid.

—Met in executive session to discuss litigation strategies.

Louise Fuller Wray, 96, a resident of Franklin, passed away Saturday, February 24, 2018 at Patterson Healthcare Center.
Louise was born on September 25, 1921 in Hope, Arkansas, the daughter of C. Arthur Fuller and Minnie Ware Fuller.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by one daughter, Jan Wray Supple and husband Judge James Supple of Franklin; five grandchildren, Kennon Breaux and husband Dr. Jeryl Breaux of Baton Rouge, Sheridan Puls and husband Brian Puls of Baton Rouge, James B. “Jimmy” Supple, Jr. and wife Colleen Kidd Supple of Lafayette, Katy Campbell of Michigan, Margaret Campbell of Florida; eight great grandchildren.
Louise was preceded in death by her parents, C. Arthur Fuller and Minnie Ware Fuller; husband, Joseph Harold Wray; one daughter, Mona Wray Bordelon; two sisters, Ermal Martin and Alvis Marler.
Private entombment will take place in Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery at a later date.