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There is something special about getting to start fresh at the beginning of each new year—and that is especially true every four years in Louisiana when we swear in a new governor and Legislature. That was certainly the case Monday as a new era began with the swearing in of Gov. Bobby Jindal. What a proud day for the future of Louisiana and an important step in changing our image and setting a new course.

Hope, expectations and enthusiasm are running very high these days—and having the LSU Tigers bring home a national championship on Jan. 7, another proud day, certainly made the smiles a little bigger and every Louisianan walk a little taller. Our new governor and our flagship university team have both put our state in the national limelight—and it was for something positive. Folks are talking about Louisiana and, like you, I’m getting congratulatory calls and e-mails from around the country on Gov. Bobby Jindal and the LSU Tigers. I hope you agree that it feels real good. They aren’t laughing at us anymore—they’re cheering!

But we must keep that momentum and build on these successes. We must expect our leaders to serve with honor and value a good reputation, proving to America it’s a new day in Louisiana.

To make reform a reality will require the leadership of our governor, statewide elected officials and legislators—and your involvement. We can’t go back to our easy chairs and just say “that’s their job.” If we don’t support change and demand it—we may not fully seize this incredible opportunity for change. We must keep the pressure on. Trust me, those who like the status quo are working 24-7 behind the scenes to keep things the way they are. Don’t be fooled, the battle is ongoing and will be fierce.

Jindal, whom I greatly respect and for whom I was proud to serve as transition chairman, has attracted a talented team in his office and cabinet, including some real superstars. Jindal understands no one person ever succeeds alone. There is also new leadership in the Senate and House as well as many new faces in the Legislature who come ready for change. All of these players on the team will be important, and we encourage them to put Louisiana first and seize this incredible chance to move our state forward.

As with our national champion Tigers, it will take unselfish teamwork and dedication to become the best. And the Tigers never quit until they were No. 1 in America. We are expecting the same from our governor, other statewide officials and the Legislature.

We extend our congratulations and best wishes to them all. We are counting on you to get it done. This is our time. This is our chance. Make us Louisiana proud!

McCain for President

I have made my choice for president. I decided to go with character, integrity, leadership and the experience necessary for the commander-in-chief. John McCain has it all. McCain is a straight-shooter who tells you where he stands and why—and he will engage and listen to differing views as well. [We don’t always agree.]

McCain is a patriot and war hero. He knows very well the price of freedom and has paid it for us all. He is a leader who is ready to take charge of the world’s most powerful nation from day one and deal with war and diplomacy in a very dangerous world, as well as deal with our economy and domestic issues.

At 71, McCain has many gray hairs, but in a nation at war and a world consistently on the brink, that wisdom and steady hand is invaluable and required in our commander-in-chief. It’s that simple: John McCain for president.

[Note: There will be a Republican caucus held on Jan. 22 at Jefferson Baptist Church on Jefferson Highway in Baton Rouge from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.]

Lombardi is bomb-thrower

Editor's note: This column was written last Friday prior to recent developments involving Chancellor Sean O'Keefe.

They warned us. This was the M.O. for John Lombardi wherever he has served as university president. The man is so smart, but his mouth gets him in trouble. And while he may know what he is doing and have some good ideas, his actions are quickly creating enemies and could hurt LSU.

Not long after he arrived in town, he was criticizing the TOPS program, one of the most popular programs in the state. Then, shortly after Gov. Jindal is elected, he is blasting the governor’s proposal of dedicating road monies to roads. Say what?

Now, it seems his latest misstep is to push out LSU Chancellor Sean O’Keefe—a man with more friends than Lombardi—and it becomes public just days before the BCS national championship game. Did someone put the gris-gris on Lombardi or does he screw up like this all on his own?

I am now told that some on the board were having serious discussions with O’Keefe before Lombardi arrived, and he inherited the situation. I don’t know if that’s true, but, nonetheless, it is being handled by him now—and perceived as being handled poorly given his previous bombastic adventures.

There is much talk among some powerful business leaders, LSU board members and large donors who have told me of their displeasure with the treatment of O’Keefe. This seems a bit ironic given the fact that Lombardi reportedly told O’Keefe he “didn’t have the support of the business community.” Oh really? These sentiments came from one retiree and a couple guys at a dinner—not really representative of the “business community.”

To help out Lombardi, who would make no comment to the press on this fiasco, Charles Zewe, LSU System vice president of communication, threw his own bomb. Zewe said “the business community does not and will not dictate to LSU who stays and who goes.” If he will look at his Board of Supervisors, he will see they come from the business community, and it is the board, in my opinion as a former chairman of the LSU Board, that has the final say.

I am not sure anyone can talk to Lombardi. He seems to do and speak as he pleases.

But I warn Chairman Jerry Shea and the Board of Supervisors to step carefully in how they handle this matter and the future of LSU. I have a bomb to throw: Maybe it’s Lombardi who should be pushed out.

LSU: A team of destiny

It was a very proud day to be an LSU student or alum or a Tiger fan on Jan. 7, 2008, as the Tigers laid outright claim to being the best team in the land. No. 1 in every poll and winner of the BCS championship game in front of the entire nation—no questions asked.

Of course, there has to be one babbling idiot on ESPN, blowhard Lee Corso. [Is he going senile?] Corso is a former coach in the Big 10, a conference that James Carville says “can’t run as fast as Lee Corso can run his mouth.” He is probably jealous he never got to coach a team like LSU in a real conference like the SEC. Like Carville said, “Lee, if USC wanted to be No. 1, beat Stanford at home.” Well said, James. So shut up, Lee!

It was a memorable season and one where it seemed clear the Tigers were a team of destiny. Their grit, determination and “never-say-die” attitude was inspiring to young and old. Lessons: Keep your goal in sight, work as a team, don’t listen to the naysayers—and never give up.

Congratulations to Coach Les Miles, his staff, the players, O’Keefe and the fans.