CenLamar | Est. 2006

  • America Amused Itself To Death

    America Amused Itself To Death

    31 years ago, well before the birth of social media and cable news and Celebrity Apprentice, a media theorist named Neil Postman argued that the greatest existential threat to American democracy wasn’t the looming possibility of totalitarianism or state control, as envisioned by George Orwell’s classic book 1984. We weren’t at risk of having the government actively seize our rights out from under us, because that wasn’t even necessary. People would be more than happy to surrender their rights, voluntarily, as long as they were kept entertained, Postman contended in his now-classic and incredibly prescient book Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public…

  • Pat LaPlatney, CEO of Raycom Media, Owes Louisiana An Apology and An Explanation For The US Senate Debate

    Pat LaPlatney, CEO of Raycom Media, Owes Louisiana An Apology and An Explanation For The US Senate Debate

    Last night, while most of the country was tuned into the very beginning of what may be remembered as the greatest baseball game in American history, many in Louisiana were watching what should be remembered as the worst televised political debate in state history. As a result of corporate incompetence, poor planning, and terrible moderating, debate sponsors allowed the country’s most notorious white nationalist and outspoken racist to appear on stage at an historically African-American university and dominate what should have been a substantive discussion of the issues with erratic, angry, and delusional hate speech. Students who protested outside the…

  • The David Duke Factor

    The David Duke Factor

    Why the Former Klansman Is More Relevant To Donald Trump’s Campaign Than Any Republican Elected Official, Including Mike Pence Yesterday afternoon, I was a guest on the Jim Engster Radio Show with former Louisiana State Sen. Ben Bagert, one of a small but prominent group of people who have had the surreal experience and perhaps the misfortune of running against David Ernest Duke for the United States Senate. In Bagert’s case, it was way back in 1990, and Duke was much more formidable, as a candidate, 26 years ago in Louisiana than he is today. Although he ultimately lost the 1990 election…