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{{Infobox person  

{{Infobox person  

| name = Blain Michael "Moon" Griffon<br>

| name=Blain Michael "Moon" Griffon<br>

(Radio talk show host known as "The Louisiana Limbaugh")

(Radio talk show host known as "The Louisiana Limbaugh")

| image=Moon Griffon.jpeg  

| image=Moon Griffon.jpeg  

|website= http://www.moongriffon.com/

|website= http://www.moongriffon.com/

}}

}}

'''Blain Michael Griffon''', known as '''Moon Griffon''' (pronounced gre-FONN, born May 16, 1961),<ref name=ancestry/> is an [[United States|American]] [[conservative]] [[radio]] talk show host broadcast across his home state of [[Louisiana]]. Now based at KPEL 96.5 in [[Lafayette]] in southwestern [[Louisiana]], he formerly broadcast from KMLB 540 AM in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] in Ouachita Parish in the northeastern portion of the state.  

'''Blain Michael Griffon''', known as '''Moon Griffon''' (pronounced gre-FONN, born May 16, 1961),<ref name=ancestry/> is an [[United States|American]] [[conservative]] [[radio]] talk show host broadcast across his home state of [[Louisiana]]. Now based at KPEL 96.5 in [[Lafayette]] in southwestern [[Louisiana]], he formerly broadcast from KMLB 540 AM in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] in Ouachita Parish in the northeastern portion of the state. From 1993 to 2021, Griffon broadcast on weekdays for two hours daily. In January 2022, he expanded to three hours, 9 a.m.to 12 p.m. Central Time.

 

Griffon is sometimes likened to the national radio talk show host [[Rush Limbaugh]]<ref name=nolacom>{{cite web|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/bobby-jindals-criticism-gop-romney-signals-2016-11880100.html|title=Tim Morris, "Gov. Bobby Jindal not conservative enough for some in La.", February 23, 2009|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=December 10, 2012}}</ref> though his program reflects his distinct Louisiana accent and his own style of politics. ''The Moon Griffon Show'' debuted on August 23, 1993,<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', August 23, 2012</ref> five years after the beginning of ''The Rush Limbaugh Show''. Griffon left the [[Republican Party]] in 2008 to protest his discontent with non-conservative policies of the [[Bobby Jindal]] gubernatorial administration in the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]]. However, he has since mostly supported Republican candidates but remains a critic of Jindal and Jindal's [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] successor, current Governor [[John Bel Edwards]].

Griffon is sometimes likened to the late national radio talk show host [[Rush Limbaugh]]<ref name=nolacom>{{cite web|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/bobby-jindals-criticism-gop-romney-signals-2016-11880100.html|author=Tim Morris|title=Gov. Bobby Jindal not conservative enough for some in La.|date=February 23, 2009|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|accessdate=December 10, 2012}}</ref> though his program reflects his distinct Louisiana accent and his own style of politics. ''The Moon Griffon Show'' debuted on August 23, 1993,<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', August 23, 2012</ref> five years after the beginning of ''The Rush Limbaugh Show.'' Griffon left the [[Republican Party]] in 2008 to protest his discontent with non-conservative policies of the [[Bobby Jindal]] gubernatorial administration in the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]]. However, he has since mostly supported Republican candidates but remains a critic of Jindal and Jindal's [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] successor, current Governor [[John Bel Edwards]], whom he believes was elected twice in 2015 and 2019 because of Republican disunity.

==Background==

==Background==

|title=Brian S. Lestage, 70634, December 1961|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=February 14, 2018}}</ref> has been since July 2008 the clerk of court in DeRidder in Beauregard Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laclerksofcourt.org/Parishs/Beauregardparish.htm|title=Louisiana Clerks of Court|publisher=laclerksofcourt.org|accessdate=May 21, 2013}}</ref><ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', May 21, 2013.</ref>

|title=Brian S. Lestage, 70634, December 1961|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=February 14, 2018}}</ref> has been since July 2008 the clerk of court in DeRidder in Beauregard Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laclerksofcourt.org/Parishs/Beauregardparish.htm|title=Louisiana Clerks of Court|publisher=laclerksofcourt.org|accessdate=May 21, 2013}}</ref><ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', May 21, 2013.</ref>

Griffon received his nickname "Moon" because as a small boy he particularly enjoyed the [[Andy Williams]] song "Moon River".<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', February 4, 2014.</ref> He graduated in 1979 from [[Roman Catholic]]-affiliated Redemptorist High School in Baton Rouge, which has since closed.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' January 25, 2013.</ref> He was then recruited by coach and later athletic director Benny Hollis (1939–2011) to the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]] to play [[basketball]].<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', March 14, 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thenewsstar/obituary.aspx?n=benny-hollis&pid=149330852|title=Benny Hollis obituary|publisher=''The Monroe News Star'', March 14, 2011|accessdate=March 14, 2011}}</ref> Griffon subsequently graduated in 1983 from ULM, then known as Northeast Louisiana University. On his radio program on May 13, 2009, Griffon revealed that he had kept a pistol for protection in his ULM dormitory.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', May 13, 2009.</ref> In 2013, Griffon said on his program that he owns weapons but has never been compelled to use one for either personal or family protection.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' February 20, 2013.</ref>

Griffon received his nickname "Moon" because as a small boy he particularly enjoyed the [[Andy Williams]] song "Moon River".<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', February 4, 2014.</ref> He graduated in 1979 from [[Roman Catholic]]-affiliated Redemptorist High School in Baton Rouge, which has since closed.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' January 25, 2013.</ref> He was then recruited by coach and later athletic director Benny Hollis (1939–2011) to the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]] to play [[basketball]].<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' March 14, 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thenewsstar/obituary.aspx?n=benny-hollis&pid=149330852|title=Benny Hollis obituary|publisher=''[[Monroe News Star]]''|date=March 14, 2011|accessdate=March 14, 2011}}</ref> Griffon subsequently graduated in 1983 from ULM, then known as Northeast Louisiana University. On his radio program on May 13, 2009, Griffon revealed that he had kept a pistol for protection in his ULM dormitory.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', May 13, 2009.</ref> In 2013, Griffon said on his program that he owns weapons but has never been compelled to use one for either personal or family protection.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' February 20, 2013.</ref>

Griffon is divorced from the former Connie Rene Moseley (born March 1962).<ref name=ancestry/> She remarried and is now known as Connie M. Pace. Griffon has two sons from his first marriage, Daniel Blain Griffon (born 1987),<ref name=ancestry/> like his father a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Derek Charles Griffon (born 1989), a graduate of Northwestern State University in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/derek.griffon#!/photo.php?fbid=3639638108836&set=a.3639638028834.2136260.1210770129&type=1&theater|title=Derek Griffon|publisher=facebook.com|accessdate=December 21, 2012}}</ref> In December 2012, Daniel Griffon wed the former Elizabeth Morgan Ernst; both are from Monroe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thelegalrecorder.com/files/47_12-19-2012.pdf|title=''Ouachita Legal News'', December 19, 2012|publisher=thelegalrecorder.com|accessdate=January 25, 2013}}</ref>

Griffon is divorced from the former Connie Rene Moseley (born March 1962).<ref name=ancestry/> She remarried and is now known as Connie M. Pace. Griffon has two sons from his first marriage, Daniel Blain Griffon (born 1987),<ref name=ancestry/> like his father a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Derek Charles Griffon (born 1989), a graduate of Northwestern State University in [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/derek.griffon#!/photo.php?fbid=3639638108836&set=a.3639638028834.2136260.1210770129&type=1&theater|title=Derek Griffon|publisher=facebook.com|accessdate=December 21, 2012}}</ref> In December 2012, Daniel Griffon wed the former Elizabeth Morgan Ernst; both are from Monroe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thelegalrecorder.com/files/47_12-19-2012.pdf|title=''Ouachita Legal News'', December 19, 2012|publisher=thelegalrecorder.com|accessdate=January 25, 2013}}</ref>

Besides his Monroe and Lafayette outlets, Griffon broadcasts from stations in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], Baton Rouge, [[Lake Charles]], Natchitoches, [[Shreveport]], Thibodaux, andWinnfield as well as Natchez, [[Mississippi]]. He acquired a [[New Orleans]]-area station in nearby Slidell in 2008.<ref name=autogenerated1>http://www.moongriffon.com/aboutmoon.html</ref> ''The Moon Griffon Show'' debuted on August 23, 1993.

Besides his Monroe and Lafayette outlets, Griffon broadcasts from stations in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], Baton Rouge, [[Lake Charles]], Natchitoches, [[Shreveport]], Thibodaux, andWinnfield as well as Natchez, [[Mississippi]]. He acquired a [[New Orleans]]-area station in nearby Slidell in 2008.<ref name=autogenerated1>http://www.moongriffon.com/aboutmoon.html</ref> ''The Moon Griffon Show'' debuted on August 23, 1993.

Griffon frequently hosted  [[attorney]] and state government watchdog Charlton Bath "C. B." Forgotston, Jr. (1945-2016) of Hammond, known for his carefully crafted words, fiscal conservative views, and opposition to [[gambling]] and political corruption.<ref name=cbf>"Jindal breaks word to voters," C.B. Forgotston biographical sketch, Forgotston.com, accessed January 23, 2009 (no longer available).</ref> Another occasional guest is Elliott Stonecipher, the political analyst, consultant, and pollster from Shreveport.

Griffon frequently hosted  [[attorney]] and state government watchdog Charlton Bath "C. B." Forgotston, Jr. (1945-2016) of Hammond, known for his carefully crafted words, fiscal conservative views, and opposition to [[gambling]] and political corruption.<ref name=cbf>"Jindal breaks word to voters," C.B. Forgotston biographical sketch, Forgotston.com, accessed January 23, 2009 (no longer available).</ref> Another occasional guest is [[Elliott Stonecipher]], the political analyst, consultant, and pollster from Shreveport and later [[Dallas]], Texas.

An occasional substitute host for Griffon has been the Monroe attorney Paul Loy Hurd, Sr. (born March 1954), the author of ''Louisiana's Governmental Cesspool: The Constitutional Solution,'' an expose of government waste and inefficiency.''<ref>{{cite book|url=http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000528428/LOUISIANA’S-GOVERNMENTAL-CESSPOOL.aspx|title=Louisiana's Governmental Cesspool: The Constitutional Solution, | isbn = 978-1-46852-209-9|publisher=bookstore.authorhouse.com|accessdate=February 21, 2013}}</ref>

An occasional substitute host for Griffon has been the Monroe attorney Paul Loy Hurd, Sr. (born March 1954), the author of ''Louisiana's Governmental Cesspool: The Constitutional Solution,'' an expose of government waste and inefficiency.''<ref>{{cite book|url=http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000528428/LOUISIANA’S-GOVERNMENTAL-CESSPOOL.aspx|title=Louisiana's Governmental Cesspool: The Constitutional Solution, | isbn = 978-1-46852-209-9|publisher=bookstore.authorhouse.com|accessdate=February 21, 2013}}</ref>

At times, Griffon has irritated the GOP leadership. In 2006, he invited the Shreveport [[catfish]] restaurateur Chester T. Kelley for a full segment on the program. At the time the conservative Kelley was unsuccessfully opposing the reelection of [[Moderate Republican]] James Otis "Jim" McCrery, III, of Shreveport in Louisiana's 4th congressional district.<ref>"Griffon Schedules Maverick Republican, Chester T. Kelley", ''The Moon Griffon Show'', August 29, 2006.</ref> In 2008, Kelley emerged as an independent candidate for the U.S. House against Republican [[John  Fleming]], who barely managed to hold the seat that McCrery vacated after twenty-one years. Fleming, who has since joined the [[Donald Trump]] administration, has been an occasional guest on the Griffon program.

At times, Griffon has irritated the GOP leadership. In 2006, he invited the Shreveport [[catfish]] restaurateur Chester T. Kelley for a full segment on the program. At the time the conservative Kelley was unsuccessfully opposing the reelection of [[Moderate Republican]] James Otis "Jim" McCrery, III, of Shreveport in Louisiana's 4th congressional district.<ref>"Griffon Schedules Maverick Republican, Chester T. Kelley", ''The Moon Griffon Show'', August 29, 2006.</ref> In 2008, Kelley emerged as an independent candidate for the U.S. House against Republican [[John  Fleming]], who barely managed to hold the seat that McCrery vacated after twenty-one years. Fleming, who has since joined the [[Donald Trump]] administration, has been an occasional guest on the Griffon program.

Griffon repeatedly holds Republican former Governor Bobby Jindal, whom he has referred to as "Campaign Bobby", accountable for a lack of reform in state government though a surplus of political rhetoric. Griffon claims that Jindal, who frequently appeared on the radio program prior to his election as governor in 2007, has failed to tackle the state's financial woes, used one-time funds in the state budget, and spent too much time campaigning out-of-state to raise funds for himself and other Republican candidates.<ref name=nolacom/> Because of his opposition to [[U.S. President]] [[Barack H. Obama]], Griffon supported [[Mitt Romney]] in the 2012 presidential election, but he disagreed with many Romney positions. He criticized Jindal, who had campaigned in other states for Romney, for then having made critical remarks about Romney just a few days after the Republican nominee lost the general election to Obama.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/bobby-jindals-criticism-gop-romney-signals-2016-11880100.html|title=Bobby Jindal's Criticism of GOP, Romney Signals 2016 Aspirations, November 15, 2012|publisher=voices.yahoo.com|accessdate=December 10, 2012}}</ref>

Griffon repeatedly holds Republican former Governor Bobby Jindal, whom he has referred to as "Campaign Bobby," accountable for a lack of reform in state government though a surplus of political rhetoric. Griffon claims that Jindal, who frequently appeared on the radio program prior to his election as governor in 2007, has failed to tackle the state's financial woes, used one-time funds in the state budget, and spent too much time campaigning out-of-state to raise funds for himself and other Republican candidates.<ref name=nolacom/> Because of his opposition to [[U.S. President]] [[Barack H. Obama]], Griffon supported [[Mitt Romney]] in the 2012 presidential election, but he disagreed with many of Romney's positions. He criticized Jindal, who had campaigned in other states for Romney, for then having made critical remarks about Romney just a few days after the Republican nominee lost the general election to Obama.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/bobby-jindals-criticism-gop-romney-signals-2016-11880100.html|title=Bobby Jindal's Criticism of GOP, Romney Signals 2016 Aspirations, November 15, 2012|publisher=voices.yahoo.com|accessdate=December 10, 2012}}</ref>

On December 10, 2007, Griffon announced his opposition to Jindal's expected support for incoming state Representative [[Noble Ellington]] as the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Ellington, who was term-limited in the state Senate and hence ran for the state House, was closely tied to the Democratic former administrations of [[Edwin Edwards]] and [[Kathleen Blanco]] and was a strong supporter of numerous tax increases. Ultimately, Jindal, acting on the advice of then incoming House Speaker [[Jim Tucker (Louisiana politician)|Jim Tucker]] did not recommend Ellington for the chairmanship.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', December 10, 2007.</ref> Griffon further voiced strong opposition to Republicans for accepting Ellington into the party when the lawmaker defected in December 2010 in what was mistakenly believed to have been a prelude to a run for House Speaker in 2012. Griffon questioned the defection too of departing state Senator [[John Alario]] of Jefferson Parish to the Republican Party in preparation for a 2012 run as State Senate President. Griffon considers Ellington and Alario "big government" advocates, not conservatives.<ref>Various Moon Griffon broadcasts in mid-December 2010.</ref> On October 25, 2011, Jindal endorsed the election of Alario as State Senate President; the selection was confirmed with a single dissenting vote, that of freshman Senator [[Barrow Peacock]] of Shreveport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessreport.com/article/20120123/BUSINESSREPORT0203/301239986|author=John Maginnis|title=Standing Up to Jindal|publisher=Businessreport.com|date=January 23, 2012}}</ref> In 2017, Griffon was still critical of Alario, whom he said because of patronage issues controls the votes of nearly all of the state senators with a couple or three exceptions. Griffon predicted that Alario will guide additional tax increases through the legislature in 2017 at the behest of Jindal's Democratic successor, John Bel Edwards.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', April 3, 2017.</ref>

On December 10, 2007, Griffon announced his opposition to Jindal's expected support for incoming state Representative [[Noble Ellington]] as the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Ellington, who was term-limited in the state Senate and hence ran for the state House, was closely tied to the Democratic former administrations of [[Edwin Edwards]] and [[Kathleen Blanco]] and was a strong supporter of numerous tax increases. Ultimately, Jindal, acting on the advice of then incoming House Speaker [[Jim Tucker (Louisiana politician)|Jim Tucker]] did not recommend Ellington for the chairmanship.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', December 10, 2007.</ref> Griffon further voiced strong opposition to Republicans for accepting Ellington into the party when the lawmaker defected in December 2010 in what was mistakenly believed to have been a prelude to a run for House Speaker in 2012. Griffon questioned the defection too of departing state Senator [[John Alario]] of Jefferson Parish to the Republican Party in preparation for a 2012 run as State Senate President. Griffon considers Ellington and Alario "big government" advocates, not conservatives.<ref>Various Moon Griffon broadcasts in mid-December 2010.</ref> On October 25, 2011, Jindal endorsed the election of Alario as State Senate President; the selection was confirmed with a single dissenting vote, that of freshman Senator [[Barrow Peacock]] of Shreveport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessreport.com/article/20120123/BUSINESSREPORT0203/301239986|author=John Maginnis|title=Standing Up to Jindal|publisher=Businessreport.com|date=January 23, 2012}}</ref> In 2017, Griffon was still critical of Alario, whom he said because of patronage issues controls the votes of nearly all of the state senators with a couple or three exceptions. Griffon predicted that Alario will guide additional tax increases through the legislature in 2017 at the behest of Jindal's Democratic successor, John Bel Edwards.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', April 3, 2017.</ref>

And he strongly opposed the unsuccessful candidacy of state Representative [[Julie Stokes]] for Louisiana secretary of state in a special election held on November 6, 2018. "Her closeness to John Bel Edwards bothers me to no end." Griffon said of Stokes.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' August 10, 2018.</ref>

And he strongly opposed the unsuccessful candidacy of state Representative [[Julie Stokes]] for Louisiana secretary of state in a special election held on November 6, 2018. "Her closeness to John Bel Edwards bothers me to no end." Griffon said of Stokes.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' August 10, 2018.</ref>

On April 3, 2020, Griffon aired his 7,000th broadcast.

On April 3, 2020, Griffon aired his 7,000th broadcast. On July 5, 2022, he made his first of several appearances as the guest host of ''[[Dan Bongino|The Dan Bongino Show]].''

===Griffon coins the term, "Fraud Squad"===

===Griffon coins the term, "Fraud Squad"===

In 2020, Griffon coined the term [[Louisiana Republican Fraud Squad|Fraud Squad]] to refer to twenty-three [[Moderate Republicans]] in the Louisiana House of Representatives who broke ranks with the conservative majority to join thirty-five Democratic lawmakers and two Independents to make [[Clay Schexnayder]] of Ascension Parish the state House [[Speaker]], rather than the caucus selection, Representative [[Sherman Mack]] of Livingston Parish. Schexnayder had sixty votes, fifteen more than the forty-rive for Mack. Griffon subsequently compared the Fraud Squad to Louisiana Republican defector John L. "Jay" Dardenne, Jr., and U.S. Senator [[Mitt Romney]] of [[Utah]], the only Republican in the chamber to vote to convict President [[Donald Trump]] on a single article of [[impeachment]].<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' February 6, 2020.</ref>

In 2020, Griffon coined the term [[Louisiana Republican Fraud Squad|Fraud Squad]] to refer to twenty-three [[Moderate Republicans]] in the Louisiana House of Representatives who broke ranks with the conservative majority in the party to join thirty-five Democratic lawmakers and two Independents to make [[Clay Schexnayder]] of Ascension Parish the state House [[Speaker]], rather than the caucus selection, Representative [[Sherman Mack]] of Livingston Parish. Schexnayder had sixty votes, fifteen more than the forty-five for Mack. Griffon subsequently compared the Fraud Squad to Louisiana Republican defector John L. "Jay" Dardenne, Jr., and U.S. Senator [[Mitt Romney]] of [[Utah]], the only Republican in the chamber to vote to convict President [[Donald Trump]] on a single article of [[impeachment]].<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show,'' February 6, 2020.</ref>

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Independents]]

[[Category:Independents]]

[[Category:Basketball]]

[[Category:Basketball]]

[[Category:Baptists]]

[[Category:Southern Baptists]]

[[Category:Cajuns]]

[[Category:Cajuns]]