Block, Upload, Automoderated users, edit, move, protect, rollback
57,799
edits
Changes
no edit summary
{{template|This article is revised and updated from {{{site|Wikipedia}}} but the text was originally written by BHathorn (under the name) and does not include alterations made by others from that site.|background=#aff|category=Copied Articles}}
{{template|This article is revised and updated from {{{site|Wikipedia}}} but the text was originally written by BHathorn (under the name) and does not include alterations made by others from that site.|background=#aff|category=Copied Articles}}
|spouse=(1) Divorced from Connie Rene Moseley, since Connie Pace<br>
|spouse=(1) Divorced from Connie Rene Moseley, since Connie Pace<br>
(2) Tonia Lou Digirolamo Griffon (married 1995)
(2) Tonia Lou Digirolamo Griffon (married 1995)
Children:
Children:<br>
From first marriaqe:<br>
From first marriaqe:<br>
Daniel Blain Griffon<br>
Daniel Blain Griffon<br>
Andrew Walker Griffon (born 2001)<br>
Andrew Walker Griffon (born 2001)<br>
Grandson James Michael Griffon (born January 8, 2014)<br>
Grandson James Michael Griffon (born January 8, 2014)<br>
Parents:<br>
Parents:<br>
Charles Thomas and Dorothy Ann Berthelot Griffon
Charles Thomas and Dorothy Ann Berthelot Griffon
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 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>
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 James Wilton "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 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|title=John Maginnis, "Standing Up to Jindal", January 23, 2012|publisher=businessreport.com|accessdate=January 31, 2012|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005003607/http://www.businessreport.com/article/20120123/BUSINESSREPORT0203/301239986|archivedate=October 5, 2013|df=}}</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 advocated by Jindal's Democratic successor, John Bel Edwards,<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', April 3, 2017.</ref> whom Jindal has strongly opposed on numerous fronts.
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 James Wilton "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 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|title=John Maginnis, "Standing Up to Jindal", January 23, 2012|publisher=businessreport.com|accessdate=January 31, 2012|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005003607/http://www.businessreport.com/article/20120123/BUSINESSREPORT0203/301239986|archivedate=October 5, 2013|df=}}</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 advocated by Jindal's Democratic successor, John Bel Edwards,<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', April 3, 2017.</ref> whom Jindal has strongly opposed on numerous fronts.
In 2008, Griffon endorsed the Republican U.S. senatorial candidate [[John Neely Kennedy]], the state treasurer, in Kennedy's unsuccessful challenge to incumbent Democratic [[U.S. Senator]] [[Mary Landrieu]]. Kennedy has occasionally appeared on Griffon's program. Griffon criticized several state Republican leaders for having endorsed Landrieu over Kennedy.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', October 24, 2008.</ref> Landrieu defeated Kennedy with 52 percent of the vote in the general election. In 2016, Kennedy was elected to the Senate to succeed Republican [[David Vitter]] with Griffon's support.
In 2008, Griffon endorsed the Republican U.S. senatorial candidate [[John Neely Kennedy]], the state treasurer, in Kennedy's unsuccessful challenge to incumbent Democratic [[U.S. Senator]] [[Mary Landrieu]]. Kennedy has occasionally appeared on Griffon's program. Griffon criticized several state Republican leaders for having endorsed Landrieu over Kennedy.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', October 24, 2008.</ref> Landrieu defeated Kennedy with 52 percent of the vote in the general election. In 2016, Kennedy was elected to the Senate to succeed Republican [[David Vitter]] with Griffon's support.
In November 2008, Griffon left the Republican Party and re-registered as a "No-Party" voter. He cited Jindal's political moves during the first year in office as a reason for leaving the party. "My frustration with Bobby Jindal is that he is not being a conservative. Conservatives are mad as hell and they’re not taking it any more," Griffon said in an interview. Griffon has also criticized the late Republican Governor [[David C. Treen]] because Treen supported Senator Landrieu and Treen sought without success to obtain a pardon or commutation of sentence for Treen's former Democratic rival, former Governor Edwin Edwards. On several days in late November 2008, Griffon humorously suggested that listeners mail change-of-voter registration cards to Treen and urge the former governor to re-join the Democratic Party, from which he defected in 1960.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', November 24, December 2, 2008.</ref>
In November 2008, Griffon left the Republican Party and re-registered as a "No-Party" voter. He cited Jindal's political moves during the first year in office as a reason for leaving the party. "My frustration with Bobby Jindal is that he is not being a conservative. Conservatives are mad as hell and they’re not taking it any more," Griffon said in an interview. Griffon has also criticized the late Republican Governor [[David C. Treen]] because Treen supported Senator Landrieu and Treen sought without success to obtain a pardon or commutation of sentence for Treen's former Democratic rival, former Governor Edwin Edwards. On several days in late November 2008, Griffon humorously suggested that listeners mail change-of-voter registration cards to Treen and urge the former governor to re-join the Democratic Party, from which he defected in 1960.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', November 24, December 2, 2008.</ref>
In October 2010, former State Senator Mike Smith, a Democrat (subsequently an Independent) from Winnfield, using his first name, "Kenneth," called the program to allege that Griffon is controlled by two unnamed wealthy Republicans. Griffon denies the allegation and claims that he alone owns his company and urged Smith to call again for further discussion on the air.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', October 22, 2010.</ref>
In October 2010, former State Senator Kenneth Michael "Mike" Smith, Sr., a Democrat (subsequently an Independent) from Winnfield, using his first name, "Kenneth," called the program to allege that Griffon is controlled by two unnamed wealthy Republicans. Griffon denies the allegation and claims that he alone owns his company and urged Smith to call again for further discussion on the air.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', October 22, 2010.</ref>
Griffon opposed Senator Mary Landrieu throughout her career and composed a parody song, "She's Gone" after Landrieu's defeat in 2014. He often noted that Landrieu could be considered the critical sixtieth vote in 2010 to implement the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], Obama legislation which Griffon contends has been a particularly "unaffordable" law from his family perspective. Griffon questioned why Jindal did not endorse until after the 2014 primary election the Republican who unseated Landrieu, U.S. Representative [[Bill Cassidy]] of Baton Rouge. The Cassidy campaign fired Jindal operative Timmy Teepell in 2013, and Jindal, who campaigned nationally for various Republican candidates, had reportedly been lukewarm toward Cassidy. Griffon also criticized a wealthy cadre of Republican businesspeople for having crossed party lines to back Landrieu in 2008, such as former Republican state chairman .<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', October 9, 2013.</ref>
Griffon opposed Senator Mary Landrieu throughout her career and composed a parody song, "She's Gone" after Landrieu's defeat in 2014. He often noted that Landrieu could be considered the critical sixtieth vote in 2010 to implement the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], Obama legislation which Griffon contends has been a particularly "unaffordable" law from his family perspective. Griffon questioned why Jindal did not endorse until after the 2014 primary election the Republican who unseated Landrieu, U.S. Representative [[Bill Cassidy]] of Baton Rouge. The Cassidy campaign fired Jindal operative Timmy Teepell in 2013, and Jindal, who campaigned nationally for various Republican candidates, had reportedly been lukewarm toward Cassidy. Griffon also criticized a wealthy cadre of Republican businesspeople for having crossed party lines to back Landrieu in 2008, such as former Republican state chairman .<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', October 9, 2013.</ref>
Early in 2017, Griffon called for the resignation of Michael David "Mike" Edmonson as the superintendent of the Louisiana State Police<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', February 28, 2017.</ref> after disclosure that Edmonson in October 2016 had taken seventeen of his high-ranking personnel, with one guest allowed for each employee, to [[San Diego]], [[California]], to attend a conference and to observe Edmonson's receiving a lifetime achievement award from the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The trip cost state taxpayers $70,000. It included a stay for four troopers traveling by car to the [[Grand Canyon]] and [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]]. U.S. Senator John Neely Kennedy agreed that Edmonson should leave his position but said he doubted if the official would be disciplined because of the "good ole' boys club."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walb.com/story/34600748/zurik-kennedy-calls-for-state-police-heads-resignation|title=Kennedy calls for State Police head's resignation|author=Lee Zurik|publisher=WALB|location=[[Albany, Georgia|Albany]], [[Georgia]]|date=February 24, 2016|accessdate=March 1, 2017}}</ref> Within a few weeks after the controversy surfaced, however, Edmonson took early retirement from the state police.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_95982132-09aa-11e7-b4f9-1753d06e262f.html|title=Mike Edmonson doesn't know 'what life will be' after retirement from Louisiana State|author=Jim Mustian|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=March 15, 2017|accessdate=April 3, 2017}}</ref>
Early in 2017, Griffon called for the resignation of Michael David "Mike" Edmonson as the superintendent of the Louisiana State Police<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', February 28, 2017.</ref> after disclosure that Edmonson in October 2016 had taken seventeen of his high-ranking personnel, with one guest allowed for each employee, to [[San Diego]], [[California]], to attend a conference and to observe Edmonson's receiving a lifetime achievement award from the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The trip cost state taxpayers $70,000. It included a stay for four troopers traveling by car to the [[Grand Canyon]] and [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]]. U.S. Senator John Neely Kennedy agreed that Edmonson should leave his position but said he doubted if the official would be disciplined because of the "good ole' boys club."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walb.com/story/34600748/zurik-kennedy-calls-for-state-police-heads-resignation|title=Kennedy calls for State Police head's resignation|author=Lee Zurik|publisher=WALB in [[Albany, Georgia|Albany]], [[Georgia]]|date=February 24, 2016|accessdate=March 1, 2017}}</ref> Within a few weeks after the controversy surfaced, however, Edmonson took early retirement from the state police.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_95982132-09aa-11e7-b4f9-1753d06e262f.html|title=Mike Edmonson doesn't know 'what life will be' after retirement from Louisiana State|author=Jim Mustian|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=March 15, 2017|accessdate=April 3, 2017}}</ref>
In recent broadcasts, Griffon has called for the defeat in 2019 of Governor John Bel Edwards and has long predicted that Edwards will be a one-term governor though no Republican opponent has yet surfaced.
In recent broadcasts, Griffon has called for the defeat in 2019 of Governor John Bel Edwards and has long predicted that Edwards will be a one-term governor though no Republican opponent has yet surfaced.