Who Dat say dey gonna mainline dat butter

2 hours before kickoff. I have to cook and then get everything across town in time to see the game. I'm busting out this recipe again mostly because I want to die young and happy.

Meanwhile go check out Wang's solution to the latest Who Dat controversy which we endorse fully.

Who Dat say we don't have responsive politics in Dis State?

La. Democratic Party to Gov. Jindal: State should sue to protect 'Who Dat'

I know you think they're being douchebags. And I know many of you think Vitter and Melancon were throwing bones to the rabid yesterday. But, in a purist sense, this is what democracy fucking looks like. Who cares what the pols' cynical motivations are if they're taking action on the shit you're screaming about? I think we can learn from this. This is the way you pass meaningful health care reform, for example. By jumping up and down and screaming like an idiot until you get what you want. Not by electing a "smart guy" and hoping he'll do the right thing while you go do something else.

In what way is this "backing off" exactly?

T-P:

The National Football League appeared to back off Friday on its trademark ownership claims to the phrase "Who Dat" and the fleur-de-lis logo, saying it is challenging the sale of items only "when those products contained or are advertised using other trademarks or identifiers of the Saints."

" 'Who Dat' we do not claim to own by itself," said Brian McCarthy, a spokesman for the NFL. "It's when 'Who Dat' is used in conjunction with Saints marks that it's a problem."

McCarthy said T-shirts and items with 'Who Dat' and a fleur-de-lis logo unlike the one owned by the Saints are allowed as long as they are not advertised as being Saints or NFL paraphernalia.

'Who Dat' shirts being sold at the Fleurty Girl shop on Oak Street would be acceptable, McCarthy said, as long as the shop removes advertising referring to the Saints.

Don't we want to use "Who Dat" in reference to the Saints? Isn't that the problem in the first place?

"Obnoxious and legally unsustainable"

Shit, yeah! Never in my life did I ever think I'd say Give 'em hell, Vitty! but there it is.

Roger Goodell, Commissioner
National Football League
280 Park Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10017


Dear Commissioner Goodell:

I was stunned to learn recently that the NFL is taking the position that it owns the exclusive trademark of the term "Who Dat" and has even threatened legal action against some mom-and-pop merchants selling t-shirts using the term. I would urge you to drop this obnoxious and legally unsustainable position and instead agree that "Who Dat" is in the public domain, giving no one exclusive trademark rights.

This letter will also serve as formal legal notice that I am having t-shirts printed that say "WHO DAT say we can't print Who Dat!" for widespread sale in commerce. Please either drop your present ridiculous position or sue me.

"Who Dat" was probably first heard in New Orleans minstrel shows well over 130 years ago. Much more recently, but before it was used in connection with the Saints, it was used as a rallying cry by St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. In the 1980s it was adopted by Saints fans in a completely spontaneous way. Only later did any legal persons, including the Saints and the NFL, try to claim it through registration.

Perhaps more significant than this history, "Who Dat" has become part of New Orleans and Louisiana popular culture. For the NFL to try to claim exclusive ownership of it would be like me registering and trying to claim exclusive ownership of the terms "lagniappe" and "laissez les bons temps rouler!"

Under Paul Tagliabue's leadership, the NFL was an unbelievable partner in helping us recover and rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. Thank you again. We look forward to your dropping your "Who Dat" position so that this partnership can continue without strain or blemish.

Sincerely,

David Vitter
Junior Senator of Who Dat Nation

Update: Vitter's likely Dem opponent in 2010, Rep. Charlie Melancon has put up a petition on his website asking the NFL to "leave our fans alone!"

Once again, nothing brings people together like Saints football.