The U.S. Supreme Court Upholds The State and Federal Exchange Challenge To The ACA

By a 6-3 vote the U.S. Supreme Court once again ruled against a challenge to the ACA.  Chief Justice Roberts wrote the majority opinion which many conservative republicans were not happy with.  Nothing new there, right?  Louisiana's republican representation in Congress David Vitter, Bill Cassidy, Steve Scalise and John Fleming all gave the same ditto head comments and lies they have been saying since the ACA was passed in 2010.

John Boehner said the republicans will still repeal the ACA and replace it with their plan.  But their plan does not exist.  And in fact Cassidy was supposed to have a health care plan ready if the court ruled against the ACA.  But guess what?  If that had happened they would have kept the ACA in place until after the 2016 election.  In other words use the ACA and not have to answer to the people until after the next election.

Its the same old conservative ideology of opposing anything that comes out of a democratic administration.  They don't like the President's immigration plan either but still do not have their own plan.  Does that sound familiar also.?  They are a sad bunch and their republican Presidential candidates are tripping all over themselves and now have to deal with Donald Trump, the only non conservative on their party's campaign.  Its hell when you have a unAmerican conservative ideology and being an American first escapes your conscience.

There is just no republican out there willing to stand up and put America first and present the people policy plans that would indicate where they want to take thecountry.Its just too hard for their failed ideology.  For them it is much easier to use personal attacks and criticize the President, Hillary, Bernie Sanders or any other democrat out there.  America and its people deserve better from a two party system.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

LSU Baseball And The College World Series

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TCU eliminated LSU from the college world series Thursday night in Omaha 8-4.  The Tigers lost two of their three games and made an early exit.  Their previous trip to Omaha in 2013 ended early also as they went out 0-2/  LSU's post season play since they won the College World Series in 2009 has been a disappointment and Tiger fans are asking why is it happening.  This writer will attempt to explain his thoughts on the matter.

First of all, everything has to be looked at objectively.  LSU fans are rabid and many do not always follow the facts or want to admit unpleasant things about the team and are not objective.  Many LSU sports writers who cover the team are not objective in covering and reporting on the team.  Too much hype and cliches have become a part of their reports and have nothing to do with a true evaluation of the team.  And of course, many fans take their reports as gospel.  The same thing can be said about the sports writers for the New Orleans Saints and their reporting.  Last years preseason reports from them predicted super bowl contention and other good things that never happened.  "PolitiDose" commentary about their hype must have touched a nerve because so far this year they have toned down the hype.

A case in point is Randy Rosetta's article that appeared in the Times Picayune the day after LSU beat Lehigh in the regionals.  LSU came from behind to win the game and Randy's article tried to convey the message that this years team has made it a habit to do so like it is their trade mark.  Of course it is not but I know it makes for good copy.  The team could have used a comeback against TCU.  Randy also tried to put the spin on Mainieri's shuffling his line up putting Alex Brigman in the lead off spot.  But it was a desperate move late in the year and too late at that.

In this writers judgement LSU has two major problems, coaching and recruitment.  Great coaches do not usually follow each other and Paul Mainieri lacks the coaching skills of Skip Bertman.  Mainieri is a good coach but is not the teacher or motivator Bertman was.  It shows on the field and so does the teams lack of consistent play.  LSU also lacks executing the fundamentals of the game.  Not using the sacrifice bunt to move runners in scoring position is passed over at critical times as one example.  Knowing and executing the fundamentals of the game is just as important as talent.  Bertman was a great coach who managed the talent of his players much better than Mainieri and was more involved in the fundamentals of the game.

LSU has falling behind in the recruitment of pitchers, both starters and relievers.  Poche and Lange are two exceptions  but they can not do it all by themselves.  LSU's opponets in the SEC have done a better job recruiting pitchers and that was on display during the regionals and the CWS.  This writer feels Mainieri should have started Lange for the first game of the CWS instead of Poche.  He is a better pitcher even though he is only a freshman and has the better stats, especially his ERA and he had one more day of rest that Poche.  LSU's relief pitchers are not on a par with other teams that appeared in post season play.

LSU has never replaced the offensive talent they had several years ago when they lost Mikie Mahtook, Ryan Schimpe, D.J. LeMahieu, Micah Gibbs and Blake Dean.  All those players hit well over .300, had productive RBI stats, delivered in clutch situations and produced consistent results when it counted the most.  They were on the National Championship Team in 2009 and none of them were seniors at the time.  Gibbs actually hit .400 most of the season.  There is no way you can lose 5 players of that caliber in a short period of time and replace them with the same talent and LSU never has in this writers judgement.

LSU had a great won-loss record this year but that does not measure how good the team really is.  Teams with lesser records have advanced farther than LSU this post season and that includes two other SEC teams and Vanderbilt will be playing for the National Championship again this year.  Next year will be another test for Mainieri and the team as it is being reported LSU will likely lose 6 or 7 of their starters.  It will be interested to see how sports writers cover the Tigers next year.  Will their reports continue to be hype and cliches or will they try and give their readers a more balanced report on what might be in store.  If LSU indeed does lose 6 or 7 players the next few seasons could be long ones.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Journalist Kathleen Parker's Latest Editorial Opinion.

It appeared in the Times Picayune of 6/17/15 titled, "Covering The Bushes Feels Like Second Nature."  This writer could tell from the start how her commentary would end.  And sure enough, after praising Bush 41 and Bush 43 and saying she never met Jeb Bush, she is all in with him.

Kathleen's writings match those of the ditto head conservative journalists.  She called Clinton's years as President a national trauma and that mothers like her were forced to shield their children from the President's deeds.  She left out the misdeeds of Newt Gingrich and several other conservative republicans whose family values took a hit at the same time.  She also skips over the fact that President Clinton left office with the highest approval rating of any President in the last 50 years.  

The last two paragraphs of her editorial gets to the point.  She thinks Jeb Bush is eloquent, thoughtful, fluent in policy, plainspoken and accessible.  It must have slipped Kathleen's mind that Jeb Bush could not understand a question about Iraq and immigration just recently.  She then goes on to say Jeb answered the "Bush Dynasty" question by saying the Presidency shouldn't be passed from one liberal to the next and thinks that was a classy answer.  Ronald Reagan passed the conservative torch to another conservative by the name of George H.W. Bush who was defeated four years later by President Bill Clinton because the people realized America could do better and American did so along with its people.

In talking about the three Bushes in her article Kathleen could not articulate any accomplishments that took place on their watch.  Of course that is why you will not hear any republican Presidential candidate talk about them either.  What really bothers her and her conservative friends if another democrat is elected in 2016 is that the torch will be passed to another President who will pursue an "American Agenda" instead of a "Conservative Ideology" that has failed time after time.  And that really says it all.

Note:  Jeb Bush said that Governors make better Presidents than Senators.  Does any one really believe President George W. Bush was a better President than John F. Kennedy or Lyndon B. Johnson?  No wonder Kathleen stayed away from that one in her opinion editorial.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Donald Trump: The Latest Republican To Enter The Presidential Race.

Donald Trump made it official on Tuesday when he announced he will seek the republican party's nomination for President of The United States.  Many in the news media thought he would not run for various reasons.  Trump immediately shook up his republican challengers and the conservative news media with his comments.Conservative journalists George Will and others had no kind words for Trump but Trump shot right back at them.

Trump said republicans talk a lot but accomplish very little.  Any one who follows politics knows that is a true statement.  Trump's republican challengers are trying to dodge his charges by passing him off as not a serious candidate.  They know he is relevant because they will have to answer his charges about them sooner or later and would rather not.

They would rather spend their time attacking Hillary so they don't have to explain their own position.  With so many republicans in the race Trump will liven up a campaign where each candidate are trying to convince the people he or she is the more conservative.  Trump also dropped a "bomb" on the republicans when he told Fox News that out of the last four Presidents, Bill Clinton was the best.  He is right of course, but no other republican would admit that.

This writer does not believe Trump will win his party's nomination but at least he will be one republican who will articulate what he would do if elected.  His republican challengers will do what they always do, preach the ditto head conservative ideology and of course attack Hillary.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Did The Louisiana Legislature Really Balance The State's Budget For Fiscal 2015-2016?

No, not really, because fiscal reality has escaped the republican controlled legislators and as in the past, before the new fiscal year ends the new governor and the legislator's auditor will announce the budget is out of balance.  It will fit the same pattern as previous Jindal budgets that he and the legislature said were balanced.  And you will have read it here first again in "PolitiDose."

The middle class and college students will be saddled with higher cost for college, smoking and buying automobiles while business will suffer some tax credit and tax breaks roll back for a period of 1 to 3 years at which time the tax breaks and credits will be available again.

Like on the federal level, the republicans in Louisiana always comes up with various ways to get into the average tax payers pockets while letting the business community off the hook.  It should be remembered the business community continues to enjoy $8 billion in tax breaks.

Democratic representative John Bel Williams who is a candidate for Governor is the only candidate that can bring stability to Louisiana's fiscal health.  The republican party had an opportunity to do so for 8 years and failed.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Ugly Side Of Technology

How many times do we have to hear the same song?  Hackers tap into the computer systems of business, of government and individuals and obtain information that is both personal and other wise.  Our intelligence community has the same capacity and we have been using it for many years.  So what else is new?  Is there any one out there that thinks the problem will be  resolved soon?

This ugly side of technology has been used by governments all over the world as another tool for intelligence gathering and when they do so they sweep up every bit of information in sight.  Now its about cyber  technology theft which we are told is a greater danger.  We have heard the reports of the U.S. hacking into Iran's computer system that runs their nuclear program and shutting down their operations for several weeks.

When will it all stop?  It won't, make no mistake about that.  The advances in technology has out striped the ability to make a fail safe system.  More and more individuals every day learn the skills to beat the system.  And many social media outlets post personal information that can be tapped into easily.

Changes will have to be made overtime how the internet is used and what information should be carried in order to make it harder for hackers to obtain access.  The problem can be slowed down but don't look for any progress on the matter in the near future.

The only safe system for computer technology is to refrain from using it.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

MSNBC, The Affordable Care Act and Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld

The hosts of Hardball and All In with Chris Matthews and Chris Hayes passed up an opportunity to offer their viewers a more accurate answer to statements made by their guest concerning health care Tuesday night.

Both host in talking about the Supreme Courts up coming decision on the ACA had guest who said the republicans had 5 years to come up with their own health care plan and had failed to do so.  The fact of the matter is the republicans also had 8 years under republicn President George W. Bush to come up with a health care plan and failed.

Health care did not become a problem on Obama's watch.  It has been a problem for over two decades.  That is how long government, business and the people have been dealing with the high cost of health care and the uninsured.  Matthews and Hayes should have brought that up so their viewers could have a better understanding just how republicans have failed to act on the issue.

Hayes on his show reported how Rumsfeld was walking back a statement he made only the day before concerning Iraq. The news media failed to challenge many statements by Rumsfeld during the runup to war and even during the war and its aftermath.  What MSNBC  should have shown long ago is an interview of Rumsfeld on Meet the Press during the run up to war in Iraq.  The interview was conducted by Tim Russert, Meet the Press moderator at the time.

Rumsfeld told Russert, "We know where Saddam has hidden his WMD, they are hidden in and around Tikrit."  That was Saddam's home town.  But Saddam got rid of his WMD in 1991 according to the U.S. inspection team that searched Iraq.  That was 12 years before the invasion.  So American intelligence could not have offered Rumsfeld any proof that Saddam had WMD hidden since they did not exist at any time during the Bush 43 administration.  What is so important about that Meet the Press interview is that it showed how far the Bush administration was willing to go in lying to the public.  It also explains why Bush never showed the American people photographic evidence of Iraq's WMD.

Unlike President Kennedy who during the Cuban missile crisis showed America and the world photographic evidence of Soviet missiles in Cuba.  The news media was never curious why Bush did not produce evidence of Iraq's WMD.  President Bush committed an impeachable act in his handling of the Iraq war and the news media caved in.  It was a different story when they were right there with the republicans when they impeached President Clinton over an affair.

Since MSNBC is part of the NBC family they can easily check out the Rumsfeld interview on Meet the Press and rerun it.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio


 

The U.S. Economy Created 280,000 Jobs In May

It was the 63rd. straight month of positive job growth under the Obama administration and job creation for March and April were revised upward by 32,000 more jobs than previously reported.  The unemployment rate was 8.5% up from 8.4% in April.  The small increase was attributed to the fact that hundreds of thousands more people began looking for jobs in May.  So says a report by the U.S. Labor Department.

Construction, health care and hospitality drove the job growth in May.  The oil industry shed workers for the fifth straight month because of oil prices.  Average hourly wages rose 2.3% from the previous year.  The number of people applying for unemployment benefits weekly remained at a historically low, 300,000 for more than four months.  The recovery is expected to continue thru the end of the year and into 2016.

If the republican controlled congress ever passes the transportation bill they have been sitting on forever, the economy would enjoy a much broader increase with better paying jobs.  That should be priority number one.  The time for action is now.  Forget about the TPP trade agreement and do something for the domestic economy.

The American economy as a whole still has a way to go for all to have jobs that are well paying and sustainable but it will not happen unless more action is taken by congress.  The President's policies has worked for the economy, but more has to be done.  The President continues to do his part.  Will republicans ever answer the challenge and do their part?


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Part V Algiers: State Representative Jeff Arnold Wants To Make Algiers A Separate City On The West Bank

Representative Arnold's House bill 744 that proposed to make Algiers a separate city on the west bank within the City of New Orleans was blocked by a Senate committee on Thursday June 4.  So says a Times Picayune article of June 5.  The blocking of the framework for Algiers to incorporate killed the issue for the immediate future.

This writers four part commentary on the matter published here in "PolitiDose" was an attempt to try and look at the issue from a perspective other than a lack of service for Algiers.  Mr. Arnold also tossed around the idea of both Algiers and Jefferson Parish on the west bank to secede from Orleans and Jefferson Parish.
Algiers, which is the 15th ward in Orleans Parish has the same problems with a lack of service like other wards in the Parish.  This writer feels that is due to the many, many years of neglect by previous mayors and a unstable revenue base.  Mitch Landrieu has done a good job at addressing the many problems and progress can be seen in this writers opinion.  Because of past neglect, the job of reversing that neglect will take a little longer.

The big problem with Mr. Arnold's proposal which began in 2004 was it never was driven by the citizens of Algiers or Jefferson Parish and as a result it was not well thought out.  The real answer for progress in Algiers is for its citizens to make their voices heard by our elected representatives so they and the mayor can work together to see that progress is being made.

Mayor Landrieu has done well in improving the city's budget problems and that will go a long way in moving Algiers and the rest of the city forward.  The Senate committee did the right thing in rejecting House bill 744.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio