Drew Brees And His Self Serving Statements

In a Times Picayune article dated 12/30/15 titled, "Brees Confident He, Payton Will Be Back For 2016" written by Larry Holder and Christopher Dabe allude to an interview Brees gave to the NFL Network in which he said, " he did not see any scenario where he or Payton would not be back next year."  That is a self serving statement that Brees has no control over if management has other ideas.

Brees also said, "I think we, a plan was put in place throughout last off season as to how we were going to build a foundation which to make a run at it in the future."  That statement contradicts what Brees has been saying for the last few years when he said more than once the foundation was already there.  Now he says they just started the foundation last off season.

It was also mentioned in the article Brees feels like the Saints have great character and leadership.  After the end of last season Payton and several players said the Saints lacked leadership.  (sports writers in New Orleans should remember that.)  This writer has a hard time finding any positive change in the team since last season.  With one game left to play the Saints can not improve on last years won-loss record of 7-9.  Former Saints coach Jim Mora's famous coulda, woulda, shoulda is a good description of this Saints team since bounty gate.

The echos of bounty gate continue:  We have the players, we have the foundation, we are all professionals, we know our jobs, we have good young players and etc, etc and etc.  Still, there has been no progress over the last four seasons.  Self serving statements are the foundation for failure.  When you can not walk the talk, one should remain silent.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Paul Krugman, Economist And Editorial Writer For The New York Times Confirms Once Again, What Was Published Much Earlier In "PolitiDose"

In two recent editorials published in the Times Picayune dated 12/22 and 12/29 titled, "Republicans paved the way for Trump" and "Trumps absurdisms camouflage GOP extremism, Krugman points out what "PolitiDose" has been saying about Trump since he announced he was entering the republican Presidential race, that is the republican party created Trump and is responsible for the atmosphere Trump works in.

Krugman also points out how those republican candidates who are proposing tax cuts for the wealthy as George W.Bush did would be out of favor (because its harder than ever to claim tax cuts are the key to prosperity.) because they failed the economy, job creation, balancing the federal budget and etc.  Ditto those same republican candidates would pursue the Bush foreign policy in the middle east.  That also has been covered in "PolitiDose" many times over.  Krugman also pointed out there are no moderates in the republican primary.

Paul Krugman is no pundit who goes with the republican talking points like so many journalists do.  He and E.J. Dionne are two of the best informed writers concerning political facts, truths and substance.  "PolitiDose" has been right there with them and on many occasions was the first to report the real story to its readers.  Stay tuned, there will be more republican extremism coming out of the republican candidates as the campaign moves closer to the primaries.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Louisiana's School Voucher Program: Can It Really Be Called A Success?

Governor Bobby Jindal has been talking about the success of the state's school voucher program which has been reported on TV and in the newspaper.  The program covers low income students to qualify for such aid who attend troubled and failing public schools.

According to a New Orleans Advocate report dated 12/27/15 the program this year will cost the state $42 million and cover approximately 7,000 students.  How can a program that cost that much money and serve 7000 students be a success when it only kicks in when public schools fail?  The answer is for the state and local governments to make sure the public school system does not fail.  If the state can find $42 million for vouchers, that money should be used instead to correct the failing public schools.  Instead it is being used to support private and religious schools.

Elected officials like to talk a good game about successful programs but in the case concerning vouchers, it does not correct the problem of failing public schools.  This writer has never heard Jindal mention if those failing schools are on their way to success so vouchers will not have to be used in the future.  The Advocate story was silent on that issue.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

What Will The New Year Bring Politically At The National Level

President Obama will serve his last full year in office in 2016 and the nation will elect a new President in November of that same year.  The President kept his word when he promised not to be a lame duck President in his final two years in office.  Congress invented the term in order to wound who ever is President at the time, but Obama had other ideas about taking care of the nations business.

The President's top priority in the new year will be to keep America and its people safe both at home and abroad and he has done a good job of doing just so.  A continued improvement in the economy, jobs, lower unemployment, reducing the federal deficit and improving the quality of life for the people is a must do thing.  We dare not go back to those failed policies of the past.

Will the republican Presidential candidates debates and their campaign of 2015 repeat its circus atmosphere in 2016 when the primaries start and will they continue to push the personal attack persona that they are noted for instead of offering solutions and taking a position on the issues.  The party is stuck in the past and therefore for them the future will be like the failed past.  That is not a way to move America forward.

The Presidential candidates of both parties need to tell the people in 2016 they will continue the progress that has been made since the 2008 republican economic collapse and what they will do to make that progress even stronger.  Reversing the accomplishments of President Obama is not an acceptable policy for the country or its people.  Successful policies need to be embraced, expanded and improved on.  And the candidates need to spell out how they would pay for their policy decisions if it means higher spending.

The voters in the new year of 2016 will have to decide if they want to elect a serious candidate who outlines a serious workable plan to deal with the future needs of the country and its people.  That plan will have to look like the future to avoid the mistakes of the failed past.

As of this writing the democratic Presidential candidates are the only candidates who fit the "serious" description in this writers judgement.  And it is my hope that in the new year of 2016 this generation can say it learned from the mistakes of the past and created a great future for the country and its people by electing a President who has political understanding.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Detroit Lions 35 The New Orleans Saints 27

The Lions roared in the Dome on Monday night, got down to business quickly and sent the Saints down with their ninth loss of the season.  The Saints will now end the regular season with a losing record, their second year in a row and 3rd. in the last 4 years.  It was another defeat at home to an opponent that entered the game with a worse won-loss record than the Saints.

Payton, some team players and some New Orleans sports writers were beginning to talk positive about the Saints defense under Allen but Detroit proved one should not jump to conclusions until a record is established.  The Lions scored 5 touchdowns even though they ran 20 less plays than the Saints.

The scars of "bounty gate" are still noticeable and the talk of playing for "pride" has become a fairy tale.  No Saint coach or player are earning their salary.  Brees continues to break records while Tom Brady and other quarter backs continue to do more for their team than Brees does for his team.  Payton has lost control of his team and whats expected from a head coach.  The latest example happened at the end of the second quarter on Monday night's game when the Saints completely lost it and came away with 0 points after having first and goal from the Lions one yard line

Continuity, togetherness, the team concept, the swagger, confidence, professionalism, all that ended with "bounty gate" season of 2012 as explained here in "PolitiDose" at the time.  Those qualities are still lost and will not return to the Saints under Sean Payton's leadership.

Management needs to make a change at the end of the season.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Democratic Presidential Debate: A Broader Dialog On Subjects That Matter

Saturday's democratic debate covered national security, ISIS, the middle least, foreign policy, the economy, jobs, the ACA, gun control, the minimum wage, median income wage and Wall Street.  ABC's moderators for the most part kept the debate on track.  Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Mark O'Malley stood their ground and were specific concerning most of the issues.

O'Malley came out swinging in the beginning.  His poll numbers remained low going into the debate so his approach was different than the last time.  Clinton and Sanders performed well this writer thought and the debate probably will not move the poll numbers a great deal.  All three candidates helped themselves and offered a clear distinction from the republican Presidential candidates.

The moderators did not touch immigration reform for good reason.  Like "PolitiDose" they realized the republican candidates have taken the issue off the table until after the 2016 elections and the people know where the democratic candidates stand on the issue.  The republican debates waste time on the issue so less time is spent on the real issues facing America and its people.  That is the way the republicans want it.

One of the ABC moderators tried a "got you" question on Clinton when she asked Clinton if she took responsibility for the problems left in Libya after Gadhafi was overthrown.  It was a silly question at best since it is the President who sets foreign policy and not the secretary of state.  If one follows the moderators thoughts credit would be given to Clinton for bringing Bin Laden to justice since she was secretary of state at the time it happened and she was even in the situation room with the President and his advisers at the time.  Clinton handled the question well.

None of the debaters ran away from the President's record and Sanders pointed out the people are better off today than they were 8 years ago.  Sanders, Clinton and O'Malley also did not use fear as a political tool to gain possible votes like the republicans do.  The moderators spent to much time on ISIS and tried their best to interject fear in the debate but the candidates did not take the bait.


Who ever wins the democratic Presidential nomination will be far superior to any nominee the republicans choose.  The democrats have a better take and understanding concerning the problems and solutions facing the country and its people.  The debates have already settled that.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The State Of Louisiana: What Will The New Year Bring Politically

The wisdom to learn from the mistakes of the past for a better future for Louisiana and its people or a repeat of past mistakes.  A triple history will take place in January and play out for the next four years.  A new year will begin in 2016, Bobby Jindal will be leaving office and democrat John Bel Edwards will become Louisiana's next governor.  Six thousand years ago the worlds very first civilization, that of the Sumerians said they were taught that the key to a better future was to understanding the mistakes of the past.

Will Louisiana under the new leadership of governor Edwards follow that wisdom that was written down so long ago?  This writer believes Edwards will and has started off well with his first appointments.  The appointment of a republican to lead the Administration shows Edwards will keep his word and will not govern by dividing people.  Having served in the state legislature, Edwards should be well aware of the past mistakes made in the last 8 years and Louisiana's future should not look like the past.

The new governor will be looking at some tough decisions.  Bringing order and change to the state's fiscal house will be huge.  Unemployment in the state is too high and not enough jobs are being created.  Past budget cuts to education and other needed services for the people will have to be addressed in a positive way.  Those issues can only be affected by sound policy that speak to the heart of the matter and not by ideology.  We have been there and done that with a conservative ideology and it did not work.

Those first policy decisions will be important because it will set the agenda for the next four years and beyond.  Most government problems are long term and require long term solutions.  Louisiana is at the bottom of the list or near the bottom of all 50 states in poverty, health care and many other issues that can not change over night.  But the right policy can put the state on a future path to positive change for the people and the quality of life.

Governor elect Edwards will be sworn into office at a critical time and the republican controlled legislature has to step up to the plate and work with his policy agenda to move the state and its people forward.  They gave that courtesy to Jindal and should have the character and courage to extend that courtesy to and work with governor Edwards.

And yes, understanding the past is still the key to a better future.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Fifth Republican Presidential Debate: CNN And The Republican Candidates Try To Keep The Illusion Alive.

Wolf Blitzer, the lead moderator in Tuesday's debate framed his questions concerning Terrorism as if the American people were living in fear of a terrorist attack and of course the candidates responded with their own fear as if ISIS has already attacked the United States.  The total debate was all about foreign policy, ISIS and immigration.

Illusion was all over the debate stage and it all rang hollow.  President Obama has kept America safe despite the republican illusion and ISIS has been weakened in Iraq and Syria and continue to lose territory there.  In fact the candidates said they would do the same thing the President has been doing to fight ISIS, that is lead a coalition.  They rightly made a fool of themselves on ISIS and foreign policy.  The illusion can't change the fact that President Obama has kept America and its people safe.  And that still chaps them.

The debaters were so confused on foreign policy and terrorists they had to fall back on old reliable President Reagan.  They then made things worse by trying to compare communism and terrorists.  However, illusion about Reagan's handling of terrorists  has also been exposed and laid bare.   The planners of the terror attack on the Marine compound in Lebanon that killed 241 Marines were never brought to justice by the Reagan administration.  It was the same President Reagan who sold military arms to Iran, (a terrorists nation at the time) in the Iran-Contra affair.

The republican candidates are still running against President Obama although he will not be on the ballot and Hillary Clinton who may be.  Their names were mentioned many times during the debate.  That is good for voters who follow the facts because both the President and Hillary have accomplished more for the country than all the candidates on the debate stage combined.  

Governor Chris Christie showed the people he is not ready to be President when he said he would shoot down a Russian plane that violated a no fly zone if one was in effect.  Presidents have procedures that they go through when such an event happens and do not shoot from the hip.  Christie's position is a dangerous one.

The one thing that was not an illusion in the debate was the fact that the candidates, with the exception of Rand Paul are more than willing to make the same mistakes again in the middle east as their republican predecessors and that cost America the unnecessary loss of human life.  President Obama's foreign policies are working despite the republican and CNN's illusions and this writer does not plan to live in fear, republican style.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio   

Is It Gun Control Or Is It Crime Control

Home grown mass murder attacks in America have become common.  Foreign directed terrorists attacks in America have not.  Both however are crimes defined by our criminal justice system and both involve weapons.  Gun control is mentioned after every attack by those who both support and oppose that so called answer.  Each group expresses the reasons they support or oppose such gun control.

The answer is Crime Control and what works best at stopping mass murder regardless if domestic or foreign directed.  The Brady Bill that was supported and passed during the Clinton administration banned assault weapons.  Police chiefs all over America supported the bill and after being in effect for many years testified that it worked.  They should know, right?  The George W. Bush administration let the Brady Bill expire and assault weapons have been back on the streets and continue to kill innocent people.  There was no good reason for Bush to let the bill expire because it controlled crime.  The NRA of course pushed to let a successful law expire.  For that action, the future became like the past.

In the recent mass murders in San Bernardino the FBI reported they discovered a massive catch of guns, rifles, ammo and other explosive devises that the two shooters stockpiled and purchased legally.  Does any one really believe civilians should be able to legally purchase such a great quantity of weapons and ammo.  Those laws should be shut down and closed in favor of crime control.  Any one purchasing large quantities of such weapons are sure not doing so for self protection.

Crime control is having laws that effectively address the problem of the proliferation of weapons that go beyond self protection and legitimate hunting.  Automatic weapons and semi automatic weapons with large clips of ammo should be covered by laws with teeth where city, state and federal law enforcement agents have knowledge about the purchaser in order to prevent a future crime.

Crime control to protect innocent Americans from domestic or foreign attack is not only necessary but one and the same.  The American people have always accepted the hardships and responsibility that go along with keeping the people and the country safe.  The frequency of innocent Americans being killed has to come to an end and effective crime control has to take place.  Gun control does not describe the problem or the answer, crime control does.  It also takes care of the gun control issue.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

America was Not Built On Fear, America Was Built On Courage, On Imagination And An Unbeatable Determination To Do The Job At Hand.

Those words were spoken by President Harry Truman and was one of the many sayings by him that defined what his Presidency was all about.  President Truman's wisdom and courage stands in stark contrast to the leaders of today's republican party, especially those seeking the republican Presidential nomination.  They use fear as a political tactic to frighten the American people to gain votes and damage President Obama.

Fear, republican style, is part of their conservative ideology that is ugly and unAmerican which this writer commented on in "PolitiDose" early on.  Trump who is no conservative, is the worst out of the bunch because he follows the republican line on scare tactics and would say anything to gain attention.  His rhetoric on terrorists is just that, talk, and cheap talk at that.

Both John McCain and Mitt Romney tried to play the fear card in 2008 and 2012 when they ran against Obama and both failed.  Trump and his republican opponents have displayed their lack of understanding the basic value of American character and courage.

Real leaders in America have always possessed those qualities.   And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Preseason Coach's Poll Concerning LSU Turned Out To Be Correct.

The poll placed LSU out side the the top 10 teams predicted and that is exactly where LSU ended up at the end of the regular season.  One New Orleans sports writer thought the coach's poll was wrong and that LSU would end up in the play offs.

This writer suggested in a "PolitiDose" commentary three reasons why the poll picked LSU to finish out side the top 10 and all three reasons contributed to LSU's dismal season and the way they finished, losing three of their last four games.  Les Miles will still be LSU's head coach for the near future and this writer believes there will be no change in Miles philosophy of using a 20th century offense to compete in a 21st century offensive change that is ever growing.

Miles has yet to embrace the change after 11 years as head coach and is not likely to do so.  The long term contract given to Miles and others is not in the best interest of LSU and college football.  The game is changing so quickly and there are so many good young coaches out there more in tune with change to negate the need of long term contracts that are no incentive for a coach to change especially with the millions of dollars involved in buy outs.

The LSU people involved in Miles long term contract have failed their obligation to the school and the team.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The U.S. Economy Continues To Create Jobs

The U.S. Labor Department announced that 211,000 new jobs were created in November and the unemployment rate held steady at 5%.  It was the 69th straight month of positive job creation despite the opposition by the republicans in congress to the President's plans to put America back to work.  The unemployment rate when President George W. Bush left office was 7.8%

The latest unemployment rate for Louisiana released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission was for October and came in at 6.2%, up from 6% the previous month.  When Jindal took office the Louisiana unemployment rate was 3.8%  Louisiana has not enjoyed the lower unemployment rate that has taken place nationally, but take heart Louisiana, that will change for the better with democratic governor elect John Bel Edwards on the job.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Britain To Join Air Campaign Against ISIS/ISIL In Syria

The British Parliament gave Prime Minister Cameron the authority he sought to begin air attacks against ISIS/ISIL in Syria.  The decision will allow Britain to join America, France and Russia to expand the air war in Syria and Iraq.  America is seeking Germany support to join the coalition.

Prior to the terror attack on Paris, America carried out over 90% of the air war against ISIS/ISIL in Syria and 2/3rd. of the air war in Iraq.  Now with a larger coalition and better coordination, more frequent attacks can be made on a timely basis.  Middle eastern ground troops supporting the coalition air strikes with guidance of American special operation forces will speed up the fight against the terrorists to bring about their demise and their ability to threaten the world.

Those American voices who are still clamoring for 40,000 U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq and Syria in a daily combat role need to get a life and support the President.  As for the republican Presidential candidates are concerned, they have no serious thoughts on the middle east, only the same failed policies of the past.

It took a terror attack on Paris to bring France and Britain into the coalition in a positive way.  That experience should unite the coalition in a special way that will offer a united front against terrorists threats that have become so common in the 21st. century.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The New Orleans Saints: The Effects Of Bounty Gate Has Been Cumulative and May Even Be Irreversible

The Saints third straight loss Sunday at Houston against a team New Orleans sports writers described as a weak part of the schedule was a reminder just how far the Saint's football team has sank along with the coaching staff.  This is the fourth season since Payton sat out because of bounty gate and there has been no progress.

Everyone should remember what the players and coaches said:  We are professionals;  we know our job;  we know how to win;  all we have to do is do our job.  Yeah, right, it never happened and the coaches and players are still giving out the same excuses.  The bottom line is the players and coaches are not earning their big salaries.  And all are still in denial for the reasons why, bounty gate.  New Orleans sports writers never saw it coming because they are too busy writing about hype and cliches and refused to be objective in their reporting.

Saint management, the coaching staff and the players have had enough time to make the right adjustments since bounty gate but failed big time.  The outlandish salaries those people make for not producing and having a good product on the field is a disgrace to the game.  But hey, fans still flock to the games and coaches and players are still given idol status.  The game is larger than life and the dollar rules.

Payton and Loomis will move on to some other franchise and the process will repeat itself.  No one will remember bounty gate and its effects except the readers of "PolitiDose."   And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio