The President's State of The Union Address.

President Trump attempted to achieve in his State of the Union Address what he has failed to achieve as a Presidential candidate and as a President for the past year.  He recognized in the audience several Americans and their heroic actions which stands at odds with Trump's own divisiveness, his lack of respect for others, his corrupt attitude and treasonous acts.  He used those good people because he himself can not walk the talk.  Those heroes stood head and heels over the President.

Trump also used his address early on to out right lie to the American people when he said unemployment was the lowest in the past 40 years.  The unemployment rate at the end of December was 4.1% as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor.  The lowest unemployment in the last 40 years actually took place on President Clinton's watch when it stood below 4% for 4 straight months September thru December of 2000.  The President also lied when he said his tax cut was the largest in history.  The Reagan and George W. Bush tax cuts were actually larger.

The trumpet man followed the script of past republican Presidents, wrapping himself with the flag, American morals, national defense, in God we trust and the national anthem.  And like his past republican friends, failed to live up to the test big time.  That is the reason he invited the heroes to be recognized.  One would think a President's State of the Union Address would be about the positive positions he has taken to move the country forward and lead the free world, but he has no such accomplishments.  Impeachment is still the only answer to the malignancy in the White House.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Governing By "Continuing Resolutions"

The Trump/Republican control of governing the U.S. is still non existent at the start of Trump's second year in office and no end is in sight.  The President's approval rating stands at 38%, the lowest of any President since the start of Presidential polling and the Trump/Republican leadership has passed the least legislation in its first year than any past modern Presidential administration.  The federal government is running on the second continuing resolution to keep the government open until February 13th.

The overhaul of the National Flood Insurance Program is due to expire Feb. 8.  It has been operating under four short term extensions since just September and there are no indications a long term solution is in the congressional offering.  Immigration reform, which covers a number of immigration outstanding has yet to be defined or debated by Trump and the GOP.  They have only played to their base with piece meal statements that lack any substance.

DACA, one element of immigration reform that Trump cancelled which was supposed to bring about a new solution by March 15 is in jeopardy and just last week Trump said he may extend the date beyond March 15.  In other words, keep kicking the DACA part of immigration down the road like every thing else.

There is still no certainty on federal oil royalties for Louisiana that the people were told long ago would happen.  Trump reduced the original amount but still no final number.  With a year of regression and the inability to lead, Trump's second year looks like  repeat of the first.  And Tuesday nights State of the Union Message is shaping up as another chapter of "fake news" from a President so corrupt in lies, will try to use those lies to define progress.  Somethings never change.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Is North Korea Reading "PolitiDose"

North  Korea's President Kim Jong Un in a statement released this week said North and South Korea should meet and discuss the unification of the country without interference from the outside.  He made it clear that the fate of the Korean Peninsula would be decided by the Koreans themselves.  And if that sounds familiar its because you read it here first in PolitiDose in several commentaries in the last few years.

Both North and South Korea have already met and agreed to cooperate in several areas during the up coming winter games scheduled to take place in South Korea.  So a dialog has already started and is taking place.  When South Korea elected its new President Moon Jae-in he made it clear he would seek to have a dialog with the North and the conversation has moved along.  Can North and South really achieve unification on their own?  If their talks are really serious what will be the reaction by China, Russia and the United States.  All three have self serving motives why they support the North and South separation and why no progress has been made in changing the status quo.

This writer still believes the best long term solution is a united Korea with one government, one people and one country under one united flag.  Only those who remain blind to human nature never see the big picture that sits right in front of them.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Sean Payton's Top Priority For The 2018 Football Season

Payton should put down the cheat sheet, turn the play calling over to his offense coordinator, modify his behavior with the officials and just let his arrogance die a natural death.  The head coach needs to spend more time observing what goes on during the game which he can not do now with his mind and head looking at a cheat sheet.

Forget about all the hype and praise bestowed on you by the New Orleans sports writers.  It has not worked and has resulted in too few championships.  I think it is fair to say that with your head and mind on that cheat sheet you fail to see on the field what the fans see.  You made several bad calls this season at critical times and failed.  Your mind has to be open in order to see the big picture but that cheat sheet gives you tunnel vision.

Its time to let go of your ego and be a full time head coach.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady Take Their Team To Another Superbowl.

The New England Patriots defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-20 to win the American conference championship and advanced to the Super Bowl for the 10th time and the third time in the last 4 years.  And once again Tom Brady took his team farther than Dred Brees took his team despite all of Brees passing records.  The Patriots under coach Belichick has been the most consistent team for over a decade and won more world championships since the Super Bowl era than any other team.

Brady, a quiet talking quarterback like Bart Starr, who also like Brady does not hold as many personal passing records as Brees, Manning or Farve,  knows how to win as a team.  The same trait that Starr had.  And like Brady, won more world championships than Brees, Manning and Farve.  Both Brady and Starr were consistent team winners.

Bill Belichick is the best football coach in the Super Bowl era and the most consistent.  He has won 5 world championships with New England, more than any other coach.  He and Vince Lombardi share many things in common.  Both are teaching coaches, something that many coaches lack.  Teaching is a large reason why both had such great success. They teach the team concept and both taught how important it is to know the fundamentals of the game.  Belichick is the dominate coach in the NFL and no other even comes close.

The sad part for the NFL is that so many coaches that have come and gone with out learning anything from Belichick's success.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Louisiana's Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy: The Ditto Head Republicans Stick It To Louisiana Again

U.S. Senators Cassidy and Kennedy did it to Louisiana again Friday when they voted with their republican colleges to kick the can down the road by voting for the CR that failed and shut down the government.  The first CR (continuing resolution) they voted for ended Friday and was supposed to give them enough time to come up with a long term spending bill but it failed under the republican leadership.  Friday's vote was to continue the CR for another 3 weeks so they could accomplish what they failed to accomplish during the first CR.

The democratic party and five republicans voted against the CR because the solution to the budget spending bill is long term and they wanted a bill that would run through the end of the government's fiscal year which ends September 30, 2018.  That way all federal agencies would have certainty for the rest of the fiscal year.  Government should not be run with CR's that last short periods of time and don't solve the problem and then create government shutdowns.  This is the third time the republicans in congress have shut down the government since 1995 because of their extreme agenda which began with the Newt Gingrich era.  GOP administrations and GOP led congress are terrible at governing and makes it easy to understand why no republican administration has balanced the federal budget since President Eisenhower.  Since then its been all deficit spending under republican administrations.

Louisiana's republican representatives in congress are the worst this writer has ever seen.  They are Trump ditto heads who are with him no matter what.  They all voted for Trump's health care scam bill, his tax bill scheme passed off as tax reform and supported his regressive executive orders and his divisive rhetoric.  Their immigration talk is a mirror image of their health care talk.  Louisiana and its people deserve better representation.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

President Trump's First Year In Office: Chaos, Inability To Lead,Incompetent, Divisive and A Corrupt Business Attitude To American Government

The trumpet man's first year in Office ended Friday at midnight with a government shutdown because he and the GOP's extreme agenda was partisan and as a result void of democratic input.  The President and GOP wanted to kick the can down the road again with a short term CR (continuing resolution) which if passed would have been the second one.  The democrats wanted a long term spending plan so there would be certainty for operating the federal government.

Trump himself set up the prospect of a government shutdown weeks ago when he proclaimed the federal government may need a good shutdown.  The GOP controlled congress picked up on that suggestion.  Their process that led up to the shutdown was nothing but chaos and demonstrated Trump and the GOP's inability to lead and govern the country and its people.  It happened before during their health care fraud plan earlier in the year and immigration reform.  Friday's shutdown was the first ever by a republican President with a republican controlled congress.  And just this week, republican senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said he did not know what Trump's policy was on immigration.  And republican senator Jeff Flake compared Trump's fake news comment concerning the news media with former Russian dictator Josef Stalin.

Trump's first year in office has been a disaster for every good that America stands for.  A divisive President and Commander in Chief who has corrupted the highest office in the land with his corrupted business attitude.  And we now read in a Wall Street Journal report that Trump's lawyer paid hush money to the tune of $130,000 to a porn star so she would not comment on the sexual encounter in public that took place during the 2016 Presidential election.

America and its people should not have to be exposed to such a President and impeachment must happen sooner rather than later.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Reflections and Thoughts On The Saints 2017 Season

The Saints winning season in 2017  was only their second in the last six seasons and this writer does not think a guide in guessing what the future will bring.  New Orleans sports writers are beginning to express their views for next year but so far just a repeat of what they did in the past.  In a Times Picayune article of January 15 Larry Holder reported Brees said, "I really feel like we're really building something .  A window of time here, a window where we can really  make a run at it."  Brees has made similar statements during the past six years and it never happened.

This writer's thoughts are different than the sports world talk.  The Saints were an improved team but lacked a consistent defensive effort, especially against the good teams.  Their defense was AWOL in the first half against the Vikings and of course the last 25 seconds in that game was fatal.  New Orleans sports writers overrated the defense.  The Saints are much improved at running back but still lack balance in their play calling and Payton's arrogance is not helpful.  And although they had a winning season, they failed to finish strong again losing 4 of their last 8 games.

The Saints defensive co-ordinator's ability to get the job done is still unsettled in this writers mind and I do not believe time is on his side.  Drew Brees is on his way out and his personal records do not help the team win as a team.  His poor performance against the Vikings in the first half will be repeated in the future.  As of this writing, my judgement on the Saints for next season will be little progress from where they finished this year.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Erick Erickson: Immigration and DACA

Erickson's opinion column in the Times Picayune of January 14 titled, "Congress should take immigration off the table represents the same old conservative ditto head fake news of President Trump and the GOP.  He says congress should let those immigrants under DACA (dreamers) stay, take the issue off the table for now and take it up later  His total remarks in the article are silly and full of holes  Actually, Trump can settle the "dreamers" issue himself by telling congress he will not deport them.  He himself created the problem by cancelling DACA but Erickson 's article is silent on the issue.

Erickson says neither the republicans or democrats want to finalize the issue and points to the fact that President George W. Bush wanted to take up the immigration matter in 2005 but the GOP had no consensus on what to do.  Then he makes the silly and fake news statement that the democrats controlled everything in 2009 and did nothing because they wasted time passing the ACA.  Actually, the democrats did a lot when they controlled the Presidency and congress in 2009.  They passed President Obama's economic pan, the stimulus, bank regulations and other needed policies that moved the country out of the great republican recession of 2008,

The real news Erickson was silent on was the fact that the democratic controlled U.S. Senate did pass immigration reform that died in the republican controlled U.S. House by not allowing the measure to be introduced in the House.  Erickson also fails to point out the republican party controlled both houses of congress for four years during the George W. Bush administration and did nothing concerning immigration.  Trump and the GOP can find a quick solution to the DACA issue they created by following the democratic lead on the matter.  Instead, Trump has changed his mind on the issue over and over and again just last week.  Ditto head opinion columns like Erickson are void of any true value to an issue that is not going away.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Minnesota Vikings Defeat The New Orleans Saints 29 - 24

The Saints finished the play off season like they started the very first game of the regular season with a loss and to the same Vikings.  Only this time the loss was fatal and will sting a long time as the team now goes home.  The Saints ended the regular season with a winning record, only the second winning record in the last six years.

This writer found the hype and clichés in the news paper by sports writers were mind boggling.  And TV sports basically picked up the same chain of thought.  There were multiple stories about Brees personal records, accomplishments and experience that was simply hype.  And in the end the team who had the least experienced quarter back won the game and now advances to the conference championship game next week and the more experience quarter back with all the personal records now goes home with his team.

All the sports talk about Peyton Manning, Bret Farve and Drew Brees holding all the passing records only fills up time and space and has no relationship to winning and producing for your team.  Bart Starr, Terry Bradshaw and Tom Brady have done more for their teams and won more world championships for their teams by far.  And now Brady takes his team to another conference championship game next week.  The constant repetition of Brees personal records by New Orleans sports writers constitute apple polishing at a time when a team effort is more important than any personal records.

The Saint's players and Payton were celebrating on the sidelines after the Saints took the lead 24-23 on a field goal with less than one minute to play in the game.  They forgot Yogi Berra's famous statement:  IT AIN'T OVER TILL ITS OVER.  The sports hype all week long became larger than the game itself.  What a Shame.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Mexico's President Has More Credibility On The WALL Than President Trump

The trumpet man met his match long ago when he campaigned on a platform of building a border WALL along the Mexico border and making Mexico pay for it.  Mexico's President's early response was they would not pay for any WALL.  But Trump kept saying they would and Mexico kept  responding no.  The bully was trying to act tough because of his base and in the end betrayed them and all America.

Now as of just last week Trump wants congress to appropriate $18 billion of tax payers money to build the WALL or immigration reform will not happen.  The bully just could not tell the people the truth and Mexico did tell the people the truth.  Oh, and remember, Trump said he was good at building WALLs.  The corrupt world of Donald Trump is a self serving one and Mexico's leaders exposed it big time.

The democrats in congress should remind the trumpet man what he pledged to do and explain why he reneged.  The public deserves a statement from the President why he reneged.  The democrats should also suggest Trump ask corporate America to pay for the WALL with their 14% reduction in corporate income tax given them by Trump and the GOP.  The much larger problem is Trump and the GOP are really not interested in real immigration reform at all.  It is no different than their lies concerning the health care plan.  Does every one still remember that?


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Leaders Of North and South Korea Are Talking

And if the reports are true that is good news.  Reports are coming in that both countries representatives have met in South Korea and that North Korea has agreed to enter the winter Olympics and participate and even send several delegations to the games that will begin in early February.  So South Korean President was able to convince President Trump to postpone their joint military operation with South Korea that takes place each year to avoid any tensions while the winter games are going on.

North Korea said there will be more meetings with South Korea to explore other avenues of cooperation between the two countries  Those talks would not include America or other countries.  The line being followed is North and South Korea can come to agreements without outside interference.  This writer in past PolitiDose commentary expressed the opinion that a divided Korea would always be a problem and that the ultimate answer is the reunification of both Koreas into one country, with one government and one people and that both countries should lead the way and determine their own fate.

A unified Korea can bring stability to that land and its people if independent of the U.S, China and Russian influence.  South Korea already has a stable economy for a one Korea to build on and both have enough military to protect the interest of a united Korea.  Hopefully, the talks between the two will continue and produce positive results toward a future united Korea  One step at a time will work if compromise and sincerity is the motivation to talk.

Those voices who support the status quo of a divided Korea are on the wrong side of history at a time of great danger and of course there are always those who promote war to solve problems when war is not the answer.  Leadership from both Korean leaders could be the first step to a real solution that begins the unification of the country.  The United States should view that as a positive step.



This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another First For PolitiDose: Again

Bob Marshall, the former long time Outdoors editor for the Times Picayune and former environmental reporter for The Lens is well known for his expertise concerning Louisiana's environment and its politics.  Marshall still writes commentary on the subject matter in the TP and his article published 1/7/18 in Sunday's paper was timely and to the point.  The title was,  "Our Delegation Puts Us More At Risk From Pollutants."  And if those who read the article thinks it sounds familiar, its because you read it here first in PolitiDose.

Marshall explains how Louisiana's elected officials who represent the state in Congress has supported President Trump's assault on the environment and regulations and even Trump's notion that business and the economy need those changes.  Marshall points out how business, the economy jobs and lower unemployment has done well prior to Trump's actions and that Louisiana officials have put big business and the money they control ahead of Louisiana's citizens.

Bob Marshall was right on target with his comments and PolitiDose has been at the fore front with past political commentary on the subject matter.  His article supports what PolitiDose has reported first many times over and you read it here first in PolitiDose, your daily dose of political commentary.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Fiscal Health Of The U.S. Government

The federal deficit at the end of President George W. Bush's last fiscal year 9/30/09 was $1.4 trillion.  It was the worst single year fiscal deficit in History and still stands today.  The federal deficit at the end of President Obama's last fiscal year 9/30/17 was $666 billion, an improvement of almost $800 billion over Bush's last year.  No republican President has left office with a smaller federal deficit than when he took office in the past 50 plus years.  The largest increase in the national debt took place on Presidents Reagan and Bush 43,  186% for Reagan and 105% for Bush 43.  Both of those Presidents proclaimed their tax cuts would do wonders for the U.S. government's fiscal house.  It did no such thing.

So now we have the Trump tax plan (scam) and he and the GOP are promoting wonderful things even though the CBO says it will add over $1.4 trillion to the national debt.  And that is in addition ot the projected federal deficit with out the tax cuts.  Now Americas wait to see what the actual numbers  will look like under the Trump administration.  Some are already saying single year trillion dollar deficits will be the norm for some time.  The trumpet man, during the campaign railed against the national debt which results from deficit spending but did not matter to him in his tax plan.

Deficit spending and debt when out of kilter hurts the average American and not the wealthy or corporate America who represent the top 2%.  The 2% are the ones who make millions when the stock market crashes because they are the ones with the resources to buy those good stocks that become cheap and then make a ton of money like they did after the crash in 2008.  Trump has those kinds of resources and the people know little about how much money he makes because he does not have the character or ethics to make his income tax records public like other public servants.  In other words he has something to hide.  The United States has a President who was elected in a democratic country but shuns the responsibility that goes with democracy.  Is it any wonder why he has no respect for our institutions or the people.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Economy and Job Creation For December 2017.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced that the economy created 148,000 new jobs in December and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1%.  It was the 87th straight month of positive job growth.  The Department also announced that job creation in October and November was 9,000 less than reported for those months.  Business groups said December job creation was less than expected and will watch the numbers upcoming in 2018.

In December 2016 the economy created 156,000 new jobs during the Obama administration.  What will the year 2018 produce for the economy and job creation?   Trump and the GOP said their tax scam would push the economy and jobs created higher.  Time will tell of course and when one realizes that the present economy, job creation and business profits are doing so well under the old tax system, maybe, just maybe, the people will come to understand not only did President Obama's policies work, but Trump's and the GOP's tax scam was not necessary at all and was only pay back for their special interest people namely corporate America and the wealthy.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another First For PolitiDose: The Trump-Russia Scandal and Collusion

The story is getting deeper folks with the release of a new book, Fire and Fury, Inside The Trump White House authored by Michael Wolff.  Steve Bannon who Trump appointed his chief strategist during the 2016 Presidential campaign, then appointed him to Trump's national security council after becoming President and also continued to serve as Trump's chief strategist after the election was very close to Trump as the appointments indicate.

In the book it is reported that Bannon told Wolff that meeting's between Trump's family members and Russian operatives were "treasonous" among other statements and that Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower in June 2016 was "treasonous" and "unpatriotic."  The report also makes clear that Bannon considers Trump's son at risk of indictment saying Mueller will crack Don Junior like an egg.

And if the word "treasonous" sounds familiar it is because you read it here first in PolitiDose in commentary dated 7/31/16, titled, "A Traitor Among Us:  Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Russia."  The sad story is that the news media never recognized Trump's treasonous act when he asked Russia to hack Hillary Clinton's email in order to find something damaging he could use against Clinton in the campaign.  It should be obvious that Russia would take that as an invitation to hack into any American computer system.  And it happened at a time Russia was planting lies and other false stories about Hillary in America's social media like Facebook and Google.

Steve Bannon is a right winger who runs Brietbart News and he and Trump are close friends who cater to the fringe.  Both supported Roy Moore who was recently defeated in the Alabama U.S. Senate race.  Trump is trying to distance himself from Bannon since excerpts from the book have been published but Bannon knows what took place during Trump's campaign and his Presidency.

President Trump's criticism of the FBI and the American intelligence community is also treasonous as its purpose is to destroy two American institutions that are investigating Trump and his campaign collusion with Russia and its operatives.  More and more and every day America now understands who the real crooked candidate was in the 2016 campaign and election.  While Donald Trump continues his meltdown and his disgraceful acts to the Presidency, Hillary Clinton still has her character and dignity and still claims the title as the most admired woman in America.

And yes, Hillary still won the popular vote despite Trump's fraudulent voter fraud commission.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Democratic Party Is Needed More Now Than Ever Before

The year 2018 is the year President Trump and the GOP will make a determined effort to roll back Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid using the same kind of scam and scheme they used to justify the recently passed tax cuts.  And the democrats in congress are the only ones who can stop the  assault on those programs.  When you have a republican President and republican controlled congress who are willing to brag about their tax scam you have a very dangerous group of people that would collude with the devil in order to have their way.

The democrats I congress stuck together during the Bush 43 administration and was able to sidetrack Bush's attempt to privatize Social Security.  The Bush republicans in congress said the democrats were obstructing but the democrats held firm and together defeated the republican's attempt.  Now they are ready to make another attempt with Trump and Paul Ryan, speaker of the U.S. House leading the way.  It is no secret that Ryan has been looking forward to making it happen.  The extreme measures that Trump and the GOP have exhibited in 2017 should be cause to alarm all Americans to stand up, be counted and let their voices be heard clear in opposing the coming assault on those programs.

This writer believes the democrats in congress will do their part in protecting those programs that have served the people and their country so well.  And we the public have to support them in their endeavors to do so.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Tim Morris Latest Opinion Column Tries To Sell Trump's Non-existent Economic Policy

As usual, Tim Morris the Times Picayune editorial opinion writer tries to come to the rescue of Donald Trump because he believes Trump is not getting credit for the economy, job creation, a booming stock market, low unemployment and good economic news.  He mentions various reports that is supposed to show Trump is not given credit because of his personal behavior which is self inflicted.  Morris' article was published Jan 3 and was titled, WILL TRUMP GET CREDIT FOR A STRONGER ECONOMY?   Well tell me, Did President Obama ever get credit for a stronger economy than the Bush economy?  Never by republicans or conservative journalists because that would high light that the Bush tax cuts were a failure.

A person does not have to be an economist to understand that Trump and the country is enjoying good economic times because of the Obama administrations policies that ended the great republican recession of 2018 and is in its 9th straight year of economic expansion.  And one must not loose sight that during the 2016 campaign, Trump tried to play down the country's economic success and job creation and like other republicans and conservative journalists did not give President Obama credit for the economic success that took place during his tenure as President.

There is no comparison as to what Obama inherited from Bush and what Trump inherited from Obama.  But when Trump leaves office America will find out if they are better that day than they were when Obama left office.  History and precedent tells this writer the answer will be no.  Speculation that Trump's actions to deregulate and have less regulations will be a catalyst to more business investment in equipment and etc., that will broaden the economy and create jobs is just that, speculation.

Morris is a good ditto head conservative republican opinion writer but lacks objectivity and knowledge of the subject matter he reports on.  He is still caught up in Trump's world of "fake news."


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Notre Dame 21 LSU 17

LSU's poor performance and loss in the 2018 Citrus Bowl was no surprise to LSU fans who are objective when analyzing the football program.  The team was poorly coached and it showed.  The team was not ready to play and showed the same problems that existed under former coach Les Miles.

LSU lacked the ability to rush the Notre Dame quarterback when it was necessary and their offensive pay calling when LSU was inside of Notre Dame's two yard line was vintage Miles running left and right off center into the heart of the Irish's defense and being stuffed.  They then had to settle for three field goals and missed on two of them.

This writer in a commentary dated 12/3/2016 expressed the opinion that LSU should have hired a head coach with a proven winning record instead of coach O.  Who ever was responsible at LSU for making that decision was not football savvy and acted irresponsibly in doing so.  As a LSU follower for over 50 years this writer has a hard time looking forward to next season.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Barack Obama: The Most Admired Man In America In 2017

The Gallop Poll found former President Barack Obama the most admired man in America in 2017.  It was the 10th straight year of such honor to the former President.  It is really not surprising to those who follow politics and the real news.  The former President has accomplished much for the country and its people while in the White House, the U.S. Senate and as a civilian last year.

The same poll found Hillary Clinton as the most admired woman in America in 2017.  It was the 16th time of such honor for her and like Obama justly earned that came from their peers.  Both were true public servants who put the country, its institutions and its people first.  The poll is a rebuke to the negative political atmosphere created in 2017 by President Trump and his year end anemic approval rating of only 32%.

Trump, the ego driven President is in all probability boiling over the poll that bestowed the honor on Obama and Clinton and no doubt will continue to pass the buck of blame to them every time something negative happens on the trumpet man's watch.  But Obama and Clinton know how to defend themselves and as civilians will continue to do and provide those ideas that really matter and make a difference for the country and its people.  And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The New Orleans Saints, The Playoffs and The NFL

The New Orleans Saints on Sunday loss to Tampa Bay 31-24 ended the Saints regular season on a sour note.  The loss still allowed the Saints to win their division because of Carolina's loss.  They are now scheduled to play Carolina next week to kick off the NFL's playoff series.  This writer believes the Saints are an over rated team and that their early eight game winning streak was misleading.

The Saints will now have to beat Carolina for the third time this season to advance in the playoffs which should tell everyone how terrible the NFL playoff system is set up.  No team should have to do that.  All who read PolitiDose knows this writer thinks the playoff system is a fraud and a sham and that only those teams who win a division title should participate in the playoffs.

This NFL season, only 17 of the 32 teams have a winning record and there are too many bad teams with bad coaches.  Thirty two teams are too many and the college draft has not brought parity to the league like it was predicted.  And it never will because expansion means dilution and less competition.

As for the Saints-Carolina playoff game this coming week end, lit is a game that should never be played.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio