In New Orleans, Lee Circle Should Be Renamed

The statue of Robert E. Lee is no longer there at Lee Circle but the mound is still there and can become a beautiful circle and should be renamed, but not in honor of any individual.  It is a great location, heavily traveled, even by street car and a new name should be found.

The removal of Lee's statue like so many civil war monuments brought about division from many factions and a lot of ugly words.  So renaming the circle should be one that respects and indicates togetherness.  A name that has nothing to do with politics, war or any individual.  It should be a name that binds the whole community, one that everyone can be proud of and understand.

This writer believes Lee Circle should be renamed UNITY CIRCLE.  It is a name everyone can understand about a community that has survived many distractions but knows it is UNITY and not division that will move New Orleans forward to a better place for our citizens and our children to progress.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Arizona School Teachers: The Latest To Protest Stagnant Wages and Reduced Spending on Education.

Public school teachers in Arizona are the latest to follow W. Virginia, Oklahoma and Kentucky in their protest and walk out over stagnant wages and cuts to school spending.  Their complaint:  Have had no increase in wages since the great republican recession of 2008 and per student spending is below what it was 10 years ago.

But in that same period of time, personal and corporate state tax income taxes were cut causing a loss of state revenue with little left to pump into schools or salaries.  It represents the failed republican policy of trickle down economics.  The same basic problem was the reason for the teacher's strike and walk out in the three states mentioned above.  My state, Louisiana, has the same problem.

In the 21st. century, one would think we should have learned how important education is and what it means for our children and their progress.  The same thing applies to proper financing for our schools and good quality teachers with quality pay.  Those elected officials who try and talk tough by cutting spending care nothing about good government and education.

The current teacher's movement will continue to be ongoing because they have right on their side and it is now clear to America since Trump's election that he and republican administrations are at the extreme end of everything they touch and their financial commitment is to the wealthy and corporate America.  And to top it off, Trump and some republican state legislatures still want to arm our teachers and place them in harms way.  It is obvious many of our political leaders lack moral and political courage.

This writer supports the teachers and those who support them and believes the teachers should keep the pressure on our elected officials until they answer the call.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another Trump Nominee Bites The Dust

Ronny Jackson, President Trump's nominee withdrew his nomination to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs.  It follows the pattern of a long list of Trump appointments who were either fired, quit or withdrew from the appointment or nomination process.  Recent disclosures about Jackson's past behavior was behind the move and once again this administration's vetting process was non-existent.  To make matters worse, Jackson lacked the experience to manage one of the largest federal departments, but Trump still nominated him.

It is one more sad chapter in the trumpet man's fifteen months tenure and lack of respect for our institutions as there are many qualified people out there to manage the department.  The ego driven President has no time to surround himself with qualified people.  Little by little, the President and his party who hate government are the ones who are stooping so low to destroy those things that really matter and make a difference for America and its people.

Note:  About the same time the Jackson thing took place, another Trump appointee announced his departure.  Bryan Rice resigned as Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Megyn Kelly: A Drag on NBC.

The Megyn Kelly Today show is losing audience at a rapid rate which is having an affect on other NBC shows according to the latest reports.  Kelly, the former host at the Fox News Network came to NBC two years ago and is working under a $69 million contract.  This writer is no fan of Kelly and questions her so called journalistic experience.

At Fox, Kelly had a simple job like the other Fox hosts.  Promote the republican party and their candidates no matter what and bad mouth the democratic party and its candidates.  Just be a pretty face and promote Fox's lies, no talent needed.  NBC made a bad choice when they hired Kelly and are now paying the price.  A pretty face is no substitute for knowledge and Kelly lacks the fundamentals of being a journalist.  There is no substance so there is no believability.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Federal City in Algiers: A Great Piece Of Land With Little Progress

The Algiers Development District (ADD)  took ownership of the land known as Federal City in 2013 (the former Naval Station) and very little progress has been made in developing the 156 acre property.  Big plans were announced for the property to become a retail and residential development early on but very little development has taken place.

The ADD had a contract with Vista Louisiana LLC, a master developer to draw up plans for the development of Federal City and then the contract was cancelled.  Federal City is a great piece of property for development in Algiers and if done properly could be a big plus for Algiers, its people, jobs and revitalize the neighborhood.  It has the possibilities of being a great place to live, shop, visit and an abundance of parking space.  The  land sits between old Algiers and the upper part of Algiers.
We now read in a Times Picayune article story dated 4/20 that LSU Health Foundation has opened a fitness center on the property and considering opening a physical therapy center and later, a primary care clinic or other medical facilities.  Is that an indication that some thing positive will finally start happening to the property and provide the frame work for a real development for Federal City?

Louisiana state Senator Troy Carter leads the ADD and took the leadership not too long ago and is now the person to make the development a reality.  Hopefully, he will be up to the task because too many wasted years have already passed by.


This  commentary written by Joe Lorio

Former First Lady Barbara Bush's Funeral Services

Funerals are a time to mourn and pay respect to the deceased and their family.  It is a time for coming together in a ceremony of civility and support.  Four former Presidents were there to pay their respects.  Two were the husband and son, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush and former President's Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama.  Former President Jimmy Carter was out of the country and could not attend.

President Trump sent his wife, the first lady to attend because he feared protest and demonstrations would detract from the services.  It marked a very sad day when a sitting President thought he had to be a no show all because of his inflamed and divisive rhetoric which brings out protestors and demonstrators.  The four former Presidents who attended did not have that problem because their Presidency was civil.

This situation is another reminder how President Donald Trump has betrayed the highest office in the land and is a pathetic individual.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Unemployment in Louisiana Continues Its Decline On Governor Edwards Watch.

The Louisiana unemployment rate for March was 4.4%, down from 4.6% in February as employer payrolls continue to increase.  The unemployment rate when Edwards took office and Jindal left was 6.2%.  The unemployment rate when Jindal took office was 3.8% so unemployment during Jindal's eight years increased.  It followed what people who pay attention know, that is democratic administrations do a better job on the economy, job creation and fiscal matters.  Republican administrations don't even come close.

But the republican controlled state house budget they just passed is another fraud like the last nine years.  It cuts spending by $648 million that state officials said would result in the closing of hospitals, nursing homes and medical residency programs for doctors throughout the state as soon as July (per Times Picayune article of 4/22)  The budget represents the republican same old schemes and fraud in order to injure Governor Edwards' chance for reelection.  But the Governor will veto this budget if passed by the Senate.

The special session of the legislature that will take place after the regular session ends will demonstrate that the Governor will not put up with the republican obstruction of moving the state forward away from the republican's ideology that is corrupted.  Their budget would set the state's economy and job creation back years and the state's fiscal problems would become worse like they did under Jindal.

Governor Edwards is on the right track with policies that work and will put Louisiana's fiscal house in order in due time.  The buck stops on his desk because he is a leader.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another First for PolitiDose: A U.S. Supreme Court Decision

President Trump and his Justice Department lost another immigration case concerning deportation that they took all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.  In a 5-4 decision the court ruled against Trump's deportation order and his Supreme Court appointee Neil Gorsuch cast the 5th and deciding vote joining the four democratic appointed justices  Trump thought appointing Gorsuch, a so called conservative would swing the vote in his favor but Gorsuch did what supreme court justices do, they uphold precedent by the court in past cases.  Trump's deportation case was flawed and the five justices made their case.  Gorsuch said the bill was unconstitutionally vague.

PolitiDose commentary on Gorsuch's appointment and pointed out at the time how so called conservative supreme court justices have voted with the so called liberal justices in the past and that there were no guarantees that those conservative appointees to the court would be simply puppets for the President who appoints them.  The trumpet man was silent after the vote and probably foaming from the mouth.  Will he have something to says about his appointee's vote in the future?


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Coming Trump/Republican Economic Recession and Stock Market Roll Back

Make no mistake, it will take place and play out.  The successful economic policies of the previous administration have been reversed, regulations are no more and the banks are once again free to set their own rules.  The tax cuts will allow corporate America to increase their wealth and that of their stock holders but will not create the necessary jobs nor sustain the economy.

Trump's newly appointed economic adviser Larry Kudlow is a trickle down economic guy who was wrong about the tax cuts and economic policy of the Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 years.  He especially went off the deep end during the Bush 43 administration and predicted a record economy and all the good stuff that goes with it.  He was dead wrong again and brings the same failed ideology to the Trump administration.  He and the trumpet man are good friends and think alike.  They also share the belief in fake news and Kudlow has already had to apologize to Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. over a remark he made and he has only been on the jobs a short time.

Trump has not been able to renegotiate NAFTA after 15 months in office and Mexico and Canada are not rolling over and playing dead like Trump thought.  Our two trading partners are proving difficult for the trumpet man to work his charm.  Those two countries share a border with the U.S. so their partnership is important and valuable.

The U.S. trade deficits do not cause recessions.  There were no recessions on President Clinton or President Obama's watch because they had an economic policy that worked, created jobs, balanced the budget and reduced deficit spending.  Those two Presidents also created more new jobs in the 16 years they served than were created in the 28 years of Nixon-Ford, Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43.  Trade deficits are actually a measure of the U.S.'s strong economy.  The problem with the economy mainly takes place on the republican watch because of a lack of policy and their belief in trickle down economics and a false ideology.

Yes, Trump's economic recession is coming, and when it does, remember you read it here first in PolitiDose, your daily dose of political commentary.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Conservatism and Trumpism: The Ugly and UnAmerican Ideology. A Continuing Story

PolitiDose has written several commentary why conservatism as practiced by the present republican party and which began with the Newt Gingrich era is the ugly and UnAmerican ideology.  And now Trumpism can be added.  The trumpet man is no conservative by any stretch but his ideology is corrupt to the core, ugly and UnAmerican in his lack of respect for the office he holds, the American people in general and our democratic form of government.

It is a sad state when the President and the republicans control the government and chaos runs amok.  Conservatism and Trumpism are the driving force behind the divisive rhetoric they engage in  Outright lies, fake news and a disregard for facts have become standard procedure  No one is out of their reach of personal attacks because their ideology is corrupt.  The two hate each other but are one and the same and tells you how dangerous they are to democracy.  Their ideology can not accept the compassion, tolerance and the good America stands for.

Americanism will win because that is what the spirit of America is all about.  Accomplishments are a positive factor in living while division dies a slow natural death.  Conservatism and Trumpism will destroy each other and the process has already begun.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Missiles of April

President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. military to launch a missile strike on Syria's military air field in April 2017 after Syria was accused of using chemical weapons against his own people.  Then in April of 2018, just last week, the President ordered another missile strike against Syria for using chemical weapons once again against his people.  This time the strike was against Syria's manufacturing and their warehouse storage facilities used for storing those weapons.

Last years April strike did not prevent Syria's president Assad from using chemical weapons again last week so what will last weeks strike accomplish?  Some of our own military leaders said Assad had enough time to move some chemical weapons out of the cites that were attacked and moved them to a safer location.  Prior to the latest chemical attack President Trump said publically he wanted all American troops out of Syria very soon.  So what will be the President's policy now concerning our troops and our position on the Syrian situation.

Syria has been in  a civil war for over five years and the uprising faces a brutal dictator which is not uncommon in that part of the world.  There are a number of opposing forces in the country and in the border region which are involved along with the U.S. and Russia.  Another Iraq is not the answer.

This writer believes the U.S. needs a policy and not a reaction response after the fact.  The middle east is different but the U.S. does have qualified people who know the area and are capable of drawing up a new policy to deal with the situation as it is .  Unfortunately, knowledgeable people are excluded from the Trump administration and the President himself has no real respect for the responsibility that goes with being President.

Our men and women in uniform have been in the middle east long enough and have paid a bitter price.  They and their families deserve more respect and thought from our leaders.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The President of The United States Stoops To A New Low

Donald Trump took his Presidency to a new low wallowing in the gutter when he called former FBI director James Comey a "slime ball" in his latest on going personal attacks.  Trump's rage was in response to Comey's new book concerning the former director's tenure.  And once again the trumpet man demonstrated his unstable mentality that disregards any sense of moral and civil discourse.

The President is determined to undermine the very office he holds because his corrupted attitude has to destroy every thing good about the Presidency, our institutions and the morality that made our country great and our past Presidents who could articulate with the public and others without personal attacks.  Almost 15 months in office and Trump's gutter grows deeper and deeper.

And now, Trump's white house press secretary has entered the gutter with her own personal attacks on Comey.  Trump's ditto head republicans have done the same and have started a campaign to try and discredit Comey in order to try and derail the special investigation of President Trump and his collusion with Russia.  They too are part of Trump's gutter gang.

How low can President Trump wallow in the gutter with personal attacks and unnecessary words like "slime ball."   No one really knows.  But we do know leaders are judged on their record of accomplishments and how they treat people.  Trump will be judged on his ongoing lies, personal attacks and a corrupted life style.  America still has a President who respects no one and a President that deserves no respect because of his own actions.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Gun Control: The Past Had More Understanding Than The Present.

We are all familiar with the story of the "old, wild, wild west" where lawless was governed by the gun.  Many movies were made about that period of time with the fast draw show downs where the quickest draw survived.  Many of the old stories have proved not to be true and we know from research that many of the hand guns used in those days were not so accurate and ammunition was unreliable.

But we do know because of lawlessness, guns were available and carried every where.  But even so, that time long ago, morals had a meaning and people understood the violence had to be checked.  So there were cities and town that forbid the carry of guns in town and the weapons had to be checked at the sheriff's office or some other place for security and could not be carried while in town.  In other words weapons were banned in certain places.  There was no NRA or gun lobby to complain that guns do not kill people.  Law enforcement knew it was the people behind the gun so the guns were banned in certain towns.

The people also had another moral code they lived by.  If one killed another who was not armed or was shot in the back, the shooter was presumed guilty.  It was another way to deal with gun violence and those who use guns to harm others.  Weapons used today in gun violence are of course more lethal and can inflict more damage in a shorter period of time than in the old west days but old west morals concerning gun violence is in short supply today.

Western movies are popular because there is always a hero who takes down the bad guy.  But real life has a shortage of good guys who are willing to stand up, be counted and insist on banning the weapons of war that do not belong on the streets of America.  We, in the present age, could learn a little bit from our past.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Paul Ryan: Another Trump Ditto Head Will Not Seek Reelection.

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan announced he would not seek reelection in November and will retire.  He is one of many republican Trump ditto heads who have decided to call it quits since Trump took office.  They do not like Trump but are afraid to keep the HOUSE as an independent check on the trumpet man and execute their responsibilities.  So like the rest, Ryan turned tail and is running away in a cowardly manner.

Ryan pushed and supported Trump's tax cuts that the CBO reported will add $11.7 trillion to the national debt, bring back single year budget deficits over $1 trillion and balloon this years fiscal deficit to $804 billion.  And now Ryan and his buddies will leave town and leave the fiscal disaster they created to some one else to act on.  Trump and his ditto heads have no courage or sense of decency.

So now we will find out soon enough what ditto head republican will run for Ryan's job as speaker of the house.  Steve Scalise, Louisiana's number 3 ranked republican in the HOUSE may be mentioned as one possibility but the little boy ditto head, like Ryan has no accomplishments except supporting the tax cuts.  Also, like Ryan, Scalise will be Trump's errand boy and lack the courage to challenge Trump's corrupted influence.

The republican controlled congress is right in step with Trump's autocratic rule and as a result chaos and self interest has replaced our democratic form of governing.  The Trump malignancy has infected the independence of congress which is the institution that has the responsibility to hold the President accountable for his actions or lack there of.

A democratic controlled congress is the only answer to reverse the carnage.  The republicans have had their chance and failed big time.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another First for PolitiDose As The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Reports Confirm What PolitiDose Has Said All Along.

The CBO reports that the federal budget deficit for fiscal year ending 9/30/18 (Trump's first fiscal year) will be $804 billion, up from the $666 billion in President Obama's last fiscal year which ended 9/30/17. The major cause according to the CBO are the Trump tax cuts that were passed last December.  The report also stated that in fiscal year ending 9/30/19, single year deficits of over a trillion dollars will return and by the year 2026 over $11.9 trillion will be added to the national debt.  And to think it was Trump who said the $18 trillion national debt was a disgrace during the campaign.

Also per the CBO, the GDP will grow to 3.3% this year and fall back to 2.4% next year.  And once again like Reagan and Bush 43, Trump has repeated the same fiscal disaster tax cuts.  He and his party used the same lies and called it tax reform but it is the same worn out ideology of trickle down economics that never resulted in the republican promise of balanced budgets, real job creation, economic growth that they said would balance the budget or expanding wages for the middle class.

But for those who follow PolitiDose and seek the truth and facts, the CBO report is old news because PolitiDose called the shots long ago that republican administrations and their party have no record of being fiscally responsible since President Eisenhower in 1960.  That is over 50 years ago.  And when Trump leaves office he will be like ever republican President since "Ike" he will leave office with a larger deficit than when he took office.  The claim that republicans are best at controlling federal spending is a fairy tale.  That too has been explained in PolitiDose long ago.

Yes, my fellow Americans, understanding the failed past is still the key to a better future.  Reagan, Bush 43 and Trump have failed that test and so have their party.  And their motive is to bankrupt the federal government so social security, medicare, Medicaid and other social programs can be drastically cut or eliminated.  Hopefully, impeachment and the November congressional elections will sweep out the republican control of the federal government.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Trump Goes Into "Blame Mode" Once Again On Syria

Last year when Syria was alleged to have used chemical weapons on Syrian rebels on Trump's watch, The trumpet man blamed it on President Obama.  Trump's so called tough talk before Syria's actions went no where so Trump authorized a military strike against Syria's military airfield.  Now, Syria is once again accused of using chemical weapons in the last few days that killed innocent people including children, Trump once again blamed President Obama.

Trumps so called tough talk was just that for the past 14 months so now he says a decision will be made within the next 48 hours as to what America's response will be.  Senator John McCain says Trump's lack of policy and plans on Syria and the President's recent statement of bringing our troops home from Syria has enabled the Syrian dictator Assad.  Trump also blamed Russia for Syria's latest chemical attack but had nothing but positive things to say about Putin for the last 14 months and even congratulated him for being reelected, something his national security advisers advised him to avoid doing.

PolitiDose long ago called the shot on President Trump's passing the buck and it continues to be a part of his failed leadership and corrupt attitude.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

A Great Common Sense Day In America: Massachusetts' Ban on Assault Weapons and Large Capicity Magazines Does Not Violate Th 2nd Amendment.

So says U.S. District judge William Young in a decision handed down April 6 and released through the Associated Press concerning a lawsuit challenging the ban filed by the gun lobby and the gun owners action league of Massachusetts.  The law banned assault type weapons and large capacity magazines and mirrors the federal ban that expired in 2004.  It bans the sale of specific and name-brand weapons and explicitly bans copies or duplicates of those weapons.

Other important statements concerning the decision by judge Young in the release are as follows:

(1)    The weapons fall beyond the reach of the second amendment and are military firearms and aren't protected by the constitutional right to bear arms.  Regulation of the weapons is a matter of policy not for the courts.

(2)    Other states are equally free to leave them unregulated and available to their law abiding citizens.  These policy matters are simply not of constitutional moment.  Americans are not afraid of bumptious, raucous and robust debate about these matters.  We call it democracy.

(3)    Judge Young also upheld Attorney General Healey's 2016 enforcement notice to gun sellers and manufacturers clarifying what constitutes a copy or duplicate weapon under the 1998 assault weapons ban including copies of the Colt AR-15 and the Kalashnikov AK-47.

(4)    The gun owners action league and other groups that filed the lawsuit argued that the AR-15 can't be considered a military weapon because it cannot fire in fully automatic mode.  But Judge Young dismissed that idea, noting that the semi-automatic AR-15's design is based on guns that were first manufactured for military purposes and that the AR-15 is common and well known in the military.  The AR-15 and its analogs, along with large capacity magazines are simply not weapons within the original meaning of the individual constitutional right to bear arms, Young also wrote.

Massachusetts' Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey said the ruling vindicates the right of the people of her state to protect themselves from these weapons of war.  Strong gun laws save lives, and we will not be intimidated by the gun lobby in our efforts to end the sale of assault weapons and protect our communities and schools.  Families across the country should take heart in this victory.

Judge Young's ruling confirms what PolitiDose has been saying all along.  That semi and automatic weapons are weapons of war and do not belong on the streets of America and that the states can take the proper steps to regulate them.  The decision should prompt all governors and state legislatures to take what ever action is necessary to follow Massachusetts' lead.  After all, the state has one of the lowest gun violence rates related to deaths.

And to think, my state, Louisiana has just introduced a bill in the legislature to simply raise the age to 21 before an assault type weapon can be purchased.  That does not solve the problem of having those killing machines on the street.  How sad.  The ignorant mentality of kicking the assault weapons ban down the road and ignoring what is likely to be more mass killings is truly tragic.

It should be noted that last year the U.S. Supreme Court turned down an appeal  from Maryland gun owners who  challenged the state's ban on assault weapons.  The stage is set for the states to act on the subject matter and take control away from the NRA and the gun lobby with their pressure and campaign contributions.

With  courage, it can be done.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Immigration Rhetoric Grows Louder As Trump and Others Follow The Lead of The Fox News Network.

It is being reported that Fox News has convinced President Trump that the immigration issue is a winner for  him with his base and he should follow the networks lead in making it the number one issue.  The reports tell us that Trump has met with more than one Fox host to discuss the subject matter and Trump has been following the networks broadcasts with his own tweets.

WWL talk radio in New Orleans has picked up the subject matter and made things worse for its audience with comments that lack facts on the issue and recently interviewed a person with the Heritage Foundation concerning the recent political history of immigration reform.  And of course the conversations end up blaming President Obama for the nations lack of an immigration policy.  That is what conservative republicans always do, blame others.  It is their standard M.O.

The record is clear that the democratic controlled U.S. Senate passed a comprehensive immigration plan under Senate bill 744 in June of 2013 by a vote of 68-32.  Fourteen republicans joined all the democrats in the Senate to pass the bill.  That bill contained $30 billion to beef up border security by doubling border patrol agents, 700 miles of new fencing and advanced surveillance.  It was truly comprehensive immigration reform.  The CBO said the bill would increase the Gross Domestic Product and lower deficit spending.  The George W. Bush Institute said the bill is bullish on the U.S. economy.

That senate passed bill was sent to the republican controlled U.S. House where it died.  John Boehner, the republican speaker of the house at the time would not even take up the bill for debate, he just let it die.  He said his house members approach to immigration reform would be peace meal and not comprehensive  reform.  So they killed the Senate passed bill.  But guess what?  Boehner's house never came up with a peace meal plan,  not even to this very day.   And to top it off, both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House have been controlled by the republican party for the last 3 years and two months and still do not have an immigration plan.  And for the past 14 months Trump and his party have controlled it all and still no immigration plan.

Comprehensive immigration reform has been kicked down the road by both the republican party and Trump, not by the democratic party, and that is what prompted President Obama's executive orders on immigration and DACA.  It was the trumpet man who campaigned on immigration and said he had a plan but he has none.  Only the 4 points he addressed in his state of the union speech, but those points are not a plan.  To make matters worse and show his ignorance on the matter,  Trump cancelled DACA with out a plan to send congress to replace it.

Republican U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, Senate majority leader let the cat out of the bag when he said he did not know what Trump's immigration plan was.  In other words, there is no Presidential leadership on immigration.  Besides, Trump is known to undercut his own positions and what he agreed to with congress.  He is doing that now with the $1.3 trillion spending bill he signed just recently.  He now  says he wants to cut some of that spending after Fox news and some conservatives stated their opposition to the spending bill.

Republican John Boehner, after resigning from the U.S. House said the republican party would never pass a health insurance plan because they really were never interested in doing so.  He was right of course, but long before he said that you read it first here in PolitiDose.  And the republican party is not interested in passing comprehensive immigration reform and neither is the trumpet man.  President George W. Bush wanted a immigration reform bill but his party never took the matter up for debate during his 8 years in office.

Trump's rhetoric on the WALL, DACA and blaming democrats for any negative situation that happens on his and the republican watch is as old as the republican party itself.  But the true story and the facts on immigration is a leaderless party with an ideology void of debate because they have a predetermined conclusion about the subject matter and not really interested except to use the issue to satisfy their base.

Trump and his party are in complete control of what issues congress will address and they have failed the test of leadership and governing.  The news media does not get it because they are blinded by their own brand of ideology and as a result the people are not fully informed.  For Trump and his party, nothing has changed, it has gotten worse with scandal after scandal and a President who respects no one.  The rhetoric will continue to grow because courage is lacking and policy plans are no where to be found.  People with common sense and knowledge on the subject matter will prevail at some point.

In the mean time, those who really care will understand the true facts about immigration.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

President Trump and Amazon: The Trumpet Man's Rhetoric Is Another Indication Of An Unstable President

Trump's comments about Amazon paying no taxes is a good example of the President's corrupt attitude concerning corporate America.  Here we have the President of the United States who refuses to make his tax returns public so no one knows how much taxes he or his companies pay, yet he says Amazon pays no taxes.  Well maybe they do not and maybe Trump and his companies do not either.

All of this confirms that Trump and the republicans tax bill that was passed in December was a fraud.  Corporate America's tax rate was reduced from 35% to 21%,  a reduction of 14%.  And remember, Trump and the republicans said the tax reform was going to do away with the loop holes and special tax deductions granted to business.  It did not and one should know there are many business, including Trumps that will pay no federal taxes in the future.

Trumps real problem is Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos who also owns the Washington Post, a newspaper that does investigative reporting and has reported a number of stories about Trump, his business and his campaign contacts with Russia.  Those reports were critical of Trump and his campaign so Trump is lashing out like he always does and uses his position as President to try and intimidate.  Only an unstable person would act like Trump does.

Bill and Hillary Clinton have made over 30 years of tax returns public.  They think the people have a right to know.  Their latest tax return made public was during the 2016 Presidential campaign and it showed the Clintons paid a federal tax rate in the 30% range and state taxes in the 40% range.  The Clintons trusted the American people and were not afraid to make their finances public.  Crooked Trump will not allow the American people to see what he is hiding, so he uses Amazon as a distraction.  What a pitiful person.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio