Roe vs. Wade was decided over 40 years ago by the U.S.Supreme Court during its hearings after testimony by scientist and other professionals. The courts decision was a legal one based on that expert testimony, politics was not a factor. The decision of the court did not sit well with so called conservative republicans, religious groups and others and for over 40 years has done its best politically to undermine and repeal the decision.
Never mind that those same groups were silent prior to Roe vs. Wade when women traveled out side the U.S. to have an abortion when abortion was prohibited by the U.S. Everyone knew it was going on and in great numbers. But Roe vs. Wade was in the public news so politics got involved, chose sides to divide the public and play to their base and sadly 40 years later politics has not settled the issue.
Those republican leaders who support the repeal of Roe vs. Wade have been less than honest in their protest and that is why a political settlement has failed. Those leaders know full well the only way to change the courts decision is by a constitutional amendment. But none have had the courage or character to campaign and or propose such an amendment because they know the necessary votes are not there so they keep up their scam attacks.
All the while there is no public outcry by those who oppose abortion about the men who use no protection and impregnate their partner. Those men must know very little about the woman's desire to have a child if she became pregnant. Don't they have a responsibility? After all, it is the male politicians and religious leaders who are opposed to abortion at all cost.
And now the country is being exposed big time to many states with republican legislatures who are trying to politically subvert Roe vs. Wade with new abortion legislation that is being overturned by the federal courts. It is a never ending scam to obtain votes and divide the country over an issue that was settled legally over 40 years ago. The shame of it all is that the abortion opponents can not produce one person with the character, wisdom or courage to fight for a constitutional amendment if they feel so strongly about abortion.
The key to understand the underling problem of the anti abortion crowd is their rhetoric about their charges that Hillary Clinton supports abortion. Hillary Clinton chose life and brought a daughter into this world who in turn also brought a child into this world. Abortions in the U.S. have been going down for a number of years thanks to education and prevention, other education information made available by people and orginazations who are concerned with the problem and have no political axe to grind. They have accomplished more to bring the abortion rate down than all the anti-abortion crowd and their anti-abortion rhetoric and schemes.
After his election as Pope, Pope Francis said The Roman Catholic Church had grown obsessed with preaching abortion, gay marriage and contraception that he has chosen not to speak of those issues, despite recrimination from some critics. (reported in a PolitiDose commentary at the time dated 9/25/13) The Pope realized the abortion issue was not being addressed properly and 40 plus years of political posturing has not worked. It has only made the divide greater. What a shame on our political system that allows this to take place. Political rhetoric on abortion is empty.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Saturday, June 29, 2019
The Democratic Controlled U.S. House Continues To Lead and Govern The Nations Business
The democratic party in the U.S. House has passed nine of the 12 annual appropriations bills and will address the remaining three some time in July. On the other side of the isle, the republican controlled U.S. Senate has failed to address even a single spending bill. In other words the work of the U.S.House is just sitting in the Senate's chamber gathering dust.
The Senate's lack of actions mirror their first two years under Trump where very little legislation was taken up, debated and or passed. And just this week the House passed a $4.6 billion unrelated funding bill to address the problem at the southern border concerning the safety and health of the migrant children being held in unsanitary conditions. The House bill contained checks and balances to make sure the funding to handle the children's plight and not go to non needed services.
The Senate then followed the lead of the House and passed their $4.6 billion funding bill but without the checks and balances. The U.S. House then adopted the Senate bill and the usual political double talk started about how the House gave in to the Senate. It was politics as usual for the republican cowards and some in the news media. The issue was the children who are being exposed to Trump and the republican failure to have an immigration reform policy and a horrible situation of their own making.
The U.S. House did its part first with the necessary funding without hesitation and stood tall. And once again it is the democratic party who is leading on the issues while the republicans have only their rhetoric. And as of this writing President Trump, the trumpet man who likes to toot his own horn still has no immigration plan of his own to send to congress, is still under court order to unite the families and their children he ordered separated and the immigration albatross is still around his neck. Trump's number one priority of promised immigration reform has been a disaster.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The Senate's lack of actions mirror their first two years under Trump where very little legislation was taken up, debated and or passed. And just this week the House passed a $4.6 billion unrelated funding bill to address the problem at the southern border concerning the safety and health of the migrant children being held in unsanitary conditions. The House bill contained checks and balances to make sure the funding to handle the children's plight and not go to non needed services.
The Senate then followed the lead of the House and passed their $4.6 billion funding bill but without the checks and balances. The U.S. House then adopted the Senate bill and the usual political double talk started about how the House gave in to the Senate. It was politics as usual for the republican cowards and some in the news media. The issue was the children who are being exposed to Trump and the republican failure to have an immigration reform policy and a horrible situation of their own making.
The U.S. House did its part first with the necessary funding without hesitation and stood tall. And once again it is the democratic party who is leading on the issues while the republicans have only their rhetoric. And as of this writing President Trump, the trumpet man who likes to toot his own horn still has no immigration plan of his own to send to congress, is still under court order to unite the families and their children he ordered separated and the immigration albatross is still around his neck. Trump's number one priority of promised immigration reform has been a disaster.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
President Trump's Iran Foreign Policy Reaches The Disaster Point
When Trump took office Iran was not a nuclear threat to the U.S. or its allies thanks to the nuclear agreement between that country, the U.S. and several U.S. allies. In fact our intelligence community reported Iran in full compliance with the agreement. The agreement also allowed for the first time a transparent look into Iran's nuclear capabilities. Iran was not attacking oil tankers or firing missiles at our drones.
That all changed when Trump took office and reneged on the agreement, withdrew and started to implement sanctions for no good reason other than to provoke Iran. And all of a sudden, Trump said Iran was a threat to the U.S. Of course every one knows militarily Iran is a flea compared to the U.S. and we even have thousands of troops in close striking distance. According to a report in the Times Picayune of 6/23 the U.S. has 5100 troops in Iraq, 15,000 in Kuwait, 10,000 in Qatar, 5,000 in UAE, 200 in Oman and 1500 in Jordan. In other words we have Iran surrounded and it has been that way for many of years. Iran knows that and will not directly attack the U.S. with a first strike.
After Iran shot down a U.S. drone, Trump said he ordered a strike on Iran and than cancelled it. Trump then received a good hearted laugh from Iran's leaders when he said they should meet to work out a new nuclear agreement. Trump's failure in foreign policy mirrors his failure to act on immigration and the problems at the southern border, which are much worse since he took office. Both situations are an albatross around Trump's neck of his own making. His rhetoric will become louder because that is all he has. And he still shows his cowardly streak by blaming President Obama for all the failures taking place on his own watch. That is part of Traitor Trump's corrupted persona.
Note: It was reported by Axios that President Obama deported more illegal migrants in his first few years in office than Trump has so far and by a large number. So much for tough talk. Of course now he announces ICE will be having a huge roundup of illegals for deportation and it just so happens while he is in his campaign mode.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
That all changed when Trump took office and reneged on the agreement, withdrew and started to implement sanctions for no good reason other than to provoke Iran. And all of a sudden, Trump said Iran was a threat to the U.S. Of course every one knows militarily Iran is a flea compared to the U.S. and we even have thousands of troops in close striking distance. According to a report in the Times Picayune of 6/23 the U.S. has 5100 troops in Iraq, 15,000 in Kuwait, 10,000 in Qatar, 5,000 in UAE, 200 in Oman and 1500 in Jordan. In other words we have Iran surrounded and it has been that way for many of years. Iran knows that and will not directly attack the U.S. with a first strike.
After Iran shot down a U.S. drone, Trump said he ordered a strike on Iran and than cancelled it. Trump then received a good hearted laugh from Iran's leaders when he said they should meet to work out a new nuclear agreement. Trump's failure in foreign policy mirrors his failure to act on immigration and the problems at the southern border, which are much worse since he took office. Both situations are an albatross around Trump's neck of his own making. His rhetoric will become louder because that is all he has. And he still shows his cowardly streak by blaming President Obama for all the failures taking place on his own watch. That is part of Traitor Trump's corrupted persona.
Note: It was reported by Axios that President Obama deported more illegal migrants in his first few years in office than Trump has so far and by a large number. So much for tough talk. Of course now he announces ICE will be having a huge roundup of illegals for deportation and it just so happens while he is in his campaign mode.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Federal Judge Strikes Down Another Trump Administration Environmental Exemption
From the Huffington Post, Cadiz, Inc., planned to build a 43 mile pipeline through Mojave Trails National Monument in southern California and recover ground water out of the desert aquifer and sell to cities. Its plan was to pump approximately 16 billion gallons a year from the fragile desert ecosystem.
The Obama administration had previously rejected Cadiz's assertion it had a right to build the project and the federal bureau of land management ruled in 2015 the pipeline project would require an environmental review. Obama's order for an environmental review was reversed by the Trump administration following the appointment of David Bernhardt, a former lobbyist for Cadiz, who was deputy interior secretary.
U.S. District Judge George Wu ruled an environmental review exemption by the Trump administration was illegal for a pipeline to extract water from the Mojave desert. Several environmental groups sued Trump's order that took the issue to the courts. Lisa Belenky, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the environmental groups that sued to halt the project said, the court decision will stop the Trump administration's blatant attempt to do a favor for their corporate friends.
And to top it off, a study by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2017 determined that the project would be catastrophic for the desert. Based on the independent study, it is clear that Cadiz would quickly drain the aquifer, destroying all of the desert life it supports which Senator Dianne Feinstein acknowledged. So the madness of crooked Trump is once again recognized by a federal court, and puts a stop in a project that lacks any regard for environmental safety of earth's ecosystem. Cadiz only concern was profit and Trump, as President, was willing to turn his back. What a shame.
The Obama administration had previously rejected Cadiz's assertion it had a right to build the project and the federal bureau of land management ruled in 2015 the pipeline project would require an environmental review. Obama's order for an environmental review was reversed by the Trump administration following the appointment of David Bernhardt, a former lobbyist for Cadiz, who was deputy interior secretary.
U.S. District Judge George Wu ruled an environmental review exemption by the Trump administration was illegal for a pipeline to extract water from the Mojave desert. Several environmental groups sued Trump's order that took the issue to the courts. Lisa Belenky, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the environmental groups that sued to halt the project said, the court decision will stop the Trump administration's blatant attempt to do a favor for their corporate friends.
And to top it off, a study by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2017 determined that the project would be catastrophic for the desert. Based on the independent study, it is clear that Cadiz would quickly drain the aquifer, destroying all of the desert life it supports which Senator Dianne Feinstein acknowledged. So the madness of crooked Trump is once again recognized by a federal court, and puts a stop in a project that lacks any regard for environmental safety of earth's ecosystem. Cadiz only concern was profit and Trump, as President, was willing to turn his back. What a shame.
Saturday, June 22, 2019
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards Says The State Must Address The Scholarship Voucher Program
Governor Edwards said he would call for the overhaul of the states voucher program because it was poorly conceived, implemented without the proper checks and balances, lacks oversight and made reference to the latest reports that out lined the problems of the program. The program cost the state $40 million a year and serves approximately 6900 students in private schools.
Former Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal's administration created the program claiming it would help those students in failing public schools to attend private schools and pursue a quality education. That thinking was severely flawed and underscores how little Jindal and his administration understood education. The first order of business would be to make those failing public schools better and productive, demand that it do so and use the money and what ever it takes to make it happen. Instead, they threw millions of education dollars to private schools where most of those schools (according to the report) who received voucher money were failing schools themselves in the 2017-2018 school year.
The people should remember that during Bobby Jindal's time in office, he and the republican controlled legislature cut funding education almost every year to balance the state budget and still failed to do so. The bottom line concerning the $40 million voucher program is that it should be regulated with checks and balances and regular oversight and the state should never overlook the fact that it has the responsibility to see that the public school system is healthy and productive. One that serves the needs of the student and that the teachers and schools be given the necessary support to make it happen.
That is the best way to keep the cost of the voucher program for private schools at a reasonable level with the aim of reducing the need for the voucher program. The solution is very elementary, and that's no pun.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Former Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal's administration created the program claiming it would help those students in failing public schools to attend private schools and pursue a quality education. That thinking was severely flawed and underscores how little Jindal and his administration understood education. The first order of business would be to make those failing public schools better and productive, demand that it do so and use the money and what ever it takes to make it happen. Instead, they threw millions of education dollars to private schools where most of those schools (according to the report) who received voucher money were failing schools themselves in the 2017-2018 school year.
The people should remember that during Bobby Jindal's time in office, he and the republican controlled legislature cut funding education almost every year to balance the state budget and still failed to do so. The bottom line concerning the $40 million voucher program is that it should be regulated with checks and balances and regular oversight and the state should never overlook the fact that it has the responsibility to see that the public school system is healthy and productive. One that serves the needs of the student and that the teachers and schools be given the necessary support to make it happen.
That is the best way to keep the cost of the voucher program for private schools at a reasonable level with the aim of reducing the need for the voucher program. The solution is very elementary, and that's no pun.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Another Sad Episode Of Trump's Failed Immigration Rhetoric and His Lacking Of An Immigration Plan and Policy
Conditions at the U.S. border are becoming worse every day because of the record number of illegals and an influx of young children. Border facilities can not cope with the health needs of those children and do not have the capacity to handle them. As a result several young children have died and many are sick and with out needed medical attention.
That prompted acting Customs and Border Protection Commish John Sanders to tell the Associated Press that congress must pass the $4.6 billion in emergency funding or more kids might die. Sanders also said, what occurred that was something that impacted me profoundly. U.S. Border Patrol Stations are no place for children. They are bare bones holding facilities meant for swift processing. But because the entire system is over whelmed, Border Patrol is routinely holding children longer.
And it is all taking place on President Trump's watch because of his failure to have a policy or plan to submit to congress for comprehensive immigration reform. The President only has his rhetoric and his orders to separate children from their parents at the border has made the situation worse. The President is still under court order to bring those children that were separated back to their parents. Twenty nine months in office, where 24 of those months congress was controlled by the republican party and Trump and the GOP punted on immigration legislation and the immigration crisis they said existed. This is the same trumpet man who said during the 2016 campaign he would address the immigration problem after the election. Yeah right.
President Obama's administration handled the immigration problem better and the democratic controlled U.S. House which took over in January 2019 passed one piece of immigration legislation that the republican controlled Senate failed to act on. Trump and the republican rhetoric on immigration is just that. The bottom line concerning immigration is that the republican party could care less. Their do nothing record on the issue speaks loud and clear. And at this time President Trump is the do nothing republican leader.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
That prompted acting Customs and Border Protection Commish John Sanders to tell the Associated Press that congress must pass the $4.6 billion in emergency funding or more kids might die. Sanders also said, what occurred that was something that impacted me profoundly. U.S. Border Patrol Stations are no place for children. They are bare bones holding facilities meant for swift processing. But because the entire system is over whelmed, Border Patrol is routinely holding children longer.
And it is all taking place on President Trump's watch because of his failure to have a policy or plan to submit to congress for comprehensive immigration reform. The President only has his rhetoric and his orders to separate children from their parents at the border has made the situation worse. The President is still under court order to bring those children that were separated back to their parents. Twenty nine months in office, where 24 of those months congress was controlled by the republican party and Trump and the GOP punted on immigration legislation and the immigration crisis they said existed. This is the same trumpet man who said during the 2016 campaign he would address the immigration problem after the election. Yeah right.
President Obama's administration handled the immigration problem better and the democratic controlled U.S. House which took over in January 2019 passed one piece of immigration legislation that the republican controlled Senate failed to act on. Trump and the republican rhetoric on immigration is just that. The bottom line concerning immigration is that the republican party could care less. Their do nothing record on the issue speaks loud and clear. And at this time President Trump is the do nothing republican leader.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Crooked Trump Kicks Off His Re-election Camaign
The trumpet man went to Orlando, Fla., this week to begin his re-election campaign and the people heard a rehash of his 2016 campaign rhetoric and "fake news." Trump arrived in the shadow of the Orlando Sentinel newspaper ads that endorsed any democratic nominee over Donald Trump and expressed the opinion that any democratic candidate would be better for the country than Trump. It was reported that there were more extreme groups outside of Orlando that attended the rally than the local folks.
Trump has a serious problem trying to campaign on his accomplishments because he has so few in his first 28 months in office. Immigration is still the albatross around his neck and was his top priority as President but the problem is worse today than it was when he took office according to his own rhetoric. And he and his party still do not have any immigration polity or plan in the works that congress has taken up to debate.
The democrats should campaign on Trump's lack of accomplishments and tell their own plans for the country to the voters now until the election. Before going to Orlando, the trumpet man announced his favorite piece of "fake news" a new health care plan that will be given to the public over time but will not be given to congress to act on until the 2020 election is over. And if that sounds familiar its because he said the same thing doing the 2016 campaign and has failed to introduce that health care plan in the last 28 months.
To the uninformed, Trump will try to run on the economy but has a big problem in that regard with voters that pay attention. Job creation under Trump lags behind job creation under President Obama in his last 28 months in office. The budget deficit has increased under the Trump economy and his own administration says the deficit will continue to increase and top a trillion dollars a year at the end of this fiscal year. Business closures in the retail section are at record levels. Farmers need a financial bailout because of Trump's tariffs and those tariffs are taking their financial toll on other parts of the economy.
The stock market is setting itself up for a big fall and a economic recession is sure to come The small increase that has taken place in median income is consumed by higher consumer prices because of Trump's tariffs. Federal corporate tax revenue continues to fall and Trump and his party still have no plans or policy to guide them on governing. Ideology and a extreme one at that falls at the heart of the matter.
The democrats have a lot of facts to run on and a successful record of knowing how to govern. They should bring that knowledge to the fore front during the campaign and explain to the voters their plans and policy to move the country forward after the malignancy of Donald Trump's Presidency comes to an end.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Trump has a serious problem trying to campaign on his accomplishments because he has so few in his first 28 months in office. Immigration is still the albatross around his neck and was his top priority as President but the problem is worse today than it was when he took office according to his own rhetoric. And he and his party still do not have any immigration polity or plan in the works that congress has taken up to debate.
The democrats should campaign on Trump's lack of accomplishments and tell their own plans for the country to the voters now until the election. Before going to Orlando, the trumpet man announced his favorite piece of "fake news" a new health care plan that will be given to the public over time but will not be given to congress to act on until the 2020 election is over. And if that sounds familiar its because he said the same thing doing the 2016 campaign and has failed to introduce that health care plan in the last 28 months.
To the uninformed, Trump will try to run on the economy but has a big problem in that regard with voters that pay attention. Job creation under Trump lags behind job creation under President Obama in his last 28 months in office. The budget deficit has increased under the Trump economy and his own administration says the deficit will continue to increase and top a trillion dollars a year at the end of this fiscal year. Business closures in the retail section are at record levels. Farmers need a financial bailout because of Trump's tariffs and those tariffs are taking their financial toll on other parts of the economy.
The stock market is setting itself up for a big fall and a economic recession is sure to come The small increase that has taken place in median income is consumed by higher consumer prices because of Trump's tariffs. Federal corporate tax revenue continues to fall and Trump and his party still have no plans or policy to guide them on governing. Ideology and a extreme one at that falls at the heart of the matter.
The democrats have a lot of facts to run on and a successful record of knowing how to govern. They should bring that knowledge to the fore front during the campaign and explain to the voters their plans and policy to move the country forward after the malignancy of Donald Trump's Presidency comes to an end.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Friday, June 14, 2019
The Traitor Is Still Among Us: And He Is Still President of The United States
President Trump continues his traitorous acts and betrayed the country, the Presidency and his oath of office once again Wednesday when he declared he would accept dirt on a political opponent supplied by a foreign government and that he would not report such contact to the FBI. Never mind that there are laws that forbid that and that the President is the chief law enforcement officer for the country.
The President swore on the bible that he would enforce and uphold the laws of the country and the constitution and has instead raped them. That is an impeachable act and a despicable cowardly act by the President and should be the final nail in his impeachment coffin. The country can wait no longer to bring this mentally unfit President to justice. The President's actions confirm just how willing Trump was in allowing his campaign and family members to meet with Russia during the 2016 Presidential election to secure dirt on Hillary Clinton and help him get elected. And his asking Russia to find Clinton's emails was a betrayal. And at the time PolitiDose led the way calling Trump's actions traitorous. The regular media paid no attention at the time of the implications of Trump's act.
And all the while the republican party, especially those in congress have marched lock step with the traitor and continue to enable him today. Their extremism and Trump's anti American actions go hand in hand and are a disgrace. The voting public should remember this malignancy in the 2020 election and should demand they be held accountable now. America has lived through some bad political times in its past history but never with such a corrupted President and party willing to undue the rule of law with such traitorous acts for the benefit of themselves.
It is the right time for the democrats to end the Presidency of this mentally unfit President and see that procedures are in place for his prosecution after he leaves office That will send a signal for future Trumps who try to test the system.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The President swore on the bible that he would enforce and uphold the laws of the country and the constitution and has instead raped them. That is an impeachable act and a despicable cowardly act by the President and should be the final nail in his impeachment coffin. The country can wait no longer to bring this mentally unfit President to justice. The President's actions confirm just how willing Trump was in allowing his campaign and family members to meet with Russia during the 2016 Presidential election to secure dirt on Hillary Clinton and help him get elected. And his asking Russia to find Clinton's emails was a betrayal. And at the time PolitiDose led the way calling Trump's actions traitorous. The regular media paid no attention at the time of the implications of Trump's act.
And all the while the republican party, especially those in congress have marched lock step with the traitor and continue to enable him today. Their extremism and Trump's anti American actions go hand in hand and are a disgrace. The voting public should remember this malignancy in the 2020 election and should demand they be held accountable now. America has lived through some bad political times in its past history but never with such a corrupted President and party willing to undue the rule of law with such traitorous acts for the benefit of themselves.
It is the right time for the democrats to end the Presidency of this mentally unfit President and see that procedures are in place for his prosecution after he leaves office That will send a signal for future Trumps who try to test the system.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Thursday, June 13, 2019
The LSU - Florida State Super Regional
The baseball weekend was not kind to LSU as Florida State eliminated the Tigers and qualified to play in the college world series and a chance to win a National Championship. The Seminoles defeated LSU 6-4 and 5-4 on Sunday. Both teams had their chance to break the games open with a big inning and allowed the opportunity to slip by with too many mental lapses that killed the potential rally.
So LSU completes another baseball season with a lot of question marks for next year. This writer, a follower of LSU sports for over 50 years in an article in PolitiDose a few years ago and expressed the opinion that LSU has never replaced the level of talent they lost six or seven years ago despite some top recruitment years. And during the last several years some of LSU's top recruits did not live up to their potential and be productive.
And LSU has not had a coaching staff that has come close to former coach Skip Bertman's coaching skills or his knowledge of the game and his judging of talent or his players. That is part of LSU's problem today and it shows on the field. It has been awhile since LSU has had an exciting player who was also a consistent performer the team could depend on. I know those who follow LSU surely remember those players I speak of.
For the fans, there is always hope for next season, for that is what sports is all about. But fans also have to be realistic in their judgement and not get caught up in all the clichés and the polls. And most of all understand a top recruitment class has its best production when they have a top head coach or manager, as he is called in baseball.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
So LSU completes another baseball season with a lot of question marks for next year. This writer, a follower of LSU sports for over 50 years in an article in PolitiDose a few years ago and expressed the opinion that LSU has never replaced the level of talent they lost six or seven years ago despite some top recruitment years. And during the last several years some of LSU's top recruits did not live up to their potential and be productive.
And LSU has not had a coaching staff that has come close to former coach Skip Bertman's coaching skills or his knowledge of the game and his judging of talent or his players. That is part of LSU's problem today and it shows on the field. It has been awhile since LSU has had an exciting player who was also a consistent performer the team could depend on. I know those who follow LSU surely remember those players I speak of.
For the fans, there is always hope for next season, for that is what sports is all about. But fans also have to be realistic in their judgement and not get caught up in all the clichés and the polls. And most of all understand a top recruitment class has its best production when they have a top head coach or manager, as he is called in baseball.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, June 9, 2019
Job Creation Slows Down In May
The U.S. Labor Department reported the economy created 75,000 new jobs in May, a much smaller increase than the 180,000 projected by economist. It was the 104th straight month of positive job growth and the unemployment rate held at 3.6%. The Labor Department also reported jobs creation for March was 153,000 instead of the 196,000 originally reported and that April's job creation was actually 224,000 instead of the 263,000 originally reported.
May's lower job numbers and the revision of the March and April numbers are a set back for the economy and future economic projections. The average monthly job creation in 2019 at this point are far behind the monthly average of 2018 and the lowest monthly average since 2010 when the economy was growing itself out of the great republican recession of 2008. And two out of the first 5 months of this year saw job creation fall below 100,000 per month. It was 33,000 (revised) in February and 75,000 in May. It was only 18,000 in September 2017 and never fell below 100,000 in Obama's last 28 months in office. The Trump-GOP tax cuts have failed to produce the job numbers that took place in President Obama's last 28 months in office, which is no surprise to the readers of PolitiDose.
The big problem besides the tax cuts are reflected in the fact that President Trump and the republican controlled congress has not taken up or passed one piece of legislation that deals with the economy and how to keep it moving forward with a workable plan and policy. Trump's tariffs and trade wars are also a negative on the economy. And in the last two weeks Trump rejected the democratic plan to deal with the nations infrastructure and ended the meeting before it started claiming he would not work with the democrats. Hillary Clinton and democrats know how the economy works and that it reacts to being stimulated. That is why Clinton's priority if elected would have been to deal with infrastructure that would create millions of new jobs and stimulate the growing economy.
The May job numbers and Trump and the GOP;s lack of addressing the nations economy with real policy and plans signals a rough road ahead. And when one takes into consideration the legal trouble Trump brought upon himself and his lack of character, the keg could soon explode. The wrap up to date on job creation is as follows: In Trump's first 28 months in office the economy created 5,207,000 new jobs for a monthly average of 185.964 new jobs created. In Obama's last 28 months in office the economy created 5,975,000 new jobs for a monthly average of 213,392 new jobs created. And Obama did not reduce the corporate tax rate nor the tax rate for the wealthy. So what will the economy look like for the balance of Trump's term in office? Will the password when the 2020 election rolls around be, "its the economy stupid?" Understanding the past is still the key to a better future.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
May's lower job numbers and the revision of the March and April numbers are a set back for the economy and future economic projections. The average monthly job creation in 2019 at this point are far behind the monthly average of 2018 and the lowest monthly average since 2010 when the economy was growing itself out of the great republican recession of 2008. And two out of the first 5 months of this year saw job creation fall below 100,000 per month. It was 33,000 (revised) in February and 75,000 in May. It was only 18,000 in September 2017 and never fell below 100,000 in Obama's last 28 months in office. The Trump-GOP tax cuts have failed to produce the job numbers that took place in President Obama's last 28 months in office, which is no surprise to the readers of PolitiDose.
The big problem besides the tax cuts are reflected in the fact that President Trump and the republican controlled congress has not taken up or passed one piece of legislation that deals with the economy and how to keep it moving forward with a workable plan and policy. Trump's tariffs and trade wars are also a negative on the economy. And in the last two weeks Trump rejected the democratic plan to deal with the nations infrastructure and ended the meeting before it started claiming he would not work with the democrats. Hillary Clinton and democrats know how the economy works and that it reacts to being stimulated. That is why Clinton's priority if elected would have been to deal with infrastructure that would create millions of new jobs and stimulate the growing economy.
The May job numbers and Trump and the GOP;s lack of addressing the nations economy with real policy and plans signals a rough road ahead. And when one takes into consideration the legal trouble Trump brought upon himself and his lack of character, the keg could soon explode. The wrap up to date on job creation is as follows: In Trump's first 28 months in office the economy created 5,207,000 new jobs for a monthly average of 185.964 new jobs created. In Obama's last 28 months in office the economy created 5,975,000 new jobs for a monthly average of 213,392 new jobs created. And Obama did not reduce the corporate tax rate nor the tax rate for the wealthy. So what will the economy look like for the balance of Trump's term in office? Will the password when the 2020 election rolls around be, "its the economy stupid?" Understanding the past is still the key to a better future.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Thursday, June 6, 2019
LSU Baseball and The Super Regionals
LSU will host Florida State in the Super Regional Saturday in Baton Rouge. There are a total of 16 teams playing nation wide and the eight winners will advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., with the winning team becoming National Champions of 2019. The regional format is the best two out of three games. LSU is no stranger to hosting the regional playoffs in Baton Rouge at the "BOX" and should enjoy the advantage.
The LSU baseball team was ranked #1 in the preseason poll but that fizzled. Their recruiting class was also ranked #1 in the nation but failed to win the SEC championship. This writer is not a fan of preseason polls or trying to predict the outcome of recruiting. The head coach and his staff are a better barometer in judging a teams progress and of course a players capabilities once he reaches college is subject to proof and performance.
This writer also believes the playoff system of college baseball needs to be changed. Too many teams to begin with (64) and many that don't belong. Why should teams that don't win a division, a conference championship and or payoff or some other title designation qualify for the NCAA playoffs and a chance to play for a national championship? The real answer is to put more money in the pockets of the schools and the T.V. networks. The system does not encourage competition as some claim and of course the teams lose many players to the major league draft before they even graduate.
LSU will go into Saturday's game with an over all record of 40 - 24. Only 3 teams out of the 16 have a worse won-loss record. Duke 34-25; Ole Miss. 40-25; and Auburn 36-25. The four top teams with winning records are: UCLA 51-9; Vanderbilt 52-10; Stanford 45-12 and Mississippi State 49-13. This writer will be looking to see how many teams live up to their rankings and their won-loss record. As a follower of LSU sports for over 50 years, the last five or six years have been very unpredictable for the "Tigers" and this super regional is no different. But there is always hope.
So GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TIGERS
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The LSU baseball team was ranked #1 in the preseason poll but that fizzled. Their recruiting class was also ranked #1 in the nation but failed to win the SEC championship. This writer is not a fan of preseason polls or trying to predict the outcome of recruiting. The head coach and his staff are a better barometer in judging a teams progress and of course a players capabilities once he reaches college is subject to proof and performance.
This writer also believes the playoff system of college baseball needs to be changed. Too many teams to begin with (64) and many that don't belong. Why should teams that don't win a division, a conference championship and or payoff or some other title designation qualify for the NCAA playoffs and a chance to play for a national championship? The real answer is to put more money in the pockets of the schools and the T.V. networks. The system does not encourage competition as some claim and of course the teams lose many players to the major league draft before they even graduate.
LSU will go into Saturday's game with an over all record of 40 - 24. Only 3 teams out of the 16 have a worse won-loss record. Duke 34-25; Ole Miss. 40-25; and Auburn 36-25. The four top teams with winning records are: UCLA 51-9; Vanderbilt 52-10; Stanford 45-12 and Mississippi State 49-13. This writer will be looking to see how many teams live up to their rankings and their won-loss record. As a follower of LSU sports for over 50 years, the last five or six years have been very unpredictable for the "Tigers" and this super regional is no different. But there is always hope.
So GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TIGERS
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The Latest Mass Killings in Virginia Beach
Yes, another mass shooting and killing took place on President Trump's watch. Trump, the Presidential candidate in 2016 who blamed President Obama for all the mass shootings and said it would all come to an end when he took office, now finds himself presiding over a record number of mass shootings and killings. And like his rhetoric about Mexico paying for his WALL, his phony rhetoric on mass shootings and killings has come back full circle. There were 12 people killed in the Virginia Beach shootings.
Virginia's governor has called for a special session of the states general assembly to take up the matter of gun control in light of what happened. The news media noted that the republican party in the Virginia state legislature has blocked previous attempts to address gun violence. The people in Virginia will have great input this time around and will not be bullied by the NRA, the gun lobby or the republicans.
The NRA and republicans have used the cliché for years that guns do not kill people, people kill people. But just recently, people who fall for such simple minded self serving statements had a wake up call and from an unusual source. In a Beetle Baily cartoon in the Times Picayune news paper, Beetle asked Sarge: How come we take guns to war when guns do not kill people? The cartoon illustrates just how phony the NRA-republican slogan has become.
No one knows at this time what the special session in Virginia will adopt or produce but it could be an important step to real reform of gun laws that are necessary to reduce the killing of so many innocent people. The courts have upheld changes that several states have made to strengthen gun laws and that is the best way to defeat the NRA and the republicans who have allowed the NRA to write gun laws in the past.
Time and extreme positions provide an avenue for common sense solutions to emerge and come to the forefront.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Virginia's governor has called for a special session of the states general assembly to take up the matter of gun control in light of what happened. The news media noted that the republican party in the Virginia state legislature has blocked previous attempts to address gun violence. The people in Virginia will have great input this time around and will not be bullied by the NRA, the gun lobby or the republicans.
The NRA and republicans have used the cliché for years that guns do not kill people, people kill people. But just recently, people who fall for such simple minded self serving statements had a wake up call and from an unusual source. In a Beetle Baily cartoon in the Times Picayune news paper, Beetle asked Sarge: How come we take guns to war when guns do not kill people? The cartoon illustrates just how phony the NRA-republican slogan has become.
No one knows at this time what the special session in Virginia will adopt or produce but it could be an important step to real reform of gun laws that are necessary to reduce the killing of so many innocent people. The courts have upheld changes that several states have made to strengthen gun laws and that is the best way to defeat the NRA and the republicans who have allowed the NRA to write gun laws in the past.
Time and extreme positions provide an avenue for common sense solutions to emerge and come to the forefront.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Louisiana's U.S. Senator John Kennedy: Trump's Ditto Head Tag Along
Kennedy and Trump have a lot in common with their rhetoric, but very few positive accomplishments for the record in the past 28 months of governing. The only difference in their rhetoric is Kennedy's attempt to put a folksy spin on his. He feels that plays well with voters in Louisiana. And last week Kennedy went back to the old worn out GOP cliché when he said, "the democrats in congress should work with the republicans."
The democrats who took control of the U.S. House this past January have passed more meaningful legislation in thee five months since taking control only to see most of their legislation lay dormant in Kennedy's republican controlled Senate. All because senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said he would not work with the U.S. House. The House has passed health care, gun control, climate change and election security legislation that the GOP has yet to take up for debate in Kennedy's U.S. Senate. And in fact just last week passed immigration reform legislation that McConnell said was dead on arrival and Trump said he would veto it if it was approved. Kennedy has it backwards, it is the GOP and Kennedy that should be working with the democratic party. If they did a lot would be accomplished.
The U.S. Senate has be in control and in the hands of the republican party for the past 4 plus years and have failed to introduce any meaningful immigration legislation, debate the issue and then vote on a plan and all the while Trump and his party says immigration is out of control. And in fact Homeland Security says illegal immigration continues to reach record levels on Trump and the republican watch. Senator Kennedy has no answer for the problem and he and his party has no record on immigration reform. It should also be noted that Kennedy has recently flipped-flopped on the possibility of Mr. Mueller testifying before congress.
Louisiana, the country and its people did much better when Mary Landrieu represented Louisiana in the U.S. Senate. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The democrats who took control of the U.S. House this past January have passed more meaningful legislation in thee five months since taking control only to see most of their legislation lay dormant in Kennedy's republican controlled Senate. All because senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said he would not work with the U.S. House. The House has passed health care, gun control, climate change and election security legislation that the GOP has yet to take up for debate in Kennedy's U.S. Senate. And in fact just last week passed immigration reform legislation that McConnell said was dead on arrival and Trump said he would veto it if it was approved. Kennedy has it backwards, it is the GOP and Kennedy that should be working with the democratic party. If they did a lot would be accomplished.
The U.S. Senate has be in control and in the hands of the republican party for the past 4 plus years and have failed to introduce any meaningful immigration legislation, debate the issue and then vote on a plan and all the while Trump and his party says immigration is out of control. And in fact Homeland Security says illegal immigration continues to reach record levels on Trump and the republican watch. Senator Kennedy has no answer for the problem and he and his party has no record on immigration reform. It should also be noted that Kennedy has recently flipped-flopped on the possibility of Mr. Mueller testifying before congress.
Louisiana, the country and its people did much better when Mary Landrieu represented Louisiana in the U.S. Senate. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, June 2, 2019
The U.S. House of Representatives Must Start Impeachment Procedures Against President Trump Now
Enough has been said by those pundits who oppose any impeachment inquiry into the administration of President Donald Trump, especially those who say impeachment is not supported by the public, those who actually vote or because the republican controlled U.S. Senate would never vote to convict Trump. None of that really matter because it is the U.S. House responsibility to discharge their duties and hold the President accountable for his actions that disregard the constitution and the rule of law that he swore to uphold and defend. The House's oversight responsibility in this case is paramount.
Everyone knows enough about Mueller's report and Trump's ongoing tactics of obstruction and personal attacks against Mueller and others who have testified against the President and the public knows enough about Trump's lies that just roll out his mouth. Everyone also knows about the hundreds of attorneys, judges, former prosecutors, former Presidential lawyers, constitutional lawyers and many other professional people who have written or talked about Mueller's report and their belief that Trump obstructed justice on more than one occasion and other impeachable offenses.
The side shows that speculate on the so called negative side effects of impeachment is only that, a side show. The most important thing for the country, our institutions, way of life and upholding the rule of law and political process is a President who takes the oath of office live up to that oath and a congress that execute its responsibility to hold the President accountable. The present congress can not stand by and allow Trump to destroy the checks and balances of our democracy and rule like a king.
This is the time for courage and the U.S. House must start the impeachment process against President Trump and see it to completion. There is no issue of greater importance.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Everyone knows enough about Mueller's report and Trump's ongoing tactics of obstruction and personal attacks against Mueller and others who have testified against the President and the public knows enough about Trump's lies that just roll out his mouth. Everyone also knows about the hundreds of attorneys, judges, former prosecutors, former Presidential lawyers, constitutional lawyers and many other professional people who have written or talked about Mueller's report and their belief that Trump obstructed justice on more than one occasion and other impeachable offenses.
The side shows that speculate on the so called negative side effects of impeachment is only that, a side show. The most important thing for the country, our institutions, way of life and upholding the rule of law and political process is a President who takes the oath of office live up to that oath and a congress that execute its responsibility to hold the President accountable. The present congress can not stand by and allow Trump to destroy the checks and balances of our democracy and rule like a king.
This is the time for courage and the U.S. House must start the impeachment process against President Trump and see it to completion. There is no issue of greater importance.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
More Bad News For Trickle Down Economics (Republican Tax Cuts)
Now comes another report, this time by Jeffrey Sachs, a Columbia University Economics Professor and Public Policy Advisor in an article written for CNN and reported by the Huffington Post. Sachs opined that the wealth gap in the United States is what's battering workers, not China. Sachs comments as follows.
(1) Instead of blaming China for this normal phenomonom of market competition, we should be taxing the soaring corporate profits of our own multinational corporations and using the revenues to help working-class households, rebuild crumbling infrastructure, promote new job skills and invest in cutting-edge science and technology.
(2) The most basic lesson of trade theory is not to stop trade but to share the benefits of economic growth so that the winners who benefit compensate the losers. Yet under American capitalism, which has long strayed from the cooperative spirit of the New Deal era, today's winners flat out reject sharing their winnings.
Sachs also reported the following fall out from the Trump tax cuts. Sixty of American top corporations, including Amazon, Netflix, Chevron and IBM paid $0 in federal taxes in 2018. This backs up a previous commentary by PolitiDose how corporate America does not share their financial success and wealth with their every day workers even though it is their workers who suffer the burden. The republican tax cuts and corporate America's attitude toward its workers has made the wealth gap almost permanent. The American worker did better, and the wealth gap was much smaller when corporations tax rates were in the 90% range.
The Reagan, Bush and Trump tax cuts never brought any foreign jobs back to America to make a difference, and this writer feels sure the American people by now know Trump has not closed any of his foreign manufacturing and brought back to the U.S. like he said his tax cuts would do. Readers of PolitiDose are well aware of the failures of trickle down economics and the lies that go with it. The people can change all that in 2020 if Trump is not impeached before then.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
(1) Instead of blaming China for this normal phenomonom of market competition, we should be taxing the soaring corporate profits of our own multinational corporations and using the revenues to help working-class households, rebuild crumbling infrastructure, promote new job skills and invest in cutting-edge science and technology.
(2) The most basic lesson of trade theory is not to stop trade but to share the benefits of economic growth so that the winners who benefit compensate the losers. Yet under American capitalism, which has long strayed from the cooperative spirit of the New Deal era, today's winners flat out reject sharing their winnings.
Sachs also reported the following fall out from the Trump tax cuts. Sixty of American top corporations, including Amazon, Netflix, Chevron and IBM paid $0 in federal taxes in 2018. This backs up a previous commentary by PolitiDose how corporate America does not share their financial success and wealth with their every day workers even though it is their workers who suffer the burden. The republican tax cuts and corporate America's attitude toward its workers has made the wealth gap almost permanent. The American worker did better, and the wealth gap was much smaller when corporations tax rates were in the 90% range.
The Reagan, Bush and Trump tax cuts never brought any foreign jobs back to America to make a difference, and this writer feels sure the American people by now know Trump has not closed any of his foreign manufacturing and brought back to the U.S. like he said his tax cuts would do. Readers of PolitiDose are well aware of the failures of trickle down economics and the lies that go with it. The people can change all that in 2020 if Trump is not impeached before then.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
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