Another Non-Competative Regular Season In The NFL Comes To An End.

There are 32 NFL teams in the NFL and at the end of the 2019 regular season, only 13 teams had a winning record.  It follows the same pattern as past seasons and there is no let up in sight.  There are just too many poor teams and too many poor coaches and not enough quality players to stock 32 teams.  The college draft  will never bring parity to the league as the NFL and owners declared when the draft was put in place, and it never will under the present set up.

Four of the eight divisions have only one team with a winning record.  The north and west division in the American conference and the south and east in the national conference.  The NFC west is the most competitive division with three teams with a winning record.  The Saints are the only team with a winning record in their division and the Saints beat only four teams with a winning record in 2019, Houston, Tennessee, Philadelphia and Seattle.  Yet, all the New Orleans sports writers want to talk about and report on are Brees's personal records.

And the NFL's playoff system contributes to the non-competitive state of the league by allowing teams who have won nothing after a 16 game schedule be chosen for the playoffs and a opportunity to play for the world championship without accomplishing anything during the regular 16 game season.  The NFL is a disaster but the money keeps flowing in to the NFL, the owners and the players.  And of course you have states like Louisiana who continue to give corporate welfare to the wealthy owners like the owners of the New Orleans Saints.

A competitive NFL???       It does not exist.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Louisiana's GOP Controlled State Legislature At It Again With Tort Reform For New Limits On Lawsuits.

A news item in the New Orleans Advocate of December 27  has republican state representative Sherman Mack saying, "CIVIL LITIGATION CHANGES WILL BE THE BIGGEST PUBLIC TOPIC YOU'RE GOINT TO HEAR MOST ABOUT IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION."  Mack and his republican lawmakers want to limit damages awarded in car accident lawsuits, alleging Louisiana's legal climate encourages people in car accidents to sue insurance companies which drive up insurance rates.  And if tort reform is successful auto insurance rates would come down but offered no proof of such claim.

Tort reform is one of the many "fake news" claims by republicans to benefit the business community at the expense of those injured.  Republicans are in favor of a two class society, one wealthy and the bottom tier.  They do not like the middle class.  The republican party has also sought tort reform for medical malpractice suits claiming those suits run up the cost of medical premiums and the cost of medical care.  Such tort reform never reduced premiums or the cost of medical care.

For those who want the facts on tort reform to control suits one needs to read an article by Chip Wagar, Managing Partner of Chopin, Wagar, Richard and Kutcher, LLP published in the Jefferson Life Journal, spring issue of 2010.  He outlines the facts that the outcome of medical malpractice reform caps resulted in larger profits for the insurance companies and not lower cost or rates for those insured.  The medical malpractice insurance industry has seen a 47% increase in profitability in the last 10 years and that the only effect of caps on damages is increase profits for the industry and that states with medical malpractice caps do not have lower physician premiums or health care premiums.  In other words the savings do not flow to the injured or those who pay the cost of medical care.

So if any one believes tort reform for auto damages are going to bring the cost of auto insurance down for the people, think again.  The republican party and the business community can never be satisfied by their thirst for wealth at the expense of the middle class.  Tax cuts that benefit the wealthy and the business community just are not enough for their greed.

Note:  At the end of the Advocate article, the insurance industry said the reasons insurance rates are so high in Louisiana falls to the fact that too many drivers are not insured, bad roads and etc.  They never mentioned Lawsuits.  And the republicans never mention that the insurance companies are being advised by their own attorneys the money value to put on a settled claim.  But they do not like the injured party to seek advise of an attorney.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Democratic Presindential Candidate Joe Biden Has The Best Health Care Plan and The Political Understanding Necessary To Run The Federal Government.

Former U.S. Senator and Vice President Joe Biden has demonstrated he has the best and most logical plan to settle the health care issue.  Its a common sense plan to improve on the ACA, make it better, eliminate what is not working and adopt a public option which will allow more choice and can be achieved at an affordable cost.  The basic plan is there in place over 8 years and the health care issue does not need to be debated anew with a new plan that has to be introduced all over again.

The ACA continues to serve a need for the American people.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services reported last week that 8.3 million Americans signed up for the ACA between November 1 and December 17 with more sign ups to follow despite the Trump administrations cut backs in the ad budget for the ACA and Trump and the republicans vow to repeal the act and the road blocks they throw up every day and try to undermine the program.  Joe Biden has the political understanding necessary to forge the changes that ae needed to a system that is not broke but needs to be adjusted like all government programs.  The issue is too important to be poisoned by Trump and his party who have failed the health care issue for the past 16 years.

Joe Biden also has the political understanding and experience that is necessary to preside over the federal government  The advantage over his democratic opponents and Trump are easily recognized.  The carnage that Trump will leave to the next President will be one of the great challenges in modern times and the country can ill afford to take another chance on a candidate who lacks the political understanding and experience of candidate Joe Biden.

A wise and great American President, Harry Truman said it best many years ago with one of his many famous sayings when he said, A PRESIDENT NEEDS POLITICAL UNDERSTANDING TO RUN GOVERNMENT, BUT HE MAY BE ELECTED WITHOUT IT.  And that is what took place in the Presidential election of 2016.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The President of The United States Donald J. Trump Is Impeached.

America's 45th President, Donald Trump was impeached this past Wednesday by the U.S House of Representatives for the Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress.  Trump became only the third American President to be impeached and the first President to be impeached in his first term.  The impeachment vote came after the impeachment inquiry and hearings where sworn testimony was given concerning Trump's impeachable acts.

The U.S. House gave Trump, his attorneys and chief advisors an opportunity to testify under oath during the process but the republicans in the HOUSE failed to call any witnesses to testify in defense of Trump.  Trump obstructed the democrats effort in the hearings to have testimony from Trump's advisors by his orders to forbid them to testify.  But there were enough witnesses in the know who had the character to testify on their own under oath and tell their story.

The articles of impeachment will now move to the U.S. Senate for trial and will convene some time after the holidays.  The Senate is controlled by the republican party and their leader Mitch McConnell has already gone on record as saying he will not be impartial and will work with the President during the trial.  That statement by McConnell is a grave violation of his oath of office as an elected official and as a juror who will sit in judgement during the trial.  Those who sit on the jury are required to be independent and impartial and not work for either side.  McConnell's actions mimic Trump's corruption.

Democratic speaker of the U.S. House, Nancy Pelosi, said she will send the articles of impeachment to the U.S. Senate when she receives the trial make up and procedures from the Senate.  That is the correct position knowing the Senate republicans threat of a quick dismissal of all charges without calling any witnesses to testify.  Those republicans who will sit as jurors sold their soul to Trump long ago and are ditto heads in the same gutter with Trump.  The party had the power to do some thing about Trump's corruption for the past 35 months and they just looked the other way and joined his lies and fake news.

So once again, in a time of crisis, the democratic party stood up for the constitution, the rule of law, their oath of office and governed with fairness, character and integrity to bring an unfit President to answer for his High Crimes and Misdemeanors.  The six page letter Trump sent to Nancy Pelosi on the eve of the impeachment vote to attack her and the impeachment process was another sad chapter in President Trump's mental unfitness to occupy the White House.

The ball is now in the Trump's ditto head Senate to forge a Senate trial with procedures that embrace the constitution, the rule of law, their oath of office and a fair jury pool of Senators.  It is really not hard to stand up, be counted and be an American.


This  commentary written by Joe Lorio

Republican Opinion Writer Rich Lowry's Business Is "Fake News"

President Trump's ditto head Rich Lowry is a true blue Trump enabler and like his mentor believes in "fake news" when facts hit him in the face.  Lowry's opinion commentary in the New Orleans Advocate of 12/14  titled, "Democrats want to deny voters a choice" starts out with the first sentence:  THE DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THAT THE 2020 ELECTION IS TO IMPORTANT TO BE LEFT TO THE VOTERS.  Lowry simply picks up on Trump and the republican talking points to distract from the evidence against Trump concerning the President's impeachment.

Lowry admits that Trump committed an impeachable offense in his first paragraph but goes on to excuse Trump simply because he heads  the republican party and  occupies the White House.  The true colors of republican opinion writers mirror Trump and his party in mocking the constitution and the rule of law.  The framers of the constitution gave congress the responsibility to remove a corrupted President from office and not be concerned about leaving it up to the voters.  The framers thought that would be to much of a risk to the country, its institutions and the people.

The bottom line is America has a President whose campaign worked with Russia to help him win the 2016 election (confirmed by the Mueller report and testimony under oath by people close to Trump during the impeachment hearings)  Worked with Russia to dig up dirt on his opponent Hillary Clinton and even asked Russia to hack into an American's email to help  his campaign.  Then Trump asked Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his son because Biden could be Trump's opponent in the 2020 Presidential election.  Trump held Ukraine hostage by holding up foreign aid approved by congress and used that aid to try and force Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his son.  Trump's actions fit a pattern of corruption.

The American people are learning the extent Trump and his republican supporters are willing to trample upon the constitution and the rule of law and who puts party and politics above country.  Their litany of "fake news" and un-American actions are a grave danger to the United States.  America has a mentally unstable President who was elected to run the country.  And with all that power, he choose to be dishonest, corrupt and did what no other American President has ever done.  Trump choose to work with two foreign governments to investigate his political opponents for his own political and personal gain.  The President committed multiple traitorous acts and betrayed his country and the people.  Impeachment and removal from office is in the best interest of the United States.

The democratic party has stood up at a time of need, took serious their oath of office to protect and defend the constitution, the rule of law and the American concept that no one is above the law, not even the President of the United States.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Democratic Party Improved Trump's Trade Agreement With Canada and Mexico (USMCA)

The democratic controlled U.S. House has been working on improving Trump's trade agreement since they won back the HOUSE  and took control in January 2019.  The changes that Trump announced he approved gives labor a broader responsibility, an additional say so and more protection.  It is a significant improvement over the original agreement proposed by the administration.  Trump remarked after announcing the new deal, the revamped trade pact will be great for the United States.

When the trade agreement was signed by all three parties in September 2018, Trump said it would immediately be sent to congress for approval.  At the time both houses of congress were controlled by the republican party but they failed to act.  So when the democrats took control of the HOUSE in January 2019, they went to work on the agreement timely, had many meetings and even sent their staff to Mexico to deal with the matter.  And after much discussions with those concerned, Trump and the democrats came to agreement.

But the republican controlled Senate said they would not take up the matter until after impeachment.  They did nothing on the agreement for the past 15 months and now say they can not handle the trade issue and impeachment at the same time.  Their do nothing party continues to turn their backs on the issue.  Yes my fellow Americans, the democratic party continue to lead a heavy schedule while the republicans in the Senate are only concerned about confirming Trump's judicial nominees.  What a shame.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The President's Mental Instability Sinks To A New Low

When the President of the United States, the most powerful person in the world feels he has to personally attack a 16 year old girl, that is good reason to question the President's mental ability.  The egomaniac President was angry that Time Magazine choose teenager Greta Thunberg, a climate activist their person of the year and denied Trump that honor, the President's mental instability comes into focus.  

For Trump, it is all about himself and if some one else is given credit for an accomplishment, his first reactions come from the gutter because of his mental state of mind and his corruptive persona.  It is a pattern of his Presidency and a clue that should remind all that this President impeaches himself every day by his own words and actions.  The big powerful President takes on the cowardly task of attacking a teenage girl because she believes in a cause the President and his party denies.

President Donald Trump's mental instability continues to be a threat to the Presidency, the country, the constitution and a American way of life and value that past Presidents defended because their oath of office was a commitment to the U.S., its people and the rule of law.  The President's attack on a 16 year old girl because Time Magazine choose her instead of Trump reveals a very sick President occupies the White House.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Crooked President Trump Caught Again

New York Attorney General Letitia James reported President Trump has paid $2 million in court ordered damages for missing funds in a tax-exempt charity he controlled.  The payment was ordered by a New York state judge in reference to a suit filed against Trump by New York attorned general who alleged the President illegally used funds from the Donald J. Trump foundation to buy portraits of himself, pay off his business legal obligations and help his 2016 campaign.

The $2 million will go to the eight charities that deserved the funds.  Those charities will receive an added $1.8 million between all that was left in the Trump foundation.  New York attorney general added:  FUNDS HAVE FINALLY GONE WHERE THEY DESERVED - TO EIGHT CREDIBLE CHARITIES.  MY OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW - NOT A BUSINESSMAN, NOT A CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE, AND NOT EVEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.  It was a complete rebuke of President Donald Trump.

This sad chapter concerning Trump's charity foundation reminds this writer of the $25 million settlement Trump had to pay for fraud charges in another suit against President Trump and Trump University brought about by the New York attorney general a few years earlier.  The trumpet man originally said he would not settle either suit but he did because the attorned general discovered the facts.  It is also a clue why the President is fighting the release of his tax records ordered by a district judge.

No matter which way one looks at the President, he is corrupted to the core and toxic to every thing he touches.  The record is clear why President Trump should be impeached.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Job Creation for November 2019

The U.S. Labor Department reported the U.S. economy created 266.000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate came in at 3.5%.  The job numbers included 40,000 plus union workers that had been laid off concerning the General Motors strike who returned to work in November.  The department also reported the country's economic expansion was in its 11th straight year.

So in Trumps first 34 months in office 6,255,000 jobs have been created for a monthly average of 183,970 jobs .  In President Obama's last 34 months in office 7,367.000 jobs were created for a monthly average of 216,676 jobs.  The numbers tell us that the Trump administration continues to fall behind the Obama administrations job creation record despite all the predictions by President Trump.  Trump said he would be the greatest job creating President in history.  Not even close and in fact the Trump economy is on schedule to create less jobs when his 4 years are up compared to Obama's last 4 years.

On another front the National Association of Business Economics expects economic growth in 2019 to come in around 2.3%, down from 2.9% in 2018.  And also projects it will be down again in 2020 at 1.8%.  The association also reported a decrease in business investment for the second and third quarter.

And to top if off, after 34 months in office the President and his party still have no legislation plans to address immigration reform or the rebuilding of the nations infrastructure which were two of their top priorities.  All they have is all the people hear or their rhetoric but no action.

Note:  Do not be surprised when the Labor Department announces the December job numbers, they end up reducing November's job numbers.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio


 

LSU, The CFP Final Four and The Playoffs.

The college football  play off committee announced the final four teams that will play for the national championship.  LSU was rated #1, Ohio State #2, Clemson #3 and Oklahoma #4.  Some LSU sports writers and fans wish came true of LSU not having to play Clemson in the first game match up.  This writer has been an LSU follower for over a half century and that logic seems to come from those who may not feel LSU is the best team in the country.  This writer believes the selection process is flawed and should be revised.

Sports writer for the Advocate Scott Rabalais in an article dated 11/9 gave the following reasons the CFP selection committee chairman ranked LSU first over previous #1 Ohio State.   (a)  LSU beat Georgia and Alabama on the road and both were rated in the top four at the time along with LSU's offense that pounded Georgia's defense.    (b)   The LSU defense rebounded smartly and beat Texas A&M and Georgia.  This writer believes that thinking is flawed and lacking.  In reference to (a) above, the committee is eager to insert two teams LSU played, Texas A&M and Georgia into the mix, but only cites one team Ohio State played twice, Wisconsin.  Yet Ohio State mauled Michigan in Michigan's own stadium the same day LSU played Texas A&M but gives no credit to Ohio State for that game.The committee was also silent the way Ohio State came back from being two touchdowns behind Wisconsin and then won the game by 11 points.  That certainly was an accomplishment in any ones book.

In (b) above, the fact is LSU's defense faced an average quarterback and average offensive team in Texas A&M and Georgia so school is still out on LSU's defensive capabilities in this writers opinion.  Any one who watched both games observed two quarterbacks no one could call a threat.

The real flaw in the CFP ratings is the micromanagement of stats they consider.  The won-loss record should be the determining factor.  The four teams with the best record should make the CFP and lots should be drawn as to who plays who.  Seeding should not take place for the playoffs.  The playoffs themselves will determine the number one team.  The idea of micromanaging a formula using stats the way they were used this year makes no sense.  How in the world can Clemson be rated #3?  They have not been defeated in the last two and half years, won the national championship two of the last three years and are penalized because they won one game by only a point.  Perhaps those who wanted LSU to play someone other than Clemson first feels Clemson is underrated but won't admit it.

As for weak schedules, it is all relative.  Every one knows Alabama plays a weak schedule year in and year out, but under Saban   they won 5 national championships in a 10 year period so they beat some of the best teams in the process.  With a silly play off selection formula trying to pick seeds is unjustified.  The only formula should be a teams won-loss record.  The 4 with the best record goes to the play offs.  The SEC recognized long ago the way their conference championship game is set up the winners of each division play for the SEC title.  If there is a tie it is settled by a tie breaker.  No micromanagement of stats or who played who or who had the toughest schedule and etc.

To the readers of PolitiDose who may think this writers comments are anti LSU that is not the case.  If the CFO continues their present formula into the future it could one day affect the LSU  football team in a negative way.

Note:  Has any one noticed that the Ohio State - Clemson game will be played in prime time at night and not the #1 rated team LSU?  What does that tell the football world?


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Nancy Pelosi and The Democratic Party Continue To Lead While President Trump and His Party Wallow In Their Lies and Extreme Un-American Ideology

The democratic party with the leadership of their Speaker, Nancy Pelosi continue to pass vital legislation in the U.S. House and at the same time balance their responsibility to hold impeachment hearings concerning the behavior of President Donald Trump.  The democratic controlled House has passed meaningful legislation, and so much more than the republican controlled U.S. Senate who are only concerned with confirming Trump's appointed judges to the federal bench.

The internet in fact carried a story last week noting how the U.S. House has produced much needed legislation only to see the republican controlled Senate let it lay dormant.  Of course, the readers of PolitiDose knew that long ago because of its past commentary.  Elizabeth Crisp, Washington journalist for the New Orleans Advocate expressed her Trump/republican party ditto head reporting in the Advocate of 11/27/19 titled, "Divided congress sees fewer bells pass."   In the article Crisp used the talking points of Louisiana's Steve Scalise and Bill Cassidy to promote the republican agenda and tried to make it look like its the democrat's fault because Scalise and Cassidy's party are the do nothing party.  Crisp failed to note that Trump and his party said they would take up gun legislation when they returned from their Labor Day break.  Well they have been back over three months and have done nothing.  But the House passed their gun legislation back in February and are still waiting for Trump and his party to act.

The impeachment process has produced witnesses who testified under oath about Trump's corruption and impeachable acts.  Trump and his party can not find any witness to testify under oath to shake the damaging testimony.  Trump will not testify under oath because he lies and as one of his attorney's was quoted as saying, if he testified under oath he would end up in an orange jump suit.  Lets face it, the President is so corrupt and such a liar he can not even do a simple thing as release his tax returns like other Presidential candidates and Presidents do.  Bill and Hillary Clinton have released over 40 years of their tax returns and have nothing to hide.

Trump and his party will continue to attak the impeachment process because they have nothing else.  The people who ae close to Trump have been told not to testify by Trump himself and therefore Trump has no defense.  Just his personal attacks, fake news and corrupt lies.  Nancy Pelosi and the democrats will not be intimidated and will carry out their responsibility to the constitution and their oath of office to impeach America's corrupt President and his traitorous acts.

In the  meantime, Nancy Pelosi's leadership and the democrats in congress will continue to lead and pass the legislation needed to move the country and its people forward.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

LSU's 12 - 0 Undefeated Regular Season

The 2019 LSU football team completed its third undefeated regular football season during this writers generation with a 50 - 7 win over Texas A & M in Baton Rouge Saturday night.  First under coach Paul Dietzel in 1958 when they also won the national championship, then in 2011 under coach Les Miles and now under coach O.  And this Saturday brings another challenge when LSU plays Georgia in the Southeastern Conference championship game.  The latest BCS rankings has LSU in the number two spot, with Ohio State number one, Clemson number three and Georgia number four.

Saturday's game against A & M was talked about as a grudge game because of what took place in last years game.  But that was just sports talk.  It does not change the score of last years game so there is no such thing as revenge  It sounds good in reporting and is a popular subject for fans and sports writers but is soon forgotten.  The greatest LSU challenge is still to come.

This writer still believes LSU's defense is the key to staying unbeaten.  They have problems still not solved and are not playing up to LSU's tradition despite their effort against A & M.  LSU should beat Georgia because Georgia's coach has an offensive mind similar to Les Miles which usually depends on the running game inside their opponents 10 yard line.

As for the BCS play off teams, who ever they select for the final four, this writer believes Clemson is the team to beat until they are actually defeated.  They have not been defeated in over two years, have won the national championship two of the last three years and the BCS gives them no respect.  In sports, like every thing else, its all relative.  Scott Rabalais, sports writer for the New Orleans Advocate seems to mention in his commentary of today he would rather see LSU be ranked first in the final poll so they would not have to face Clemson in the first game if they remain in third place.  If LSU is the best in the nation it really does not matter who they play first if one has confidence in a team.

This Saturday conference championships will be played across the country and the fans will find out if the latest BCS rankings of the top four teams will remain the same after the final poll.  So stay tuned and keep in mind that in championship games, defense usually makes a difference.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio