The Miami Dolphins 20, The New Orleans Saints An Embarrassing 3.

 What more could be expected with COVID 19, injuries, backups, a reduced coaching staff and a rookie quarterback starting his very first game in the NFL?  And against a tough Miami defense to boot.  The Saint's offense was kept out of the end zone against Tampa Bay last week with HILL at quarterback and again Monday night by the Dolphins.  Eight straight quarters without an offensive touchdown.  

Four Saint's sports writers predicted the Saints would score between 17-23 points against the Dolphins.  One said the more Kamara touches the ball, the better, but Kamara has not been a factor since he returned from his injuries and was not a factor Monday night against the Dolphins.  The Bobby Hebert radio show just a few hours before the game gave the listeners a lot of stats but nothing else.  Completely out of touch with reality.

The bottom line tells this writer that the Saint's backups reveal poor drafting where needed the most.  The Saints seem to have few backups who are capable of playing at a level needed to compete.  And worst of all is the fact that the Saints will start next season like they started this season, namely with a quarterback that has not completed one full season as a Saints starting quarterback.  How important is that?  Well, he is the only player on offense that touches the football on every offensive play.  It is also this writer's opinion that Winston, Hill nor Siemian are the Saints quarterback for the future.

If Brees and Rivers were actually contacted by Payton to join the team    as reported, their rejection of the offer is certainly understood.  It also tells the story of a coaching staff and team who needs new leadership.

THOUGHTS;  COVID has played havoc with the sports world because it is big time money.  Both for college and the Pros.  The powers that be put big money over the safety of science by allowing players to say no to vaccinations.  Basketball and Football are contact sports where social distancing is impossible.  It should be obvious where the problem hides. 

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

The Losers In President Biden's Build Back Better Legislation.

 The democratic controlled U.S. House passed President Biden's "Build Back Better" (BBB) legislation a few weeks ago with a vote of 220 - 213.  The legislation is a good bill for America, the country and the American people.  The losers were over 200 republicans in the U.S. House who voted against the bill and even objected to a debate and debating issues is the corner stone of democracy in the congress.  The other losers were the GOP in general, the so called conservative media and the media noise machines who enable the republican propaganda of lies, mis-information and dis-information on the subject matter.

Those same noisy groups are now trying their propaganda on the Senate "BBB" bill since Senator Joe Manchin announced he would not vote for the bill.  They are now proclaiming democratic failure, democratic mis-management, the death of the bill and etc., etc., and etc.  But Joe Manchin is the lone opponent out of the 50 democratic senators.  The losers here too, are the 50 republican senators who have vowed to vote against this good bill and refused to debate its merits like the republicans in the U.S. House.  

But President Biden will not allow his "BBB" legislation to die in the senate and the democratic controlled congress will prevail when it is all said and done.  After Manchin's announcement, the CEO of Goldman said he revised and lowered his economic predictions for the first quarter of 2022, which indicates he thinks Biden's "BBB" legislation is good for the economy.  No matter how you cut it, the big losers are the 250 republicans in congress who oppose its passage and the group of noise machines mentioned above who are the enablers of the GOP.

Good legislation that works for the country, its people, the economy and moves the country forward scares the losers to death.  They prefer the division they try to create with an anti-American attitude.  The losers have already struck out twice this year with Biden's COVID and Infrastructure legislation and its three strikes and you're out.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Noise Machine Continues To Speculate On President Biden's Intentions To Run For Re-election.

 It's the same noise machine who deal in mis-information, dis-information and even lies concerning the President's policies.  It is their way of personal attacks because they want to see the President fail. They see a President who has accomplished much in his first year in office and a expanding economy that is creating jobs and not losing jobs and a unemployment rate at a historical low level.  All of which was in recession when President Trump left office and was corrupted by Trump and his party trying to steal the results of the 2019 Presidential election.

If President Biden decides not to seek re-election it will be due to his age and a feeling of accomplishments for the country and its people.  The President has had a long political career and has nothing to prove by serving two terms if he determines it is not necessary.  Biden knows there are other capable democrats who are capable and able to carry the torch of democracy for the future.  A successful 4 years is something the GOP has proven to be incapable of producing with their anti-American attitude, obstruction policies and their support to overturn a legitimate democratic Presidential election.

If the President believes his administration has accomplished his objectives and decides to move on, he will do the honorable thing and give proper notice to the American people.  He is not a public servant who would hang on and run for re-election just for the sake of running.  He is a public servant who will do the right thing for the country and its people. 

And President Biden has once again restored Honor to the White House in a short time.  And those who follow politics knew it would be a democratic President who  would do so.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Abortion, The U.S. Supreme Court, The GOP and The Conservative Media.

 The GOP with the support of the conservative media has tried its best to destroy the Affordable Care Act (so called Obamacare, because Obama cared) since 2009 and have failed in a spectacular manner when Trump and the republican controlled congress failed in its attempt to do so during their 4 years in office.  The same sorry group has tried to overturn Roe vs. Wade since 1973 (48 years) and have failed to do so.  They oppose abortion in any form so they say.

Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court took up oral arguments concerning a Texas abortion law that caps abortion at 15 weeks.  Some in the news media have reported that comments made by several Justices indicate some parts of the Texas law may be upheld and that maybe Roe vs. Wade would be dismantled altogether.  

The Texas law validates the conclusion that the GOP has used the abortion issue only to divide the country and that they could care less about abortion.  After all, the GOP supports the Texas law and the Texas law provides for abortion during the first 15 weeks of being pregnant.  Roe vs. Wade provides for 24 weeks.

Roe vs. Wade is a GOP problem because it became law in a 7-2 vote and the majority vote was provided by a conservative majority Supreme Court  appointed by past republican Presidents.  Now, another conservative majority Supreme Court appointed by republican Presidents will have to decide the fate of Roe vs. Wade and the Texas case 48 years later.  No matter how the court rules, the GOP will be the losers on the issue.  The GOP, mostly white men who have made abortion a political issue have already lost the respect of a woman's right to choose under the present law.

And if the Supreme Court upholds the Texas law of 15 weeks a woman will just see a doctor if she thinks she is pregnant sooner and have enough time to still have an abortion.  The shorter time period will not prevent a woman from having an abortion and the GOP will have proved their only interest in abortion is to divide the country.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Note:  The Majority Supreme Court vote in Roe vs. Wade was 7-2.  Five of those who voted yes were appointed by republican Presidents, while Two who voted yes were appointed by Democratic Presidents.

Note:  See previous commentary in Politidose concerning abortion dated 8/24/19

Job Creation and The Unemployment Rate For November 2021

The U.S. Labor Department reported the U.S. economy added 210,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate came in at 4.2%.  It was 4.6% in October.  It was the 10th straight month of positive job growth for the Biden administration and the 4.2% unemployment rate was the lowest since February 2020.  Also reported last week was the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits plummented in November to the lowest level in more than a half century.  

So the U.S. economy continues to grow, create jobs, reduce unemployment and the American consumer continues to spend.  More people are also entering the job market and finding jobs with higher pay.  The turn around in the economy is taken place at a reasonable level considering all the negative factors that come with the recession, the pandemic and several COVID outbreaks over the past 18 months.

The economy should improve even more as President Biden's legislation begins to kick in over time for the long term.  The negative voices of the GOP, the conservative media and those who love to spread dis-information and see the Biden Presidency fail are hopeless with an extreme anti-American attitude.  That is why now it is so important for a mature President like Biden to be in the White House.

Presidential leadership is back at governing with courage and virtue.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio   

Coach Orgeron's Era Ends At LSU

Orgeron ended his coaching career at LSU Saturday night in Tiger stadium with a dramatic win over Texas A&M 27-24.  And like LSU's last years regular season, this season ended up with the Tigers playing .500 ball once again.  Orgeron's record the past two seasons was a combined 11-11 after going 15-0 in 2019 winning the SEC and a National Championship.

So LSU once again failed to maintain a consistent winning record under a new head coach and qualified for the playoffs only once in the past 8 years.  To add insult, the Tigers finished tied for last place with Auburn in the SEC's West Division with a 3-5 record.  Not a good place to be when you are a school that rates in the top five for recruiting each year.

Out of all the predictions by the LSU sports media prior to the season as what to expect from LSU, Politidose commentary published 3/25/21 was the more accurate one.  Baton Rouge sports writers are too close to the team to be objective about their evaluations of the team and the coaching staff.  Now the hunt is on for another new head coach for LSU and when the announcements are made, fans will hear all the superlatives about the new coach, but it will be time and time alone that writes the true story about the new hire.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Note:  Former LSU head coach Charlie McClendon coached the Tigers for 18 seasons and had only one losing season.  He never won a National Championship as a head coach and holds the record of winning at LSU with a record of 137-59.  He was LSU's defensive co-ordinator on the 1958 National Championship team. In this writers opinion those years were the most steady years in LSU football.

Buffalo 31 - New Orleans Saints 6: And As Usual, Saints Sports Writers are Wrong Again About Their Predictions

 The New Orleans Saints lost its 4th straight game Thanksgiving night at home as the Bills came in town ready to play and left with a huge victory.  The game was never close as the Bills out played the Saints in every department.  The Saint's offense was lackluster and the defense was its usual on again, off again defense with no continuity which is the way the Saint's defense has performed for the past several years.  No real news there for the defense.

And once again the Saint's sports writers have egg all over their faces because they are incapable of being objective when evaluating the Saints.  They predicted great things for the Saints before the season even started.  One writer said this was Payton's best defensive club.  Yeah, right!!!  Then wrote an article predicting the Saints were poised to go on a run of their patented midseason winning streaks when they return from their bye week and gives reasons why, that do not add up.

And since the bye week the Saints have lost 4 of the past 6 games.  So much for being poised to go on a run of their patented midseason winning streaks.  The Saints have beaten only two teams with a winning record so far this year.  Last year they beat only one team with a winning record during the regular season.  It's not like the Saints have a record of beating a lot of the good teams with winning records.  

This writer wrote commentary in Politidose prior to the start of the season as to what you might expect from the Saints and LSU this year dated March 25.  It was more accurate than any predictions from the Saint's sports writers or the LSU sports writers.  Both groups of writers are too close to the teams they write about to be objective, the reports have become more hype and cliches than anything else.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The U.S. House of Representatives Passes President Biden's "Build Back Better" Legislation.

 The democratic controlled U.S. House led by its Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, late last week passed President Biden's "BBB" legislation by a vote of 220 - 213.  The GOP as a party opposed the legislation and voted against passage.  The legislation is the second leg of the President's infrastructure bill that was passed the week before.  The "BBB" bill now goes to the U.S. Senate for action, debate and a vote.

And once again, Nany Pelosi and her democratic members in the House stood strong, passed the bill that the democratic controlled Senate has been debating for over 3 months and still no decision.  Pelosi has to satisfy over 200 of her members desires, moderates, liberals, progressives and centrist and was able to do that in a much shorter time, produce a bill, debate and then pass it.  Democratic Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer has only 50 members to satisfy but two, Senators Manchin and Sinema have an ego problem and think they are President and have delayed the President's agenda.  No matter how you cut it, dealing with 200 members is more difficult, but Pelosi has the political understanding to deal with people and important legislation and the U.S. House, under her direction knows how to legislate.

The President's "BBB" legislation is just as important as the infrastructure bill because it addresses the human needs and the U.S. Senate needs to take its cue from the House and pass the House bill.  Forget about the Senate being called a deliberate body because its deliberations have to produce an agreement and has failed to do so as of this date.  The Senate is the people's house also so act like it and start to produce like the U.S. House did.

The government can afford the  legislation because its paid for.  There are no more excuses for Manchin and Sinema.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Democratic Controlled U.S. House of Representatives Stands Tall For America.

The U.S. House reminded the American people this week that Congress has a major role in keeping democracy functional and on going when the House voted to censure republican representative Paul Gosar for posting a video of himself killing a democratic member of the U.S. House.

All democrats in the House and two republicans voted to censure while the rest of the republicans in the House (200+) voted against censure.  Republicans Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger were the two who voted with the democrats.  Democratic Speaker of The House, Nancy Pelosi, once again stood strong in leading the House to fulfill their obligation of oversight to protect American democracy and congress role in governing without the kind of vivid threats posted by Paul Gosar.  Those are the kinds of threats and intimidation that have a way of being taken to the next level of executing by copy cats and part of the ugly politics the republican party has chosen to follow.

Pelosi's actions in restoring the democratic process to congress and her political understanding of her responsibility as Speaker that its members must follow a code of civility or face the consequence of their actions was the right and only decision.

And once again it is a democratic congress that took the step to punish one of its members for conduct unbecoming an elected official serving in the U.S. Congress.  Congress needs more like minded people such as Pelosi who understand the responsibility that goes along with serving in the Congress.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

  

President Biden's Administration Continues The Precedent Set By Past Democratic Administrations For Job Creation.

 According to the U.S. Labor Department's monthly jobs report for the first full 9 months of President Biden's administration (February through October) the U.S. economy added 5,005,000 jobs for a monthly average of 562,777 jobs added per month.  By contrast, in Trump's last 9 months in office (March through December 2020) the economy lost 8,896,800 jobs in those last 9 full months.  And in Trump's first 36 months in office (before the pandemic) 6.6 million jobs were added to the economy for a monthly average of 183,333 jobs added per month.

In President Obama's last 36 months in office 8.1 million jobs were added to the economy for a monthly average of 225,000 jobs added per month.  Biden's job creation record is no surprise to the readers of Politidose commentary because they know democratic administrations out perform republican administrations by a wide margin for the past 100 years.  They also have the numbers to prove it.  And Politidose commentary predicted the success of Biden in job creation and the economy before he even took office.  See Note Below.

The GOP, the conservative news media and the news media in general are ignorant of the democratic record of success and therefore their comments are not worth listening to.  Facts are foreign to them because facts spell the truth and their only interest is propaganda.  A good example is their put down of the economy and job creation during Biden's first 9 months in office.  

President Biden's administration is confirming what the readers of Politidose and those who follow the facts already know.  Democrats are best at governing for the country and its people.  So stay tuned to Politidose, your daily dose of political commentary.

Note: See previous commentary:  What Will The New Year Bring Politically? dated 12/7/20 and Joe Biden, The 46th President of the United States dated 1/23/21

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

HAPPY 246th BIRTHDAY TO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.

Happy Birthday Marines where ever you may be and especially to those who are still in Harms Way.  To all who have ever wore the Eagle, Globe and Anchor, Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful.  After 246 years the Marine Corps tradition of Honor, Duty, Commitment and Courage still stands strong for our beloved Corps and the men and women who serve.

On this birthday we remember our brother Marines who went before us and served their country well.  Those that paid the ultimate price are forever in our thoughts and their sacrifice never forgotten.  May the Supreme Commandant always be with them and their family.

On this 246 birthday it calls to mind the pride of being a U.S. Marine and the following poem.

                                                                            THE TITLE

                                                                    It can not be inherited

                                                                    Nor can it ever be purchased

                                                                     You and no  one alive

                                                                      Can buy it for any price

                                                                      It is impossible to rent

                                                                      And it cannot be lent

                                                                      You alone and our own

                                                                       Have earned it with your

                                                                        Sweat, blood and lives

                                                                        You own it forever

                                                                                THE TITLE

                                                                     UNITED STATES MARINE

Happy Birthday Marines

Sgt. Joseph Lorio, Sr.

U.S. Marine Corps 1952 - 1956

                                                                   

 

The Democrats Can Run On Infrastructure As A Party, The GOP Can Not.

A total of 265 democrats in the congress voted for the party's infrastructure legislation.  50 votes came from the senate vote and 215 came from the House vote.  Only 6 democrats voted nay in the House.  A total of only 32 republicans voted for the legislation, 19 votes came from the senate and 13 came from the House.  A total of 230 republicans voted against the legislation, 30 voted against in the senate and 200 voted against in the House.

So the democratic party has the numbers to back up that the PARTY can run on its infrastructure record but as a PARTY the GOP can not and the numbers back it up.  But we know the GOP will try to take credit for two reasons.  First, they took credit for Biden's and the democrat's COVID 19 relief legislation which passed with only democratic votes.  And secondly, the GOP has no accomplishments to run on so they use democrat's accomplishments as a product of their own making. 

So a democratic administration proves once again that their policies and plans serve the needs of the country and all its people and states despite the political divisions the GOP love to create.  And when the democrats pass Biden's Build Back Better legislation, it will be additional evidence of leadership from a democratic administration that continues the democratic precedent of moving America forward.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The U.S. House Passes President Joe Biden's Infrastructure Legislation.

The democratic controlled U.S. House passed President Biden's infrastructure legislation by a vote of 228 - 206 late Friday night.  The legislation is part of Biden's Build Back Better legislation which will be voted on later this month.  And once again it is a democratic administration that delivered on infrastructure.  The majority GOP and Trump opposed the legislation and the pundits in the media has in the past months were talking about how the democrats were having a problem delivering on Biden's agenda.  Some were talking about democratic disfunction and total collapse  But the noise machine as usual were wrong.

The House vote was not a bipartisan vote as 200 republicans voted against the legislation while only 13 voted yes with the majority.  215 democrats voted for the legislation while 6 voted against.  All 5 republicans in the House who represent Louisiana voted against the legislation and were as follows. Steve Scalise, Clay Higgins, Garret Graves, Julia Letlow and Michael Johnson.  The only democratic representative in the House from Louisiana Troy Carter voted for the legislation.  Louisiana's U.S. Senator John Kennedy voted against the legislation when the Senate approved the measure some months ago.  All 50 democratic senators in the Senate voted for the legislation while only 19 of the 50 republicans in the senate voted yes and 30 republican senators voted no.  

Infrastructure has always been an important part of the U.S. economy and no one understands that more than democrats.  That is why democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election made infrastructure her number one priority if elected.  It was also part of President Obama's $700 billion stimulus that was approved by the democratic controlled congress to help move America out of the great republican recession of 2008.  Trump and his party made it one of their priorities during the 2016 campaign and then after being elected did nothing.  

The economy and every thing related to it is affected by infrastructure and the legislation will be a stimulus for long term growth spread over a number of years.  Commerce will benefit greatly and business and the people will see better times.  The average workers will realize real wage growth.  Additional new jobs will be created to go along with Biden's present job creation record which is detailed in Politidose commentary every month.

Democrats govern by policy and plans and that is why legislation some times takes more time than other times.  They believe in debate on the issues that affect the country and the people.  The noise machine that has tried its best to paint the party as a failure on Biden's agenda, I suggest they read three of President Truman's famous sayings below.

WHEN YOU HAVE AN EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE A DICTATORSHIP.

YOU CAN ALWAYS AMEND A BIG PLAN, BUT YOU CAN  NEVER EXPAND A LITTLE ONE.  I DON'T BELIEVE IN LITTLE PLANS.  I BELIEVE IN PLANS BIG ENOUGH TO MEET A SITUATION WHICH WE CAN'T POSSIBLY FORESEE NOW.

MEN MAKE HISTORY AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.  IN PERIODS WHEN THERE IS NO  LEADERSHIP, SOCIETY STANDS STILL.  PROGRESS OCCURS WHEN COURAGEOUS, SKILLFUL LEADERS SIEZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THINGS FOR THE BETTER.

President Truman's wisdom can be related to what is taking place in Washington at the present time.  And the Biden administration has accomplished much in his first year in office with legislation that really matters and will make a difference for the country and it people.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Note :  Shame on Louisiana's representative who serve in congress and who voted against the infrastructure legislation.  They do not represent Louisiana's best interest.  

Job Creation and The Unemployment Rate for October 2021. The Story Continues.

The U.S. Labor Department reported the economy added 531,000 jobs in October and the unemployment rate came in at 4.6%, it was 4.8% in September.  The Department also reported that September jobs created was 312,000 jobs instead of the 194,000 jobs originally reported.  So job creation continues to grow and unemployment continues to decline on President Biden's watch.  And once again, the pundits were wrong on predicting October's numbers.  The unemployment rate when President Obama left office in January of 2017 was 4.7%.  When Trump left office in January 2021 the unemployment rate was 6.3%.

The October job numbers were the ninth straight month of positive job growth for the Biden administration.  The Trump administration was still losing jobs in December 2020 when the economy lost 140,000 jobs according to the Labor Deportment.  Also for the first three quarters of 2021 the GDP has grown at a 5% annual rate.  Under Trump the highest annual GDP was in 2018 when it came in at 2.9%.  Trump predicted a steady annual GDP growth between 4 and 5% and never came close.  In fact the average annual GDP in Trump's 4 years was 0.7%.

In a separate report the Department reported that wages and salaries jumped in the third quarter ending September 30 by the most on record in the last 20 years.  Pay increased 1.5% in the third quarter and actually stayed ahead of inflation that came in at 1.2% for the quarter.

The pundits, the noise machines and the GOP who want to see Biden and the country fail continue to be wrong about the economy and the fact that the country is on its way to a full recovery from 4 years of GOP failures.  And it was all predicted here in Politidose commentary when Biden took office and even before because of precedent.  And when the democratic congress passes the President's infrastructure and BBB legislation, the economy, job creation and the benefits to America and its people will be long term.  And when it takes place, you will have read it here first in Politidose, your daily dose of political commentary.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

 

Another False Claim By The GOP, The Business Community And The Pundits Who Supported The Claims, Comes Crashing Down.

In a story published in the New Orleans Advocate of Oct 23 by the Associated Press concerning the $300 weekly federal supplement for the unemployed that GOP governors of 25 states eliminated and said was the cause of those to not seek work and therefore a shortage in the workforce and a drag on job creation.  Now the AP reports that a study of the matter by JP Morgan-Chase Institute found the following facts.

(1)  That after the $300 was eliminated by those 25 GOP run states there was no significant influx of job seekers.  (2)  The number of people who have a job or seeking one has been no more than it has in the states keeping the $300 benefit.  (3)  A state by state analysis by the AP found that workforces in the 25 states that maintained the $300 payment actually grew slightly more from May thru September than they did in the 25 states that cut off the payments early.  

So once again the GOP, the business community and the pundits rushed to misinform the American people that the $300 benefit was the reason people were not seeking work, why the business community could not find people to fill the job openings and as a result job creation was lacking. The lies and misinformation just rolls out of their mouths and the media is willing to run with their lies.

But the real answer on the economy, job creation and unemployment can be found in a monthly commentary published here in Politidose concerning the matter.  It is updated each month for all  to understand.  So forget about the GOP and the pundits misinformation and lies in their attempt to influence the public and tune in to Politidose for the true story and your daily dose of political commentary.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

 

LSU's Huge $16.9 Million Mistake

 LSU's interim head football coach Ed Orgeron, who will leave the team and LSU when the regular season ends is set to haul in over the next 4 years $16.9 million without stepping on a football field.  A great pay day for a coach who did not deserve the huge increase in salary just because LSU won the national championship in 2019.

A report in the New Orleans Advocate of 10/19/21 said LSU athletic director Scott Woodward worked out the details with Coach O after Woodward lined up the buy out money with LSU boosters.  Coach O and LSU's President agreed to the terms.  The article also stated that Woodward was an extraordinary judge of people.  The Orgeron affair tells a different story.

LSU not only misjudged Coach O's ability on the field they treated him with kid gloves on the alleged sexual harassment involving certain football players.  It took an out of town newspaper to break the story and LSU failed to require Coach O to testify under oath when a woman did so and said Coach O had contacted her when Coach O previously said he had not contacted any one involved.  In other words LSU failed to have Coach O testify under oath and as a result could not cross examine him on the issue.

Nick Saban wanted out at LSU for reasons never told.  It was not because he wanted to return to the NFL and was the subject of a commentary in Politidose at the time.  Saban wanted out because he is a no nonsense coach who saw how LSU operated and did not like what he saw.  The two coaches that followed Saban, Les Miles and Coach O both won national championships but never achieved a long lasting winning record and both were fired.

And now when LSU's present season comes to an end they will not make the BCS playoffs once again.  They have made the playoffs only once since the new format was put in effect 8 years ago.  Not a very good record for a team that usually ends up in the top five recruiting wise.

So now the hunt starts for a new head coach for LSU football and LSU's supporters will once again be asked to help out with their deep pockets.  And the new coach will be praised before he even coaches a game at LSU.  That is what has become of college football.  Nick Saban does not have that problem.  He has an enviable record that speaks for itself.  And Saban knew what he was doing when he decided to leave LSU.  And that really tells the story of what has been taking place at LSU since Saban departed. 

This commentary written by Joe Lorio    

Governor John Bel Edwards Returns Fiscal Sanity To Louisiana's Budget.

According to commentary in the New Orleans Advocate of 10/12/21 by Mark Ballard, Edwards' Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told the Press Club of Baton Rouge the state ended its fiscal year June 30 with a $1 billion surplus.  The surplus was helped by an influx of federal dollars because of COVID and a rebounding Louisiana economy that pushed Corporate and individual tax collections higher than anticipated.  The article also stated that Louisiana would have approximately $450 million to spend after spending stipulated in the constitution is satisfied.

So once again it is another democratic governor that balances another Louisiana budget.  Something that escaped republican governor Jindal and the republican controlled state legislature for 8 long years.  And Edwards took office with Louisiana's fiscal house in chaos and inherited a budget deficit of over $1billion.  But governor Edwards was up to the task, fought the republican controlled legislature with sound plans and policies that reversed the budget cuts that hurt Louisiana and its people.

The last previous Louisiana governor to balance the state budget was democratic governor Kathleen Blanco who left office and Jindal with a $700 million surplus which Jindal and his republican legislation blew just like President George W. Bush blew away the budget surplus President Clinton left him.  And Bush accomplished that in his very first fiscal year in office.

It is a pattern on the federal level and state level that democratic administration balance the budget or reduce deficit spending while republican administrations do just the opposite. And as everyone knows, governor Edwards has handled the COVID problem better than Trump or any republican congressman or Attorneys General.

Now we wait governor Edwards next budget plan and see his vision of what should be accomplished with the current surplus.  Precedent tells us it will be fiscally responsible.  What the republican controlled legislature does with it will define their allegiance.  

Thanks go to governor Edwards for his commitment to fiscal policies that are positive for the state and the people and thanks for his serious attitude.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

Journalist/Columnist E.J. Dionne Stands At The Pinnacle Of His Profession.

Longtime Journalist and columnist for the Washington Post, E.J. Dionne shed much light why he is the best at what he does with his commentary published in the New Orleans Advocate dated 10/9/21 titled, "GOP radicalism pushes Biden to change senate?"  His column concerns the "filibuster" rules in the U.S. Senate which has recently been a topic in the news concerning the Biden agenda.

Dionne in his column explains the real problem with the "filibuster" and why it should be changed under certain conditions and done away with altogether.  And it makes more sense than any of the other comments so far because Dionne always knows the heart of issues better than other journalists and columnists and knows how to explain the subject where it can be understood by everyone.  

What separates Dionne from other journalists/columnist is his knowledge of the subject matter he writes about, his ability to understand the heart of the matter and the real issues and his ability to articulate that to the public he serves.  The world of journalists would  be better if more E.J. Dionnes were available.  And the public would be much more aware of the true nature of the issues they and the country face.  The noise machines out there are incapable of delivering the real facts.

So this writer encourages its readers out there to take the time and read Mr. Dionne's column in order to understand the real problem the "filibuster" has created and can continue to create if unchecked.  Hopefully Senators Manchin and  Sinema has read Mr. Dionne's column and come to their sense that change is needed. It is a basis change that is needed now more than ever with the GOP's do nothing attitude and obstruction.

This  commentary written by Joe Lorio 

Job Creation and Unemployment for September 2021.

The U.S. Labor Department reported the economy added 194,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate came in at 4.8%.  It was 5.2% in August.  It was the eight straight month of positive job growth.  And as usual the GOP noise machine and the so called economist were disappointed because they were predicting more jobs.  Economist can not get a grip on the fact that the economy will continue to swing up  and down until the pandemic leaves the surges behind and become more stable.  As for the GOP's noise machine, they just want to see the Biden administration fail.

The economy has added 4,416,000 jobs in Biden's first full 8 months in office for an average monthly gain of 552,000 jobs per month.  Trump in his first 36 months in office (before the recession and  pandemic started) added 6,600,000 jobs  for an average monthly gain of 183,000 jobs per month.  The unemployment rate when Trump  left office was 6.3%.  For those who seek the facts, the GOP's noise machine and the economist predictions should be taken with a grain of salt. 

So progress is being made on Biden and the democratic watch despite the  noise machine and their misinformation.  The  progress may not be smooth but it is taking place despite the distractions and when the administrations two bills now before congress pass, the long term out look for the economy, the country and its people will be positive.  And when it takes place, you will have read it here first in Politidose, your daily dose of political commentary.

This  commentary written by Joe Lorio 

 

The National Debt: The Betrayal and Devastation Continues On The GOP's Watch Under President Donald Trump

 The subject matter concerning the national debt was covered and published in Politidose commentary dated 12/6/09, almost 12 years ago.  And now the results are in on the national debt concerning President Trump's four fiscal years which ended 9/30/21.  The final numbers were recorded by the U.S. Treasury Department who keep the official records of the national debt which are available online.

The report shows that at the end of President Trump's last fiscal year 9/30/21 the national debt stood at $28.428 trillion.  It stood at $20.244 trillion at the end of President Obama's last fiscal year ending 9/30/17.  So in only FOUR short fiscal years the national debt increased $8.184 trillion on Trump and the GOP's watch.  By contrast it increased $8.343 trillion during the EIGHT fiscal years on President Obama's watch.  The national debt stood at $11.909 trillion when George W. Bush's last fiscal year ended on 9/30/09 and it stood at $20.244 at the end of President Obama's last fiscal year.  So Trump  and the GOP managed to create almost the same amount of debt in just FOUR short fiscal years that it took President Obama to create in EIGHT fiscal years.  Good thing President Trump was not given a second term in office by the voters.

Not only did  Trump and the GOP continue the explosion of the national debt in such a short period of time as did President George H.W. Bush did, Trump joined every republican administration's failure in the past 60 years to leave office with a smaller federal deficit then when he took office.  But every democratic administration during that time period with the exception of President Carter, did leave office with a smaller federal deficit than when they took office.  So  the democratic party has a history of reducing deficit spending while GOP administrations do just the opposite.

In the last 40 years beginning with the Reagan administration thru the Trump administration, GOP administrations added $17.735 trillion to the national debt while democratic administrations added $9.738 trillion to the national debt.  The national debt stood at $999.8 billion, less than a trillion dollars at the end of President Carter's last fiscal year ending 9/30/ 81 and stood at $2.857 trillion at the end of Reagan's last fiscal year budget that ended 9/30/89 a whopping increase of 186% in the national debt.  That was the start of the devastation and betrayal of the federal governments fiscal house.  And Reagan was the President who said the government had a spending problem and he was going to cut federal spending.  Yeah, right!!!  

Trump also  left office following in the footsteps of every GOP administration in the last 100 years by having an economic recession that started on his watch.  A terrible economic record by any standard.  And to top  it off, three of the last 4 GOP Presidents cut taxes for you know who.  Does any one realize who suffers the most during an economic recession?

And to think that the news media in general report and repeat the GOP talking points of the democratic party being the big spenders and creators of debt.   The media continues to report the GOP lies, misinformation and false charges without even pointing out the facts say otherwise. They are the enablers of the GOP's propaganda.  And even at this writing as the GOP oppose raising the debt ceiling because of their phony charges of Biden's spending proposals, the media is silent on the fact that Trump and the GOP's spending hit record levels in fiscal 2020 when federal spending went past the 4, 5 and 6 trillion dollar spending mark.  So disregard the noise coming out the news media, especially the so called conservative news media in particular.  The GOP are the conservative party??????  Its the greatest fairy tale ever told.  And President Trump's administration continued the fairy tale.

So stay tuned to Politidose, your daily dose of political commentary for the facts that have been written in commentary for the past 12 years.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin's Ignorance Extends Beyond The Federal Budget.

 Senator Manchin was quoted as saying if democrats want a $3.5 trillion Biden "Build Back Better" proposal they should elect more "liberals."   Well the country did just that this past December electing "liberal" Joe Biden President by casting over 80 million votes for him and his agenda.  It was a record vote and also elected were two "liberals" from Georgia which gave the democratic party control of both houses of congress and the opportunity to pass democratic legislation.  

The problem for Manchin is he believes in brand names like liberal, centrist (which he  claims to be) and conservatives that the GOP claim to be and is ignorant of what those brand names really represent.  A good example is my recent commentary on Manchin ignorance of the federal budget.  The record shows that the democratic party has been conservative on the governments fiscal matters while the GOP has been the most liberal and irresponsible.  Democrats also have a record of paying for their legislative agenda while the GOP does not.

True liberals don't have to depend on using brand names because they are better in tune with the needs of the country and its people and design legislation to work in that regard.  Centrist, conservatives and others make decision based on ideology and that is why for them the future is like the failed past.

Manchin is a Senator who receives huge contributions from the energy industry, especially the coal industry and other special interest groups and that is who he is beholden to.  He opposes Biden's plan to raise the tax on corporations to the level proposed by Biden using the excuse it would make American corporations less competitive.  President Clinton and President Obama proved that to be "fake news" during their administrations.  President Clinton raised those folks taxes and Obama allowed the Bush 43 tax cuts for those making over $550,000.00 per year expire during his second term in office.  There was no economic recessions that began on Clintons or Obama's watch.  But an economic recession did begin and start on the watch of Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43 and Trump.  And three of those Presidents cut taxes for you know who.

Every GOP administration in the past 100 years gave the country and its people an  economic recession that began on their  watch.  Liberal democratic administrations don't even come close to that GOP tragic economic record.  And that is a tribute to liberal democratic administrations who govern with plans and policies that address the  needs of the country and its people.

This writer would remind  the  ignorant Senator that the U.S. Constitution is a liberal document that grants the people certain rights that the GOP has opposed.  Manchin can not even get it right on brand names and his ignorance is causing a waste of legislative time.  The President's agenda is a good one for the  country and its people and it is past time for Senator Manchin to demonstrate he has the political understanding to move the country forward.

This commentary written by Joe  Lorio

The Biden Administration Delivers Disaster Relief For Louisiana.

The Democratic controlled congress passed a disaster relief bill last week to the tune of $28.6 billion, a portion which will go to Louisiana.  Louisiana's portion will go towards the damages caused by three hurricanes that hit in 2020,, the February 2021 freeze and the recent hurricane Ida.

Southwest Louisiana which sustained heavy damages in 2020 will finally see some financial help and relief that was way overdue and should have been addressed by the previous administration in Washington.  Governor Edwards will  now have to sort out just what portion of the relief funds will come to Louisiana and determine if more relief funds will be available if necessary.  We already know Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter thinks Louisiana's portion for his hard hit area will not be sufficient.  

This writer believes that if Governor Edwards can make the case that additional disaster aid is needed, President Biden will be receptive.  I say that because democratic administrations have a record of responding to the needs of states who have been affected by disasters.  And Louisiana also has a governor who has political understanding and knows how to govern.

So in  due time we will know how much Louisiana will receive and then make a judgement how much more will be needed if necessary.  We do know that Louisiana suffered more than just damage to properties that also requires aid.  So this aid package that congress just passed is only the beginning of a process.

 This commentary written by Joe Lorio

 

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin Declared His Ignorance On the Federal Budget With His Latest Quoted Statement.

THOSE WHO SERVE IN CONGRESS SHOULD HAVE A KNOWLEDGE OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET FOR REASONS THAT ARE SO OBVIOUS THEY NEED NOT BE REPEATED HERE. YET, sENATOR MANCHIN DISPLAYED HIS IGNORANCE ON THE SUBJECT WHEN HE SAID THE PRESIDENT'S $3.5 TRILLION LEGISLATION WAS "FISCAL INSANITY." IF MANCHIN KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THE FEDERAL BUDGET HE WOULD KNOW THAT THOSE WORDS ACTUALLY DESCRIBE THE GOP'S RECORD FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS AND DOES NOT APPLY TO BIDEN'S PROPOSAL OR THE DEMOCRATIC RECORD. LETS EXAMINE THE FISCAL FACTS FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS THAT COVER THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF REAGAN, BUSH 41, CLINTON, BUSH 43, OBAMA AND TRUMP. THE FISCAL FACTS ARE TAKEN FROM THE OFFICIAL BUDGET REPORTS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT WHO RECORD AND KEEP THE FISCAL FACTS AND ARE AVAILABLE ON LINE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE. THE BELOW NUMERS COVER EACH ADMINISTRATIONS FISCAL YEARS WHICH BEGIN ON OCTOBER 1 AND END ON SEPTEMBER 30. TOTAL FEDERAL SPENDING, WHICH THE AGENCIES CALL "OUTLAYS" ON THEIR REPORTS FOR THOSE 6 PRESIDENTS WERE AS FOLLOWS: TOTAL FEDERAL SPENDING FOR REAGANS 8 FISCAL YEARS WAS UP 75%. 50% IN HIS FIRST TERM COMPARED TO CARTERS 4 YEARS AND 25% IN HIS SECOND TERM OVER HIS FIRST TERM. TOTAL FEDERAL SPENDING FOR GEORGE H.W. BUSH'S 4 FISCAL YEARS WAS UP 28% OVER REAGAN'S LAST TERM. TOTAL FEDERAL SPENDING FOR CLINTON'S 8 FISCAL YEARS WAS UP 28%. 14% IN HIS FIRST TERM OVER BUSH'S LAST TERM AND 14% IN HIS SECOND TERM OVER HIS FIRST TERM. (THE MOST EVENLY INCEASE OF ALL PRESIDENTS IN THE PAST 40 YEARS) TOTAL FEDERAL SPENDING FOR GEORGE W. BUSH'S 8 FISCAL YEARS WAS UP 61%. IT WAS UP 28% IN HIS FIRST TERM OVER PRESIDENT CLINTON'S LAST TERM AND 33% OVER HIS FIRST TERM. TOTAL FEDERAL SPENDING FOR BARRACK OBAMA'S 8 FISCAL YEARS WAS UP 25%. IT WAS UP 18% IN HIS FIRST TERM OVER BUSH'S LAST TERM AND 7% OVER HIS FIRST TERM. TOTAL FEDERAL SPENDING FOR DONALD TRUMP HAS ONLY BEEN RECORDED FOR TRUMP'S FIRST THREE FISCAL YEARS AND FEDERAL SPENDING FOR THOSE THREE YEARS COMPARED TO OBAMA'S FIRST THREE FISCAL YEARS OF HIS SECOND TERM WAS UP 30%. SO WHEN THE FINAL NUMBERS COMES OUT FOR TRUMPS LAST FISCAL YEAR SPENDING THAT 30% INCREASE WILL BE INCREASED. SO TOTAL FEDERAL SPENDING UNDER CLINTON AND OBAMA INCREASED AT A MUCH SLOWER RATE THAN THE 4 OTHER GOP PRESIDENTS BY A WIDE MARGIN. DEFICIT SPENDING: EVERY DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT IN THE LAST 60 YEARS HAS COMPLETED HIS LAST FISCAL YEAR IN OFFICE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PRESIDENT CARTER WITH A SMALLER FEDERAL DEFICIT THAN WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE, BUT EVERY GOP PRESIDENT DURING THAT SAME PERIOD LEFT OFFICE WITH A HIGHER FEDERAL DEFICIT AT THE END OF HIS LAST FISCAL YEAR THAN WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE. PRESIDENT CLINTON BALANCED THE BUDGET ALL 4 YEARS OF HIS SECOND TERM AND REDUCED DEFICIT SPENDING EVERY YEAR OF HIS FIRST TERM. NO GOP PRESIDENT HAS DONE THE SAME. NO GOP PRESIDENT HAS BALANCED THE FEDERAL BUDGET SINCE EISENHOWER IN 1960, BUT TWO DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS, LYNDON JOHNSON AND BILL CLINTON BALANCED THE FEDERAL BUDGET 5 TIMES IN THAT SAME TIME PERIOD. JOHNSON BALANCED THE BUDGET IN 1969. THE NATIONAL DEBT: THE NATIONAL DEBT INCREASED 186% IN REAGAN'S 8 FISCAL YEARS IT INCREASED 54% IN GEORGE H.W. BUSH'S 4 FISCAL YEARS IT INCREASED 31% IN CLINTON'S 8 FISCAL YEARS IT INCREASED 105% IN GEORGE W. BUSH'S 8 FISCAL YEARS IT INCREASED 70%IN OBAMA'S 8 FISCAL YEARS IT INCREASED 39% AS OF 3/18/21 ON TRUMP'S WATCH AND WILL INCREASE MORE AS THE FINAL NUMBER COMES IN. THE LARGEST SINGLE FISCAL YEAR DEFICITS TOOK PLACE ON PRESIDENT BUSH 43 WATCH IN HIS LAST FISCAL YEAR BUDGET OF 9/30/09 AT $1.4 TRILLION. TRUMP'S THIRD FISCAL YEAR WHICH ENDED 9/30/20 ENDED WITH A RECORD $3.1 TRILLION AND WHEN HIS LAST FISCAL YEAR BUDGET COMES IN FOR FISCAL 9/30/21 THE DEFICIT WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $2 TRILLION WHEN THE NUMBERS ARE REPORTED. RONALD REAGAN WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT EVER TO HAVE A $1 TRILLION SPENDING BUDGET. GEORGE W. BUSH WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO HAVE A $2 AND $3 TRILLION SPENDING BUDGET AND PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO HAVE A $4, $5 AND $6 TRILLION SPENDING BUDGET. PRESIDENT CLINTON STAYED WITHIN THE $1 TRILLION OF SPENDING DURING HIS 8 FISCAL YEARS AND PRESIDENT OBAMA STAYED WITHIN THE $3 TRILLION RANGE HE INHERITED FROM BUSH. THE FISCAL NUMBERS TELL THE STORY OF A FISCALLY SANE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND FISCAL INSANITY DURING THOSE 4 GOP ADMINISTRATIONS. AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE NATIONAL DEBT TODAY WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM IF REAGAN, BUSH 41 AND BUSH 43 HAD BALANCED THE FEDERAL BUDGET AS CLINTON DID. THE BUSH 43 ADMINISTRATION BLEW UP THE FISCAL SANITY OF THE CLINTON YEARS IN BUSH'S VERY FIRST FISCAL YEAR WHEN HE RETURNED THE COUNTRY TO DEFICIT SPENDING THAT LASTED THROUGH HIS 8 FISCAL YEARS. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ALSO PAID DOWN OVER $400 BILLION IN THE NATIONAL DEBT. THE GOP PAID DOWN NOTHING, ZERO. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THOSE 4 GOP PRESIDENTS PRESIDED OVER AN ECONOMIC RECESSION THAT BEGAN ON THEIR WATCH DESPITE THE TAX CUTS BY REAGAN, BUSH 43 AND TRUMP. NO ECONOMIC RECESSIONS BEGAN ON CLINTON OR OBAMA'S WATCH AND CLINTON RAISED TAXES ON THOSE SAME FOLKS WHO RECEIVED THE THREE GOP TAX CUTS AND OBAMA ALLOWED THE BUSH TAX CUTS TO EXPIRE FOR THOSE MAKING OVER $550,000.00 A YEAR. AND CLINTON CREATED MORE JOBS IN 8 YEARS THAN REAGAN, BUSH 41, BUSH 43 AND TRUMP CREATED IN THE 24 YEARS THEY SERVED. MANCHIN USES THE SAME MIS-LEADING STATEMENTS AND LIES OF THE GOP IN TRYING TO DESCRIBE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS THE BIG SPENDING PARTY BUT THE RECORD INDICATES OTHERWISE. SENATOR MANCHIN'S OPPOSITION WITH HIS STATED WORDS CONCERNING BIDEN'S $3.5 TRILLION LEGISLATION IS HOGWASH AND A EXCUSE FOR HIS REAL MOTIVES. hIS IGNORANCE OF BUDGET FACTS THE PAST 40 YEARS SAYS IT ALL ABOUT HIS QUALIFICATIONS TO SERVE AS A U.S. SENATOR. BEING OBJECTIVE IS NOT A PART OF GOVERNING FOR THE SENATOR. DEMOCRATIC "FISCAL INSANITY?" FACTS TELL US IT DOES NOT EXIST. BUT THE FACTS DO TELL THE STORY OF A REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT HAS GOVERNED WITH "FISCAL INSANITY" FOR TOO MANY YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONG THE THE LAST 4 YEARS UNDER TRUMP AND THE GOP. AND THAT REALLY SAYS IT ALL. THIS COMMENTARY WRITTEN BY JOE LORIO NOTE: BIDEN'S $3.5 TRILLION BUILD BACK BETTER LEGISLATION IS PAID FOR OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD WHICH MAKES GOOD BUDGET SENSE AND PROVIDES FOR LONG TERM GROWTH.

THE NEWS MEDIA ONCE AGAIN FAILS TO INFORM AMERICA AND ITS PEOPLE DURING TIMES OF DECISION MAKING.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S OBSTRUCTION IN CONGRESS IS WELL KNOWN BUT THE MEDIA FAILS IN ITS RESPONSE AND ACTUALLY ENABLES THE PARTY IN THEIR OBSTRUCTION BY NOT COUNTERING THE OBSTRUCTION WITH FACTS. A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE PARTY'S PLEDGE TO OPPOSE RAISING OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DEBT CEILING AND TO ALLOW THE COUNTRY TO DEFAULT ON PAYING OFF ITS OBLIGATIONS THEY THEMSELVES VOTED FOR. THE GOP USES AND HIDES BEHIND THE EXCUSE STATEMENT THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO INCREASE SPENDING. THAT OF COURSE IS A SELF SERVING STATEMENT BY THE GOP WHICH THE MEDIA GIVES A LOT OF ATTENTION TO BUT NEVER POINTS OUT TO THE PUBLIC THAT IT IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING MOST OF THE DEBT BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THE LAST 50 PLUS YEARS AND THAT IT STARTED BIG TIME WITH THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION. THE MEDIA HAS ALSO FAILED TO POINT OUT THAT IT IS THE GOP THEMSELVES WHO ARE THE BIG SPENDERS AND OWN THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN FEDERAL SPENDING FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS WHICH CONTINUED IN 2020 UNDER TRUMP WHEN FEDERAL SPENDING HIT A RECORD $6.5 TRILLION. DURING THE PAST 50 PLUS FISCAL YEARS THE NATIONAL DEBT INCREASED AS FOLLOWS ON EACH PRESIDENT'S TERM OR TERMS IN OFFICE. 1. RONALD REAGAN 8 FISCAL YEARS UP 186% 2. GEORGE W. BUSH 8 FISCAL YEARS UP 105% 3. NIXON-FORD 8 FISCAL YEARS UP 98% 4. BARRACK OBAMA 8 FISCAL YEARS UP 70% 5. GEORGE H.W. BUSH 4 FISCAL YEARS UP 54% 6. JIMMIE CARTER 4 FISCAL YEARS UP 43% 7. BILL CLINTON 8 FISCAL YEARS UP 31% 8. KENNEDY-JOHNSON 8 FISCAL YEARS UP 18% 9. DWIGHT EISENHOWER 8 FISCAL YEARS UP 6% 10. ROOSEVELT-TRUMAN UP 3% NOTE: TRUMP'S NUMBERS ARE NOT KNOWN YET BECAUSE HIS FOURTH FISCAL YEAR DOES NOT END TILL 9/30/21 BUT WE DO KNOW THAT WHEN THE NUMBER COMES IN IT WILL SHOW THAT THE NATIONAL DEBT INCREASED MORE THAN HALF OF WHAT IT DID ON PRESIDENT OBAMA'S WATCH AND TRUMP ONLY SERVED 4 YEARS. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NEVER REFUSED TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING WHEN THEIR PARTY CONTROLLED THE WHITE HOUSE AND WAS ADDING RECORD DEBT AND SPENDING TO THE GOVERNMENT'S FISCAL HOUSE. BUT DURING THE CLINTON PRESIDENCY REPUBLICAN NEWT GINGRICH THREATENED TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT OVER THE DEBT CEILING, THE GOP DID IT AGAIN DURING OBAMA'S PRESIDENCY AND NOW WITH MITCH MCCONNELL LEADING THE GOP THEY VOTED AGAINST RAISING THE DEBT CEILING AND PROCLAIMED THEIR PARTY WOULD WANT TO SEE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEFAULT ON THE OBLIGATIONS THEIR PARTY HELPED TO CREATE. THE ONLY MEDIA SOURCE FOR THE PUBLIC ON HOW THE GOP ARE THE LARGEST SOURCE OF INCREASED FEDERAL SPENDING, OF INCREASES IN THE NATIONAL DEBT AND THE CREATION OF DEBT, HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT, LOWEST IN JOB CREATION, WORST IN BALANCING THE FEDERAL BUDGET, WORST AT REDUCINT DEFICIT SPENDING AND WORST AT LOWERING UNEMPLOYMENT IS "POLITIDOSE" COMMENTARY OVER THE PAST 9 YEARS. CAN ANY ONE REMEMBER THE NEWS MEDIA EVER GIVING OUT THIS INFORMATION WHILE THE GOP WAS CLAIMING TO BE THE BEST AT EVERYTHING? THEY ARE TO BUSY ENABLING THE GOP AND ITS LIES OF PROPAGANDA. THE RECORD AND FACTS SPEAKS FOR THEMSELVES AS TO WHAT PARTY IS BEST AT GOVERNING AND ITS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WITH OUT A DOUBT. THE NEWS MEDIA IS JUST IGNORANT OF THE FACTS BEAUSE THE GOP HAS MORE TO SAY FOR THEM TO COMMENT ON EVEN THOUGH THE GOP'S COMMENTS ARE LIES. NOTE; FOR MORE DETAIL CONCERNING FEDERAL SPENDING INCREASES BY THE GOP READ PAST COMMENTARY BY POLITIDOSE. THIS COMMENTARY WRITTEN BY JOE LORIO

The Noise Machine of Division: The GOP, The Conservative Media, The Main Street Media and The Internet.

THE NOISE MACHINE OF DIVISION ARE FLOODING THE AIR WAVES AND THE PUBLISHING WORLD WITH THEIR DIVISIVE AND MIS-LEADING REPORTS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRSATION'S AGENDA WITH A VENGENCE, ESPECIALLY THE PRESIDENT'S ENDING OF THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN AND THE EVACUATION, AND HIS POLITICAL AGENDA NOW MOVING THROUGH CONGRESS. THEY STILL DO NOT LIKE THE FACT THAT THE U.S. EVACUATED THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS, AFGHANS AND ALLIES SUCCESSFULLY DESPITE THE CHAOTIC CONDITIONS BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT AND ITS MILITARY LOSS OF CONTROL AGAINST THE TALIBAN AND THE LACK OF A WILL TO DEFEND THEIR OWN COUNTRY. THE MEDIA STILL TRIES TO DESCRIBE THE END OF THE WAR A FAILURE WITH DIRE PREDICTIONS TO COME FOR THE U.S. THEY USE THE WORDS LIKE THE OPERATION WAS A DISGRACE. ONE GOP MEMBER OF CONGRESS PREDICTED THE TALIBAN WOULD TAKE SO MANY AMERICANS IN AFGHANISTAN HOSTAGE IT WOULD OVER SHADOW THE IRAN HOSTAGE TAKING SITUATION THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE 70'S. THE PRESIDENT'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA UNDER CONSIDERATION NOW BY THE DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS ARE BEING DISCRIBED AS DEAD, IN-FIGHTING BETWEEM MEMBERS WILL DOOM THE LEGISLATION, CHAOIS, ETC, ETC, ETC. NO SOLUTIONS ON THE HORIZON, ITS BIDEN'S FAULT AND SO ON WITH OTHER NEGATIVE STATEMENTS DESIGNED TO HARM THE PRESIDENT. BUT THE FACTS TELL THE STORY OF A PARTY WHO HAS A VERY SLIM MAJORITY AND LEGISLATIVE MATTERS ARE NOT GOING TO RUN SMOOTHLY BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS. bUT IN THE END, THE pRESIDENT AND HIS PARTY WILL WORK OUT THE DIFFERENCE. wHAT COUNTS IS THE PRODUCT, NOT THE TIME IT TAKES TO ACT. THE NOISE MACHINES OF DIVISION WILL CONTINUE ITS FLOOD OF MIS-LEADING INFORMATION CONCERNINC THE SUBJECT MATTERS BECAUSE THAT IS ALL THEY HAVE LEFT. tHEY KNOW A GOOD LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WHEN THEY SEE ONE AND "BUILDING BACK BETTER" IS A THREAT TO THEIR DO NOTHING AND UN-AMERICAN RADICAL IDEOLOGY. THIS COMMENTARY WRITTEN BY JOE LORIO

Opinion Writer Froma Harrop Has A Stock Market Problem.

HARROP'S COMMENTARY IN THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE DATED 9/20/21 TITLED, "BIDEN MARKET SURGES AND TRUMP'S BOASTING FADES" IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW MUCH SHE KNOWS ABOUT STOCK MARKET HISTORY AND HOW OPINION WRITERS HAVE FAILED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE FACTS AS THEY TAKE PLACE. HARROP THINKS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE HEY DO NOT BRAG ABOUT HOW WELL THE STOCK MARKET DOES ON THEIR WATCH. tHEN TELLS US HOW MUCH BETTER THE MARKET IS DOING ON BIDEN'S WATCH THAN IT DID ON TRUMP'S WATCH. AND ALL THE WHILE TRUMP WAS IN OFFICE AND PROCLAIMING HOW THE STOCK MARKET WAS THE BEST EVER, OPINION WRITERS REPORTED HIS COMMENTS AS FACT EVEN THOUGH PAST HISTORY OF THE STOCK MARKET TELLS US TRUMP WAS WRONG AND HE KNEW IT. iT WAS SIMILIAR TO HIS JOB CREATION BEING THE BEST EVER AND OPINION WRITERS REPORTED THAT AS FACT AND WAS FALSE ALSO. WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE WITH OPINION WRITERS AND SO CALLED JOURNALIST WHO PROCLAIM THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PEOPLE TO INFORM THEM HAS BEEN SIDELINED. AND IT STARTED WITH THE NEWT GINGRICH ERA. OPINION WRITERS WHO REPORTED TRUMP'S BRAGGING ABOUT BEING THE BEST AT EVERYTHING KNEW THE HISTORY OF THE PAST SAID OTHERWISE BUT NEVER FOUND TIME TO REPORT THE FACTS TO THE PEOPLE. TRUMP WAS THE NEWS, THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERED TO THEM. BUT POLITIDOSE IN COMMENTARY OVER THE PAST 9 YEARS HAS LAID OUT THE FACTS HOW DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATIONS ARE BEST AT GOVERNING IN EVERY MAJOR CATEGORY FOR THE COUNTRY AND THE PEOPLE. THERE IS NO NEED FOR BRAGGING, THE RECORD IS CLEAR OVER THE PAST 100 YEARS. OPINION WRITERS AND JOURNALISTS HAVE FAILED TO REPORT THE FACTS, THE HISTORY AND THE PRECEDENTS THAT BACK IT UP. THE BELOW INFORMATION ABOUT STOCK MARKET GAINS DURING PRESIDENTIAL TERMS HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED IN POLITIDOSE. THE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE TO HARROP AND OTHERS WHEN TRUMP WAS DOING HIS BRAGGING BUT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO REPORT IT SO THE PEOPLE COULD SEE THE EVIDENCE. THE INFORMATION IS TAKEN FROM DOW JONES HISTORICAL RECORDS. AVERAGE GAINS DJIA FOR PRESIDENTIAL TERMS. 1. BILL CLINTON UP 228.9% 2. FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT UP 198.6% 3. BARRACK OBAMA UP 148.3% 4. RONALD REAGAN UP 147.3% 5. DWIGHT EISENHOWER UP 123.7% 6. HARRY TRUMAN UP 75.2% 7. DONALD TRUMP UP 57% Note: Reagan, Bush 43 and Trump all cut taxes for corporations and the wealthy while Clinton and Obama did not and in fact Clinton raised taxes on that same group and Obama allowed the Bush tax cuts to expire for those making over $550,000.00 per year yet the market did better on Clinton and Obama's watch. Average gains for the Standard and Poor during Presidential terms. 1. BILL CLINTON UP 209% 2. BARRACK OBAMA UP 166% 3. FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT UP 153% 4. RONALD REAGAN UP 114% 5. KENNEDY JOHNSON UP 71% 6. DONALD TRUMP UP 70% 7. HARRY TRUMAN UP 68% HISTORY AND PRECEDENT TOLD US THE STOCK MARKET WOULD NOT ACCOMPLISH UNDER TRUMP WHAT HE DESCRIBED DESPITE THE TAX CUTS AND ALL THE BRAGGING. BRAGGING DURING TRUMP'S TERM IN OFFICE RECEIVED MORE ATTENTION THAN THE FACTS OR PRECEDENT. AND THAT REALLY SAYS IT ALL. THIS COMMENTARY WRITTEN BY JOE LORIO

Job Creation and Unemployment for August 2021

THE U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT THE ECONOMY ADDED 235,000 JOBS IN AUGUST AND THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE CAME IN AT 5.2%, DOWN FROM THE 5.4% IN JULY. IT WAS THE SEVENTH STRAIGHT MONTH OF POSITIVE JOB GROWTH IN BIDEN'S FIRST 7 FULL MONTHS IN OFFICE. THE ECONOMIC PUNDITS WERE WRONG ONCE AGAIN WITH THEIR PREDICTIONS LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN ALL ALONG JUST LIKE THE GOP WHO WANT TO SEE THE PRESIDENT FAIL BECAUSE THEIR PARTY HAS A TERRIBLE RECORD ON THE ECONOMY, JOB CREATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT. THE JOB NUMBERS ALSO PROVED THOSE GOP GOVERNORS WHO CUT OFF THE UNEMPLOYMENT MONTHLY FUNDS BECAUSE THEY SAID IT ENCOURAGED PEOPLE NOT TO WORK PROVED WRONG BY THE AUGUST JOB NUMBERS. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WHEN TRUMP LEFT OFFICE IN JANUARY 2021 WAS 6.3%. IT WAS 4.7% WHEN OBAMA LEFT OFFICE IN JANUARY 2017. TH ECONOMY LOST JOBS ON TRUMP'S WATCH, THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO HAVE A NEGATIVE JOB CREATION RECORD SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION. PRESIDENT OBAMA INHERITED THE GREAT BUSH RECESSION OF 2008 BUT STILL CREATED OVER 11,000,000 NEW JOBS. THE AUGUST NUMBERS TELL THE STORY F AN ECONOMY THAT IS STILL RECOVERING AT AN UNEVEN, BUT STEADY PACE DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE RECESSION, THE PANDEMIC, THE LATEST COVID SURGE (AND OTHERS) AND A LACK OF VACCINATIONS AMONG MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WILLING TO PUT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS AT RISK. THE COUNTRY IS MAKING PROGRESS DESPITE THE NEGATIVE VOICES OUT THERE. THE GDP WAS 6.3% IN THE FIRST QUARTER AND 6.6% IN THE SECOND QUARTER BASED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. THE ECONOMY HAS ADDED OVER 4,000,000 JOBS ON BIDEN'S WATCH AND WHEN CONGRESS PASSES THE PRESIDENT'S INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND HIS BUILD BACK BETTER BILL THE OUT LOOK FOR CONTINUED ECONOMIC AND JOB GROWTH EXPANSION WILL BE LONG TERM. SO TUNE OUT THE GOP AND THEIR DITTO HEADS WITH THEIR TRASH TALK. AMERICA HAS AN ADULT IN THE WHITE HOUSE WHO HAS PLANS AND POLICIES FOR THE FUTURE AND THEY ARE WORKING. THIS COMMENTARY WRITTEN BY JOE LORIO

Out Of Afghanistan: President Biden Ends America's Longest War.

PRESIDENT BIDEN WITHDREW ALL AMERICAN MILITARY FORCES FROM AFGHANISTAN OCCUPYING THAT COUNTRY FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS WHICH ENDED AMERICA'S LONGEST WAR. THE WITHDRAWAL INCLUDED THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN, AFGHAN AND ALLIES WHO WORKED WITH THE U.S. FORCES IN A JOINT EFFORT. THE WITHDRAWAL WAS A MASSIVE OPERATION AND ONE OF SUCCESS DESPITE THE CHAOTIC CONDITIONS THAT RESULTED FROM FAILURE BY THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY TO CHALLENGE THE TALIBAN ADVANCES AND TAKE OVER. THEY JUST CUT AND RAN. THE NOISE MACHINE, NAMELY THE GOP, SO CALLED CONSERVATIVES OF ALL STRIPES AND THE PRO WAR GROUPS CONDEMED THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION, ACCUSED THE PRESIDENT OF BEING WEAK AND SAID IT WOULD MAKE AMERICA MORE OPEN TO TERROR ATTACKS. THEIR ONLY SOLUTION IS TO STAY IN AFGHANISTAN ANOTHER 20 YEARS AND HAVE NO CLER POLICY ON THE SUBJECT OR HOW TO DISENGAGE. IT IS A RERUN OF WHAT THEY SAID WHEN THE U.S. ENDED THE VIET NAM WAR. THEY SAID THE DOMINO THEORY WOULD BE IN EFFECT, ALL SOUTH EAST ASIA WOULD FALL UNDER COMMUNIST RULE AND AMERICA WOULD BE IN MORE DANGER. WELL, VIET NAM FELL AND NONE OF THOSE PREDICTIONS CAME TO PASS. iN FACT THE OPPOSITE TOOK PLACE AND VIET NAM IS ONE COUNTRY, ONE PEOPLE, UNDER ONE FLAG AND ONE GOVERNMENT. PRESIDENT EISENHOWER ENDED THE KOREAN WAR AFTER HE BECAME PRESIDENT. HE UNDERSTOOD THE MISSION WAS ACCOMPLISHED AS SET BY PRESIDENT TRUMAN, THAT MISSION WAS TO STOP N. KOREA FROM TAKING OVER S. KOREA AND AMERICAN AND U.N. FORCES INTERVENTION ACCOMPLISHED THAT. PRESIDENT EISENHOWER KNEW IT WAS TIME TO END THAT WAR AND DID SO. EISENHOWER FACED SOME OF THE SAME NEGATIVE VOICES WE HEAR TODAY, BUT HE MADE THE CORRECT CALL AS PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF. SO NOW PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF BIDEN MADE HIS DECISION ON AFGHANISTAN. HE UNDERSTANDS THE MILITARY AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROTECT AMERICA AND ITS PEOPLE WITHOUT OCCUPYING OTHER COUNTRIES. THE PRESIDENT ALSO UNDERSTANDS THE HISTORY OF AFGHANISTAN AND THAT THE COUNTRY'S GOVRNMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONTROLLED BY RELIGIOUS FACTIONS THAT THE U.S. WILL NEVER CHANGE. THAT CUSTOM HAS BEEN A TRADITION IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD FOR 4 THOUSAND YEARS. TO THEM, RELIGION IS GOVERNMENT. THE PRESIDENT'S JOB NEVER BECOMES EASIER, AND THE PEOPLE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT. IRAQ IS STILL ON AMERICA'S AGENDA AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE THERE WITH AMERICAS SECOND LONGEST WAR, 18 YEARS AND STILL COUNTING. SOONER OR LATER THAT BRIDGE WILL HAVE TO BE CROSSED. PRESIDENT BIDEN'S FOREIGN POLICY SHOULD BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO WORK. fOUR PRESIDENTS WERE GIVEN AFGHANISTAN 20 YEARS TO WORK AND 18 PLUS YEARS IN IRAQ TO WORK. JOE BIDEN, THE FOURTH PRESIDENT TOOK THE FIRST STEP AND MADE A DECISION ON AFGHANISTAN. IT IS A START TO A NEW FOREIGN POLICY UNDER A NEW COMMANDER IN CHIEF. THIS COMMENTARY WRITTEN BY JOE LORIO

Finally, Real Presidential Leadership On Afghanistan.

 President Biden's order for the American withdrawal from Afghanistan was once again an American example of true leadership to a problem originated by some one other than himself.  In the face of criticism by the press, the GOP, the pro-war groups and those who want to see his administration fail, the President told all the "buck stops with him."

And in spite of the  cries from the opposition  about chaos taking place, the President's steady leadership has resulted in a steady evacuation of Americans and Afghans who cooperated with the U.S. over the 20 years of war.  As of this writing over 50,000 people have been evacuated and the effort continues.  The evacuation has been successful even though the Afghan government and its military cut and ran instead of fighting for their own country and protecting their own people.  The negative voices in America have a real problem understanding what is so good about America and how difficult the war was.  Those negative voices have no answer to the problem except another 20 years of American occupation.  President Biden understood the past sacrifice of our troops when he said he would not see another American lose his  life in Afghanistan when the Afghan military failed to defend their own country.  

America now has a President wo understands war, its effects, its limitations and its consequences.  Biden's steady leadership on the issues will be the checks and balance against the noise machine out there who want to see he and the country fail.  The media and negative voices will continue to wrongly describe the withdrawal as chaotic being the result of Biden's policies, but the facts tell us the withdrawal is going well considering the fact that the Afghan government and military has been a no show.

History will give the President a thumbs up concerning his handling of the end of this war and the evacuations.  Make no mistake about it.

This commentary written by Joe  Lorio

The Republican Party Continues Its Assault On America's Health As The Delta Variant Soars.

Trump and the GOP were not satisfied with their irresponsible, mis-information and dis-information during the height of the COVID pandemic of 2020.  So  now the GOP is taking it to a more destructive level in the surge of the delta variant in the summer of 2021.

A number of GOP governors have mandated that schools make it optional if students want to wear masks or not.   And several school boards are fighting back and plan to make masks wearing in school mandatory with some exceptions.  And in fact in Florida, a judge ruled that Florida's governor could not stop schools from mandating masks.  

Then there are those GOP members in congress who continue to fight the recommendations of the CDC and are still giving out mis-information about the vaccine.  And they are still making excuses for those who refuse to be vaccinated or wear a mask to stop the spread of the virus.  The GOP's anti-health position, especially for those in school doing their best to receive an education is so out of step with American values and moral responsibility.  The current death toll from the virus of over 600,000 Americans tell the real story of a GOP out of control and out of touch with their sworn duty to serve the people during a health crisis. 

This is the same GOP who made fun of democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden during the 2020 election when he wore a mask while campaigning and limited his public  rallies to avoid the possible spread of the virus.  Well, the country did well when they elected Joe Biden and rejected Trump  and his party.  And its a good thing that America now has a President who understands the health issue and the nature of the problem and willing to take a stand and fight back against the GOP's destructive attitude and mis-information.

President Biden wants to "build back better."  The GOP wants to continue to destroy.  And that really says it all.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

 

President Biden's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Passes The U.S. Senate.

 The U.S. Senate by a vote of 69 - 30 approved President Biden and the democratic proposal in a bipartisan vote.  Nineteen republicans joined all 50 democrats in voting yes.  Louisiana's U.S. Senator John Kennedy voted against the bill and followed the advise of his idol Donald Trump.  The bill will  now go to the U.S. House along with the democratic parallel bill being considered by the Senate when that bill is completed.  

The legislation is a good bill that will benefit every state, add more volume to the economic recovery and create new good paying jobs.  It is another step for the President and his party's plan and policies to move the country forward for the long term.  It is also another example how to govern and address the issues with real plans and policy and not with failed ideology.  Those 19 republicans who supported the bill came to realize their own party's failure to address Infrastructure the past four years and accepted the President's desire for bipartisan support.

So now the attention will turn to the democratic parallel bill in the Senate and the action by the U.S. House on both bills before they become law.  It is a great time for America and its people to see a President who governs by plans and policies and not by hateful divisive rhetoric and ideology.  Will those 19 republicans continue their participation with the democratic party or will they revert to the same old do nothing party.  Time will give us the answer.

In the mean time, President Biden has a good start on "building back a better America."

Democratic President Joe Biden's Policies Rescue Louisiana's U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy's Sorry Record In Congress As Louisiana's Media Fawns.

 During the 2020 campaign, democrat Joe Biden said he would bring policy and plans to the White House if elected to address COVID and the economic recession to reverse the situation and move the country forward.  And one of those plans was "infrastructure" legislation and was a priority.  The President also  said he would work  with the GOP on the issue.  The President and his party did so and produced a bill  with the support of 17 republican Senators of which Cassidy was one.  The bill will now be voted on soon by the full Senate for passage.

Cassidy's support for the bill has been the subject of commentary in the New Orleans Advocate who has praised the Senator for disregarding other GOP opposition to the bill.  Cassidy himself wrote an opinion column in the Advocate dated 8/9 about the subject matter that turned out to be a self serving statement.  Tyler Bridges wrote a long article about Cassady that was flattering on the same day which was silent on Cassidy's many failures during the Obama and especially during the Trump administration.

As a U.S. Senator representing Louisiana Cassady showed little character or courage during the Obama and Trump administration.  It took a democratic administration and Biden's proposed "infrastructure" plan to rescue Cassidy's failed past.  Cassidy followed Mitch McConnell's lead when he pledged to oppose President Obama's legislative agenda and then the last 4 years supported the corrupt Trump administration.  During those years Cassidy being a doctor promised health care legislation and voted to kill the Affordable Care Act that would leave millions of Americans without health insurance.  Cassidy and his party failed to pass their bragged about health care plan.  He also supported Trump's partisan tax cuts under the reconciliation process with out any democratic votes.  Neither Cassidy, McConnell or Trump introduced or even debated immigration reform legislation, infrastructure or DACA during those 4 years even though it was billed by the GOP as a priority.  They just kicked the can down the road to the next administration.  Maybe that is the reason Cassidy is supporting Biden's infrastructure legislation.

Cassidy voted against impeaching Trump the first time even though it was as serious as the second impeachment he voted for because it was about Trump using a foreign government to interfere with a U.S. Presidential election.  The difference was Trump was out of office when the vote was taken for the second impeachment and still in office during the first impeachment.  That was a lack of courage on Cassidy's part allowing Trump to intimidate his vote.

Cassidy also voted against President Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID relief program that the U.S. Labor Department reported contributed greatly to the economic recovery and job creation this year.  He is also on record as opposing the President's proposed $3.5 trillion parallel package that will move along side the infrastructure bill.  Cassidy calls the $3.5 trillion reckless in his 8/9 opinion column but is silent about the fact that in fiscal year that ended 9/30/20 Cassidy and his party set two spending records.  Total federal  spending was $6.5 trillion and the federal deficit came in at $3.1 trillion.  The previous spending record was by the Trump administration also and the previous single year budget deficit was by another republican President George W. Bush when the deficit came in at $1.4 trillion in his  last fiscal year.  

Unlike Trump and past GOP administrations, President Biden's legislative proposals  are paid for.  Trump's tax cuts were not and financed by deficit spending to the tune of $1.5 trillion.  That did not bother Cassidy or the GOP at all because those that benefited from the tax cuts the most were corporations and the wealthy, the same ones who contribute the most financial support to the GOP.

Senator Cassidy's support of the President's legislation is the right position to take but it does not erase his past position of opposition when he had an opportunity to produce for the state and country.  So time will tell if the real Senator Cassidy has character or courage in the future.  Or will his past come front and center once again.  But it is safe to say as of this writing that former U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu produced more positive legislation for Louisiana and the country than Senators Cassidy or Kennedy has produced combined.  As for Senator Kennedy, he  is taking up that old science course some teach in Congress, TIME AND SPACE.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

The Economy, Job Creation and Unemployment For July 2021.

 The U.S. Labor Department reported the economy added 943,000 jobs in July and the unemployment rate came in at 5.4%, down from June's 5.9%.  The unemployment rate in January 2021 when Trump left office was 6.3%.  The Department also reported that the economy also added 119,000 more jobs in May and June than they originally reported.  So in President Biden's first full six months in office (Feb. - July) 3,987,000 jobs have been added to the economy which averages 664,500 per month.

The Department also reported:  (a)  The Hotel, leisure and restaurant industry that had been slow to add jobs, led job creation in June and July and has come back strongly those two months.  (b)  Hourly wages increased in July 4% over the same period of  last year.  (c)  Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID stimulus was driving the job market and economic recovery along with COVID vaccinations and the opening up of business activity.  (d)  The GOP governors cancellation of unemployment benefits in their states had very little effect on the job numbers.  (e)  The economy is in a strong position but still may be affected if the COVID delta variant causes another "shutdown."

The bottom line is job creation and the economy is still uncertain because of COVID which makes Biden's infrastructure legislation along with his parallel legislation more important for congress to pass in order to keep the economy working with better paying jobs.  Policy and plans to take on the issues are needed now more than ever before and the Biden administration is doing its part to build back better with an economy that works for all and for the long term.

And as Politidose pointed out in commentary many times, precedent tells us democratic administrations have a better record at governing.

This commentary written by Joe  Lorio

The LSU Tigers and The New Orleans Saints: What Will The 2021 Season Bring?

 This writer believes both teams face problems of the unknown type and there fore the pundits predictions should be taken with a grain of salt.  The fans should just try and enjoy the season as much as possible and be objective in their thoughts at the end of the season.

The LSU Tigers:  Despite winning the national championship two years ago with a undefeated season the Tigers have not been a consistent winning team for many years.  They have made the BCS playoffs only once since it began 7 years ago.  Last season's break even record was a serious drop off in performance and now LSU starts off a new season with a new defensive co-ordinator, a new offense co-ordinator and a new defensive line coach and no one really knows how their coaching abilities will play out.  Then there is head coach O, who in this writers judgement did a poor coaching job last season.  Any one who follows the Tigers don't have to follow the x's and o's to get a feel for the season or discuss players abilities.  So my advise to LSU fans is enjoy the season, don't go over board on your predictions and just be happy if the season ends like you think it should.

The New Orleans Saints:  The Saints made the play offs the last 4 straight years but were eliminated all 4 times.  And it took place while Drew Brees was at quarterback.  This season with Brees gone puts the Saints in the position of having a quarterback that has no experience as a Saints starter for a full season.  And the Saints still has a head coach unwilling to put down the cheat sheet and allow his offensive co-ordinator to call the plays.  This writer believes Payton needs to pay more attention to what is taking place on the field.  Saint fans will probably not enjoy this season and what is to come.  The real question is how effectively will the Saints new starting quarterback be.  The answer is not available yet but this writer does not feel positive about the situation.

But there is a way for LSU and Saint fans to be objective about the future direction of both teams.  For LSU, will this be the season that begins a consistent winner that makes the BCS play offs consistently and there fore have a shot at a national championship more often than in the past.  (Like Alabama and Clemson has been in the last 10 years)  The answer will be known at the end of every season.

For the New Orleans Saints:  The Saints have not played in a Super Bowl with Drew Brees at quarterback in the last 12 years.  Can the new starting quarterback and a new offense bring the Saints any closer to a Super Bowl appearance in the near future or the next 12 years.  The question will be answered in time regardless what the pundits are predicting.

The bottom line is the fans can predict the future by being objective and be more accurate than the pundits who  are long on hype but short of being objective.

This commentary written  by Joe Lorio

SEC Expansion: A Prescription For A Weaker Conference.

 The powers to be of the SEC invited the University of Oklahoma and  the University of Texas to join the already crowded 14 teams in the SEC.  And the powers o be at those two universities accepted the invitation according to a report in the New Orleans Advocate of 7/31.  Those who support the expansion to 16 teams talk in terms of a more powerful and Profitable SEC.  (Notice they left out the word COMPETITIVE)   

This writer believes previous expansions in pro sports and college sports has produced a weaker and less competitive Conference, Division and etc.  How can those who support expansion justify such a move when they acknowledge that the present SEC is the most competitive and financially well off conference in college sports.  Simply put, they worship the almighty dollar of college sports and ignore competition and the real part it plays in sports.  A good example is how the almighty dollar failed to investigate the latest LSU sexual harassment scandal properly and make its findings public.  It took a report by USA today to break the real story.

The SEC's proposed expansion comes at a time when the BCS is considering expanding the number of teams in its annual playoff system.  It is another move that will weaken  the present play off system of 4 teams in favor of weaker teams.  As a result of expansion in the NFL, at the end of every regular season only 34 or 35 percent of the teams  end up with a winning record.  Does any one really believe that is a competitive league?  And to top it off, all teams belong to a college football draft which the NFL said would bring parity to the league.  Yeah, right.

If the SEC expansion becomes a reality, the conference will  be weakened and less competitive.  It will not show  up  immediately, but one can bet, because of precedent, it will surely take place.  The dollar people will have their way, but competition in sports will decline .

This  commentary written  by Joe Lorio

  

 

Good News On The U.S. Economy and The Second Quarter GDP

The U.S. Commerce Department reported that the GDP for the second quarter (April-June) grew at a solid 6.5%  annual rate and that the total size of the economy has now surpassed its pre pandemic level.  That adds to the first quarter GDP that was 6.3%.  Those numbers are a reminder that for the year 2020 the GDP contracted at a -3.4% rate.  So the nations economic well being has improved for the first 6 months of the current year.

The Commerce Department also reported that (1)  Consumer spending and business investment surged in the quarter.  (2)  Underpinning the recovery have been trillions in federal money and that consumers will continue to spend.  (That GDP for the year 2021 should grow at a robust pace of 6.5%.  The numbers tell us the Biden Administration has done a good job with the economy so far and it is now important for the administration infrastructure plan to become law with his parallel American Rescue Plan to keep the economy and jobs moving forward for the long term  It is even more important now because of the threat of another shutdown due to another virus outbreak.  

As a nation we can not afford to sit back on what has been accomplished over the first 6 months of 2021.  There is more that has to be done and the President is right to keep his focus on the long term health of the economic recovery and do what is necessary to sustain economic growth.

In a separate report the U.S. Labor Department reported that wages and salaries of workers in the private sector increased 1% in the second quarter to go along with the 1.1% increase in the first quarter.  It was the second largest increase in over a decade.  The 2.1% increase in wages and salaries for the first half of 2021 was higher than the 1.4% increase in the second half of 2020.

And once again it is a democratic administration that is moving America forward out of the economic recession that began in February 2020.  And for those who follow the facts, it was predictable.

This commentary written  by Joe Lorio

 

 

Governor John Bel Edwards Veto Of Bad Legislation Stands.

 The special session of the Louisiana legislature failed to over ride Gov. Edwards' veto concerning the carrying of concealed weapons and transgender rights.  The democratic governor stood tall  with his veto of the harmful legislation and received enough votes in the state house to sustain the veto.  The governor's leadership spoiled the republicans attempt to satisfy their base with their divisive tactics.

Louisiana does not need more guns on the streets and in the hands of those who attempt to do harm.  Law enforcement people across the state opposed the gun measure and rightly so.  The transgender issue was an attempt to discriminate against certain people and governor Edwards realized just how harmful both measures would be to the state and its people.  The republican's liberal stand on gun safety and their many attempts to support discrimination is documented over the years.

Governor Edwards is in the right position at a time of republican extremism both in state and at the federal level and has guided the state out of the pandemic at its worse hour, reversed the trend of deficit spending and debt and the malaise of the Jindal years.  His leadership has confused the so called conservative opinion writer Garey Forster and Forster takes it out on his own republican party in an opinion column dated 7/20 in the  New Orleans Advocate. 

In  his opinion column Forster takes aim at his own party for not standing up to Edwards since his election in 2016.  He calls Louisiana a blue state even though Trump won the state twice by  wide margin.  Forster said in his column he wants to see the republicans stand up and over ride the governor's veto.  

The real problem for Forster, the state GOP and the national GOP is they do not govern with policy or plans.  They govern with an extreme ideology of division with an anti-American attitude and there fore fail on the issues facing the state.  In other words they fail at governing.  The legislation the republican controlled chamber passed that Edwards vetoed was a good example.

The bottom line is Governor Edwards is so much more competent than any republican state legislator, republican opinion writer or any republican who tries to define himself as  leader.   The people of Louisiana my have voted for Trump twice, but enough voters with courage decided a democrat would be best to lead Louisiana and its people.  And that really says it all.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

Louisiana Approves Its Own Infrastructure Legislation.

Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards signed into law a transportation bill on infrastructure that would increase state aid for bridges and roads approximately $300 million a year.  The new funding will help make a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge a reality that is needed and overdue.  The state finally became serious on the needs concerning infrastructure as President Biden made an issue on the subject on the federal level during the campaign and his short time in office.

We do know from reports from the state's legislative office the state needs approximately $14 billion to bring infrastructure up to par and is a great example how the issue has been ignored.  The approved legislation represents the largest state investment in transportation since 1984 according to reports and guess who was governor of Louisiana in 1984?  Well it was another democratic governor by the name of Edwin Edwards.  

So after eight failed years under governor Bobby Jindal, the state continues to move forward for the benefit of the people and the state.  Balanced budgets and some surpluses has brought stability to the state's fiscal health.  No more special sessions for the state legislature that took  place so often under Jindal to cut spending to balance budgets that were declared to be balanced when they first passed.

The election of John Bel Edwards came at the right time to bring leadership back into governing.  And Edwards had the character and courage to lead the state out of the grips of a pandemic and ignored the republicans in the state legislature who wanted the governor to open up the state at a time when the virus was still raging.

And once again, it is a democratic administration in the state that leads Louisiana and its people forward for the greater good and progress.

This  commentary  written by Joe Lorio

 

Job Creation and The Unemployment Rate For June 2021.

 The U.S. Labor Department reported the economy added 850,000 jobs in June and the unemployment rate came in at 5.9%.  It was the best month for jobs since August of 2020.  So in President Biden's first five full  months in office (Feb-June) a total of 2,925,000 jobs have been added for a monthly average of 585,000 jobs per month.  

And once again the pundits were wrong in their predictions.  They were expecting job creation to be approximately 700.000.  When the job numbers fail to reach their predictions on the low side they knock the economic recovery.  When it exceeds their predictions, they are silent.  As this writer stated before there are reasons for a bumpy recovery, the economic recession, then the pandemic which was a one two punch and when you include the Trump administrations failure to act, we can not expect a smooth economic recovery.

But the nation now  has a President with an economic plan and policies to move the country and its people forward.  Plus the President is an active one not willing to allow the past failures to dictate the future of America.  It has been a good five months for the President's administration and precedent tells us America and its people will enjoy a better future.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Steve Scalise and The Republican Party's Myth About Drilling Offshore Louisiana: A Continuing Story.

 Lets test your memory of the BP Oil Spill and Explosion in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 that killed 11 rig workers and damaged the environment.  Do you remember Scalise and other republicans in the state who opposed President Obama's moratorium on drilling in the Gulf until after the federal government completed its investigation and said the moratorium would trigger a mass exodus of drilling rigs from the Gulf and do great damage to Louisiana?  The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources-Office of Conservation keeps the official records of Louisiana's offshore drilling and its data source is the Baker-Hughes rig count whose report is considered the "bible" of the oil industry activity nationwide.  The report list the following information on the annual average number of offshore drilling rigs working in federal waters offshore Louisiana.  Lets examine the results.

The Louisiana offshore working rig count in federal waters during the Trump administration's four years averaged 17.7 rigs working annually.  During President Obama's last four years in office the working rig count averaged 38 rigs working annually.  And if you look at President Obama's first four years in office, the working rig count averaged 33 rigs working annually.  Those four years include the year of the BP explosion and the moratorium. 

Those official numbers support the conclusion there was no exodus of offshore drilling rigs on President Obama's watch and that the offshore drilling rig count was steady on the President's watch averaging 33 working  rigs in his first term and 38 working rigs in his second term.  The  opposite took place on  Trump and the republican watch during their four years where the average yearly number of offshore working rigs was 17.7 rigs.  It appears the exodus took place on Trump's watch.  The dis-information, mis-information, falsehoods and lies by Scalise and his party concerning the moratorium was typical of the republicans because they lack the ability to govern in a democracy.

The numbers also support the conclusions of this writers past commentaries in Politidose, including the most recent dated 7/4/21 that Louisiana, its people and the oil industry enjoy their most productive years during democratic administrations.  The GOP sucks when it comes to governing.  Their total political portfolio is one  of  lies and division.  

Louisiana and  its people can say they were fortunate to have a democratic administration in power at the time of the tragic BP explosion that held BP accountable for the loss of  life and the tremendous damage inflicted on  the environment.  So now the country and Louisiana has a new democratic leader in President Joe Biden and this writer is confident that Louisiana and its people and especially its workers will see better times economically and will move forward for a better future.

This  commentary written by Joe Lorio

Note 1:  See past commentary dated 7/22/11 titled, Drilling Offshore Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico: Facts and nothing but the facts.

Note 2:  The highest annual offshore Louisiana drilling rig count in the last 40 years took place on  President Clinton's watch with an average of 90 rigs working.  The lowest took place  on President Trump's watch with an average of 17.7 rigs working.