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