The President was the mature voice concerning the budget/shutdown/default issue and displayed his character and courage in staying the same course that moved the country and its people out of the second great republican depression. The President knows more about the federal budget than the republicans in congress and knows that federal spending has seen the smallest increase in over 50 years on his watch and that run away federal spending is not happening on his watch as republicans claim.
The republican's position on the subject matter was an ideology exercise and extension of the party's plan to sabotage the economy and the President was not going to let that happen. He articulated to the American people the harm that the republican's position would do to the country and the economy and he did so in a mature responsible way without personal attacks.
The people were exposed to the republican's childish attitude to the more mature attitude of the President and the democratic party who are more attuned to the needs of the country and its people and are not obsessed with personal attacks against the opposition party. The congress is in need of serious people who understand what public service really means and who are willing to work for the public good. The Tea Party clowns lack the basic knowledge of what government service is all about.
The President also continues to stand tall by reducing the deficit dramatically and putting the country on the right path to a balanced budget. This writer has pointed out in many previous commentary how it is republican administrations that have failed to balance the budget and has given the country record deficit spending. The President knows that deficit spending would not be a problem today if President George W. Bush had balanced the federal budget like Clinton did.
President Obama needs to continue to stand tall and be the mature President for America. The childish republicans in congress have been exposed for what they really are and what they are up to. The President needs to continue to push his programs for the benefit of the country and to continue to create jobs. Full employment is attainable if republicans will work with him.
Those who hate government should remember, the government is run by people and it takes mature people who are willing to put government service before their own misplaced ideology.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Payton And Brees Not So Prolific When Playing A Well Coached Defense
New England coach Bill Belichick knows you can not let opposing receivers run wild and not be challenged. He also knows at his age he could complete a pass to a wide open receiver so he had a defensive game plan to cover the Saints receivers in Sunday's game and the results shocked the Saints and their little world.
Belichick, who is one of the most respected defensive coaches in the NFL had his defensive backs in the pocket of Grahamn and Colston all day long and did not give them separation like so many other Saints opponets have done. The Patriot's defensive backs hands were also active in reaching in and knocking the ball away. The results were zero completions to Grahamn and two to Colston. They did not run wild this Sunday all by their lonesome.
The Saints were out coached and out played by a team that was with out the service of its four top receivers. That alone was a major accomplishment by the Patriots. Saints coach Playton's decision to defer the opening kick off as he did last week against the Bears did not work to the Saints advantage. Payton's play calling and selection in the last few minutes of the ball game tells this writer that he thought he had the game won. It fact it looked like the Saint's team had the game won with their looks on the sideline. A wise baseball player by the name of Yogi Berra once said, "It ain't over till its over." That should be a good lesson for the Saints.
After six games the won loss record of the Saints six opponents stand at 16 wins and 17 losses. Record of the Saints five opponents they defeated stand at 11wins and 16 losses. Only two of the five teams the Saints defeated have a winning record, the Bears are 4-2 and Miami is 3-2. Of the 32 teams in the NFL only 11 teams have a winning record and if history holds true at seasons end the results will be the same or close to it.
Belichick's defense outplayed Payton's offense while Brady out played Brees and threw the winning touchdown pass with 5 seconds left on the clock to a rookie receiver. With so many teams playing under 500 ball it is hard to tell how good the good teams really are. Of course time will tell. In the mean time the Patriots put to bed the talk by New Orleans sports writers and journalists that this Saint team is on the same path as the 2009 team. The Saints are not out of it by no means but sports journalists should let the season unfold, trying to compare at this point in the season may fill air time and the newspaper articles but what does that accomplish.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Belichick, who is one of the most respected defensive coaches in the NFL had his defensive backs in the pocket of Grahamn and Colston all day long and did not give them separation like so many other Saints opponets have done. The Patriot's defensive backs hands were also active in reaching in and knocking the ball away. The results were zero completions to Grahamn and two to Colston. They did not run wild this Sunday all by their lonesome.
The Saints were out coached and out played by a team that was with out the service of its four top receivers. That alone was a major accomplishment by the Patriots. Saints coach Playton's decision to defer the opening kick off as he did last week against the Bears did not work to the Saints advantage. Payton's play calling and selection in the last few minutes of the ball game tells this writer that he thought he had the game won. It fact it looked like the Saint's team had the game won with their looks on the sideline. A wise baseball player by the name of Yogi Berra once said, "It ain't over till its over." That should be a good lesson for the Saints.
After six games the won loss record of the Saints six opponents stand at 16 wins and 17 losses. Record of the Saints five opponents they defeated stand at 11wins and 16 losses. Only two of the five teams the Saints defeated have a winning record, the Bears are 4-2 and Miami is 3-2. Of the 32 teams in the NFL only 11 teams have a winning record and if history holds true at seasons end the results will be the same or close to it.
Belichick's defense outplayed Payton's offense while Brady out played Brees and threw the winning touchdown pass with 5 seconds left on the clock to a rookie receiver. With so many teams playing under 500 ball it is hard to tell how good the good teams really are. Of course time will tell. In the mean time the Patriots put to bed the talk by New Orleans sports writers and journalists that this Saint team is on the same path as the 2009 team. The Saints are not out of it by no means but sports journalists should let the season unfold, trying to compare at this point in the season may fill air time and the newspaper articles but what does that accomplish.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Saturday, October 12, 2013
America and Its People Need A Democratic Controlled Congress In 2014
The November 2014 congressional elections will be one of great importance becuse the people will have an opportunity to say if they agree with a divided government or if they think we should change course and give President Obama an opportunity to work with a democratic controlled congress for his last two years in office.
The present government shutdown, budget battle, possible defaulgt and those that make up the republican party in congress today tell this writer the people and country would be better off with a democratic controlled congress. Our past history, especially in the last 33 years confirms this. The only party in that time period who vowed not to lift a finger to help the President move the country forward is today's republican party. Their vow to obstruck is unprecedented.
Every phase of our economy works better for the people with a democratic President and democratic controlled congress. President Clinton's deficit reduction and economic plan was passed by the democratic controlled congress in 1993 that gave the country its best economic times and fiscal stability with balanced budgets and surplusses. Every republican in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate voted against that bill. President Obama with a democratic controlled congress passed a $787 billion stimulus package that moved the country out of the second great republican depression, created jobs and helped in reducing the yearly deficits left by the Bush administration. The democratic controlled senate passed Obama's jobs program of rebuilding the nations infrastructure only to see the bill killed by the republican controlled U.S. House.
One could go back past 33 years and you would still find the nation and its people did better under democratic control. You would also find when congress is divided with a republican President, democrats worked with the President and did not obstruct or vow to make him a one term President. Nor did the democrats impeach any republican President over an affair or shut the government down.
To those voters who believe in balancing the federal budget vote democrat for it was President Clinton and President Lyndon Johnson who are the only two Presidents to balance the federal budget in the last 52 years. To those voters who believe federal spending is out of control, vote democratic because federal spending has grown at a much lower rate under Clinton and Obama than any republican Presidential administration in the last 52 years. Federal spending increases under Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 increased dramatically. To those voters who believe in job creation vote democratic because job creation has always had its best years under democratic administrations. For instance, more jobs were created under Clinton in the 8 years he served than were created under Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 in the 20 years they ran the country.
To those voters who are concerned about taxes, vote democratic because they are better at fair taxation and protecting the average American. To those voters who want to see middle class income grow instead of being stagnet vote democratic because the greatest advancement in middle class income has happened on the democratic watch.
Wht is taking place at the present time with the republicans shutting down government services and having a past history of doing so is unAmerican and a discrace to congress. Their hatred for the President and their willingness to obstruct the President from moving the country from the second great republican depression is tantamont to treason. The older republican party is gone from the scene and the new republican party is mentally incompetent politically and their ideology makes them unfit for office.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
The present government shutdown, budget battle, possible defaulgt and those that make up the republican party in congress today tell this writer the people and country would be better off with a democratic controlled congress. Our past history, especially in the last 33 years confirms this. The only party in that time period who vowed not to lift a finger to help the President move the country forward is today's republican party. Their vow to obstruck is unprecedented.
Every phase of our economy works better for the people with a democratic President and democratic controlled congress. President Clinton's deficit reduction and economic plan was passed by the democratic controlled congress in 1993 that gave the country its best economic times and fiscal stability with balanced budgets and surplusses. Every republican in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate voted against that bill. President Obama with a democratic controlled congress passed a $787 billion stimulus package that moved the country out of the second great republican depression, created jobs and helped in reducing the yearly deficits left by the Bush administration. The democratic controlled senate passed Obama's jobs program of rebuilding the nations infrastructure only to see the bill killed by the republican controlled U.S. House.
One could go back past 33 years and you would still find the nation and its people did better under democratic control. You would also find when congress is divided with a republican President, democrats worked with the President and did not obstruct or vow to make him a one term President. Nor did the democrats impeach any republican President over an affair or shut the government down.
To those voters who believe in balancing the federal budget vote democrat for it was President Clinton and President Lyndon Johnson who are the only two Presidents to balance the federal budget in the last 52 years. To those voters who believe federal spending is out of control, vote democratic because federal spending has grown at a much lower rate under Clinton and Obama than any republican Presidential administration in the last 52 years. Federal spending increases under Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 increased dramatically. To those voters who believe in job creation vote democratic because job creation has always had its best years under democratic administrations. For instance, more jobs were created under Clinton in the 8 years he served than were created under Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 in the 20 years they ran the country.
To those voters who are concerned about taxes, vote democratic because they are better at fair taxation and protecting the average American. To those voters who want to see middle class income grow instead of being stagnet vote democratic because the greatest advancement in middle class income has happened on the democratic watch.
Wht is taking place at the present time with the republicans shutting down government services and having a past history of doing so is unAmerican and a discrace to congress. Their hatred for the President and their willingness to obstruct the President from moving the country from the second great republican depression is tantamont to treason. The older republican party is gone from the scene and the new republican party is mentally incompetent politically and their ideology makes them unfit for office.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Important Questions The Sunday Talk Shows Never Ask Their Republican Guest But Should.
If the Republican administration of G.W. Bush had balanced the federal budget like President Clinton did the federal deficit and national debt would not be a budget problem today, so why did your party fail to do so especially since the republican party controlled both houses of congress during most of Bush's eight years in office.
Why did your party rubber stamp Raising the debt ceiling on Bush's watch while the nations fiscal health was being eroded by run away deficit spending and debt. Bill Clinton took office after 24 straight years of deficit spending by previous administrations and put the nations fiscal house in order, balancing the federal budget, creating surpluses and paying down the national debt. Why did the Bush administration and the republican party blow all of that in Bush's very first fiscal year and for all the eight years he served.
Why are you shutting down the federal government and penalizing President Obama and the people because Bush and the republicans in congress did not take care of the counrty's fiscal problems when you had eight years to do so. The national debt doubled on Bush's watch. It stood at $5.8 trillion at the end of Clinton's last fiscal year which ended 9/30/01. That was an increase of $1.3 trillion or 31% from the previous 8 years. The national debt stood at $11.9 trillion at the end of George W. Bush last fiscal year that ended 9/30/09. That was an increase of $6.1 trillion or 105%. A whopping increase. Why did the republican administration let that happen to the country and its people. It was the largest increase in the national debt since the Reagan administration when the national debt tripled on his watch.
No republican President has balanced the federal budget since President Ike in 1960, that was over 52 years ago. But two democratic Presidents balanced the federal budget five times during that same period. The repubicans ran the country 28 of those years and the democrats 24 years, 4 years less than the republicans. How come republicans can not walk the talk about balancing the budget. How many more years do they need to do so.
Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 had 20 years to balance the federal budget and they faild even though they said they would. They failed to walk the talk. Why are republicans so awful at taking care of the country's fiscal health. President Clinton reduced the federal deficit every year in his first term in office. His second term were all balanced budgets and surplusses. The republican gang of three never reduced the deficit four years in a row like Clinton did and in fact none of them got control over reducing the deficit that would lead to a balanced budget. Why can't your party control deficit spending so a balanced budget can take place.
President Clinton's deficit reduction and economic plan was passed by the democratic controlled congress in 1993. Every republican in the House and Senate voted against that plan and they predicted on the floor of both chambers that the plan would tank the economy, bring about massive job losses, record unemployment and explode the federal deficit. They were proven wrong just like today they are wrong in shutting down the government. Will republicans ever have any positive economic plans for the people or will you continue to promote trickle down economics that has already proved to be a fairytale.
Finally Mr. Republican how could your party and Bush 43 leave such a fiscal and economic mess to President Obama and then after he was elected President tell the nation you wanted to make him a one term President and that you would do nothing to help the President move the country and its people forward. And now you are shutting down the federal government for your own party's mistake.
The above questions should have been asked long ago of the republicans by the Sunday talk shows and other journalists on cable TV. If that were done republicans would have a hard time shutting down the government and using federal spending and the budget to hold the country hostage with their phony trumped up charges. Those journalists have no probative value for their viewing audiences.
The American people are seeing first hand the unAmerican ideology of republican conservatism in congress and the destruction of the institution that represents democracy as envisioned by our founding fathers. The republicans in congress could never be a part of the greatest generation. That really says it all.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Above numbers on national debt taken from web site of The U.S. Treasury Department.
Why did your party rubber stamp Raising the debt ceiling on Bush's watch while the nations fiscal health was being eroded by run away deficit spending and debt. Bill Clinton took office after 24 straight years of deficit spending by previous administrations and put the nations fiscal house in order, balancing the federal budget, creating surpluses and paying down the national debt. Why did the Bush administration and the republican party blow all of that in Bush's very first fiscal year and for all the eight years he served.
Why are you shutting down the federal government and penalizing President Obama and the people because Bush and the republicans in congress did not take care of the counrty's fiscal problems when you had eight years to do so. The national debt doubled on Bush's watch. It stood at $5.8 trillion at the end of Clinton's last fiscal year which ended 9/30/01. That was an increase of $1.3 trillion or 31% from the previous 8 years. The national debt stood at $11.9 trillion at the end of George W. Bush last fiscal year that ended 9/30/09. That was an increase of $6.1 trillion or 105%. A whopping increase. Why did the republican administration let that happen to the country and its people. It was the largest increase in the national debt since the Reagan administration when the national debt tripled on his watch.
No republican President has balanced the federal budget since President Ike in 1960, that was over 52 years ago. But two democratic Presidents balanced the federal budget five times during that same period. The repubicans ran the country 28 of those years and the democrats 24 years, 4 years less than the republicans. How come republicans can not walk the talk about balancing the budget. How many more years do they need to do so.
Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 had 20 years to balance the federal budget and they faild even though they said they would. They failed to walk the talk. Why are republicans so awful at taking care of the country's fiscal health. President Clinton reduced the federal deficit every year in his first term in office. His second term were all balanced budgets and surplusses. The republican gang of three never reduced the deficit four years in a row like Clinton did and in fact none of them got control over reducing the deficit that would lead to a balanced budget. Why can't your party control deficit spending so a balanced budget can take place.
President Clinton's deficit reduction and economic plan was passed by the democratic controlled congress in 1993. Every republican in the House and Senate voted against that plan and they predicted on the floor of both chambers that the plan would tank the economy, bring about massive job losses, record unemployment and explode the federal deficit. They were proven wrong just like today they are wrong in shutting down the government. Will republicans ever have any positive economic plans for the people or will you continue to promote trickle down economics that has already proved to be a fairytale.
Finally Mr. Republican how could your party and Bush 43 leave such a fiscal and economic mess to President Obama and then after he was elected President tell the nation you wanted to make him a one term President and that you would do nothing to help the President move the country and its people forward. And now you are shutting down the federal government for your own party's mistake.
The above questions should have been asked long ago of the republicans by the Sunday talk shows and other journalists on cable TV. If that were done republicans would have a hard time shutting down the government and using federal spending and the budget to hold the country hostage with their phony trumped up charges. Those journalists have no probative value for their viewing audiences.
The American people are seeing first hand the unAmerican ideology of republican conservatism in congress and the destruction of the institution that represents democracy as envisioned by our founding fathers. The republicans in congress could never be a part of the greatest generation. That really says it all.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Above numbers on national debt taken from web site of The U.S. Treasury Department.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Ashleigh Banfield: Clueless Like CNN
CNN's morning host Ashleigh Banfield when interviewing Robert Reich, former Labor Secretary during the Clinton Administration on October 1 concerning the government shutdown showed her lack of knowledge concerning the subject matter. She asked Reich if the democrats would act the same way against the republicans in the future as the republicans were doing now with the shutdown over the Affordable Care Act . Reich replied that the republican's demands were so unprecedented he did not know. (A very good answer to a silly question)
Ashleigh was around during the George W. Bush administration and should have remembered the republicans controlled both houses of congress during most of Bush's eight years in office. She remembers also that the Bush administration turned Clinton's balanced budgets and surplusses into deficit spending in Bush's very first fiscal year and every year he served. That Bush asked congress to raise the debt ceiling on many occasions and congress did so without any restrictions like the republicans are demanding now on President Obama. The republican controlled congress did not get any demands from the democrats nor did the democratic party try to blackmail Bush with a government shutdown. So Ashleigh knew very well democrats have a record of keeping the government open no matter who is President.
The question was Ashleigh's way of interjecting a non issue to the subject matter and trying to plant the seed in her viewers mind that both parties act the same. The democratic view of the need to keep the federal government open and running with out any strings attached is well documented by their actions and has worked better for the country and its people. The sad record of the republican party is clear since this is the third time they have shut the government down. I guess that slipped Ashleigh mind.
They plan to obstruct as long as there is a democratic President in the White House becuse they themselves have no record of accomplishments for the country or its people.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
The Stupid Party And Their Stupid Clowns
Make no mistake there is no difference between the Tea Party republicans and the republican party in general serving in the U.S. Congress. Their shutdown of the federal government has proven that beyond a doubt. The whole republican party has fell in line and has voted to not have a stand alone clean bill to extend the debt ceiling.
On September 30 MSNBC's The Last Word show had as their guest Mr. Bruce Bartlett, a former economic adviser in the administration of President George W. Bush. Mr. Bartlett correctly described the Tea Party as clowns who care nothing about what the halls of Congress really strand for. That took character and courage on his part to say that being a republican himself. But it is obvious Mr. Bartlett is one republican who puts the country before party, especially when that party is run by clowns.
The shutdown is an extension of the republican party's vow to do nothing to help President Obama move the country and its people forward from the second great republican depression. They vowed to make him a one term President and when that failed they adopted their current position. Their unAmerican ideology and the lack of respect for democracy tell the real story of their cowardly acts.
Louisiana's republican representatives in congress chose to be clowns also and voted with the republican block to shutdown the government. The republican party can not break away from precedent. They shut down the federal government twice before during the Clinton administration. Maybe the clowns could find their niche under the big tent.
This commentary written by John Lucia
On September 30 MSNBC's The Last Word show had as their guest Mr. Bruce Bartlett, a former economic adviser in the administration of President George W. Bush. Mr. Bartlett correctly described the Tea Party as clowns who care nothing about what the halls of Congress really strand for. That took character and courage on his part to say that being a republican himself. But it is obvious Mr. Bartlett is one republican who puts the country before party, especially when that party is run by clowns.
The shutdown is an extension of the republican party's vow to do nothing to help President Obama move the country and its people forward from the second great republican depression. They vowed to make him a one term President and when that failed they adopted their current position. Their unAmerican ideology and the lack of respect for democracy tell the real story of their cowardly acts.
Louisiana's republican representatives in congress chose to be clowns also and voted with the republican block to shutdown the government. The republican party can not break away from precedent. They shut down the federal government twice before during the Clinton administration. Maybe the clowns could find their niche under the big tent.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Friday, September 27, 2013
Destination Saudi Arabia
That is the title of a want ad by Chevron Phillips Chemical Company that appeared in the Times Picayune of 9/22 and starts off as follows: Start your two year adventure at our S-Chem facility in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Chevron Phillips Chemical and its middle east affiliates offer competitive salaries, on in-country salary uplift premium, a comprehensive benefits package, commodities and service allowence, housing, bonus potential and more.
This ad really tells a sad story. American Oil, Gas and Chemical companies and their middle east affiliates are still tied so close together one can not separate them from the OPEC. That is one reason America has been so dependent on middle east oil. It is also one of the reasons why the price of a barrel of oil is manipulated and there fore relates to the high price of a gallon of gasoline.
The American Oil Industry is tied so close to middle east oil they can never be trusted to make America independent of foreign oil. It has not happened over the years despite the billions of dollars in tax breaks granted to them. And make no mistake the U.S. has enough oil deposits and the industry does have the technology to find, drill and produce that oil.
They are one of the most profitable industry year in and year out and yet they are untruthful in many of their pronouncements. Their operations in Louisiana have destroyed the wetlands, the coast and the marshes and they have yet to be held accountable by Louisiana's elected officials. They have also not repaired the damage they did like they agreed to do.
The Industry is the best example of Corporate America at its worst and the greed they represent.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
This ad really tells a sad story. American Oil, Gas and Chemical companies and their middle east affiliates are still tied so close together one can not separate them from the OPEC. That is one reason America has been so dependent on middle east oil. It is also one of the reasons why the price of a barrel of oil is manipulated and there fore relates to the high price of a gallon of gasoline.
The American Oil Industry is tied so close to middle east oil they can never be trusted to make America independent of foreign oil. It has not happened over the years despite the billions of dollars in tax breaks granted to them. And make no mistake the U.S. has enough oil deposits and the industry does have the technology to find, drill and produce that oil.
They are one of the most profitable industry year in and year out and yet they are untruthful in many of their pronouncements. Their operations in Louisiana have destroyed the wetlands, the coast and the marshes and they have yet to be held accountable by Louisiana's elected officials. They have also not repaired the damage they did like they agreed to do.
The Industry is the best example of Corporate America at its worst and the greed they represent.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
PolitiDose And Paul Krugman Report The Facts
New York columnist and economist Paul Krugman in an editorial dated 9/25 in the Times Picayune titled,"Freedom's Just Another Word For Not Enough To Eat" reported the fact that overall federal spending has been falling fast and runaway federal spending is not happening. If that sounds familiar it is because you read it here first in PolitiDose.
This writer in many past commentary here in PolitiDose has pointed out how federal spending at the end of President Obama's first fiscal year was down 1.6% compared to the previous fiscal year. The same was true of Obama's third fiscal year compared to his second fiscal year and that over all federal spending has seen the smallest increases in over 50 years on Obama's watch.
When republicans talk about runaway federal spending they accurately are describing what took place on the republican watch of Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43. Republican lies on the subject matter has been countered by the facts and PolitiDose has been in front exposing their lies.
The American people deserve the facts but facts are not presented on the Sunday talk shows, cable news and certainly not on the Fox News Network. PolitiDose will continue to lead the way on those issues that really matter and make a difference and I feel sure Paul Krugman will do the same.
This commentary written by John Lucia
This writer in many past commentary here in PolitiDose has pointed out how federal spending at the end of President Obama's first fiscal year was down 1.6% compared to the previous fiscal year. The same was true of Obama's third fiscal year compared to his second fiscal year and that over all federal spending has seen the smallest increases in over 50 years on Obama's watch.
When republicans talk about runaway federal spending they accurately are describing what took place on the republican watch of Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43. Republican lies on the subject matter has been countered by the facts and PolitiDose has been in front exposing their lies.
The American people deserve the facts but facts are not presented on the Sunday talk shows, cable news and certainly not on the Fox News Network. PolitiDose will continue to lead the way on those issues that really matter and make a difference and I feel sure Paul Krugman will do the same.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Will Pope Francis's Latest Statement Change The Political Rhetoric?
Pope Francis in his wisdom said the Roman Catholic Church had grown obsessed with preaching about abortion, gay marriage and contraception and that he has chosen not to speak of those issues despite recrimination from some critics. The Pope was speaking as head of the Catholic Church and not about our political system although the republican party is also obsessed with the subject matter and uses those issues to divide the country, especially during elections.
It remains to be seen if the republican party tones down its rhetoric but I doubt it. That opinion is based on the fact that the party's constant opposition to every thing is their way of trying to divert attention from the critical issues facing the country because they have no policies to move the country forward. In other words, keep the news media, the people and democrats busy answering their negative and divisive pronouncements and the real issues will get lost or pushed aside.
A good example is the present situation going on now with the budget and extension of the debt ceiling. The republicans have injected "Obamacare" into this issue and it does not belong there. They have no real sense of fairness and what is in the best interest for the nation and its people concerning the budget/debt ceiling so they use "Obamacare" as the wedge issue to divide the people and divert attention from the real issue.
The Pope also put his remarks in the context that the Church is a big tent with many more important issues that have an impact on all phases of the Catholic Church. This too can be related to our political system concerning the subject matter because the nation and its people are facing more serious problems that need to be addressed.
The United States is a nation of diverse ideas because of its people. It has been a big tent country for a long time and has worked well when the common good is put first. Our political system is not working well at the present time for the nation and its people. It is time for the republican party to join the human race and listen to the wisdom of Pope Francis. The democratic party could have chosen the tactics being used by the republican party when G.W. Bush was President, but instead gave his administration the benefit of the doubt and did not use wedge issues to divide the people and they did not obstruct.
The nation and its people have more problems of greater urgency than abortion, gay marriage and contraceptives. Those issues are personal issues that the people are capable of dealing with. The U.S. like the Catholic Church should not be obsessed with those issues and fail to address the broader problems and challenges that it faces. The people rejected the 47% notion in the November election in favor of the big tent that serves the nation and its people.
It is this writers hope that Pope Francis's comments can accomplish what our political system has failed to do.
This commentary written by John Lucia
It remains to be seen if the republican party tones down its rhetoric but I doubt it. That opinion is based on the fact that the party's constant opposition to every thing is their way of trying to divert attention from the critical issues facing the country because they have no policies to move the country forward. In other words, keep the news media, the people and democrats busy answering their negative and divisive pronouncements and the real issues will get lost or pushed aside.
A good example is the present situation going on now with the budget and extension of the debt ceiling. The republicans have injected "Obamacare" into this issue and it does not belong there. They have no real sense of fairness and what is in the best interest for the nation and its people concerning the budget/debt ceiling so they use "Obamacare" as the wedge issue to divide the people and divert attention from the real issue.
The Pope also put his remarks in the context that the Church is a big tent with many more important issues that have an impact on all phases of the Catholic Church. This too can be related to our political system concerning the subject matter because the nation and its people are facing more serious problems that need to be addressed.
The United States is a nation of diverse ideas because of its people. It has been a big tent country for a long time and has worked well when the common good is put first. Our political system is not working well at the present time for the nation and its people. It is time for the republican party to join the human race and listen to the wisdom of Pope Francis. The democratic party could have chosen the tactics being used by the republican party when G.W. Bush was President, but instead gave his administration the benefit of the doubt and did not use wedge issues to divide the people and they did not obstruct.
The nation and its people have more problems of greater urgency than abortion, gay marriage and contraceptives. Those issues are personal issues that the people are capable of dealing with. The U.S. like the Catholic Church should not be obsessed with those issues and fail to address the broader problems and challenges that it faces. The people rejected the 47% notion in the November election in favor of the big tent that serves the nation and its people.
It is this writers hope that Pope Francis's comments can accomplish what our political system has failed to do.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Sunday, September 22, 2013
The Republican Party Is Mentally Mixed Up
Today's congressional republicans are mentally mixed up in their political facts which has produced the ongoing saga unfolding today with the budget showdown over extending the debt ceiling. This mental breakdown concerning the facts is an excuse for their childish games of trying to change history.
The republicans rail against budget deficits, the national debt, federal spending and big government but those issues are a mirror image of past republican administrations problems, so they become mentally mixed up and they can not bring themselves to tell the people the truth.
They have mentally blocked out the fact that no republican President has balanced the federal budget since Eisenhower in 1960, that is over 50 plus years ago. But two democratic Presidents balanced 5 federal budgets during that same time span. They have mentally blocked out the fact that had Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 balanced the federal budget like President Clinton did deficit spending would not be a problem today. Worst of all they mentally block out the fact that the national debt tripled on Reagan's watch and doubled on Bush 43 watch and there fore a problem today. The national debt was not a problem when Clinton left office, it was a very big problem when Bush 43 left office.
The republicans are mentally mixed up on run away federal spending they claim on President Obama's watch but you see, federal spending has seen its smallest increases in the last 33 plus years under the administrations of Bill Clinton and Obama. Mentally the republicans are unable to accept that.
Republicans are mentally mixed up concerning big government. Ronald Reagan presided over the very first $1 trillion budget; George W. Bush presided over the very first $2 and $3 trillion federal budget. It was the administration of George W. Bush that gave the country and its people the very first single year budget deficit that exceded $1 trillion dollars. That really blew the mentally mixed up republicans so called conservative ideology. That is why they never talk about the accomplishments of the Bush 43 administration because there are none. So mentally to the republicans, what Bush bequeathed to Obama became Obama's doing.
Mentally the republicans have to create a showdown over extending the debt ceiling by trying to rewrite the political facts. They have no accomplishments in congress, no record of policies to move the country forward so they want to see the country and its people fail under the present democratic administration. Mentally they want to be able to say the Obama administration failed. Mentally in the republican's mind they would look at failure as redemption of Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 massive deficit spending and debt for the 20 years they ran the country.
But those who are mentally honest and not afraid of facts will win the day and recognize how today's republicans in congress are really a sad, sad bunch.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Note: Reagan, Bush 41 nor Bush 43 took office with a depression as deep as the one left to President Obama.
The republicans rail against budget deficits, the national debt, federal spending and big government but those issues are a mirror image of past republican administrations problems, so they become mentally mixed up and they can not bring themselves to tell the people the truth.
They have mentally blocked out the fact that no republican President has balanced the federal budget since Eisenhower in 1960, that is over 50 plus years ago. But two democratic Presidents balanced 5 federal budgets during that same time span. They have mentally blocked out the fact that had Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 balanced the federal budget like President Clinton did deficit spending would not be a problem today. Worst of all they mentally block out the fact that the national debt tripled on Reagan's watch and doubled on Bush 43 watch and there fore a problem today. The national debt was not a problem when Clinton left office, it was a very big problem when Bush 43 left office.
The republicans are mentally mixed up on run away federal spending they claim on President Obama's watch but you see, federal spending has seen its smallest increases in the last 33 plus years under the administrations of Bill Clinton and Obama. Mentally the republicans are unable to accept that.
Republicans are mentally mixed up concerning big government. Ronald Reagan presided over the very first $1 trillion budget; George W. Bush presided over the very first $2 and $3 trillion federal budget. It was the administration of George W. Bush that gave the country and its people the very first single year budget deficit that exceded $1 trillion dollars. That really blew the mentally mixed up republicans so called conservative ideology. That is why they never talk about the accomplishments of the Bush 43 administration because there are none. So mentally to the republicans, what Bush bequeathed to Obama became Obama's doing.
Mentally the republicans have to create a showdown over extending the debt ceiling by trying to rewrite the political facts. They have no accomplishments in congress, no record of policies to move the country forward so they want to see the country and its people fail under the present democratic administration. Mentally they want to be able to say the Obama administration failed. Mentally in the republican's mind they would look at failure as redemption of Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 massive deficit spending and debt for the 20 years they ran the country.
But those who are mentally honest and not afraid of facts will win the day and recognize how today's republicans in congress are really a sad, sad bunch.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Note: Reagan, Bush 41 nor Bush 43 took office with a depression as deep as the one left to President Obama.
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