Sgt. Bergdahl Will Have To Answer To The Military

U.S. Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, POW in Afghanistan has already been convicted by the Fox News Network and some inside and outside of congress who will do anything to wound the President.  Rushing to judgement with out knowing the facts is SOP for their kind of politics.

The military brass are interviewing Bergdahl to try and determine just what happened and that is where it has to start.  All military people have to answer to the Uniform Code Of Military Justice which authorizes the right to try Sgt Bergdahl in this case if he indeed violated that code.  John McCain and Lindsey Graham know that but still act like they are ignorant with their childish comments.  McCain has already flip flopped on the issue when it was pointed out he earlier approved the swap with the 5 taliban POW's. 

President Obama is not the first President to swap POW's and he won't be the last.  You would never think that if one listens to the right wingers who says he has no authority to do so.  Like Benghazi, Sgt. Bergdahl has become a political football to be kicked around by those who have nothing better to do than promote divisive issues to detract from their own failures.  There was a story in Sunday's paper that said Bergdahl's whole outfit in Afghanistan was considered a misfit that was assigned to an outpost that was isolated and hard to defend.  But the right wingers are not talking about that.  If that turns out to be true a lot of Americans were in danger and does not speak well for our military leaders who let it happen.  Without the facts the right wingers could make a best seller out of this situation. 

This writer believes our military brass will find out just what happened the night Sgt. Bergdahl went missing.  Until that time comes would it not be wise to hold judgement and examine the facts then?  I don't expect Fox News to do that because they have demonstrated they like to report the news falsely.  McCain and Graham know better but their mind has been brainwashed by those WMD in Iraq that did not exist.  They also seemed to forget that it was President Reagan that traded arms for hostages with Iran's terrorists regime. 


This commentary written by John Lucia 

Another Jobs Report To Move The Country Forward

The economy created 217,000 jobs for May and unemployment was unchanged at 6.3%  That was the 51st straight month of positive job creation and some economist are saying the numbers are now at a sustained rate for future growth.

It was also the first time since 1999 that employers added over 200,000 jobs per month for the last 4 months.  The economy has also regained most of the 9 million jobs lost in the second great republican depression.

There is still much more to do for the economy and job creation to keep up with all of the first time job seekers entering the market for the first time and to employ the long term unemployed that are still out there.  The President's policies are working like this writer said they would when he first took office.

The republicans in congress continue to waste a great opportunity economically by their opposition to all of Obama's policies.  But once again it is a democratic administration who is moving the country and its people forward under differcult times and when the President leaves office it will be another democratic administration that created more jobs than the previous republican administration.  And if that sounds familiar its because you read it hear first in "PolitiDose", your daily dose of political commentary.


This commentary written by John Lucia

The Algiers Ferry: The People Of Algiers Are Still Waiting.

The proponents of removing the tolls from the Crescent City Connection could care less about the people who have depended on the ferry service since 1827.  The people who live in Algiers Point or near by are the ones who have been affected most by the reduced ferry hours.

There are two good articles that were published in the Times Picayune of June 4 and 6 concerning the subject matter.  One was a letter to the editors by an individual who used to cross the ferry upwards of 20 times a month under the old expanded schedule and now only 2 or 3 times a month is viable for him because of the reduced hours.

The ferry problems came about when the tolls were voted off the CCC.  Those tolls were the financial engine that operated the ferry.   I wrote a commentary at that time pointing out that the real story here is that those politicians who supported removing the tolls had no plans to keep the ferry running full time if the measure passed.  Well it passed and almost a year later there is still no funding to operate the ferry full time.(By full time I mean the hours before the toll removal)

This writer was born in Old Algiers in the 1930's and the people always paid to cross the ferry be that on foot or in an auto.  But unlike those who dislike paying the bridge tolls, the people of Algiers  were always willing to pay their way.  Ferry service is the ideal way to visit the CBD for those living in Algiers.  It is no different than those who depend on the St. Charles street cars.

The Algiers ferry is vital to their community and elected officials should step up to the plate and fund the ferry back to its expanded schedule.  Is that really asking too much from a state that doles out $8 billion a year in tax breaks and exemptions to business?

See my previous commentary dated 7/8/13 titled, TheAbandonment of The Algiers Ferry and The People of Algiers.


This commentary written by John Lucia.

The Louisiana Legislature Votes To Kill Coastal Lawsuit Against Oil Industry.

At the urging of Governor Bobby Jindal the state Senate passed Senate bill 469 by a vote of 25-11 which if signed into law by Jindal would retroactively void the lawsuit filed by the SE Louisiana Flood Protection-East against 97 oil industry companies for damages to Louisiana's environment.

Those who supported and or voted in favor of the legislation showed just who they are accountable too, the oil industry and their campaign contributions.  They have failed to represent the state and the people's interest for over 40 years by giving the industry a pass on their responsibility to clean up and repair the damage to the land caused by their operations.

Jindal, a day later announced he would not sign the bill until Attorney General Buddy Caldwell had a chance to review the bill and sign off on it because the bill might negate lawsuits filed against the BP spill of 2010.  Thenty two law professors asked Jindal to veto the bill for the same reasons plus it may have conflicts also with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and with the federal Coastal Zone Management Act.

One would think that the governor and the legislature would have had the wisdom to check out the legality of the bill before they pushed it and passed it.  Is that too much to ask of our public servants?  They rushed to the defense of the oil industry as soon as the lawsuit was filed and their actions has been a disgrace on the issue. 


The only honorable thing for Jindal to do is veto Senate bill 469 that he pushed for, put the interest of the state and its people first and let the oil industry defend itself in a court of law where the problem belongs.  After all, state legislators have had more than enough time to live up to their responsibility and hold the industry responsible.


This commentary written by John Lucia.

The Republican Leadership Conference In New Orleans: An Embarrasment To Republican Voters.

The only thing worse than ditto head conservative republicans is ditto head journalists.  In the Times Picayune dated 6/1/14 there were three articles published under the by line of Adriane Quinian, a staff writer, Bill Barrow of the Associated Press, and New Orleans writer James Varney who claims conservative credentials.  After reading all three articles about the conference and its speakers there was no mention of what any of the speakers or their party would do to move the country forward or address the short falls the country faces.

Adriane Quinian's article was about the speech given by Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty and the following is what his speech was all about.  Reevaluate the current view about church and state: The discovery of DNA;  Obamacare:  Urged the GOP to more closely ally with christian values:  get godly: you can't be right for America if you are wrong with God: The discovery of DNA proves God created life on earth: half of our scientist jumped ship after DNA was discovered. (Note:  they really did not)

Bill Barrow's article was about speaches that covered:  Ronald Reagan; how conservatives led a budget fight that sparked a partial shutdown of government last fall;  the Reagan Revolution;  Reagan compromised on every thing;  in Texas we define gun control real simple, thats hitting what you aim at.

James Varney's article was mostly about republican national chairman Reince Priebus and how to best remake the republican party;  congressional and Presidential elections;  the big tent idea;  Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin;  a hostile media;  Donald Trump and birthers.

The three articles was void of any policy talk about what republican hopefuls and their party would do for the economy, job creation, balancing the budget, keeping America safe, increase middle class income or anything about what they claim ails the country.

The leadership conference provided no leadership for those in attendence or any voter, republican or otherwise.  Conservatives failure to articulate what they stand for is directly related to their ideology and failure to be "serious" public servants.  And once again their base is the big loser and taken advantage of.  The speakers at the conference named by the three writers were:  Phil Robertson, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, Haley Barbour, Reince Priebus and Donald Trump. 

We know the George W. Bush disaster is the reason why republicans and conservative journalists never talk about his administration.  It is too painful.  But don't republicans have at least a duty to tell the American pleople what they would do besides divide the people with divisive issues such as the ones reported by the above three journalists. 

The bottom line is that the people know where President Obama stands and also the democratic party.  But as President Kennedy once said, those who are afraid to trust the American peoploe with the facts are afraid of its people.  Conservative republicans need to develop some character and courage.  The tea party needs to develop a brain.  And those who talk about DNA and know zero about the matter need to keep their mouth shut.


This commentary written by John Lucia.

The U.S. House Passes Background Checks Ammendment.

The U.S. House passed expanding funding for federal background checks 260-145.  The measure increases funding by $19.5 million to make the background checks more comprehensive including covering more mental health data.  This comes at a time of last weeks deadly shooting in California.

Once again it was the democratic minority in the House that furnished the majority vote.  184 democrats voted for the bill and 76 republicans did likewise.  This is a common sense measure and the majority of republicans voted against it including all 5 U.S. reps from Louisiana.  Steve Scalise, Charles Boustany, John Fleming, Bill Cassidy and Vance McAllister all voted no.  Louisiana's democratic rep Cedric Richmond voted yes with the majority. 

The 5 necons from Louisiana who voted no have no creditibility on gun control, even the basis safety concerns.  This is not the first time that the democratic minority in the U.S. House has furnished the majority vote to pass common sense legislation.  (see my commentary titled, The U.S. House Passes A Clean Debt Limit dated 2/15/14)  The 76 republicans who voted yes with the democrats showed they understand common sense issues. 

Louisiana rep. Bill Cassidy who voted against the measure is the same Bill Cassidy who is running against Senator Mary Landrieu.  The state does not need a republican senator who votes no just because he and his party has nothing to offer America and its people.


This commentary written by John Lucia.

Another First For "PolitiDose"

Louisiana state legislator Karen Carter Peterson in an editorial in the New Orleans Advocate of 5/30/14 has confirmed what has been written here in "PolitiDose" for the last few years concerning Bobby Jindal and his administration.

Peterson points out that Jindal inherited a $866 million surplus when he took office in 2008 from outgoing democratic governor Blanco and that Jindal has delivered one fiscally irresponsible budget after another prompting mid year budget cuts to health care and higher education.  That from 2008 to 2014, Louisiana slashed per pupil funding by more than $5000 which was more than any other state.  That resulted into higher tuition or a student tax hike for Louisiana families.  That describes just one of the 100 different ways mentioned in "PolitiDose" how Jindal and republicans get into the pockets of the average citizen after promising no new taxes.

Jindal's budgets are described as shenanigans which relates to this writers description as budget gimmicks.  Also, in a letter to the editors of the Times Picayune dated 5/30/14 the letter writer pointed out how Louisiana's legislature failed over the years to deal with the environment damage caused by the oil industry which forced the legal move by the Levee Board.  And if that too sounds familiar also, it is because you read it hear first in "PolitiDose", your daily dose of political commentary.


This commentary written by John Lucia

The Republican Leadership Conference In New Orleans

The republican's conference in New Orleans Thursday brought out some of their so called heavy hitting speakers whose rhetoric represented their ditto head right wing ideology that they continue to preach to their base.  The New Orleans Advocate reported some comments of their speakers, but as usual there was nothing reported about what they and their party stand for.


Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame came out and preached about the bible and guns.  Both have been around much longer than he and will still be around long after he kicks the bucket, but it is a conservative staple.  Rob Maness, republican candidate for the U.S. Senate said we cling to our guns and religion.  I guess he believes that is the only qualification to be a U.S. Senator.

Paul Hollis, another republican candidate for the U.S. Senate called for a balanced budget and term limits.  Another ditto head statement that his party has no record of doing in the last 50 years.  And of course, Louisiana's governor Bobby Jindal told his audience the left wants to silence religious liberty. 

As a Catholic and gun owner for over 40 years no one has silenced my religion or taken away my gun.  When I bought my weapon over 40 years ago I could not take it home until the New Orleans Police Department ran a check on me and then I picked it up a few days later.  I don't remember if the NRA was around then or not.  If they were they were not very vocal politically like they are today.  The people should remember gun violence was not a problem then, but it is now even though the NRA is very vocal and active.  That should tell the people something. 

Guns, religion and prayer is all the conservative republicans have to offer the people today.  They talk about our fore fathers attitude toward religion but have forgotten that our fore fathers did not use religion or prayer as an issue to divide the country.  Religion and prayer is something that comes from the heart and can be practiced any time and any place.  No one can take that away and contrary to what the republicans would like you to believe, no one is trying. 

As President Clinton has said many times over, the only way Republicans can win elections is by dividing the people.  It may work sometimes, but it failed as recent as the last republican administration in Washington.  And that really says it all.


This commentary written by John Lucia

The Veterans Administration: The Story Continues.

With all of the hearings going on in congress concerning the problems veterans have been exposed to in receiving health care it should now be clear the situation has existed for years and members of both political parties are aware of it.

It is also clear now that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have added over 400,000 new veterans in the last 10 years to the system and congress has failed to fund the needs of the VA to handle the increase work load that requires many more doctors, nurses, more facilities and health care workers.

Congress has reduced needed federal revenue by giving billions of dollars in tax breaks to Corporate America who do not need it and who obtain it thru campaign contributions to congress for those special favors.  A good example is the $8 billion in tax breaks for the Oil industry.  Does any one really believe that the most profitable industry in America needs that?  Our veterans could use that lost federal revenue to fund needed services from the VA.  Corporate America is doing well while the VA and veterans are getting short changed.

The American Legion and other veterans groups should stop inviting politicians to speak at their conventions.  They can not compete with the milllions spend on campaign contributions.  There are other and better ways to address veterans needs and those veteran groups know first hand political talk does not convert to political deeds. 

The bottom line is that America has sent our men and women in uniform to fight in 3 of the longest wars in our history and instead of taking care of the VA and veterans needs politicians have formed a partnership with special interest groups who are willing to use their financial resources to corrupt elected officials decisions in favor of their own narrow agenda.

Yes my fellow Americans, our political system of fairness has been sold out to the highest bidders and the situation is getter worse.  Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.  "Serious" public servants who are willing to say no to this corruption are badly needed.


This commentary written by John Lucia.

President Obama Announces His Decision On Afghanistan.

At the White House yesterday the President informed the American people that the U.S. combat role in Afghanistan will end this year.  There will be 9800 U.S. troops that will stay to help train Afghan troops and to conduct counter terrorism operations.  That number will be cut in half in 2015 and the only remaining U.S. troops at the end of 2016 will be those necessary for security for the American Embassy. 

This writer in a commentary just recently concerning Afghanistan was of the opinion that all combat troops should be brought home by the end of 2014 and stated the reasons why.  I still stand by that opinion but I support the President's Decision.

U.S. senators Lindsey Graham, John McCain and Kelly Ayotte said that Obama was foolish to set a date and that doing so will embolden our enemies.  They would like for the President to keep the American people and our troops in the dark and to what our future plans are in Afghanistan.  Those 3 senators are full of it and one only has to consider the source.  McCain and Graham opposed the President's decision to end the war in Iraq and bring our troops home.  They are also the ones who knew for sure Iraq had WMD.  They are also the ones who would have our men and women in uniform involved in endless wars that are unnecessary.

The war in Afghanistan will be 13 years and counting in October.  Our men and women in uniform have experienced multiple deployments there under harsh conditions and have paid a dear price.  They and their families deserve to be reunited and have the time needed to put their lives back together.

The U.S. needs leaders who understand the terrible price our country and our troops paid in Iraq over WMD that did not exist and never again start such a war.  We are a better country than that and a proud military that prides itself on fighting just wars.  The President also said in his announcement that Afghanistan will not be a perfect place and it is not our responsibility to make it one.  That is reality, something the chicken hawks will never understand.  And reality is the most import part of going to war.


This commentary written by John Lucia.