It has been an unending story in America. Death by guns in the hands of people who should not have them, especially an assault type military weapon. Forty nine innocent people killed and many more wounded. An assault type military rifle was used which the shooter purchased only a few days before according to the FBI. The rifle was purchased legally because gun loopholes in the law are as common as loopholes in the tax code for the wealthy.
The Orlando shooter could not have purchased the rifle legally had the ban on such weapons been extended, but the Bush 43 administration let the ban die and did not push to keep it in place. An assault rifle is a weapon of war. Can anyone honestly say they should be in the hands of civilians? The ban actually worked while in place and police chiefs all over the country supported it.
Trump's statement about the Orlando shooting that the people in the club where the shooting occurred should have had guns to protect themselves and that the best way to protect from a bad man with a gun is a good man with a gun. Trump simply stated the NRA's position which is so childish and unbecoming a man who would like to be President.
President Ronald Reagan was in the company of good men with guns (the Secret Service) yet Reagan was shot by an assassin. President Kennedy was in the same company with good men plus the Dallas police department, yet the President was killed. Police all across America carry guns yet they can not stop gun violence and in some instance can not even save their own lives. Trump and the leaders of the NRA are not wrapped tight and do not belong in the conversation of how to have control over gun violence.
Sixteen states have gun control laws that have reduced violence by guns by large percentages. Don't take my word for it, just go on line and see for yourself. The NRA and the uninformed are the only ones standing in the way of reasonable gun measures to fight the epidemic of gun violence.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Sunday, June 12, 2016
The Louisiana Legislature: Will It Face Up To Its Responsibilities?
The Louisiana legislature began its second special session on June 6 because it failed to resolve the state's fiscal problems that begins the state's new budget year which starts July 1. The governor thinks the short fall is about $600 million. The legislators say it is less, around $300 million.
The bottom line to be able to measure success will be for legislators to find a way to fully fund or partially fund those programs deemed necessary to advance the state and its people with funds that are recurring and can be counted on year in and year out. There are ways to raise revenue and cut spending with out the rhetoric that takes those two issues to the extreme.
The legislators have failed that test in the past and it is now time for them to stand tall and finally take the steps necessary to make a final break with past mistakes. They can debate raising revenue and cutting spending all they want but will their final decision result in real fiscal change that solves the budget problem.
If one takes the results of the first special session and the regular session that ended just a week ago the answer is no and the ball is in the court of the republican controlled legislature. The governor has given them his ideas, just maybe they are more workable if given a chance. After all the legislators should be getting tired of their 8 years of budget gimmicks. If they did their jobs right in the first place there would be no need for special sessions.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The bottom line to be able to measure success will be for legislators to find a way to fully fund or partially fund those programs deemed necessary to advance the state and its people with funds that are recurring and can be counted on year in and year out. There are ways to raise revenue and cut spending with out the rhetoric that takes those two issues to the extreme.
The legislators have failed that test in the past and it is now time for them to stand tall and finally take the steps necessary to make a final break with past mistakes. They can debate raising revenue and cutting spending all they want but will their final decision result in real fiscal change that solves the budget problem.
If one takes the results of the first special session and the regular session that ended just a week ago the answer is no and the ball is in the court of the republican controlled legislature. The governor has given them his ideas, just maybe they are more workable if given a chance. After all the legislators should be getting tired of their 8 years of budget gimmicks. If they did their jobs right in the first place there would be no need for special sessions.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Hillary Clinton Was "Super" On Super Tuesday
Hillary Clinton scored big wins in super Tuesday's Presidential primaries and won more than enough delegates to secure her party's nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Clinton won the two largest prizes, the New Jersey and California primaries which were rich in delegates.
Clinton did what she said she would do from the very beginning, take her campaign to the people and not take any votes for granted. The pundits told everyone she might loose California and be embarrassed but just the opposite happened.
After the delegates cast their official votes at the convention Clinton will become the very first woman chosen as the Presidential nominee of a major political party in America. Her address Tuesday night after the primaries from her Brooklyn, New York headquarters struct the right tone and her accomplishment will have a positive effect for women in all walks of life. On Tuesday night the voters proved just how great America stands as a country. If elected President, she can set the tone for equal pay because her Presidential salary will be the same as past Presidents who have all been men.
She also acknowledged the positive role her mother played in her life and capped it off by saying her mother taught her how to deal with a bully. This writer thought she displayed her humor there. Yes, Tuesday night really was Hillary's night, and for good reason.
Note: Many remarks made by the pundits at Fox News, MSNBC and CNN after the election results were coming in were purely theatrical and the usual spin. No quality reporting there.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Clinton did what she said she would do from the very beginning, take her campaign to the people and not take any votes for granted. The pundits told everyone she might loose California and be embarrassed but just the opposite happened.
After the delegates cast their official votes at the convention Clinton will become the very first woman chosen as the Presidential nominee of a major political party in America. Her address Tuesday night after the primaries from her Brooklyn, New York headquarters struct the right tone and her accomplishment will have a positive effect for women in all walks of life. On Tuesday night the voters proved just how great America stands as a country. If elected President, she can set the tone for equal pay because her Presidential salary will be the same as past Presidents who have all been men.
She also acknowledged the positive role her mother played in her life and capped it off by saying her mother taught her how to deal with a bully. This writer thought she displayed her humor there. Yes, Tuesday night really was Hillary's night, and for good reason.
Note: Many remarks made by the pundits at Fox News, MSNBC and CNN after the election results were coming in were purely theatrical and the usual spin. No quality reporting there.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Hillary Clinton Is The "Stand Out" Candidate In This Years Presidential Race
The 17 republican Presidential candidates were so self destructive Donald Trump emerged as their party's presumptive nominee. And now it seems Trump himself may just self destruct. The party has no integrity left, no common sense, no claim to civility and no sense of policy. Trump and the GOP have lost sense of what America and its political system is all about. The GOP in congress refused to work with the President on day one and turned their backs on the people of America. They are now united behind Trump and have turned their backs on the people once again.
Every day Trump is involved in some inflammatory remarks about some one and rolls back to some degree the integrity that Presidential candidates should strive for. He lacks the skills for human behavior and masks his inability to be a productive voice for the people. George W. Bush called himself the decider and failed that big time. Trump is the divider and does not believe in a "united" states.
Hillary Clinton has taken much personal abuse from the republicans, conservative journalists and the major news media also has piled it on and it started when she came to the White House with husband Bill Clinton. But through all the years she has been a steady voice for public service, served in the U.S. Senate for 8 years and was secretary of state for 4 years. She is a wife, mother, parent and grandmother. Through all the years of personal attacks she has shown courage, character and the will to defend herself and her family. She is a person who believes in people being united, not divided and has never been afraid to make public her tax returns.
Hillary is a person of compassion who has always stood up for all Americans. She has the political understanding to make government work for the good of the country and its people. She is a person who can live very comfortable financially outside of politics but she truly believes public service is a noble cause and opportunity to do good things for the country and its people. The Presidency is a place for serious public service and not a show off platform for inflammatory statements that divide and separate its people.
This writer believes Hillary Clinton is indeed the "stand out" Presidential candidate in this years election and the one person with the best all around qualifications and temperament to lead the United States and its people for the next four years.
Note: As this writer predicted in a previous commentary, Speaker of the U.S. House Paul Ryan has thrown his support behind Donald Trump and has urges his fellow GOP to do the same thing.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Every day Trump is involved in some inflammatory remarks about some one and rolls back to some degree the integrity that Presidential candidates should strive for. He lacks the skills for human behavior and masks his inability to be a productive voice for the people. George W. Bush called himself the decider and failed that big time. Trump is the divider and does not believe in a "united" states.
Hillary Clinton has taken much personal abuse from the republicans, conservative journalists and the major news media also has piled it on and it started when she came to the White House with husband Bill Clinton. But through all the years she has been a steady voice for public service, served in the U.S. Senate for 8 years and was secretary of state for 4 years. She is a wife, mother, parent and grandmother. Through all the years of personal attacks she has shown courage, character and the will to defend herself and her family. She is a person who believes in people being united, not divided and has never been afraid to make public her tax returns.
Hillary is a person of compassion who has always stood up for all Americans. She has the political understanding to make government work for the good of the country and its people. She is a person who can live very comfortable financially outside of politics but she truly believes public service is a noble cause and opportunity to do good things for the country and its people. The Presidency is a place for serious public service and not a show off platform for inflammatory statements that divide and separate its people.
This writer believes Hillary Clinton is indeed the "stand out" Presidential candidate in this years election and the one person with the best all around qualifications and temperament to lead the United States and its people for the next four years.
Note: As this writer predicted in a previous commentary, Speaker of the U.S. House Paul Ryan has thrown his support behind Donald Trump and has urges his fellow GOP to do the same thing.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Monday, May 30, 2016
Coming Soon In "PolitiDose"
After the Democratic and Republican conventions are completed and the Presidential nominees of each party are officially declared, "PolitiDose" will offer a series of commentaries as to which nominee will best serve the country and its people as the next President and Commander in Chief. The commentaries will also offer the reasons why.
Each party's past record will be explored because it tells a story, some good, some bad and some in between. Some political facts that many voters have accepted as facts with out any fact checking will be exposed as myths. The regular news media and the cable networks will not be much help to the average voter during the general election because they are more in tuned to the sensational and let the facts of many issues just slide by.
Unlike state elections, the Presidential election affects everyone and all the states combined as a nation. All one has to do is remember the war in Iraq over WMD that did not exist. Thirteen years later we are still there and Iraq is still unstable. The worst economic recession since the great depression and by the way the Wall Street banks did not provide the only reason for that recession. It happened because of several reasons.
The 2016 Presidential election will be an important one so stay tuned to "PolitiDose" for your daily dose of political commentary.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Each party's past record will be explored because it tells a story, some good, some bad and some in between. Some political facts that many voters have accepted as facts with out any fact checking will be exposed as myths. The regular news media and the cable networks will not be much help to the average voter during the general election because they are more in tuned to the sensational and let the facts of many issues just slide by.
Unlike state elections, the Presidential election affects everyone and all the states combined as a nation. All one has to do is remember the war in Iraq over WMD that did not exist. Thirteen years later we are still there and Iraq is still unstable. The worst economic recession since the great depression and by the way the Wall Street banks did not provide the only reason for that recession. It happened because of several reasons.
The 2016 Presidential election will be an important one so stay tuned to "PolitiDose" for your daily dose of political commentary.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, May 29, 2016
The News Media Wants Hillary Clinton To Join Donald Trump In The Gutter.
The media is so in bed with Donald Trump and his campaign they have to try and create a political story that does not exist. The media's story is some thing like this. Hillary has to change her campaign tactics to over come Trumps gutter personal attacks against her. They cite unnamed sources connected to her campaign and also inject their own views.
The Times Picayune of May 29 was a good example with an article by three journalists with the New York Times. It was basically a full page story that seems to suggest that Hillary needs to get into the gutter with Trump to compete and deflect his personal attacks. One of the most telling aspects in the article is how Hillary hit Trump hard on his tax return issue but got little in-depth coverage from the news media while Trump received non stop coverage. Of course the 3 New York Times journalists failed to say why they themselves failed to give Hillary's remarks the in-depth coverage it deserved.
Trump's gutter remarks are typical of republican candidates, those republicans serving in congress and even some conservative journalists. They talked about Bill Clinton the same way and even called him a scum bag when he was serving as President of the United States. They used gutter language because they could not compete with Clinton's success and the good things the country and its people enjoyed during Clinton's eight years in office.
Trump's gutter remarks are an extension of the republican party's failure and their constant attempt to divide the people. Trump's campaign has proved to be what was pointed out in "PolitiDose" at the very beginning, that he and the republican party are one and the same. The news media has disgraced its profession by repeating Trump's gutter attacks over and over.
Hillary Clinton will not play gutter politics with Trump but has and will continue to speak to the American people in a more sharper tone once she clinches the democratic nomination. That is when the real campaign starts. The voters will come to understand that Clinton has character and courage and that Trump lacks those qualities. The voters will also recognize that Clinton's personal life has been so much more productive towards the people's needs and good government than the $10 billion man's personal life. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The Times Picayune of May 29 was a good example with an article by three journalists with the New York Times. It was basically a full page story that seems to suggest that Hillary needs to get into the gutter with Trump to compete and deflect his personal attacks. One of the most telling aspects in the article is how Hillary hit Trump hard on his tax return issue but got little in-depth coverage from the news media while Trump received non stop coverage. Of course the 3 New York Times journalists failed to say why they themselves failed to give Hillary's remarks the in-depth coverage it deserved.
Trump's gutter remarks are typical of republican candidates, those republicans serving in congress and even some conservative journalists. They talked about Bill Clinton the same way and even called him a scum bag when he was serving as President of the United States. They used gutter language because they could not compete with Clinton's success and the good things the country and its people enjoyed during Clinton's eight years in office.
Trump's gutter remarks are an extension of the republican party's failure and their constant attempt to divide the people. Trump's campaign has proved to be what was pointed out in "PolitiDose" at the very beginning, that he and the republican party are one and the same. The news media has disgraced its profession by repeating Trump's gutter attacks over and over.
Hillary Clinton will not play gutter politics with Trump but has and will continue to speak to the American people in a more sharper tone once she clinches the democratic nomination. That is when the real campaign starts. The voters will come to understand that Clinton has character and courage and that Trump lacks those qualities. The voters will also recognize that Clinton's personal life has been so much more productive towards the people's needs and good government than the $10 billion man's personal life. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry's Power Grab Is Defeated
Jeff Landry, Louisiana's republican Attorney General was denied his plan to control his department's budget by the Senate Finance Commission. The budget authority has always rested with Louisiana's governor and Landry's plan would have taken the oversight away from Governor Edwards. So says a Times Picayune article of 5/27/16. Landry's plan comes at a time when the governor and legislature are trying to deal with a budget problem that has spun out of control and the possibility of hard ships for the people and the state down the road.
Republicans always want to run things when democrats are in charge. Landry served for a time in the U.S. Congress and everyone knows how the republicans in Congress want to run the country even when they lose elections. The Louisiana Senate Finance Commission pointed out that Landry who has been in office only 4 months just bought new cars for his agency, something other state departments are not doing.
On another issue and unknown to governor Edwards until after the fact, Landry joined 10 other states fighting President Obama's administrative directive concerning the transgender issue in public schools. Landry also said Edwards executive order protecting LGBT state workers and government contractors from discrimination cannot be legally enforced. The governor pushed back and said Landry has over stepped the authority to his office.
Governor Edwards was right in opposing Landry's budget plan (and said he would veto it if passed) especially with the state's fiscal problems still unresolved. Republicans will continue to try and place obstacles in the way of the governor's policies to have a budget that works for everyone without the gimmicks.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Republicans always want to run things when democrats are in charge. Landry served for a time in the U.S. Congress and everyone knows how the republicans in Congress want to run the country even when they lose elections. The Louisiana Senate Finance Commission pointed out that Landry who has been in office only 4 months just bought new cars for his agency, something other state departments are not doing.
On another issue and unknown to governor Edwards until after the fact, Landry joined 10 other states fighting President Obama's administrative directive concerning the transgender issue in public schools. Landry also said Edwards executive order protecting LGBT state workers and government contractors from discrimination cannot be legally enforced. The governor pushed back and said Landry has over stepped the authority to his office.
Governor Edwards was right in opposing Landry's budget plan (and said he would veto it if passed) especially with the state's fiscal problems still unresolved. Republicans will continue to try and place obstacles in the way of the governor's policies to have a budget that works for everyone without the gimmicks.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Friday, May 27, 2016
The Trump-Sanders Debate Circus
Donald Trump pulled the plug on his own promoted debate with Senator Bernie Sanders. Trump's suggestion was to keep the news media's attention on his campaign and the media fell for it big time, especially the Fox News, MSNBC and CNN and of course those networks are just continuing their love affair with Trump and he is their lead story almost every night.
Sanders wanted the debate to try and embarrass Hillary Clinton and was willing to support the Trump debate circus. Sanders still has a problem understanding he had a fair chance against Clinton in the primaries and lost fair and square. The voters spoke loud and clear with their ballot. Hillary Clinton had the best comment at the time the debate story broke when Chuck Todd of MSNBC asked Hillary what she thought about the debate idea. She just LAUGHED because she knew what Trump was trying to do.
Trump will continue to use the news media as one of his little pawns and the media will continue to do his bidding. The public should remember NBC had a Trump television show and they are inseparable. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sanders wanted the debate to try and embarrass Hillary Clinton and was willing to support the Trump debate circus. Sanders still has a problem understanding he had a fair chance against Clinton in the primaries and lost fair and square. The voters spoke loud and clear with their ballot. Hillary Clinton had the best comment at the time the debate story broke when Chuck Todd of MSNBC asked Hillary what she thought about the debate idea. She just LAUGHED because she knew what Trump was trying to do.
Trump will continue to use the news media as one of his little pawns and the media will continue to do his bidding. The public should remember NBC had a Trump television show and they are inseparable. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Another Leader Of Terror Is Brought To Justice
The U.S. announced that the leader of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a U.S. air strike on his vehicle in Pakistan just several days ago. It was one of many leaders of terrorists brought to justice by the Obama administration and a major one for the region.
The President gave the go ahead order for the strike and continues to focus on the problem of terror and bringing their leaders to justice. The administration's success in keeping the pressure on terrorists and keeping America safe continue to be his priority at home and abroad. The President's policy of not putting thousands of American troops on the ground in the middle east unnecessarily is also saving American lives from IED's truck bombings and etc.
Yes, America does have a President and Commander in Chief who has a policy to fight terror without having to talk tough and bring about his accomplishments. Too bad from now until the November elections there will be one Presidential candidate who will use tough talk as his signature and continue to bad mouth the President's policies and bore the American people to death. Some things never change and there are always those that are willing to put American lives at risk when there is no compelling reason to do so.
President Obama came along at the right time to serve his country and its people. Don't look for Fox News or the news media in general to give this story much coverage. They are more interested in covering stories that are negative in content towards the President.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The President gave the go ahead order for the strike and continues to focus on the problem of terror and bringing their leaders to justice. The administration's success in keeping the pressure on terrorists and keeping America safe continue to be his priority at home and abroad. The President's policy of not putting thousands of American troops on the ground in the middle east unnecessarily is also saving American lives from IED's truck bombings and etc.
Yes, America does have a President and Commander in Chief who has a policy to fight terror without having to talk tough and bring about his accomplishments. Too bad from now until the November elections there will be one Presidential candidate who will use tough talk as his signature and continue to bad mouth the President's policies and bore the American people to death. Some things never change and there are always those that are willing to put American lives at risk when there is no compelling reason to do so.
President Obama came along at the right time to serve his country and its people. Don't look for Fox News or the news media in general to give this story much coverage. They are more interested in covering stories that are negative in content towards the President.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
The Tax Returns Of Presidential Candidates
Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has released her tax returns and so has Senator Bernie Sanders. Donald Trump, the presumptive republican Presidential nominee has not and says he won't until after an IRS audit is completed. The IRS has said the audit has nothing to do with Trump releasing his tax returns. It has been a tradition for Presidential candidates to release their tax returns.
Hillary Clinton has released her tax returns for over 30 years, more than any other person by far seeking public office. From 2007 thru 2014 the Clintons paid over $43 million in taxes. They paid an effective federal tax rate of 35.4% in 2013 and 35.7% in 2014. In state taxes, they paid an effective rate of 44.6% in 2013 and 45.8% in 2014. That is one heck of a lot more than her democratic or republican opponents who can not walk the talk when it comes to paying their fare share of taxes.
So far Senator Sanders has released one year of tax returns that show he paid an effective federal tax rate of 17%. He says more will be released so time will tell. Trump's income and wealth will probably make Clinton and Sanders look like paupers if he ever releases his tax returns and no one should be surprised if his returns show he has paid a lower federal tax rate than Sanders. Trump is the only one of the three who has proposed lowering the Corporate tax rate and the tax rate the wealthy pay if he is elected President.
Hillary Clinton wins this issue in a landslide and is credible on walking the talk when it comes to the issue of paying ones fair share of taxes. Trump is just a loud mouth bully until he releases his tax returns and it shows he can walk the talk of paying his fair share of taxes.
Note: Mitt Romney, the 2012 republican Presidential nominee released his tax returns and it showed he paid an effective federal tax rate of 13%. He too had a platform that called for reducing the taxes on Corporations and the wealthy and failed to walk the talk.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Hillary Clinton has released her tax returns for over 30 years, more than any other person by far seeking public office. From 2007 thru 2014 the Clintons paid over $43 million in taxes. They paid an effective federal tax rate of 35.4% in 2013 and 35.7% in 2014. In state taxes, they paid an effective rate of 44.6% in 2013 and 45.8% in 2014. That is one heck of a lot more than her democratic or republican opponents who can not walk the talk when it comes to paying their fare share of taxes.
So far Senator Sanders has released one year of tax returns that show he paid an effective federal tax rate of 17%. He says more will be released so time will tell. Trump's income and wealth will probably make Clinton and Sanders look like paupers if he ever releases his tax returns and no one should be surprised if his returns show he has paid a lower federal tax rate than Sanders. Trump is the only one of the three who has proposed lowering the Corporate tax rate and the tax rate the wealthy pay if he is elected President.
Hillary Clinton wins this issue in a landslide and is credible on walking the talk when it comes to the issue of paying ones fair share of taxes. Trump is just a loud mouth bully until he releases his tax returns and it shows he can walk the talk of paying his fair share of taxes.
Note: Mitt Romney, the 2012 republican Presidential nominee released his tax returns and it showed he paid an effective federal tax rate of 13%. He too had a platform that called for reducing the taxes on Corporations and the wealthy and failed to walk the talk.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
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