NBC's "Commander in Chiefs Forum" Was A Major Failure

NBC's "forum" program failed the test thanks to Host Matt Lauer's non "Commander in Chiefs questions.  It was a continuation of the news media in general and their corrupt reporting on this years Presidential campaign.  Elections are no longer respected by the news media and that was exhibited at the "forum" last night when Lauer tried to rush up the candidates answers.  That alone showed the networks disrespect for the subject matter.  After all it was billed as a "Commander in Chiefs" forum so was rushing the answers in line with the subject matter which one would think was important.

The one positive aspect of the program was Hillary Clintons willingness to answer all the questions asked by Lauer and members of the audience.  And that is what Clinton has done all through the campaign.  Her actions show she is a better woman than Frump is a man.  Trump did not answer any question at all that Lauer or the audience asked.  He skirted all around the questions.

Of course, NBC was the network that aired Trump's television show and its affiliate MSNBC continues its love affair with Trump every day on its shows.  The "Commander in Chiefs" forum added another layer of tarnish to a news media that is out of control at a very important time of a national election.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Part III The 2016 Presidential Election: Donald Trump Emulating George W. Bush

The comparison can be made but it is not very flattering.  Like Bush, Trump has no political understanding of the economy, foreign affairs or the country, and its people paid the price big time and our veterans paid the ultimate price in an unnecessary war in Iraq over WMD that did not exist.  Trump also tries to talk tough like Bush, and fails the real test of being tough.  Their tax plans of trickle down economics lacks the understanding of arithmetic and in Bush's case reversed the economic progress made during the Clinton administration.  Trump's tax plan would do the same to the economic progress taking place in the Obama administration.  Trumps go it alone in foreign policy and shameful talk about our allies would once again trigger a larger American burden in world affairs and make the United States less secure.

Bush learned nothing from his political experience as governor of Texas because his family name won the election as governor.  He came to Washington lacking political understanding and conspired with Cheney and other neocons to rule like a king with no checks and balances.  Trump has that same attitude but he learned it from the business world where money can buy a lot of things and also destroy a lot of things.  Both Bush and Trump's background was business and business leaders are the worst at running government because the government can not be run like a business.  Business are only concerned with the bottom line and not people.  People are the government.  Business leaders sacrifice their employees every day in favor of their executives.  CEOs and executives earn between 300-400 times what the average worker makes and trickle down economics is a business paradise.

Bush left office as one of the worst Presidents in the nation's history after reversing all the good things Clinton accomplished for the country and its people.  His lack of political understanding and attitude domestically and in foreign affairs set the country back and some of the effects are still a burden to the people.  Now Trump would like to be President at a time the Obama administration has turned the country around for the better.  That must not happen because Trump would ape the Bush doctrine and repeat the same mistakes.

The country and its people can not afford that history to repeat itself.  A word to the wise should be sufficient.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The New Orleans Saints and Quarterback Drew Brees

Reports from the Times Picayune and Television in New Orleans indicate quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints are talking about a new contract extension.  It is being said that Brees is asking for a four year contract worth $100 million.  That is $25 million a year.  If that report is true Brees should be ashamed of himself and the Saints should be seeing red to even give that number credibility.

Drew Brees has led the Saints to 3 losing seasons in the last four years, is nearing the end of his career and is not worth $25 million a year.  Not even close.  Brees is one of many players in the NFL who are overpaid and part of a system where wealth has destroyed competition.  After the Saint's last four seasons, Brees should be giving a major cut in salary or let him seek employment elsewhere.  Peyton Manning and Tom Brady has done so much more for their teams during their career than Brees has done for his team.  More world championships, more division and conference titles, more winning seasons and more playoff appearances and wins.  Drew Brees has not earned any thing near a salary of $25 millions a year and the Saints should tell him that.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Wisconsin Defeats LSU 16 - 14 In Green Bay

I wrote a commentary on August 12 concerning LSU and The New Orleans Saints and said this year LSU will start the season with the same problems as last year and after Saturday's defeat I am more convinced than ever LSU's offensive problems are glaring and head coach Les Miles has failed to see the problem and change the offensive nonsense.

Incompetent play calling and selection on offense is a Miles signature that has never been corrected during his 11 years as head coach.  The offense is not only boring, it is also predictable.  That is good news for LSU's opponents but terrible news for the LSU offense and its fans.  Quarterback Harris started off the season where he left off last year over throwing and under throwing receivers and poor quarterback choices at critical times.

Sports writers in New Orleans and Baton Rouge were so sure in their preseason predictions that LSU would be so much more improved than last year.  They pointed out that LSU returned the bulk of their starters from last years team both on offense and defense and that would make a difference.  Unfortunately, they were willing to forget Miles was also returning.  The hype and cliches seem to motivate them which does not allow any objectivity in evaluating the team.

One game does not make a season, but Miles has a record of losing to teams with less talent and being out coached.  Plus he has a record of not changing his offensive play calling and play selection.  That tells this writer LSU will miss the play offs once again this football season.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Job Market Still Remains Healthy and Positive

The economy created 151,000 new jobs in August according to the U.S. Labor Department and the unemployment rate held at 4.9%  It was the 78 straight month of positive job growth and a indication that the job market is still healthy leading into the holiday season.  The August job numbers were down from the previous month of July but that is the nature of the economy at the present time.

At this same time in the George W. Bush Presidency for August 2008 the economy lost 84,000 jobs and the unemployment rate stood at 6.1%.  The country was deep into recession, the wall street banks were failing and the federal deficit continued to rise rapidly.  The fore closure on homes was taking place, median family income was still going down, businesses were failing and there was no end in sight to the downward  spiral.  By the time President Bush left office in January of 2009, the country suffered the worst of economic times since the great depression of 1929.

The people of America then made the right choice and elected a democratic President named Barack Obama.  The new President met the challenge despite opposition from the republicans in congress, a host of conservative journalists and the Fox News Network.  And this writer can say that when President Obama leaves office in January 2017, America and its people will be better off than they were in just about every category when President Bush left office almost 8 years ago.

Now in the middle of another Presidential election Donald Trump and his ditto head republicans are trying to down play the success of Obama's leadership and even talking about reversing the progress made the last 8 years.  It reminds this writer what the Bush administration did when it followed the Clinton administration's record economy and balanced budgets.  Bush proposed a tax cut of $5 trillion because he said the Clinton surpluses over charged the American people and he was going to give the people their money back.

Well, the top 2% got more than their money back from that tax cut while the American people lost their jobs and their homes in the great Bush recession.  President Bush reversed all the good that had been accomplished by the Clinton administration for the country and its people.  The voters in this Presidential election should be able to see the relationship of what Bush did to what Donald Trump wants to do if elected President.

Understanding the mistakes of the past is still the key to a better future and improving on what works and what is working is the key to long term stability and the rejection of past mistakes.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

An About Face For A Conservative Journalist

It finally happened, a conservative journalist Michael Gerson in a Times Picayune editorial of Sept. 2 called out the Fox News Network and Rush Limbaugh for their campaign reporting and support of Donald Trump's pronouncements.  Gerson said Fox News needs to be re-launched and re-branded rather than the angry white television personalties who employ perpetual outrage as a business model.  He also said a similar unveiling has occured with the right's defining radio personalty, Rush Limbaugh.

Of course any one who has ever tuned in to Fox or Rush and are willing to admit it, knows neither program is "fair and balanced" and that both are right wing shows that devote all their air time to criticize democrats and especially President Obama and Hillary Clinton.  And now they have hitched their wagon to Donald Trump.  Fox and Rush are masters at trying to divide the country, talking hate, making false statements and negative in tone.

Gerson notes in his article that according to a recent lawsuit, Fox as an institution is apparently operating like a sex-fueled Playboy Mansion like-cult steeped in intimidation, indecency and misogyny.  Gerson's article leaves no doubt his comments concern how Fox and Rush have embraced Donald Trump's rhetoric in this Presidential campaign. The real question is why did Gerson take so long to realize the unAmerican attitude of both Fox and Rush.

After all, Fox News and Rush Limbaugh's programs have been selling the same crud since the very beginning and it has been pointed out here in PolitiDose many times.  PolitiDose also reported that Fox was selling sex as news long before the lawsuit was filed against Fox. The Fox camera angle on the female hosts with their short skirts, especially their show Outnumbered, reveals the clue to what they are trying to sell.

The bottom line on conservatism as practiced today is so out of line with main street America and what America stands for, it always ends up attacking its own.  Fox does not need to be re-launched or re-branded as Gerson says, it need to be broken up like monopolies.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The City of New Orleans Continues To Move Forward Under Mayor Mitch Landrieu

Under the leadership of Mayor Landrieu New Orleans has made great progress in the short time he has served in office.  Landrieu was the first Mayor to declare and recognize that violent crime was the city's number one problem and did something about it on all fronts.  There is still work to do and Landrieu will not look the other way before he leaves office.  Because of the changes made and a realistic city budget process the next Mayor will have the opportunity to see a police force in numbers that is required for a city its size.

The city of New Orleans is the jewel of Louisiana's major cities.  The city's economy, construction, new developments, tourist trade and etc.  There has been major street repairs and the Task Force the Mayor established to set a long term program to repair and up grade the city's streets and infrastructure will soon be completed.  (some parts of the plan have already been completed)  The city has also settled the long standing Firemen's Union suit that began long before Landrieu took office and has cost the city millions of dollars.

Mitch Landrieu is a true and serious public servant who cares for the city and its people.  He knows how to get the job done, understands the issues and how long range planning is the key to solve problems.  It is a way to make sure today's problems do not get kicked down the road.

The theme of Landrieu's campaign when he ran for Mayor was: ONE TEAM, ONE FIGHT, ONE VOICE AND ONE CITY.  The Mayor has stayed loyal to that theme and has focused on those things that is making it come true.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another First For PolitiDose

The Times Picayune in a article dated 8/28 by Richard Rainey confirmed what was published here first in "PolitiDose" on 8/25 under the title, 2016:  The year of Louisiana's great flood.  Rainey's article pointed out how much FEMA has improved its service and role in disasters since its Katrina moment.  He also commented on what he called a seamless federal response to Louisiana's recent flood.  The only information absent from the article was the fact that FEMA also did a good job during the BP Oil explosion and spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Craig Fugate, FEMA's administrator praised President Obama's transformation of FEMA and his ability to produce the needed increase in funding so FEMA could meet its obligations and responsibility.  He also said the President made it very clear that he'd rather err on getting there and not being needed than not being there at all, the article also reported.

So now we have a major newspaper informing the people and recognizing that an important federal agency is working like it should for the benefit of the state and its people in time of need.  And yes, understanding the mistakes of the past is still the key to a better future.  And despite those voices that try to divide the country, government, under the right leadership does indeed work.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Part II: The 2016 Presidential Election: The Economy, Why A Democratic Administration Should Be Elected To Govern The Country.

The U.S. economy, if built on a solid policy foundation can accomplish much; if built on a foundation of ideology it accomplishes very little. And the record is clear that democratic administrations are best at handling the economy.  A working economy creates jobs, reduces unemployment, reduces deficit spending and debt and also is the avenue to a balanced budget.  It is the engine that drives the need for business expansion because of consumer demands.

The economy, if working properly is a key for fiscal stability; federal revenues will increase and the government will be allowed to take care of its responsibility to the people.  The economy is also important for our national security and the ability to keep our country safe because that takes revenue to provide the means to keep the country safe at home and abroad.  A good working economy is the part that starts every thing off that we do.  The year 2008 is proof of what happens when the economy is not working.

This writer posted a 4 part commentary here in "PolitiDose" titled, The U.S. Economy, Which Party Performs Best dated 1/27/08 that ended with Part IV dated 3/2/08 (Recap and Conclusion)  President George W. Bush was still in office at the time of the commentary so his full eight years could not be included but every one knows what happened to the economy and etc., on his watch.

Under President Obama the U.S. economy has performed better; so has the unemployment rate; deficit spending is lower;  more jobs have been created by far;  America and its people are safer at home and abroad; federal spending has increased at a lower rate than under Bush;  the stock market index is up almost 100% and the national debt will see a smaller percentage increase than under Bush.  There have been no bank failures of the scope of 2008.  And the economy is the best on the world market.

Donald Trump will not release his tax returns because it will show he paid very little tax or no tax at all and would reveal his dealings with foreign countries.  The economy would be tuned to his investments and would end up not working for the people or the country.  On the other hand Hillary Clinton has nothing to hide as she has released her tax returns.  She has not only paid her share of taxes but there is nothing there to hide.

President Obama's time in office so far has confirmed the 4 Part commentary's conclusion that democratic administrations do perform better for the country and its people than republican administrations.


Note:  The below numbers for President George W. Bush's last two fiscal years was not available when the 4 part commentary was written.  Below is what happened to the deficit his last two fiscal years.

Fiscal year 2008   ending 9/30/08                $454.8 billion deficit

Fiscal year 2009 ending 9/30/09                  $l.42 Trillion deficit   The largest single year fiscal deficit that still stands.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Part I The 2016 Presidential Election: Hillary Clinton, The Steady Presidential Candidate.

Hillary Clinton has been the steady Presidential candidate and nominee through out the process since the race began.  There were distractions along the way, some continue at the present time and some will continue simply because she is Hillary Clinton.  But she has never strayed from her message of public service or her policy plans if she is elected.

There are those who complain that she does not expose herself to the media very much and there fore afraid to answer questions.  Trump even complained about that but he said nothing about the media's love affair with their constant coverage of the Donald.  Clinton is doing the right thing by taking her campaign to the people and speaking to the issues.  She has been steady as she goes and not prone to the flip-flops of Trump.

The people are the winners because they know where Hillary stands on the issues and that she has the political understanding to be President and Commander in Chief.  The latest distraction is the Clinton's Foundation where Trump has tried to make the case that Clinton was playing favorite with some who gave contributions to the Foundation while she was Secretary of State.  The State Department shot back that there was no such evidence.  It will surely come up in the debates but in the end the people will find that Hillary has more credibility than Trump on every issue.

This week is a good example.  Trump has stumbled all week on his immigration plans and his changes have already been changed.  Its so bad his supporters are making up excuses trying to show there is no change at all.  Yes Hillary Clinton is still the most steady Presidential nominee on the issues and her campaign to the American people and the country and should continue because it is the right thing to do.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio