Make no mistake about it, the democratic party won the latest budget battle in congress early Friday morning when the U.S Senate voted and passed a two year budget 71-28 which was then passed by the U. S. House 240-186. President Trump signed off on the legislation soon after passage. The democrats in both houses of congress supplied the votes necessary to pass the legislature. It was a complete reversal of the previous republican senate bill which failed and shut down the government for 3 days. It failed because it was a partisan republican bill that denied the democrats their priority and input and a debate on DACA.
But this time around the democrats were able to fund their priorities for the people and received assurance that DACA and immigration reform would be taken up next week with democratic debate and input. The budget bill that passed was a long term 2 year budget that democrats demanded instead of operating the government with CR's as the republicans wanted to continue to do. Increase funding for health care, including the children's health care funding which was in jeopardy of expiring, Medicaid, infrastructure, victims of last years hurricanes and fires which were never fully funded, FEMA, the military and other domestic needed programs were fully funded. Prior to the bills passage Trump and the republicans in congress wanted to only increase defense spending and reduce domestic spending. The bill that was passed was truly bi-partisan and a victory for the people because the democratic party in congress stood tall.
Just how huge was the democrats ability to have the senate agree to take up the debate on DACA and immigration reform starting next week? Well lets test ones memory. President George W. Bush wanted to take up immigration reform but his party refused to do so during his eight years in office. The republicans controlled the U.S. House for 6 years under the Obama administration and refused to take up immigration reform. It even allowed an immigration reform bill passed by the democratic controlled Senate in 2013 to expire with out even taken the bill up for debate.
And of course the U.S. Senate has been controlled by the republicans for the last 3 years and never took up immigration reform and not even in Trump's first year in office even though Trump and his party said it would be a priority And to make the subject matter worse Trump, as of this writing has yet to send his own immigration reform plan to congress That caused republican majority leader in the Senate Mitch McConnell to say two weeks ago he did not know what Trump's plan was. So the democratic party pushed successfully to bring a public debate to the issue which will begin next week. That is huge considering the republican party's rejection of such a debate for the past 17 years. We will now find out if the republican party is ready to govern and be bi-partisan on this issue.
Trump immediately after signing the newly passed bill struck out against bi-partisanship. He was mad because the democrats were able to increase domestic spending that went against his wishes of only increasing defense spending to record levels and his plan to slash domestic spending. He urged the people to elect more republicans in the Nov. elections. Trump, the autocrat, does not like bi-partisanship nor does he like democracy. One can also look for Trump to do his best to undermine the coming immigration debate.
The trumpet man also used the bill to lash out against funding for the domestic programs by saying that it will swell the federal deficit. Well, nothing will come close to swelling the federal deficit as much as Trump's tax scam for corporate America and the huge increase in defense spending. The lies just keep rolling out of Trump's mouth like water. Unfortunately there are no TV hosts who are up to date on fiscal matters to correct the trumpet man. But PolitiDose will because PolitiDose knows the facts. Yes, the democratic party stood tall for the country and its people in this budget, make no mistake about it. So stay tuned to PolitiDose, your daily dose of political commentary.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Saturday, February 10, 2018
The Scandals Continue Unabated In The Trump White House
Thirteen months in office President Trump and members of his White House staff continue to created scandal after scandal. This time it is the trumpet man's staff secretary Rob Porter who was forced to resign after months of alleged sexual abuse by two of his former wives. The allegations were known for some time by Trump's team members, including Trump's special council according to reports.
Trump wished Porter well and that Porter denied the allegations. However, both of Porter's previous wives came out in public with the details and with the FBI. Abusing women is nothing new to the Trump White House as Trump himself said on tape, as a star he could do any thing he wanted with women and could even grab them by the you know what. That came from the trumpet mans own mouth and thru his own lips. And of course Trump has also been accused by 19 women of past sexual harassment.
Trump's moral corruption continues to change the White House as a place of honor made possible by previous administrations that understood what America's institutions are all about. So much damage to America and its political system in such a short period of time by a President who is only interested in his own ego. One can be sure it will not be the last White House staff member who has to resign. The atmosphere at the White House will never change as long as it is occupied by Donald Trump.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Trump wished Porter well and that Porter denied the allegations. However, both of Porter's previous wives came out in public with the details and with the FBI. Abusing women is nothing new to the Trump White House as Trump himself said on tape, as a star he could do any thing he wanted with women and could even grab them by the you know what. That came from the trumpet mans own mouth and thru his own lips. And of course Trump has also been accused by 19 women of past sexual harassment.
Trump's moral corruption continues to change the White House as a place of honor made possible by previous administrations that understood what America's institutions are all about. So much damage to America and its political system in such a short period of time by a President who is only interested in his own ego. One can be sure it will not be the last White House staff member who has to resign. The atmosphere at the White House will never change as long as it is occupied by Donald Trump.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Friday, February 9, 2018
The Winter Olympics In South Korea: What Will It Portend, If Any Thing At All
The opening ceremony of the winter Olympics in South Korea is upon us and the world will be watching. We know the leaders of both countries have already joined hands and will field teams in the competition. Some teams will be a mixture of both the North and the South we are told and both countries leaders say the event is the vehicle to future dialog.
So what will the Olympics portend for the future of the Korean peninsula in terms of cooperation and a move toward better relations between the two countries. Will North and South come to the conclusion that they themselves are capable of solving the problems that now exist without outside help. What if they agree that the DMZ is no longer necessary after 65 years in operations and that the North and South agree on a peace treaty with enforcement that would lead to the first step to unify the two countries.
What if North Korea agrees to abandon their nuclear weapons if South Korea informs the United States all American military troops and bases have to leave that country. Both the North and South have kept the armistice that has been in effect since 1953. Both know a miscalculation could start a war neither one wants and would have the potential to be catastrophic to both. South Korea's President is on record as saying he has a veto over the U.S. starting a war with the North.
The bottom line is that both North and South Korea have the ability to unite their countries and China, Russia and the United States would take a diplomatic beating because they themselves failed the test to be constructive concerning the Koreas for so long absent of any original thought. So, will any of this take place with the North and South? We do not know the answer, but some of those issues covered herein could actually take place. The fate of North and South Korea would be best decided by its own people for a true and lasting peace.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
So what will the Olympics portend for the future of the Korean peninsula in terms of cooperation and a move toward better relations between the two countries. Will North and South come to the conclusion that they themselves are capable of solving the problems that now exist without outside help. What if they agree that the DMZ is no longer necessary after 65 years in operations and that the North and South agree on a peace treaty with enforcement that would lead to the first step to unify the two countries.
What if North Korea agrees to abandon their nuclear weapons if South Korea informs the United States all American military troops and bases have to leave that country. Both the North and South have kept the armistice that has been in effect since 1953. Both know a miscalculation could start a war neither one wants and would have the potential to be catastrophic to both. South Korea's President is on record as saying he has a veto over the U.S. starting a war with the North.
The bottom line is that both North and South Korea have the ability to unite their countries and China, Russia and the United States would take a diplomatic beating because they themselves failed the test to be constructive concerning the Koreas for so long absent of any original thought. So, will any of this take place with the North and South? We do not know the answer, but some of those issues covered herein could actually take place. The fate of North and South Korea would be best decided by its own people for a true and lasting peace.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Thursday, February 8, 2018
It Was PolitiDose Who First Reported Trump's Traitorous Acts
Over a year and a half ago, PolitiDose in a commentary dated 7/31/16 titled, "A Traitor Among Us: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Russia" laid out the reasons why Donald Trump the republican Presidential candidate at the time was a traitor. There were other commentary later concerning the subject matter and now after over a year in office, President Trump is still a traitor. Websters New World Dictionary in this writers possession describes traitor as follows: One who betrays; to hand over, betray; a person who betrays his country, cause, friends, etc.
That is what candidate Trump and President Trump has done over and over again with not only lies but actions. And his greatest betrayal of the country and it people now going on with his rhetoric to destroy the intelligence community the FBI and the special prosecutor in order to undermine a legal investigation of his own actions. He has fired one FBI director because he would not drop his investigation of Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn who has already pleaded guilty under the investigation.
The traitorous acts of this President continue almost on a daily basis and hit another new low after his State of the Union Address when he accused democrats of treason because they did not applaud his speech. He betrayed congress because of his selfish desire for self adulation. Trump's betrayal of all the positive things President Obama accomplished for the country and its people are staggering, that includes the Iran Nuclear agreement and Trump's rhetoric of Putin being a better leader than President Obama.
The traitorous acts of Trump will become worse as the special council begins his final push to bring the investigation to a conclusion. It will be much worse than Watergate because the traitor in the White House respects no one and especially lacks respect for American democracy, values and the basic rule of law. The first clue to Trump's betrayal was his refusal to make public what every Presidential candidate has done, release his tax returns, a very simple matter, but Trump knew doing so would expose his lies of betrayal.
The era of President Donald Trump will come to an end and one can only hope and have faith that the voting public will realize that the future politics of the country should never again be like the present one.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
That is what candidate Trump and President Trump has done over and over again with not only lies but actions. And his greatest betrayal of the country and it people now going on with his rhetoric to destroy the intelligence community the FBI and the special prosecutor in order to undermine a legal investigation of his own actions. He has fired one FBI director because he would not drop his investigation of Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn who has already pleaded guilty under the investigation.
The traitorous acts of this President continue almost on a daily basis and hit another new low after his State of the Union Address when he accused democrats of treason because they did not applaud his speech. He betrayed congress because of his selfish desire for self adulation. Trump's betrayal of all the positive things President Obama accomplished for the country and its people are staggering, that includes the Iran Nuclear agreement and Trump's rhetoric of Putin being a better leader than President Obama.
The traitorous acts of Trump will become worse as the special council begins his final push to bring the investigation to a conclusion. It will be much worse than Watergate because the traitor in the White House respects no one and especially lacks respect for American democracy, values and the basic rule of law. The first clue to Trump's betrayal was his refusal to make public what every Presidential candidate has done, release his tax returns, a very simple matter, but Trump knew doing so would expose his lies of betrayal.
The era of President Donald Trump will come to an end and one can only hope and have faith that the voting public will realize that the future politics of the country should never again be like the present one.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
The Stock Market
Forget all the reasons you have herd on TV and radio as to why the recent stock market sell off took place and set a record for the number of points lost in a single day. All one has to understand is that there are three reasons why the stock market acts as it does. (a) Manipulation, (b) five percent of the people own ninety percent of all stocks and bonds, and (c) the stock market always performs best on the democratic watch.
(a) and (b) above work together. We know the money people can affect the market because a number of them have been convicted of doing so over the years. Some have even served time in prison. (b) are also the people who have the finances to create a sell off or start a buying spree. And both can actually take place when the economy is stable. It happened in yesterdays sell off. Because when there is a seller, there has to be a buyer.
And (c) is a fact of record the stock market has its best years under democratic administrations and its worse under republican administrations. Democratic policies have a more positive influence on the stock market over the long run because economic conditions are better for the general public overall. All the stock market pundits on TV were wrong about the stock market during the Reagan and Bush 43 years and were dead wrong about the Clinton and Obama years that left Reagan and Bush in the dust. And when it is all over, they will be wrong about the Trump years.
It is short or remarkable how so many TV commentators knew so little about the stock market and the fiscal conditions of the states and federal government. Their analysis does not even come close to reality. They remind this writer of sports writers and their hype and clichés. It was a comedy to listen to the various reasons given by TV commentators to Mondays 1100 point loss. And the local New Orleans TV news channels were the worst.
The ups and downs of the stock market are nothing new and will continue. Trump has tried to take credit for the stock market advances the past year and was silent as a jail bird at yesterday's sell off. It demonstrates how this President is willing to pass fake news about the stock market to the people instead of establishing a sound economic policy. What a shame.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
(a) and (b) above work together. We know the money people can affect the market because a number of them have been convicted of doing so over the years. Some have even served time in prison. (b) are also the people who have the finances to create a sell off or start a buying spree. And both can actually take place when the economy is stable. It happened in yesterdays sell off. Because when there is a seller, there has to be a buyer.
And (c) is a fact of record the stock market has its best years under democratic administrations and its worse under republican administrations. Democratic policies have a more positive influence on the stock market over the long run because economic conditions are better for the general public overall. All the stock market pundits on TV were wrong about the stock market during the Reagan and Bush 43 years and were dead wrong about the Clinton and Obama years that left Reagan and Bush in the dust. And when it is all over, they will be wrong about the Trump years.
It is short or remarkable how so many TV commentators knew so little about the stock market and the fiscal conditions of the states and federal government. Their analysis does not even come close to reality. They remind this writer of sports writers and their hype and clichés. It was a comedy to listen to the various reasons given by TV commentators to Mondays 1100 point loss. And the local New Orleans TV news channels were the worst.
The ups and downs of the stock market are nothing new and will continue. Trump has tried to take credit for the stock market advances the past year and was silent as a jail bird at yesterday's sell off. It demonstrates how this President is willing to pass fake news about the stock market to the people instead of establishing a sound economic policy. What a shame.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Monday, February 5, 2018
Louisiana's Republican Controlled State Legislature: Still Has No Answeer To Balancing The State Budget
Eight years of budget cuts under the Jindal administration never balanced one state budget. Now, as Louisiana's fiscal year comes to an end on June 30, governor John Bel Edwards and the legislature are locked in another battle of how best to finally put Louisiana's fiscal house in order for the states next fiscal year and beyond. The republicans in the state legislature are still offering the same failed conservative rhetoric, cut spending. Edwards, a democrat, feels what the state needs are more revenue, reform the tax code where everyone pays his fair share and spending cuts where needed.
The elephant to a sound fiscal policy for today and the future is the $8 billion of tax give away each year to special interest groups, mainly businesses. That is about 25% of the state budget that is given away without justification. No government or business can afford to lose that amount of revenue every year. The temporary tax increase passed by the legislature during Edward's first year is set to expire June 30 and revenue has to be found to replace that short fall.
It is past time for the republican controlled state legislature to bite the bullet and work with Edwards on his priorities to not only balance the state budget in an honest way but to make it a long term solution to the states fiscal problems. Unemployment in Louisiana has dropped on Edwards watch since he took office and the economic outlook is much brighter for the state. Just the opposite took place on Jindal's watch.
So now we see in just the last few weeks how state republicans are beginning to team with republicans in congress that represent Louisiana to oppose Edwards agenda for the next fiscal year. It is the same cast that engineered Louisiana's fiscal crisis to begin with. The conservative ideology of the republican party is anti-people first and foremost. This writer believes Edward's policies will prevail for the benefit of the state and its people. After all, the people of Louisiana have Governor Edwards, while the republicans have the most unstable President in American history. And when you couple that to the fake news of the republican party, it spells disaster.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The elephant to a sound fiscal policy for today and the future is the $8 billion of tax give away each year to special interest groups, mainly businesses. That is about 25% of the state budget that is given away without justification. No government or business can afford to lose that amount of revenue every year. The temporary tax increase passed by the legislature during Edward's first year is set to expire June 30 and revenue has to be found to replace that short fall.
It is past time for the republican controlled state legislature to bite the bullet and work with Edwards on his priorities to not only balance the state budget in an honest way but to make it a long term solution to the states fiscal problems. Unemployment in Louisiana has dropped on Edwards watch since he took office and the economic outlook is much brighter for the state. Just the opposite took place on Jindal's watch.
So now we see in just the last few weeks how state republicans are beginning to team with republicans in congress that represent Louisiana to oppose Edwards agenda for the next fiscal year. It is the same cast that engineered Louisiana's fiscal crisis to begin with. The conservative ideology of the republican party is anti-people first and foremost. This writer believes Edward's policies will prevail for the benefit of the state and its people. After all, the people of Louisiana have Governor Edwards, while the republicans have the most unstable President in American history. And when you couple that to the fake news of the republican party, it spells disaster.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The Democratic Party: Still The Best Hope For The People, For America and For Democracy Itself
The democratic party is alive and well despite Trump and the GOP's propaganda of failure. The steady hand of the democratic party and its policies have always been a positive influence on our democratic institutions in time of need even when republicans control the government. Democracy is not always a smooth ride because ideology has been adopted to divide and conquer by conservatives and because democracy itself is always in a state of change.
But the roots of democracy runs deep and over time the extreme is rejected for the basic tenant we call progress. Trump and the GOP have little to show in running the country the past year because they have excluded the democratic party from the debates in congress on the issues. However, in the long run it will be democratic votes that decide the issues of immigration, health care, medicare, social security, national security and the fiscal health of the federal government.
It was the democratic party that turned the economy around and created jobs with falling unemployment, reduced deficit spending and reduced federal spending at the same time. Republicans have a history of reversing that success and Trump and the GOP will continue on that path. The key to democracy is to understand the mistakes of the past so that the future will not look like the failed past.
Democratic administrations always understood that and that is why democracy has always progressed on their watch.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
But the roots of democracy runs deep and over time the extreme is rejected for the basic tenant we call progress. Trump and the GOP have little to show in running the country the past year because they have excluded the democratic party from the debates in congress on the issues. However, in the long run it will be democratic votes that decide the issues of immigration, health care, medicare, social security, national security and the fiscal health of the federal government.
It was the democratic party that turned the economy around and created jobs with falling unemployment, reduced deficit spending and reduced federal spending at the same time. Republicans have a history of reversing that success and Trump and the GOP will continue on that path. The key to democracy is to understand the mistakes of the past so that the future will not look like the failed past.
Democratic administrations always understood that and that is why democracy has always progressed on their watch.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, February 4, 2018
The State of The Union Address Was A Reminder That An Unstable President Still Occupys The White House
The trumpet man has begun his second year in office and is still so unstable, believes he has to continue to lie to the nation and his base to satisfy his ego and mental state of mind. And this time the lie was over a issue that matters not one flip. Trump said his State of the Union address was watched by the highest number of people in history, 45.6 million viewers.
Neilson, which does the TV ratings says not so. That the State of the Union address of President Bush in 2002, President Obama in 2010 and President Clintons in 1994 were higher at 51.7 million, 48 million and 46.8 million. It was not the first time trump has lied about TV coverage of his Presidential events and one can be sure it will not be his last lie. Trump's mental instability continue to take a toll on the highest office in the land and America's institutions, especially the intelligence community, the FBI the judicial system and congress.
And now we are witnessing a full court press by the trumpet man and the GOP to derail the special prosecutors investigation of Trump and others involvement with Russia and the obstruction of justice. The desire to kill American's democratic process has been unprecedented by Trump and the GOP. Make no mistake, Trump and his party in congress are following an un-American assault against every thing good about the country and its people.
Impeachment is the only answer to the unstable and corrupt trumpet man. And the special prosecutor is getting closer every day for the axe to drop.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Neilson, which does the TV ratings says not so. That the State of the Union address of President Bush in 2002, President Obama in 2010 and President Clintons in 1994 were higher at 51.7 million, 48 million and 46.8 million. It was not the first time trump has lied about TV coverage of his Presidential events and one can be sure it will not be his last lie. Trump's mental instability continue to take a toll on the highest office in the land and America's institutions, especially the intelligence community, the FBI the judicial system and congress.
And now we are witnessing a full court press by the trumpet man and the GOP to derail the special prosecutors investigation of Trump and others involvement with Russia and the obstruction of justice. The desire to kill American's democratic process has been unprecedented by Trump and the GOP. Make no mistake, Trump and his party in congress are following an un-American assault against every thing good about the country and its people.
Impeachment is the only answer to the unstable and corrupt trumpet man. And the special prosecutor is getting closer every day for the axe to drop.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
January Job Numbers and Unemployment
The U.S. Labor Department reported the economy created 200,000 new jobs in January and that the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1%. It was the 88th straight month of positive job growth as the economy continues its upward trend. Median family income was up for 2017 which began its climb in 2013. The increase in the minimum wage by 20 plus states and many business was responsible for part of the increase.
In January of 2017, President Obama's last month in office the economy created 227,000 new jobs and the unemployment rate stood at 4.8%. It was 7.8% when Obama took office in January 2009. So unemployment decreased 3% during President Obama's eight years in office. Unemployment decreased 3.1% during Clinton's two terms and decreased 3.2% during the Kennedy-Johnson two terms. Unemployment decreased the most under those three democratic administrations than any other administration in the last 67 years.
So what can the people look for economically this year and in the future. Trump's treasury secretary gave us a hint the other day when he stated the administration would ask congress to increase the governments debt ceiling earlier than planned because the recently passed tax cuts are reducing federal revenues and the debt limit will be exceeded earlier than projected. Also keep in mind no matter the fake news coming out of the administration, Trump and the GOP did not pass one piece of legislation last year that can be considered progressive for the economy.
PolitiDose will continue to be the leader in bringing its readers the economic facts so stay tuned to your daily dose of political commentary.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
In January of 2017, President Obama's last month in office the economy created 227,000 new jobs and the unemployment rate stood at 4.8%. It was 7.8% when Obama took office in January 2009. So unemployment decreased 3% during President Obama's eight years in office. Unemployment decreased 3.1% during Clinton's two terms and decreased 3.2% during the Kennedy-Johnson two terms. Unemployment decreased the most under those three democratic administrations than any other administration in the last 67 years.
So what can the people look for economically this year and in the future. Trump's treasury secretary gave us a hint the other day when he stated the administration would ask congress to increase the governments debt ceiling earlier than planned because the recently passed tax cuts are reducing federal revenues and the debt limit will be exceeded earlier than projected. Also keep in mind no matter the fake news coming out of the administration, Trump and the GOP did not pass one piece of legislation last year that can be considered progressive for the economy.
PolitiDose will continue to be the leader in bringing its readers the economic facts so stay tuned to your daily dose of political commentary.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
The President's State of The Union Address.
President Trump attempted to achieve in his State of the Union Address what he has failed to achieve as a Presidential candidate and as a President for the past year. He recognized in the audience several Americans and their heroic actions which stands at odds with Trump's own divisiveness, his lack of respect for others, his corrupt attitude and treasonous acts. He used those good people because he himself can not walk the talk. Those heroes stood head and heels over the President.
Trump also used his address early on to out right lie to the American people when he said unemployment was the lowest in the past 40 years. The unemployment rate at the end of December was 4.1% as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor. The lowest unemployment in the last 40 years actually took place on President Clinton's watch when it stood below 4% for 4 straight months September thru December of 2000. The President also lied when he said his tax cut was the largest in history. The Reagan and George W. Bush tax cuts were actually larger.
The trumpet man followed the script of past republican Presidents, wrapping himself with the flag, American morals, national defense, in God we trust and the national anthem. And like his past republican friends, failed to live up to the test big time. That is the reason he invited the heroes to be recognized. One would think a President's State of the Union Address would be about the positive positions he has taken to move the country forward and lead the free world, but he has no such accomplishments. Impeachment is still the only answer to the malignancy in the White House.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Trump also used his address early on to out right lie to the American people when he said unemployment was the lowest in the past 40 years. The unemployment rate at the end of December was 4.1% as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor. The lowest unemployment in the last 40 years actually took place on President Clinton's watch when it stood below 4% for 4 straight months September thru December of 2000. The President also lied when he said his tax cut was the largest in history. The Reagan and George W. Bush tax cuts were actually larger.
The trumpet man followed the script of past republican Presidents, wrapping himself with the flag, American morals, national defense, in God we trust and the national anthem. And like his past republican friends, failed to live up to the test big time. That is the reason he invited the heroes to be recognized. One would think a President's State of the Union Address would be about the positive positions he has taken to move the country forward and lead the free world, but he has no such accomplishments. Impeachment is still the only answer to the malignancy in the White House.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
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