A New Attorney For Trump But The Scandals Continue To Grow

Rudy Giuliani, Trumps latest addition to his attorney's list says a lot about the type of people Trump aligns himself with.  Rudy's long time personal attacks against Hillary Clinton makes he and Trump soul brothers and both bring out the worst in each other's corrupt mentality.  Attorney's are generally  ethical people and that is why Trump has a hard time hiring respectable attorneys to represent him.

Nothing good can come out of the Trump-Giuliani relationship because neither can be trusted.  That showed up this week when Giuliani appeared on Fox News, his and Trump's favorite cable network for lies.  Rudy disclosed that President Trump indeed knew about his pay off hush money to Stormy Daniels through his attorney Michael Cohen prior to the 2016 Presidential election, something Trump always denied.  Rudy's bomb shell was quickly addressed by the news media in general and the very next day and all this week Rudy has tried to change his story and so did Trump.  All of Trump's lies as a candidate and President are being acted out non-stop and when one has to deal with people like Trump and Giuliani, lies are their method of operation and it becomes obvious.

In order to distract the news media from Giuliani's statement Trump proclaimed he would "love to talk with Robert Mueller only if he is treated fairly."  Well Mr. President what is stopping you?  Mr. Mueller has not said one negative word about you, but of course, every one knows how unfair you have been to his investigation and that you still call it a witch hunt even though people in your campaign have already pleaded guilty of committing crimes.

Lies, falsehoods and leaks are the corner stone of the Trump administration and all the while the American people are being exposed to a President and republican controlled congress that has been regressive and non-productive.  No action on any immigration policy or debate, health care is unspoken, gun control is off the agenda, tax fairness no where to found, looming record deficit spending off the agenda, infrastructure repairs and rebuilding bill only a memory.  The list goes on and on but the GOP controlled congress is in their do nothing mode and Trump has no plans to change the inaction.

Scandal, born of this President's lies continue unabated and America's character continues  to diminish with the malignant actions of this President.  America can not afford to allow this President to establish such a precedent for its future.  And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

In New Orleans, Lee Circle Should Be Renamed

The statue of Robert E. Lee is no longer there at Lee Circle but the mound is still there and can become a beautiful circle and should be renamed, but not in honor of any individual.  It is a great location, heavily traveled, even by street car and a new name should be found.

The removal of Lee's statue like so many civil war monuments brought about division from many factions and a lot of ugly words.  So renaming the circle should be one that respects and indicates togetherness.  A name that has nothing to do with politics, war or any individual.  It should be a name that binds the whole community, one that everyone can be proud of and understand.

This writer believes Lee Circle should be renamed UNITY CIRCLE.  It is a name everyone can understand about a community that has survived many distractions but knows it is UNITY and not division that will move New Orleans forward to a better place for our citizens and our children to progress.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Arizona School Teachers: The Latest To Protest Stagnant Wages and Reduced Spending on Education.

Public school teachers in Arizona are the latest to follow W. Virginia, Oklahoma and Kentucky in their protest and walk out over stagnant wages and cuts to school spending.  Their complaint:  Have had no increase in wages since the great republican recession of 2008 and per student spending is below what it was 10 years ago.

But in that same period of time, personal and corporate state tax income taxes were cut causing a loss of state revenue with little left to pump into schools or salaries.  It represents the failed republican policy of trickle down economics.  The same basic problem was the reason for the teacher's strike and walk out in the three states mentioned above.  My state, Louisiana, has the same problem.

In the 21st. century, one would think we should have learned how important education is and what it means for our children and their progress.  The same thing applies to proper financing for our schools and good quality teachers with quality pay.  Those elected officials who try and talk tough by cutting spending care nothing about good government and education.

The current teacher's movement will continue to be ongoing because they have right on their side and it is now clear to America since Trump's election that he and republican administrations are at the extreme end of everything they touch and their financial commitment is to the wealthy and corporate America.  And to top it off, Trump and some republican state legislatures still want to arm our teachers and place them in harms way.  It is obvious many of our political leaders lack moral and political courage.

This writer supports the teachers and those who support them and believes the teachers should keep the pressure on our elected officials until they answer the call.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another Trump Nominee Bites The Dust

Ronny Jackson, President Trump's nominee withdrew his nomination to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs.  It follows the pattern of a long list of Trump appointments who were either fired, quit or withdrew from the appointment or nomination process.  Recent disclosures about Jackson's past behavior was behind the move and once again this administration's vetting process was non-existent.  To make matters worse, Jackson lacked the experience to manage one of the largest federal departments, but Trump still nominated him.

It is one more sad chapter in the trumpet man's fifteen months tenure and lack of respect for our institutions as there are many qualified people out there to manage the department.  The ego driven President has no time to surround himself with qualified people.  Little by little, the President and his party who hate government are the ones who are stooping so low to destroy those things that really matter and make a difference for America and its people.

Note:  About the same time the Jackson thing took place, another Trump appointee announced his departure.  Bryan Rice resigned as Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Megyn Kelly: A Drag on NBC.

The Megyn Kelly Today show is losing audience at a rapid rate which is having an affect on other NBC shows according to the latest reports.  Kelly, the former host at the Fox News Network came to NBC two years ago and is working under a $69 million contract.  This writer is no fan of Kelly and questions her so called journalistic experience.

At Fox, Kelly had a simple job like the other Fox hosts.  Promote the republican party and their candidates no matter what and bad mouth the democratic party and its candidates.  Just be a pretty face and promote Fox's lies, no talent needed.  NBC made a bad choice when they hired Kelly and are now paying the price.  A pretty face is no substitute for knowledge and Kelly lacks the fundamentals of being a journalist.  There is no substance so there is no believability.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Federal City in Algiers: A Great Piece Of Land With Little Progress

The Algiers Development District (ADD)  took ownership of the land known as Federal City in 2013 (the former Naval Station) and very little progress has been made in developing the 156 acre property.  Big plans were announced for the property to become a retail and residential development early on but very little development has taken place.

The ADD had a contract with Vista Louisiana LLC, a master developer to draw up plans for the development of Federal City and then the contract was cancelled.  Federal City is a great piece of property for development in Algiers and if done properly could be a big plus for Algiers, its people, jobs and revitalize the neighborhood.  It has the possibilities of being a great place to live, shop, visit and an abundance of parking space.  The  land sits between old Algiers and the upper part of Algiers.
We now read in a Times Picayune article story dated 4/20 that LSU Health Foundation has opened a fitness center on the property and considering opening a physical therapy center and later, a primary care clinic or other medical facilities.  Is that an indication that some thing positive will finally start happening to the property and provide the frame work for a real development for Federal City?

Louisiana state Senator Troy Carter leads the ADD and took the leadership not too long ago and is now the person to make the development a reality.  Hopefully, he will be up to the task because too many wasted years have already passed by.


This  commentary written by Joe Lorio

Former First Lady Barbara Bush's Funeral Services

Funerals are a time to mourn and pay respect to the deceased and their family.  It is a time for coming together in a ceremony of civility and support.  Four former Presidents were there to pay their respects.  Two were the husband and son, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush and former President's Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama.  Former President Jimmy Carter was out of the country and could not attend.

President Trump sent his wife, the first lady to attend because he feared protest and demonstrations would detract from the services.  It marked a very sad day when a sitting President thought he had to be a no show all because of his inflamed and divisive rhetoric which brings out protestors and demonstrators.  The four former Presidents who attended did not have that problem because their Presidency was civil.

This situation is another reminder how President Donald Trump has betrayed the highest office in the land and is a pathetic individual.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Unemployment in Louisiana Continues Its Decline On Governor Edwards Watch.

The Louisiana unemployment rate for March was 4.4%, down from 4.6% in February as employer payrolls continue to increase.  The unemployment rate when Edwards took office and Jindal left was 6.2%.  The unemployment rate when Jindal took office was 3.8% so unemployment during Jindal's eight years increased.  It followed what people who pay attention know, that is democratic administrations do a better job on the economy, job creation and fiscal matters.  Republican administrations don't even come close.

But the republican controlled state house budget they just passed is another fraud like the last nine years.  It cuts spending by $648 million that state officials said would result in the closing of hospitals, nursing homes and medical residency programs for doctors throughout the state as soon as July (per Times Picayune article of 4/22)  The budget represents the republican same old schemes and fraud in order to injure Governor Edwards' chance for reelection.  But the Governor will veto this budget if passed by the Senate.

The special session of the legislature that will take place after the regular session ends will demonstrate that the Governor will not put up with the republican obstruction of moving the state forward away from the republican's ideology that is corrupted.  Their budget would set the state's economy and job creation back years and the state's fiscal problems would become worse like they did under Jindal.

Governor Edwards is on the right track with policies that work and will put Louisiana's fiscal house in order in due time.  The buck stops on his desk because he is a leader.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another First for PolitiDose: A U.S. Supreme Court Decision

President Trump and his Justice Department lost another immigration case concerning deportation that they took all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.  In a 5-4 decision the court ruled against Trump's deportation order and his Supreme Court appointee Neil Gorsuch cast the 5th and deciding vote joining the four democratic appointed justices  Trump thought appointing Gorsuch, a so called conservative would swing the vote in his favor but Gorsuch did what supreme court justices do, they uphold precedent by the court in past cases.  Trump's deportation case was flawed and the five justices made their case.  Gorsuch said the bill was unconstitutionally vague.

PolitiDose commentary on Gorsuch's appointment and pointed out at the time how so called conservative supreme court justices have voted with the so called liberal justices in the past and that there were no guarantees that those conservative appointees to the court would be simply puppets for the President who appoints them.  The trumpet man was silent after the vote and probably foaming from the mouth.  Will he have something to says about his appointee's vote in the future?


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Coming Trump/Republican Economic Recession and Stock Market Roll Back

Make no mistake, it will take place and play out.  The successful economic policies of the previous administration have been reversed, regulations are no more and the banks are once again free to set their own rules.  The tax cuts will allow corporate America to increase their wealth and that of their stock holders but will not create the necessary jobs nor sustain the economy.

Trump's newly appointed economic adviser Larry Kudlow is a trickle down economic guy who was wrong about the tax cuts and economic policy of the Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 years.  He especially went off the deep end during the Bush 43 administration and predicted a record economy and all the good stuff that goes with it.  He was dead wrong again and brings the same failed ideology to the Trump administration.  He and the trumpet man are good friends and think alike.  They also share the belief in fake news and Kudlow has already had to apologize to Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. over a remark he made and he has only been on the jobs a short time.

Trump has not been able to renegotiate NAFTA after 15 months in office and Mexico and Canada are not rolling over and playing dead like Trump thought.  Our two trading partners are proving difficult for the trumpet man to work his charm.  Those two countries share a border with the U.S. so their partnership is important and valuable.

The U.S. trade deficits do not cause recessions.  There were no recessions on President Clinton or President Obama's watch because they had an economic policy that worked, created jobs, balanced the budget and reduced deficit spending.  Those two Presidents also created more new jobs in the 16 years they served than were created in the 28 years of Nixon-Ford, Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43.  Trade deficits are actually a measure of the U.S.'s strong economy.  The problem with the economy mainly takes place on the republican watch because of a lack of policy and their belief in trickle down economics and a false ideology.

Yes, Trump's economic recession is coming, and when it does, remember you read it here first in PolitiDose, your daily dose of political commentary.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio