President Harry Truman Set The Standard For What America Needs In Its Next President

President Truman was noted for a number of statements he made during his time in office and there after.  They were words of wisdom that are applicable more today than ever before.  One statement can be directly related to our present politics when he said, "A President needs political understanding to run government, but he may be elected with out it."

That statement can be directly related to our present President Trump and the consequence of an administration out of control politically willing to destroy America's institutions and gladly support a government shut down.  The same can be applied to the George W. Bush administration.  Although Bush did come from a political family, he lacked the "political understanding" to run government.  As a result he started a war and occupation of Iraq over WMD that did not exist and 16 years later our men and women in uniform are still there.  His administration also presided over the worst economic recession and job losses since the great depression.

Trumps lack of "political understanding" goes deeper than Bush because Trump is an autocrat who loves to lie about every thing and also lies as policy to govern.  His lack of "political understanding" on immigration not only was the cause of a government shut down, it reflects a lack of leadership on the subject and a do nothing attitude while he and the GOP congress controlled everything.

Since the news media is now occupied talking about possible Presidential candidates for 2020, this writer would like to see a democratic candidate who has and can articulate his or her "political understanding" of government and campaign on that issue and how that relates to moving the country and the people forward.  The mess that Trump leaves will require such a candidate  There are no current republicans who can run on that platform because they are married to a ideology that runs counter to "political understanding."

Will the voters in 2020 look beyond the sound bites of the candidates and the news media and cast their votes for a candidate who has the "political understanding" to run government and reverse the destructive policies of the present administration.  This writer believes it is in America's best interest to do so and that it is also the peoples best hope.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Trump and The GOP's Betrayal Continues The Shut Down

The democratic controlled House passed legislation to end the government shut down and executed their responsibility as legislators.  The republican controlled U.S. Senate refused to take up the measure because Trump opposed.  Republican senator Mitch McConnell betrayed the U.S. Senate and the American people by allowing Trump to intimidate him and in doing so was a cowardly act and traitorous.  McConnell is a well known obstructionist and legislative coward that has failed his responsibility to lead.

So the shut down continues over Trump's wall and McConnell's failure to say enough is enough Mr. President, the Senate will hold a vote and do what is best for the country and to open the government back up and running.  Time for the GOP foolishness is over and the Wall is a separate issue to be taken up in future legislation that includes immigration reform.

There is no national security threat or crisis at the border except Trump's rhetoric and the  GOP's failure to introduce immigration reform legislation.  Adequate border security can be addressed without building a wall that sends the wrong message about America's values and ideals.  Trump's wall rhetoric is another tactic to divert attention away from the Mueller investigation that is coming to an end and will likely implicate the President.

In the mean time, Trump and the GOP will continue their unAmerican shut down of the U.S. Government, and the Senate and Mitch McConnell will continue to be cowards and ditto heads for President Trump.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Did The LSU Coaching Staff Learn Anything From Clemson's Big Win Over Alabama?

If not, shame on them.  We know the present staff has learned nothing for the past three years they have played Alabama and this past season Alabama shut them out with a big zero.  Last season LSU and Alabama both played Ole Miss, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Texas A&M.  Alabama did not shut out any of those teams and those team's offense was not any better than LSU's offense.

LSU's problem with Alabama is their failure to challenge and attack Alabama's defense.  Their game plans are timid and conservative because they are afraid to make a mistake.  The same took place under former coach Les Miles.  Clemson's coach said their plan was to attack Alabama's defense and they did it with a true freshman quarterback who passed the ball when his team had third and long even though they were backed up inside their own 20 yard line.  LSU would never do that.  They would run left or right and get stuffed.

Clemson's coach knew if he played conservative they would have to turn the ball over to Alabama in good field position.  That was not a good option so he choose to attack Alabama with a freshman quarterback and it paid off.  Can any LSU fan ever remember a time when LSU's coaching staff gave a true freshman quarterback such an opportunity?  LSU's future will change against Alabama only when the coaches change their offense strategy.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:  Clemson has beaten Alabama two out of the last three national championship games and are now the nations number one team.  Alabama's defeat may be the turning point to their past domination of college football.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Times Picayune Sports Page of January 9

The Times Picayune published a 12 page sports section concerning Sunday's playoff game between the New Orleans Saints and the Eagles.  It was the usual hype and clichés by the sports writers about the game and the stats of both teams.  Most of all it was all apple polishing about the Saints and telling the readers the Eagles are not the same team that the Saints beat 48-7 earlier in the regular season.  It gives the sports writers a way out if the Saints lose after all their Super Bowl predictions.

The bottom line is simple for Sunday's game despite all the hype and stats.  If the Eagles play a loose defense like they did in the first game and allow the Saint's receivers to run wild, the Eagles will lose once again.  If the Eagles play a tight defense against the receivers their chances of winning are good.  The Saint's receivers do not like to be covered tight and they are always looking for a flag from the refs to help  them out.

The Eagles are the weakest wild card team in the NFC and AFC playoffs  They had a losing record going into their 15th game of the regular season so it is any ones guess what Eagle team will show up for Sunday's game.  True, they had some early injuries to key players but that does not count for their poor play in several games including the loss to the Saints.

But the 12 page sports section is just a way for sports writers to keep their jobs and fill up space for the newspaper.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The U.S. Economy, Job Creation and Unemployment For December 2018

The economy created 312,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate came in at 3.9%, up from the 3.7% for November.  It was the 99th straight month of positive job growth for the country.  The job number were higher than predicted by economists but they were quick to respond that job creation, the economy and the GDP will all be lower in 2019 and so will the world economy.  They also report that the federal deficit for fiscal year ending September 30 will exceed $1 trillion and bring the nation back to single year fiscal deficits of over $1 trillion which first began with the administration of George W. Bush.

For Trump's first 23 months in office the economy has created 4,349,000 new jobs for a monthly average of 189,086 jobs.  In President Obama's last 23 months in office the economy created 4,636.000 new jobs for a monthly total of 201,560 jobs.  No matter how one looks at the numbers, President Obama did a much better job than Trump.  The Obama administration had to start by making up for the millions of lost jobs caused by the 2008 republican recession before any credit for creating new jobs.  Where as Trump took over an expanding economy already creating jobs.  There were no lost jobs to make up for before creating new ones.

To those who are confused about the stock market and falling oil and gasoline prices and use that as a barometer for the future, forget about it.  Those two factors are manipulated by the money people.  What matters most falls on the policies of the Trump administration and that tells this writer that the country will fall into a recession this year and the stock market will go south.

So this writer would advise those that own stocks and have made a profit to get out now and use that money when the market crashes to buy the good stocks at a lower price.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Democrat Nancy Pelosi: Speaker of The U.S. House of Representatives

Nancy Pelosi was elected and sworn in as speaker of the U.S. House less than a week ago and has already demonstrated that she is more of a woman than Trump is a man and  that she would not allow herself or the HOUSE to be infected by Trump's malignant behavior.  She reminded Trump of the constitutional function of congress on oversight nd the HOUSE's responsibility to legislate.

Pelosi has also adopted new rules for the HOUSE to be transparent  and will now publish its decisions so the public can obtain the facts of legislation without individual elected members of the HOUSE passing out false information.  The first batch of actions taken by the HOUSE since the democrats took over has already been published and released.  The republican party can no longer lie about their positions on the matters that affect the public.  What a difference compared to what comes out of the White House, Trump and the GOP with all their lies and falsehoods.

The HOUSE is also seeking a way to have those government workers paid who are affected by the shutdown while the shutdown continues.  Those workers should not be used as pawns to satisfy Trump's ever changing wall demands that Mexico was supposed to pay for.  Its a campaign promise already broken by Trump because Mexico has rebuffed him.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has set the tone for the U.S. HOUSE to return to the American ideals that made our country great.  It is an important happening since we have a malignant President.  Nancy Pelosi and the democratic controlled HOUSE will do their part to restore the checks and balances that have been disregarded by a mentally unstable President.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

What Goes Around Comes Around: And Donald Trump and the GOP Are Still One and The Same

It was the Newt Gingrich era that really started the republican party (as we know it today) out on its extreme personal attacks, lies and misinformation as a campaign tool and policy.  They have used it well against the democratic party and managed to deceive a lot of American voters.  The republican party followed Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment of never speaking ill about another republican until Donald Trump decided to seek the republican Presidential nomination in 2016.

Trump knew personal attacks, lies and misinformation worked well for the GOP and decided he would have to do the same in his campaign if he wanted to defeat his republican opponents for the nomination.  So he set out on a personal attack campaign against his own party's candidates and used it effectively, especially during the republican debates and cut his republican opponents off at the knee.  His party was not familiar with personal attacks from their own party members and could not handle Trump's attacks.  Republican voters responded by making Trump the party's nominee.

PolitiDose posted several commentaries, included during the campaign how Trump and the GOP became one and the same and they have been one and the same ever since.  It is evident by the party's support of Trump and his assault on America's democratic principals.  There are several republicans who are leaving office this month that have criticized Trump, but they still voted to support most all of his positions while they served in congress.

Republican Mitt Romney is the latest one to speak out against Trump, but Romney was interviewed  to work in Trump's cabinet and gladly accepted Trump's support for the U.S. Senate.   But one can bet, Romney will support Trump's agenda when he takes his seat in the U.S. Senate.  Romney also supported Trump and the GOP's tax cut even though the results of the tax cuts have not met the predictions made by Trump or the GOP.

And with few exceptions, Donald Trump and the GOP's personal attacks will continue against democrats and others that have little or no authority to make decisions as how to run the country.  The present government shutdown is a good example of how Trump and his party are one and the same.  This is the third shutdown to take place on Trump and the GOP's watch.  So what ever goes around, still comes around for Trump and his party.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Carolina Panthers 33 New Orleans Saints 14: Up Next, The Playoffs

The Saints ended the regular season with a loss to the Carolina Panthers in the Dome.  The Saints and the Rams won-loss record was 13 - 3, best in the NFL.  It was the Saints third winning season in the last seven years.  The Saints also secured the home field advantage through out the playoffs and high expectations for the team to reach the Super Bowl has been on the fans mind for months.  Ditto for the sports writers and sport shows in New Orleans.

This writer believes there are some objective thoughts that should be expressed so here goes:  The NFL has produced only 15 teams with a winning record out of the 32 teams that competed.  That takes place almost every year so there are too many poorly coached teams, especially on defense.  The Saints beat only 5 teams with a winning record out of their 13 total wins.  So the Saints beat a lot of poorly coached losing teams during the regular season.

When the Saints play teams that are well coached and especially know how to play defense, Payton and Brees offense become just an average offense.  Dallas, Carolina and Baltimore proved that.  The Saints averaged only 14 points per game against those three teams and Dallas is the only one of those 3 teams that have an opportunity to face the Saints in the playoffs.  It remains to be seen just how tough the Saint's opponents play defense and how tight they play the Saint's receivers.

This writer believes the key to the Saints advancing in the playoffs lie in how their opponents play defense.  The playoff should dictate that the defense should play the Saints tight.  But as the record shows, there are a lot of teams who are poorly coached on defense.  Time will be the judge if the Saints opponents learned anything.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Happy New Year: Trump and the GOP Continue The Government Shutdown

"The People's House" received a sad New Years resolution from the President and the GOP, a partial shut down of the federal government that will furlough hundreds of thousands workers and with out a pay check.  The President said he looked forward to the shut down and displayed the lack of temperament and qualifications to be President that Hillary Clinton spoke about long ago.

And Trump's ditto head GOP controlled congress just went with the flow and continued to display their failure to lead and govern.  The U.S. House rolled over and passed a funding bill containing the $5 billion for Trump's wall on a partisan vote.  The U.S. senate passed its own funding bill that included $1.6 billion for border security but no wall funds and the bill passed on a non-partisan vote with democratic support.  Trump actually signaled his support for this bill and that is why republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell brought the bill up for a vote.  Trump reneged on his support after the vote.  Louisiana's little boy representative in the U.S. House Steve Scalise voted for the House bill even though he knew the bill would never be debated by his own party in the U.S. Senate.

So two years of full control by Trump and the GOP Congress ends a sad two year period in American history.  The "people's house" is held hostage to Trump's sorry behavior and no policy or plan has been introduced by Trump or the GOP concerning immigration reform.  All they have to show on immigration is their sad rhetoric on the subject and their usual blame game against the democratic party.

In order to realize just how bad this republican controlled congress has been think about this.  When President Obama was first elected President, the republican leaders in the House and Senate promised to oppose every thing Obama asked for because they vowed to make him a one term President.  Their opposition was solid until the very end even though Obama won reelection.  For the  last two years they had a republican President and all they have accomplished is a tax cut that adds $1.5 trillion to the national debt, increases deficit spending and a government shutdown.  They ended the year without completing the business of the people even though they had the power to do so.  Trump and his GOP simply refused to govern.

Democrats may have their faults but they have respect for the American people and our system of democratic governing.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Democratic Party, The Mature Party Will Take Control of The U.S. House of Representatives on January 3.

Change is a part of every day life and the new year 2019 will bring change to congress as the Democratic Party takes control of the U.S. House on January 3.  And one is safe to say changes will take place because the "mature party" will govern that body of congress.  The issues will no longer be ignored or kicked down the road and the buck stops at Nancy Pelosi's desk if she is elected the "speaker of the U.S. House.

The democratic party has a record of facing the issues, debating and proposing solutions and they will face the issues republicans only talk about but never act on.  Since the economy always does better on the democratic watch that is one subject they will push along with reducing deficit spending.  The party will also hold the President responsible for his autocratic rule.

The republican controlled Senate can block any legislation passed by the U.S. House if they want to because they have the votes and the people will have an opportunity to see in due time if the republican party learned anything.  It is a known fact the republican party could care less about people and the issues that affect the country.  That is one reason for their poor showing in the November 6 elections.

On the other hand, the democratic controlled house will give the republican party a real offer to advance those important issues the GOP and Trump failed to address the past two years.  It would be a time where both parties could let the country know the issues are more important than the politics and that America's two party system is able to govern once again.  Both parties could also claim it happened on their watch.

This writer is not dreaming and is well aware of the republicans extreme ideology, obstructive attitude but the status quo has to change.  It does not appear that in the near future both houses of congress can be controlled by one party with enough votes to assure total control of the issues.  That means for the fore-seeable future a divided congress that can not govern.  That has gone on too long already and has to change.

The ball is now in congress and the President's court to see that 2019 began the needed change.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio