Louisiana's GOP Controlled State Legislature Overrides Gov. Edwards' Veto Of The Latest Congressional Maps.

 In a news conference after the veto vote Gov. Edwards said, this was not our finest day and speaks so poorly of us collectively.  In a New Orleans Advocate of 3/31/22 staff writers Tyler Bridges, Sam Karlin and Blake Paterson wrote that the veto override was a "stinging defeat" for the Governor.  That statement reflects the usual BS and hype the media feeds the voting public.  

The Governor actually did his job and duty.  It was a "stinging defeat" for racial justice in congressional districts and quickly prompted a federal suit by a coalition of civil rights groups who claim the newly drawn districts dilute the voting power of black residences.  So now the decision on the matter will be made by a court of law which will be a legal decision and not a political decision.

The media has taken it upon themselves to try and define people for the purpose of influence and has contributed greatly to division.  It's not a defeat when a Governor stands for something and acts.  That is called leadership and courage. And Louisiana and its people have done well on Governor Edwards' watch because of his political decisions.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

A Democratic Administration Provides Hurricane Relief Funds For Louisiana.

 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Louisiana would be receiving $1.7 billion in federal relief hurricane funds to cover the state's needs concerning hurricane Laura and Delta from 2020 and Ida from last year 2021,   $450 million will go to Louisiana's south west region to cover the needs that followed Laura and Delta.

Louisiana's governor John B. Edwards and U.S.Senator Bill Cassidy announced the new funding.  And once again it is a democratic administration in Washington that responds to the state's needs.  Cassidy, Kennedy, Scalise and the rest of Louisiana's republican delegation in Congress failed to influence Trump and the republicans in congress to fund those needs in 2020 when hurricane Laura and Delta took place on their watch.

President Biden's administration has now provided funds for all three hurricanes that hit Louisiana in 2020 and 2021.  For those who follow politics it was never in doubt that the funds would be available because democratic administrations govern with policy and plans that address issues while the GOP govern by ideology, and a extreme ideology to boot.

John B. Edwards turned Louisiana around for the better after former governor Bobby Jindal failed the state.  And President Biden has turned around America for the better after he defeated Trump and the traitorous GOP and their failed administration.  And that really says it all.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

The Economy, Job Creation and The Unemployment Rate For February 2022.

 The U.S. Labor Department reported the economy added 678,000 jobs in February and the unemployment rate fell to 3.8%.  It was 4% in January.  The department also reported the economy added 92,000 more jobs in December and January than was originally reported for those months.  It was the 13th straight full months (Feb. 2021-Feb. 2022) of positive job growth on the democratic watch of President Joe Biden.  The unemployment rate has declined 2.5% so far on Biden's watch.  It was 6.3% when Trump  left office.  The unemployment rate increased on Trump's watch.

And as usual, the pundits were surprised at February's strong jobs growth as their predictions continue to be wrong on the economy.  They failed to understand what is taking place with the economy since Trump took office and the fallout of the economic recession and the toll it took with Trump's inactions with the COVID situation. And the pundits also were ignorant of the facts and precedent that democratic governing is best at dealing with the economy, job creation, lower unemployment, smaller increases in federal spending and the national debt.  But it has all been documented in "Politidose" commentary for the past 11 years.

The economy will continue to be uneven in its recovery which will affect the job numbers to be up and down, but make no mistake, the recovery will continue and the GOP will continue to obstruct because they have nothing left.  The negative news coming out the media is an attempt to influence the November congressional elections with mis-information and outright lies.  Every day the media stories contradict what they said the previous day about inflation, the stock market, the war in Ukraine and the price of oil and gas.  So the President has to stay focused and vigil and stay on his policies and plans to continue to move the country and its people forward.

The economy has come a long way in the past 13 months under Biden's leadership and the country and its people have a reason to be positive and tune out the negative noise machine that want to see America fail.  America the Beautiful is alive, well and still Beautiful.  And that really says it all.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

Federal Spending Continued To Increase On The Trump/GOP Watch. The Failure Of Republican Administrations Continue.

 The final numbers of Trump and his GOP's four fiscal years which began 9/30/17 and ended 9/30/21 are finally in by the Office of Management and Budget and federal spending follows the past pattern of previous GOP administrations of large increases.  The Office of Management and Budget and the CBO who issue the reports on the U.S. budgets call spending "outlays."

The report shows during Trump's four fiscal years federal spending (outlays) totaled $21.926 trillion, up $6.926 trillion from President Obama's last four fiscal years for a 46% increase in federal spending in just 4 short fiscal years.  By contrast, federal spending in Obama's 8 fiscal years was up only 18% in his first 4 fiscal years and then up only 7% in his last 4 fiscal years for a total increase in spending of 25% in his full 8 fiscal years.

Federal budget deficits in Trump's 4 fiscal years totaled $7.666 trillion, up $5.491 trillion from Obama's last 4 fiscal years ($2.175) for a whopping increase of 252% in deficit spending.  Trump's deficits were $779 billion,  $984 billion,  $3.131 trillion and $2.772 trillion.  Trump is the only President to have a single year budget deficit over 2 and 3 Trillion dollars and like every other republican President before him since President Eisenhower, Trump left office with a larger deficit than when he took office.  Trump is also the first President to pass the trillion dollar spending mark three times when he passed the 4,5 and 6 trillion dollar mark during his term in office.  Note: President George W. Bush left President Obama a $1.4 trillion deficit at the end of his last fiscal year, but President Obama finished his last fiscal year in office with a deficit of $666 billion.  A reduction of $734 billion.

During the past 40 years going back to the Reagan administration, the republican party has been the party of increased spending and increased deficit spending by a wide margin while the democratic party has been the more conservative on fiscal matters.  The following federal spending increases (outlays) took place as follows.

Ronald Reagan  Total increase for 8 fiscal years.  Up 75%    50% in his first term and 25% in second term.

George W. Bush   Total increase for 8 fiscal years.  Up 61%   28% in his first term and 33% in second term.

Donald Trump    Total increase for 4 fiscal years.   Up 46%

George Herbert Walker Bush   Total increase for 4 fiscal years   Up 28%

Bill Clinton   Total increase for 8 fiscal years.  28%    14% in first 4 fiscal years and 14% in last 4 fiscal years.

Barrack Obama  Total increase for 8 fiscal years.  25%   18% in first 4 fiscal years and 7% in last 4 fiscal years.

Yet the fairy tale and misinformation and outright lies about republicans being conservative and the democrats being the big spenders, is just that, a fairy tale of the GOP propaganda and the media's being their enablers in the big lie.  And Politidose commentary has been there with the facts and truths the past 12 years to set the record straight.  And if you are wondering, yes, Politidose commentary called the shot on what would take place on Trump's watch even before he took office because it was all predetermined by precedent.

Understanding the past mistakes is still the key to a better future.  For those who do not learn, the future will be like the failed past and that is the history of the GOP.  Understanding is the key as to why the democratic party is best at governing.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Note:  If one looks at the numbers prior to the Reagan administration of the previous 40 years the results will not be much different.  All numbers taking from reports published by the Office of Management and Budget and the CBO.

The New Orleans Saints and The LSU Tigers Football Program Start A New Chapter.

 Both teams will start off the 2022 football season with a new head coach, Dennis Allen for the Saints and Brian Kelly for the Tigers.  As a result, no one really knows how their tenure will work out and or if it will lead to a consistent winning program.  To debate the past under coaches Payton and Orgeron is best forgotten and rest in the history books of their own making.

THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS:

Saint's sport writers are giving their backing to Allen and predicting good things for the Saints.  But reality tells us being a success at head coaching is much different than being a defensive coordinator.  The responsibilities are greater on Allen now because he is responsible for the whole team, its direction and even for the decisions his coaches make.  His only tenure as a head coach was with the Raiders for only a few years and was replaced and all who follow sports have learned that great assistant coaches that were appointed head coaches never turned out well.  So Saint's fans in 2022 will just have to sit back, tune out all the hype of the sport's media and judge for themselves.

THE LSU TIGERS;

Brian Kelly has a great won-loss record, most coaching Notre Dame, an independent school that belong to no Conference.  The question that needs to be answered and will be in time is:  How well will Kelly do coaching LSU in a Conference loaded with talent that he will have to face playing five or six SEC teams each season and then a Conference championship game if LSU qualifies.  That is not a trick question!!!  LSU has made the BCS playoffs only once in the 8 years of its short history so Kelly and LSU will have something to shoot at that other teams have accomplished several times.

This writer suggestion to Saints and LSU fans is to just chill out this coming season, forget about all the hype and cliches of the sports media, take it as it comes and do not pay attention to what you hear on Bobby Hebert's radio show, "Sports Talk."

This commentary written by Joe Lorio  

Job Creation and The Unemployment Rate For January 2022.

 The U.S. Labor Department reported the economy added 467,000 jobs in January and the unemployment rate came in at 4%.  It was 3.9% in December.  The Department also reported that December job creation was a whopping 510,000 jobs added to the 199,000 jobs originally reported for December.  Also reported that November's jobs were under reported also  and that the two months combined November and December jobs totals increased by 709,000 more jobs,  It was the 12th straight month of positive job growth for the Biden administration. (Feb. 2021 - Jan.2022)

So in President Biden's first year in office the economy added over 6 million jobs for a monthly average of 524,000 jobs per month.  That was an American first for job creation.  In Trump's last year in office the economy lost over 9 million jobs, counting those created and those lost.  On another positive note wages were up 0.7% in January and for the year they were up 5.7% over 2020.  

The good news on the economy continues even though the GOP and the media's noise machine predicted doom and gloom for January's numbers and continue the drum beat of misinformation, lies and negative comments.  Fox News was wishing the job numbers for January would be bad so they could continue their negative rhetoric.  The good news on jobs should also change the Federal Reserve's attitude toward heavy increases in the interest rates they and the noise machine would like to see take place.  Higher interest rates than needed will put a scrimp in the economic recovery that is taking place.

January's good numbers should tell us that passing the President's BBB legislation is the correct thing for congress to do, especially if the Feds become too heavy handed in raising interest rates.  President Biden has ended his first year in office with positive accomplishments on the economy, especially after inheriting a meltdown of the U.S. economy and massive job losses.  Unemployment is down 2.3% from the 6.3% when Trump left office.  The GDP grew 5.7% in 2021 and never grew over 3% in any one of Trump's four annual years and the GDP was in minus territory in Trump's last year in office.  

The internet and general media will be full of stories by the GOP and the conservative media that are misleading, negative and even downright lies concerning the President's accomplishments because they have nothing left to offer the voters of America.  They cannot articulate any GOP accomplishments so being negative is all they know.  And sorry to say, the media will gladly carry their misinformation and negative comments that enable the GOP.

In the meantime, Politidose commentary will continue writing about the facts and how the country and its people are moving forward in a positive way for a long term lasting economy.  And President Biden was there from the very beginning.

This commentary was written by Joe Lorio

Note:  The Feds moved to quickly and too strong on raising interest rates in the early 80's when inflation was much, much higher than it is today.  The results was 10 straight months of unemployment over 10%.  It lasted from September 1982 to June 1983.  And as of this writing it was the longest and highest stretch of unemployment in the past 70 plus years.

The Economic Good News For America and Its People Continues On President Biden's Watch.

The Commerce Department announced that the annual GDP rate grew 5.7% in 2021, the fastest growth since 1984.  And that the fourth quarter annual GDP rate (October thru December) grew at a robust 6.9% rate, higher than the pundits were expecting.  There was also economic good news concerning private investment and consumer spending.  

Consumer spending increased 7.9% in 2021 compared to 2020 and private investment increased 9.5%.  The annual GDP for 2020 was a minus -3.4% so the economy in 2021 saw a positive swing of 9.1% in the GDP.  Also reported was the fact that resurgence in demand was so robust it caught business off guard and created shortages that are still with us today.

The GDP number represents evidence the Biden administrations plans and policies are working and putting more money in consumer's pockets that is fueling the economic expansion.  And now it is important for Congress to pass the President's BBB legislation to keep the economy on solid ground for continued growth.  Senators Manchin and  Sinema need to get on board and forget about their power to obstruct. 

In one short year, President Biden's administration has achieved economically what Trump and the GOP could not in their four years in power.  And did so in every phase of the economy.  And once again it is a democratic administration that has reversed the failed economic ideology of a previous GOP administration.  "Politidose" was there to tell the story before it took place in commentary published in December 2020 and January 2021.  The prediction was based on the facts of past democratic precedents and the fact that the democratic party is best at governing.

All the GOP, the so called conservative media, the pundits and ditto heads have left are their noise of division, personal attacks, misinformation and outright lies to influence the people.  They are incapable of even telling their own supporters the truth.

America has a President in the White House who has carried through on his campaign promises and will continue the fight and put America and its people first with plans and policies that work.  And that really says it all.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

The Sean Payton Era Ends For The New Orleans Saints.

 Sean Payton announced his retirement after 15 years as head coach of the New Orleans Saints.  It was sudden after some speculation about his future.  But at a news conference this week, Payton made his retirement official.  And the platitudes began to recount his time with the Saints.

Payton brought the Saints respectability in the NFL after years of being non-competitive and compiled a regular season record of 152-89.  His teams averaged 10 wins a season, qualified for 9 playoffs, had a 9-8 record in the playoffs, won the Super Bowl in 2009 and recorded 10 winning seasons as the Saints head coach.  The Saints went to and won the Super Bowl in Payton's fourth year as head coach, a remarkable accomplishment which his team never repeated in the 11 seasons since 2009.

And like nothing is ever perfect, all was not positive in Saint land.  Bounty gate reared its ugly head and set the team back for several seasons.  It took place on Payton's watch and he was fined and suspended from coaching one full year by the NFL.  Payton and Brees, praised by the Saint's sport writers as offensive genius, in the 9 playoff seasons they participated in, won more than 1 game only once, the Super Bowl year of 2009.  The Saints ended the 2021 regular season with a winning record of 9-8, only because the NFL added an extra game to the schedule.

The positives out weigh the negatives but "Politidose" was right on target when it predicted five years ago in commentary that Payton and Brees had already seen their best years as a Saint and it actually turned out that way.  So now the Saints will be looking for a new head coach and the world of sports media will be all over the place in their predictions.  But the bottom line is really fundamental balance.  If the Saints hire the right coach and produces a winner, Payton will just be a memory and Saint's fans and the sports world will soon forget.  That is the nature of sports.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

More Good Economic News For The Economy, The People and The Country.

 And it is taking place on President Biden's watch.  Intel announced it will build a $20 billion chip factory in Ohio to address the shortage that exist today for technology chips that run almost everything.  The new facility is expected to employ 3000 workers and 7000 construction jobs.  The new facility will also support tens of thousand workers for suppliers and partners the reported stated.

In another report expected to be announced soon, General Motors will invest $6.5 billion in Michigan to build a new electric vehicle battery facility and a third electric vehicle factory that would create a total of 4000 new jobs.  both announcements, when they actually take place will return manufacturing to the so called "rust belt" and lessen the need of overseas jobs.  

The commitments are good news for the country, its people and the economy and is in line with President Biden's plans to grow the electric vehicle market and relieve the shortage industries face on tech chips caused by major shut downs due to COVID.  It is also an endorsement of the President's long term plans for the U.S. economy and America's ability to compete world wide.

So, despite the noise machine and the GOP's do nothing attitude and obstruction, the President's policies are providing the thrust to move the country forward.  The GOP will continue their disinformation campaign to divide the country before the November congressional elections in an attempt to take control of congress, so the voters will have to stay vigilant.  And as Politidose predicted in commentary before Biden took office, the country and its people are seeing better times with a democrat in the White House and the reasons why. 

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

Ron Faucheux, A So Called Nonpartisan Political Analyst Fails The Test.

 Most people in New Orleans probably know Ron Faucheux as a pollster who appears on TV during state and local elections.  Sometimes he writes opinion published in the New Orleans Advocate as he did 1/17/22 with a column titled, "What a difference a year makes."  According to his article Biden's first year in office was a failure.  He cites several reasons which mimic the talking points of the GOP, Fox News and the noise machine out there who want to see the President fail.

And like the media in general, thought it would be better to go negative in his own opinion instead of writing about the positive accomplishments that took place for the country and its people, which were many. (and will be spelled out in a soon to be commentary in Politidose)  Of course, those who follow the political facts and are really nonpartisan understand democrats are much better at governing and have the facts to back it up.

Faucheux statement that democrats in congress botched just about everything they touched comes straight out of the GOP's playbook and as such a partisan statement.  The democratic controlled congress passed two of Biden's major legislative priorities, COVID relief and Infrastructure.  Biden's Build Back Better legislation lingers but will be passed this year and as Faucheux well knows the democratic controlled U.S. House passed all of Biden's legislation, COVID, Infrastructure, Build Back Better and ever Election Reform legislation.  

Faucheux's four stated reasons of his negative article are so aligned with the GOP and the noise machine of so called conservative thought, it leaves no room for the article to be nonpartisan in fact even though he quotes some polling data.  And for a Pollster himself, that really says it all.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio