President Obama has committed to end the war there at the end of this year and bring our troops home. The U.S. and Afghan leaders are trying to negotiate an agreement to allow some U.S. troops to remain for a certain time but so far Afghan leaders have yet to agree. It is this writers opinion that all American troops should be brought back home.
In September of this year the war will be 13 years and counting. If Afghan troops trained by the U.S. do not have the ability to protect their country, or leaders who are able to train their own people then the U.S. has either failed in its training or the Afghan military are unwilling to make the committment to do so. The latter would be more likely.
It is impossible to protect Americans in that part of the world from terror attacks and any American left in Afghanistan would surely pay the price over time. Remember, we could not protect our own country or its people on 9./11 and the terrorist attack nor our people at the Boston marathon last year. Who knows what a terrorist looks like, especially if you are in his country. We already know that some of our troops in Aghanistan were killed by terrorists while they dressed in friendly Afghan uniforms.
The U.S. has the capacity to protect its national interest without occupying any country in that part of the world. The military might, intelligence, technology and experience fighting terror has been used effectly with our drones to bring most of Al Queda's top leaders to justice in the border area of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
V.P. Joe Biden when he was a candidate for the democratic presidential nomination in 2008 said it best when he said foreigh governments who allow terrorists to use their territory to train terrorists for attacks on America or Americans lose their sovereignty and America is free to respond. That should be the American policy of responding instead of occupation that keep our military in harms way.
Saddam, his military and his WMD were supposed to be a threat to the U.S. we were told. But he had no WMD's and his military was defeated in the first three months of the war. But the war created Al Queda in Iraq, a terrorists orginization who were no where in Iraq prior to the war. They inflicted most of the 4400 U.S. casulties in that war and most of the 30,000 plus wounded. It is a lesson the people of our country should never forget.
Tlhe chicken hawks who wanted President Obama to send American troops to Lybia, Syria and Egypt during their civil uprising never learned. They failed to get their way with the President so they are trying to plant the seed that Obama has no foreign policy. Like the elder Bush, they don't know how to read lips.
President Obama kept his word on ending the Iraq war and I believe he will do the same in Afghanistan. I just hope he brings all of our troops home at the end of the year. They have paid the price with multiple deployments and their lives. It is time for them and their families to be reunited.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Raising The Minimum Wage Is American As Apple Pie.
It is also as American as a hamburger or hot dog but congress has too few "serious" public servants and too many clowns to deal with the situation. President Obama proposed raising the minimum wage over a year ago and both houses of congress has failed to act on the matter.
Republicans and business call it a job killer but there was no raise in the minimum wage during the administration of George W. Bush and he left office as the greatest job killer since the great depression of 1929. Republicans have a hard time getting anything right because of their ideology. Business are worst because they believe millions of dollars should be spent on executive bonuses rather than on their employees who make those bonuses possible.
We know from all the reports the top 2% earners have received most of the economic benefits over the last two decades and that every else's economic earnings have been flat at best. America the beautiful with the greatest economy that drives the world markets can not afford a minimum wage increase to those that could use and put it to good use.
The business community can deduct business expenses to lower their tax burden, take advantage of tax loopholes and breaks to lower their burden even more and claim raising the minimum wage will put them out of business. They even have a depreciation deductible expense that is a non cash expense. What do the minimum wage earners have? According to those who oppose raising the minimum wage increase, they should just be glad they have a job.
It makes good economic sense to raise the minimum wage, but there is no economic sense to the great disparity between the wealthy and the middle class and no justification for CEO's to make 300 times what their average workers make.
President Obama needs to put more pressure on congress to take an up or down vote on the issue. Those elected officials who are not "serious" public servants need to be identified.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Republicans and business call it a job killer but there was no raise in the minimum wage during the administration of George W. Bush and he left office as the greatest job killer since the great depression of 1929. Republicans have a hard time getting anything right because of their ideology. Business are worst because they believe millions of dollars should be spent on executive bonuses rather than on their employees who make those bonuses possible.
We know from all the reports the top 2% earners have received most of the economic benefits over the last two decades and that every else's economic earnings have been flat at best. America the beautiful with the greatest economy that drives the world markets can not afford a minimum wage increase to those that could use and put it to good use.
The business community can deduct business expenses to lower their tax burden, take advantage of tax loopholes and breaks to lower their burden even more and claim raising the minimum wage will put them out of business. They even have a depreciation deductible expense that is a non cash expense. What do the minimum wage earners have? According to those who oppose raising the minimum wage increase, they should just be glad they have a job.
It makes good economic sense to raise the minimum wage, but there is no economic sense to the great disparity between the wealthy and the middle class and no justification for CEO's to make 300 times what their average workers make.
President Obama needs to put more pressure on congress to take an up or down vote on the issue. Those elected officials who are not "serious" public servants need to be identified.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Another First (one of many) For "PolitiDose."
Robert Mann who writes editorial commentary in the Reflections Section of the Times Picayune detailed in his article of 4/27/14 how Louisiana Governor Jindal along with the legislature uses gimmicks to balance the state budget. And if that sounds familiar to the readers of PolitiDose it is because you read it here first in several commentaries written on the subject matter over the past several years.
As I have previously explained, Jindal has yet to really balance any state budget except by legislation gimmicks and then before the budget year is complete Jindal announces the budget is out of balance. The last governor to balance the state budget was governor Blanco and not by gimmicks.
The states revenue base has been eorded so bad with tax cuts and tax exemptions, a so called booming economy has not produced the needed revenue as correctly pointed out in Mann's article. The $8 billion of tax exemptions and tax breaks granted business represents over 25% of the state budget and is shameful, another point I discussed in past commentary.
The booming Louisiana economy that Jindal talks about has not produced the jobs nor has his so called economic policy. The latest unemployment number released for Louisiana shows the unemployment rate 4.5%. When Jindal took office it was 3.8% and with all Jindal's talk about training the work force, companies in Louisiana who use skilled labor and skilled technical workers complain about the limited number of candidates with the correct skills for the open positions they have according to a Times Picayune article of 4/25/14 by staff writer Jennifer Larino. Unemployment has been reduced on the national level much more than in Louisiana.
Trickle down economics does not work on the state or federal level. What it does is erode the normal revenue base of our democratic system in favor of special interest. No state or federal budget has ever been truly balanced on such a system. Just ask Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43 and Jindal.
In the six and half years Jindal has been governor the states fiscal health has hit the bottom and unfortunately it was man made.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
As I have previously explained, Jindal has yet to really balance any state budget except by legislation gimmicks and then before the budget year is complete Jindal announces the budget is out of balance. The last governor to balance the state budget was governor Blanco and not by gimmicks.
The states revenue base has been eorded so bad with tax cuts and tax exemptions, a so called booming economy has not produced the needed revenue as correctly pointed out in Mann's article. The $8 billion of tax exemptions and tax breaks granted business represents over 25% of the state budget and is shameful, another point I discussed in past commentary.
The booming Louisiana economy that Jindal talks about has not produced the jobs nor has his so called economic policy. The latest unemployment number released for Louisiana shows the unemployment rate 4.5%. When Jindal took office it was 3.8% and with all Jindal's talk about training the work force, companies in Louisiana who use skilled labor and skilled technical workers complain about the limited number of candidates with the correct skills for the open positions they have according to a Times Picayune article of 4/25/14 by staff writer Jennifer Larino. Unemployment has been reduced on the national level much more than in Louisiana.
Trickle down economics does not work on the state or federal level. What it does is erode the normal revenue base of our democratic system in favor of special interest. No state or federal budget has ever been truly balanced on such a system. Just ask Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43 and Jindal.
In the six and half years Jindal has been governor the states fiscal health has hit the bottom and unfortunately it was man made.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Another Good Piece Of Economic News For The Country.
The Associated Press has reported that industrial companies such as General Electric, Honeywell and Caterpillar make expensive equipment that other companies need to buy to grow their business. Their strong financial results indicate orders are strong.
Diane Jaffee at the Trust Company of the West seems to think we're on the brink of that infection point where the economy can really take off and that what is different now is that industrial companies are saying there is real demand. This is a piece of welcomed economic news for the country, its people and for the Obama administration who inherited the worst economic conditions since the great depression. When one considers that the President has had to go it alone to grow the economy, stave off a government shutdown, sequester and other road blocks not of his making, we have come a long way.
If Jaffee's remarks prove to work out, the economy will create even more jobs. And if John Boehner would allow the U.S. House to pass President Obama's jobs bill that the U.S. Senate passed over two years ago, unemployment would not be a problem. Full employment will allow the country to address the most pressing problem, that is, the massive transfer of wealth from the middle class to the wealthy that has been the subject of this writers past commentaries here in PolitiDose that has been taken place for such a long time.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Diane Jaffee at the Trust Company of the West seems to think we're on the brink of that infection point where the economy can really take off and that what is different now is that industrial companies are saying there is real demand. This is a piece of welcomed economic news for the country, its people and for the Obama administration who inherited the worst economic conditions since the great depression. When one considers that the President has had to go it alone to grow the economy, stave off a government shutdown, sequester and other road blocks not of his making, we have come a long way.
If Jaffee's remarks prove to work out, the economy will create even more jobs. And if John Boehner would allow the U.S. House to pass President Obama's jobs bill that the U.S. Senate passed over two years ago, unemployment would not be a problem. Full employment will allow the country to address the most pressing problem, that is, the massive transfer of wealth from the middle class to the wealthy that has been the subject of this writers past commentaries here in PolitiDose that has been taken place for such a long time.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Louisiana's Senator David Vitter: Just Another Republican Ditto Head
In a Times Picayune article dated 4/25/14 by staff writer Bruce Alpert it was reported that Vitter was one of 22 U.S. Senators to sign a letter to President Obama to improve immigration enforcement, not to look for new ways to weaken it. The ditto head does not like the President's enforcement review. Of course any one who has followed the immigration issue for the past 10 years knows full well that Obama has done more to enforce the immigration laws than any other President in that period of time, including deportations.
Vitter also knows the U.S. Senate passed tough immigration reform legislation last year that John Boehner has failed to act on in the republican controlled U.S. House. The majority democrats in the Senate with enough republican votes passed that bill. Vitter was one of many ditto head republicans in the Senate to vote against that immigration reform legislation. Vitter and the republican problem on the issue is the same as their position and problem on the ACA. They have no plan of their own to deal with either one.
It is a continuation of their MO ideology. Keep opposing the President's position on every thing so they themselves do not have to explain what they stand for. The President's policy is clear on the issue, he supports legislation passed by the Senate and that the House should debate and vote on that bill. If the republican controlled house fails to act and address the issue, he will use his authority to do what ever he can to improve the issue as it stands today. Most Americans would say that is a common sense approach.
This commentary was written by John Lucia.
Vitter also knows the U.S. Senate passed tough immigration reform legislation last year that John Boehner has failed to act on in the republican controlled U.S. House. The majority democrats in the Senate with enough republican votes passed that bill. Vitter was one of many ditto head republicans in the Senate to vote against that immigration reform legislation. Vitter and the republican problem on the issue is the same as their position and problem on the ACA. They have no plan of their own to deal with either one.
It is a continuation of their MO ideology. Keep opposing the President's position on every thing so they themselves do not have to explain what they stand for. The President's policy is clear on the issue, he supports legislation passed by the Senate and that the House should debate and vote on that bill. If the republican controlled house fails to act and address the issue, he will use his authority to do what ever he can to improve the issue as it stands today. Most Americans would say that is a common sense approach.
This commentary was written by John Lucia.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
The Wisdom Of Former Louisiana Governor David Treen.
Former Louisiana Governor and member of the U.S. House of Representatives, David Treen was a republican conservative who did not preach or govern by ideology. That is an important difference compared to republicans of today who use ideology as their driver on the issues.
As pointed out before here in PolitiDose, Treen recognized the problem of coastal erosion and the destruction and loss of Louisiana's wetlands due to oil and gas related drilling, pipelines and etc. But unlike elected officials today, Treen had a plan to deal with the situation called CWEL.(Coastal Wetlands Environmental Levy).
Elected officials in Louisiana today who represent the state in the legislature and congress oppose the suit against the oil industry filed by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority to repair the damage caused to the environment due to oil, gas and pipeline operations in the state. In fact a measure is supposed to be introduced during the current session of the legislature to ban such suits and at the same time make the legislation retroactive to cover the present suit.
Governor Treen was on the right track with his proposal called CWEL and recognized the problem and thought it should be addressed. Ideology played no part in CWEL. Below is a letter to the editors of the Times Picayune written by Treen on the matter dated 3/9/09.
Tax Transport Of Oil and Gas
Withe all the anguish about budget cuts the state will have to make, including massive cuts to education and helath care, it is time to get well with CWEL, The Coastal Wetlands Environmental Levy, could be inacted by the legislature at the coming session. The levy is on the transport of oil and gas across Louisiana's coastal zone, which is an area federally recognized as needing protection from coastal erosion.
The levy is not on the oil and gas. It is a levy on the movement of oil and gas across the coastal zone. This levy would also apply to oil and gas produced in Louisiana, which is transported across the coastal zone. If the levy is passed on to the consumers of oil and gas, the impact on Louisiana will be negligible, since 85% of the consumers are out of state.
With gas at approximately $4 per MCF and oil at $50 or more per barrel, a few pennies on each would produce substantial revenue with the impact on Louisiana hardly noticeable.
Former Governor, David C. Treen
Governor Treen displayed his courage in such a proposal and understood there are taxes that are worth while that would help the people and the state. Our elected officials failure to hold the oil industry responsible for the damage it caused is shameful. For them, the future is like the failed past when it comes to the state's environment. The suit by the Flood Protection Authority is a slap in the face for their failure to do their job. Louisiana and its people deserve better. David Treen was a serious public servant and a republican conservative who put the state, its people and the country first. Ant that really says it all.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
As pointed out before here in PolitiDose, Treen recognized the problem of coastal erosion and the destruction and loss of Louisiana's wetlands due to oil and gas related drilling, pipelines and etc. But unlike elected officials today, Treen had a plan to deal with the situation called CWEL.(Coastal Wetlands Environmental Levy).
Elected officials in Louisiana today who represent the state in the legislature and congress oppose the suit against the oil industry filed by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority to repair the damage caused to the environment due to oil, gas and pipeline operations in the state. In fact a measure is supposed to be introduced during the current session of the legislature to ban such suits and at the same time make the legislation retroactive to cover the present suit.
Governor Treen was on the right track with his proposal called CWEL and recognized the problem and thought it should be addressed. Ideology played no part in CWEL. Below is a letter to the editors of the Times Picayune written by Treen on the matter dated 3/9/09.
Tax Transport Of Oil and Gas
Withe all the anguish about budget cuts the state will have to make, including massive cuts to education and helath care, it is time to get well with CWEL, The Coastal Wetlands Environmental Levy, could be inacted by the legislature at the coming session. The levy is on the transport of oil and gas across Louisiana's coastal zone, which is an area federally recognized as needing protection from coastal erosion.
The levy is not on the oil and gas. It is a levy on the movement of oil and gas across the coastal zone. This levy would also apply to oil and gas produced in Louisiana, which is transported across the coastal zone. If the levy is passed on to the consumers of oil and gas, the impact on Louisiana will be negligible, since 85% of the consumers are out of state.
With gas at approximately $4 per MCF and oil at $50 or more per barrel, a few pennies on each would produce substantial revenue with the impact on Louisiana hardly noticeable.
Former Governor, David C. Treen
Governor Treen displayed his courage in such a proposal and understood there are taxes that are worth while that would help the people and the state. Our elected officials failure to hold the oil industry responsible for the damage it caused is shameful. For them, the future is like the failed past when it comes to the state's environment. The suit by the Flood Protection Authority is a slap in the face for their failure to do their job. Louisiana and its people deserve better. David Treen was a serious public servant and a republican conservative who put the state, its people and the country first. Ant that really says it all.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
U.S. Secretary Of State John Kerry And The Peace Process In The Middle East.
The American news media in the last week or so has reported the peace process in the middle east between Israel and Palestine is on the verge of collapse. Unfortunately, those reports have taken on a tone of failure by the United States and Secretary Kerry once again to settle an age old problem not created by the United States.
If indeed the talks fail the blame belongs to both Israel and Palestine, make no mistake about that. Their problems go back over 2000 years and was created by religions beliefs that is still playing havoc through out the middle east. Jerusalem has been a holy place for Jews, Christians, Arabs and Moslems since before biblical times but Israel wants Jerusalem all to itself.
Religion teaches that Jesus preached in the Jerusalem temple and that one day, god his father will return there for his earthly abode. The Moslem faith teaches that the prophet Mohammed's ascented to heaven from the sacred dome of the rock that sits on top of the temple mount. The sanctity of Jerusalem is well known by scholars.
Israel, its jewish people and the people of the Arab world have the same father, Abraham. Abraham's son Ishmael was born to him and Hagar, a slave of Abraham's wife Sarah. Isaac was the son of Abraham to him and his wife Sarah. Trying to define what territory is Israel and what is Palestine is one of the great problems why peace has been evasive and religion is at the core of the problem.
Written records have been discovered concerning the bible lands and the middle east where thousands of years ago kings of those lands said they went to war against other nations and kings on the order of their god. If that sounds familiar it is because leaders of some nations in that region are still killing people in the name of their god.
The lack of a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine lie at their own door step and not the United States inability to broker a true peace. The people of America understand how religion in that part of the world is used to divide and not unite. It is a leson the people of the United States should not let itself get trapped in. Our fore fathers showed their wisdom concerning the separation of church and state and those who try to divide us along religious lines should be rejected loud and clear.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
If indeed the talks fail the blame belongs to both Israel and Palestine, make no mistake about that. Their problems go back over 2000 years and was created by religions beliefs that is still playing havoc through out the middle east. Jerusalem has been a holy place for Jews, Christians, Arabs and Moslems since before biblical times but Israel wants Jerusalem all to itself.
Religion teaches that Jesus preached in the Jerusalem temple and that one day, god his father will return there for his earthly abode. The Moslem faith teaches that the prophet Mohammed's ascented to heaven from the sacred dome of the rock that sits on top of the temple mount. The sanctity of Jerusalem is well known by scholars.
Israel, its jewish people and the people of the Arab world have the same father, Abraham. Abraham's son Ishmael was born to him and Hagar, a slave of Abraham's wife Sarah. Isaac was the son of Abraham to him and his wife Sarah. Trying to define what territory is Israel and what is Palestine is one of the great problems why peace has been evasive and religion is at the core of the problem.
Written records have been discovered concerning the bible lands and the middle east where thousands of years ago kings of those lands said they went to war against other nations and kings on the order of their god. If that sounds familiar it is because leaders of some nations in that region are still killing people in the name of their god.
The lack of a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine lie at their own door step and not the United States inability to broker a true peace. The people of America understand how religion in that part of the world is used to divide and not unite. It is a leson the people of the United States should not let itself get trapped in. Our fore fathers showed their wisdom concerning the separation of church and state and those who try to divide us along religious lines should be rejected loud and clear.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Another First For "PolitiDose."
"PolitiDose" your daily dose of political commentary is once again in the fore front of correctly pointing out how the democratic party has performed better than the republican party in governing and moving the country forward. The latest report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) concerning the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a good example. Lets look at what has happened concerning Health Care issues.
In 2004 the Bush administration and the republican controlled congress(they controlled both the House and the Senate) passed a prescription drug benefit that Bush said would cost no more than $400 billion over the next decade. Republicans in congress signed on while the democrats pointed out the program would actually cost a lot more based on several congressional reports. That prescription drug benefit, now in its last year of the decade has cost over $900 billion according to the CBO and will cost over $1 trillion when the decade ends. That is three times the number Bush quoted. The republicans knew of the problem and did nothing to correct. That prescription drug benefit was also financed with deficit spending which the taxpayers are still paying for with interest.
In 2010 the democrats controlled both houses of congress and passed the Presidents proposal called the ACA. The President said it was fully paid for, would reduce the federal deficit and lower insurance cost over the next decade. The CBO in its report just the other day concerning the ACA said the cost would be approximately $104 billion lower over the decade than originally thought. Also that private insurance premium for the benchmark :silver level plan" would be 15% less that projected in 2009. The CBO also laid out many other items in the ACA that is saving health care cost. It will also reduce the federal deficit.
This information concerning Health Care is just another example of what has been pointed out over and over in "PolitiDose." Democratic administrations do a better job at governing than republican administrations regardless if its health care, the economy, job creation, balancing the budget, cutting federal spending, lowering unemployment and the list goes on and on.
For those who seek the facts and are looking for a way to navigate the sound bites and misinformation given out by the news media, especially cable television, tune them out. Naa, I'm just kidding, I know you won't do that. But there is a credible alternative. PolitiDose, your daily dose of political commentary.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
In 2004 the Bush administration and the republican controlled congress(they controlled both the House and the Senate) passed a prescription drug benefit that Bush said would cost no more than $400 billion over the next decade. Republicans in congress signed on while the democrats pointed out the program would actually cost a lot more based on several congressional reports. That prescription drug benefit, now in its last year of the decade has cost over $900 billion according to the CBO and will cost over $1 trillion when the decade ends. That is three times the number Bush quoted. The republicans knew of the problem and did nothing to correct. That prescription drug benefit was also financed with deficit spending which the taxpayers are still paying for with interest.
In 2010 the democrats controlled both houses of congress and passed the Presidents proposal called the ACA. The President said it was fully paid for, would reduce the federal deficit and lower insurance cost over the next decade. The CBO in its report just the other day concerning the ACA said the cost would be approximately $104 billion lower over the decade than originally thought. Also that private insurance premium for the benchmark :silver level plan" would be 15% less that projected in 2009. The CBO also laid out many other items in the ACA that is saving health care cost. It will also reduce the federal deficit.
This information concerning Health Care is just another example of what has been pointed out over and over in "PolitiDose." Democratic administrations do a better job at governing than republican administrations regardless if its health care, the economy, job creation, balancing the budget, cutting federal spending, lowering unemployment and the list goes on and on.
For those who seek the facts and are looking for a way to navigate the sound bites and misinformation given out by the news media, especially cable television, tune them out. Naa, I'm just kidding, I know you won't do that. But there is a credible alternative. PolitiDose, your daily dose of political commentary.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
President Obama"s Performance In Office
During the 2008 Presidential campaign this writer supported Senator Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination. Senator Chris Dodd was my second choice. I did so because I believed they had the best qualifacations and the most experience to deal with being President. I did not think Mr. Obama had the experience nor the time in political life to take that giant step.
It is history now and Obama won the democratic nomination and then beat Senator John McCain to become the 44th. President of the United States. In our system of government we have only one President at a time and regardless who that person is the people have always rallied around him, especially in difficult times. I was willing to give President Obama a chance after his election and as of this writing I am glad I did so. There is no doubt in my mind, despite his lack of experience he was a better choice than Senator McCain and much better than Mitt Romney.
I expressed my feelings toward Obama during the 2008 campaign in commentary here in PolitiDose and my preference for Joe Biden. I was of the opinion that even Hilliary Clinton would be a better choice than Obama. I wrote a commentary prior to the 2012 election expressing my disappointment with some things Obama did or had not done and said I thought he should not seek reelection if he could not stand up to the republicans and move his agenda.
I think the people made the right choice in both elections over the republican choice. The President is no Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy or Clinton but he has handled an inherited situation well considering the republican's constant will to obstruct and opposition on every thing the President proposes. The relentless negative pronouncements of the conservative news media against the President has been shameful.
President Obama may be lacking but he has demonstrated that America and its people come first in policy matters and that he would not govern by an ideology that thrives on fear and misinformation. The country and its people are better off today than they were prior to his election.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
It is history now and Obama won the democratic nomination and then beat Senator John McCain to become the 44th. President of the United States. In our system of government we have only one President at a time and regardless who that person is the people have always rallied around him, especially in difficult times. I was willing to give President Obama a chance after his election and as of this writing I am glad I did so. There is no doubt in my mind, despite his lack of experience he was a better choice than Senator McCain and much better than Mitt Romney.
I expressed my feelings toward Obama during the 2008 campaign in commentary here in PolitiDose and my preference for Joe Biden. I was of the opinion that even Hilliary Clinton would be a better choice than Obama. I wrote a commentary prior to the 2012 election expressing my disappointment with some things Obama did or had not done and said I thought he should not seek reelection if he could not stand up to the republicans and move his agenda.
I think the people made the right choice in both elections over the republican choice. The President is no Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy or Clinton but he has handled an inherited situation well considering the republican's constant will to obstruct and opposition on every thing the President proposes. The relentless negative pronouncements of the conservative news media against the President has been shameful.
President Obama may be lacking but he has demonstrated that America and its people come first in policy matters and that he would not govern by an ideology that thrives on fear and misinformation. The country and its people are better off today than they were prior to his election.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
The U.S. House Passes A Budget To No Where.
Last week the republican controlled House passed the Ryan budget that was the subject of this writers commentary a few weeks ago. Louisiana tea party rep., Steve Scalise's republican study committee's budget proposal was also introduced and defeated. The conservative ideology of the republican party in the House is so far apart, debate is out of the question.
The Ryan budget will go no where as long as Obama is President and for good reason. The country and its people lost again with the budget vote. It wasted time like the 50 plus times the House has voted to repeal the ACA which also will never happen on Obama's watch. The conservatives have been brazen in their zeal to make the U.S. House none productive and there fore bring down one house of congress.
The U.S. Senate although controlled by the democratic party do not have the 60 votes necessary to pass legislature on their own. They need several cross over votes from republicans and have been able on some important issues to obtain those cross over votes with compromise. The senate passed the President's jobs bill to rebuild and repair the nations infrastructure, a immigration bill, an extension on unemployment insurance and others that the republican controlled house has never even considered for debate. Their own ideology is so far apart and childish they are allowing their 2016 Presidential hopefuls to sound bite the issues.
John Boehner's actions and inactions as speaker of the house has allowed his party to bring disgrace upon that institution. His ideology will not allow him to stand up and be an American first who has a responsibility to the people and the country to move forward. Its all about wanting to see a democratic administration fail.
Just maybe the voters in November will step back and give thought to electing enough democrats to return control of the house to them, keep the democrats majority in the senate and trust the President to do the right thing for all concerned This writer thinks he deserves the chAnce to have his policies debated in congress. The republican party has had their chance under Obama and has failed. They also had their chance under President Bush and failed. The Ryan budget does not balance the federal budget for the next 10 years. The deficit under the Obama administration has been reduced over 60% and the nation is on its way to a balanced budget that could happen before the President leaves office.
Ideology as practiced today by the leaders of the republic party is still unAmerican in nature and part of their elite thinking to make every one subject to their warped minds. The greatest generation if it existed during their time would have rejected this ideology. And now we, in this generation should reject it also in favor of American common sense solutions.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
The Ryan budget will go no where as long as Obama is President and for good reason. The country and its people lost again with the budget vote. It wasted time like the 50 plus times the House has voted to repeal the ACA which also will never happen on Obama's watch. The conservatives have been brazen in their zeal to make the U.S. House none productive and there fore bring down one house of congress.
The U.S. Senate although controlled by the democratic party do not have the 60 votes necessary to pass legislature on their own. They need several cross over votes from republicans and have been able on some important issues to obtain those cross over votes with compromise. The senate passed the President's jobs bill to rebuild and repair the nations infrastructure, a immigration bill, an extension on unemployment insurance and others that the republican controlled house has never even considered for debate. Their own ideology is so far apart and childish they are allowing their 2016 Presidential hopefuls to sound bite the issues.
John Boehner's actions and inactions as speaker of the house has allowed his party to bring disgrace upon that institution. His ideology will not allow him to stand up and be an American first who has a responsibility to the people and the country to move forward. Its all about wanting to see a democratic administration fail.
Just maybe the voters in November will step back and give thought to electing enough democrats to return control of the house to them, keep the democrats majority in the senate and trust the President to do the right thing for all concerned This writer thinks he deserves the chAnce to have his policies debated in congress. The republican party has had their chance under Obama and has failed. They also had their chance under President Bush and failed. The Ryan budget does not balance the federal budget for the next 10 years. The deficit under the Obama administration has been reduced over 60% and the nation is on its way to a balanced budget that could happen before the President leaves office.
Ideology as practiced today by the leaders of the republic party is still unAmerican in nature and part of their elite thinking to make every one subject to their warped minds. The greatest generation if it existed during their time would have rejected this ideology. And now we, in this generation should reject it also in favor of American common sense solutions.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
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