The Guessing Games Begin Concerning The New Administration Of Governor Elect John Bel Edwards

We are 7 days away from the inauguration of Governor elect Edwards and a Times Picayune article dated 1/3/16 by staff writer Kevin Litten is a grab bag by various pundits about what the Edwards administration policies might be.  Will it be conservative, liberal, steer away from national policies, will social issues be dominate, etc, etc.  Litten talks about how the democratic party lost control of the state legislature like as if the republicans can point to any real accomplishments after they took control.

Litten and the pundits are still stuck on ideology to solve problems which has failed the test in the last 8 years.  What Edwards needs to do is pursue policies that answer and solve the real short and long term problems of the state, especially fiscal matters.  Some decisions will be  hard choices and offend some and maybe even all, but they will have to be made.  The policy does not need a name tag.

According to a Times Picayune article dated 11/30/15 Louisiana ranks 48th in terms of quality of life.  Only Virginia and Mississippi are worse.  Louisiana has the 11th lowest rate of population growth, the 18th highest unemployment, the third highest poverty rate and the 4th lowest rate of life expectancy at birth.  A policy based on ideology will not and has not solved any of those problems.

The people of Louisiana will find out that the republican party in the legislature and the Times Picayune editors will continue to push a conservative ideology that has proven to be a failure. The Times Picayune in a article of 2/13/12 titled, IT FIGURES, showed  that the state budget for fiscal 2007/2008 was $34.3 billion and the proposed Jindal budget for fiscal 2012/2013 was $25.5 billion and makes the remark, ADJUSTING TO REALITY.  The editors of the Times Picayune thought those cuts would reflect reality but every one now knows how those cuts have hurt the state and its people.

Governor elect Edwards will have to move the state in a different direction with hard choices that work and policies that have no name except "success."  Conservative, liberal, bla, bla, bla, just disregard that political nonsense governor Edwards and do what is right for the state and its people.  PolitiDose will be paying attention and reporting.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

America Enjoys Another Safe Holiday Season.

The American people turned out in force over the Christmas and New Years holidays and enjoyed another holiday season free from any terror attacks directed by a foreign country.  New York's officials said over a million people jammed Time Square on New Year's eve to ring in the new year.

Shopping malls all across America were full with shoppers and football stadiums were full to capacity to see the football bowl teams in action.  The American people turned off the scare tactics of the Fox News Network and the republican Presidential candidates who constantly reported the American people were living in fear of terror attacks.

Elmer Davis, one of Americas most respected journalist who also served his government during WWII said, THIS NATION WILL REMAIN THE LAND OF THE FREE ONLY SO LONG AS IT IS THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.  The Fox News Network and today's republican party and its candidates have no idea what the word BRAVE means.

The American people stood tall and shook off the scare tactics.  They are well aware of the terror problems but are not going to give in and surrender their freedom to terrorists and those who use scare tactics as a political tool.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Drew Brees And His Self Serving Statements

In a Times Picayune article dated 12/30/15 titled, "Brees Confident He, Payton Will Be Back For 2016" written by Larry Holder and Christopher Dabe allude to an interview Brees gave to the NFL Network in which he said, " he did not see any scenario where he or Payton would not be back next year."  That is a self serving statement that Brees has no control over if management has other ideas.

Brees also said, "I think we, a plan was put in place throughout last off season as to how we were going to build a foundation which to make a run at it in the future."  That statement contradicts what Brees has been saying for the last few years when he said more than once the foundation was already there.  Now he says they just started the foundation last off season.

It was also mentioned in the article Brees feels like the Saints have great character and leadership.  After the end of last season Payton and several players said the Saints lacked leadership.  (sports writers in New Orleans should remember that.)  This writer has a hard time finding any positive change in the team since last season.  With one game left to play the Saints can not improve on last years won-loss record of 7-9.  Former Saints coach Jim Mora's famous coulda, woulda, shoulda is a good description of this Saints team since bounty gate.

The echos of bounty gate continue:  We have the players, we have the foundation, we are all professionals, we know our jobs, we have good young players and etc, etc and etc.  Still, there has been no progress over the last four seasons.  Self serving statements are the foundation for failure.  When you can not walk the talk, one should remain silent.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Paul Krugman, Economist And Editorial Writer For The New York Times Confirms Once Again, What Was Published Much Earlier In "PolitiDose"

In two recent editorials published in the Times Picayune dated 12/22 and 12/29 titled, "Republicans paved the way for Trump" and "Trumps absurdisms camouflage GOP extremism, Krugman points out what "PolitiDose" has been saying about Trump since he announced he was entering the republican Presidential race, that is the republican party created Trump and is responsible for the atmosphere Trump works in.

Krugman also points out how those republican candidates who are proposing tax cuts for the wealthy as George W.Bush did would be out of favor (because its harder than ever to claim tax cuts are the key to prosperity.) because they failed the economy, job creation, balancing the federal budget and etc.  Ditto those same republican candidates would pursue the Bush foreign policy in the middle east.  That also has been covered in "PolitiDose" many times over.  Krugman also pointed out there are no moderates in the republican primary.

Paul Krugman is no pundit who goes with the republican talking points like so many journalists do.  He and E.J. Dionne are two of the best informed writers concerning political facts, truths and substance.  "PolitiDose" has been right there with them and on many occasions was the first to report the real story to its readers.  Stay tuned, there will be more republican extremism coming out of the republican candidates as the campaign moves closer to the primaries.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Louisiana's School Voucher Program: Can It Really Be Called A Success?

Governor Bobby Jindal has been talking about the success of the state's school voucher program which has been reported on TV and in the newspaper.  The program covers low income students to qualify for such aid who attend troubled and failing public schools.

According to a New Orleans Advocate report dated 12/27/15 the program this year will cost the state $42 million and cover approximately 7,000 students.  How can a program that cost that much money and serve 7000 students be a success when it only kicks in when public schools fail?  The answer is for the state and local governments to make sure the public school system does not fail.  If the state can find $42 million for vouchers, that money should be used instead to correct the failing public schools.  Instead it is being used to support private and religious schools.

Elected officials like to talk a good game about successful programs but in the case concerning vouchers, it does not correct the problem of failing public schools.  This writer has never heard Jindal mention if those failing schools are on their way to success so vouchers will not have to be used in the future.  The Advocate story was silent on that issue.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

What Will The New Year Bring Politically At The National Level

President Obama will serve his last full year in office in 2016 and the nation will elect a new President in November of that same year.  The President kept his word when he promised not to be a lame duck President in his final two years in office.  Congress invented the term in order to wound who ever is President at the time, but Obama had other ideas about taking care of the nations business.

The President's top priority in the new year will be to keep America and its people safe both at home and abroad and he has done a good job of doing just so.  A continued improvement in the economy, jobs, lower unemployment, reducing the federal deficit and improving the quality of life for the people is a must do thing.  We dare not go back to those failed policies of the past.

Will the republican Presidential candidates debates and their campaign of 2015 repeat its circus atmosphere in 2016 when the primaries start and will they continue to push the personal attack persona that they are noted for instead of offering solutions and taking a position on the issues.  The party is stuck in the past and therefore for them the future will be like the failed past.  That is not a way to move America forward.

The Presidential candidates of both parties need to tell the people in 2016 they will continue the progress that has been made since the 2008 republican economic collapse and what they will do to make that progress even stronger.  Reversing the accomplishments of President Obama is not an acceptable policy for the country or its people.  Successful policies need to be embraced, expanded and improved on.  And the candidates need to spell out how they would pay for their policy decisions if it means higher spending.

The voters in the new year of 2016 will have to decide if they want to elect a serious candidate who outlines a serious workable plan to deal with the future needs of the country and its people.  That plan will have to look like the future to avoid the mistakes of the failed past.

As of this writing the democratic Presidential candidates are the only candidates who fit the "serious" description in this writers judgement.  And it is my hope that in the new year of 2016 this generation can say it learned from the mistakes of the past and created a great future for the country and its people by electing a President who has political understanding.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Detroit Lions 35 The New Orleans Saints 27

The Lions roared in the Dome on Monday night, got down to business quickly and sent the Saints down with their ninth loss of the season.  The Saints will now end the regular season with a losing record, their second year in a row and 3rd. in the last 4 years.  It was another defeat at home to an opponent that entered the game with a worse won-loss record than the Saints.

Payton, some team players and some New Orleans sports writers were beginning to talk positive about the Saints defense under Allen but Detroit proved one should not jump to conclusions until a record is established.  The Lions scored 5 touchdowns even though they ran 20 less plays than the Saints.

The scars of "bounty gate" are still noticeable and the talk of playing for "pride" has become a fairy tale.  No Saint coach or player are earning their salary.  Brees continues to break records while Tom Brady and other quarter backs continue to do more for their team than Brees does for his team.  Payton has lost control of his team and whats expected from a head coach.  The latest example happened at the end of the second quarter on Monday night's game when the Saints completely lost it and came away with 0 points after having first and goal from the Lions one yard line

Continuity, togetherness, the team concept, the swagger, confidence, professionalism, all that ended with "bounty gate" season of 2012 as explained here in "PolitiDose" at the time.  Those qualities are still lost and will not return to the Saints under Sean Payton's leadership.

Management needs to make a change at the end of the season.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Democratic Presidential Debate: A Broader Dialog On Subjects That Matter

Saturday's democratic debate covered national security, ISIS, the middle least, foreign policy, the economy, jobs, the ACA, gun control, the minimum wage, median income wage and Wall Street.  ABC's moderators for the most part kept the debate on track.  Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Mark O'Malley stood their ground and were specific concerning most of the issues.

O'Malley came out swinging in the beginning.  His poll numbers remained low going into the debate so his approach was different than the last time.  Clinton and Sanders performed well this writer thought and the debate probably will not move the poll numbers a great deal.  All three candidates helped themselves and offered a clear distinction from the republican Presidential candidates.

The moderators did not touch immigration reform for good reason.  Like "PolitiDose" they realized the republican candidates have taken the issue off the table until after the 2016 elections and the people know where the democratic candidates stand on the issue.  The republican debates waste time on the issue so less time is spent on the real issues facing America and its people.  That is the way the republicans want it.

One of the ABC moderators tried a "got you" question on Clinton when she asked Clinton if she took responsibility for the problems left in Libya after Gadhafi was overthrown.  It was a silly question at best since it is the President who sets foreign policy and not the secretary of state.  If one follows the moderators thoughts credit would be given to Clinton for bringing Bin Laden to justice since she was secretary of state at the time it happened and she was even in the situation room with the President and his advisers at the time.  Clinton handled the question well.

None of the debaters ran away from the President's record and Sanders pointed out the people are better off today than they were 8 years ago.  Sanders, Clinton and O'Malley also did not use fear as a political tool to gain possible votes like the republicans do.  The moderators spent to much time on ISIS and tried their best to interject fear in the debate but the candidates did not take the bait.


Who ever wins the democratic Presidential nomination will be far superior to any nominee the republicans choose.  The democrats have a better take and understanding concerning the problems and solutions facing the country and its people.  The debates have already settled that.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The State Of Louisiana: What Will The New Year Bring Politically

The wisdom to learn from the mistakes of the past for a better future for Louisiana and its people or a repeat of past mistakes.  A triple history will take place in January and play out for the next four years.  A new year will begin in 2016, Bobby Jindal will be leaving office and democrat John Bel Edwards will become Louisiana's next governor.  Six thousand years ago the worlds very first civilization, that of the Sumerians said they were taught that the key to a better future was to understanding the mistakes of the past.

Will Louisiana under the new leadership of governor Edwards follow that wisdom that was written down so long ago?  This writer believes Edwards will and has started off well with his first appointments.  The appointment of a republican to lead the Administration shows Edwards will keep his word and will not govern by dividing people.  Having served in the state legislature, Edwards should be well aware of the past mistakes made in the last 8 years and Louisiana's future should not look like the past.

The new governor will be looking at some tough decisions.  Bringing order and change to the state's fiscal house will be huge.  Unemployment in the state is too high and not enough jobs are being created.  Past budget cuts to education and other needed services for the people will have to be addressed in a positive way.  Those issues can only be affected by sound policy that speak to the heart of the matter and not by ideology.  We have been there and done that with a conservative ideology and it did not work.

Those first policy decisions will be important because it will set the agenda for the next four years and beyond.  Most government problems are long term and require long term solutions.  Louisiana is at the bottom of the list or near the bottom of all 50 states in poverty, health care and many other issues that can not change over night.  But the right policy can put the state on a future path to positive change for the people and the quality of life.

Governor elect Edwards will be sworn into office at a critical time and the republican controlled legislature has to step up to the plate and work with his policy agenda to move the state and its people forward.  They gave that courtesy to Jindal and should have the character and courage to extend that courtesy to and work with governor Edwards.

And yes, understanding the past is still the key to a better future.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Fifth Republican Presidential Debate: CNN And The Republican Candidates Try To Keep The Illusion Alive.

Wolf Blitzer, the lead moderator in Tuesday's debate framed his questions concerning Terrorism as if the American people were living in fear of a terrorist attack and of course the candidates responded with their own fear as if ISIS has already attacked the United States.  The total debate was all about foreign policy, ISIS and immigration.

Illusion was all over the debate stage and it all rang hollow.  President Obama has kept America safe despite the republican illusion and ISIS has been weakened in Iraq and Syria and continue to lose territory there.  In fact the candidates said they would do the same thing the President has been doing to fight ISIS, that is lead a coalition.  They rightly made a fool of themselves on ISIS and foreign policy.  The illusion can't change the fact that President Obama has kept America and its people safe.  And that still chaps them.

The debaters were so confused on foreign policy and terrorists they had to fall back on old reliable President Reagan.  They then made things worse by trying to compare communism and terrorists.  However, illusion about Reagan's handling of terrorists  has also been exposed and laid bare.   The planners of the terror attack on the Marine compound in Lebanon that killed 241 Marines were never brought to justice by the Reagan administration.  It was the same President Reagan who sold military arms to Iran, (a terrorists nation at the time) in the Iran-Contra affair.

The republican candidates are still running against President Obama although he will not be on the ballot and Hillary Clinton who may be.  Their names were mentioned many times during the debate.  That is good for voters who follow the facts because both the President and Hillary have accomplished more for the country than all the candidates on the debate stage combined.  

Governor Chris Christie showed the people he is not ready to be President when he said he would shoot down a Russian plane that violated a no fly zone if one was in effect.  Presidents have procedures that they go through when such an event happens and do not shoot from the hip.  Christie's position is a dangerous one.

The one thing that was not an illusion in the debate was the fact that the candidates, with the exception of Rand Paul are more than willing to make the same mistakes again in the middle east as their republican predecessors and that cost America the unnecessary loss of human life.  President Obama's foreign policies are working despite the republican and CNN's illusions and this writer does not plan to live in fear, republican style.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio