It started in the Newt Gingrich era with his "contract for America" which turned out to be a "contract on America" that America did not ask for. It then morphed into the "read my lips" era of no new taxes. Then Grover Norquist pledge of no increase in taxes that so many republican elected officials gladly signed both on the federal and state level.
And now the latest GOP pledge that is currently in the news that the republican party's Presidential candidates signed onto promising to support who ever becomes the party's nominee. Rubio and Kasich were reported to have recently said they may renege on the pledge and not support Trump if he is the party's nominee.
Democrats do not sign pledges, not even to support the democratic Presidential nominee. What they do is hold up their right hand and swear under oath to fulfill their duties as elected officials. Of course, republicans take the same oath and then sign pledges that contradict their sworn duties. The GOP has no intention of doing anything that falls outside of their extreme ideology so they sign pledges.
More and more republicans from the past who did not follow a political ideology are coming out now and are speaking about the republican Presidential candidates and opposing their do nothing attitude.
Some are calling them a bunch of idiots and expressed their feelings that the only way to save the GOP is to break up the party as it stands today.
The real question that is hard to answer about the GOP in this writers opinion is this: Does a pathway really exist to change the GOP's direction away from such an extreme ideology on almost every issue, and if so, who will that person be to finally stand up, lead and articulate the needed change.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Monday, March 14, 2016
Saturday, March 12, 2016
The Louisiana Special Session Has Ended For The State Legislature
The republican controlled legislature struck out in its special session and ended the session still in deficit to the tune of $30 million according to reports coming out of that body. The state House did a poor job of moving legislation and sending it to the Senate timely for a vote. It was reported some of the bills that passed were so tardy the senate did not have time to debate and therefore no one really knows what those bills will really produce.
The state legislature mimics the republican controlled congress more and more by failing to work with a democratic administration at a time of great need. Governor Edwards said, "This was not our best day" and expressed disappointment in the failure to find a way to address the problems. He also said the legislature's lackadaisical approach will make the upcoming session a grueling one. Five of the governor's key proposals to help solve the fiscal crisis did not even pass.
Clearly, there is no progressive leadership in the republican controlled House and very few serious public servants. In my commentary dated 1/23/16 titled, Louisiana, The state We Are In, I made the following statement. "This writer will be surprised if the republicans will cooperate and work with Edwards and only time will tell." Well, the special session is history now and the republicans did not prove that statement wrong.
But they will have another chance to do so in the regular session coming up shortly. Lets see if they can get this one right with positive action that will put the budget problem back on a fiscally sound footing and into the future.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The state legislature mimics the republican controlled congress more and more by failing to work with a democratic administration at a time of great need. Governor Edwards said, "This was not our best day" and expressed disappointment in the failure to find a way to address the problems. He also said the legislature's lackadaisical approach will make the upcoming session a grueling one. Five of the governor's key proposals to help solve the fiscal crisis did not even pass.
Clearly, there is no progressive leadership in the republican controlled House and very few serious public servants. In my commentary dated 1/23/16 titled, Louisiana, The state We Are In, I made the following statement. "This writer will be surprised if the republicans will cooperate and work with Edwards and only time will tell." Well, the special session is history now and the republicans did not prove that statement wrong.
But they will have another chance to do so in the regular session coming up shortly. Lets see if they can get this one right with positive action that will put the budget problem back on a fiscally sound footing and into the future.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Friday, March 11, 2016
The President Keeps The Pressure On The Leading Terror Groups
U.S. air strikes hit Somalia terrorist leader al-Shabab's main planning base north of Mogddishu killing over 150 Islamic militants in the training camp. Somalia's intelligence said they cooperated with the U.S. in the air strikes. The U.S. government announced the strike.
On another front against terrorists the U.S. said an Islamic terrorists al-Afari, a chemical and biological expert that was captured in Iraq by U.S. special forces provided the U.S. with details about how the group had weaponized mustard gas into powdered form and loaded into artillery shells.
The news media gave very little coverage of the those event in favor of the Presidential race. But every day we are witness to the fact that the Obama administration has done a remarkable job in bringing terrorists around the world to justice. His policies are working and fighting terror is still his top priority.
The cable news networks are just like the republicans in congress. They just can't bring themselves to acknowledge that the President is taking care of the nations interest and national security. They are too busy filling up their air time with Donald Trump. The news media thinks its more important to have a post debate show where for hours they tell the viewing audience what they already heard from the candidates.
The U.S. has a President that has his priorities straight and a news media that lacks judgement in their reporting and broadcasting.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
On another front against terrorists the U.S. said an Islamic terrorists al-Afari, a chemical and biological expert that was captured in Iraq by U.S. special forces provided the U.S. with details about how the group had weaponized mustard gas into powdered form and loaded into artillery shells.
The news media gave very little coverage of the those event in favor of the Presidential race. But every day we are witness to the fact that the Obama administration has done a remarkable job in bringing terrorists around the world to justice. His policies are working and fighting terror is still his top priority.
The cable news networks are just like the republicans in congress. They just can't bring themselves to acknowledge that the President is taking care of the nations interest and national security. They are too busy filling up their air time with Donald Trump. The news media thinks its more important to have a post debate show where for hours they tell the viewing audience what they already heard from the candidates.
The U.S. has a President that has his priorities straight and a news media that lacks judgement in their reporting and broadcasting.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Thursday, March 10, 2016
After A Primary Win Donald Trump's Lack Of Character Comes To Life
Donald Trump's post election speech from his headquarters in Florida Tuesday night celebrating his primary wins in Michigan and Mississippi was a good example of a man who on a winning night sought fit to once again personally attack his republican opponents.
It was not a humble speech nor one with virtue. It was a time to celebrate a victory with his supporters but instead talked about his business accomplishments with much criticism for others. Trump's lack of character shows his weakness as a man and also conveys his reasons for speaking in the singular. (I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that.)
Speaking in the singular is the trademark of republicans but they have little accomplishments to show for it. A Presidential candidate can not afford to be negative as Trump and expect to be effective or even representative of what America is all about. It should be obvious that many executives in corporate America are ruthless and Trump, being a part of corporate America, exhibits his fondness of being ruthless.
If a Presidential candidate can not show character and humility in winning, he is already a loser. Trump talks a lot about his opponents being part of the establishment but so is he. He is part of the corporate establishment who give millions of dollars to elected officials in campaign contributions to try and influence their vote. That makes the corporate establishment worst than the political establishment. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
It was not a humble speech nor one with virtue. It was a time to celebrate a victory with his supporters but instead talked about his business accomplishments with much criticism for others. Trump's lack of character shows his weakness as a man and also conveys his reasons for speaking in the singular. (I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that.)
Speaking in the singular is the trademark of republicans but they have little accomplishments to show for it. A Presidential candidate can not afford to be negative as Trump and expect to be effective or even representative of what America is all about. It should be obvious that many executives in corporate America are ruthless and Trump, being a part of corporate America, exhibits his fondness of being ruthless.
If a Presidential candidate can not show character and humility in winning, he is already a loser. Trump talks a lot about his opponents being part of the establishment but so is he. He is part of the corporate establishment who give millions of dollars to elected officials in campaign contributions to try and influence their vote. That makes the corporate establishment worst than the political establishment. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
To The Readers of PolitiDose
As you may have noticed, someone hacked into my system with an over lay over the heading of PolitiDose. I have not been able to remove it as yet but I am still trying. If not successful I will keep everyone posted as to my next step.
Best regards to all and Semper Fi
Joe Lorio
Best regards to all and Semper Fi
Joe Lorio
Another Huge First For PolitiDose
If Times Picayune columnist J.R. Ball's editorial of 3/9/16 on the state legislature and LABI sounds familiar its because you read it here first in PolitiDose. Almost every thing Mr. Ball wrote about has been covered by commentary over the last several years in PolitiDose including a commentary about LABI. Those who live close to the situation in Baton Rouge always seem to have the answer after the facts and too late.
The Louisiana Association Of Business and Industry (LABI) control the state House run by the republican party and do LABI's bidding: republican politicians are generally aligned with the desires of big business and industry; The poor have democrats in their corner; Big business and the rich have republicans fighting their battles; Louisiana is facing a financial crisis not seen in decades; republican legislators want the poor and middle class to clean up the financial mess they helped create by doing Jindal's bidding in the past. Those are some of the remarks in Ball's editorial.
The difference between Ball's editorial and past commentary in PolitiDose is Ball's editorial comes after the facts while comments in PolitiDose happened while the events were taking place and even before with predictions what would happen with Jindal's future budgets. If readers are looking for facts, tune out the Times Picayune and tune in PolitiDose, your daily dose of political commentary.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Note: See previous commentary titled, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry: A point of View Article dated 3/15/15
The Louisiana Association Of Business and Industry (LABI) control the state House run by the republican party and do LABI's bidding: republican politicians are generally aligned with the desires of big business and industry; The poor have democrats in their corner; Big business and the rich have republicans fighting their battles; Louisiana is facing a financial crisis not seen in decades; republican legislators want the poor and middle class to clean up the financial mess they helped create by doing Jindal's bidding in the past. Those are some of the remarks in Ball's editorial.
The difference between Ball's editorial and past commentary in PolitiDose is Ball's editorial comes after the facts while comments in PolitiDose happened while the events were taking place and even before with predictions what would happen with Jindal's future budgets. If readers are looking for facts, tune out the Times Picayune and tune in PolitiDose, your daily dose of political commentary.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Note: See previous commentary titled, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry: A point of View Article dated 3/15/15
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
BP Gives Its CEO A Big Raise
A Times Picayune article of 3/6/16 says the Financial Times reported that BP gave its CEO Bob Dudley a 20% increase in total pay last year from $16.4 million in 2014 to $19.6 million in 2015. A dollar increase of $3.2 million. The increase was given despite BP reporting record losses and company layoffs due to the falling price of oil.
That 20% increase of $3.2 million could have been used for health insurance for a number of employees; reduced the number of those layoffs and a host of other benefits especially to those on the lower pay scale of BP's employees. The newspaper article was silent concerning any increases for other BP executives.
It seems to this writer that any fair minded person would come to the conclusion that the increase was unwarranted with the company losing money, layoffs, falling oil prices and a $20 billion settlement with the federal government over the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It is a example how corporate America continues to transfer wealth to the wealthy from the middle class. And congress continues to give the oil industry billions of dollars every year in tax exemptions and tax breaks.
With inflation under control and the average workers pay increasing in very small increments, Mr. Dudley and BP should have been happy to keep his income at the $16.4 he made in 2014. If Warren Buffett ran BP, Mr. Dudley would have been long gone under the circumstances.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
That 20% increase of $3.2 million could have been used for health insurance for a number of employees; reduced the number of those layoffs and a host of other benefits especially to those on the lower pay scale of BP's employees. The newspaper article was silent concerning any increases for other BP executives.
It seems to this writer that any fair minded person would come to the conclusion that the increase was unwarranted with the company losing money, layoffs, falling oil prices and a $20 billion settlement with the federal government over the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It is a example how corporate America continues to transfer wealth to the wealthy from the middle class. And congress continues to give the oil industry billions of dollars every year in tax exemptions and tax breaks.
With inflation under control and the average workers pay increasing in very small increments, Mr. Dudley and BP should have been happy to keep his income at the $16.4 he made in 2014. If Warren Buffett ran BP, Mr. Dudley would have been long gone under the circumstances.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Monday, March 7, 2016
February's Job Market Continues To Be Strong
The U.S. Labor Department announced that 242,000 jobs were created in February and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.9%. It was the 72nd straight month of positive job growth. President Obama's policies continue to work despite all the noise from the republican party and their Presidential candidates. Their tired rhetoric never represents the facts.
According to Greg Albrecht, chief economist for the Louisiana legislative fiscal office, the news was not so good for Louisiana, its economy or jobs as published in the Times Picayune of 3/6. Albrecht's findings were: Louisiana is in a recession and likely has been for some time; The state's nonagriculture job growth ended in October, the first time the state lost more jobs than it added in a year since June 2011; The state's economy started slowing down in mid 2014.
The only bright spot in the state is New Orleans says the report but in time that could change. But New Orleans is not feeling the job layoffs as the rest of the state because the city no longer depends on the oil industry like the rest of the state.
The report by Albrecht confirms what was published by "PolitiDose" long ago about Louisiana lagging the national average in job growth and unemployment. It also confirms how former governor Bobby Jindal was blowing smoke about Louisiana's economy and at the same time attacking President Obama for his policies that were working. And the news media in Louisiana swallowed the koolade. The so called watch dogs for the public good were AWOL.
Despite all of Jindal's bragging concerning progress in the state, New Orleans Mayor Landrieu has done more for the city in a shorter period of time because he is a true serious public servant. This writer is still asking the question: With all the tax exemptions for business and all the loop holes that were put into effect to create jobs, where are all the jobs? And does any one really think the state and its elected officials can justify the corporate welfare given Mr. Tom Benson and the Saints and Pelicans when Forbes just announced Mr. Benson is worth $2.2 Billion.
Louisiana, the state we are in, needs to change and soon.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
According to Greg Albrecht, chief economist for the Louisiana legislative fiscal office, the news was not so good for Louisiana, its economy or jobs as published in the Times Picayune of 3/6. Albrecht's findings were: Louisiana is in a recession and likely has been for some time; The state's nonagriculture job growth ended in October, the first time the state lost more jobs than it added in a year since June 2011; The state's economy started slowing down in mid 2014.
The only bright spot in the state is New Orleans says the report but in time that could change. But New Orleans is not feeling the job layoffs as the rest of the state because the city no longer depends on the oil industry like the rest of the state.
The report by Albrecht confirms what was published by "PolitiDose" long ago about Louisiana lagging the national average in job growth and unemployment. It also confirms how former governor Bobby Jindal was blowing smoke about Louisiana's economy and at the same time attacking President Obama for his policies that were working. And the news media in Louisiana swallowed the koolade. The so called watch dogs for the public good were AWOL.
Despite all of Jindal's bragging concerning progress in the state, New Orleans Mayor Landrieu has done more for the city in a shorter period of time because he is a true serious public servant. This writer is still asking the question: With all the tax exemptions for business and all the loop holes that were put into effect to create jobs, where are all the jobs? And does any one really think the state and its elected officials can justify the corporate welfare given Mr. Tom Benson and the Saints and Pelicans when Forbes just announced Mr. Benson is worth $2.2 Billion.
Louisiana, the state we are in, needs to change and soon.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Another Big First For "PolitiDose" On Louisiana's Budget Problem
J.R. Ball, the conservative columnist in his editorial of 3/2 published in the Times Picayune exposed his own words that Louisiana does not have a revenue problem. In his editorial Ball points out what "PolitiDose" has commented on many times over. His article states that Louisiana will not collect approximately $7.9 Billion in potential revenue from 40 taxes the state assesses because of tax exemptions.
In his conservative mind Ball won't let himself accept the fact that Louisiana has a revenue problem made possible by all the tax exemptions mentioned in "PolitiDose" and even his above named commentary. That is lost revenue in any ones book and a revenue problem. Ball is a Johnny come lately to the tax exemptions problem in Louisiana and seems to be more concerned with accepting the status quo that nothing can be done to correct the problem because of special interest, lobbyist and Louisiana politics. I'm sure those people love to hear that and take that as a cue and say, why change?
It is obvious J.R. Ball is just taking up time and space in the Times Picayune and offers nothing to the debate going on concerning the state budget by not understanding arithmetic. It is a problem many conservatives have.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
In his conservative mind Ball won't let himself accept the fact that Louisiana has a revenue problem made possible by all the tax exemptions mentioned in "PolitiDose" and even his above named commentary. That is lost revenue in any ones book and a revenue problem. Ball is a Johnny come lately to the tax exemptions problem in Louisiana and seems to be more concerned with accepting the status quo that nothing can be done to correct the problem because of special interest, lobbyist and Louisiana politics. I'm sure those people love to hear that and take that as a cue and say, why change?
It is obvious J.R. Ball is just taking up time and space in the Times Picayune and offers nothing to the debate going on concerning the state budget by not understanding arithmetic. It is a problem many conservatives have.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Friday, March 4, 2016
Mitt Romney and Donald Trump: Rich, Spoiled and Juvenile.
Mitt Romney's tirade against Donald Trump speaks volumes about the republican party's Presidential nominee in the 2012 election. And Mitt did not realize it, but his words were an indictment of the failure of the republican party itself and gives the voters a real reason to vote democratic in the November elections.
An example: Mitt said, "If we republicans choose Donald Trump as our nominee, the prospects for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished." Those words describe what actually took place when the republicans choose George W. Bush as their party's nominee. Only the 1% like Romney and Trump were prosperous on Bush's watch, the economy tanked, record job loses, the wall street bank failures and the worst terror attack on U.S. soil and a unnecessary war and occupation of Iraq over WMD that did not exist.
Most of what Romney said about Trump may be true but Trump is just aping what the republican party stands for. The only difference is Trump is not conservative and just a little more radical. Trump and the party are both against legal and illegal immigration, the ACA, trade, balanced budgets, the Iran agreement, increase in the minimum wage, equal pay, civil rights for all and the list goes on and on.
Trump and the party are for: trickle down economics tax breaks for corporate America and the wealthy, budget deficits, dividing the country using race and religion, the special interest groups, U.S. ground troops in the middle east in an active combat role against ISIS, abolishing some federal departments and a hosts of other misguided adventures.
Mitt and the republican party would like to see Cruz or Rubio be their nominee and have overlooked John Kasich because he does not fit their warped conservative ideology. Mitt is a 47 percenter, Kasich is not. Trump has the backing of a number of republican officials who serve in congress and several governors. That should tell the voters there is no difference between Trump and the party. And to top it off all the republican Presidential candidates signed a pledge to support Trump if he is the nominee.
Donald Trump endorsed Mitt Romney in 2012 and Mitt loved it. Four years later the republican party has been exposed as a failure and Donald Trump was created. The party has no real leaders and for a good many years have stood for nothing and against everything.
Mitt Romney's tirade on Thursday was followed by good news on Friday. The economy created 242,000 jobs in February and the unemployment rate stayed at a steady 4.9%. The democratic administration of Barack Obama continues to move the country forward while two multi millionaires and their party continue to be an embarrassment to the people and their country. There are so many reasons to vote democratic in the November elections.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
An example: Mitt said, "If we republicans choose Donald Trump as our nominee, the prospects for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished." Those words describe what actually took place when the republicans choose George W. Bush as their party's nominee. Only the 1% like Romney and Trump were prosperous on Bush's watch, the economy tanked, record job loses, the wall street bank failures and the worst terror attack on U.S. soil and a unnecessary war and occupation of Iraq over WMD that did not exist.
Most of what Romney said about Trump may be true but Trump is just aping what the republican party stands for. The only difference is Trump is not conservative and just a little more radical. Trump and the party are both against legal and illegal immigration, the ACA, trade, balanced budgets, the Iran agreement, increase in the minimum wage, equal pay, civil rights for all and the list goes on and on.
Trump and the party are for: trickle down economics tax breaks for corporate America and the wealthy, budget deficits, dividing the country using race and religion, the special interest groups, U.S. ground troops in the middle east in an active combat role against ISIS, abolishing some federal departments and a hosts of other misguided adventures.
Mitt and the republican party would like to see Cruz or Rubio be their nominee and have overlooked John Kasich because he does not fit their warped conservative ideology. Mitt is a 47 percenter, Kasich is not. Trump has the backing of a number of republican officials who serve in congress and several governors. That should tell the voters there is no difference between Trump and the party. And to top it off all the republican Presidential candidates signed a pledge to support Trump if he is the nominee.
Donald Trump endorsed Mitt Romney in 2012 and Mitt loved it. Four years later the republican party has been exposed as a failure and Donald Trump was created. The party has no real leaders and for a good many years have stood for nothing and against everything.
Mitt Romney's tirade on Thursday was followed by good news on Friday. The economy created 242,000 jobs in February and the unemployment rate stayed at a steady 4.9%. The democratic administration of Barack Obama continues to move the country forward while two multi millionaires and their party continue to be an embarrassment to the people and their country. There are so many reasons to vote democratic in the November elections.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
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