Happy 242nd Birthday To The United States Marine Corps

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES:  To all my brother Marines who have worn the Eagle, Globe and Anchor, November 10 is a special birthday and reminds all of us the traditions that bind Marines for life.  "Semper Fidelis" always faithful, two words Marines live by regardless of status.

Two hundred forty two proud years of duty, honor, commitment and courage Marines were taught early on in boot camp sealed the everlasting bond of "Once a Marine, Always a Marine."  So to all my brother Marines, where ever they may be and especially those still in harms way Happy Birthday Marines and may the Supreme Commandant continue to watch over you, keep you safe and allow you a safe return home.

Semper Fi

Sgt. Joe Lorio

October Job Creation and The Unemployment Rate

The U.S. Labor Department announced that the U.S. economy created 261,000 jobs in October and that the unemployment rate came in at 4.1%.  The business community said they were surprised because they expected the job numbers to be around 325,000.  The Labor Department also said they revised September's job numbers from a loss of 33,000 jobs to a gain of 18,000 jobs after review.

This writer is of the opinion that the best way to keep the economy moving and creating jobs would be to pass a highway and infrastructure bill and not consider the Trump-republican Tax Plan scheme which will not be a job creator.  American business is making good profits and doing well under the present tax system.  Putting people to work taking care of the roads, bridges and etc., are good paying jobs and would boost middle class income.  The Trump-republican tax scheme won't and for obvious reasons.  President Obama and the democratic controlled congress cut taxes for the middle class soon after taking office in 2009 and then let part of the Bush tax cut for the wealthy expire.  And contrary to the republicans pronouncements the economic expansion and job creation put America back on track and even reduced deficit spending.  According to the tax policy center, the Trump-republican Tax scheme would give the top 1% of tax payers an annual tax cut or $175,000.00.  Does any one really believe the top 1% will use that money to create jobs like Trump and the republicans are predicting and or go out and spend that money to boost the economy?  The top 1% has the resources to do what ever they want to do with out the tax cut.

Republicans have a record, and a failed one when it comes to the economy, job creation and balancing the federal budget.  The Trump-republican Tax scheme if passed as is will continue their failed policies.  This writer believes time will prove that.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Democrats Win Governorship In Virginia and New Jersey.

Democratic candidates Ralph Northam and Phil Murphy were elected governor of Virginia and New Jersey on Tuesday defeating their republican opponents.  The outcome was a blow to those republicans and some in the news media who have been trying their best to convince the public that the democratic party is in deep trouble.  The outcome also brought out the usual from Donald Trump, who said Virginia Republican candidate Ed Gillespie, (a former chairman of the Republican National Committee) lost the election because he did not embrace me or what I stand for.  But the fact is Gillespie used Trump's campaign tactics during the governor's race.

The election confirms that state elections are local and may or may not turn on national issues.  Both winning candidates did run and campaign on democratic issues such as health care, jobs, school and etc.  Gillespie actually tried to run on Trumps record concerning immigration, confederate statures and attack ads.  Both democrats won by larger margins than predicted and were able to get through to those Trump voters who no longer support the trumpet man and his policies.

All in all it was a good night for the democratic party, but don't look to the republican right wing to stop trying to convince America that the democratic party is in deep trouble.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Reason LSU Is 6-3. And It Is Not Because They Are A Young Team

Forget the young team blame that Louisiana's sports writers are trying to sell to football followers of LSU.  Its coaching, that is, a coaching staff who does not use the players talents properly.  That includes the right play calling at the right time which LSU failed big time against Alabama.  LSU beat Florida, Auburn and Ole Miss and all three had young teams.  Auburn has a better won-loss record than LSU.

Before the Alabama game, the pundits said LSU quarterback Etling had to have a great game for LSU to win.  Really !!!.  Well, Etling did not have a great game and for two reasons.  The first reason escaped the pundits that Etling has not been a accurate passer and over or under threw wide open receivers since he has been in LSU's lineup.  The second reason results from the coaches failure to realize Etling's limitations and do what good coaches do.  That is call plays that have a higher degree of success and minimize Etling's short comings, especially on third and short when you need to make a play to keep possession and move the football.

LSU had several opportunities to keep possession on second and third down with short yardage.  Instead of throwing the ball down field it would be better for the coaches to call a short curl pass that is very hard for the defense to stop, or a screen pass or a swing pass to the running back.  Those type passes and plays would be better for Etling's problem of accuracy.

LSU's defense, both this year and last year against Alabama gave the Tigers a chance to beat Alabama but the coaching staff never had the right call at the right time and did not use the plays that the players could execute with the highest possible degree of success.  Bart Starr, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers was not a great quarterback nor did he have a great arm.  But Vince Lombardi recognized his capabilities and used plays that took advantage of Starr's assets and Starr and the Packers won more NFL championships than any other quarterback and team during that era.

There is more to coaching than having talent and a good game plan.  Knowing the strength and weakness of a player and adapting is just as important and this writer believes it showed during the Alabama game because this so called young LSU team was right there with powerhouse Alabama.  The difference was LSU's failure to execute at the right time because the plays called never met the capabilities needed to execute the play successfully.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Fine Print Is Emerging From The Trump-Republican Fraudulent Tax Plan Scheme

And it confirms that Trump and the Republican party are still willing to lie in order to accomplish their corrupt agenda for the "swamp" they are in bed with.  Trump said the tax plan would eliminate all the tax loop holes and goodies given to corporate America and the wealthy but the fine print in the plan confirms the opposite.

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy said Trump and the republican's plan still contains the corporate welfare subsidies for the fossil fuel industry. (The energy industry)  Their report points out that Exxon-Mobil received $12.8 billion in subsidies and paid a tax rate of 13.6% over the past 8 years.  In contrast, nurses and appraisers earn an average of $60,000 a year and pay a tax rate of 15%.  Exxon-Mobil is only one oil company, just think how many more oil companies obtained the subsidies and how much corporate welfare it is costing the average tax payer to fund those subsidies.

The oil industry not only enjoys the tax subsidy, they pay a smaller percentage in taxes than the middle class.  And when one thinks of other industries who enjoy the same benefits, the total tax subsidy of corporate welfare is staggering.  And Trump and the republicans cut the subsidies allowed in the ACA when they tried to pass their own health care scheme which was defeated by the democratic party and four republicans Senators.  Trump and the republicans don't like subsidies to help people buy insurance but they love welfare subsidies for corporate America.

Each day more of the fine print will emerge of the tax scheme and Trump and his party will continue their lies.  The tax scheme also ended subsidies for the Electric Automotive Industry.  Trump and the republicans dislike subsidies for the clean fuel industry but love them for big oil and the fossil fuel polluting industry.  And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

President Donald Trump: The Betrayal Of America's Institutions Continue

A military judge at Fort Bragg, Jeffery Nance sentenced Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl this week for his actions in Afghanistan after a military trial.  The judge's sentence, dis honorable discharge, reduction in rank to private and a fine of $10,000.00.  The judge's decision was denounced by Trump who tweeted, "complete and total disgrace to our country and our military."

It was not the first time Trump took aim at Bergdahl.  During the campaign, candidate Trump said Bergdahl was a traitor and should be thrown out of a plane with out a parachute.  Bergdahl was tried under the military law known as the Uniform Code Of Military Justice which the commander in chief knows nothing about because he himself has never worn the uniform of his country.  The judge has said he would consider Trump's previous statements concerning Bergdahl.  

Also this week, Trump said as reported by the Huffington Post he was frustrated he could not order the Department of Justice or the FBI to investigate Hillary Clinton.  He did not say for what but we know during the debates he said he would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Hillary.  Of course the President does not have that authority but describes Trump's frame of mind.  He is an Autocrat who would love to run the nations's legal system with out checks and balances.

Trump's betrayal to the Presidency, his disrespect for America's institutions and his treacherous acts as previously commented on here in PolitiDose continue unabated after almost 10 months in office.  Make no mistake, the crooked candidate during the 2016 Presidential election was Donald Trump and who seeks to bring autocratic rule to the White House.  Impeachment can't come soon enough.  The trumpet man is unstable and unraveling before the eyes of America.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Indictments Start Dropping

President Trump's former campaign manger Paul Manafort, Richard Gates (Manafort's assistant) and George Papadopoulos were indicted by a federal grand jury on Monday on various charges including lying to the FBI and money laundering.   President Trump tried to up stage the coming indictments a few days before the announcement by claiming the investigation was a witch hunt and fake news.  The usual pronouncements by the President who knows he is in trouble.  The republicans in congress followed Trump's lead and was critical of the investigation also.  It has become the ditto heads religion of Trump and his party.

After the indictments were made public, Trump and his press secretary tried to down play the indictments and Trump said Papadopoulos was a low level guy.  However, he told the Washington Post in 2016 that he was an excellent guy and even appointed him to his foreign policy advisory council.  Trumps appointment of Manafort and Papadopoulos to important positions and their relationships with Russia is un-raveling.

And now Twitter and Facebook are admitting that ads and commentary published over their social networks by Russian operatives in thousands of tweets and commentary were slanted to promote Trump and discredit Hillary Clinton.  It is all coming together, the cooperation or Russia (the U.S. major adversary) and the Trump Presidential campaign to manipulate our country's democratic elections.  More and more we can understand why Trump will not make his tax returns public.

As the investigation continues and more indictments are handed down the web of deceit between Russia and the Trump campaign will be exposed.  And the trumpet man will continue to try and corrupt our political system with his lies and fake news. Make no mistake, Hillary Clinton is still a better woman than Trump is a man.  Trump knows it and that is why he still tries to blame her for what ever comes to mind.  How sad for a President of the United States.

NOTE:  When Facebook and Twitter executives testified before congress concerning Russian use of their social network to influence the 2016 Presidential election it was disclosed that Fox News and other conservative news media outlets republished and used the Russian slander articles against Hillary Clinton even though they knew the source of the slander.  And of course, individuals who support Trump repeated that on their Facebook page and Twitter accounts.  And we are talking about thousands of ads and commentary that were designed to damage Clinton and support Trump's campaign for election.  The lies and fake news did not matter to those who supported the trumpet man.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

A Worthwhile Partnership For Louisiana, Its Workers and Industry

The New Orleans Advocate of 10/30 carried a story concerning the introduction of a work program between Delgado Community College and Entergy New Orleans called The Louisiana Certified Line Worker Training Program.  Entergy contributed $50,000 to Delgado to support the new program which was developed through a partnership between the Louisiana Energy Workplace Consortium and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.

With the need of skilled trained line workers in the future the consortium came together and was instrumental in developing the programs's curriculum and designing the training facilities.  The 26 week evening program at Delgado and Fletcher Community College will begin in January.  Graduates of the 26 week program will receive certification, be qualified for employment as a line helper and receive job placement assistance.

The partnership between industry and Louisiana's education system should be given top priority so our citizens can be trained to fill the jobs that are necessary to keep up with the skills needed in today's business world.  It is money well spent by business and the state especially since Louisiana is ranked so low on the job skill ladder, pay and the economy.  It is one of the best avenue for big time progress and for those who can not attend a four year college.

The state of California has been involved in this type partnership for many years and the state and its people have been on the cutting edge of economic progress, job creation and good paying jobs.  It is a proven economic tool for the future and Louisiana's elected officials should embrace the partnership as an ongoing program.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The GOP Ideology: Their Commitment To Corporate America and Greed Continue Unabated.

After the great republican economic recession of 2008 caused by Bush's policies and a lack of regulation of the financial institutions, the democratic controlled congress under President Obama passed legislation known as Dodd-Frank that brought new regulations to prevent a future occurence and made the Wall Street Banks and other financial institutions more accountable.

But now with Trump striking down one regulation after another for business and the financial institutions, the GOP controlled congress voted to over turn a Consumer Financial Protection Rule that allowed class action lawsuits against banks.  The action by the GOP will further loosen regulation of the Wall Street Banks.  Little by little Trump and the GOP are dismantling the effects of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  All democrats in the U.S. House and Senate voted against the rule change.  Louisiana's Senator Bill Cassidy voted for the bill while Senator John Kennedy (R) voted with the democrats in the Senate.  In the U.S. House Louisiana's republican reps. Ralph Abraham Garret Graves, Clay Higgins and Mike Johnson voted for the bill change while Louisiana's democratic rep. Cedric Richmond voted against the change.  Louisiana's republican rep. Steve Scalise did not vote.

Trump and the GOP continue their antiAmerican ideology with corporate America and the big banks after costing the federal government billions of dollars, ruining the economy, record job losses and huge deficit spending.  Those are the one per-centers of greed who orchestrated the transfer of wealth from the middle class to the wealthy.  The Trump-GOP swamp has been growing ever since the trumpet man took office.

America has witnessed three great bank failures, all on the republican watch (Hoover, Reagan and Bush 43) and those failures were the worst.  Ditto the worst economic depression and the worst economic recession on the republican watch (Hoover and Bush 43).  It was a time when the GOP looked the other way on enforcement.  Reagan and Bush failed to learn what the Sumerians taught almost 6000 years ago when they believed that understanding the mistakes of the past, was the key to a better future.

Trump and the GOP are now following in Reagan and Bush's footsteps and could care less about governing, the people or the country.  They made their decision long ago.  Money, greed, power and ego.  They are traitors to the natural order of life itself.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Will The GOP Have Enough Votes In Congress To Reject Trump's Tax Reform scheme and Fraudulent Proposal?

All the GOP needs is three or four of their U.S.Senators to vote no along with the democrats to defeat the tax scheme that benefits corporate America and the wealthy.  A majority of 51 votes is needed instead of the usual 60 because the GOP is handling the issue under their budget reconciliation process which favors the GOP as they control the Senate.

A lot more republicans in the U.S. House would have to vote no with the democrats to defeat the measure so the best chance for defeat would be the U.S. Senate.  This writer believes the GOP will pass the bill because like Trump, they are committed to the swamp of corporate America and the wealthy.  With out their campaign contributions, there would be no swamp.  And remember, during the campaign, Trump said he contributed to members of congress because when he needed a favor, he called them.  In other words the trumpet man was part of the swamp in politics before he decided to run for President.

The scheme and fraud of Trump's tax plan is "trickle down economics" that will create jobs, bring back jobs to America, make corporate America more competitive, raise the wages of the middle class and a hundred other lies like the ones told about Trumps and the GOP health care plans.  And just last week Trump added another lie when the stock market hit a new high which he contributed to his tax plan.  The fact of the matter tells us that the stock market tripled on President Obama's watch and corporate America"s taxes were not reduced 15% like Trump wants to do.

The record is clear.  Reagan and Bush 43 tried trickle down economics and the Clinton administration's economy did better in every category, and much better, including balanced budgets with surpluses.  Reagan and Bush never even came close.  All they did was create debt.  Trump's tax plan like Reagan and Bush will take trillions of dollars out of the federal treasury and distribute that to corporate America and the wealthy.  The Reagan administration also gave the country the Homestead Savings and Loan meltdown which cost the federal government one Billion dollars to bail out.  And of course the Bush administration gave the country the collapse of the Wall Street Banks that cost the government over %800 billion and the worst economic recession since the great depression.  I often wonder what those financial institutions did with the Reagan and Bush tax cuts.

President Obama, taking office with the great recession left by Bush, the economy and every thing that goes with it did much better and the President allowed the Bush tax cuts to expire for those making over $550,000.00 a year.  Corporate America and the wealthy has done well under the present tax rates.


True tax reform would be the elimination of all the special interest tax breaks and a fair tax code where every one pays his or her fair share, even the poor.  The GOP long ago identified who they cater to and Trump has done the same as President.  There's also a special motivation for Trump and the GOP to pass their tax scheme.  Both have failed to pass any positive legislation in Trump's 9 months in office and they are hungry for any victory, even if it cost the country and the people dearly.

There were three or four republicans in the U.S. Senate who stood up and said they would not support their party's health care plan introduced by Graham-Cassidy and the GOP pulled the bill as a result.  Will there be three or four more who will stand up and oppose the latest GOP lie called tax reform?  Go ahead, make this writers day.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio