DEFICITS, DEFICITS, DEFICITS: Its Really Nothing New With a Republican Administration

This weeks article in the Huffington Post informs the reader that America's trade deficit in goods hit $891 billion in 2018, up more than $80 billion in 2017 and the largest deficit ever according to the U.S. Commerce Department.  And it took place despite Trump's increase in tariffs and his promise to eliminate the trade deficits he railed against during the campaign of 2016.

It was also announced that the federal budget deficit for the first three months of this budget year was $310 billion, a whopping 77% increase over the same period in the previous budget year.  White House officials would not comment on the numbers but outside economists said they were not at all surprised , given the Trump backed massive tax cuts that became law in late 2017 and the tariffs he has imposed.

But this deficit information was nothing new to the readers of PolitiDose who for years informed its readers how and why the republican party represents the party of deficit spending and how their party's massive tax cuts that favor the wealthy and corporate America are a huge reason why.  They propose tax cuts with rosy predictions that never become facts even though they know precedent have proved them wrong.

The worst part of Trump's deficits is the fact that he entered the White House with an expanding economy, job creation, low inflation, low unemployment, falling deficits from the previous Bush administration  and Trump's unfunded tax cuts were unnecessary.  And as of this writing the country is seeing a repeat of what happened under the Reagan and Bush 43 administration after their tax cuts.

The bottom line is after two years in office of controlling everything, Trump and his party are living up to the party's record of unbalanced budgets, uncontrolled spending and a fraud tax policy.  And those that need tax relief the least are still laughing all the way  to the bank.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

IMMIGRATION: The Albatross Around President Trump and the Republican Party's Neck

Now comes a report this week by Trump's Department of Homeland Security that illegal immigration across the southern border is at the highest level since 2007 and it is taking place on Trump and the republican watch while they are trying to talk tough.  But talk is not a policy and Trump and his party has failed to act with immigration legislation while in control of government.  They have had the opportunity to do so but prefer to demagogue the issue.

Donald Trump and the rest of the republican Presidential candidates in 2016 said during their debates immigration reform should be put on hold until after the 2016 election and there was more than one republican Presidential candidate that was serving in congress at the time.  They just kicked the immigration can down the road which made President Obama issue an executive order on immigration.  Well, two years have passed since the 2016 election and Trump and the republican controlled congress still kicked the can down the road.  They have introduced zero legislation on the issue and this past December shut the federal government down over Trump's wall that laid dormant during the last two years.

The democratic party that took control of the U.S. House in January actually passed one phase of immigration reform in February and then the republican controlled senate passed the bill.  And one can bet it will be the democratic party that will introduce true immigration reform in the future because they understand the problem has to be addressed in total.  Rhetoric of tough talk is for show, legislation is the vehicle that gets the job done.

No matter how you cut it, President Obama and the democrat's policy on immigration has been more effective than Trump's and the republican party's so called tough talk.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

President Trump and Kim Jong Un Fail At The Summit

President Donald Trump and North Korea Chairman Kim Jong both failed at summit #2 in Hanoi, Viet Nam.  It failed because both leaders were not prepared which had its origin in summit #1 that produced nothing in the way of how to proceed in summit #2.  Trump's inner circle has said many times the President dislikes to read reports or be involved in details and makes snap decisions.

Kim Jong, younger than Trump and a ruling dictator, supported by China and Russia will not give up his country's nuclear weapons or abandon his military objectives unless he receives something concrete in return.  Summit #1 and 2 never produced any real dialog concerning the issues so there was no area of positive compromise to work with.  The failure was no great surprise to those who follow politics and past meetings of our past Presidents and adversaries whose preparations were more detailed and constructive.

This writer was struck by the pictures of Trump and Kim Jong shown on TV as they arrived in Viet Nam.  Neither had the look of confidence on their face, lacked any smile and had the look of a sullen person getting ready for a funeral.  It was not the look  of two leaders who would be meeting shortly to forge an agreement concerning a very serious matter.

And after the summit failed Trump was still using words like he and Kim parted ways on positive terms; the walk away was very friendly; there's a warmth that we have, etc, etc, etc.  And added, we're positioned to do something very special.  N. Korea gave a different version of why the summit failed and a report attributed to our own state department said N. Korea's version was more accurate than Trumps.  There was no talk or commitment of a summit #3.

The bottom line is both leaders were not prepared for summit #2 and it showed.  The President had a tough week of his own making with the summit and the public hearing in the U.S. House and Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen's testimony.  He then attended the conservative convention of CPAC and his speech was laced with personal attacks and lies which has become the norm of this President.
The malignancy in the White House still grows and consumes this President and every thing he touches.  Mueller's report and the democratic investigations need to end this President's term sooner rather than later and restore the democratic process.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another Huge First For PolitiDose, Your Daily Dose Of Political commentary

PolitiDose, in several past commentaries took the position that Louisiana's republican representatives in the U.S. Congress have failed to represent the state and the nation on the most critical issues and care nothing about Louisiana.  Now comes a Times Picayune article by Tim Morris dated 3/1 titled, Louisiana's republican representatives should be ashamed.  Morris wrote the following regarding the Louisiana republicans no vote in the U.S. House on a resolution to end Trump's so called "national emergency."  ALL FIVE LOUISIANA REPUBLICANS IN THE U.S. HOUSE VOTED TUESDAY TO ABDICATE THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND SURRENDER THEIR INDEPENDENCE TO THE WHIMS OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

The resolution p assed the House in a 245 - 182 vote with 13 republicans joining the democratic majority.  Louisiana's democratic rep Cedric Richmond voted with the majority.  Morris, a self proclaimed conservative has been a supporter of President Trump in this writers judgement based on past Morris commentary that had been the subject of previous PolitiDose commentary.  But give Morris credit for his column of recognizing the shameful republican vote to support Trump's fairy tale "national emergency."  Morris also rejected the republicans stated reason for supporting Trump's order and gave the same reasons the democratic party asserted to oppose Trump's order.

The real story on the immigration issue is what PolitiDose has reported long ago.  The republican party controlled the U.S. House for 8 straight years prior to the democratic take over in January and in all that time refused to take up and debate the issue.  Ditto the republican controlled U.S. Senate for the past 4 years and ditto for the last 2 years when the republicans controlled the White House and both houses of congress.  But conservative journalist and or opinion writers never wrote about that.  They were glad to talk only about the republican rhetoric on the matter.

And of course, think of this.  If there really was a "national emergency" at the southern border, it took place on Trump and the republicans watch while their so called tough talk was taking place.  Did any conservative writer report that?  The republican party's failure to act on the two most important issues(health care and immigration reform) while in the majority and control is a lesson in non-governing and a party trapped in ideology.  Facts play no role in their ideology and that is why they still support Trump no matter what.  It is also why they have failed to govern.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

 

Another Big First For "PolitiDose" Your Daily Dose Of Political Commentary

It was "PolitiDose" long ago in more than one commentary that alerted its readers that the "crooked candidate" in the 2016 Presidential race was not Hillary Clinton as Trump spit out one lie after another.  And now, just yesterday before the U.S. House in public testimony Trump's long time attorney and confidant, Michael Cohen testified under oath in detail that indicated it was indeed Donald Trump who was the "crooked candidate" in the 2016 Presidential campaign and election.

Cohen's testimony went even farther and described Trump as a con man, a fraud, a liar and a man and President who violated the law.  Cohen's testimony also left no doubt that Donald Trump paid hush money to keep an affair secret and out of the public eye during the 2016 campaign.  Cohen's testimony fit in with all of the so called rumors about Trump during the past 3 years, only this time it came from a credible witness who worked for Trump and carried out Trump's orders to lie and cheat.

The public hearing was another piece of evidence how Hillary Clinton was so correct in her assessment about Trump being unfit to serve as President and his intimate relationship with Russia to damage Clinton's campaign and influence the election in Trump's favor.  The 48% of the popular vote in Clinton's favor and the over whelming democratic vote this past November that gave control of the U.S. House to the democratic party was an indication that the majority of those voting understood just how damaging Donald Trump would be and has been to the country and its people.

Yes my fellow Americans, Donald Trump was the "crooked candidate" in the 2016 Presidential campaign and election and is the "crooked President" who occupies the White House.

And it is a sad story how the news media in general allowed themselves to repeat Trump's lies about Hillary Clinton so often during the campaign.  The readers of PolitiDose are more informed concerning the real stories that takes place.  And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Its Not Too Late For Mitch Landrieu To Run For President

Will Mitch Landrieu run or not?  This writer thinks Mitch should be giving this decision serious thought.  He has time to decide despite a number of democrats who have already announced and despite the fact that the first democratic debate is scheduled for June 2019.  Since campaigns and debates have become so inflammatory with little substance, facts and solutions, a shorter period would be more productive.

Mitch is young enough to wait until the 2024 Presidential elections.  In the mean time he could be using his time to learn about domestic and national issues, foreign policy, the federal budget and the international world a President has to deal with.  Landrieu already has the political understanding to run government and make government work so he would be a great candidate.

The democratic candidates who have announced their decision to run are a diversified lot and would be better than any republican candidate, including Donald Trump.  But Landrieu brings more political experience and can articulate policy and plans on a scale that would be understood by the voting public.  Plus he is a public servant who really cares about governing, the issues and the people.

This writer would like to see Mitch Landrieu run for public office again at what ever level he chooses.  The public needs his experience and service and a run in 2020 should not be out of the question.  The next President will have his hands full dealing with the mess Trump has created so it is more important than ever to elect a Presidential candidate that has political understanding, the very thing President Truman spoke about so long, long ago.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Trump Sends His Vice President To Europe But There Are No Gold Stars

President Trump is miffed because he thought Britain, France, Germany and the European Union as a whole would join the U.S. in Trump's withdrawal from the Iranian Nuclear deal.  He found out he could not boss them around so he sent Vice President Mike Pence to a Middle East conference in Poland to slam those countries and called upon them to join the U.S. in withdrawing from the treaty.  All per an article in the Times Picayune of 2/15.

Trump finds himself all alone with his lies on Iran and why he withdrew the U.S. from the treaty.  And to top it all off American intelligence just recently reported that Iran continues to comply with the treaty and gave a report to congress to support their findings.  It was noted that some European countries stayed away from the Warsaw conference due to concerns it would become an anti-Iraq vehicle.

On another note the Vice President was in Munich, Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference's Inaugural John McCain Dissertation award ceremony and told the audience that he brought greetings from the 45th President of The United States, President Donald Trump which received silence and no applause.  The frosty reception demonstrated just how bad Trump's relationship is with the European allies all because autocrat Trump is willing to do Putin's bidding to break up the NATO alliance.

Yes my fellow Americans, President Trump himself is the national security threat that the U.S. is being exposed to.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

How Do You Define Socialism? Its Easy, The Trump-GOP Tax Cuts of 2017

The Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) reported that Amazon, the Corporate giant paid no federal income tax on profits of $11.2 billion last year thanks to a variety of tax credits and loop holes and actually received a federal tax rebate of $121 million last year giving it an effective federal tax rate of roughly -1%.  It was the second year in a row the company paid no federal taxes.

The poorest 20 percent of American households paid an effective federal tax rate of 1.5% in 2015 according to the report while Amazon paid zero federal tax in 2017 and 2018.  And from 2009 to 2018 Amazon earned roughly $26.5 billion in profits and paid approximately $791 million in federal taxes for an effective rate of 3% for that period.  That is well below the 35% federal tax rate in effect most of those years and the 21% rate that came into effect with the Trump-GOP tax reductions of 2017.  And ITEP studies show that other large Fortune 500 companies also did not pay near the stated corporate federal tax rate during that same time period.

Trump's recent statement that America will never become a Socialist country is the height of hypocrisy.  He and his party relate Socialism to social security, medicare, food stamps, health care and any thing to do with the public and those in need.  But the Trump-GOP tax plan of 2017  that favors those who need the least.  That Trump-GOP tax plan did not close the loop holes or special tax breaks that allow big business to pay no tax even when profitable.  And of course the 14% reduction in corporate federal tax and previous tax cuts by the republicans that favor the wealthy and corporate America has their signature as the originators of Socialism in favor of the big and powerful.

Socialism, republican style will cost the tax payers $1.5 trillion because of the tax cuts    that will be paid by the tax payers that happen to be the middle class and the poorest tax payers that actually pay federal taxes.  The public will hear Trump and the GOP talk a lot about Socialism between now and the 2020 Presidential election and try to convince the people that the democratic party wants America to become a Socialism state.  They will try their best to hide their Socialism agenda that the republican party has always pushed and that Trump always supported.  Trump's tax returns would show just how much he loves Socialism for the wealthy and corporate America.  And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Trump and His WALL of Lies

The democratic party, the "mature ones" in congress stood tall as the U.S. House and Senate passed a funding bill that Trump signed to prevent another shutdown.  The bill provided no money for Trump's wall and in fact, could have passed in December and no shutdown would have taken place.  But Trump wanted to play to his base, Fox news and the extreme right like Hannity, Limbaugh and Coulter.

The democratic party has provided a steady hand since winning the U.S. House and shows their understanding of governing.  They also are familiar with Trump and the republican party's failure to pass immigration legislation the last two years of their complete control.  Instead, the republicans and Trump just punted with their empty rhetoric and lies.

And to make immigration matters worse, Trump announced he would declare a national emergency at the southern border, take $8 billion of funds from the department of defense and other agencies to build his WALL OF LIES.  His long winded announcement was all over the lot and contained the usual lies Trump engages in on a regular basis.  The speech was evident of Trump's mental state.

It is more important now than ever for the democratic party to govern maturely with sound policies and put an end to the harm already done to America by Trump and his party.  The House investigations should take place where called for and the public needs to be informed of the outcomes.  The republicans failed their responsibility to hold Trump accountable and have no spine.  The trumpet man will never be fit to be President and Hillary Clinton said so a long time ago.

And every day, evidence emerges that the Mueller investigation will put Trump right smack in the middle of it all.


This commentary written by Joe  Lorio

New Orleans Sports Writer Still In Sour Grapes Mode

Three weeks after the Rams beat the Saints in the conference championship game play off, reporter Jeff Duncan is still trying to sell the notion that the so called "no-call" caused the Saints to lose the game and a trip to the Super Bowl.  He can not admit that the Rams out played the Saints in that game and that Payton's play calling and Brees  interception in over time was the big reasons the Rams won.

As this writer said many times in the past, Payton needs to put down the cheat sheet, let his offensive coordinator call the plays  so Payton himself can pay more attention to what is taking place on the football field.  Tom Landry, long time coach of the Dallas Cowboys was the most successful play calling coach but Payton is no Tom Landry.  And the two most winning coaches in the big games and in winning world championships are Bill Belichick and Vince Lombardi, left the play calling to their offensive coordinators.  Belichick and Lombardi used their time to be involved in what was taking place on the football field.

Duncan in his Times Picayune column of 2/10/19 said the "no-call" robbed the Saints of the NFC championship and there fore set up a tainted Super Bowl. Duncan is so far off base with his apple polishing statements and sour grape remarks and does a disservice to his audience.  Duncan also made the stupid statement that the Saints were the best team in football.  Duncan's big problem really shakes out to be how wrong he was in his prediction about the Saints beating the Rams and how they were going to do it which never materialized.

Make no mistake, this Saints loss, if blame is the name of the game, belongs with Payton's play calling, Brees interception in overtime and the Saints poor performance inside the Rams 20 yard line when the Saints had to settle for field goals.  And to follow Terry Bradshaw's logic that any time your team is inside your opponents 20 yard line and you don't throw the ball in the end zone at least once, shame, shame on you.  Well the Saints were on the 13 yard line of the Rams and threw two passes, both of them short passes and no shot was taken to the end zone.  What a shame.

That is the real reason the Saints may not overcome the loss.  Give credit to the Rams coach and quarterback.  Payton was out coached and Brees was out played.  The numbers tell the story.  The Rams defense made the necessary adjustments since their loss to the Saints during the regular season and the Saints forgot the game is never over till its over.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio