The Chaotic Foreign Policy Of President Donald Trump

One of the constant in Trump's Presidency is to blame others when things go wrong and it takes place domestically and in foreign affairs and policy.  The latest flare up concerns Venezuela and Trump's foreign policy towards that country.  He approved a plan against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro that backed opposition leader Juan Guaido's fizzled power play to topple Maduro.  There were supposed to be defections from some of Maduro's key government allies but that also fizzled out.  Maduro let it be known he was not going any where and rejected Trump's order to leave his own country.

It was Trump's national security advisor John Bolton who recommended the attempt to oust Maduro and after it failed Trump said he was misled by Bolton how easy it would be to replace Maduro.  Of course every one should recognize it was John Bolton who led the push for the war and invasion of Iraq and said it would be a cake walk.  Bolton is also leading Trump's foreign policy on Iran.  That's the kind of people Trump hires in positions that are important, follows their advise and when things goes wrong Trump passes the buck and plays the blame game.  John Bolton does not belong any where near government and Trump should have known the guy is poison.  But that is the type of people Trump associates himself with.

Trump's foreign policy has also legitimized the role of Russia in Syria and Russia and China now have their people in Venezuela.  That is a part of the world Trump has ignored and Russia and China are ready to fill the vacuum in a New York second.  The President likes to link our southern border with national security but has no policy to deal with the immigration problem and has sent no plans to congress to act on.  And the President continues his cozy relationship with Putin and neglects our NATO allies.

The trumpet man's refusal to accept blame for his own decisions represents another sign of his unfitness to serve in the White House and when one takes into consideration his refusal to make public his tax returns (such a minor thing that past Presidents had no problem doing) one can see he lacks courage and character.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Democratic Presidential Candadites

The field is large, over 20 candidates but that number will not be sustained past the end of this year in this writer's opinion.  The candidates are a diverse group in every category and represents America.  The polls are ranking them already but don't pay much attention to them now because polls change like the wind at this point in a campaign.  Once the debates and the Presidential primaries start, the public will have to decide if they think the younger can have the experience to be President and lead the nation.  Or would it be wise at this point to choose an older candidate with more experience.

With so many candidates the debates will probably not do them justice, especially with all the silly questions they are asked by the moderators.  One thing this writer likes is the fact that democrats in congress are not rushing to indorse any one candidate yet.  That is a good sign because it is so early in the campaign and all of the candidates views are not known at this time.

Trump and the GOP ae already trying to brand all democratic candidates as socialist.  But it is the GOP and Trump who are the socialist party for corporate America and the wealthy and have no other record to run on or articulate even though they are in charge of government  They still have no plan or policy on immigration reform outside of Trump's rhetoric.  Their so called conservatism on balanced budgets and deficits has been one great big lie since Reagan became President.

The other talking point being pushed by some in the news media, Trump himself and the GOP is that the economy favors Trump in the Presidential election of 2020.  But don't be misled by that claim because the economy will turn in the opposite direction before the election.  The signs are already there and the Trump-GOP tax cuts have not really increased job creation and that happens to be the only economic plan that Trump and the GOP have articulated so far.  There is another issue that has not been picked up on yet and that is Trump's republican opponent, former Governor Weld.  If he stays in the race he could be big trouble for Trump and he has what it takes to answer any of Trump's attacks.

This writer will look for the democratic candidate that has the political understanding to run government and who has the knowledge and understanding of the issues facing the country and its people, especially those critical issues talked about in the past but never addressed.  Also a candidate who understands how important it is to balance the federal budget and reform the tax code with real reform where everyone pays his or her fair share and there are no special interest given special treatment.  After Trump, the nation will need a President who knows how to lead.  And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Special Counsel's Report About Trump Becomes Stronger and Stronger

As more details emerge from Robert Mueller's investigation report President Trump's obstruction of justice becomes clear and the President's willingness along with his Presidential campaign to do business with Russia in order to seek information on his opponent and his subsequent relationship with Putin should make every American very concerned about Trump's unfitness to be President and the damage he has already done to the constitution, the country's institutions and the rule of law.  And if the redactions in the report ever become public, Trump's actions will be shocking.

And now, several weeks after the report was made public, over 400 fair minded people who read the report including lawyers, prosecutors, former prosecutors, judges, former judges and those who have served in past democratic and republican administrations signed a letter and said Mueller's obstruction case against Trump was significant and that if it were any one but the President, he would be charged with a felony and indicted.  But Mueller laid out the case for congress to deal with because the Justice Department guide lines say a sitting President can not be indicted.  But congress has the lawful and legal power and responsibility to deal with Trump's serious violations of the law.  Those republican and democrats who signed the letter stood tall and put country before party and politics.  And they are people who know the law.

The democratic controlled U.S. House has to remain positive and do what ever it takes to over come Trump's lies, his every day stone walling tactics and his obstruction of congress.  They have the tools to do so and should challenge the President's contempt for the rule of law at every turn.  America has answered the call many times during our political history when our values as a nation were attacked and always had those who were willing to take a stand, right the ship and over come the malignancy of the moment.

And at this very moment in our political history, our values are under attack once again, this time by the malignancy of President Donald Trump.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Job Creation For April 2019

The U.S. Labor Department reported that the economy created 263,000 new jobs in April and that the unemployment rate came in at 3.6%.  It was the 104th straight month of positive job growth.  The report also adjusted March's job creation as 9,000 less jobs than previously reported for that month.  The news media in general followed Trump and the republican's script with praise for the April job numbers even though those same numbers produced during the Obama administration was met with any lack of expression.

In Trump's first 27 months in office a total of 5,132,000 new jobs have been created for a monthly average of 190,074 new jobs.  In Obama's last 27 months in office 5,761,000 new jobs were created for a monthly average of 213,370 new jobs.  So the Trump-GOP tax cuts for corporate America and the wealthy did not create any additional new jobs in the last 27 months compared to the previous 27 months and is a stalk reminder of the Trump-GOP's reported lies about tax cuts.  The economic recovery plan that President Obama and the democratic controlled congress passed in Obama's first two years in office, including the $700 billion stimulus proved to be a solid base for economic recovery.

The only question remaining concerns Trump's ability to keep the economy and job creation at a sustained level through out his administration.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Federal Judges Strike Down President Trump's Executive Orders Again

A federal judge in Washington state blocked President Trump's executive order that cut off U.S. subsides for poor women obtaining birth control planning from Planned Parenthood and other clinics that offer abortion or other services and information to patience.  Trump's action was a continuation of his party and administration to damage Planned Parenthood and to chip away at a woman's right to choose and every thing associated with abortion and other services.

In another case federal judge Sharon Bleason, U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, struck down Trump's executive order that lifted an Obama era ban on oil and gas drilling in the Arctic Circle.  The judge ruled that Trump's order was unlawful and that the ban would remain in effect and full force unless and until revoked by congress and that the President's executive order exceeded the President's authority.  After the judge's decision, Trump announced he was reversing his previous announced plan to expand offshore oil and gas drilling indefinitely.

The federal courts have been a thorn in Trump's plans and executive orders that have been held unlawful and in many cases the judges have ruled that the Trump administration has offered no legal argument to support his cases.  It backs up what people who follow politics know.  That is the trumpet man is an autocrat who believes he can do whatever he wants to do with out being held accountable.

But the rhetoric and personal attacks continue by the trumpet man and are actually louder because he is also in the campaign mode now.  And all the while he and the republican party have nothing to show legislative wise to address the problems facing the country.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

In 1974, Republican Leadership In The U.S. Congress Lived Up To Their Responsibilities

Four and a half decades ago republicans found themselves in the position of having to confront Richard Nixon, a republican President whose administration was reeling from the fallout of Watergate and the President's attorney who testified there was a cancer in the White House and other revelations that tied the President to an obstruction of justice, abuse of power and contempt of congress, an impeachable offense.  The republican leadership knew the President would be impeached and told him so if he did not resign the Presidency.  The President did resign rather than face the impeachment process.

Those republican leaders of so long ago served the country well at a time of great turmoil, understood the seriousness of the matter and their responsibility as elected officials to the rule of law and the constitution.  Partisan politics was not an option or factor in their decision.  What mattered was the fact that the President of the United States is not above the law and congress has the responsibility of oversight to protect America's institutions.

Fast forward to the present and the republican leadership in congress.  President Trump has tried on a regular basis to discredit the special prosecutors investigation into his 2016 campaign actions with the Russians.  And now that the Mueller report has been released which documents Trump's campaign meeting with Russia and their attempt to interfere with the election in favor of Trump.  The report also outlined at least 10 possible times of obstruction by Trump and the republican leaders in congress are preaching total exoneration for Trump.

When one compares the present republican non action to the leadership of the party over 40 years ago, it should make all republicans sick.  The present day republican leadership and party have no character and have failed to face up to and act on President Trump's traitorous acts land obstructions.  The party has turned their backs on what the White House represents and the basic values of America and its institutions.  The case can be make that the leadership of the republican party made a decision to support Trump's corruptive actions and the party fell in line.

And yes, Trump's malignancy continues to spread every day and journalist Carl Bernstein was correct long ago when he said Trump gate is worse and more serious than Watergate.

Miracles Still Happen: This Time With A Conservative Trump Ditto Head Journalist

Marc Thiessen, opinion writer with the Washington Post in a Times Picayune column dated 4/14 agreed with the democratic position concerning immigration and broke with Trump's rhetoric about our country being FULL.  Thiessen wrote:  SORRY, OUR COUNTRY IS NOT FULL.  NOT BY A LONG SHOT.  THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE.  WE NEED MORE IMMIGRANTS, LOTS OF THEM.  IN FACT NO ONE NEEDS IMMIGRANTS MORE THAN TRUMP.  But Thiessen could not bring himself to the point of reminding the President that he and his party had no plan on immigration the past two years and still do not.  Thiessen's column went on to say the following:  (1)  An overall reduction in immigration would be disastrous for the country.  (2)  We need immigrants to stop population decline.  (3)  We need immigrants to work and pay taxes that fund social security and medicare for our aging population.  (4)  And we need immigrants to provide human capital for continued economic growth and prosperity.

And if all that sounds familiar its because it represents the democratic position on immigration as articulated by democratic candidates and those serving in congress for the past few decades.  Thiessen failed to point out that the democratic controlled U.S. Senate in 2013 passed immigration reform legislation 68 - 32 with 14 republicans joining all 54 democrats.  It was a good bill with money for border control.  The republican controlled U.S. House let the bill die without even a hearing and or debate thanks to their speaker of the House, John Boehner.

Lets tell it like it is.  Illegal immigration is at its highest level since 2007 because Trump and his party have no immigration plan or policy and are really not interested in immigration reform because immigrants usually vote democratic.  The republican party has already acknowledged that just as former republican speaker of the U.S. House, John Boehner acknowledged that the republican party had no interest in health care and therefore never had a realistic plan or policy on the issue.  The talk about illegal immigration being out of control is all taking place on Trump and his party's watch despite his phony rhetoric.  What a shame and shame on the trumpet man and his party.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Attorney General Barr Released The Special Counsel's Report: But Hold On Folks, It Ain't Over Till Its Over

A redacted version was released today of Robert Mueller's report and almost a month after the report was completed the American people still have not seen or red the full report and its back up materials.  The Attorney General held a news conference about the report and sounded like he represented the President instead of the government and the people.

Despite the Attorney General and Trump's statement that the President was exonerated and that the Game Was Over, nothing could be farther from the truth.  The report says without a doubt the President was not exonerated on the obstruction of justice issue.  That is all the U.S. House needs to know to continue their own investigation of the obstruction issue and now have a little more information to work on thanks to the Mueller report.  Coupled with the House's information gathered from their witnesses, the investigation is still very much alive.

The report also detailed: (1)  How the President's children and son in law met with the Russians in order to obtain dirt on Hillary Clinton for the expressed purpose to help Trump's campaign.  (2)  How the President wrote Trump Jr's email and lied about what the meeting was all about.  What is so important about that is the fact that no past Presidential candidate, republican or democratic has ever sought the helpof a foreign government to seek dirt on an opponent.  That action describes just how low crooked Trump can stoop.

One way or anothr, Mueller's full report without the redactions will be released and the U.S.House will end up writing the final report on the trumpet man's malignancy.  Until then, It ain't over till its over.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Part II: IMMIGRATION: The Albatross Around Trump and The Republican Party's Neck

Lately, we have seen some national news folks finally informing their readers how Trump and his party's lack of an immigration plan and policy are fueling what has been taken place with illegal immigration and border security that Trump is trying to shift blame to the democrats.  But the readers of PolitiDose have known full well that failure of Trump and his party to address the process the past two years.  It has all been explained in PolitiDose commentary long ago.

The latest with Trump's mentally unbalanced rhetoric is to release illegal immigrants to the so called sanctuary cities so democrats would be blamed.  It is Trumps way to try and damage democrats during the next congressional election cycle.  The trumpet man is still chapped because the courts have upheld the legality of those cities.  Trump also added to that a suggestion that families be separated once again at the border.  An issue he has already flipped flopped on and where a court has ordered the President to reunite the separated families.  Then CNN reports that Trump said he would pardon the top border official if he were to get arrested for breaking federal law by denying asylum seekers entry into the U.S.  That would be an impeachable offense.  Trump's immigration rhetoric shifts from one position to another because of his mental condition.

The state of the nations immigration problem has taken a turn for the worst on Trump and the republicans watch and they are left with only their so called tough rhetoric and two years of lost empty promises.  And this is the President who told the world during the 2016 Presidential campaign that HE was the only candidate who could solve the immigration problem.  The President even lacks the mental capacity to hire people for his cabinet that know what they are doing.  A ton of his appointments have come and gone and he is now replacing many in the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, the very departments that play a major role in immigration.  What a tragic situation for a President's so called priority.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Conservative Opinion Writer's Nose Out Of Joint Because A Democratic Governor Brings Back a Balanced Budget to Louisiana

Times Picayune columnist Tim Morris is unhappy that Louisiana's democratic governor John B. Edwards spoke before the republican controlled state legislators on opening day and said, THE BUDGET CRISIS THAT FOR YEARS HELD LOUISIANA HOSTAGE IS OVER.  WHAT WAS ONCE A $2 BILLION BUDGET DEFICIT IS NOW A SURPLUS THAT WILL LAY A FOUNDATION FOR US TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THE STATE FORWARD.  Morris tried to make the governor's statement a partisan issue, but any one who follows Louisiana politics understands the facts of the subject matter.

The so called conservative opinion writer also used a self serving statement that President George W. Bush used when he took office.  Morris proclaimed, "one person's surplus is another's over taxation."  President Bush used the same theme, then cut taxes and ran up eight straight years of federal budget deficits which wiped out President Clinton's 4 years of budget surpluses.  Republican governor Bobby Jindal and the republican controlled state legislature did the same thing.  They inherited a $800 million surplus when democratic governor Blanco left office and never balanced one state budget during Jindal's 8 years in office.  (see previous commentary on the matter published in PolitiDose)

Morris is angry because a democratic governor was the one responsible for having the leadership ability to recognize Louisiana's fiscal problems and then act on them despite the criticism from so called republican conservatives.  In fact, those Louisiana republicans who serve in the state legislature and those republicans who serve in congress have no fiscal record of being conservative.  No republican President has balanced the federal budget since President Eisenhower in 1960.  That is over 50 years ago.  All conservatives have concerning fiscal matters is their rhetoric, but no facts.  The state of Louisiana, its fiscal house and the people are better off today than they were under the previous administration.


And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio