Criminal Donald Trump Found Guilty On All 34 Counts.

 The scales of American justice caught up with former President Donald Trump on May 30 in New York when a jury of Trump's peers found him guilty on all 34 felony counts related to the Stormy Daniel's hush money case.  It was the very first time a former President and Presidential nominee has ever been convicted of a criminal charge.  It was the fourth time in the last year Trump was found in violation of the law.  Fraud, sexual abuse, defamation and now 34 counts of felony charges.  And on the horizon, multiple indictments on the federal level and a state trial in Georgia yet to be set.  Not a very attractive rap sheet.

The conservative media, Trump himself and the GOP in congress did their best to try and influence the outcome of the trial in Trump's favor but fell flat.  They attacked everyone and the judicial system, even the judge and his family but it was Trump's peers, the 12 jury members who sat in silence in the court room, heard the real evidence in testimony and voted to convict on all counts.  And all of a sudden, the rule of law told the story that no one, not even a former President is above the law.

The state of New York's judicial system worked and their men in blue handled the situation like the professionals they are.  Such a contrast to the loud mouth liars and their disrespect for the democratic system of justice.  Trump and his party will continue to play the blame game but it will soon dry up.  The bottom line is Trump is the most unqualified Presidential candidate the country has ever had and a serial liar.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The CNN and ABC Networks Should Now Cancel The June Presidential Debate.

 Does CNN and ABC really believe Donald Trump with his criminal record should be invited to take part in a Presidential debate?  In the past some members of congress have been forced to resign because of alleged behavior (some sexual) but none that arose to the level of Trump's rap sheet of convictions and large monetary fines for Fraud, sexual abuse, defamation and now 34 counts of criminal felony charges.  Former Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned his office because of a bribery indictment.

But now we have a Donald Trump, a republican party, a conservative media and some in the general media trying to convince the American people to accept the unacceptable, a corrupted convicted Presidential candidate.  Make no mistake, those who support or would vote for a convicted Trump supports corrupted politicians and therefore supports corrupted government.

Presidential debates and the Presidency itself should be held to higher standards. And when you add the fact that a sitting President, Donald Trump attempted to overturn a legitimate Presidential election and deny the lawful peaceful transfer of power to  the newly elected President Joe Biden, which was a traitorous act by Trump, it is unthinkable to allow a Donald Trump to appear in any debate or hold any public office.

CNN and ABC should  call off the debate and stand up to its responsibility of defending America's moral values as a nation and the historical norms of what the Presidency stands for.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

President Biden Was Presidential On Memorial Day Weekend.

 President Biden continues to do the work of the country as its President and Commander in Chief on Saturday when he addressed the West Point Academy graduating class in New York and then on Memorial Day when he spoke at the Arlington National Cemetary in Washington.  The President was at his best at a time of lies, misinformation, hateful speech and division cast on our nation by Donald Trump, his republican party and the negative voices of chaos.  

The President told the Cadets their class is being called upon to tackle threats across the globe and preserve the country's ideals at home like none before.  He reminded the Cadets that they were swearing fidelity not to a person or political party, but to the constitution.  It was noted that the President stood for more than an hour returning a salute from and shaking the hands of each graduate.

On Memorial Day at the Arlington National Cemetary, the President pledged that the country would continue the work of the nation's fallen to a more perfect union for which they lived and for which they died.  That each generation must ensure the sacrifice of the country's service members is not in vain.  Freedom has never been guaranteed, every generation has to earn it, fight for it, defend it in the battle between autocracy and democracy, between the greed of a few and the rights of many.  And the President added, on this day we came together again to reflect, to remember and to above all recommit to the future they fought for, a future grounded in freedom, democracy, opportunity, and equality.  Not just for some, but for all.

It was the same President Biden that has stood above the chaos of the negative voices and endless attacks against the constitution and American democracy itself.  A sane voice that has governed with policy, plans and actions rather than political misinformation and lies.  Sadly, the media prefers the chaos of the negative voices than the sanity the President brings to the office and the people. 

On Memorial Day weekend, the President stood on firm ground for the country, for democracy, our men and women in uniform, the people and for good government.  A President who remembers where we came from as a nation and a people, where we have been and where we need to go is Joe Biden.  He stands head and heels above his rivals

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Nikki Haley Says She Will Vote For Donald Trump In The 2024 Presidential Election.

 Former GOP Governor and Presidential hopeful Nikkie Haley, now says she will vote for Donald Trump in the 2024 Presidential election.  It did not come as a surprise to this writer who predicted long ago that is what she would do.  She now joins the GOP party's endorsement and support for Trump, a sexual abuser, who was also guilty of defaming the same person and fraud for allowing his company to commit fraud, facing multiple federal indictments, a state indictment in Georgia and a present trial in the state of New York that will go to the jury next week concerning the Stormy Daniel matter.

When the conservative media and the MAGA teams are added to the GOP's support it paints a picture of a sad group saying they support a corrupt candidate for President that will corrupt government, the Presidency and the White House.  It also tells the story of a group that cares nothing about honesty, character, moral values or government free from corruption.  Their support is a direct attack on the highest political office in the United States.

Trump's daily rants of personal attacks against everyone and everything represents a sickness never before seen in American politics and a former President.  He is a danger to American democracy and the world because of his sickness and corruption.  The upcoming debate will be no debate because you can not debate a liar and such a debate would constitute a slap in the face to a real Presidential debate where substance and civility count.  A debate with a corrupted person like Trump is a disgrace to the process.  

Donald Trump's failed Presidency is already recorded in the records of the federal government for all to see.  Since he left office, his personal life of corruption has been exposed by the legal process of the court system.  He is unfit for the nomination and unfit to be President of The United States.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The United States is a Friend of Israel, But Israel is not a Friend of the United States.

June 8, 2024 will mark the 57th anniversary of Israel's attack on the U.S. Liberty on June 8, 1967 during the six day war between Israel, Egypt and other Arab nations.  The U.S. Liberty was a Navy intelligence ship operating in international waters gathering intelligence on the war.  The ship was 25 nautical miles north of the Sinai Peninsula according to official reports.

Israel's unprovoked attack on the U.S. Liberty in international waters by a coordinated attack by air and sea killed 34 crew members and wounded 171 others aboard the ship.  Israel said it did not know it was an American naval ship but crew members of the U.S. Liberty said the attack was deliberate and that the ship identified itself for Israel to see.  After a long investigation, Israel apologized for the attack and said it was an accident.  Israel also paid millions in damages for the attack.  Crew members of the U.S. Liberty were sure the attack was no accident.

Israel and its leader have lied in the past about their actions that have taken place when using their military power with impunity.  Just recently during the Israel/Hamas conflict, Israel killed 6 workers who were part of a relief unit to address the humanitarian fall out in Gaza.  Israel apologized later and said it was an accident, but Israel knew those workers were no threat to Israel because they monitor all aid coming into Gaza.

And everyone should remember Israel's Prime Minister BiBi Netanyahu lies and is a right wing extremist.  In 2015, Netanyahu, at the request of the Republicans in congress, registered his opposition to President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, told congress and the world that Iran was only several months away from producing a nuclear weapon.  Well, 9 years later, Iran still possesses no nuclear weapons.  

Israel and its leaders often use the "holocaust" to justify their use of military power with impunity, but it was not the Arab world that was responsible for the holocaust.  Israel has a right to defend itself but so does all nations, but Israel does not have a right to expand its territory onto Palestinian land and build new settlements.  They also do not want to recognize Palestine as a country or nation and refuse to accept a two state solution to the ongoing problem.

The U.S. has been a great friend to Israel for many, many years in so many ways.  But Israel has not been a great friend to the U.S. President Biden is supporting Israel's right to defend itself, but understands that the people of Gaza are facing mass destruction, food shortages and etc., and believes they need help and supplies.  Israel needs to take a deep breath and allow the humanitarian help needed for the people in Gaza that are in need.  

Netanyahu, failed to protect Israel on October 7 when Hamas attacked and killed over 1000 people all the while Netanyahu was talking tough.  Israel and Egypt found a way to come together and sign a treaty that has worked for over 40 years.  The same can be done between Israel and their opponents when they elect the real leadership to accomplish a peaceful settlement.

This commentary written by Joe  Lorio     

The 2024 Presidential Debates are a Media Event and Unnecessary.

 Never before has a Republican or Democratic Presidential nominee with a criminal record, convictions and multiple indictments participate in a televised Presidential debate.  No such candidate would have been allowed to debate in the past because such a person would have never been nominated by his party to be the nominee.  That all changed with the Trump/GOP extreme ideology and its un-American, anti-Democratic rhetoric and their attack on everything American.  Unfortunately, the media enabled their toxic rhetoric

For the first time ever in the 2024 Presidential debates, one candidate, Donald Trump will bring his corruptive record which everyone knows of to the debates, while President Joe Biden will bring his character that has served the people well in congress and the White House.  The American people know what each would do if re-elected because they already have a record.  The uninformed voter will learn noting from the debates because it is a media event.  Where the debaters stand on the issues is well known and questions from the panel will prove to be nonsense because answers are limited to two minutes and President do not make decisions in two minutes.  Issues are more time consuming because a President hears comments from his advisers before making decisions.  So, the viewers will learn nothing from the answers.

The shame that the GOP has cast on America's political system by allowing such a corrupted person to be its party's Presidential nominee is shameless and a danger to American democracy and the freedom enjoyed by its people.  

This writer will not tune into the 2024 debates because the outcome is already known.  PolitiDose commentary predicted what would take place on Trump's watch after the 2016 election and what would take place on Biden's watch after the 2020 elections.  Both of those predictions came true.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio   

The Recent College Protest, The Media and the GOP

 Protesting is not unusual or political because it is grounded in the Constitution.  There are rules of course, protest have to be peaceful.  If they are not, then law enforcement must step in to end the protest.  Political action is not needed to handle the actual violence.  If there are good reasons for laws to be changed, then a political solution is necessary.

The recent college protest concerning the Israel/Hamas conflict is a good example how politics got involved unnecessarily along with the media.  Both claimed that the protesting was anti-semitism.  But what was being protested was Israel's killing of Palestinian families and children, property destruction including hospitals and the humanitarian needs of Gaza that the conflict exposed.

Any protest that was not peaceful could have been taken care of by the University with the cooperation of law enforcement who had the legal right to act.  That is actually what took place at one time but politics and the media had to jump the gun and create a scene.  The GOP even threatened to hold hearings on the protesting.  That is the same group who supported Trump's mob on January 6 to overturn the 2020 Presidential election and prevent the peaceful transfer of power to the newly elected President Joe Biden.  

The recent college protest never came close to what took place on January 6 and the GOP controlled House speaker refused to appoint any republican to serve on the January 6 committee.  Politics and the media are only interested in their own little world of misinformation and over reaction.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

Donald Trump Should Follow In The Footsteps of Former Vice President Spiro Agnew.

 On October 10, 1973 Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned from his office after being indicted for accepting thousands of dollars in bribes while serving as Baltimore county executive, governor of Maryland and Vice President of the United States.  Agnew made the right decision for the well being of the office, the nation and the people.  President Nixon accepted Agnew's resignation.

Donald Trump should follow in Agnew's foot steps by announcing he will no longer seek or accept the GOP's nomination for President.  Trump has been convicted of sexual assault and abuse of a woman and then found guilty of defaming the same woman.  Trump's companies have been found guilty of fraud in several suits and Trump was fined millions of dollars for his knowledge of what took place and allowing the fraud to take place.  In addition, he is also under numerous indictments and at the present time on trial in New York while several more trials are in the offering.  And his attempt to overturn the 2020 Presidential election by a mob at the Capitol and provide fake electors all constitute a more serious threat than Agnew's indictment charges.

Agnew did the right thing, Trump and his party, 51 years later should do the right thing for the country, the people and the party.  And most of all, in respect to what the Presidency stands for.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

 

The U.S. Economy, Job Creation and The Unemployment Rate for April 2024.

 The U.S. Labor Department reported the economy added 175,000 jobs in April and the unemployment rate came in at 3.9%, it was 3.8% last month.  It was the 39th straight month of positive job growth and the unemployment rate has been in the 3% range now for 27 straight months, the longest stretch since the 1950's.  Claims for unemployment benefits stayed at record low levels.

Year to year inflation was up only a little over one percent from the Feds target of their goal of 2%.  So inflation continues to moderate and the Feds down talk the recession predictions of the negative voices.  The people would do well to remember the early 1980's when inflation and home mortgage rates were both in the double digit range for two years before coming down slowly.  The unemployment rate was also in the 10% range for 10 straight months.  The President's policies and the economy has handled inflation better than what took place in the 1980's.

President Biden's economy has accomplished much for America and its people.  The negative voices will continue their attacks on the President and the economy because they want to see the President fail.  Lies and misinformation is part of their ideology to divide America and for the past 39 months, PolitiDose's commentary informed the people how it would all play out, and that it would begin when the President took office in 2021.  

This Commentary written by Joe Lorio 

The Democratic Party Once Again Leads The GOP Controlled House To A Solid Legislative Accomplishment.

 The GOP controlled U.S. House passed on Saturday President Biden's foreign aid package which included Ukraine aid that Speaker of the House Johnson had been playing politics with for the past several months.  The vote was 311-112.  One hundred and one republicans voted for the bill while one hundred twelve voted against the bill.  Two hundred ten democrats voted for the bill and provided the majority vote for the bill to pass even though they are the minority vote in the U.S. House.

Johnson's failure to do months ago what he did Saturday was a reversal and waisted several months for political purposes that delayed Ukraine the help they needed even after President Biden made the case for the aid to pass timely and put politics aside.  Johnson and his GOP members are still a divided party who have failed to work together for the good of the country and its people.  Their lack of governing and waste of time  is SOP for chaos they created and as a result are a disgrace to their oath of office.

The democratic party are still the sane party in Washington who believe in governing to accomplish what is needed to address the issues the country faces.  The party has not been afraid to govern in a non-partisan way and have demonstrated that.  On the other hand, the GOP works to tear down government, especially in the image of Trump.

What House speaker Johnson should do now, is revisit immigration reform legislation that the democratic controlled Senate was working on and bring the matter before the House for debate and a vote.  Johnson killed the proposal when Trump told him to do so a few months ago.  The immigration burden is congress responsibility to settle.  Most think if the House took it up it would pass and then the Senate would then follow and approve the legislation.  Legislation by congress is the answer because immigration covers a number of issues and the congress controls the purse strings to finance what ever they decide on.  

The democratic controlled Senate passed the House approved Ukraine package on a non-partisan vote of 79-18.  The total  package was $95 billion and included aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and humanitarian relief to the citizens of Gaza.  President Biden said he would sign the bill as soon as it hits his desk.  Once again it is a democratic administration that is leading a non-partisan matter to address important issues that affect the country, the people and America's leadership around the world.  President Biden's determination to address at hand and keep the focus where it belongs in an election year, represents governing at its highest level.  

The President's first priority is to do the people's work and govern.  And that is what President Biden is doing.

This  commentary written by Joe Lorio