The Democratic Party Represents The Sanity Needed To Govern In Washington, Especially At This Time and Place.

 With less than two months before the Presidential election, President Joe Biden and the democratic party remains the only sane voices in Washington and on the campaign trail.  Their voices are the only ones that are representing America and it's people.  Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is running a positive campaign with a positive and brighter approach to the future.  Trump and J.D. Vance are running a campaign of fear, doom and gloom and as always, their rhetoric is violent and toxic.  It lit the fuse when Trump urged his mob to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.  Trump lit the fuse even before that in the 2016 campaign when he told his audience he could shoot someone in the streets and his supporters would not care.

The GOP CULT controls the U. S. House and are once again threatening to shut down the government this month if the democrats do not meet their demands which have no good reasons.  It is a rerun of previous threats that they use to back off on paying for legislation the congress already passed and committed too.  They are a CULT organization for Trump and do not represent America or it's people.

The doom and gloom Trump and his GOP CULT are anti everything in America and what America the Beautiful stands for and fought for.  They have no policy, just an extreme self agenda that uses personal attacks, rhetoric that is toxic, violent and anti-American.  They attack our military, our veterans who served their country, law enforcement, the rule of law and American's institutions.  Then blame others for their own corruption.

The media has played a role in the rise of Trump and his CULT, especially the conservative media.  Both have enabled Trump and continue to do so.  They gave more coverage to President Biden's age than Trump's convicted criminal status.  The media failed to note that the GOP was the very first major political party in America to nominate a convicted criminal as their Presidential nominee.  The media has played it as the NORM in politics, but the actions of the party was a disgrace on our political system. Chaos is the framework of Trump and his CULT party and the media has become part of it with few exceptions.

America made the right decision when they elected Joe Biden President.  The President and his party have been the sane voices ever since, navigating the chaos of Trump and his CULT who have tried everything to damage the administration.  The President and his party's sanity on the economy, foreign policy, domestic issues and the budget has kept the country moving forward.  Consumer spending is still steady, inflation is retreating, unemployment at historic low levels, record job creation, lower deficit spending, lower drug prices, etc., etc.

As of this writing, the President and his party has retained the sanity of governing for the country and it's people. while Trump and his CULT continue to wallow in their own vomit of extreme rhetoric.  The media has never risen to the occasion to inform the people just how well the country has done on President Biden's watch.  Instead, they made the decision to flood the news cycle with the doom and gloom negative voices of Trump and  his CULT and their desire to tear down all that is good in America.  The shame has never been greater.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

   

The Wisdom Of President John F. Kennedy.

 The speeches of President Kennedy were well known because they were articulate on the subject matter and the issues themselves.  and the American people responded in a positive way.  It was a time when the GOP cast their conservatism as being superior to the democratic party's liberalism.  Long before JFK became President, he said the following in his book, "Profiles in Courage."

 

If by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health-, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights and their civil liberties-someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, If that is what they mean by a "Liberal" than I am proud to say I'm a "Liberal."

Kennedy's quote tells the story of a philosophy that has worked well for the people and the country over the years.  Fast forward to Trump and the GOP CULT conservatism and one can see nothing but opposition, no policy, just an extreme ideology that rejects democracy and all the good America the Beautiful stands for.  The conservative ideology is chaos and at the time of this writing they are threating a government shutdown once again for no good reason.  The GOP's conservatism even supports Trump as their Presidential nominee, knowing he is a convicted criminal, sexual abuser, fraudster, and a former President who committed a traitorous act by trying to overturn a duly democratic legal Presidential election.  

President Kennedy had it right about Liberalism and the American people can be proud of the accomplishments.  The remarkable thing about Liberalism, it was there when our forefathers designed and adopted the U.S. Constitution, the most liberal document of them all.

And that really says it all.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

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

 The U.S. Labor Department announced that the economy created 142,000 jobs in August and that the unemployment rate came in at 4.2%, down from 4.3% the previous month.  It was the 43rd. straight month of positive job growth despite the continued doom and gloom of the negative voices who put the usual spin on the job numbers.  The unemployment rate over the same time period during the Trump administration was 8.4% in August 2020 and job creation was still in a negative position.

The job market is slowing to some degree because that is what the Feds wanted to take place when they raised interest rates high and fast over the last two years.  It is also what the negative voices clamored for and now want to blame it on the economy. The President's inflation reduction act did more to cool inflation than the Feds mind set of having to damage the economy with high interest rates.  

The guessing game continues by the negative voices and those who oppose the President's agenda and    their opinions and predictions are all over the lot as to what the Feds will do next.  The economic recession that began in February of 2020 on Trump's watch ended the 10 years of economic expansion that began on President Obama's watch.  The U.S. economic expansion began again on Biden's watch and the negative voices of doom and gloom hate it.

  The job market may be slowing a bit, but it is not due to President Biden's agenda.  The Feds misguided policy of slowing the economy down and slower hiring with high interest rates to pull back on consumer and business spending is a policy for disaster and is an outdated policy to deal with inflation. Up to this point in time, on President Biden's watch, job creation has been at record levels of any President's 4 year term.  And that includes the 811,000 jobs revision the Labor Department recently announced and also includes the August job numbers.  The unemployment rate remains at a historical low level, consumer spending has been steady, the second quarter GDP was 3% on an annual basis,  Yet, during all that time, the negative voices were talking recession and doom and gloom for the economy.  

The Feds had reasons to lower the interest rates long ago, and the time was right to do so.  The economy needs that assurance now since the end of the year is approaching and Trump has told House speaker Johnson to shut the government down if the GOP's demands are not met by the democrats in congress.  It is just another demand by the negative voices to damage the economy and government in an election year.  The ball is now in the Feds court and they have to act and lower interest rates.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Southern Cal Defeats LSU 27 - 20 In Las Vegas.

 The LSU Tigers lost their third straight opening game under Coach Brian Kelly to Southern Cal in Las Vegas on Sunday.  And like the previous two games, had an opportunity to win the game and failed to do so.  The loss was met with the usual chatter and after the game, coach Kelly pounded the table and let loose with anger how his Tigers should have never lost the game.

So now, four days past Sunday's defeat it is time to take a more sane approach of what was actually known before the game and what we know now, after the game.  One game does not make a season but it does tell a story and should be a reminder.  So, lets explore what was known before the game.  (1)  Last season LSU failed to improve on it's won-loss record over the previous year.  Both years ended with a won-loss record of 9-3 during the regular season.  (2)  last season LSU had a quarterback who won the Heisman trophy, set a quarterback school record for rushing yardage and passing on offense but that still did not translate into a better winning record.  (3)  LSU's rushing last season by it's running backs was not a good enough read as to their future potential.  (4)  The defense did not perform well last year, were penalized too many times, especially in critical situations.  They also did not defend well on third down plays.  It was a down year from the previous year.

What we now know after Sunday's game is that (1) LSU's defense was a hit and a miss, very similar to last years defense, gave up too many big plays and did not tackle well.  Really looked bad on USC's last touchdown with 8 seconds left on the clock.  The secondary let too many receivers run wild.  (2)  LSU's offense was inconsistent, running game looked good and not so good, especially on 3rd down.  It is said that LSU has quality running backs, but that remains to be seen.  Quarterback performed well overall but coordination with offensive line on occasions were lacking and penalized too often.  And the fans were told the offensive line would be the primer this year.  

The critical situations that existed and known before the season started was a new offensive coordinator a new defensive coordinator with no prior experience with LSU or how they might perform and a running game minus Daniels.  And the answer to those questions will not be known until the end of the season.  And to top it off, LSU will have to win 10 of their next 11 games to have a better won-loss record than the last two years.  Coach Kelly's ability to see that takes place is questionable after Sunday's game

This writer believes that under Coach Kelly's tenure, LSU should still be rated a "wait and see" team.  With the changes and circumstances that are taken place, it is hard to see what progress LSU will make.  Kelly and his staff have to step up to the plate and do a much better job.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

The American People Will Elect Kamala Harris President In The November 2024 Presidential Election.

 Vice President Kamala Harris, now the democratic party's Presidential nominee began her campaign on a high note, it is clear to the voters that it is she and not Trump who represent America and its cherished values no matter the issue or the subject.  The media's constant image of President Biden being the old and confusing candidate is no longer on the media's agenda.

All the media has left now is the old and convicted criminal candidate Donald Trump to continue their love affair.  But Kamala Harris has thrown a curve in the media's plans to crown Trump President one more time with their excessive news coverage, over looking his corruption of everything he touches and his toxic and violent rhetoric.  The media is actually comfortable with Trump despite his criminal activity and his threats of retribution.

Hamala Harris put the fun back in campaigning and talking to the people of America.  Its about building on the past success to move forward to a better future.  It is still sunshine every day in America despite 8 years f Trump's personal attacks, corruption and dark outlook for America's future.  Harris is the young candidate with a smile, a bounce in her step who reminds the voters America is not going back to the dark world of Donald Trump.

The media has done its best to try and convince the voters to overlook the facts that Trump is a convicted criminal, sexual abuser, fraudster and a former President who tried to overturn the 2020 Presidential election.  They have failed to question his rap sheet face to face and failed to express the opinion that Trump should withdraw from the campaign because of his criminal record.  In the past, the media has done so concerning other candidates or elected officials who have committed some serious actions.  But with Trump, their media star, they have let it slide.

Kamala Harris represents the future of the democratic party along with other younger democrats and her nomination comes at the proper time because America is in need to change the subject away from the dark voices of Trump and his party.  The American people  have responded to Harris's campaign, her smile, her outlook for America and its people and her determination not to go back and a refreshing look on campaigning being fun to be able to visit and talk to people she will be working for if elected.

 This writer is of the opinion that the majority of American voters will not return to office Donald Trump, a convicted criminal.  The majority vote will not allow Donald Trump to betray the moral fabric that has kept America the Beautiful alive since 1775.  The choice in the November election is clear and in favor of Kamala Harris.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Louisiana's Representatives in Congress Who Support, and or Vote for Donald Trump are a Pitiful, Sorry and Sad Lot.

 They not only are members of the first major political party in America to nominate a convicted criminal to be the party's Presidential nominee, in doing so, they approved the concept of a corrupted President and a corrupted government.  The media in Louisiana has spoken about corruption in Louisiana politics many times in the past but never to the level of this magnitude.  

Donald Trump is a convicted criminal on 34 felony counts, a sexual abuser, a fraudster, and as a former President, while sitting in the Oval Office attempted to overturn the 2020 Presidential election with his violent mob who stormed the nation's capitol.  He is also a serial liar whose rhetoric is toxic and violent.

Trump and his GOP cannot walk the talk concerning Moral values, on law and order, on democratic values or governing, on our veteran's sacrifice, on the constitution, on defending our country and standing with America's allies, on respecting our people.  Nor can he walk the talk of honor, duty and country.  Yet, this is the person the party nominated for President and intends to support and vote for in the November elections.  Their shame has no bounds.

Those Louisiana representatives in congress who support and or vote for Donald Trump, display their lack of respect for the office they hold and a lack of respect to governing the nation.  It also represents a future where UNFIT political candidates are the new NORM in our political history.  How sad the GOP allowed this to take place.  And how sad the media never followed the real story of this pitiful chapter in American politics. 

With only two short months left until election day, the media finally needs to speak up to the real issue of Donald Trump and his party's nomination of such an UNFIT candidate and what it means for future nominations for the nation's highest office. 

This commentary written by Joe Lorio  

Former President Bill Clinton's Remark Were Another First For PolitiDose Commentary.

 Former President Bill Clinton speaking at the Democratic National Convention this week reminded all just how effective the economy was in creating jobs during democratic administrations.  Since 1989, the economy has created over 51 million jobs and a little over 50 million of those jobs were created on the democratic watch while only a little over 1 million jobs were created on the GOP watch.  

And if that sounds familiar it is because you read it here first in PolitiDose commentary dated 11/5/2010 and 3/19/21.  The first dealing with the time period of 1929-2008 and the second dealing with the period 1981-2020.  After Clinton's speech, the media had to check his numbers out and found them to be correct.  The media, who likes to describe their responsibility as informing the people about facts should be given an F for their failure to do so, especially on economic matters.

 For years, the media has enabled the GOP's lies proclaiming democratic administrations are job killers.  They never take the time to point out the fact that it is GOP administrations that have the poor record on creating jobs.  And the worse are some in Louisiana's media who have been silent when Louisiana representative Steve Scalise has said over and over and over again, that democratic administration's policies are job killers.  Louisiana's media gladly reports Scalise's lies without bothering to lay out the facts.

For the last 10 years, PolitiDose commentary has been there with the facts and also one of the most telling facts about job creation, and that is, President Clinton's administration created more jobs in 8 years than Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43 and Trump did in the 24 years they served.  PolitiDose commentary of 3/19/21 gives all the details.  (And Reagan, Bush 43 and Trump gave tax breaks to corp. America and the wealthy)

With a Presidential election in November, this writer does not see anything in the media's attitude of correcting the lies with facts.  So stay tuned to PolitiDose, your daily dose of Political commentary.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

Consumer Spending In July 2024 Continues To Confuse The Economy's Pundits.

 The Commerce Department reported retail sales in July increased 1% over June's retail sales.  It was the largest increase in over a year and despite the negative voice's prediction of a poor showing.  Consumers continue to have faith in the economy and spend their money.  In another report the Fiserv Small Business Index of retail sales rose one point in July over June's retail sales and 3.55% over June 2023 retail sales.  That index represents over 2 million small business companies so that community enjoys the benefit of consumers spending also.

The positive July report came out two weeks after a stock market sell off when the July's job numbers came out.  The pundits did not like the positive job numbers and the market had an unnecessary panic attack fed by the negative voices.  And as usual, the market bounced back and recovered in a short period of time.

There has been no consistent data over a period of months for the negative voices to be talking about recession, a consumer spending pull back, massive job losses or runaway unemployment.  Inflation has been going down, so far this year at 2.9%.  The 30 year home mortgage rate is coming down.  For the three and half years under the Biden administration, the economy has performed well and continues to be strong.  Consumer confidence is up in the latest poll.  The negative voices will never be satisfied with an economy that is working.  

The greatest threat to the economy is a prolong continuation of high interest rates.  The Feds have to act now and reduce those rates.  The economy that has worked so well should not be exposed any longer with outside pressure from the Feds.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

 

The U.S. Economy Performed Well During The Current Period Of Inflation Than It Did During The Inflation Period Of The Early 1980's.

 The negative voices of doom and gloom during the current period of inflation 2021-2024 failed to realize their dream for an economic recession.  Unemployment levels have stayed at low historical levels, job creation is at a three and half year record, smaller deficits than the previous 4 years, consumer spending has stayed steady and healthy to keep the economy rolling. 6 million more Americans are working now than there was prior to COVID and our homeland has been safe.

The inflationary period of 1979-1982 experienced higher inflation rates and higher 30 year home mortgage interest rates far greater than the current situation.  Inflation for 1979 was 13.3%, 1980 was 12.5%, 1981 was 8.9% and 1982 was 3.8%.  So, the average annual inflation rate for that period was 9.6%.  The 30 year home mortgage rate for 1979 was 12.9%, 1980 was 14.9%, 1981 was 18.6% and 1982 was 16.8% for an average annual rate of 15,6%.  The unemployment rate stood at over 10% for 10 straight months from September 1982 till June 1983.  That is still the longest consecutive string of unemployment and the highest in the last 80 years.  Deficit spending was increasing, fewer jobs were being created and consumer spending was not moving the economy forward.  Terrorist blew up the Marine compound in Beirut killing 241 Marines and wounded many others.  

The current inflationary period 2021-2024 tells the story how the present U.S. economy did a better job of controlling inflation rates and the 30 year home mortgage interest rates as follows.  Inflation in 2021 was 7%,  2022 was 6.5%, 2023 was 3.4% and so far 2024 it is 2.9% for an annual average rate of 4.95%.  30 year home mortgage rates for 2021 was 2.9%, 2022 was 5.3%, 2023 was 6.8%, 2024 so far the highest was 7.7% for an annual average of 5.6%. (The latest Fannie Mae 30 year mortgage rate was at 6.7% this week)  But if one paid attention to the negative voices of doom and gloom, you would think the sky has already caved in.  That is how bad the division has taken place and to top it off, Trump and his supporters are running a campaign based on doom and gloom.

The democratic party has earned the right to run and campaign with a positive message of hope and a economic foundation to improve on in the next administration.  In the meantime, the media will continue to enable the negative voices.  The American people can change that in November by supporting the democratic nominee and electing a majority democratic House and Senate.  After all, the democratic party has a much better record of governing and a much better record on every economic issue and has the numbers to back it up.  And President Biden has kept America safe.

So stay tuned to PolitiDose, your daily dose of political commentary.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Note:  The average annual 30 year home mortgage rate for the period 1971-2022 was 7.7%.

Past PolitiDose Commentary Was A Prelude To President Biden's Recommended Changes To The Supreme Court.

At the time it was written on 8/24/19, PolitiDose commentary was not about Joe Biden and the Supreme Court.  It was about the Supreme Courts make up at a time Roe v. Wade became law in 1973.  The article described the Court in those days as the THEN Supreme Court and the Supreme Court in 2019 as the NOW Supreme Court.  In the days of the THEN Court, the Court had a majority Republican control 7-2 and those conservative judges were TRUE conservatives.  The Republican majority NOW Court claims to be conservative but they are extreme in their rulings.

The make up of the NOW Supreme Court has taken the Court to a new level of extreme since the 2019 commentary.  In three major decisions concerning The Voting Rights Act, Roe v. Wade and Presidential immunity, the NOW court has thrown out precedent and the "stand by the decision" venue that has guided the Courts.  Those three decisions overturned what had been law for decades.  The NOW court has also violated any claim to have an ethic code as a guide like congress and others have ethic codes to follow.  The NOW Courts actions confirm that PolitiDose commentary was accurate.

So now, President Biden has asked Congress to pass reform legislation for the Court, including an ethic code to live by.   It is long over due since the NOW court is out of control.  To refresh one's memory, the make up of the THEN Court when Roe v Wade was decided in 1973 was as follows:  The Court voted 7-2.  Voting yes were:  Judge Harry Blackburn, appointed by Nixon;  William Douglas appointed by Franklin Roosevelt; Warren Burger, appointed by Nixon;  William Brenan, appointed by Dwight Eisenhower;  Potter Stewart, appointed by Dwight Eisenhower;  Thorgood Marshall, appointed by Lyndon Johnson; Lewis Powell, appointed by Nixon.  It was the Republican majority that ruled.

Voting No, was:  Judge Byron White, Appointed by John Kennedy, William Rehnquest, appointed by R. Nixon.  

And PolitiDose commentary was there in 2019, first to address the subject matter long before President Biden did recently.  So stay tuned to PolitiDose, your daily dose of political commentary.

Note:  The title of the 2019 commentary was:  The Republicans, Conservatives, The Anti-Abortion Groups and the Johnny Come Lately President Donald Trump.