LSU, The College World Series And Paul Mainieri

The dust has settled from LSU's early exit from the College World Series and in this writer's view sports journalists who cover LSU and the Series have yet to touch upon Mainieri's failure as a manager and coach in both of LSU's losses and especially in its opening game against UCLA. 

LSU's failure to sacrifice bunt after lead off hitter Katz was walked to put him in scoring position on second base in the bottom of the ninth was a major blunder on Mainieri's part.  LSU was only one run behind at the time with no outs.  Instead of the sacrifice bunt the batter hit into a double play which virtually gave the game away with two out.  Mainieri's failure to call the sacrifice bunt during both LSU games when needed showed he lacked the basic fundamentals of the game.

UCLA's manager and coach understood that his pitcher and LSU's pitcher were not going to give up many runs and there fore it was important to have runners in scoring posititon once they reached base.  Their coach used the sacrifice bunt on several occasions to move the runners in scoring position and it worked.  It mattered not if his runners scored on a hit or an error, it still counted and UCLA's winning run in that game came on an LSU error.

Mainieri's failure to use the sacrifice bunt at the most critical time in the game must have left former LSU manager and coach Skip Bertman fit to be tied.  There is no doubt in this writers mind that he would have called for the bunt in the bottom of the ninth if he were the coach.  Skip Bertman did not win 5 National Championships only because he was a good coach and because he had good players.  He won because he was aware and understood that executing the fundamentals of the game was the key to winning.

Mainieri's decision to have his batter hit away with Katz on first deprived his pitcher and team of a chance to win.  His starting pitcher and team deserved better.  So what did we hear from sports journalists who covered LSU.  The same worn out hype: they won the SEC and the SEC Championship:  they won more games than any other LSU team and etc, and etc.  To them every thing was just fine and after all Mainieri did win a national title several years ago.  The feeling being past performance will automatically win another national championship.  LSU fans and the team deserve an objective report from sports journalists instead of excuses.

This writer has been a long time fan of LSU sports but in the last several years I have learned to expect the worst instead of the best in the so called big games because of poor coaching decisions in both football and baseball.  LSU's two and out in the CWS should be Mainieri's rosetta stone to executing the basic's of baseball next season and beyond.  Mississippi State won no titles this baseball year but they did make it to the CWS championship game.  That should be enough to motivate Mainieri and sports journalists also.


This commentary written by John Lucia

Many Thanks To Robert Mann and John Maginnis

Mr. Mann's comments published in the Times Picayune issue of June 30 in the Sunday's Reflection section titled, "State-sanctioned intolerance isin't business-friendly" and Mr. Maginnis's comments published in the Times Picayune of July 3 on the opinions page titled, " How The Disabled Community Lost" represented what journalism is all about.  That is the ability to cut through the political spin of Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal and the republican controlled legislature and lay the facts before the people.

The two commentators exposed the governor's lack of compasion and his mismanagement of state government.  Other editorial writers who have pushed the republican talking points of Jindal being a national candidate have failed the people of Louisiana by over looking the harm Jindal has done to the state.  Jindal's failed sales tax plan was the latest ditto head ideology of republicans and the governor remains the leader of the stupid party in Louisiana. 

This writer has commented here in politidose many times concerning Jindal's lack of real leadership and the harm his budget cutting policies has done to the state and its people.  I am happy to see Mr. Mann and Mr. Maginnis bring a thoughtful commentary to the Times Picayune readers.  It was badly needed and I would urge them to keep the people up to date concerning the real issues facing the state.


This commentary written by John Lucia

A Change In The Affordable Health Care Act

The Obama administration delayed for one year the implementation concerning the "Employer Mandate" provision in the AHCA and will now become effective in January 2015.  The White House said the delay was a common sense approach that would reduce financial and regulatory burdens on small businesses.  The Washington Post said it was a set back for the President's health care law.  Republicans in congress described it as a "train wreck" and that the law is unworkable.

The cable news networks jumped in on the subject matter and gave their critique along with their guests.  It did not take long for "spin" to take over the decision of the President.  Cable networks have so much time on their hands "spin" automatically takes over.  In the case of the republicans, we know they will do any thing possible to see the President and country fail.

The true story of the decision once again illustrates that democratic administrations policies are based on reality and facts and there fore reasonable changes should be made to legislation that works best for the country and its people.  The President knows that the CBO said the AHCA will reduce future deficits and be a positive factor with the economy and people's lives.  He also knows most state governors do not have the balls to provide health care for people living with in their state borders because they would have to raise state taxes to do so and they promised never to raise taxes in order to gain votes.

On the other hand, republican administrations make decisions based on ideology and have to ignore facts. That is why democratic administrations out perform republican administrations by a wide margin on all major issues.  President Obama is showing wisdom concerning the AHCA in making changes that are in the best interest of the country and its people.  He knows he can not count on republican support for any legislation that will move the country forward concerning health care.

What the business community should do now is use the extra time to honestly provide health care for as many employees as they possible can and be cooperative.  The time is now for businesses to step up to the plate and take care of their employees who are responsible for businesses to exist.

President Truman was noted for his many sayings.  One of his sayings below is still timely today and can be understood in relation to Obama's decision concerning the "employer mandate"

PRESIDENT TRUMAN;  YOU CAN ALWAYS AMEND A BIG PLAN, BUT YOU CAN NEVER EXPAND A LITTLE ONE.  I DON'T BELIEVE IN LITTLE PLANS.  I BELIEVE IN PLANS BIG ENOUGH TO MEET A SITUATION WHICH WE CAN'T POSSIBLY FORESEE NOW.


This commentary written by John Lucia

President Obama Should Do More

The President's job performance is proof that he was the better candidate than any of the republicans who sought their party's nomination during the last two Presidential elections.  And at the present time Obama is still better than any republican on the scene that has Presidential aspirations. 

The President's weakness has been his inability and lack of desire to battle the republicans in congress who have been traitors to their own party, the country, the people and what responsibility is all about.  Their vow to not work with the President has been badly answered by Obama and he should have studied how President Truman handled the same problem with the republicans during his term in office. 

Truman was not shy about challenging the republicans.  He called them the do nothing republicans in congress and said they were a bunch of damn liars.  President Obama needs to be more combative with the republicans and point out that 50 plus years after Truman they are still a bunch of liars.  He should be challanging the U.S. House every day to pass his jobs bill they have been sitting on for over a year and return to his 2012 reelection theme.

The President needs to start slapping the faces of the little bullies in the republican party.  One can not negotiate with a bully, it takes strength and a desire to engage them and beat them at their own game.  A bully is a coward who tries to intimidate because he can not compete with truth or facts.  Obama can not be a Trumam but he can learn from Truman's actions to deal with the republicans and their destructive behavior.

This commentary written by John Lucia

Political Journalists Just Do Not Get It

It matters not if journalists are on radio, television or the print media, they have yet to understand why republicans in congress and their Presidential candidates act like they do towards democrats.  This writer has pointed out many times over in commentary here in "politidose" the reasons why.  From A to Z the republican party has failed the country and its people on all the important issues they themselves talk about;  balanced budgets, deficit spending, cutting federal spending, job creation, a lasting economy, keeping America safe, low unemployment, fair taxation and the list goes on and on.  It is the democratic party that has the better record of handling all of those issues. 

When you have no positive record to run on or debate you engage in personal attacks and name calling and vow not to lift a finger to help your country and its people.  You also have to use wedge issues such as abortion, gay marriage, immigration, slurs and a multitude of other non issues and of course out right lies.

A good example was the last Presidential campaign of 2012.  The republicans called President Obama all kinds of names, accused him of being a Muslim and a slew of other non factual statements, lied about his record and failed to address the real issues the people wanted to hear about.  They could not call on former President Bush's name nor his record to articulate what their party stood for because that would remind the people of those 8 terrible years.  Not one person of high standing in the Bush administration even spoke at their convention.  And they were not about to talk of the war in Iraq over WMD that never existed or the tragic results of 911 and their failure to pursue Bin Liden and bring him to justice.

On the other hand, President Obama did address the issues the people were interested in and had no fear of having former President Clinton speak at the convention and along the stump.  President Obama and the democratic party was able to compete and debate the issues.  It is hell when you do not have a positive record to run on and debate and you have to rely on personal attacks and lies.  It becomes worse when you have to practice an ideology that is unAmerican in nature and vow not to help your country and its people.

Yes, democratic administrations do have a better record of dealing with all the major issues and that goes back many, many years.  Republicans do know that and that is why they act like they do.  It is really easy to understand but journalists are more concerned in filling up time with republican talking points and are ignorant of the facts on many issues.  The republican M.O. is understandable to any one with an open mind that follows the facts.

This commentary written by John Lucia

The Tea Party Republicans: Not Ready For Prime Time

This writer pointed out in previous commentary that there was no difference between the Tea Party republicans and the republican party in general except that they were more extreme and preach a more unAmerican conservative ideology.  I believe their actions in congress the last couple of years justify that opinion.  They have failed to initiate and pass any legislation dealing with the economy that has been signed into law. 

They recently joined with other republicans in the House to kill the "Affortable Health Care Act" for the 37th time that will go no where.  That coupled with their desire to see the President and the country fail is their M.O.  On budget matters they can't even walk the talk.  Like Mitch McConnell and John Boehner who were silent while Bush 43 was President and the republicans controlled both houses of congress, they were silent on the sidelines while Bush returned the country to deficit spending and debt. 

Like their party in general, the Tea Party has nothing to offer the country or its people to advance the economic well being of our nation.  They have no record of balancing the federal budget, no record of job creation, no record of debating the issues that face the country which is why they are always in a personal attack mode on their opponets.

And now their latest attempt to destroy the President is to try to create a scandal out of Benghazi, the IRS matter and the NSA revelations.  The Tea Party has no character, courage and lack the civility that is needed for leadership.  They also would like to destroy the government they took an oath to serve.

The nation and its people are Americans first and foremost.  The Tea Party and the republican party represented by the conservative unAmerican ideology of today's leaders have failed the individual and national test of America first.  And that really says it all.


This commentary written by John Lucia

The National Security Agency (NSA) Been There and Done That Before in Intelligence

Understanding the past is still the key to the future.  I have used that theme on several occasions here in "politidose" during commentary in the past few years.  Those who fail to understand  and learn from the past will reap a future that looks like the past.  The NSA picture that is in the news today is a good example and represents the future (present time) and is a repeat of the past.  Let us examine the past.

The NSA is only one arm of the United States's intelligence community and what is being exposed today, but the news story is really not new.  In a book titled "Body of Secrets" written by James Bramford almost 20 years ago detailed NSA's signal capabilities of intercepting phone conversations and etc. and processing such information with a super computer.  The book detailes the many questionable acts NSA was involved with.  It also detailed a little known fact of Israel's involvement in an attack of a U.S. naval ship that killed 34 Americans.  The book exposed many of NSA's secrets.

NSA is also doing now what they did in the past under the Bush administration.  At that time they were even by passing the FISA court.  That was later corrected by actions of Congress.  So the NSA revelation is nothing new, it has its roots in the past.  Elected officials have failed to regulate and use their oversight to correct the mistakes of the past and therefore the future is like the past.  The intelligence community has a past history of violating the law.  That has been documented in the "Church Report" that dates back to the 70's, Watergate, The Kennedy Killing, Iran-Contra and former CIA director Alan Dulles even told the Warren Commission that employees of the CIA would even lie under oath in a court of law.  President Truman who created the CIA was established to gather intelligence so that the President could make sound judgements.  

Truman withheld from the CIA operation authority   and was appalled when he learned that Presidents who followed him gave that out to the intelligence community.  He wrote several articles concerning that.  Our elected officials have learned nothing from the past about oversight and holding the intelligence community responsible for their actions.  Therefore the future that is now being played out in the news media is a repeat of the past.  Until elected officials learn that understanding the past is the key to the future nothing will change, and the future will continue to be like the past.  And that does not only apply to intelligence matters.


This post written by John Lucia

Yes, The Federal Budget Deficit Is Shrinking

The Congressional Budget Office announced recently that the federal budget deficit for fiscal year ending 9/30/13 will be approximately $640 billion.  That is much less than the $900 billion that was projected earlier.  Increased federal revenues and pay back to the U.S. Treasury for the TARP program was responsible for the decline in the projected budget deficit according to the CBO. 

Once again it is a democratic administration who's policies are working that is bringing back some sanity to the government's fiscal house that the Bush administration and the republican controlled congress destroyed during their control.  Today's republicans in the U.S. House and Senate hate to see a democratic administration doing well and continue to block the Presidents call to do more to keep the economy going strong.

The republicans unAmerican ideology of cutting federal spending to balance the federal budget is a two part fairy tale.  The very first fairy tale is that no republican President has cut year to year federal spending in over 50 years even when they had the opportunity to do so.  The second republican fairy tale of cutting taxes for corporate America and the wealthy to create jobs just does not happen. 

The most important action congress can do to move the economy forward and create more jobs there by keeping the economy moving is to pass the President's job program that the U.S. House has been sitting on for well over a year.  That would not only reduce the unemployment numbers dramatically, it would also increase federal revenue with more people employed and would also reduce the federal deficit more and move towards a balanced budget.  The republicans know that and that is why they are sitting on their cans. The President needs to start kicking those cans.


This commentary written by John Lucia.

Enforcing State Regulations

In a Times Picayune story of May 8 according to Louisiana state legislative auditor about $1.1 million in federal food stamps money was given to and spent by those who were not eligible for the program.  The federal program is managed by Louisiana's Department of Children and Family Services. (DCFS)  The DCFS also determines who is eligible and distributes the food cards that are loaded each month. 

The auditor also found signs of other potential fraud that should be investigated that amounted to $2 million last year.  Secretary Susie Sonnier of DCFS said her agency is reviewing all the cases cited in the auditor's report.  Once again we have a problem of not regulating a program properly that cost the tax payers money, only this time it is the state of Louisiana that has failed to regulate and manage the regulations it set up itself. 

The federal government catches a lot of flack for their failure to regulate in many areas but we hear very little about states who fail to administer and regulate programs that they themselves are responsible for.  The DCFS is only one example.  Enforcing regulations on a City, State and Federal level should be SOP not because government is involved but because it is an orderly process for the checks and balances needed for a society that has so many special interests and because taxpayers money is always involved. 

The federal government is not the only government that has to get its house in order and enforce regulations that are for the common good.  If one listens to state governors, you would think states do no wrong.  Now that is really a fairy tail.


This commentary written by John Lucia

Democratic Administrations: Best At Keeping America Safe At Home And Abroad

As of this writing President's Clinton and Obama have kept America and our people safer from terror attacks both at home and abroad in the past 33 years while the country and its people suffered the worst terrorists attacks on the watch of President's Reagan and Bush 43. 

Reagan came to office talking tough telling the terrorists you can run but you can't hide.  He then sent our Marines to Beirut as peace keepers to bail out Israel who was catching flack on their war against Lebanon and terrorists blew up the Marines compound killing 241 Marines.  That was and still is the worst foreign terror attack against American personnel abroad.  Those terrorists have never been brought to justice according to the latest report.

Bush 43 came to office talking tough also and terrorists inflicted the worst attack on U.S. soil Sept. 11, 2001 killing over 2000 Americans.  The master mind was Osama Bin Laden.  A few years later Bush said he did not know where Bin Laden was hiding and really did not give it much thought.  President Obama upon taking office made his number one priority to bring Bin Laden to justice and he did just that.  The Obama administration also had the wisdom to bury Bin Laden at sea there fore depriving the terrorists of a shrine to spread their propaganda.

Bush's invasion of Iraq did not make America or its people safer from WMD because Iraq had none.  But both N. Korea and Iran were developing WMD at the time so Bush said.  In fact in his State of the Union address he called those three countries an "Axil of evil".  The Iraq war created Al Queda in Iraq who had no standing in Iraq prior to the war.  They were responsible for killing many of the 4400 plus Americans in Iraq, something they could not do prior to the war.

It really chaps republicans that Clinton and Obama has kept our country safe and is one reason they are trying to make an issue out of Benghazi.  They want really bad to see something happen on the President's watch.  The republican party today is really a sorry party with no substance and they are getting worse because of the tea party within their ranks.  If it were up to some republicans we would have put American troops in Iran, Lybia and Syria.  You know, the so called tough talk from the so called hawks.  The big problem is many of them have never worn the uniform of their country but love to send other people's children off to war.  That really says it all.


This commentary written by John Lucia