U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders Announces He Is Running For President

The independent Senator from Vermont has entered the Presidential race.  Sanders is not given the coverage by the national news media such as John McCain and Lindsay Graham enjoys but knows and understands the issues facing the country and its people.  He especially will represent the middle class and working America.  He is opposed to the present trade agreement known as TPP that is in the news at present.

The Senator will give a good account of what policies he will pursue if elected and will force other candidates to address issues they would prefer not to talk about.  This writer would like to see V.P. Joe Biden and Howard Dean also run.  Both would make excellent candidates.

Howard Dean, a doctor, former governor and former candidate for the democratic Presidential nomination bombed out in a speech after the Iowa caucus and learned a valuable lesson.  He is up to date on the issues and is articulate and the one candidate who knows how to handle the republican attacks.

V.P. Biden is the best qualified of all candidates in this writers opinion and is a great debater.  If he decides to run and wins, the Presidential transition would  be very smooth.  Biden is known for making statements the news media seems to have fun with but his honesty over shadows his one liners.

Sanders, as an independent, usually votes with democrats and their policies but it is not a given.  His independence is toward the people he represents.  He is excitable and not always a polished speaker but knows the issues and will fight the special interest groups.  He will bring a new dimension and perspective to the Presidential race and that is a positive for the people and the country.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Viet Nam War And The Fall Of Saigon

Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Viet Nam and the fall of Saigon.  This writer will not rehash the war because enough has been said over the years but there is a story here that no one seems to realize that is still relevant today.

The story was covered by "PolitiDose" in a commentary titled, "The Leaders of North and South Korea Meet" dated 10/2/07 which pointed out that a divided country will always have problems when one part is poor and the other part is doing well and both are at each others throats.  Viet Nam was a divided country because of colonialism by a foreign country which divided the people.  The end of the war ended the division and produced one country that is now a united country who trades with America and enjoys a working relationship with the United States.  There is no more North or South Viet Nam and no more threats.  They now are also one people.

The so called military experts always said that if Viet Nam fell the domino theory would come into play and all of South East Asia would be lost to communism.  Well, Viet Nam fell and the domino game never happened.  Which brings us to Korea, a country that is still divided, one part economically stable and the other part a wasteland for its people.  That divided country continues its tragic situation and will not change until it becomes one united country like Viet Nam.

World leaders, including U.S. Presidents should meet and bluntly tell both North and South Korea they have to find a path to unite the country without any outside interference.  A united Korea is the only path to remove the tension, fears and threats of the Korean people and the world.  Viet Nam is the example.  A thriving country with no more civil war to fight over so called communism.

President Obama has sought a new path with Cuba that this writer wrote about a few years ago.  He and other world leaders should put Korea on their to do list and find a way for the unification of Korea.  It can happen and should happen.  One country and one people.  It can be worked out, the status quo is unacceptable.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio.

Health Care Cost And Smoking Related Health Issues

Thanks to Mayor Mitch Landrieu and the New Orleans City Council for the smoking ban in Casinos and Bars in the City that has recently taken effect.  The state of Louisiana should follow the City's lead and do the same thing.  The state Senate actually voted to ban smoking in Casinos in 2009 only to be rejected by the legislature.  This writer in June 2009 wrote a commentary concerning the Senate vote.

We now find that according to a Times Picayune article of 4/28, Jan Moller, head of Louisiana Budget Project reported smoking related health care service cost the state $700 million annualy.  And lung doctor Stephen Kantrow with LSU in New Orleans reported, cigarette related diseases cost the state $800 million.

That is a high price to pay for smoking related health problems and should be a no brainer for the state legislature to pass a state wide smoking ban in casinos and other places where people are in a closed environment and so close to each other while smoking is taken place.

If Moller and Kantrow's numbers are even close to being correct just think of the total cost for all 50 states.  Smoking should be banned statewide in all public places to reduce the health hazards of second hand smoke and the tremendous health care cost that follows.  Prevention is still the best way of doing that.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

A Times Picayune Editorial: Six Years Late and A Lack Of Credibility

The Times Picayune editorial titled, "Will Louisiana's Leaders Please Stand UP" dated 4/26/15 has finally seen the light of Louisiana's fiscal problems even though they have been ongoing since Bobby Jindal became governor.  In fact the editorial board has praised Jindal in the past for cutting the budget with out giving any thought to the consequence of those cuts.

The editorial pointed out that Jindal and the legislature's  leaders are letting the conservative Americans For Tax Reform decide how Louisiana is allowed to raise revenues.  REALLY !!!!!.  Did the Times Picayune just find that out?  I wonder if they know David Vitter, who is running for governor signed that same pledge as did many other republicans in Louisiana.

The Times Picayune now realize Louisiana has a revenue problem caused by the massive tax give away to business as "PolitiDose" has been reporting for years.  And guess what?  The editorial says business should be paying its fair share of taxes.  And if that sounds familiar its because you read it here first in PolitiDose.  The editorial is looking for leaders in the legislature to stand up and do the right thing but don't hold your breath.  The republican controlled legislature will do no such thing.  Precedent tells us that both on the state and national level, republican ideology is toxic for government's fiscal matters.

It is worthwhile repeating that when former governor Kathleen Blanco left office the Louisiana unemployment rate was 3.8%.  The latest unemployment rate released for the state was over 6%.  Trickle down economics of massive tax breaks for business is not a job creator or revenue producer.  And coupled with budget cuts it becomes suicide for Louisiana's fiscal health.

Where has the editorial board of the Times Picayune been during all those years of silence?  They even asked the question, "who will fight for us?"  Well, surely it has not been the Times Picayune in a timely manner.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Hillary Clintons Campaign Has Upset The Conservative News Media

The conservative news media is in a tizzy because Hillary is taking her campaign on the road and directly to the people and not through the major news media like the republicans are doing.  They are angry because several republican candidates have already put their foot in their mouth with silly false statements on national TV.

Erick Erickson, the new right wing conservative columnist for the Times Picayune in an article of 4/19 is trying a new tactic by declaring that Hillary is "yesterday's candidate" and complains her campaign is tightly scripted.  His article is full of "madam yesterday" remarks which is intended to influence the public that a Hillary candidate is old school.

Erick is really afraid because Hillary has learned a lot during the time she served as first lady, U.S. Senator from New York and Secretary of State.  She is qualified to be a Presidential candidate as much and perhaps more so than any republican candidate in the field.  He also realizes that Hillary, being a democrat will talk about policy and what she will do if elected President.

It is the republican candidates who are the "yesterday candidates."  They are all still preaching the failed ideology of trickle down economics, deficit spending, massive increases in the national debt and job killing policies, and of course their main staple, personal attacks because they can not compete in an open arena on the issues.  So Erick is really describing the republicans when he talks about Hillary being the "yesterday candidate."

Precedent is the best way to judge what party advances the country and its people forward and history records it is democratic administrations that do so on a consistent basis.  And when it comes to protecting our home land and national security, democratic administrations also have a better record in doing so.  Mr. Erickson knows all of that, but like his conservative friends, false information is a major part of their ideology.  And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The U.S. Senate Confirms Loretta Lynch As The Next U.S. Attorney General

By a vote of 55-44 the Senate finally said yes to Loretta Lynch's nomination.  The democrats once again supplied the majority vote in the chamber controlled by the republican party.  Ten republicans joined 44 democrats in voting yes, while 44 republicans voted no including Louisiana's two senators David Vitter and Bill Cassidy.

Ted Cruz was on the campaign trail and did not vote but told his audience he would have voted no.  News media sources reported those republicans who voted no admitted Ms. Lynch was well qualified for the position but voted no because she supported the President's executive orders.  A typical excuse and a hypocritical one at that since they supported President Bush's executive orders when he was President and he used that authority much more frequent than President Obama has.

The vote was one more example how a conservative ideology stands in the way of the republican party even though they control both houses of congress. Presidents have been using executive authority for many, many years and if members of congress are sincere in their belief that those actions have to be diminished, congress is the body to have an open debate on the subject matter in a civil manner.

Holding up votes on legislation and other important matters is not the way to have the debate.  If the buck stops on the President's desk, an honest debate should start and stop on the desk of congress.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

President Obama Continues To Lead With Political Understanding In Dealing With The Republican Controlled Congress

The U.S. House voted to repeal the federal estate tax 240-179.  The bill will benefit only 1% of the wealthiest Americans.  The present tax structure for estates covers up to $5 million for individuals and $10 million for a couple and are exempt from taxes up to that level.  That means well over 99% of Americans, including virtually all small business and family farms do not pay any estate tax.

The repeal of this tax is one more example of the conservative ideology that favors the 1%, shifts a greater share of the tax burden to working Americans and is unnecessary, especially with the economy still in recovery.  The Office of Management and Budget said the elimination of the tax would add $269 billion to the federal budget deficit over a decade.

Louisiana representative Steve Scalise in the U.S. House pushed the bill forward and showed who he really represents, the 1%.  Like the republic party in general, they believe in deficit spending to bankrupt the federal treasury and dislike the fact that the President has cut the deficit more than 60% since he took office.  This writer believes democrats in the U.S. Senate will not allow this tax give away to become law and the President said he would veto if the bill comes to his desk.

Like the XL pipeline bill, republidans do not have the votes to over ride a Presidential veto of the estate tax bill.  So the President is still challenging the republicans to be responsible elected officials in moving the country and its people forward.  But republicans have no concept of political understanding.  Their conservative ideology is still guided by their desire to see the President fail.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

"PolitiDose" Leads The Way As Times Picayune Editorials and Points of View Articles Follows.

It was here in "PolitiDose" that led the way to understanding how Louisiana's fiscal problems with the state budget under governor Jindal became so irresponsible and it began in this writer's political commentary several years ago.  The Times Picayune's reflection section of 4/19/15 in articles by JR Ball, Managing Editor for the TP in Baton Rouge and Robert Mann, teacher at LSU wrote two good articles about the subject matter, but are years late.

Mann in his article understands Louisiana has a revenue problem because of tax breaks and or credits to the business community in several different forms and that many business firms in Louisiana do not even pay state taxes.  In other words, corporate welfare for those who do not need it.

Mann also mentions how Jindal has offered hundreds of millions of dollars to industry to lure them to the state and they come because they were granted various forms of corporate welfare.  He also pointed out Louisiana has many natural advantages that would attract business to the state including abundant natural  resources, the Mississippi River and proximity to the Gulf.  That is exactly what was pointed out in "PolitiDose" many times over in the past.

Mr. Ball's article on the legislstors problem in dealing with the projected $1.6 billion budget deficit and Jindal's control over them is nothing new.  It started when Jindal took office and the republican controlled legislature has rubber stamped the governor's irresponsible actions.  Mr. Ball says we have learned nothing from all of this and that is exactly what Jindal and the legislators are doing to solve a problem they created.

In other words, the key to a better future is understanding the mistakes of the past.  That can also be found in past commentary here in "PolitiDose".  Elected officials still have not learned what the Sumerians said they were taught almost 6000 years ago.  Stay tuned, "PolitiDose" will continue to lead with the real story.

Note:  Even talk radio in New Orleans are beginning to understand what is taking place in state budget matters.  Like the printed media they are a few years late but their newly found knowledge is welcomed.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Point Of View Commentary And Other Times Picyune Article Way Off The Mark

Dan Real, the Senior V.P. of Harrah's New Orleans wrote a Point of View commentary in the Times Picayune of 4/12/15 concerning the smoking ban ordinance and used the usual BS excuses that businesses are know to do to escape any kind of regulations.  Mr. Real pats himself and Harrahs on the back and trys to tell the people how much the Casino has meant to the City, State and the people financially.

It is the usual crud with a subtle threat that the smoking ban will cost Harrahs and there fore the state and City needed revenue.  As a compromise Real offers a physical separation of the gaming floor to isolate smoking from non smoking areas.  Any one who has been in a Casino should get a good laugh out of that one.  If Mr. Real is so concerned with his workers and the people's health why has Harrahs not done that on their own?  After all, they have been in operation over 15 years.  The answer is simple, Casino's will not do any thing on their own to change the status quo.

The Mayor and City Council has to hang tough and make no concessions to the smoking ban ordinance.  It's worth while repeating that smokers also go to movie houses, churches and other indoor events where smoking is not allowed and they are there a few hours and they survive.  They can do the same at Harrahs.

Erick Erickson, the new right wing conservative writing opinion for the Times Picayune in a article dated 4/12/15 does not like people who's orientation may be different than his to ban together and oppose the so called "Religious Freedom" legislation that has cropped up among a number of states.  However he is for conservatives to ban together and oppose the right of some and even says he himself will regulary comment on the subject matter.

Some how the subject of abortion creeps into his article but fails to mention it was a conservative led Supreme Court that approved of abortion in Roe V. Wade over 30 years ago.  It is obvious that Erick feels people can use "Freedom of Religion" to discriminate when they want to.  Like most conservatives in his position he does not understand the difference between the constitution, man made laws and religious laws and as a result joins his fellow conservatives in trying to divide the country with ideology.

Erick says Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is set to impose gay marriage, one of the issues conservatives use often to divide the country.  He should remember what Pope Francis said in a speech carried by the Times Picayune of 9/20/13 when the Pope said.  "The Roman Catholic Church had grown obsessed with preaching about abortion, gay marriage and contraception and that he has chosen not to speak of these issues despite recriminations from some critics."  The Pope went on to say, "Who am I to judge concerning the sexual orientation of some one."  And he also said, "The proclamation of the saving love of God comes before moral and religious imperatives."

This writer finds value in the Pope's message.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Gary Chouest And Al Gonsoulin: Another Mouthpiece For BP And The Oil Industry

Chouest, President and CEO of Edison Chouest Offshore and Gonsoulin, Chairman and CEO of PHI Inc., took out a full page letter ad in the Times Picayune of 4/12/15 titled, "An important message to our community."  Both gentlemen have followed in the foot steps of so many Louisiana elected officials that have taken sides with BP over the Macondo well blow out and massive oil spill.

The authors are miffed because some claims are still coming in for damages despite the Billions already paid out by BP.  They also remind the reader the contribution BP has and continues to make to Louisiana and its workers, and are silent on what Louisiana has to offer BP and the industry in general.  Its like the state and its people should be thankful BP is here and move away from the damage caused by their negligent acts.

The fact remains that the court will assess the final damage just like they approved the money BP put up to pay claims made by property owners, business and others that were harmed.  BP has the means to defend themselves in a court of law and that is what they have been doing.  Those who work in the industry should allow this sad story to play out instead of trying to influence the people to think the final settlement will drive BP and the industry out of Louisiana.  They are here to stay because Louisiana has something they want badly.  And they could have avoided all of this by operating safely.

According to the latest reports, the people and property affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill are still experiencing problems and that spill occured over 20 years ago.  The courts and everyone concerned with the BP spill should keep that in mind.  What else should be kept in mind is the fact that BP and its lawers had their day in court and the court found BP negligent.


This commentary swritten by Joe Lorio