THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN is one of the ten commandments, yet there are those like Kim Davis and others who have used God to justify their own actions and religious beliefs to discriminate against others.
Davis as a public employee of the state or county and who is responsible for issuing marriage license to those couple's who are qualified to be married under existing laws that are made by man. Her refusal to do so by taking the name of God in vain is a violation of her job and laws she swore to execute and as a result was found in contempt of the law and sentenced to jail time.
Republicans Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee who are both seeking their party's nomination for President went to Kentucky to support Davis. Like many so called conservatives, both support using the name of God and freedom of religion to discriminate. And like the republican party in general use religion to divide the country and its people.
There is documented evidence that four thousand years ago kings in the middle east went to war with other middle east countries in the name of their God, or by order of their God. Those religious wars in that part of the world are still going on today with the various factions. Those wars will continue to go on as long as religion is used for justification.
The separation of church and state in the U. S. Constitution has worked well and will continue to do so as long as religion is not allowed to preempt the civil laws of the country using religious freedom as a means to discriminate and overturn civil laws. The U.S. has always been a nation of laws and have accepted even those laws when there is disagreement. But now conservatives have adopted a new tactic. Use religion to oppose and not enforce the laws you don't like even if it means discrimination.
The judge who sentenced Kim Davis to jail for her refusal to obey the law made the right decision. She was released from jail yesterday because her office in her absence has begun to issuing marriage license to some same sex couples. If people like Davis get their way what is the next step? Well it will be intolerance of other people's religion and a break down of civil law. Judge Bunning in releasing Davis ordered her not to interfere with the issuing of marriage licenses by her office.
At the inauguration of an American President he places his hand on the bible and swears to up hold the constitution and the laws of the land. Republican's Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee supported Davis in her position of disobeying the law and refusing to do her job. I guess if one of them were President they would be willing to violate their oath of office and the laws they swore to uphold.
Where are our serious public officials? That and leadership is what is missing in our political system today.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Sunday, September 6, 2015
The Unemployment And Job Creation: A Positive Continuation Of The Economy
The U.S. Labor Department announced that the unemployment rate in August was 5.1%, down from the 5.3% in July and U.S. business continues to add jobs. The economy created 173,000 jobs in August and that was the 66th straight month of positive job growth.
Congress returns from their many breaks this week and has a full plate of legislation to consider for the balance of this year and next fiscal year of the federal government which begins October 1. Funding for this fiscal year ends September 30 and congress needs to find a way to avoid another shutdown that some republicans are talking about doing.
Congress also needs to pass the highway bill that the republicans have kicked down the road for the past 3 years. The democratic controlled Senate passed a highway bill three years ago only to die in the republican controlled U.S. House. A highway bill will create jobs and good paying ones and will be an additional positive factor for the economy. It is time for the republican party to step up to the plate and act like serious public officials.
I believe any fair minded person would agree its time for the republicans in congress to stand up and be counted and support the President's agenda for the next year and four months. It is past time they separate themselves from the do nothing party.
In the mean time the democratic administration of President Obama continues to move the country and its people forward.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Congress returns from their many breaks this week and has a full plate of legislation to consider for the balance of this year and next fiscal year of the federal government which begins October 1. Funding for this fiscal year ends September 30 and congress needs to find a way to avoid another shutdown that some republicans are talking about doing.
Congress also needs to pass the highway bill that the republicans have kicked down the road for the past 3 years. The democratic controlled Senate passed a highway bill three years ago only to die in the republican controlled U.S. House. A highway bill will create jobs and good paying ones and will be an additional positive factor for the economy. It is time for the republican party to step up to the plate and act like serious public officials.
I believe any fair minded person would agree its time for the republicans in congress to stand up and be counted and support the President's agenda for the next year and four months. It is past time they separate themselves from the do nothing party.
In the mean time the democratic administration of President Obama continues to move the country and its people forward.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Louisiana's U.S. Representative Charles Boustany: Another Failed Conservative On The U.S. Tax Code
In a Times Picayune article dated 9/4/15 Boustany opposes Trumps suggestion to raise the tax rate on Hedge Fund Managers and raise tariffs on products produced over seas. Boustany said that was simply not conservative and sounded like a liberal policy coming from Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.
Hedge Fund Managers make billions in profits, create no jobs, is speculative in nature and the tax code allows a tax rate on their income that is lower than many middle class family pays. It is sort of like Romney's Venture Capitol where other companies are bought and sold. According to the tax records Romney released he paid an effective tax rate between 12-13% on millions of dollars of income.
Boustany called the corporate tax system one of the harshest corporate tax system on the planet. But he failed to mention corporate America does not pay nearly the tax burden he talks about and actually pay less than the middle class. Boustany is a member of the U.S. House tax writing committee. His committee and congress are responsible for all the tax loopholes and tax breaks granted to corporate America and the wealthy.
Trump is right on wanting a fair tax to be paid by the Hedge Fund Managers. Boustany and conservative tax policies have been a failure in creating a robust economy and job creation. Just ask the most recent republican conservative administration, that of President George W. Bush. Their tax policies are also the reason the national debt has increased so much and the fact that no republican President has balanced the federal budget since President Eisenhower in 1960.
Boustany is one of a long list of republican conservatives who disregard the facts because of their ideology. And the facts are Democratic administrations perform better than republican administrations for the country and its people because of policy. That includes the economy, job creation, reducing federal deficits and balancing the federal budget and keeping America safe at home and abroad and so many other areas of governing. And yes, it was the democratic administration of President Obama and his policy that reversed the second great republican recession of 2008 with its massive job losses and record deficit spending.
The U.S. House which Boustany is a member and which has been under republican control for the last 4 years is a dysfunctional one with no accomplishments. They have wasted the tax payers time to vote on defunding the ACA over 50 times. The conservative ideology Boustany and his party preach has been a total failure. Just look at the latest low poll numbers of their established conservative republican Presidential candidates. That really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Friday, September 4, 2015
Another Huge First For "PolitiDose"
On Thursday September 3 Donald Trump did what republicans do, sign pledges. The Donald signed the republican pledge and in doing so swore to not run as a third party candidate and to support who ever wins the republican nomination for President. Trump's actions confirm what has been written here in "PolitiDose" from day one. That is Trump and the republican party are one and the same.
Trump is now squarely in the republican camp and there can be no separation of the party's extreme positions. Republicans are good at signing pledges but have failed to sign the most important one, the pledge to put America and its people first. In all probability the signing will tarnish Trump's campaign and will be thought of as just one of the 17 republican candidates whose campaign so far has been HO-Hum.
The American people don't seem to be impressed with the attention the news media has given Trump and his republican opponents for the latest polls show Clinton defeating Trump, Carson and Bush in the general election and while that same news media has tried to paint Clinton in trouble over her emails. For those who follow politics, Trump is just an extension of the republican party's ideology that has been out of step with America's ideals for many years. He just talks a little different.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Trump is now squarely in the republican camp and there can be no separation of the party's extreme positions. Republicans are good at signing pledges but have failed to sign the most important one, the pledge to put America and its people first. In all probability the signing will tarnish Trump's campaign and will be thought of as just one of the 17 republican candidates whose campaign so far has been HO-Hum.
The American people don't seem to be impressed with the attention the news media has given Trump and his republican opponents for the latest polls show Clinton defeating Trump, Carson and Bush in the general election and while that same news media has tried to paint Clinton in trouble over her emails. For those who follow politics, Trump is just an extension of the republican party's ideology that has been out of step with America's ideals for many years. He just talks a little different.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise: Still Deeply In The Pocket Of The Oil Industry
Steve Scalise and the republican party want to do away with the ban on American oil exports that has been in place for many years and for a reason. Now with falling oil and gasoline prices the industry has been laying off employees and cutting back on drilling and production.
There are three reasons for the falling prices, a glut of oil on the market (over supply), OPEC's decision not to cut back their production and alternate fuels. So the domestic oil industry wants the export ban lifted so they can start exporting their glut of oil and tighten the supply and demand to raise the price of oil and gasoline once again. The industry wants the price of a barrel of oil to be around $90 per barrel.
The Federal Energy Department did a study on the matter according to a Times Picayune article of 9/2/15 and found that (1) lifting the ban likely won't increase prices at the pump and might even result in a small price reduction. (2) the report also states global supply and demand, not exports will be the major factor in determining future oil prices. Scalise tries to use those words to justify lifting the ban, but the report is not a conclusive one and that is why they use the word "likely" in (1) above. In (2) above the report talks about future oil prices that supply and demand will have an effect on not the current price and that is what exports would do. That is what the oil industry is looking for.
The fact of the matter is President Obama has recently approved the export of a certain amount of U.S. crude to be exported to Mexico. The President has the authority to do so and this is not the first exception to the ban. This Mexico story was carried in the Times Picayune of 8/15/15 and points out the ban on exports was put into place for national security reasons. Of course Scalise knows all of that.
What is going on here is proof of what this writer has commented on here in "PolitiDose" many times over in the past. The oil and gas industry will never make America independent of foreign oil and for the reasons stated in those commentaries. Scalise and other elected officials who are the mouth piece for the oil industry have no record of any policy that would actually provide the opportunity for the U.S. to become independent when it comes to the country's energy needs.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
There are three reasons for the falling prices, a glut of oil on the market (over supply), OPEC's decision not to cut back their production and alternate fuels. So the domestic oil industry wants the export ban lifted so they can start exporting their glut of oil and tighten the supply and demand to raise the price of oil and gasoline once again. The industry wants the price of a barrel of oil to be around $90 per barrel.
The Federal Energy Department did a study on the matter according to a Times Picayune article of 9/2/15 and found that (1) lifting the ban likely won't increase prices at the pump and might even result in a small price reduction. (2) the report also states global supply and demand, not exports will be the major factor in determining future oil prices. Scalise tries to use those words to justify lifting the ban, but the report is not a conclusive one and that is why they use the word "likely" in (1) above. In (2) above the report talks about future oil prices that supply and demand will have an effect on not the current price and that is what exports would do. That is what the oil industry is looking for.
The fact of the matter is President Obama has recently approved the export of a certain amount of U.S. crude to be exported to Mexico. The President has the authority to do so and this is not the first exception to the ban. This Mexico story was carried in the Times Picayune of 8/15/15 and points out the ban on exports was put into place for national security reasons. Of course Scalise knows all of that.
What is going on here is proof of what this writer has commented on here in "PolitiDose" many times over in the past. The oil and gas industry will never make America independent of foreign oil and for the reasons stated in those commentaries. Scalise and other elected officials who are the mouth piece for the oil industry have no record of any policy that would actually provide the opportunity for the U.S. to become independent when it comes to the country's energy needs.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
MSNBC's "All In With Chris Hayes"
Monday's program of August 31 was a good reminder why this writer tunes into the cable news networks less and less. Hayes long winded questions to his guests are so hard to follow, any substance is lost. It reminds me of a host trying to answer his own questions in a round about way.
Hayes questions to a senator from New Hampshire, who is one of Hillary's supporter for that state concerning Clinton's emails was total nonsense and of no value. The same could be said about two of his other guest concerning the number of debates scheduled for the democratic Presidential candidates.
The democratic party candidates are telling their stories to the voters in person at their campaign stops and the voters understand that emails do not define Hillary. They also understand that four debates will be enough especially when most of the debate moderators are more interested in divisive issues than substance and they are the ones who ask the questions and control the debates.
Hayes came across as better informed when he wrote for the Nation (a news magazine) and appeared on cable news as a guest. So now he has experience as a host and a guest but evidently has learned very little.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Hayes questions to a senator from New Hampshire, who is one of Hillary's supporter for that state concerning Clinton's emails was total nonsense and of no value. The same could be said about two of his other guest concerning the number of debates scheduled for the democratic Presidential candidates.
The democratic party candidates are telling their stories to the voters in person at their campaign stops and the voters understand that emails do not define Hillary. They also understand that four debates will be enough especially when most of the debate moderators are more interested in divisive issues than substance and they are the ones who ask the questions and control the debates.
Hayes came across as better informed when he wrote for the Nation (a news magazine) and appeared on cable news as a guest. So now he has experience as a host and a guest but evidently has learned very little.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Make America Great Again
Its the latest political slogan of one who wants to be President. Political slogans are nothing new and usually fail because the slogan never describes reality. America is still the greatest country in the world and for good reasons. A constitution that is still working after 240 years with a people who are committed to a life of liberty, freedom and respect.
Foreign governments still depend upon America to lead the way and America's generosity is unparalleled. There are a lot of thorns among the roses in American life, but the roses outnumber the thorns by far because of the American attitude. Remember the poster and slogan, "Uncle Sam Wants You." That was reality and America responded. And the American people are still responding today.
The irony of this new slogan is that it has been introduced by a man whose business empire is part of the world of Corporate America, the very same entity that is aligned with the Wall Street Banks that contributed greatly to the economic collapse of 2008. That same man says his net worth exceeds $10 billion. That same man is now preaching intolerance and division, something our fore fathers would never have approved of.
Yes, America is still a great country and yes we can still do better. But it won't happen with the author of a slogan that has used his wealth to receive special treatment from his government at the expense of the American people..
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Foreign governments still depend upon America to lead the way and America's generosity is unparalleled. There are a lot of thorns among the roses in American life, but the roses outnumber the thorns by far because of the American attitude. Remember the poster and slogan, "Uncle Sam Wants You." That was reality and America responded. And the American people are still responding today.
The irony of this new slogan is that it has been introduced by a man whose business empire is part of the world of Corporate America, the very same entity that is aligned with the Wall Street Banks that contributed greatly to the economic collapse of 2008. That same man says his net worth exceeds $10 billion. That same man is now preaching intolerance and division, something our fore fathers would never have approved of.
Yes, America is still a great country and yes we can still do better. But it won't happen with the author of a slogan that has used his wealth to receive special treatment from his government at the expense of the American people..
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Saturday, August 29, 2015
More Good News For The U.S. Economy
The U.S. Commerce Department announced that the economy grew at an annualized rate of 3.7% in the second quarter. That was more than a full percentage point higher than the initial reading forecast earlier. Both business and consumers led the way with increased spending.
Some other good news the Commerce Department announced are as follows: (1) Business investment increased at an annual rate of 3.2%. (2) Increased government spending at the state and local level. (3) A better trade picture because of export improvements. (4) Increase in inventories. (5) Claims for unemployment benefits fell by 6000 last week. (6) A very solid report and very much confirms the view that the U. S. economy is on a solid growth track. (7) The Commerce Department said there are still some questions about whether the U.S. can skirt the mounting economic turmoil in China and a volatile stock market at home.
Next week the U.S. Labor Department will announce the job and unemployment numbers for August. The country continues to rebound and grow since the great republican economic meltdown of 2008 and the President's policies continue to work. Unfortunately, the republican party is still satisfied to be the party of NO and just recently some of their members in congress are talking about shutting down the federal government once again. For them, the future is like the failed past.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Some other good news the Commerce Department announced are as follows: (1) Business investment increased at an annual rate of 3.2%. (2) Increased government spending at the state and local level. (3) A better trade picture because of export improvements. (4) Increase in inventories. (5) Claims for unemployment benefits fell by 6000 last week. (6) A very solid report and very much confirms the view that the U. S. economy is on a solid growth track. (7) The Commerce Department said there are still some questions about whether the U.S. can skirt the mounting economic turmoil in China and a volatile stock market at home.
Next week the U.S. Labor Department will announce the job and unemployment numbers for August. The country continues to rebound and grow since the great republican economic meltdown of 2008 and the President's policies continue to work. Unfortunately, the republican party is still satisfied to be the party of NO and just recently some of their members in congress are talking about shutting down the federal government once again. For them, the future is like the failed past.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Friday, August 28, 2015
George Will and Thomas Friedman: The Latest Journalists With Political Amnesia.
Both Will and Friedman in an editorial opinion in the Times Picayune of 8/27/15 jumped on the band wagon of blame Donald Trump. They try to separate Trump from the republican party and their Presidential candidates but Trump and his republican opponents are one and the same in their M.O. Both believe in political personal attacks.
Will in his column says Trump injuries the chances of a republican Presidency. That is a slap in the face to Trump's 16 republican opponents and shows how little confidence republican voters have in those 16 candidates. It is also a case that the republican party has no accomplishments to hang their hats on. Will talks about Trump being a "birther" concerning President Obama in 2011, but so was the republican party. Will also talks about how important the non-white vote is and that Trump is turning that vote away with his remarks on immigration. However Romney and the republican party has also turned the non-white vote away with their remarks and actions.
This writer enjoys reading most of Friedman's commentaries because most are not about ideology, but like
Will he follows the same line on Trump. Friedman cites Trump's stand on immigration, the 14th amendment and lunatic idea of sending 11 million immigrants back home and says it is not funny anymore or entertainment. He also says it plays on people's fears and ignorance and ignores bipartisan solutions already on the table.
Friedman rightly does point out that the democratic controlled Senate pass immigration reform in June 2013 with 14 republican votes. But he says the extremists in the republican House refused to follow. This writer covered that in past commentary in PolitiDose. That was never funny or entertaining on the republican's part so they are just as bad as Trump on the immigration issue.
Friedman's statement that Trump plays on people's fears and ignorance is actually a staple of the republican party. What did President George W. Bush do during the run up to war with Iraq over WMD that did not exist? Or Saddam was training Al Queda terrorists. Or the many fear statements by republicans in congress during the Obama administration. The latest one over the Iran agreement. What about John McCain's statement in the election of 2008 when he said if Obama was elected, terrorists would attack the U.S. Those were all statements of fear.
Yes Mr. Will and Mr. Friedman, the republican party created Donald Trump with their unAmerican ideology and personal attacks and now Trump has used it on his republican opponents and so far successfully. The news media laughed when Trump announced he was running for President. Now they can't get enough of him. There has been many commentaries here in PolitiDose how the republican party has no real meaningful accomplishments for the country and its people. People in the news media would never admit that and have over looked the republican party's extreme ideology. Donald Trump, an outsider has exposed the republican party's failure to govern and the news media still do not get it. What a shame and that really says it all.
Special note: Although the subject of immigration is the top story by the news media, the real story on immigration has not been told by them. The real story is that the republican party and their candidates said they will not take up immigration reform until after the 2016 election. In other words, elect me now and then you will find out what our immigration plan is all about. The republican party took control of both houses of congress in January and won't even debate the matter. They have no character or courage on the issue and the news media is not interested in the real story.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Will in his column says Trump injuries the chances of a republican Presidency. That is a slap in the face to Trump's 16 republican opponents and shows how little confidence republican voters have in those 16 candidates. It is also a case that the republican party has no accomplishments to hang their hats on. Will talks about Trump being a "birther" concerning President Obama in 2011, but so was the republican party. Will also talks about how important the non-white vote is and that Trump is turning that vote away with his remarks on immigration. However Romney and the republican party has also turned the non-white vote away with their remarks and actions.
This writer enjoys reading most of Friedman's commentaries because most are not about ideology, but like
Will he follows the same line on Trump. Friedman cites Trump's stand on immigration, the 14th amendment and lunatic idea of sending 11 million immigrants back home and says it is not funny anymore or entertainment. He also says it plays on people's fears and ignorance and ignores bipartisan solutions already on the table.
Friedman rightly does point out that the democratic controlled Senate pass immigration reform in June 2013 with 14 republican votes. But he says the extremists in the republican House refused to follow. This writer covered that in past commentary in PolitiDose. That was never funny or entertaining on the republican's part so they are just as bad as Trump on the immigration issue.
Friedman's statement that Trump plays on people's fears and ignorance is actually a staple of the republican party. What did President George W. Bush do during the run up to war with Iraq over WMD that did not exist? Or Saddam was training Al Queda terrorists. Or the many fear statements by republicans in congress during the Obama administration. The latest one over the Iran agreement. What about John McCain's statement in the election of 2008 when he said if Obama was elected, terrorists would attack the U.S. Those were all statements of fear.
Yes Mr. Will and Mr. Friedman, the republican party created Donald Trump with their unAmerican ideology and personal attacks and now Trump has used it on his republican opponents and so far successfully. The news media laughed when Trump announced he was running for President. Now they can't get enough of him. There has been many commentaries here in PolitiDose how the republican party has no real meaningful accomplishments for the country and its people. People in the news media would never admit that and have over looked the republican party's extreme ideology. Donald Trump, an outsider has exposed the republican party's failure to govern and the news media still do not get it. What a shame and that really says it all.
Special note: Although the subject of immigration is the top story by the news media, the real story on immigration has not been told by them. The real story is that the republican party and their candidates said they will not take up immigration reform until after the 2016 election. In other words, elect me now and then you will find out what our immigration plan is all about. The republican party took control of both houses of congress in January and won't even debate the matter. They have no character or courage on the issue and the news media is not interested in the real story.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, August 23, 2015
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