The Change At MSNBC Is Coming Into Focus, But No Applause Yet

The changes taking place at MSNBC put into effect by its parent NBC has come about at the same time the Presidential debates were starting.  NBC said they wanted more news reporting and shed the "Ed Show" and rearranged other shows.  There are now more republican guest even though a former republican National Committee Chairman and John McCain's former campaign manager are regular contributors on the network.  In this writers opinion the network is moving toward the Fox news frame work when they were the only network that could counter Fox's propaganda.  The "Ed Show" was the only MSNBC program able to rebut Fox and the republican lies and Ed did it with facts and numbers.  Ed was also able to articulate how conservatism practice by the republican party had no accomplishments.

MSNBC is giving so much free TV time to Donald Trump he is bragging that he has only spent $2 million so far on his campaign which is a drop in the bucket to what his opponents have spent.  Chris Hayes shows so much footage of Trump you can't help but believe that is the candidate he is backing.  Of course Fox news is giving Trump a free ride also.  MSNBC has been picking up on the so called Hillary scandal concerning her emails and Benghazi and are trying to convince their viewers it will be a great issue she will have to overcome.  MSNBC and Fox are both still up set because Hillary is campaigning directly to the people.  The so called difficulties of Hillary was manufactured  by the likes of Fox and MSNBC and other news outlets.

Brian Williams role has been reduced to special reports and breaking news, a demotion from his role as NBC's nightly news anchor.  The so called "breaking news" about the recent circus going on in the republican party's U.S. House for a new speaker only confirmed what everyone has know for the past several years, that is the republican controlled U.S. House is a non performing arm of congress run by little boy republican conservatives who need a good old fashion slap in the face.

Time will tell just how far MSNBC is willing to go in the name of being more news worthy.  Allowing this Presidential election time to play out naturally will be a good start but don't look for the network to give up its free time to Donald Trump.  NBC, the parent, has already scheduled Trump to host Saturday Night Live.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another Reason Why John Bel Edwards Should Be Louisiana's Next Governor

Edwards is a graduate of West Point Academy and served his country on active duty.  His commands included several areas including combat forces.  Those command positions require discipline, leadership, knowledge and a commitment to get the job done. Those are qualities required and needed in political life and governing in order to meet the challenges of the time.

Louisiana 's next governor needs a person with those qualities to reverse the conservative ideology that has played havoc with the fiscal affairs and the economic well being of the state.  What happened to Louisiana on Jindal's conservative watch also happened to the nation on the conservative watch of President George W. Bush.  It is not just a coincident.  The three conservatives in the race for Louisiana governor, Vitter, Angelle and Dardenne represent the status quo and even more so because each of the three are saying he is the most conservative.

Louisiana is a state with out leadership and John Bel Edwards will lead with policies that reflect the needs to change and move the state and its people forward.  His back ground will not allow him to see which way the wind is blowing before making a decision.  His position to accept medicaid expansion under the ACA places him well above his republican opponents who have been vague at best.

Every ones life experience is uplifting and an asset but conservatives undermine that asset because they have to alter the facts to satisfy their ideology.  John Bel Edwards does not have that problem and knows where he wants to take the state and its people.  He is well aware of the past and will work for a future that will lift the state beyond the rhetoric of division, blame and personal attacks.

Louisiana voters have an opportunity on October 24 to return the state to democratic management.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another First For "PolitiDose" Benghazi Was No Hillary Clinton Scandal.

The Fox News and the republicans in congress said the terror attack that struck Benghazi was a Hillary Scandal.  Cable News such as MSNBC and CNN in particular flashed "scandal" on the bottom of the TV screen when reporting on the event.  The republican Presidential candidates jumped on the bandwagon.  But "PolitiDose" knew better and reported so a  long time ago and pointed out that Hillary's email issues was not a scandal either.

The moment of truth came when the republican House majority leader Kevin McCarthy told Fox news the Benghazi investigation hearing by the republican controlled House committee did what it was intended to do, lower Hillary's poll numbers and damage her campaign.  It finally came out of the republican mouth, there is and was no scandal concerning Hillary and Benghazi.  McCarthy has since withdrawn his name as a candidate for Speaker of the House to replace John Boehner.  The Benghazi House committee hearing from the very beginning was to wound Hillary and not about the facts on the terror attack that took American lives.

The House Intelligence Panel that investigated the Benghazi attack (separate from the House hearing) issued its report after a two year study and found no wrong doing by the Obama administration.  That intelligence panel was made up of both democrats and republicans.  The panel also found that there was  never a "stand down order" as republicans charged and that Fox news repeated many time over.  The Intelligence report was issued many months ago.

The scandal that never was is just one of many reasons conservatism as practiced by today's republican party is an unAmerican ideology.  Stay tuned because Hillary's emails will not turn out to be a scandal either.  And like Benghazi, when the truth comes out you will have read it here first in "PolitiDose" your daily dose of political commentary.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Times Picayune Editorial Board: Out Of Touch And A Disrespect For Facts.

In two recent "Our Opinion" columns titled, "Steve Scalise Would Make A Perfect Fit and "Hands Off Louisiana's Oil And Gas Money" was laughable.  The paper's support for Scalise as majority leader of the republican controlled U.S. House touts Scalise's conservative credentials and says Scalise is skilled at building coalitions to get legislation passed but could not name any meaningful legislation passed and signed into law.

The opinion piece did mention that Scalise when campaigning for the number 3 spot (House Whip) he did play "Eye of the Tiger" on the loud speaker.  I guess the TP believes that is a qualification.  The fact is Steve Scalise is the republican whip of a dysfunctional U.S. House and it has taken place on his watch, the current majority's watch and John Boehner's watch.  The TP failed to point out that Scalise voted to shut down the government the last time the issue came up.  He voted for default and against the CR that would have kept the federal government up and running. Louisiana's David Vitter, Bill Cassidy and John Fleming also voted to shut down the federal government.  Democrats Mary Landrieu and Cedric Richmond along with republican Charles Boustany voted for the CR to open the federal government.  Scalise was also one of 80 republicans who signed a letter not to vote for anything that did not defund the ACA.  If elected to majority leader Scalise will not change his unAmerican conservative ideology as practiced by today's republican party.

The Times Picayune's other opinion column was another attack of some members of congress who may propose to reduce oil and gas royalties from offshore drilling due to be shared by Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas beginning in 2017.  That money is supposed to be used to restore Louisiana's coast.  Then the TP article makes this astounding statement.THE CANALS THAT WERE CUT THROUGH THE STATE'S WETLANDS FOR OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION CONTRIBUTED TO EROSION THAT DESTROYED 1,900 SQUARE MILES OF LAND FROM 1932 TO 2000.  AND OUR MARSHES ARE STILL WASHING AWAY.

That is exactly what the Levee Boards suit was all about.  To make the oil companies pay for the damage they caused and the TP opposed that suit.  Many of those oil companies who damaged Louisiana's land never drilled one offshore well but the TP wants those offshore royalties to pay for the damages that those companies caused.  Offshore royalty payments to states should be separate from the oil industry's responsibility to pay for the environmental damage it is responsible for.

Supposed the Oil industry stopped drilling offshore tomorrow?  Would the TP then support the Levee Boards suit if there are no royalties to be collected?  Better yet, where has the TP been since 1932 concerning the industry's failure to protect Louisiana's environment and be held accountable for their destructive acts.

Drilling offshore was a late bloomer.  During such prior time Louisiana drilling and production was regulated by the state, but the TP did not think restoration of the damaged environment was important to talk about.  It is only the flood of money from the BP spill and offshore royalties that opened their closed eyes.  BP and offshore royalties became the scapegoat.  BP should be held responsible for the damage it caused and has been by the federal government, thanks to the Obama administration.  But BP should not be responsible for damages caused by the many other oil and gas company operations.

The wolves are at the door and the oil industry has been laughing all the way to the bank since 1932.  Why not?  They knew the TP and elected officials would be their mouthpiece and defender of the violations of Louisiana's environment.  Do the math, count how many years it has been going on since 1932.  That should make any sane person sick.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Bobby Jindal's Latest Proposal Continues To Expose His Failed Leadership

Governor Bobby Jindal, the self proclaimed conservative would like to use some BP oil spill money to help pay to elevate Louisiana highway 1 near Port Fourchon.  That BP fine money can only be used for coastal restoration.  The America's Wetland Foundation opposes the move by Jindal and thinks the BP money should be used for the purpose it was intended for.

Jindal has a history of robbing peter to pay paul and using one time money to balance the state's budget.  That is one of the major reasons his budgets never actually balance.  States are supposed to produce enough revenue to cover the needs of its own highway system and state infrastructure and this republican administration has failed to live up to its responsibility.

One can be sure another republican administration  will not answer the problem because conservatism as practiced today by the republican party is anti everything with the exception of big business.  And guess what?  It shows.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Volkswagen And Halliburton: Another Example Of Corporate Corruption.

Everyone knows big business does not like to be regulated.  They say they can and do regulate themselves, yet everyone knows big business keeps exposing their own lies.  The latest violation of regulations involves Volkswagon and Halliburton, two giant companies.  The Times Picayune recently carried both stories which most news media outlets just winked at.

Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn admitted his company installed stealth software on over 11 million diesel Volkswagen that the software switches its engines to a cleaner mode during OFFICIAL EMISSIONS TESTING and then switches off again giving the cars more power while emitting as much as 40 times the legal pollution limit during actual driving according to the EPA.  Volkswagen said they were dishonest with the EPA, the California Air Resources Board and all of you.

The EPA said Volkswagen could be fined $37,500 per vehicle and that any one found personally responsible is subject to a $3,750 fine per violation.  This was a deliberate act by Volkswagen to by pass federal and state regulations concerning automotive emissions.  Volkswagen's CEO resigned a few days after the public disclosure.  This writer bets Volkswagen will give him millions in payout even though the deceit happened on his watch.

Halliburton reached an agreement with the U.S. Labor Department to pay 1,016 workers $18.3 million in back overtime pay.  Halliburton routinely classified those workers incorrectly as not entitled to over time pay.  Failure to pay overtime wages to qualified employees is a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.  The Labor Department has been investigating the energy sector for several years where federal officials suspect workers are classified incorrectly.  The Labor Department said Halliburton also did not keep accurate records of the hours worked by employees.  It should be noted that Halliburton is one of the largest service companies in the oil and gas industry and it certainly employs enough managers to make sure their employees are classified correctly.

Both companies are profitable companies who looked for ways to get around regulations and were caught by two agencies of the federal government.  And conservatives think the federal government can not do any thing right and big business can do no wrong.  Yes, my fellow Americans, our country and its people are protected from corporate wrong doing and deceit by Democratic administrations while republicans continue to give big business a pass and excuse for deregulation.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

New York Yankee Yogi Berra: Hall of Famer and World Champion

Notice of Yogi Berra's passing was a sad day for baseball, baseball fans, this writer and those in the generations that were able to witness Yogi's baseball career.  It was a magical time, especially for Yankee fans to see their team win so many World Championships.  And it was even more magical to see Yogi's love for the game he played.

Everyone in and outside baseball knew Yogi because he talked to everyone, even the umpires.  As a hitter Yogi had no strike zone.  No matter where the pitcher threw the ball Yogi would hit it and many of those hits were home runs.  He was a catcher most of his playing days but played the outfield also in his last few years.  Who can forget the 1956 World Series when Yankee pitcher Don Larson threw a perfect game and after his last pitch Yogi running up the the mound and leaped in Larson's arms with a bear hug.  That was Yogi Berra and his love for baseball.

This writer was fortunate to live through all of Yogi's baseball career.  Having played all three sports (none on a professional level) baseball was my favorite.  I can still remember the thrill going to Pelican stadium to see the New Orleans Pels play.  In the late 1940"s the Yankees played an preseason game in Pelican stadium and yours truly was in the stands.  That team had Joe DiMaggio, Charlie Keller and many of the great Yankees that preceded Yogi's era.  DiMaggio hit a home run in that ball game.  For a teenager who loved to play baseball, it was a game I will never forget.

Yogi Berra was a WWII veteran who served overseas in the European theater.  Many baseball players served their country during WWII and the Korean War.  Some of them served in both wars.  It was a time of patriotic duty that cut short years from a players career.

Yogi Berra will be greatly missed by this writer who still gets chills when I think about the years I played the game and the great players like Yogi who gave so much to baseball.  Besides being a Hall of Famer, a World Champion multiple times, Yogi was a world class human being.  Baseball's song,  Take Me Out To The Ball Game will forever live because of players like Yogi, and yes, I still get chocked up whenever I hear it played.

Thanks for the memories Yogi, I know you will continue to play baseball with your team mates in those Field of Dreams.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Pope Francis: The Holy Father Comes To America.

It is not often that the American people have a chance to see the Pope in person and up close but Pope Francis gave America and its people that opportunity four days last week and the people turned out and responded with great appreciation, enthusiasm and admiration.  Pope Francis was energetic, at ease and made sure his visit would include meeting with the disadvantage, the poor and even those in prison.

There was much speculation about what the Pope would talk about, especially when he addressed congress.  Would it be about the issues that divide the people such as abortion, same sex marriage, sexual orientation, religious freedom or religion itself.  Would it be just a religious speech for all to understand?  Pope Francis surely thought about all those things before hand and before his speech was written because the issues he discussed were not religious or political in nature, nor was it divisive.

The Pope spoke about the issues that occupy the present time but in a way that could be understood by all without putting those issues in a political, religious or divisive content.  In fact he never used divisive words instead said we must, take care of the earth, our fellow man, even those with different views and immigrants. The Pope also said excluding people not like us is wrong and alluded to the fact that people in positions of authority have to lead the way for needed change.  Pope Francis also spoke about the abuses within the Catholic Church.

Congress responded in a positive way to the Pope's message but will it change things for the better or will congress just forget since the Pope has departed.  Will the division continue by those in congress whose ideology will not allow them to change.  Time will provide the answer to that question soon enough.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

John Boehner, Speaker Of The U.S. House Of Representatives Resigns From Congress

Boehner's resignation caught the news media by surprise and launched a guessing game about why and why now.  Every one on cable news seemed to have a variety of reasons why it happened.  The why really does not matter for a number of reasons, that started soon after Obama was elected President in 2008 when Boehner proclaimed he and his party would do nothing to help the new President.


Boehner was leader of the U.S. House in name only and could not control his own members, especially the tea party right wing radicals.  He allowed the House to shut the government down for 16 days just a few short years ago and the House was unable to function as an arm of congress.  They voted over 50 times to defund the ACA which died in their own House.

Does Boehner's resignation and the election of a new Speaker indicate a more productive House?  Don't count on it, the right wing conservative who have taken over the party hate the President and will continue the party's obstruction.  They will also continue to try and divide the country.  It is part of their conservative ideology.

With the election of a new President next year the republicans in both houses of congress will do its best to prevent President Obama to achieve any of his remaining goals.  John Boehner was in a position of power where he could have achieved much for the country and its people.  He choose instead to use his position to obstruct.  It is a sad reminder how many leaders fail the test of leadership when given the opportunity to make a difference.

But strange as it seems he can still leave on a positive note by teaming up with the democrats in the House and enough republicans to prevent another government shutdown that the tea party said it will do over Planned Parenthood.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Louisiana's Budget Woes Continue To Pile Up

Readers of "PolitiDose" were warned that last years state budget ending June 30 would not be balanced as Jindal and the republican controlled state legislature said it was.  The Times Picayune carried a story dated 9/23 that warned that the budget ended in deficit.  The article quoted state treasurer John Kennedy saying the deficit would exceed $100 million.  The story also indicated the Jindal administration was quietly informing legislators of the deficit and would give out the deficit exact number in October.

Republican Senator Fred Mills said, I'm worried, I'm really worried.  He sits on the Senate's Finance Committee.  He and the republican controlled legislature were not worried enough to make the hard choices and do what was required to balance the budget in the right way for the last several years.  They just rubber stamped Jindal's corrupt process.  Of course, the present fiscal year budget will not be in balance either and a special session with the new governor will have to address the problem.  Mills said he expects funding for medicaid and Louisiana universities and college will be slashed to reduce last years deficit.  That should sound familiar to every one.

The loss of state revenue because of falling oil prices and the tax loop holes and give aways to business will continue to make the state's budget problems worse if the state fails to adopt a pay as you go budget instead of the gimmicks used in the past as one time revenue and the movement of numbers.  The state needs to get real in the forecast of state revenue.

The Jindal administration and the republican controlled legislature has been a dismal failure on the state's budget and the budget process for eight years and now it is fourth down.  "PolitiDose" has been far out in front on the budget issue while the Times Picayune is satisfied by reporting the status quo.  Democratic candidate John Bel Edwards is the only candidate who can turn things around for the better for the state and its people.  He is also the only candidate without a super PAC raising money on his behalf so he is not beholden to any special interest group.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio