Vice President Joe Biden Makes His Decision

Wednesday Vice President Biden announced he would not be a candidate for his party's Presidential nomination and in the process put an end to all the speculation.  Biden said it was too late and he did not have enough time to mount a winning campaign.  The Vice President came out a winner in his announcement and displayed his character which under scores the reasons he was a successful U.S. Senator and has been a successful Vice President.

The cable news networks and the pundits were the losers with their daily speculations and their use of polling to show how the Presidential candidates would stack up if the Vice President entered the race.  They questioned his timing even though he was going through a period of mourning over the death of his son.  Joe Biden proved he was a better man than all of them.

In his announcement, Biden said the democratic party should run on President Obama's record of accomplishments  and keep the momentum going and he was so right.  Biden is smart enough to know the republicans can't and wont run on President Bush's record or the republican record in general because they have no accomplishments.

The Vice President was true to his character when he said he will continue to speak on the issues and not be silent because he is not a candidate.  Joe Biden is one of a kind and a true serious public servant.  It's too bad the Vice President's civility, character and leadership has escaped so many in the political world of today.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Terror Attack On U. S. Soil: Republicans Still Trying To Rewrite History.

Its on the cable networks again, the Donald Trump - Jeb Bush individual debate.  Jeb Bush said his brother kept "us" safe.  Trump said he did not think so and reminded Jeb that the worst foreign terrorist attack on U.S. soil happened on his brother's watch.  Jeb responded, his brother kept us safe after the attack on 9/11 and its important how his brother acted after the attack.

Jeb's statement continues to illustrate how the conservative ideology can not accept the truth of history even when facts remain facts.  President Bush did not keep "us" safe after 9/11 either and in fact started a war and occupation of Iraq over WMD that did not exist.  Most of America's wounded and dead during the Iraq war was at the hands of Al Queda in Iraq and other terrorist groups and our troops certainly are part of "us."

Trying to rewrite the facts of history is nothing new with republicans.  They have tried to do so concerning deficit spending, taxes, the national debt, increased federal spending, keeping America safe, the economy, job creation and a host of other subjects they claim to be best at accomplishing even though history and the facts tell a different story.

Jeb Bush has been out of public office a number of years and now since he wants to join the ranks once again show his lack of political understanding.  Jeb and his family would be better served had he not declared his intent to run for the republican Presidential nomination. He also showed a serious lack of understanding by trying to compare the terrorist attack on 9/11 to the attack on Pearl Harbor.  What a shame.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Federal Deficit Continues To Fall Under The Democratic Administration Of President Obama

The U.S. Treasury Department announced that the federal budget deficit for fiscal year ending 9/30/15 was $439 billion, down from the previous fiscal year of 9/30/14 which was $483 billion.  It was $1.4 trillion at the end of President George W. Bush's last fiscal year budget.  That is a tremendous turn around in putting the fiscal house of the federal government back on track.

President Bush inherited a balanced federal budget and surplus when he took office and then left office with an eight year deficit spending spree.  So did republican President Ronald Reagan and so did President George Herbert Walker Bush after his four years in office.  No republican President in the last 50 years left office with a smaller deficit then when they took office, but democratic President Obama will leave office with a much smaller deficit than when he took office by a sizable amount.  And of course, so did President Clinton.

There was more good news earlier in the month when the Labor Department announced that the economy created 153,000 new jobs in September.  Unemployment remained steady at 5.1% and hourly wages showed an increase over the same period of last year.  Into the six years and nine months of Obama's time in office the economy has created over 8.5 million new jobs and the President still has 15 more months in office.  There were only 1.5 million new jobs created under President George W. Bush in the eight years he served.  That was the worst job creation record since the great depression of 1929.

President Obama's economic policies put into place when the democratic party controlled both houses of congress continues to work and would work even better for the country and its people if the republicans would act on the many other recommendations of the President they refuse to take up.  The republican party in congress needs to get a life and start acting like Americans, democrats don't have that problem.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Democratic Presidential Debate

A record 15 plus million people watched the debate we are told, a record for a democratic Presidential debate.  And the winners were the democratic candidates, CNN and most important, the people.  It was a Presidential debate of the issues and not the side show of division, personal attacks and racial remarks that were on display during the first two republican debates.

The five democratic candidates gave a good account of themselves on the issues with answers that explained their positions.  It was a civil debate even when the candidates disagreed with their opponent.  There were many smiles, humor and the candidates were relaxed.  The moderator did a good job over all to cover the issues and stayed away from the standard questions of abortion and other divisive issues.

The democratic candidates helped keep the moderator on the important issues when he strayed and tried to raise the question concerning Hillary's emails and Bernie Sanders reminded every one there were more important issues to discuss than the "damm emails."  The other candidates supported that and never brought up the emails much to their credit.

This writer believes Clinton, Sanders and O'Malley performed the best and that all five are a credit and asset to the democratic party with their positive messages on the issues and the civility afforded the debate.  Those who wanted to see Hillary fail will have to rethink their positions.  This writer mentioned in a commentary a few weeks ago the debate would be about issues and it turned out that way.  I am happy those predictions came true for the breath of fresh air provided by the candidates will likely result in more people watching the next debate and their campaign and that will be a positive for democracy.


Note:  Did any one notice Hillary said at the debate that the economy always does better on democratic administrations?  Well the readers of "PolitiDose" have been reading that here for the last seven years.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

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