Political games happen when a politician or one who aspires to be one has no record to run on and picks an issue where most people have little or no understanding and starts the blame game. In this years Presidential election the issue is NAFTA. The issue came up also in the Presidential elections of 2008 and 2012. Trump is trying to make it an issue in this years election and the theme is that it kills jobs in America and sends those jobs overseas.
Although NAFTA is more than just jobs by any stretch of the imagination this commentary will be about jobs since that is what is being talked about. NAFTA became effective in January of 1994 and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The talk of NAFTA started many years before Bill Clinton came upon the Washington scene. The U.S. Senate passed NAFTA by a 61-38 margin with republicans supplying the majority yes vote with 34 and the democrats with 27. The measure was passed in December of 1993.
During President Reagan's 8 years in office 16.1 million jobs were created. During President George H.W. Bush's 4 years in office 2.5 million jobs were created for a total of 18.6 million jobs for those 12 years and NAFTA was not in effect any of those years. During President Clinton's 8 years in office 22.7 million jobs were created, more than the Reagan-Bush years in the 12 years they served. NAFTA was in effect during Clinton's terms in office.
During President George W. Bush's 8 years in office 1.1 million jobs were created and NAFTA was in effect during his 8 years in office. So the Administration of Bill Clinton created more jobs in 8 years than Reagan-Bush 41 and Bush 43 did in the 20 years they served. President Obama has been in office 7 years and 9 months and more than 15 million jobs have been created on his watch while NAFTA is in effect and President Obama inherited the worst economic conditions and a record loss of jobs since the great depression.
That means 37.7 million jobs were created under the Clinton and Obama administrations as of this date and under NAFTA conditions and only 18.6 million jobs under Reagan and Bush 41 while NAFTA was no where in sight. Throw in President George W. Bush's poor job creation record under NAFTA conditions and one can easily see how the democratic administrations of Clinton and Obama did so much better creating jobs.
NAFTA does indeed reduce jobs in the United States but it is democratic President's policies concerning the economy that produces jobs and reduces the affect NAFTA has on exporting jobs. And democratic plans and policies work better for creating a better economy and producing American jobs than the conservative ideology of republican Presidents.
If journalists were up to date they could have reported the facts long ago when republican guests on their shows say democratic administrations are job killers. But they remain silent and fail to inform their viewers and the people. But good thing there is a record, and the record speaks loud and clear with the facts.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Note: Source of information on job creation as used here in. There are many on line reports of job creation under Presidential administrations and Wikipedia. Some give job numbers that are not exactly the same as used above but the difference is so small it does not change the real numbers.
Friday, September 30, 2016
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
The LSU - Miles Fiasco
The firing of Les Miles was way past due but who ever was part of the decision making process that extended Miles contract with raises performed just as bad as Miles. Football fans recognized Miles short comings long ago and how that affected LSU's won-loss record and performance. Yet, there has been two groups who should have known years ago of Miles short comings and were silent.
The first group, LSU's athletic director and any one else on his staff who was supposed to evaluate Miles performance failed big time in allowing the situation to continue and get worse. The second group are sports writers who have been silent and only recently jumped on the band wagon of saying Miles had to go. They just kept writing the usual stories about how LSU would compete for the national championship and etc, etc.
The idea of giving head coaches long term contracts with huge raises and buyouts have to end. The school is the loser financially and other wise. There are too many good young coaches out there who are more in tuned with the change taking place in football that renders long term contracts obsolete.
Miles should have been fired after the remach game with Alabama for the national championship because of LSU's sad performance and the way he handled the quarterback situation in that game. Miles incompetence was so glaring. But the powers that be at LSU were just as incompetent as Miles for allowing him to continue as head coach.
So now the search is on for a new head coach for the Tigers. We will see what kind of contract the new coach will be offered. Chances are the people at LSU who control that will have learned very little.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The first group, LSU's athletic director and any one else on his staff who was supposed to evaluate Miles performance failed big time in allowing the situation to continue and get worse. The second group are sports writers who have been silent and only recently jumped on the band wagon of saying Miles had to go. They just kept writing the usual stories about how LSU would compete for the national championship and etc, etc.
The idea of giving head coaches long term contracts with huge raises and buyouts have to end. The school is the loser financially and other wise. There are too many good young coaches out there who are more in tuned with the change taking place in football that renders long term contracts obsolete.
Miles should have been fired after the remach game with Alabama for the national championship because of LSU's sad performance and the way he handled the quarterback situation in that game. Miles incompetence was so glaring. But the powers that be at LSU were just as incompetent as Miles for allowing him to continue as head coach.
So now the search is on for a new head coach for the Tigers. We will see what kind of contract the new coach will be offered. Chances are the people at LSU who control that will have learned very little.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The Atlanta Falcons 45 The New Orleans Saints 32
Atlanta came to New Orleans for Monday night football and defeated the Saints. It was the 3rd straight loss of the new season for the Saints and the loss was larger than the score. The team is leaderless and looks like they feel they can win just by showing up. Like the first two games, Payton and Brees failed once more on their final offensive possession of the game and gave the football to Atlanta when they failed on 4th down.
The New England Patriots, playing with out quarterback Tom Brady for the third time won their 3rd game and have done so with two back up quarterbacks. Their coaching staff and team are still the most consistent team in the NFL and have been for years. The New Orleans sports writers continue to talk about Brees individual performance and records while the team keeps playing like a team in trouble.
Post game comments by Payton, Brees and some players are reruns of the past few years saying such things as: we are professionals; we are paid to win; we have to leave our ego at the door; we have to find a way to win and dig deep; we have to do our job, etc, etc and etc. It is past time for all the talk and time to walk the talk. It has turned into a sad situation for such highly paid professionals.
Bounty gate will forever haunt the Saints and the coaching staff until changes are made. And when that happens, you read it here in PolitiDose.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The New England Patriots, playing with out quarterback Tom Brady for the third time won their 3rd game and have done so with two back up quarterbacks. Their coaching staff and team are still the most consistent team in the NFL and have been for years. The New Orleans sports writers continue to talk about Brees individual performance and records while the team keeps playing like a team in trouble.
Post game comments by Payton, Brees and some players are reruns of the past few years saying such things as: we are professionals; we are paid to win; we have to leave our ego at the door; we have to find a way to win and dig deep; we have to do our job, etc, etc and etc. It is past time for all the talk and time to walk the talk. It has turned into a sad situation for such highly paid professionals.
Bounty gate will forever haunt the Saints and the coaching staff until changes are made. And when that happens, you read it here in PolitiDose.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Another Big First For PolitiDose
In a commentary dated 6/12/15 titled "The Ugly Side Of Technology" this writer explained the perils associated with technology and how security is not keeping up with the ability of hackers to use that same technology to invade personal information on the world wide web. We now lean that Yahoo just announced that over 550 million of its user accounts had been hacked into and a massive security breakdown took place.
Yahoo reported the stolen data includes users names, email addresses, telephone numbers, birthdates, hashed passwords and the security questions and answers used to verify an account holders identity. The story was reported in the Times Picayune of 9/23/16. When a technology company like Yahoo can not protect the privacy of its users that should reinforce the fact that no system is safe.
We know that the federal government's highest security systems have been breached by foreign governments, wikileaks and individuals who obtained secret information and released it to the public. What has happened renders Hillary Clinton's email issue moot. The FBI has said there is no indication or evidence hackers broke into her private email server and obtained any information. If that proves to be false at a later date it won't be near as bad as what has happened on government secured servers.
Everyone knows from published reports and books that have been written that the NSA (National Security Agency) has been tapping into the American people's emails and telephones for years. The same is done to foreign countries. Does any one think NSA is the only organization who has technology experts who have that capability. They exist in civilian life also.
Technology theft has not yet reached its highest level. The only safe way to use technology is to restrict the use by all concerned. The personal information that can be obtained from social media is astounding. As far as government goes, all governments spy on each other from the beginning of time and the use of technology is just another avenue to do so. Does that really surprise any one?
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Yahoo reported the stolen data includes users names, email addresses, telephone numbers, birthdates, hashed passwords and the security questions and answers used to verify an account holders identity. The story was reported in the Times Picayune of 9/23/16. When a technology company like Yahoo can not protect the privacy of its users that should reinforce the fact that no system is safe.
We know that the federal government's highest security systems have been breached by foreign governments, wikileaks and individuals who obtained secret information and released it to the public. What has happened renders Hillary Clinton's email issue moot. The FBI has said there is no indication or evidence hackers broke into her private email server and obtained any information. If that proves to be false at a later date it won't be near as bad as what has happened on government secured servers.
Everyone knows from published reports and books that have been written that the NSA (National Security Agency) has been tapping into the American people's emails and telephones for years. The same is done to foreign countries. Does any one think NSA is the only organization who has technology experts who have that capability. They exist in civilian life also.
Technology theft has not yet reached its highest level. The only safe way to use technology is to restrict the use by all concerned. The personal information that can be obtained from social media is astounding. As far as government goes, all governments spy on each other from the beginning of time and the use of technology is just another avenue to do so. Does that really surprise any one?
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Congress Fails To Provide The Funds To Fight The Zika Virus
The republican controlled congress tried to debate a Zika funding bill with amendments concerning Planned Parenthood and other issues which President Obama said he would veto if passed and the democrats in congress would not let the bill advance. A stand alone bill to fund Zika should be the priority of the republican controlled congress but once again they seek to attach amendments opposed by the President. They can not even act on an issue that is an emergency.
And to top it off Louisiana's representatives in congress support the party's position like a bunch of ditto heads. Mary Landrieu's leadership is missed in congress and it shows. Steve Scalise is the republicans number three man in the U.S. House and is a major factor why there has been a lack of accomplishments since his party took control of congress almost 2 years ago.
Louisiana's lawmakers in congress can't even get that body to agree on the $2.6 billion package that Governor Edwards asked for the recent flood and that President Obama supported. Bill Cassidy who defeated Mary Landrieu is lost in the Senate. He will go with the republican flow of ideology at the expense of the state and its people.
The republican party's inability to draft a stand alone funding bill for Zika which the democrats will support and the President will sign, is a vivid example of how they continue to obstruct needed legislation. And do not be surprised if they support another government shut down.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
And to top it off Louisiana's representatives in congress support the party's position like a bunch of ditto heads. Mary Landrieu's leadership is missed in congress and it shows. Steve Scalise is the republicans number three man in the U.S. House and is a major factor why there has been a lack of accomplishments since his party took control of congress almost 2 years ago.
Louisiana's lawmakers in congress can't even get that body to agree on the $2.6 billion package that Governor Edwards asked for the recent flood and that President Obama supported. Bill Cassidy who defeated Mary Landrieu is lost in the Senate. He will go with the republican flow of ideology at the expense of the state and its people.
The republican party's inability to draft a stand alone funding bill for Zika which the democrats will support and the President will sign, is a vivid example of how they continue to obstruct needed legislation. And do not be surprised if they support another government shut down.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Friday, September 23, 2016
Louisiana Govrnor Edwards Stands Behind Suit Against The Oil and Gas Industry
In a Times Picayune article of 9/23 Governor Edwards said Louisiana will not shy away from suing oil and gas companies over the damage they have done to the Louisiana coast regardless of Attorney General Jeff Landry's attempts to slow or block the efforts. The Governor made sense when he said, "when Louisiana goes before congress and ask for taxpayer's money to help fund Louisiana's coastal restoration while at home we do nothing to hold the oil and gas industry accountable for their actions."
Jeff Landry is a republican and was on the side of the Tea Party's extreme agenda. The Times Picayune article points out that Landry has strong ties to the oil and gas industry and has taken significant political contributions from them over the years. The Attorney General needs to think of Louisiana and do the job he was elected to do. He should be leading the charge against the industry because the facts are already known how oil and gas operations in Louisiana have damaged the environment.
Governor Edwards made another common sense statement when saying, "the oil and gas industry should pay for a portion of the master plan to restore the coast given their role in coastal erosion." I believe everyone in Louisiana can relate to the governor's statement. President Obama set the right tone and made the right decision to hold BP accountable for the damage done to Louisiana property and the personal loss due to the BP offshore blow out. And Governor Edwards approach to allow the suits to go forward against the oil and gas industry is the right thing to do.
Jeff Landry is committed to the oil and gas industry while Governor Edwards is committed to the state and its people. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Jeff Landry is a republican and was on the side of the Tea Party's extreme agenda. The Times Picayune article points out that Landry has strong ties to the oil and gas industry and has taken significant political contributions from them over the years. The Attorney General needs to think of Louisiana and do the job he was elected to do. He should be leading the charge against the industry because the facts are already known how oil and gas operations in Louisiana have damaged the environment.
Governor Edwards made another common sense statement when saying, "the oil and gas industry should pay for a portion of the master plan to restore the coast given their role in coastal erosion." I believe everyone in Louisiana can relate to the governor's statement. President Obama set the right tone and made the right decision to hold BP accountable for the damage done to Louisiana property and the personal loss due to the BP offshore blow out. And Governor Edwards approach to allow the suits to go forward against the oil and gas industry is the right thing to do.
Jeff Landry is committed to the oil and gas industry while Governor Edwards is committed to the state and its people. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Economic Progress Continues To Take Place On President Obama's Watch.
The good news continues for the country and its people as the President's term in office comes to an end in the next several months. The opposite took place on President Bush's watch as he was leaving office. The U.S. Labor Department announced that median family income increased 5.2% in 2015, the largest increase since 2007. The U.S. Census announced that the poverty rate at the end of 2015 was 13.5%, down 1.3% from 2014 which was 14.8%.
At the same time during President George W. Bush's administration, the poverty rate was up and median family income was down. The federal deficit was still soaring and record job losses continued to take place. And to think President Bush inherited a cadillac economy while President Obama inherited a jalopy economy. The next President will inherit a much better economy than President Obama did which is the way it should be with the right policies.
Understanding the past is still the key to a better future and democratic administrations have a better grasp of the past and that is why the country and its people do better under democratic administrations. The country can not afford to experiment with a republican candidate who lacks political understanding, arithmetic and common decency. Hillary Clinton is the most experienced candidate that has plans and the policy to improve and expand on the progress made during the present administration.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
At the same time during President George W. Bush's administration, the poverty rate was up and median family income was down. The federal deficit was still soaring and record job losses continued to take place. And to think President Bush inherited a cadillac economy while President Obama inherited a jalopy economy. The next President will inherit a much better economy than President Obama did which is the way it should be with the right policies.
Understanding the past is still the key to a better future and democratic administrations have a better grasp of the past and that is why the country and its people do better under democratic administrations. The country can not afford to experiment with a republican candidate who lacks political understanding, arithmetic and common decency. Hillary Clinton is the most experienced candidate that has plans and the policy to improve and expand on the progress made during the present administration.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
A Thought To Keep In Mind For The November Presidential Election
The state of New York and its people will reject Donald Trump on November 8 and vote for Hillary Clinton as their choice for President of the United States. The people that know Trump the best, where he lives, works and has his business headquarters will send a strong message with their vote that Trump is not qualified to be President. The people of New York, the state that lived through the worst foreign terror attack in the United States remembers President George W. Bush's so called tough talk against terrorists that had no affect on that tragic day on 9/11/01.
Now the people of New York and the nation are being exposed once again to the so called tough talk by Trump against terrorists and his self proclaimed ability to defeat terror overnight. And like Bush, Trump is doing his best to have America think it should live in fear. The people of New York refused to live in fear even after the tragedy and their vote against Trump on November 8 will confirm they understand Trump's bragging will do nothing to keep America safe.
In the Presidential election of 2012 the people of Massachusetts rejected Mitt Romney and voted for President Obama. Romney was a governor of Massachusetts, lived there and the people who knew him best rejected him on election day. The 2012 and 2016 elections are not related of course but it showed the people of Massachusetts made the right choice in 2012 and now the stakes are even greater in 2016. Trump is on record as saying he will reverse the progress made under President Obama if elected. The people of New York will not accept that deplorable talk and cast their vote for Hillary Clinton.
The American people should do the same on November 8, reject Donald Trump and cast their votes for Hillary Clinton as President of the United States.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The New York Giants 16 The New Orleans Saints 13
The Saints took their second straight loss of the regular season losing on a Giant field goal as time expired on the clock. The game was more than just a reversal of what happened last year when the two teams met in New Orleans. The Giants defense held the Saints offense to one touchdown and rarely did the Saints convert on 3rd down or take advantage of 3 Giant turnovers.
The Payton-Brees so called prolific offense failed to put the team in position to win on their last possession and had to punt, turn the ball over to the Giants who then drove to the Saints 3 yard line and kicked the game winning field goal. And all the Saints could do was watch from the sidelines. Manning did a better job for his team than Brees did for his on their final drives. The Payton-Brees combo also failed last week on their final possession.
Bounty gate continues to be the albatross around the Saints neck. Continuity was lost, players departed, Payton sat out the season and bounty gate year was a disaster with two head coaches splitting the season. The sad results of bounty gate have not been reversed and the Saints continue their poor performance starting their 4th season since bounty gate. This is not a united Saints team and Payton is not the coach many though he was. New England has not missed a beat in its first two games and Tom Brady is sitting on the bench.
The Giants defensive coordinator Spagnuole, who was hired and then fired by Payton and trashed by some sports writers had his defense prepared for the Saints and Brees. Any thoughts of a Saints advantage disappeared early in the first quarter. Can the Saints turn it around and become a consistent winner under Payton and Brees? This writer does not think so as bounty gate exposed a major flaw in Payton's coaching and management of the team.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The Payton-Brees so called prolific offense failed to put the team in position to win on their last possession and had to punt, turn the ball over to the Giants who then drove to the Saints 3 yard line and kicked the game winning field goal. And all the Saints could do was watch from the sidelines. Manning did a better job for his team than Brees did for his on their final drives. The Payton-Brees combo also failed last week on their final possession.
Bounty gate continues to be the albatross around the Saints neck. Continuity was lost, players departed, Payton sat out the season and bounty gate year was a disaster with two head coaches splitting the season. The sad results of bounty gate have not been reversed and the Saints continue their poor performance starting their 4th season since bounty gate. This is not a united Saints team and Payton is not the coach many though he was. New England has not missed a beat in its first two games and Tom Brady is sitting on the bench.
The Giants defensive coordinator Spagnuole, who was hired and then fired by Payton and trashed by some sports writers had his defense prepared for the Saints and Brees. Any thoughts of a Saints advantage disappeared early in the first quarter. Can the Saints turn it around and become a consistent winner under Payton and Brees? This writer does not think so as bounty gate exposed a major flaw in Payton's coaching and management of the team.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Donald Trump: The Deplorable Birther and Presidential Candidate Has No Character or Courage
On Friday, after over 5 years of deplorable comments and lies concerning President Obama's birth place, Trump admitted the President was born in the United States. But like the coward he is, before making the statement he tried to blame Hillary Clinton as the person who started the birther rumor. It was just another lie that rolls out of his mouth because lies are a part of Trump's life. It is how he runs his business, his personal life and his campaign.
To top his statement off he lacked the character and courage to stand on his own two feet and used Veterans in the back ground on the stage to try and look credible. The Donald always has to use some one as a prop and he used Veterans who served their country (something Trump never did) and exposed them to his ongoing lies. It was a deplorable act by a deplorable Presidential candidate who lacks respect for Veterans and the President.
Hillary Clinton was right when she said some of Trump's supporters were in a basket of deplorables. The latest poll report only 27% of republicans believe Obama was born in the United States. The news media, especially cable news lacks rational understanding and showed their ignorance in reporting Hillary's comment about Trump's deplorable supporters. Donald Trump actually used the definition of deplorable first long before Clinton's remark when at his campaign rally when he said he could shoot some one and his supporters would still support him. That was a deplorable statement and if thinking his supporters would still support him after shooting some one that would describe those supporters as being deplorable. But the media, because of their love affair with Trump, missed the real story. It is not to late to report that and I give them permission to use this commentary.
Trump is not qualified to be President and Commander in Chief. His life of lies and the circle he lives in is not fit to occupy the White House. His birther statement on Friday, his failure to release his tax returns will not go away and his extremism has been unmasked. So has the out right lies that define his cowardly character.
This writer is a Veteran who would never stand on the same stage with Donald Trump.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
To top his statement off he lacked the character and courage to stand on his own two feet and used Veterans in the back ground on the stage to try and look credible. The Donald always has to use some one as a prop and he used Veterans who served their country (something Trump never did) and exposed them to his ongoing lies. It was a deplorable act by a deplorable Presidential candidate who lacks respect for Veterans and the President.
Hillary Clinton was right when she said some of Trump's supporters were in a basket of deplorables. The latest poll report only 27% of republicans believe Obama was born in the United States. The news media, especially cable news lacks rational understanding and showed their ignorance in reporting Hillary's comment about Trump's deplorable supporters. Donald Trump actually used the definition of deplorable first long before Clinton's remark when at his campaign rally when he said he could shoot some one and his supporters would still support him. That was a deplorable statement and if thinking his supporters would still support him after shooting some one that would describe those supporters as being deplorable. But the media, because of their love affair with Trump, missed the real story. It is not to late to report that and I give them permission to use this commentary.
Trump is not qualified to be President and Commander in Chief. His life of lies and the circle he lives in is not fit to occupy the White House. His birther statement on Friday, his failure to release his tax returns will not go away and his extremism has been unmasked. So has the out right lies that define his cowardly character.
This writer is a Veteran who would never stand on the same stage with Donald Trump.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
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