Sunday, April 2, 2017

The Electorate and The Donald Trump Factor

Part of the electorate who voted for Trump are becoming ditto heads just like the republican party in general.  First it was Trump that aped the party by casting blame on everyone else.  During the campaign part of the electorate who backed Trump let their feelings be known on facebook, twitter and other social networks available and tried so hard to predict that Trump would make a great President.

After the election Trump backers were almost silent on the social scene until just recently when it became clear for all to see Trump's failure to run the country and do the things he said he would do.  But in the last week or so they are back on the social networks blaming everyone but Trump for his own failures on health care, immigration, his campaign's collusion with Russia and the FBI investigation  on the matter, his children's involvement and conflict of interest with being a Presidential adviser while still running Trump's business, the President's lies that President Obama wiretapped his phones at Trump tower which has set off a full scale demand for an independent investigation into what Trump really knew.

Part of Trump's voting electorate have now blamed the news media, democrats, some republicans and even "fake news" for Trump's failures. And of course we all know Trump is the author of "fake news."  They can not cope with the fact they helped elect a man who was a tainted candidate in the first place and as President continues to taint every thing he touches.  And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio


Thursday, March 30, 2017

The Wisdom Of Hillary Clinton

The former first lady, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State displayed her wisdom and knowledge as a Presidential candidate and during the campaign tried to warn America what would happen in a Trump administration if elected.  Four issues that she warned about are playing out at the present time and all four issues are regressive and a backward step for the country and its people.

First, Trump's attempt to repeal and replace the ACA because of ideology was defeated.  Clinton warned about that foolish idea early on and had a plan to not only improve on the ACA but make it better.  She articulated just what Trump and republicans would do to cripple health care if they had their way.  The Congressional Budget Office report confirmed just what Clinton knew would happen.

Second, Clinton in a campaign speech before the election warned about Trump and his campaign ties to Russia and Putin and said that Trump should release his tax returns and disclose his relationship with Russia.  She also said the people of America have a right to know the extent of those contacts and how that relates to what Russia is doing.  Clinton also touched on the issue during the debates.  And as of this writing the Trump - Russia affair is under investigation by the FBI and the intelligence community and every day some thing new is revealed.  It is a very serious matter and Hillary Clinton understood how a possible collusion could undermine American policy.  The news media was too busy at the time to explore Clinton's comments because their air time was devoted to Trump.

Third, Trump's reversing of President Obama's policies on protecting the environment was another subject of Clinton's campaign and exposed just what Trump and his party would do to roll back the gains that were made in bringing environmental matters into the equation for progress.  The same thing goes for business rules and regulations that are being rolled back for no good reason other than ideology.

Fourth, Trump's tax reform that he is now pushing with massive tax cuts to business and the wealthy that Clinton warned about that would explode the federal deficit and in all probability bring on another republican recession.  Clinton's tax plan was favored over Trumps by a wide margin and would be better for the economy, job creation, balancing the budget and etc and was favored by most tax experts concerning economic matters.  Clinton warned about falling for trickle down economics for the third time.

When one thinks about Clinton and her campaign pronouncements, her wisdom and knowledge are unfolding before America's eyes as Trump and his administration continue to reverse the good plans and policies that make America great.  Clinton's warnings are now beginning to be understood.  The 48% who voted for her did understand.  Trump has been in office over two months now and Clinton is still a better woman than Trump is a man. And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Trump and The Republican's Failed Health Care Scheme Has Times Picayune Conservative Editorial Writer Tim Morris In A Crazy Lather.

Morris' editorial comment of 3/29 in the Times Picayune titled, "Sometimes The Swamp Drains You ... But Trump Isn't Done Yet" unknowingly makes the case that Trump is not a very good leader nor does the President have the ability to handle the "swamp" he himself created.  Like most conservative writers who will try to find any excuse to bail out Trump, Morris says Paul Ryan talked Trump out of proposing Tax Reform first in favor of the health care issue.  Clinton was right during the campaign when she questioned Trump's ability to lead.

What Morris forgot was that Trump said repealing and replacing the ACA would be his number one priority and that with a republican President and republican controlled congress he would get the job done quickly.  Trump and the republican party have no credibility on health care and neither do conservative journalists who never challenged the lies.  They just went with the flow.  Trumps lack of leadership and knowledge on health care is a brutal reminder how schemes and ploys are a major part of conservative ideology and the reason they can not point to any meaningful accomplishments for the country and its people.  If Trump was a real leader who would have loved to put tax reform first like the editorial states, why did he not?  After all, he is the President.

Yes, the editorial by Morris is the usual hype and cliches and when some one like Trump enlarge the "swamp" with wall street banks like he has done, the people can expect more excuses every time Trump fails.  Just wait until Trump brings his tax reform agenda to congress with those massive tax cuts to business and the wealthy.  America will hear the same failed story of how those cuts will create jobs, balance the budget and all good things.  It will be the same story sung by the George W. Bush administration.  Does any one remember?  Understanding the failures of the past is still the key to a better future.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Steve Scalise: Louisiana's Little Boy WHIP In The U.S. House

Louisiana's representative in congress, Steve Scalise is the third ranking republican in the U.S. House of Representatives and is their WHIP.  That title tells of his responsibility which is to see that the House has enough votes to pass the republican's agenda.  In other words, use the WHIP to have his fellow republicans fall in line with the Speaker of the House.  Well the WHIP failed last Friday when the republican's plan to repeal and replace the ACA failed to even vote on their own Plan and the issue died for the time being.

Scalise is part of the republican controlled congress for the past two years and has the  distinction of being one of the most unproductive congress in the past 50 years.  They not only failed to earn their salary, they continue to be a "do nothing" congress.  Scalise used smoke and mirrors in his often pronouncements to repeal and replace the ACA and his scheme and ploy failed.

The only way Scalise and his party can save face on health care is to talk to the democratic party.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

 

Monday, March 27, 2017

The Democratic Party and The Affordable Care Act

The democrats in congress should start their own process to make improvements to the ACA and reconcile any needed changes that should be made.  They know what needs to be done to make the ACT better because it now has a track record that can be relied on.  It would be the thing to do since the republicans scheme on health care has been exposed and left to die for the time being.

The place to start would be Hillary Clinton's proposed changes to the ACA that she articulated during the campaign.  Next to President Obama, she probably knows more about health care than any one else.  The democrats should be talking to the American people while they are working on the issue to keep them informed and seek advise.  It should truly be a grass roots movement to make the proper adjustments needed.

The republican notion that the ACA has to be repealed and replaced can not be backed up by facts.  As a result, the democrats should come up with the changes on their own and then introduce the legislation to the republican controlled congress.  That would be an important step even if Trump and the republicans reject their proposal because they would still have a blue print to introduce at a later date.

As of the moment Trump and his party have no credibility on the issue of health care.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Saturday, March 25, 2017

The Affordable Care Act: Still Standing Awaiting The Next Republican Challenge.

Donald Trump and the republican party's failure to repeal and replace the ACA went down in flames Friday when the President decided to pull the legislation and not allow a vote to take place.  It was a complete reversal of the day before when the President said he wanted a up or down vote on the American Health Care Act.  (AHCA)  The President and his party had no other plan to fall back on because their AHCA was not a plan built on facts but on ideology.

This writer made commentary on that many times in "PolitiDose" because the party has no real interest in health care reform.  And that was confirmed by John Boehner, the former republican speaker of the U.S. House a few weeks ago when he said, IN HIS 20  PLUS YEARS IN THE CONGRESS, THE REPUBLICANS NEVER HAD ANY INTEREST IN HEALTH CARE REFORM.  HE THEN PREDICTED REPEAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ACA WOULD FAIL.

After Trump pulled the plug on the bill, democrats in congress urged the people to remain vigilant and continue to make their voices and opinions known because repeal and replace will be brought up again by the republicans

The contents of Trump and the republican's repeal and replace was so regressive it highlighted their ideology on the matter.  It also gives one a good idea why they are poor at governing.  During the campaign, Clinton had a real plan with facts to change and make the ACA better.  She was right.  Trump and his party were wrong even though the party had seven years to act in good faith.  And Trump had over a year to do so and both failed.

The President will blame every one but himself and his party for the defeat like he always does even though his AHCA was a ploy and scheme that was finally recognized by some members of his own party who who would not pay attention to Trump's late plea to pass the bill.  Earlier, the Congressional Budget Office made its report known of the affect the AHCA would have and their conclusion makes it clear to this writer the plan was never thought out because of ideology.

Beware of what the President will try and do next to cover his failure on his top priority.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Thursday, March 23, 2017

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and President Donald Trump

The Huffington Post reported Senator Graham thinks President Trump should apologize to President Obama for accusing the former President of wire tapping Trump's phone at Trump Tower in New York or lose credibility.  What credibility is Graham talking about?  The President has none on any thing that is meaningful.  Of course Graham knows that especially since it is one of the republican trademarks.

What continues to go on here with the republicans is say something anti-Trump "so to speak" in case Trump falls and then they can say we told you so and did not agree with him.  But the fact remains they support his policies to the hilt and also his divisive statements.  Conservative editorial writers are doing the same thing and New Orleans Picayune editorial writer Tim Morris is one of the worse of the bunch with his editorials.

Graham and his party are treating Trump and his campaign's contact with Russia with kid gloves.  They should demand a full hearing since his party control all the investigation committees in Congress.  The FBI director this week in testimony gave them a good reason why to investigate those contacts with Russia.

The Russia thing is a serious matter and the FBI director said Russia wanted Trump to win and Clinton to lose.  And of course Trump showed his treason side when he asked Russia to find Clinton's emails.  The man who would be President opened the door for Russia to spy on an American citizen.

Credibility?  It is no where to be found with this President.  He should have apologized long ago to President Obama for all the lies told about the President.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

President Trump: Fraud Continues To Play A Major Role In His Administration

President Trump visited House republicans on Capitol Hill Tuesday concerning the party's American Health Care Act (AHCA)  which will be voted on by the full House on Thursday.  The purpose of Trump's visit was to shore up the republican vote that is unsure at best, so the House can pass the bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

If the reports are accurate as to what the President told House members, then the President is still willing to use fraud and fear as a tool to govern.  The reports said Trump told members of the House they must support the repeal and replace bill or risk losing their congressional seats in the next election.  Evidently the President does not feel House members should vote for the bill because the AHCA is a good bill that will insure all or do a better job than the Affordable Care Act and also reduce cost.  No, instead he  used fear of losing their jobs as a reason to vote for the bill.

The President and his party are caught in a fraud scheme with the AHCA with phony claims from the very beginning and the truth is now emerging for all to see.  Its no longer about health care, its about republicans losing their jobs according to the President.  And where ever Trump goes, regression continues to follow.  Which tells this writer the future will be like the failed past of republican administrations.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio


Friday, March 17, 2017

The Congressional Budget Office Confirms What PolitiDose Has Been Saying From The Very Beginning

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) an independent arm of congress that estimates the projected cost and impact of legislation proposed and or passed by congress released its findings this week concerning the republicans American Health Care Act (AHCA) and that has been introduced by speaker of the House Paul Ryan.  And the CBO's report was devastating to the proposed ACT.

Contrary to the republican rhetoric their AHCA would not replace the ACA like they have proclaimed for the past seven years.  The CBO found that 14 million more people would be uninsured in 2018 and would rise as high as 24 million in 2026.  And that in 2026 52 million would be uninsured compared to only 28 million under the ACA.

The CBO found that the federal deficit would be reduced by $337 billion over a decade due to reductions in medicaid.  However, projections were made that under the ACA the federal deficit would be reduced between $157 to $370 Billion with out reductions to medicaid.  (reported when the ACA was being debated)

In this writers judgement the total CBO report reflects a hastily drawn up health care plan ( if you can call it that) because the republican party does not believe in health care but was forced to act because of their out right lies of having a plan to replace the ACA.  Seven years and the republicans have little to show for it.  How much time did they really spend on the subject matter?  The results tells this writer not much time at all.

The only question that remains now is can Trump and Ryan sell it to their own party with out compromise and make the AHCA even worse.  What ever form it passes in if it passes at all will result in a regressive move for health care for those who need it the most and for the over all health care of the country.  For a party who control the Presidency and both houses of congress the AHCA is a prime example of a do nothing party.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

UPDATE: Job Creation For Presidential Terms: 1929 - Jan. 2017

This will update my original commentary published in PolitiDose dated 11/5/2010 that covered the period 1929 - 2008.  (actually to January 2009 when President Bush left office).  The update provides the job creation record of President Barack Obama for his eight years in office and a comparison to President George W. Bush's record on job creation for his eight years in office.

In President Bush's eight years in office the economy created 1.3 million new net jobs.  (My original report in PolitiDose listed 1.1 million new net jobs.  See Note 1)  New net jobs represent the number of jobs created less the number of jobs lost during a President's administration.  Because of the worst republican recession ever, over 4.5 million jobs were lost during Bush's two terms and he left office with the worst job creation record since President Hoover in 1929 - 1933.

President Obama took office in January of 2009 during that great recession and the economy continued to lose jobs in the spill over to the tune of over 3 million jobs on Obama's watch.  How ever when Obama left office in January of 2017 over 11.5 million new net jobs were created on his watch.  And a record of 77 straight months of positive job creation was recorded.

When one takes into consideration what Bush inherited from President Clinton and what Obama inherited from President Bush one should be able to see who did the better job even under more difficult circumstances.  The same can be said for the federal government's fiscal house.  Bush inherited balanced budgets and surpluses from President Clinton and Bush left office with 8 straight years of deficit spending.  Obama left office by reducing deficit spending

So even during difficult times President Obama has kept the democratic record of creating jobs and putting America to work.  It is a subject repeated in PolitiDose many times in the last eight plus years.  And when you add up the total number of jobs created for Presidential terms from 1929 to January of 2017 the job numbers are astounding.  Democratic administrations  84.3 million jobs created, Republican administrations 28.8 million jobs created.

To top if off when you take into consideration the job creation record of the last five Presidents going back to President Reagan the numbers look like this:  Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 served a total of 20 years and their combined job creation total was 19.9 million jobs created.  Clinton and Obama served a total of 16 years and their combined job creation total was 34.2 million jobs created.  I would say that is pretty good considering Clinton and Obama served 4 years less.  And if you really want to get serious add the 10,3 million jobs created by the Carter administration in just 4 years.

Yes my fellow Americans precedent can be used to understand what might happen on the republican or democratic watch and when it comes to the economy and every thing connected to it the democratic party performs best for the country and its people.  The same thing can be said for keeping America safe.  And the next time you hear a republican say democratic administrations are job killers you will also know they lie about that also.

Note 1;  Job information taking from Wikipedia that is up dated from time to time including from the time my original commentary of 11/5/10.  The changes and adjustments have been minor and does not affect the over all numbers to any great degree.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio