Journalist Catherine Rampell Gives Her Best Shot In Trying To Compare Trump's Position On Tariffs To That Of The Democratic Party And Fails The Test.

 In her opinion column of April 16 published in the New Orleans Times Picayune titled, "Democrats pulling their punches on Trump's trade war" is nothing more than the new NORM the media has accepted in dealing with Trump and his party's extreme agenda.  Rampell thinks the democrats should be talking about Trump's trade tariffs in a different way than they are doing.  It is a mirror image of those who now  say the democratic party should have warned the voters what Trump would do if elected.  Hillary Clinton  and the party actually began doing that during the 2016 Presidential campaign and has been doing so ever since.

The democratic party and their approach to trade and tariffs have never been chaotic like Trump and his party support nor personal attacks against their trading partners.  The economy, taking everything into consideration has always been better on the democratic watch than on Trumps and the GOP watch so the democratic trade policies have also been much better.  In fact, for the past 100 years the country and its people have done better economically on the democratic watch,  The Biden administration, which Rampell mentioned supported tariffs and the economy did better on his watch than it did during Trump's first term even though Trump gave huge tax cuts to those who needed them the least.

So what was the point of Rampell's column?  Trade is only one part of the economic picture and Trump has once again isolated the issue from reality.  Is it the new NORM accepted by the media to accept Trump and the GOP agenda and then trying to drag the democratic party into the issue?  Journalists have yet to learn how to handle Trump and his party, the lies, misinformation, the personal attacks, corruption and most of all the fact that trump is a convicted criminal.  

The bottom line on the economy is it is composed of many issues, trade and tariffs being only one of the issues.  All of the issues come together to make up a working economy and the democratic party is best at doing so because they govern by and with plans and policy.  The GOP fails because they govern with an extreme ideology and cannot put all the various parts together for a working economy.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The U.S. Economy, Job Creation and the Unemployment Rate for March 2025.

 The U.S. Labor Department reported the economy added 228,000 jobs in March and that the unemployment rate came in at 4.2%, it was 4.1% in February.  It was the 50th straight month of positive job growth since President Biden's first full month in office in February 2021.  As a comparison to Trump's numbers for March, for the same period in Biden's term, 770,000 jobs were created in March of 2021.

Also announced was that March inflation came in at 0.2% over February and for the 12 month period ending in March, inflation increased 2.4% annually.  That indicates most of the lower inflation took place on President Biden's watch since Trump was in  office only 2 full months during that period of time.  In fact, from May thru December, a period of 8 months inflation increased between 0.1% - 0.2%.

Now in President Trump's 3rd full month in office, chaos is running rampant on the economy because Trump's extreme policies and his unfit appointees in the cabinet and other important positions to dismantle the federal government and democracy.  To top it off, America has a convicted criminal as President who tells the country and its people they have to pay the price for his own corruption.  PolitiDose had it right in its past commentary when it stated just why Trump appointed billionaires and millionaires to run his government.  

This commentary written by Joe  Lorio

The State of Louisiana Politic: The Republican Party Fall To A New Low.

 Louisiana GOP Governor Jeff Landry and those GOP members in congress who represent the state knew the bad news for Louisiana was coming but still pledged their support for Trump's cuts in federal support for the state.  They also knew that Trump's cabinet and other high level appointees of billionaires and millionaires were unqualified for their positions and were appointed to dismantle the federal government on day one without even having one study to justify the cuts and the firings.  They also knew of Trump's planned tariffs and the chaos it would bring to the economy.  They also knew he was a convicted criminal on 32 felony counts, a serial liar, sexual abuser and fraudster.

The Times Picayune published a story in its edition dated April 9 that "FEMA ends storms grants program" that involves millions of dollars that are at stake for the state.  Louisiana's U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy said he would call FEMA and explain what the program means to Louisiana.  Then in an April 12 article we learned that funding for Muesums and Libraries are being cut of cultural funding because NEH is repurposing its funding elsewhere.  Were all of those cuts supposed to be new news to Trump's dismantling of the federal government?  This writer thinks not.  Then in another article of April 18 by Mark Ballard we read where Louisiana U.S. Senator John Kennedy is working with Trump to defund PBS and NPR.  

All of that and the chaos that has infected the Trump administration were also known before it came to pass by the 60% in Louisiana who voted for Trump in the November 2024 Presidential election.  They knew because of Trump's first term and what he campaigned on.  Many even wrote on social media that they were voting for the Criminal.  

Louisiana's representation in Congress along with the GOP in general gave up on their oath of office and allowed Trump to do what he wants.  They know it is congress who has the authority on tariffs, not the President but they just looked the other way, just like they are doing on funding cuts and the resulting chaos.  So the Trump administration is starting out like past GOP administrations where the future will end up looking like the failed past.  And Louisiana's GOP representation in congress will continue to be cowards and afraid to stand up to the Criminal.  

This commentary written by Jor Lorio  

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Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and The GOP Controlled State Legislature Fumbles the Teacher's Pay Raises.

 It did not have to be that way.  The annual $2,000 stipends for teachers and $1,000 stipends for school support staff were set to expire at the end of the school year. Those stipends were in effect the last two school years.  Last year the state legislature failed to address the issue before they expired so that funding could continue.  Instead, the Governor wanted the funding to be a part of his 4 amendment changes to the constitution that voters soundly defeated at the ballot box on March 29.   

Now the Governor and the legislature has to find the funds to continue the teachers support for the next school year and beyond and there is a scramble to do so.  The regular legislative session is scheduled to start next week and Landry has already ordered a hiring freeze and stand still budget.  So, where will the new funding come from to continue the teacher's stipends?  According to reports, Louisiana teachers earn $5,000 less than the regional average and $15,000 less than the national average.  

This writer believes teacher's pay should be funded by the legislature and its process and not the constitution.  It is a fiscal issue and fiscal issues are the responsibility of the legislative process because that is where revenue and expenses are determined and plans and policy are made to fund government both short and long term.  When there are no plans for the budget process, there are no budget solutions.  The Governor and legislature goofed big time by not taking up the teacher's issue in last year's regular session and finding a way to fund it.

The legislature under former democratic Governor John B. Edwards faced the need to handle the $2 billion state budget deficit the Jindal administration left them with and proceeded to balance the budget and create surpluses.  With the proper leadership the legislature can handle the teacher's issue with sound policy to find the resources to do so.  

The problems that the GOP has are man made, they govern by ideology on the issues and never solve the problem because of that.  Governor Landry is a Trump ditto head and after the amendments were defeated he was quoted blaming the defeat on "the far left liberals."  Every one knows it is Trump who blames every one else for his own created problems.  Of course, common sense tells us that the majority of those who voted against the amendments were Trump supporters.

The ball is now in the Governor's court of leadership.  Let us see how he and the legislature handle the issue.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

April 4, 2025: Liberation Day for Plaquemine Parish, Louisiana.

 It was liberation day when a jury in Pointe a-la- Hache found Chevron liable for the erosion of coastal wetlands in Plaquemine Parish and ordered Chevron to pay $745 million in damages plus interest to restore those wetlands.  The Parish filed the suit in 2013 and took 12 years to go to trial.  The suit was one of 40 other law suits against the industry that are awaiting trial or settlement.

As usual, supporters of the industry and the industry itself repeated the negative positions of the past how the decision would harm Louisiana and the industry's future, etc., etc., and etc.  The same old worn out BS after President Obama held BP accountable for the Gulf of Mexico oil rig explosion that killed 11 rig workers and caused billions of dollars in damage to Louisiana's environment.  Chevron will appeal the jury verdict and stretch the matter out as long as they can.

The trial and verdict, and the 40 other suits pending should remind people that it was all unnecessary if the state would have lived up to its responsibilities and held the industry liable and accountable for the damages they caused to the environment.  Instead, they turned their backs and looked the other way all those years.

The media informs us the trial took 4 weeks but the media failed to keep the people up to date on the testimony and other things going on during the trial.  How could the media fail to keep the people informed on such an important issue???

The people of Louisiana should be mindful and thoughtful that in Louisiana we still have a jury system that works and still believes in checks and balances.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Louisiana's Voters Reject Governor Jeff Landry's Constitutional Amendments.

 On Saturday night March 29 at the voting booth, Louisiana rejected four amendment changes sought and approved by Gov. Landry and the GOP controlled state legislature.  The vote reminded people of the nationwide protest of the past 6 weeks against President Trump and Elon Musk purposed changes, firings, unlawful actions and threats to social security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Trump, Landry and the GOP love to change the constitution so there are no guardrails for their extreme agenda.  Landry, (little Trump Jr.) and the state legislature threw in various issues to the amendments such as teachers pay in amendment 2.  Democratic Governor John B. Edwards administration funded teacher's pay raises without trying to change the constitution.  Landry and the state legislature failed to address the issue in the regular session, so that leaves the question?  What are they going to do about it now?

The overall vote to defeat the amendments were in the 60% range, well within the range when Louisiana voted for Trump and Landry.  But the amendment vote is a Johnny come lately vote and is too little and too late for Louisiana because both men have caused enough damage already and their policies, or should I say ideology, favors business over the interest of the people.

Louisiana voters knew what Trump and Landry stood for when they voted for them.  They also knew of Trump's past failures and that he was a convicted criminal.  They also knew Landry and the GOP controlled legislature would put business interest above the public interest and needs.  And do not act surprised if the Landry years look like the past Jindal years.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

  

Another Big First for PolitiDose Commentary and It's Readers.

 As of this writing, President Trump, the convicted criminal has been in office 66 days as the federal government continues to operate in a chaotic atmosphere.  The unfit and unqualified billionaires and millionaires appointed by Trump are doing their best to destroy American democracy and the foundation it has stood on for over two hundred years.  They are carrying out Trump's orders even to the extent of harming our national security as we recently learned from the text of our military operations against the Houthi rebels in Yemen where an American journalist was texted the information about the coming attack.  

What has taken place since Trump took office was all predicted in a PolitiDose commentary dated 12/29/24 titled, "President Donald Trump's Billionaire Cabinet and other Billionaire Appointments" and was predicted before he ever took office.  Trump's past record was enough to tell as an authoritarian, he would attempt to destroy the federal government as we know it, including the Judicial Branch with his personal attacks and lies.  In other words, if you can destroy the very fabric that America stands for, it's checks and balances, all that is left is autocratic rule.  Autocratic rule is void of compassion a virtue Trump has never possessed.

Because the GOP ditto heads control both houses of congress, only the courts and the voters can stop Trump and his party from accomplishing their goals.  The stakes are high, too high for America to be passive.  The criminal and his party's ambitions have to be denied now and be a top priority.  The people should not accept Trump and his party's threats to destroy America the Beautiful.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio  

Now Come The "Sour Grapes" From Trump's Supporters.

 Today is the 58th day President Trump, the convicted criminal has been in office and already chaos is running wild on every issue he touches.  And it did not take long for some in the business community. CEO'S, the financial industry, MAGA and others that supported Trump are now claiming they had no idea Trump would pursue the policies he is driving.  Of course, it is "Sour Grapes" especially coming from the business community and their CEO'S who support and love the Trump and the GOP's tax cuts that favored them.  

The facts tell us that those who supported, voted for and put Trump in office twice knew of his corruption and plans the past 9 years, his hate for government, the rule of law, the constitution, his unfitness for office and his personal attacks against everyone.  They also knew he was impeached twice for good reason and a convicted criminal.  They also knew he was a serial liar that could not be trusted.  And for sure, they were aware of Trump and his party's attacks on a good working economy during the Biden administration.  Yet, they voted for him again in the 2024 elections. 

Those who supported and voted for Trump knew exactly what they were doing and were aware of Trump's true intentions along with his party.  They surrendered what America the Beautiful always stood for in favor of a new NORM governed by a dictator-king.  The conservative media followed Trump in lock-step because they too are liars.  The regular media played its part by enabling Trump's corruption and accepting his new NORM for American politics.

The "Sour Grapes" people who voted for Trump knew the score, played the game and now want the American people to believe they had no idea Trump would be doing just what he is doing.  Understanding the mistakes of the past is still the key to a better future. Those who voted for Trump voted for a future that will be like the failed past.  There are only two options in the short term to correct course.  Give the democrats control of congress in the next congressional elections or impeach Trump and this time vote to convict.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio  

The U.S. Economy, Job Creation and the Unemployment Rate for February 2025.

 The U.S. Labor Department announced the economy created 151,000 jobs in February and the unemployment rate came in at 4.1% in Trump's first full month in office.  The unemployment rate was 4% in January.  It was the 49th straight month of positive job growth than began with  the Biden administration.  As a comparison with Biden's first full month in office in February of 2021, 379,000 jobs were created and the unemployment rate was 6.2%

Job creation remains in a positive position because of the good economy Biden left and despite the chaos being spread every day by Trump's tariffs and changing position on everything.  One thing is for sure, the direction of the economy is now in the hands of Trump and his GOP and their past record of failure has taught them nothing.  

As of this writing and taking everything into consideration what Trump has proposed, this writer has not changed his mind that the country will enter an economic recession, which exact time is unknown but will surely take place.  And for Trump and his GOP, there second time around will be like their failed past.

This commentary written by  Joe Lorio

The Great Myths of The GOP Tax Cuts.

 In the past 45 years when President Reagan took office in 1981, three GOP Presidents cut taxes for the wealthy and American Corporations, Reagan, Bush 43 and Trump.  It was called an economic policy that would create jobs, balance the budget, increase federal revenue and be a boom to business increase in plant and equipment that would grow the economy, production and everything economical.  And all through those 45 years the media enabled that economic assumption even though it never took place on their watch.  Lets examine and expose the MYTHS:  

Job Creation:  President Clinton created more net jobs in only 8 years (22.7 million) than Reagan, Bush 43 and Trump (14.7 million) did in the 20 years they served.  And Clinton raised taxes on those same folks who benefited from the Reagan, Bush 43 and Trump's tax cuts. Clinton raised the Corporate rate from 34% to 36% and the top rate from 28% to 36%.  And during that same 45 year period, Clinton, Obama and Biden created a total of 50 million net jobs in the 20 years they served compared to the 17.2 million net jobs created by Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43 and Trump in the 24 years they served.  Clinton, Obama and Biden in other words had an economic policy that created jobs, while the GOP had an economic ideology and not a policy that favored the wealthy and corporations.  Those three GOP President said the tax cuts would allow business to invest those savings in their business which would create an explosion in job creation.  Trump said he would create 25 million jobs when elected in 2016.  Yeah, right, his administration lost 2.7 million jobs.

The Reagan, Bush 43 and Trump administration gave the country and its people an economic recession despite the tax cuts.  No economic recession took place on the watch of Clinton, Obama or Biden.  Tax cuts for the wealthy and Corporations are no economic policy, it is a flawed ideology.  Trump cut the Corporate by 14% from 35% down to 21%.  Why would business gamble on increasing business when they could put the 14% savings in a bank or invest in stocks for a handsome return that would not create one job.

The worst bank failures during that 45 year period took place on Reagan's watch when the Savings and Loan Industry collapsed and on  Bush 43 watch in 2008 when the Wall Street Banks collapsed in Bush's great recession.  Both cost the federal government trillions of dollars.  Those corporations and the CEO's that managed them received the benefits of the tax cuts to no avail.  The Reagan and Bush administration also deregulated those industries.  There were no bank failures on any Democrat's watch during that same period.

None of the 4 GOP Presidents in those 45 years balanced one federal budget or left office with a smaller deficit than when they took office. (fiscal years).  Clinton reduced federal deficits every year his first 4 years and then balanced the budget every year his last 4 years in office.  His administration also paid down $400 billion on the national debt.  The GOP paid down nothing.  Obama left office with a smaller deficit than when he took office and if the CBO's prediction of a $1.8 trillion deficit for Biden's last fiscal year which ends 9/30/25 he will also have a smaller deficit than when he took office.  Those GOP tax cuts were supposed to raise more federal revenue that would reduce federal deficits and balance the budgets but never did.  

Ronald Reagan was the only GOP President of the 4 that left office with a lower unemployment rate than when he took office.  All three democratic Presidents left office with a lower unemployment rate than when they took office.  The largest single year federal budget deficits took place on Trump's watch and hit $3.1 trillion in fiscal year 2020 and $2.7 trillion in fiscal year ending 9/30/21.  The largest increases in federal spending took place on Reagan's watch 75% and Bush 43 watch 61%.  The smallest took place on Clinton's watch 28% and Obama's watch 25%.

Real Plant and Equipment Investment by business average annual increase was up 3.3% under Reagan and 9.4% under Clinton.  Those GOP tax cuts were supposed to be a boom for business investments, instead it was a boom with Clinton's tax increases because he had an economic policy.  The highest sustained unemployment rate took place on Reagan's watch when the rate stayed at over 10% for 10 straight months from September 1982 to June 1983.  No Democratic administration even came close to those numbers for unemployment.

The GOP tax cuts for those who need them the least has proven over the years to be a MYTH in delivering the economic benefits they claim for the country and its people.  And now with Trump and his party still pushing those tax cuts once again with the enabling media's help, the public is once again being misled into another recession and a regression in the nation's economic and fiscal health.  The facts and the truth are out there.  The GOP tax cuts are based on ideology and not economic policy and therefore have failed.  Democrats govern by economic policy that addresses the issues and that is why their administrations have governed more efficiently and effective.  

During the last 45 years of governing, the GOP's future was a continuation of their failed past.  And now, with Trump's second term in progress, the future resembles the failed past.

This commentary written by  Joe Lorio