The Saints won their final game of the season in Tampa. It was a victory over a team who only won two games this entire season and will not be a model for what the future holds for the Saints. For the third straight year the Saints finished weak instead of strong loosing 5 of their last 8 games. Last season they lost 4 of their last 7 games. The Saints beat only two teams with a winning record this season, Pittsburgh and Green Bay.
The 7-9 loosing record was the Saints second loosing season in the past three years. The worst part of those three seasons is that the Saints showed no improvement and this season showed a marked decline from last season. Sports writers in New Orleans never saw it coming even though the evidence was there and pointed out on several occasions in "PolitiDose." As this writer mentioned before, the writers lack the objectivity to properly evaluate the Saints because of their relationship with the team, their apple polishing stories and the hype they perpetuate.
All was not well with the Saints before the 2014 season started but sports writer Larry Holder said in a Times Picayune article of 7/23/14, "The expectation of Super Bowl Glory is warranted." Holder and Jeff Duncan were so wrong on their predictions this year concerning the Saints, they finally saw the light later in the season and instead of apologizing to the fans and readers and saying I was wrong used the words WE WERE ALL WRONG. Well WE were not all wrong but they were.
What hapened the last 3 seasons was there for all to see. There were no positive signs of improvement. They were not ready to play and win the games that counted the most. Carolina showed how important that factor was by winning their final 4 games defeating the Saints and Atlanta on the road to win the division title. The Saints had the same opportunity but lost to both Carolina and the Falcons at home in the Superdome. Carolina finished strong and on the road. The Saints finished weak and of all places, finished weak at home.
Holder continued his apple polishing stories the day after the Tampa game in the Times Picayune of 12/29/14 by bragging about Brees personal stats along with the same comments by other Saint players in order to deflect any negative talk about Brees. Well, individual stats do not win championships, playing as a team does that. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady once again did more for their teams than Brees did for his team.
"PolitiDose" in several commentaries after boundy gate was exposed, explored what was going on and even questioned the Saint's future under Payton and Brees and even predicted what the 2011 season would look like without Sean Payton on the sidelines. That same season Saint players said everything would be fine because the players were professionals, they knew their jobs, they had the players and of course the sports writers ran with that hype.
This writer published a commentary in "PolitiDose" dated 7/24/14, months before the season started titled,"Times Picayune Sports Writer Larry Holder and The New Orleans Saints." The last sentence of my commentary was as follows and I quote. DON'T BE SURPRISED IF LAST YEARS FINISH BY THE SAINTS LOOSING 4 OF THEIR LAST 7 GAMES IS A PRELUDE TO HOW THE SAINTS PERFORM THIS SEASON.
And you read it here first in "PolitiDose"
Stay tuned for Part II and read why Bountygate was a prelude to what has taken place with the Saints.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Friday, December 26, 2014
The Good News Continues On The U.S. Economy At Years End.
The Commerce Department reported that the U.S. economy grew at a 5% annual rate in the third quarter ending September 30. The stock market hit an all time high closing above 18,000. It has been pointed out many times in PolitiDose that the good economic news would happen on the watch of President Obama because democratic administrations always perform better for the country and its people. It is a precedent that has held true for many, many years especially since Ronald Reagan took office because that is when the republican party started its "blame big government" for everything ideology.
The Commerce Department also reported: Strong consumer spending and business investment: That the quartly growth was the fastest growth since the summer of 2003. (Thats 13 years ago) Income posted the best gains in five months; November consumer spending grew at its fastest pace in 3 months. We also know from other reports that U.S. economic out put is at an all time high and so are corporate profits.
The good economic news should be followed up by President Obama with policies and or executive action that will continue the economic expansion, job creation and increase in wages for the average workers. The republican party continues to sit on the side lines and play no role in correcting the mistakes of the previous republican administration that presided over the second great republican depression. In fact the ending of this year will mark their 6th straight year of opposing the President's policies that have worked for the country and its people.
We will know soon enough if the new congress, controlled by the republican party has the courage or character to stand up and join the human race.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
The Commerce Department also reported: Strong consumer spending and business investment: That the quartly growth was the fastest growth since the summer of 2003. (Thats 13 years ago) Income posted the best gains in five months; November consumer spending grew at its fastest pace in 3 months. We also know from other reports that U.S. economic out put is at an all time high and so are corporate profits.
The good economic news should be followed up by President Obama with policies and or executive action that will continue the economic expansion, job creation and increase in wages for the average workers. The republican party continues to sit on the side lines and play no role in correcting the mistakes of the previous republican administration that presided over the second great republican depression. In fact the ending of this year will mark their 6th straight year of opposing the President's policies that have worked for the country and its people.
We will know soon enough if the new congress, controlled by the republican party has the courage or character to stand up and join the human race.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE
I would like to wish everyone and their family a very, very Merry Christmas. May your day be full of fond memories this Christmas season, joy, friendship and a true understanding of what the spirit of Christmas is all about. May your day be merry, warm, safe, peacefull and may you and your family have many, many more to come.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE
Yours truly,
John Lucia
The News Media's Presidential Preference For The 2016 Election.
And its Jeb Bush vs. Hillary Clinton. In the last two weeks they made that clear in their statements. Both have the contacts and ability to raise one billion dollars each for the campaign. That would be a record the news media points out. It would also mean a record amount of money spent for campaign ads for the news media.
So the public can look for and expect to see the media give those two much exposure in the near future and cable TV will lead the way. The exposure will drown out the other hopefuls in each party. The voting public have become pawns to the news media and the special interest groups.
This writer would like to see a new generation of leaders emerge for the 2016 election. Candidates who have vision and knowledge about government and how it functions best: Candidates who are willing and able to dismiss the status quo and recognize that understanding the mistakes of the past is the key to a better future; Candidates who understand that the middle class should participate more fully in the success their companies achieve; Candidates that have the understanding of foreign policy like Roosevelt, Truman, Ike and Kennedy; Candidates who are willing to reverse the influence of the special interest groups and put America and its people first.
President Kennedy captured the hearts and imagination of the American people like no other in my lifetime. There has to be some one out there in this great country who can once again make us all feel young. After all, we are still a country where dreams come true.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
So the public can look for and expect to see the media give those two much exposure in the near future and cable TV will lead the way. The exposure will drown out the other hopefuls in each party. The voting public have become pawns to the news media and the special interest groups.
This writer would like to see a new generation of leaders emerge for the 2016 election. Candidates who have vision and knowledge about government and how it functions best: Candidates who are willing and able to dismiss the status quo and recognize that understanding the mistakes of the past is the key to a better future; Candidates who understand that the middle class should participate more fully in the success their companies achieve; Candidates that have the understanding of foreign policy like Roosevelt, Truman, Ike and Kennedy; Candidates who are willing to reverse the influence of the special interest groups and put America and its people first.
President Kennedy captured the hearts and imagination of the American people like no other in my lifetime. There has to be some one out there in this great country who can once again make us all feel young. After all, we are still a country where dreams come true.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Conservative Journalist Cal Thomas And His Cowardly Opinion.
Thomas in a Times Picayune column of 12/21/14 says terrorists will surely attack America and wonders what Obama will do when the attack occurs. He then goes on to wonder if Obama would issue the predictable denunciations and apologies for Islam. Thomas is a coward for making that statement and shows his contempt for American values. He also shows how much he hates the President.
Thomas wants to see America's homeland hit because Obama has been more protective of our country than Thomas's hero, President George W. Bush. He is even willing to lie about Obama being an apologist for Islam. It shows how extreme Thomas's views are and how unAmerican his ideology really plays out.
Its the same old conservative republican story. When your party has no accomplishments, strike back at the guy in the other party. Thomas knows that Bush's invasion and occupation of Iraq over WMD that did not exist created Al Queda in Iraq and ISIS. His mentallity is such that he wants to see America attacked again, especially on Obama's watch. American casualties means nothing to this guy.
Cal Thomas belongs to the same group of conservatives who tried to blame President Clinton for the tragic attack on 9/11. Its unfortunate when men can not act like men and have no character or courage to boot.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Thomas wants to see America's homeland hit because Obama has been more protective of our country than Thomas's hero, President George W. Bush. He is even willing to lie about Obama being an apologist for Islam. It shows how extreme Thomas's views are and how unAmerican his ideology really plays out.
Its the same old conservative republican story. When your party has no accomplishments, strike back at the guy in the other party. Thomas knows that Bush's invasion and occupation of Iraq over WMD that did not exist created Al Queda in Iraq and ISIS. His mentallity is such that he wants to see America attacked again, especially on Obama's watch. American casualties means nothing to this guy.
Cal Thomas belongs to the same group of conservatives who tried to blame President Clinton for the tragic attack on 9/11. Its unfortunate when men can not act like men and have no character or courage to boot.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
The Unemployment Rate Is Up Again In Louisiana
The unemployment rate in Louisiana for November ws 6.5%, the seventh straight monthly increase according to the U.S. Labor Department. It was 5.6% in November of 2013. The unemployment trend in Louisiana has been up while the trend nationally has been down. The unemployment rate in November fell in 41 states, rose in 3 states and were flat in 6 states. There was more bad news for Louisiana.
According to the Pew Research, 29 states increased spending for mental health while Louisiana decreased spending on mental health the last two budget cycles. It also ranked Louisiana as one of the worse states for mental health services and access.
And the latest information from Jindal's office is that the budget deficit for this fiscal year ending June 30 will be $170 million plus. That is the same budget Jindal and the state legislature announced as balanced at the start of the fiscal year. State revenues are not meeting projections. And if that sounds familiar its because it is a repeat story. Budget cuts will be coming once again.
The $25 billion state budget contains $8 billion of tax breaks and exemptions for bussiness. That is about 30% of the budget in loss revenue to the state and Jindal and the republican controlled legislature continues to sign off on those tax give aways. Republicans on the state level are no better than those on the federal level. But hey, Louisiana is a republican state with bragging rights.
It will take another democratic administration and legislature to turn this mess around. In the mean time Jindal will continue to try and sell himself as a republican Presidential candidate. What a sad chapter in Louisiana history.
This commentary written by John Lucia
According to the Pew Research, 29 states increased spending for mental health while Louisiana decreased spending on mental health the last two budget cycles. It also ranked Louisiana as one of the worse states for mental health services and access.
And the latest information from Jindal's office is that the budget deficit for this fiscal year ending June 30 will be $170 million plus. That is the same budget Jindal and the state legislature announced as balanced at the start of the fiscal year. State revenues are not meeting projections. And if that sounds familiar its because it is a repeat story. Budget cuts will be coming once again.
The $25 billion state budget contains $8 billion of tax breaks and exemptions for bussiness. That is about 30% of the budget in loss revenue to the state and Jindal and the republican controlled legislature continues to sign off on those tax give aways. Republicans on the state level are no better than those on the federal level. But hey, Louisiana is a republican state with bragging rights.
It will take another democratic administration and legislature to turn this mess around. In the mean time Jindal will continue to try and sell himself as a republican Presidential candidate. What a sad chapter in Louisiana history.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Thursday, December 18, 2014
President Obama's Latest Position On Cuba: Another Big First For PolitiDose.
The President's latest approach to Cuba in a speech to the nation on Wednesday was long overdue by an American President. Cuba, an island nation located 90 miles from America was once a natural trading partner and vacation location in our own hemisphere. It was controlled by a dictator back then like so many other countries near by. Every one knows what took place when Castro came to power so there is no need to repeat the story here. The President's actions did what this writer suggested in a commemtary dated 11/23/07 titled Cuba: A Missed Opportunity for America.
Cuba outlasted 11 America Presidents and a embargo that was supposed to bring the Castro government down. It did not, it only damaged the Cuban people. Cuba itself has never been a threat to America since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. It was only a threat then because of Russian nuclear missiles installed on that island. President Kennedy took care of that threat, understood a free Cuba with out influence from the outside could be an ally and partner in our hemisphere and some of his top aids said had he lived and were reelected President would have moved to improve relations with Cuba and reduce Russian influence.
The republican's reaction to the President's speech was predictable, the usual negative rhetoric, especially from Louisiana's Jindal and Scalise. Both little boys still represent the stupid party's wing. Now the starting point of diplomacy with Cuba has begun after laying dead for over 50 years. Congress should support the President's actions because America has everything to gain. More freedom for the Cuban people means less influence by the Cuban government. Bringing families together again will accomplish the same thing.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu: Her Service Will Be Missed By Louisiana And The Nation.
Mary Landrieu's three terms in congress was a productive one both on the state and national level. She was a Senator who understood the issues and did not use ideology as a political tool. Serving under 3 Presidents, Clinton, Bush 43 and Obama she voted with and against some of their policies. But she never voted to shut the government down.
If she voted 97% of the time with Obama's policies that speaks well of her because no thanks to the republicans, the economy is growing, job creation is robust, unemployment is down, federal spending is down, the deficit is down and being reduced on a steady basis, the country has been safe from terror attacks unlike under the previous administration, Bin Laden was brought to justice, inflation is under control, the GDP is growing, the country has a successful foreign policy and the ACA and medicaid expansion has insured millions of Americans. And just recently 3 more republican governors said their state would participate in the medicaid expansion under the ACA.
A noted conservative think tank said Bill Cassidy voted 98% of the time with republican speaker of the house John Boehner. Well any one who follows politics knows that the republican controlled U.S. House has no real accomplishments for the country or its people to speak of. They did vote to shut down the government two years ago and Cassidy was right there with them. Yes, this writer will take Landrieu's 97% vote with Obama over Cassidy's 98% vote with John Boehner any day.
Louisiana will miss Senator Landrieu service because the republican party has no record on moving the state forward. Jindal and the state republican party have been a disaster. If I was a young man I would run for governor. I could handle any thing the republicans would try to throw at me. And that says it all.
Note: Bill Cassidy served 3 terms as a U.S. Representative but during the campaign could not list any one accomplishment under his signature that became law. So like a republican ditto head when you have nothing to show the people, attack your opponent.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
If she voted 97% of the time with Obama's policies that speaks well of her because no thanks to the republicans, the economy is growing, job creation is robust, unemployment is down, federal spending is down, the deficit is down and being reduced on a steady basis, the country has been safe from terror attacks unlike under the previous administration, Bin Laden was brought to justice, inflation is under control, the GDP is growing, the country has a successful foreign policy and the ACA and medicaid expansion has insured millions of Americans. And just recently 3 more republican governors said their state would participate in the medicaid expansion under the ACA.
A noted conservative think tank said Bill Cassidy voted 98% of the time with republican speaker of the house John Boehner. Well any one who follows politics knows that the republican controlled U.S. House has no real accomplishments for the country or its people to speak of. They did vote to shut down the government two years ago and Cassidy was right there with them. Yes, this writer will take Landrieu's 97% vote with Obama over Cassidy's 98% vote with John Boehner any day.
Louisiana will miss Senator Landrieu service because the republican party has no record on moving the state forward. Jindal and the state republican party have been a disaster. If I was a young man I would run for governor. I could handle any thing the republicans would try to throw at me. And that says it all.
Note: Bill Cassidy served 3 terms as a U.S. Representative but during the campaign could not list any one accomplishment under his signature that became law. So like a republican ditto head when you have nothing to show the people, attack your opponent.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Torture: America's Moral Mantle Of World Leadership Betrayed.
Our fore-fathers who established what is now the United States of America stood tall and authored a constitution that set the country on a course of moral and political responsibility. And for over two centuries world leaders and people of the world have looked up to and admired the U.S. for its moral character.
The U.S. Senate report on CIA torture is a betrayal of America's high ideals and moral character and a major regression from the nations past leaders who understood that our strength and endurance as a people are rooted in a moral creed. Past Presidents have been eloquent on the subject matter and understood that dispite our many failures the U.S. was moral in its judgements and its policy towards others at home and abroad.
The report brought denials from those involved and former V.P. Dick Cheney even said he would do it again. Some republicans supported Cheney's position. Senator John McCain, a former POW who was tortured by his captors supported the report and its findings and said torture should never be accepted. Others said the report should not have been made public.
President Obama stood tall and banned torture after he took office. This writer ;pointed out in a recent commentary about the CIA, President Truman's remarks in a letter to the Washington Post when he said over 50 years ago, "There is something about the way the CIA has been functioning that is casting a shadow over our HISTORIC POSITION and I feel we need to correct it." President Truman knew what leadership was all about and that the President is the one person who has to set the example and lead. He fired General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean War when the general disobeyed the President's orders. The buck stopped on President Truman's desk.
To those who believe the report should not have been made public lets turn to what President Kennedy said in a speech on the 20th anniversary of the Voice of America in February 1962. We are obliged to tell our story in a truthful way, to tell it, as Olivefr Cromwell said about his portrait, Paint us with all our blemishes and warts, all those things about us that may not be so immediately attractive. We compete with those who are our adversaries who tell only the good stories. But the things that go bad in America, you must tell that also. And we hope that the bad and the good is sifted together by people of judgement and discretion and taste and discrimination, that they will realize what we are trying to do here. We seek a free flow of information. We are not afraid to entrust the Ameican people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas,alien philosophies, and competitive values. for a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. President Kennedy was well aware of our nations values, morals and Historic positions.
President George W. Bush failed the test of a true leader in allowing the torture thing to happen and let it get out of hand. He denied torture during the time it was taken place and worst of all was still in denial after it was exposed. President Bush like so many in his administration wore their morality and religion on their sleeves for political reasons. True leaders on the other hand have the widsom to know the difference and govern with policies that represent what our nation and people are all about. There is no excuse for what happened on Bush's watch. WWII was a much larger problem for America than the problems Bush was dealing with but President's Roosevelt and Truman prosecuted that war with policies that defined who we are, our values, our moral responsibility, our ideals and our historic positions.
President Obama took the right first step, congress took the second step with the release of the report and now it is up to the President to follow up and future Presidents to never forget.
Note: See my previous commentary dagted 11/28/07 titled, Diplomacy: Democrats Force Reality On Bush where I write about moral responsibility.
This commentary written by John Lucia
The U.S. Senate report on CIA torture is a betrayal of America's high ideals and moral character and a major regression from the nations past leaders who understood that our strength and endurance as a people are rooted in a moral creed. Past Presidents have been eloquent on the subject matter and understood that dispite our many failures the U.S. was moral in its judgements and its policy towards others at home and abroad.
The report brought denials from those involved and former V.P. Dick Cheney even said he would do it again. Some republicans supported Cheney's position. Senator John McCain, a former POW who was tortured by his captors supported the report and its findings and said torture should never be accepted. Others said the report should not have been made public.
President Obama stood tall and banned torture after he took office. This writer ;pointed out in a recent commentary about the CIA, President Truman's remarks in a letter to the Washington Post when he said over 50 years ago, "There is something about the way the CIA has been functioning that is casting a shadow over our HISTORIC POSITION and I feel we need to correct it." President Truman knew what leadership was all about and that the President is the one person who has to set the example and lead. He fired General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean War when the general disobeyed the President's orders. The buck stopped on President Truman's desk.
To those who believe the report should not have been made public lets turn to what President Kennedy said in a speech on the 20th anniversary of the Voice of America in February 1962. We are obliged to tell our story in a truthful way, to tell it, as Olivefr Cromwell said about his portrait, Paint us with all our blemishes and warts, all those things about us that may not be so immediately attractive. We compete with those who are our adversaries who tell only the good stories. But the things that go bad in America, you must tell that also. And we hope that the bad and the good is sifted together by people of judgement and discretion and taste and discrimination, that they will realize what we are trying to do here. We seek a free flow of information. We are not afraid to entrust the Ameican people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas,alien philosophies, and competitive values. for a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. President Kennedy was well aware of our nations values, morals and Historic positions.
President George W. Bush failed the test of a true leader in allowing the torture thing to happen and let it get out of hand. He denied torture during the time it was taken place and worst of all was still in denial after it was exposed. President Bush like so many in his administration wore their morality and religion on their sleeves for political reasons. True leaders on the other hand have the widsom to know the difference and govern with policies that represent what our nation and people are all about. There is no excuse for what happened on Bush's watch. WWII was a much larger problem for America than the problems Bush was dealing with but President's Roosevelt and Truman prosecuted that war with policies that defined who we are, our values, our moral responsibility, our ideals and our historic positions.
President Obama took the right first step, congress took the second step with the release of the report and now it is up to the President to follow up and future Presidents to never forget.
Note: See my previous commentary dagted 11/28/07 titled, Diplomacy: Democrats Force Reality On Bush where I write about moral responsibility.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)