The GOP's Presidential Campaign Is A Circus and Washington Post Columnist Kathleen Parker Is Right There With Them.

The republican candidates for their party's Presidential nomination has turned their campaign into a circus.  It's nothing new but on a larger scale with so many of them running.  First it was just Trump with his personal attacks and silly statements and now his opponents are returning the favor with the exception of Carly Fiorina and John Kasich.  Mike Huchabee and Ted Cruz tried to act like ring masters by going to Kentucky to support Kim Davis position of disobeying the law on the issue of marriage licenses.

Does the voting public really believe those candidates are serious people who should be elected to the highest and most powerful office in the land.  Every day they display their lack of political understanding which is so important and necessary to make decisions that affect the people and the country.  Like their fellow republicans who control both houses of congress they have no policy or plans to talk about that are positive.  They only know America is going to hell.

Kathleen Parker, columnist for the Washington Post joined the circus with her opinion column published in the Times Picayune of 9/13/15 titled, Jindal Unmasks The Truth About Trump concerning Jindal's comments before the National Press Club about Trump.  Parker praises Jindal's record in Louisiana even though the people in Louisiana rate him poorly.  

Jindal said in one of his statements Trump was not a serious candidate and was devoid of substance.  Well Kathleen Parker, that statement and others made by Jindal actually describe Jindal and the republican party in general along with their Presidential hopefuls.  She also believes Jindal's statements are true about Trump.  You can not have a circus without news media attention and Kathleen makes that possible.

The republican party, conservatives and a Presidential campaign circus is not very entertaining except to the news media.  Unfortunately, the wrong message is sent to the voting public.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Wealth Parade Continues: Part II

On October 18, 2008 (almost 7 years ago) I wrote a commentary here in "PolitiDose" concerning Hedge Fund Managers, the staggering amount of money they made and the resulting power they possess on the economy and the nations financial system.  It was just another example pointed out in "PolitiDose" many times over how wealth was being transferred from the middle class to the wealthy.

That October 18 commentary talked about an article in Forbes magazine reporting that the top 20 Hedge and private equity fund individual fund managers earned a combined total of $18.7 billion in 2007, up 43% from 2006.  In other words those 20 earners earned an average of $935 million each for that year.  Oil man T. Boone Pickens was one of the 20 hedge fund managers.  Pickens has also been the subject of past "PolitiDose" commentary

Now comes two articles published in the Huffington Post dated September 10 concerning the same subject matter written by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and filmaker Robert Greenwald.  Their two articles reported that the 25 top hedge fund managers in 2014 made more money than every single kindergarden teacher in America, over 150,000 of them and paid a lower tax rate than the average kindergarden teacher because of an IRS loophole that was created for other purposes before hedge funds even came into existence.

Some other findings in the articles are as follows:  (a)  If hedge fund managers were taxed like everyone else, there would be at least $17.7 billion tax dollars to:  (b)  pay the salary of 560,000 new classroom aides for over crowded classrooms,  (c)  fund free school lunches  for the entire country with $5 billion to spare.

Those two articles are certainly welcome and should have been recognized by the two authors a long time ago, but better late than never.  The subject matter of fair taxation for all and the transfer of wealth from the middle class to the wealthy was put at the top of "PolitiDose" commentary long before any one started to talk about income inequality, for that is what the transfer of wealth is all about.

It is another example why the public needs to elect serious public officials to make a difference and rewrite the tax code where everyone pays his or her fair share and to eliminate the special interest of those who care only of themselves.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Invoke's The Name Of God

THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN is one of the ten commandments, yet there are those like Kim Davis and others who have used God to justify their own actions and religious beliefs to discriminate against others.

Davis as a public employee of the state or county and who is responsible for issuing marriage license to those couple's who are qualified to be married under existing laws that are made by man.  Her refusal to do so by taking the name of God in vain is a violation of her job and laws she swore to execute and as a result was found in contempt of the law and sentenced to jail time.

Republicans Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee who are both seeking their party's nomination for President went to Kentucky to support Davis.  Like many so called conservatives, both support using the name of God and freedom of religion to discriminate.  And like the republican party in general use religion to divide the country and its people.

There is documented evidence that four thousand years ago kings in the middle east went to war with other middle east countries in the name of their God, or by order of their God.  Those religious wars in that part of the world are still going on today with the various factions.  Those wars will continue to go on as long as religion is used for justification.

The separation of church and state in the U. S. Constitution has worked well and will continue to do so as long as religion is not allowed to preempt the civil laws of the country using religious freedom as a means to discriminate and overturn civil laws.  The U.S. has always been a nation of laws and have accepted even those laws when there is disagreement.  But now conservatives have adopted a new tactic.  Use religion to oppose and not enforce the laws you don't like even if it means discrimination.

The judge who sentenced Kim Davis to jail for her refusal to obey the law made the right decision.  She was released from jail yesterday because her office in her absence has begun to issuing marriage license to some same sex couples.  If people like Davis get their way what is the next step?  Well it will be intolerance of other people's religion and a break down of civil law.  Judge Bunning in releasing Davis ordered her not to interfere with the issuing of marriage licenses by her office.

At the inauguration of an American President he places his hand on the bible and swears to up hold the constitution and the laws of the land.  Republican's Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee supported Davis in her position of disobeying the law and refusing to do her job.  I guess if one of them were President they would be willing to violate their oath of office and the laws they swore to uphold.

Where are our serious public officials?  That and leadership is what is missing in our political system today.



This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Unemployment And Job Creation: A Positive Continuation Of The Economy

The U.S. Labor Department announced that the unemployment rate in August was 5.1%, down from the 5.3% in July and U.S. business continues to add jobs.  The economy created 173,000 jobs in August and that was the 66th straight month of positive job growth.

Congress returns from their many breaks this week and has a full plate of legislation to consider for the balance of this year and next fiscal year of the federal government which begins October 1.  Funding for this fiscal year ends September 30 and congress needs to find a way to avoid another shutdown that some republicans are talking about doing.

Congress also needs to pass the highway bill that the republicans have kicked down the road for the past 3 years.  The democratic controlled Senate passed a highway bill three years ago only to die in the republican controlled U.S. House.  A highway bill will create jobs and good paying ones and will be an additional positive factor for the economy.  It is time for the republican party to step up to the plate and act like serious public officials.

I believe any fair minded person would agree its time for the republicans in congress to stand up and be counted and support the President's agenda for the next year and four months.  It is past time they separate themselves from the do nothing party.

In the mean time the democratic administration of President Obama continues to move the country and its people forward.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Louisiana's U.S. Representative Charles Boustany: Another Failed Conservative On The U.S. Tax Code

In a Times Picayune article dated 9/4/15 Boustany opposes Trumps suggestion to raise the tax rate on Hedge Fund Managers and raise tariffs on products produced over seas.  Boustany said that was simply not conservative and sounded like a liberal policy coming from Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.

Hedge Fund Managers make billions in profits, create no jobs, is speculative in nature and the tax code allows a tax rate on their income that is lower than many middle class family pays. It is sort of like Romney's Venture Capitol where other companies are bought and sold.  According to the tax records Romney released he paid an effective tax rate between 12-13% on millions of dollars of income.

Boustany called the corporate tax system one of the harshest corporate tax system on the planet.  But he failed to mention corporate America does not pay nearly the tax burden he talks about and actually pay less than the middle class.  Boustany is a member of the U.S. House tax writing committee.  His committee and congress are responsible for all the tax loopholes and tax breaks granted to corporate America and the wealthy.

Trump is right on wanting a fair tax to be paid by the Hedge Fund Managers.  Boustany and conservative tax policies have been a failure in creating a robust economy and job creation.  Just ask the most recent republican conservative administration, that of President George W. Bush.  Their tax policies are also the reason the national debt has increased so much and the fact that no republican President has balanced the federal budget since President Eisenhower in 1960.


Boustany is one of a long list of republican conservatives who disregard the facts because of their ideology.  And the facts are Democratic administrations perform better than republican administrations for the country and its people because of policy.  That includes the economy, job creation, reducing federal deficits and balancing the federal budget and keeping America safe at home and abroad and so many other areas of governing.  And yes, it was the democratic administration of President Obama and his policy that reversed the second great republican recession of 2008 with its massive job losses and record deficit spending.

The U.S. House which Boustany is a member and which has been under republican control for the last 4 years is a dysfunctional one with no accomplishments.  They have wasted the tax payers time to vote on defunding the ACA over 50 times.  The conservative ideology Boustany and his party preach has been a total failure.  Just look at the latest low poll numbers of their established conservative republican Presidential candidates.  That really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another Huge First For "PolitiDose"

On Thursday September 3 Donald Trump did what republicans do, sign pledges.  The Donald signed the republican pledge and in doing so swore to not run as a third party candidate and to support who ever wins the republican nomination for President.  Trump's actions confirm what has been written here in "PolitiDose" from day one.  That is Trump and the republican party are one and the same.

Trump is now squarely in the republican camp and there can be no separation of the party's extreme positions.  Republicans are good at signing pledges but have failed to sign the most important one, the pledge to put America and its people first.  In all probability the signing will tarnish Trump's campaign and will be thought of as just one of the 17 republican candidates whose campaign so far has been HO-Hum.

The American people don't seem to be impressed with the attention the news media has given Trump and his republican opponents for the latest polls show Clinton defeating Trump, Carson and Bush in the general election and while that same news media has tried to paint Clinton in trouble over her emails.  For those who follow politics, Trump is just an extension of the republican party's ideology that has been out of step with America's ideals for many years.  He just talks a little different.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise: Still Deeply In The Pocket Of The Oil Industry

Steve Scalise and the republican party want to do away with the ban on American oil exports that has been in place for many years and for a reason.  Now with falling oil and gasoline prices the industry has been laying off employees and cutting back on drilling and production.

There are three reasons for the falling prices, a glut of oil on the market (over supply), OPEC's decision not to cut back their production and alternate fuels.  So the domestic oil industry wants the export ban lifted so they can start exporting  their glut of oil and tighten the supply and demand to raise the price of oil and gasoline once again.  The industry wants the price of a barrel of oil to be around $90 per barrel.

The Federal Energy Department did a study on the matter according to a Times Picayune article of 9/2/15 and found that (1)  lifting the ban likely won't increase prices at the pump and might even result in a small price reduction.  (2)  the report also states global supply and demand, not exports will be the major factor in determining future oil prices.  Scalise tries to use those words to justify lifting the ban, but the report is not a conclusive one and that is why they use the word "likely" in (1) above.  In (2) above the report talks about future oil prices that supply and demand will have an effect on not the current price and that is what exports would do.  That is what the oil industry is looking for.

The fact of the matter is President Obama has recently approved the export of a certain amount of U.S. crude to be exported to Mexico.  The President has the authority to do so and this is not the first exception to the ban.  This Mexico story was carried in the Times Picayune of 8/15/15 and points out the ban on exports was put into place for national security reasons.  Of course Scalise knows all of that.

What is going on here is proof of what this writer has commented on here in "PolitiDose" many times over in the past.  The oil and gas industry will never make America independent of foreign oil and for the reasons stated in those commentaries.  Scalise and other elected officials who are the mouth piece for the oil industry have no record of any policy that would actually provide the opportunity for the U.S. to become independent when it comes to the country's energy needs.    


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

MSNBC's "All In With Chris Hayes"

Monday's program of August 31 was a good reminder why this writer tunes into the cable news networks less and less.  Hayes long winded questions to his guests are so hard to follow, any substance is lost.  It reminds me of a host trying to answer his own questions in a round about way.

Hayes questions to a senator from New Hampshire, who is one of Hillary's supporter for that state concerning Clinton's emails was total nonsense and of no value.  The same could be said about two of his other guest concerning the number of debates scheduled for the democratic Presidential candidates.

The democratic party candidates are telling their stories to the voters in person at their campaign stops and the voters understand that emails do not define Hillary.  They also understand that four debates will be enough especially when most of the debate moderators are more interested in divisive issues than substance and they are the ones who ask the questions and control the debates.

Hayes came across as better informed when he wrote for the Nation (a news magazine) and appeared on cable news as a guest.  So now he has experience as a host and a guest but evidently has learned very little.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Make America Great Again

Its the latest political slogan of one who wants to be President.  Political slogans are nothing new and usually fail because the slogan never describes reality.  America is still the greatest country in the world and for good reasons.  A constitution that is still working after 240 years with a people who are committed to a life of liberty, freedom and respect.

Foreign governments still depend upon America to lead the way and America's generosity is unparalleled.  There are a lot of thorns among the roses in American life, but the roses outnumber the thorns by far because of the American attitude.  Remember the poster and slogan, "Uncle Sam Wants You."  That was reality and America responded.  And the American people are still responding today.

The irony of this new slogan is that it has been introduced by a man whose business empire is part of the world of Corporate America, the very same entity that is aligned with the Wall Street Banks that contributed greatly to the economic collapse of 2008.  That same man says his net worth exceeds $10 billion.  That same man is now preaching intolerance and division, something our fore fathers would never have approved of.

Yes, America is still a great country and yes we can still do better.  But it won't happen with the author of a slogan that has used his wealth to receive special treatment from his government at the expense of the American people..


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

More Good News For The U.S. Economy

The U.S. Commerce Department announced that the economy grew at an annualized rate of 3.7% in the second quarter.  That was more than a full percentage point higher than the initial reading forecast earlier.  Both business and consumers led the way with increased spending.

Some other good news the Commerce Department announced are as follows:  (1)  Business investment increased at an annual rate of 3.2%.  (2)  Increased government spending at the state and local level.  (3)  A better trade picture because of export improvements.  (4)  Increase in inventories.  (5)  Claims for unemployment benefits fell by 6000 last week.  (6)  A very solid report and very much confirms the view that the U. S. economy is on a solid growth track.  (7)  The Commerce Department said there are still some questions about whether the U.S. can skirt the mounting economic turmoil in China and a volatile stock market at home.

Next week the U.S. Labor Department will announce the job and unemployment numbers for August.  The country continues to rebound and grow since the great republican economic meltdown of 2008 and the President's policies continue to work.  Unfortunately, the republican party is still satisfied to be the party of NO and just recently some of their members in congress are talking about shutting down the federal government once again.  For them, the future is like the failed past.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio