Under head coach and manager Paul Mainieri, LSU has been consistent in ending the regular season with a winning record. However, the last several seasons have been a disappointment in several phases of the game where LSU has performed poorly. The shadow of Skip Bertman still hangs over Alex Bob stadium waiting to be lifted.
This writer believes LSU has to improve in four areas to get back to the College World Series and be a force to compete for a national championship. It is not good enough to get to Omaha and go two and out like LSU has done the last few times they have been there. By observation and knowing a little about baseball this writer will try to articulate LSU's needs as following.
(1) LSU needs to become a more consistent hitting team in the clutch and not leave so many men stranded on base because they could not hit in those situations. In the last few years it became common for LSU to leave 10-12 (and at times more) runners on the bases and could not push them home.
(2) LSU needs a third starting pitcher, one that can be counted on to win. Both of LSU's starting pitchers missed a few games do to injuries last year and a third starter is a must.
(3) LSU needs a home run hitter. Single or multiple home run hitters who can be counted on to win the game with one swing of the bat. This is the SEC folks and college baseball and LSU needs a home run hitter that can deliver runs
(4) Paul Mainieri needs to do a better job at coaching and teaching and use the sacrifice bunt more often like other coaches do so successfully. That puts people in scoring position. Mainieri has not done that and it has cost LSU. Executing the basics of the game never goes out of style and it wins games, especially the close ones.
This writer will be looking to see if Mainieri and LSU produce the four needs alluded to here in. Time will tell.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Saturday, March 11, 2017
The Republican Party's Health Care Plan Circus
After saying for seven years they had a Health Care plan to replace the ACA the republicans in congress finally introduced their plan hastily and almost immediately, was criticized by their own party members who said it was not a replacement at all and unacceptable. Trump, who told the people he would introduce his own health care plan early this month and so far has not, had to step in and say the republican plan was negotiable like the republicans did not even talk to their own members in congress what the plan contained.
The evidence was clear to this writer long ago that the republican party does not want a health care plan nor do they believe in health care. And it becomes clearer every day the way they have batted the issue around with no sound plan at all. Its like Trump wanting to build the WALL because he and his party do not believe in immigration reform. The WALL is an excuse.
The sad part of this issue is that Trump and his party continue to lie about the ACA, its costs and effectiveness because they can not articulate an alternative health care plan to replace the ACA. The lying has gotten so bad that Fox News host Sheperd Smith had to say the lying has to stop. Can you imagine that, Fox News, the network that has been broadcasting Trump and his party's lies for years now say enough is enough.
The Obama administration has been gone only six weeks and it is sadly missed. Meanwhile the republican circus continues. Hillary's win in the popular vote becomes clearer every day, her supporters understood what Trump was all about and rejected him.
Special Note: Trump's big lie and charge that the ACA is a disaster and a bankrupt program has been proven wrong by the facts released in two reports which was the subject of two commentaries by this writer in "PolitiDose", the most recent one in the last few weeks.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The evidence was clear to this writer long ago that the republican party does not want a health care plan nor do they believe in health care. And it becomes clearer every day the way they have batted the issue around with no sound plan at all. Its like Trump wanting to build the WALL because he and his party do not believe in immigration reform. The WALL is an excuse.
The sad part of this issue is that Trump and his party continue to lie about the ACA, its costs and effectiveness because they can not articulate an alternative health care plan to replace the ACA. The lying has gotten so bad that Fox News host Sheperd Smith had to say the lying has to stop. Can you imagine that, Fox News, the network that has been broadcasting Trump and his party's lies for years now say enough is enough.
The Obama administration has been gone only six weeks and it is sadly missed. Meanwhile the republican circus continues. Hillary's win in the popular vote becomes clearer every day, her supporters understood what Trump was all about and rejected him.
Special Note: Trump's big lie and charge that the ACA is a disaster and a bankrupt program has been proven wrong by the facts released in two reports which was the subject of two commentaries by this writer in "PolitiDose", the most recent one in the last few weeks.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Friday, March 10, 2017
Another Good Jobs Report For February
The U.S. Labor Department announced that the economy created 235,000 jobs in February and the unemployment rate fell to 4.7%. It was the 77th straight month of positive job growth and a continuation of the economic recovery put in place by the Obama administration. Trump will try and take credit for the positive news since the February numbers took place on his watch. But Trump is also the same person who criticized the positive job numbers of the past during Obama's Presidency.
The Labor Department also announced that 9000 more jobs were created for December and January than originally reported which added to those two months positive numbers. Once Trump's policies are voted on and passed the nation will then begin to see how well his administration does in producing jobs in his first term. He promised 20 million new jobs in his first term. That number would be the best ever for any President. Hourly wages were up again in February at 2/10% and continue their upward trend.
It has been fun this past week watching Trump and his team take credit for the small gains in the stock market lately. The stock market DJIA almost tripled on President Obama's watch so any stock market move now has to be taken with a grain of salt. FAKE NEWS seems to still be an avenue for this administration.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
The Labor Department also announced that 9000 more jobs were created for December and January than originally reported which added to those two months positive numbers. Once Trump's policies are voted on and passed the nation will then begin to see how well his administration does in producing jobs in his first term. He promised 20 million new jobs in his first term. That number would be the best ever for any President. Hourly wages were up again in February at 2/10% and continue their upward trend.
It has been fun this past week watching Trump and his team take credit for the small gains in the stock market lately. The stock market DJIA almost tripled on President Obama's watch so any stock market move now has to be taken with a grain of salt. FAKE NEWS seems to still be an avenue for this administration.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Exxon-Mobil's Corporate Press Release and President Trump's Press Release: Propaganda To No Where But Confirmation That President Obama's Economic Policies Worked.
The Huffington Post in a March 6 commentary reported that the White House issued a press release half an hour after Exxon-Mobil issued a corporate press release about the company investing $20 billion in new oil refineries and chemical plants across the Gulf Coast. The Post also pointed out the White House press release contained a paragraph the Exxon-Mobil release used verbatim.
In the White House press release the President congratulated Exxon-Mobil for the 45,000 jobs the investment will create and tried to link those jobs to Trumps promise to bring back jobs to America. Exxon-Mobil in its press release said, INVESTMENTS OF THIS SCALE REQUIRE A PRO-GROWTH APPROACH AND A STABLE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT AND WE APPRECIATE THE PRESIDENTS COMMITMENT TO BOTH. The President and Exxon-Mobil really patted each other on the back like good corporate Americans with FAKE NEWS. Then in another paragraph of Exxon-Mobil corporate release it stated the BOMB SHELL and I quote: INVESTMENTS BEGAN IN 2013 (four years ago) AND ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST 2022.
Does the reader see the Trump-Exxon-Mobil propaganda? That 2013 investment began during the administration of President Obama which indicates Exxon-Mobil knew the Obama administration's economic policies were pro-growth with sound regulations that protected the environment. Trump had nothing to do with it and as of this writing has no economic record. President Obama's pro-growth policies also ended the second great republican depression of 2008, created jobs (including the Exxon-Mobil jobs from 2013 to 2017 when Obama left office) reduced deficit spending, reduced the unemployment rate and his foreign policy kept America safe at home and abroad.
President Trump continues to wallow in his own FAKE NEWS, with the help of Exxon-Mobil in this case, while former President Obama's accomplishments are already recorded in the book of history.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
In the White House press release the President congratulated Exxon-Mobil for the 45,000 jobs the investment will create and tried to link those jobs to Trumps promise to bring back jobs to America. Exxon-Mobil in its press release said, INVESTMENTS OF THIS SCALE REQUIRE A PRO-GROWTH APPROACH AND A STABLE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT AND WE APPRECIATE THE PRESIDENTS COMMITMENT TO BOTH. The President and Exxon-Mobil really patted each other on the back like good corporate Americans with FAKE NEWS. Then in another paragraph of Exxon-Mobil corporate release it stated the BOMB SHELL and I quote: INVESTMENTS BEGAN IN 2013 (four years ago) AND ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST 2022.
Does the reader see the Trump-Exxon-Mobil propaganda? That 2013 investment began during the administration of President Obama which indicates Exxon-Mobil knew the Obama administration's economic policies were pro-growth with sound regulations that protected the environment. Trump had nothing to do with it and as of this writing has no economic record. President Obama's pro-growth policies also ended the second great republican depression of 2008, created jobs (including the Exxon-Mobil jobs from 2013 to 2017 when Obama left office) reduced deficit spending, reduced the unemployment rate and his foreign policy kept America safe at home and abroad.
President Trump continues to wallow in his own FAKE NEWS, with the help of Exxon-Mobil in this case, while former President Obama's accomplishments are already recorded in the book of history.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, March 5, 2017
The Republican Hierarchy: Corrupt To Its Core.
As more and more information becomes public about President Trump, his administration and campaign leaders the more it becomes evident the man is not fit to serve the highest office in America. So many lies have been exposed and there seems to be no end in sight. A hypocritical attitude has been substituted for the truth that have no bounds.
Just this week Trump said once again no one from his campaign had contact with Russian officials during the campaign and the U.S. intel service said there were several contacts. Trumps Attorney General Sessions when testifying before congress said he had no contact with Russian officials and lied under oath and now wants to clarify the record after getting caught. And after taking pressure from both Republicans and Democratas said he would recuse himself from any investigaations concerning the Trump Russian affairs.
The public also found out this week that V. P. Pence used a private email account to handle state business when he was Governor of Indiana and the private account was hacked and exposed sensitive government information. The present Governor of Indiana will not release all of those private emails of Pence because some contain such sensitive information. Pence is the hypocrite who said a lot of nasty things about Hillary Clintons use of a private email system when she was Secretary of State. The FBI concluded that there was no evidence that Hillary's private email system was hacked.
Trump also said this week that the Attorney General need not remove himself from any Russian investigation concerning the Trump thing. An obvious self serving statement from a President who knows he is in trouble. Every one has a free will to act in a positive or negative way toward the life he chooses and the path he wishes to walk. Too bad the President of the United States has chosen a negative and corrupt path to deal with the future of America the beautiful and the hopes and needs of the American people.
And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Just this week Trump said once again no one from his campaign had contact with Russian officials during the campaign and the U.S. intel service said there were several contacts. Trumps Attorney General Sessions when testifying before congress said he had no contact with Russian officials and lied under oath and now wants to clarify the record after getting caught. And after taking pressure from both Republicans and Democratas said he would recuse himself from any investigaations concerning the Trump Russian affairs.
The public also found out this week that V. P. Pence used a private email account to handle state business when he was Governor of Indiana and the private account was hacked and exposed sensitive government information. The present Governor of Indiana will not release all of those private emails of Pence because some contain such sensitive information. Pence is the hypocrite who said a lot of nasty things about Hillary Clintons use of a private email system when she was Secretary of State. The FBI concluded that there was no evidence that Hillary's private email system was hacked.
Trump also said this week that the Attorney General need not remove himself from any Russian investigation concerning the Trump thing. An obvious self serving statement from a President who knows he is in trouble. Every one has a free will to act in a positive or negative way toward the life he chooses and the path he wishes to walk. Too bad the President of the United States has chosen a negative and corrupt path to deal with the future of America the beautiful and the hopes and needs of the American people.
And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Copy Cat Larry Holder, Times Picayune Sports Writer: And Another Huge First For PolitiDose
If Holder's article in the Picayune of 3/3 titled, "Saints Have Yet To Fully Rebound 5 Years Later" sounds familiar, its because you read it here first in "PolitiDose" long ago at the very beginning of "Bounty Gate." Holder now admits 5 years later that Bounty Gate indeed was the culprit for the Saints terrible performance since that unnecessary happening.
This writer has commented many times how Holder and other New Orleans sports writers have failed to tell the true story about Bounty Gate and its effect on the Saints and properly evaluate the Saints performance the past 5 seasons. Hype and cliches have ruled their reporting, especially concerning Payton and Brees and their so called prolific offensive genius.
In his article Holder said Payton blames Williams for what happened and then says you can point the finger at others but the real story exposed and reported by PolitiDose early on that Payton acted irresponsible for allowing Bounty Gate to happen and bears the responsibility. And the year Payton sat out the Saints ended up as the only NFL team without its regular head coach on the side line. Instead the Saints ended up with two co-head coaches that season which was a disaster. Holder also wonders in his article what might have been defensive coordinator Spagnuolo fate had Payton been on the side line to help him. Well, that question was touched upon in PolitiDose long ago when it happened.
Holder ends his article with this statement: YOU CAN't DENY THE SAINTS HAVEN'T RECOVERED FROM THE CHAOS THAT BEGAN FIVE YEARS AGO. THE RESULTS BEFORE THE SCANDAL AND AFTER THE SCANDAL PROVIDE ALL THE EVIDENCE YOU NEED TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT.
Holder's statement and article is welcome even though it comes 5 seasons too late. It also confirms what PolitiDose has been saying for the past 5 seasons and from the very beginning of Bounty Gate.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
This writer has commented many times how Holder and other New Orleans sports writers have failed to tell the true story about Bounty Gate and its effect on the Saints and properly evaluate the Saints performance the past 5 seasons. Hype and cliches have ruled their reporting, especially concerning Payton and Brees and their so called prolific offensive genius.
In his article Holder said Payton blames Williams for what happened and then says you can point the finger at others but the real story exposed and reported by PolitiDose early on that Payton acted irresponsible for allowing Bounty Gate to happen and bears the responsibility. And the year Payton sat out the Saints ended up as the only NFL team without its regular head coach on the side line. Instead the Saints ended up with two co-head coaches that season which was a disaster. Holder also wonders in his article what might have been defensive coordinator Spagnuolo fate had Payton been on the side line to help him. Well, that question was touched upon in PolitiDose long ago when it happened.
Holder ends his article with this statement: YOU CAN't DENY THE SAINTS HAVEN'T RECOVERED FROM THE CHAOS THAT BEGAN FIVE YEARS AGO. THE RESULTS BEFORE THE SCANDAL AND AFTER THE SCANDAL PROVIDE ALL THE EVIDENCE YOU NEED TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT.
Holder's statement and article is welcome even though it comes 5 seasons too late. It also confirms what PolitiDose has been saying for the past 5 seasons and from the very beginning of Bounty Gate.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Thursday, March 2, 2017
President Trump's Address To The U.S. Congress
President Trump's Tuesday night address before a joint session of Congress demonstrated how the President is in-between a rock and a hard place with his Presidency floundering due to his own self pronouncements and lies. He now wants the democrats in congress to work with him and the republicans to pass health care legislature and immigration reform.
What a hypocrite. For the past year Trump has told his supporters he would repeal Obamacare and replace it with his own health care plan and that Obamacare is a disaster and tried to undermine the ACA. The republicans in congress have been doing the same thing but over the past 7 years. Now Trump and his party's health care replacement has proved to be only hot air so he wants the democratic party to bail him and his party out.
Trump's immigration reform has taken the same turn. His executive order and immigration ban was stayed by two courts and Trump announced twice he would present a new plan only to be delayed again both times. Now he wants the democrats to work with him after trying to undermine President Obama's immigration plans.
The American people, regardless who they voted for know where the democrats stand on both those issues because they passed the ACA and the democratic controlled Senate actually passed immigration reform over two years ago only to be killed in the U.S. House controlled by the republican party at the time.
The republican party controlled both houses of congress during the Presidential campaign and Trump asked them not to take up immigration reform just like he asked them not to take up and act on President Obama's Supreme Court nominee. Now he is in trouble and he needs democrats to help bail him out of his own lies and dis-honesty with the voters.
The President's address to congress and the nation changed nothing of importance. What a shame.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders Is Wrong On What The Democratic Party Needs To Do
Former democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in a story published in the Huffington Post of 2/27 said the democratic party must be overhauled, a total transformation, attack big business and rein them in. This writer disagrees and thinks the facts say so. Sanders ran on that same theme during the primaries and lost his party's nomination. The Senator seems to have a short memory.
Donald Trump is part of big business and Corporate America and even added during the republican debates he gives campaign contributions to elected officials for favors when he needs them. Yet he not only won the election, as President he has appointed top wall street bankers to important jobs in his cabinet and administration. Voters don't really care as a whole. They knew Trump represented the wealthy.
Trump won the "rust belt" and their electoral vote because of the false propaganda that their manufacturing economy lost jobs to foreign sources. The fact is many of those jobs moved to other states in the United States because of cheaper labor. Trump's campaign thrived on fear and also profited from the false propaganda against President Obama, Hillary Clinton and the ACA.
Hillary Clinton's lop sided victory in the popular vote is proof that the democratic party is on the right side of the issues facing the country and its people. Just look what is taking place now in Washington. The republicans have made the ACA a major issue but don't know what to do about it. Health care is a democratic issue and is a people issue and the democrats did something about it.
The best way to bring big business under control is to take away their special tax breaks, exemptions and loop holes and treat them like every one else. And the democratic party is the best party to accomplish that. Anyone who pays attention to politics should know the issues that the people care about today are not and will not be addressed by the republican party or the Trump administration. And yes my friends it is always a democratic administration that picks us up after a republican administration lets us down. And the same will be true when Donald Trump leaves office.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Donald Trump is part of big business and Corporate America and even added during the republican debates he gives campaign contributions to elected officials for favors when he needs them. Yet he not only won the election, as President he has appointed top wall street bankers to important jobs in his cabinet and administration. Voters don't really care as a whole. They knew Trump represented the wealthy.
Trump won the "rust belt" and their electoral vote because of the false propaganda that their manufacturing economy lost jobs to foreign sources. The fact is many of those jobs moved to other states in the United States because of cheaper labor. Trump's campaign thrived on fear and also profited from the false propaganda against President Obama, Hillary Clinton and the ACA.
Hillary Clinton's lop sided victory in the popular vote is proof that the democratic party is on the right side of the issues facing the country and its people. Just look what is taking place now in Washington. The republicans have made the ACA a major issue but don't know what to do about it. Health care is a democratic issue and is a people issue and the democrats did something about it.
The best way to bring big business under control is to take away their special tax breaks, exemptions and loop holes and treat them like every one else. And the democratic party is the best party to accomplish that. Anyone who pays attention to politics should know the issues that the people care about today are not and will not be addressed by the republican party or the Trump administration. And yes my friends it is always a democratic administration that picks us up after a republican administration lets us down. And the same will be true when Donald Trump leaves office.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Sunday, February 26, 2017
CPAC, President Trump and His Top Appointees Meet
The Conservative Political Action Conference held its annual convention this week in National Harbor, Md. President Trump, his Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and his Chief Strategist Steve Bannon all addressed the convention. It was a great opportunity for the President and his appointees to articulate a policy position on matters important to the country and especially to the attendees at the convention who make up some of Trumps and the party's staunch supporters.
But Trump, Priebus and Bannon held out true to form with their "ditto head" comments. Their supporters and the country would not hear anything positive about the future. Instead, all three lashed out at the news media and blamed them for "fake news." The media was also called the enemy and Trump once again tried to cast blame on Hillary Clinton with his own brand of "fake news." Bannon spoke about Trump shaping a new political order in America which sounded anti-American to this writer.
Besides bashing the media, Trump sang his same worn out song, he was going to make America great again. No one would mess with us with our military buildup, etc, etc, etc. And sadly, repeated his lies concerning how many people were covered by the ACA and the latest round up of undocumented immigrants which was carried by the Times Picayune.
The President and his top two appointees failed big time to articulate a positive agenda for the future of the country and its people. The ring master is still leading the republican circus and the big tent continues to collapse while the people look for leadership.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
But Trump, Priebus and Bannon held out true to form with their "ditto head" comments. Their supporters and the country would not hear anything positive about the future. Instead, all three lashed out at the news media and blamed them for "fake news." The media was also called the enemy and Trump once again tried to cast blame on Hillary Clinton with his own brand of "fake news." Bannon spoke about Trump shaping a new political order in America which sounded anti-American to this writer.
Besides bashing the media, Trump sang his same worn out song, he was going to make America great again. No one would mess with us with our military buildup, etc, etc, etc. And sadly, repeated his lies concerning how many people were covered by the ACA and the latest round up of undocumented immigrants which was carried by the Times Picayune.
The President and his top two appointees failed big time to articulate a positive agenda for the future of the country and its people. The ring master is still leading the republican circus and the big tent continues to collapse while the people look for leadership.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Louisiana's U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy's Town Hall Meeting In Jefferson Parish Did Not Go Very Well.
Senator Cassidy held a meeting with his supporters Wednesday at the Jefferson Parish East Bank Regional Library and the conversation did not go very well. Cassidy was late to arrive for the meeting and everything went down hill from there. The meeting followed a nation wide trend taking place between republican members of congress and their supporters.
The Senator was met with boos from his audience. They did not attend the meeting for information, they wanted an answer to their questions because the Trump administration and congress have been sending out dis-information on replacing the ACA, immigration and a host of other issues.
Its starting to hit the fan for the President and his party and now some of their supporters are making their dis-satisfaction know. Political "fake news" by the administration has started to open some people's mind. Unfortunately, conservative opinion writers are still backing the "fake news" that republicans have added to their ideology. Times Picayune opinion writer Tim Morris covered Cassidy's meeting with a column dated 2/24/17 and the title of his column was, WOW, THEY BOOED THE NAME OF JESUS." That really was not the subject of the meeting but leave it to conservatives to use religion to try and change the subject.
The bottom line for the people of Louisiana is former U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu's service is missed on just about every issue facing Louisiana. The republicans have controlled both houses of congress for over two years and Cassidy has failed to fill the void. The people at that Wednesday meeting came face to face with the person most of them probably voted for and in all probability left with out having their questions answered.
And if the Obamacare was the real issue the people wanted to hear answers on the republican party and Trump failed them long ago. The time for clarification was before the election. But there is hope because the Affordable Care Act (the real name) is working despite the republican's "fake news" machine. Just ask the 20 million people who are covered and Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards.
On another related note another one of Louisiana's reps in congress, Steve Scalise held a town hall meeting by phone on Friday. He was aware of the problem other republicans like Cassidy faced and chickened out. Scalise is also another example of poor representation in congress for the people of Louisiana and the State and has no accomplishments.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)