Thursday, March 23, 2017

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and President Donald Trump

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

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

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

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

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


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

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

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

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

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


This commentary written by Joe Lorio


Friday, March 17, 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Monday, March 13, 2017

The Ugly Side Of Technology: The Story Continues

This writers commentary dated 6/12/15 in PolitiDose described the Ugly Side of Technology and how the situation will become worse.  And now a new story comes out how Wikileaks has not only hacked into the nations intelligence community but revealed on line the tools the intelligence community uses to hack into phones, emails and even Television.

This song is no longer new and this writer believes more revelations will be made public in the future that will astound because "technology wise" nothing is safe.  And to think so many Americans allowed Donald Trump and the republican party to brand Hillary Clinton's private email use as a scandal and believed all the lies.  The news media played into their hands with their coverage of all the lies and used the word scandal in their broadcasts.

The breach in technology also gives people like Trump an opportunity and excuse to accuse anyone on any subject matter for the purpose of dividing the country and its people.  This technology thing is one of the most critical problems of our time and we need people with character and virtue to deal with it.  Trump, as a Presidential candidate opened the door completely when he urged Russia to hack into the American people's emails.  Does any one think Russia will stop there?

And when a country has a President and republican controlled congress who openly lie, technology becomes even more of a problem.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Sunday, March 12, 2017

LSU Baseball: Needs That Have To Be Addressed

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

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

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

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

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