Louisiana's Little Boy Representative In Congress Steve Scalise Shows Once Again His Hypocrisy.

This writer does not live in the area that Steve Scalise represents.  However, this past week I received a chain email from Scalise seeking donations for the November elections and urging voters to vote republican and against the usual ghosts candidates, Obama, Pelosi, Clinton and etc.  But if one goes to Scalise's congressional web site he does not accept comments from people in Louisiana who live outside the zip codes he represents.  What a hypocrite.

The email was void of accomplishments by Scalise and his GOP and just the old worn out litany of blaming the democratic party for all of the mess the GOP has created.  Scalise is running scared and like a coward would say anything because the polls indicate the democratic party has a chance to be elected the majority party in the U. S. House.  Its bad enough now that Scalise has done nothing for Louisiana and if he and his party loose control of the U.S. House they would be reduced to the minority party of personal attacks.

Question for Louisiana voters.  Do you think lobbyist and the business community who live outside of the zip codes that Scalise represents have a hard time contacting Scalise?


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Trump and The GOP Back Track: They Now Want The FBI To Investigate Dr. Ford's Allegations

After rejecting the Democrat's call for the FBI to investigate the allegations by Dr. Ford against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh over 2 weeks ago, the republican controlled Judiciary Committee asked President Trump to direct the FBI to investigate same.  The President did so and the reason why the republicans finally asked him to do so was because one of their republican members, Senator Jeff Flake said he would not vote for Kavanaugh before the full Senate without such investigation.

Trump, like his GOP, refused to have the FBI get involved before Friday and Senator Flake's statement.  And to top it all off, up until Flake made his position known, Trump and his ditto head GOP were pushing for a early vote and passage even though all the facts were not in.  The republican controlled committee and Trump were only concerned with confirming Kavanaugh in a partisan way and could care less about the sexual allegations.  Their actions were a total disregard for the democratic process of fair treatment.

Had Trump and the GOP heeded the democratic request to have the FBI step in early it would have moved the process along more quickly and orderly and the committee would have had an opportunity to avoid Thursday's circus with Kavanaugh's hysterical testimony.  But civility, character and courage are not in tuned with the republicans doctrine of ideology.  It is the reason they are unable to govern.  The doctrine of ideology rejects facts and sound judgement when in conflict.

Electing a democratic controlled congress in November is still the best avenue to reverse the failings of the GOP.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Confirmation Hearings For Judge Brett Kavanaugh: One Sane and Civil Witness and One Hysterical Witness

Thursday's hearing by the republican controlled Senate Judiciary Committee in their continuing hearings to confirm Trump's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court turned out to be another disaster in governing.  The republican led committee has mishandled the hearings from the very beginning and Thursday's hearing was their greatest failure.

The only bright spot was Dr. Ford, the witness who alleges Judge Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her many years ago.  Her testimony under oath was calm, civil, quiet, fearful and she answered all the questions, even though she still experienced the pain of the event she described.  She even acknowledged there were some things she does not remember.  She was a believable and credible witness.

On the other hand, Judge Kavanaugh was hysterical in his comments, would not answer a number of questions, interrupted those asking the questions and appeared out of control.  To this writer, it appeared President Trump coached him how to act and be in complete denial.  He even aped the President when he attacked and blamed the Clintons for Thursday's hearings.  That's what Trump does the best, blame Clinton when anything goes wrong on his watch.

The republican chairman of the Committee did something never done before in such a confirmation hearing.  He hired someone out side of congress to interview a witness, a disregard of the committee's responsibility.  And republican Senator Lindsay Graham's maniac statement really exposed the GOP for what they are, cowards.  But those who follow politics know Graham's statement actually describe Graham himself and the GOP who refused to give President Obama's Supreme Court nominee a hearing.  A nominee could never be treated any worse than that.

The Republican rushed to judgement on Thursday's hearing and should have worked to have the FBI investigate the alleged acts with all concerned and any witness before scheduling the hearing.  The Democrats were right in their request to do so.  But the GOP was determined to confirm Kavanaugh no matter what.  Their failure at governing should be a wake up call for all Americans.

This writer believes Judge Kavanaugh's performance at Thursday's hearing disqualify him to be the next Supreme Court Justice.  He did not display the temperament, calm, civility or reasonable response of a Supreme Court Justice that has to make decisions that affect people's lives and the country for many years into the future.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Yes, There Was A Time When U.S. Presidents Commanded Respect At The United Nations

Through the years, the United Nations and its member countries respected the United States and its Presidents.  It may not have always agreed with or voted with America's proposals, but by and large the U.N. followed the lead of the United States.  That changed somewhat during the George W. Bush administration when he ordered the invasion and occupation of Iraq over WMD that did not exist.  Most U. N. members rejected Bush's call to join in the invasion and Turkey, a staunch U.S. ally, refused the U.S. request to use Turkish territory to launch a part of the invasion into Iraq.

But just this week, President Trump attended the U.N. meeting in New York and bragged about his so called accomplishments, attacked our allies and flaunt America's military power that brought laughter from many U.N. member countries.  The trumpet man brought his disrespect to a gathering of nations that meet to try and bridge the gap and discuss the problems the world has to address.  But the trumpet man choose to toot his own horn which brought the laughter.

Trump failed to be a statesman at a critical time and has continued to isolate America, its allies and farther damage the reputation of America's willingness to lead the world.  It was another pitiful performance by a President whose administration is in chaos with scandal and hell bent to rule in a autocratic manner.

The people and the country deserve better.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Republican U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell

McConnell, Trump's republican ditto head Senator has taken Trump's lead in trying to blame Democrats for Bret Kavanaugh's problems during the congressional hearings to approve his Supreme Court appointment.  The republican controlled Senate is running the show, not the Democrats but Trump and the republicans do what they do best.  They like to blame Democrats for their own corrupted hearings.

It is Kavanaugh's accusers who have come forward and told their stories and one, Ms. Ford will testify before McConnell's committee on Thursday and tell her story first hand.  The accusers are the ones who have turned the process into a new phase.  And as usual to make matters worse, Trump and his ditto heads are attacking the accusers story.  Trump and his party have a history of trying to insult women who come forward and tell their stories of sexual assaults.

Those who follow politics know that it was the same McConnell who refused to hold confirmation hearings for President Obama's Supreme Court nominee in 2016 and was ignored by McConnell and his party.  But Kavanaugh has been given a hearing and now McConnell wants to blame Democrats for Kavanaugh's own problems.  The bottom line is Trump and his party are the most unAmeican political entity America has ever seen.  And they are cowards to top it all off.

And yes, 54% of the voters who voted against Trump in the 2016 Presidential election got it right and saw it all coming.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Stench In The White House Becomes Worse Every Day.

President Trump says there is a stench in his Justice Department and the FBI but the stench emanates from his own upper lip and mouth on a daily basis and his administration continues to wallow in scandal.  And the worse is yet to come since his former campaign manager Paul Manafort pleaded guilty and has agreed to cooperate with the special counsel's office.

The trumpet man continues to use the Justice Department and the FBI to try and scuttle Mueller's investigation that is getting closer and closer to Trump and the trumpet man is feeling the heat.  The Fox News Network is doing its best to promote its own lies along with Trump's lies to tarnish the investigation and like Trump have no credibility.  And the lack of credibility has exposed Trump's position on North Korea, immigration, his trade wars and governing the country.

Twenty months in office and the President still lies to the American people and has no respect for anyone or anything.  And he is still playing the blame game.  Unlike Hillary Clinton who feels she does not have to say, I TOLD YOU SO, Trump demonstrates every day he is unfit to occupy the White House.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Transfer Of Wealth Continues.

The reports tell us that the U.S. Steel Industry has been doing well and making profit long before Trump placed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum.  We now read that U.S. Steel and other steel makers are locked in talks concerning a new contract with union steel workers.  Under the new offer to the unions, their members would be making 72 cents an hour less than the present contract because of benefits.

Union leaders say that is a non starter and there is a 90% chance of a strike if Steel does not change their attitude.  Union leaders pointed out Steel's profits are even greater now with the tariffs in effect and that since 2015 Steel has given its executives pay raises and bonuses that total over $50 million.  The union members and workers believe they should share in Steel's increased profits.  After all, they are the one who do the hard work.

Its just another example of Corporate America's lack of respect for the workers who make profit possible and their hatred of wage equality.  Does any one believe those executives who shared in that $50 million lost any benefits?  Nothing has really changed since the 2008 recession when wealth was being transferred from the middle class to the wealthy.  Huge tax breaks are never enough for Corporate America, they have to have it all.

Just try and think what would happen to the average steel worker if there were no unions to bargain for their rights.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Has Any One Noticed?

How Trump and the GOP has pushed aside their number one priority, IMMIGRATION that was supposed to keep America safe until next year and instead will try and pass a tax plan before the November congressional elections that will lower the investment tax and in the process add more to the federal deficit and the National Debt.  And by the time 2019 rolls around, Trump and his party will only have their rhetoric to talk about on immigration and still no action after two years in office.

The move to reduce the investment ta rate will help those who were helped the most by Trump's tax cut in 2017.  The trumpet man   and his party want to play to their base before the November elections to obtain votes.  They can not articulate to the public any accomplishments so they are playing the tax card once again.  Immigration, like health care, has exposed their phony ideology.

The best outcome for America in the November elections is still a democratic controlled congress to handle the many issues kicked down the road by Trump and the GOP controlled congress.  A democratic controlled congress would also handle the coming economic recession created by the GOP much better.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Louisiana's Fiscal House Is Showing Imprivement Under The Democratic Administration of Governor John Bel Edwards

Louisiana's Treasurer announced Friday that when the final budget numbers for fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 are tallied the state should have a balanced budget with an approximate budget surplus of $300 million.  Richard Carbo, a spokesman for the governor confirmed Louisiana does have a surplus but the final numbers will not be known until October.

The state's budget for fiscal 2016-17 that ended June 30 of 2017 also had a surplus to the tune of $123 million.  The state's constitution spells out what the surplus can be used for and how it must be spent.  Those two budget years were a much better outcome than the disaster created during the Jindal administration.  The republicans in the state legislature in response to the budget surplus said it was the result of being over taxed with out offering any evidence.  But those who pay attention knew Louisiana had a shortfall of revenue do to the $8 billion in tax benefits to business, the lowering of personal income tax and a weak economy under the Jindal administration.

The added revenue will allow the state to fund critical services it cut through out the Jindal administration and pay for priority issues where Louisiana lags.  Sunday's Times Picayune carried a good example of the critical need for mental health services and facilities that have been devastated by previous cuts to the budget.  The people of Louisiana know the state lags the nation in so many areas that are critical to progress and for moving forward.

Governor Edwards was willing to face the challenge Louisiana had to deal with and refused to accept the status quo of the past.  The budget improvement will allow the Governor to move forward in a constructive way to improve Louisiana's economy, the quality of life for its people and to upgrade the states institutions and its infrastructure.  The policy and the direction has been set and the republican controlled legislature should follow the Governor's lead.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Kenner's Mayor Injects Politics Into A Non Political Issue

Mayor Ben Zahn banned the purchase of Nike equipment used in Kenner's recreation programs, caught a lot of push back from a number of sources, including some Saint players and then cancelled the order.  The ban was in response to Nike's advertising campaign that included Colin Kaepernick who was the subject of President Trump's rage because he took a knee last year during the playing of the national anthem.

Zahn's action was a political ditto head mirror image of Trump's attempt to politicize a non political issue to appeal to their base.  Both tried hard to act patriotic and put themselves on a pedestal but have a false understanding of patriotism.  There are 1760 NFL players on 32 teams and approximately 80,000 people in each stadium on game day and the great majority pay respect when the anthem is played.  A very small minority take a knee in protest.

Protests is legal in America, thank the good Lord and thanks to our constitution.  Yet there are those elected officials who would rather grand stand and divide us politically when politics should not be involved.  Trump injected politics into the business of the NFL and the owners when he said Kaepernick should have been fired, called him a SOB and said the NFL should change its policy.  Zahn injected politics in a business decision made by Nike.

The extreme political culture we see since the Newt Gingrich era has become worse, more divisive and more unAmerican.  Trump's assault on America's institutions, the constitution and his lack of respect for everyone and all things is unprecedented in American politics and especially for the occupant of the White House.  It has become trickle down extremeness infecting governors and mayors.  And politics becomes more extreme when religious beliefs are allowed to be used to discriminate against other people.

America is still "America the Beautiful" despite a small minority who choose a way of protesting that the great majority of Americans would not choose.  Our founding fathers had the wisdom to understand what patriotism was really all about.  A great American statesmen, Elmer Davis put it best when he said, THIS NATION WILL REMAIN THE LAND OF THE FREE ONLY SO LONG AS IT IS THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.   Too bad we have far to many elected officials who are lacking.




This commentary written by Joe Lorio