The United States is a Friend of Israel, But Israel is not a Friend of the United States.

June 8, 2024 will mark the 57th anniversary of Israel's attack on the U.S. Liberty on June 8, 1967 during the six day war between Israel, Egypt and other Arab nations.  The U.S. Liberty was a Navy intelligence ship operating in international waters gathering intelligence on the war.  The ship was 25 nautical miles north of the Sinai Peninsula according to official reports.

Israel's unprovoked attack on the U.S. Liberty in international waters by a coordinated attack by air and sea killed 34 crew members and wounded 171 others aboard the ship.  Israel said it did not know it was an American naval ship but crew members of the U.S. Liberty said the attack was deliberate and that the ship identified itself for Israel to see.  After a long investigation, Israel apologized for the attack and said it was an accident.  Israel also paid millions in damages for the attack.  Crew members of the U.S. Liberty were sure the attack was no accident.

Israel and its leader have lied in the past about their actions that have taken place when using their military power with impunity.  Just recently during the Israel/Hamas conflict, Israel killed 6 workers who were part of a relief unit to address the humanitarian fall out in Gaza.  Israel apologized later and said it was an accident, but Israel knew those workers were no threat to Israel because they monitor all aid coming into Gaza.

And everyone should remember Israel's Prime Minister BiBi Netanyahu lies and is a right wing extremist.  In 2015, Netanyahu, at the request of the Republicans in congress, registered his opposition to President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, told congress and the world that Iran was only several months away from producing a nuclear weapon.  Well, 9 years later, Iran still possesses no nuclear weapons.  

Israel and its leaders often use the "holocaust" to justify their use of military power with impunity, but it was not the Arab world that was responsible for the holocaust.  Israel has a right to defend itself but so does all nations, but Israel does not have a right to expand its territory onto Palestinian land and build new settlements.  They also do not want to recognize Palestine as a country or nation and refuse to accept a two state solution to the ongoing problem.

The U.S. has been a great friend to Israel for many, many years in so many ways.  But Israel has not been a great friend to the U.S. President Biden is supporting Israel's right to defend itself, but understands that the people of Gaza are facing mass destruction, food shortages and etc., and believes they need help and supplies.  Israel needs to take a deep breath and allow the humanitarian help needed for the people in Gaza that are in need.  

Netanyahu, failed to protect Israel on October 7 when Hamas attacked and killed over 1000 people all the while Netanyahu was talking tough.  Israel and Egypt found a way to come together and sign a treaty that has worked for over 40 years.  The same can be done between Israel and their opponents when they elect the real leadership to accomplish a peaceful settlement.

This commentary written by Joe  Lorio     

The 2024 Presidential Debates are a Media Event and Unnecessary.

 Never before has a Republican or Democratic Presidential nominee with a criminal record, convictions and multiple indictments participate in a televised Presidential debate.  No such candidate would have been allowed to debate in the past because such a person would have never been nominated by his party to be the nominee.  That all changed with the Trump/GOP extreme ideology and its un-American, anti-Democratic rhetoric and their attack on everything American.  Unfortunately, the media enabled their toxic rhetoric

For the first time ever in the 2024 Presidential debates, one candidate, Donald Trump will bring his corruptive record which everyone knows of to the debates, while President Joe Biden will bring his character that has served the people well in congress and the White House.  The American people know what each would do if re-elected because they already have a record.  The uninformed voter will learn noting from the debates because it is a media event.  Where the debaters stand on the issues is well known and questions from the panel will prove to be nonsense because answers are limited to two minutes and President do not make decisions in two minutes.  Issues are more time consuming because a President hears comments from his advisers before making decisions.  So, the viewers will learn nothing from the answers.

The shame that the GOP has cast on America's political system by allowing such a corrupted person to be its party's Presidential nominee is shameless and a danger to American democracy and the freedom enjoyed by its people.  

This writer will not tune into the 2024 debates because the outcome is already known.  PolitiDose commentary predicted what would take place on Trump's watch after the 2016 election and what would take place on Biden's watch after the 2020 elections.  Both of those predictions came true.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio   

The Recent College Protest, The Media and the GOP

 Protesting is not unusual or political because it is grounded in the Constitution.  There are rules of course, protest have to be peaceful.  If they are not, then law enforcement must step in to end the protest.  Political action is not needed to handle the actual violence.  If there are good reasons for laws to be changed, then a political solution is necessary.

The recent college protest concerning the Israel/Hamas conflict is a good example how politics got involved unnecessarily along with the media.  Both claimed that the protesting was anti-semitism.  But what was being protested was Israel's killing of Palestinian families and children, property destruction including hospitals and the humanitarian needs of Gaza that the conflict exposed.

Any protest that was not peaceful could have been taken care of by the University with the cooperation of law enforcement who had the legal right to act.  That is actually what took place at one time but politics and the media had to jump the gun and create a scene.  The GOP even threatened to hold hearings on the protesting.  That is the same group who supported Trump's mob on January 6 to overturn the 2020 Presidential election and prevent the peaceful transfer of power to the newly elected President Joe Biden.  

The recent college protest never came close to what took place on January 6 and the GOP controlled House speaker refused to appoint any republican to serve on the January 6 committee.  Politics and the media are only interested in their own little world of misinformation and over reaction.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

Donald Trump Should Follow In The Footsteps of Former Vice President Spiro Agnew.

 On October 10, 1973 Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned from his office after being indicted for accepting thousands of dollars in bribes while serving as Baltimore county executive, governor of Maryland and Vice President of the United States.  Agnew made the right decision for the well being of the office, the nation and the people.  President Nixon accepted Agnew's resignation.

Donald Trump should follow in Agnew's foot steps by announcing he will no longer seek or accept the GOP's nomination for President.  Trump has been convicted of sexual assault and abuse of a woman and then found guilty of defaming the same woman.  Trump's companies have been found guilty of fraud in several suits and Trump was fined millions of dollars for his knowledge of what took place and allowing the fraud to take place.  In addition, he is also under numerous indictments and at the present time on trial in New York while several more trials are in the offering.  And his attempt to overturn the 2020 Presidential election by a mob at the Capitol and provide fake electors all constitute a more serious threat than Agnew's indictment charges.

Agnew did the right thing, Trump and his party, 51 years later should do the right thing for the country, the people and the party.  And most of all, in respect to what the Presidency stands for.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

 

The U.S. Economy, Job Creation and The Unemployment Rate for April 2024.

 The U.S. Labor Department reported the economy added 175,000 jobs in April and the unemployment rate came in at 3.9%, it was 3.8% last month.  It was the 39th straight month of positive job growth and the unemployment rate has been in the 3% range now for 27 straight months, the longest stretch since the 1950's.  Claims for unemployment benefits stayed at record low levels.

Year to year inflation was up only a little over one percent from the Feds target of their goal of 2%.  So inflation continues to moderate and the Feds down talk the recession predictions of the negative voices.  The people would do well to remember the early 1980's when inflation and home mortgage rates were both in the double digit range for two years before coming down slowly.  The unemployment rate was also in the 10% range for 10 straight months.  The President's policies and the economy has handled inflation better than what took place in the 1980's.

President Biden's economy has accomplished much for America and its people.  The negative voices will continue their attacks on the President and the economy because they want to see the President fail.  Lies and misinformation is part of their ideology to divide America and for the past 39 months, PolitiDose's commentary informed the people how it would all play out, and that it would begin when the President took office in 2021.  

This Commentary written by Joe Lorio 

The Democratic Party Once Again Leads The GOP Controlled House To A Solid Legislative Accomplishment.

 The GOP controlled U.S. House passed on Saturday President Biden's foreign aid package which included Ukraine aid that Speaker of the House Johnson had been playing politics with for the past several months.  The vote was 311-112.  One hundred and one republicans voted for the bill while one hundred twelve voted against the bill.  Two hundred ten democrats voted for the bill and provided the majority vote for the bill to pass even though they are the minority vote in the U.S. House.

Johnson's failure to do months ago what he did Saturday was a reversal and waisted several months for political purposes that delayed Ukraine the help they needed even after President Biden made the case for the aid to pass timely and put politics aside.  Johnson and his GOP members are still a divided party who have failed to work together for the good of the country and its people.  Their lack of governing and waste of time  is SOP for chaos they created and as a result are a disgrace to their oath of office.

The democratic party are still the sane party in Washington who believe in governing to accomplish what is needed to address the issues the country faces.  The party has not been afraid to govern in a non-partisan way and have demonstrated that.  On the other hand, the GOP works to tear down government, especially in the image of Trump.

What House speaker Johnson should do now, is revisit immigration reform legislation that the democratic controlled Senate was working on and bring the matter before the House for debate and a vote.  Johnson killed the proposal when Trump told him to do so a few months ago.  The immigration burden is congress responsibility to settle.  Most think if the House took it up it would pass and then the Senate would then follow and approve the legislation.  Legislation by congress is the answer because immigration covers a number of issues and the congress controls the purse strings to finance what ever they decide on.  

The democratic controlled Senate passed the House approved Ukraine package on a non-partisan vote of 79-18.  The total  package was $95 billion and included aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and humanitarian relief to the citizens of Gaza.  President Biden said he would sign the bill as soon as it hits his desk.  Once again it is a democratic administration that is leading a non-partisan matter to address important issues that affect the country, the people and America's leadership around the world.  President Biden's determination to address at hand and keep the focus where it belongs in an election year, represents governing at its highest level.  

The President's first priority is to do the people's work and govern.  And that is what President Biden is doing.

This  commentary written by Joe Lorio

What Will The GOP Do If Trump Is Convicted In His Upcoming Criminal Trial?

 President Trump's upcoming trial this coming week in New York in the Stormy Daniels matter will end one indictment of the former President that could carry a severe judgement if found guilty.  And if that would take place, how would the GOP react?  We know that so far they have supported Trump's actions and even adopted his tactics of blaming others for the situation Trump is in.  The GOP has taken up the torch and even blame the courts, the DOJ and of course, the democrats.

But this trial will be before a jury of Trump's peers.  If the jury fines Trump guilty, will the GOP finally deal with the truth and nominate some one else as their Presidential nominee and finally divorce themselves from Trump?  The party and Trump are one and the same at the present time and a guilty verdict would give the party an excuse to act and do something positive for the country at a time of great peril which they allowed their party to dwell on.

The GOP actually has a legitimate excuse to nominate someone other than Trump at their convention regardless what takes place at Trump's trial but sold their soul long ago to corruption.  Can the party that backed Trump's lies with their own lies reverse course?  If one has character, courage and the desire to serve their country, the answer is yes.

With the Republican National Convention only a few months away, time is running out on the GOP's ability to change the dangerous path they have helped create.  Past leaders who had the courage and character to act for the good of the country have changed the direction of the country for the better.  Who with the GOP will be willing to take the first step, do so and move the country away from the most unfit Presidential nominee in the history of the United States.  The GOP has failed to understand they do not need Trump if they put the country and the people first.  That is the oath they swore to when they took office to begin with.  

President Truman said long ago:  A President needs political understanding to run government, but he may be elected without it.  That describes Trump's election in 2016 and now he is still a person without political understanding and the world now knows why.   

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

   

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and His Phony Position On The National Anthem.

America the beautiful will stay beautiful because of the people's allegiance to one flag, the American flag, the red, white and blue.  And the national anthem whether sung or played by music is all about the American flag.  Some in politics, especially the GOP use the American flag to divide people along with the anti-everything crowd.  Politics was at the fore front when Governor Jeff Landry attacked LSU's women's basketball team when they failed to take the floor of the gym when the national anthem was played before the NCAA playoff game.  

LSU coach Kim Mulkey explained the reason why it took place which could be understood and was a reasonable answer.  There was no intent of disrespect or motive of protest.  Landry's attack on the team was followed up with a letter to Louisiana higher education leaders to mandate that student athletes be present at games as the national anthem is played or risk losing their athletic scholarships.  

Landry's attack came amid a bill before the GOP controlled state legislature that would give him the power to select and control university board chairs that set agendas, a bill Landry supports.  Landry, who  served as Louisiana Attorney General knew for years that the LSU football team were never on the field when the national anthem is played and was silent all those years.  Landry, Trump, the GOP and their right wingers are all phonies on the national anthem subject and the subject of Patriotism.

The United States has only one flag, the stars and stripes of America.  Patriotism reflects how one lives his or her life.  It is not patriotism when one supports another who tries to over turn a Presidential election, using a mob to do so, many of which carried a rebel flag.  The same thing goes for those White Supremacist who carry the rebel flag in violent protest.  The phonies have a record of enabling them.  

 Jeff Landry is a big Trump supporter along with the GOP.  His legislation agenda mimics Trump and the GOP agenda in wanting control over the lives of the people and are willing to use the national anthem and the American flag to achieve their own purpose.  Landry's out burst against the LSU women's basketball team is only the beginning.

Those who carry the rebel flag and those in support, do not represent what America stands for and are certainly no supporters of the national anthem or the American flag.  They also do not represent American patriotism.  And that really says it all.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

 

The U.S. Economy, Job Creation and The Unemployment Rate for March 2024.

The U.S. Labor Department announced the U.S. economy added 303,000 jobs in March and that the unemployment rate came in at 3.8%, down from 3.9% in February.  It was the 38th straight month of positive job growth and the unemployment rate has now been in the 3% range for 26 straight months, the longest stretch since the 1950's.  The Department also reported the economy added 22,000 more jobs in January and February than originally reported.

After the good Department report, the usual negative voices were all over the lot with their negative comments and continued doom and gloom about the positive numbers.  They are still ignorant as to why the economy continues to do well, still ignorant and guessing what the Feds will do on interest rates while the so called business hosts on cable news have been ignorant and wrong on all their economic predictions.  

Unfortunately, the media in general continue to feed the people the negative dialog instead of the positive position of the U.S. economy and the people's confidence in spending.  The readers of PolitiDose knew from the very beginning the Biden administration would move the country and its people out of the Trump great recession and loss of jobs, bring back the economy and jobs because they read it here in PolitiDose commentary before and early after Biden took office.  

It was a repeat story of what President Obama accomplished after he inherited the great Bush 43 recession of 2008.  That also was predicted in PolitiDose commentary before and early after Obama took office.  

History and precedent confirms over the past 90 years that democratic administrations do a much better job at governing than the GOP and it is no coincident.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio   

Trump and His Business World Are No Strangers To Fraud.

Recently when Donald Trump's business was found guilty of committing fraud against the City and State of New York, it was not the only fraud action brought against a Trump business.  In this New York case, Trump and his two sons were fined a total of almost half billion dollars, with Donald Trump being responsible with the majority of the fine imposed.  

In February 2018, Trump settled out of court a fraud law suit against Trump University brought forward by New York's Attorney General and several Trump University students before it was set to go to trial.  Trump settled the suit for $25 million, the Judge approved the settlement and Trump paid the fine while he was President.  New York's Attorney General who handled the case released a public statement after the settlement was approved and said.

New York's Attorney General Eric Schneiderman:  For years President Trump refused to compensate the victims of his sham university.  His reversal and the large scale settlement that resulted opened the door for student victims to finally obtain the restitution they deserve.  My office will continue to hold those who commit fraud accountable, no matter how rich or powerful they may be.  

In another investigation by New York's Attorney General against Trump's Charitable Foundation, the Court ordered Trump to pay more than $2 million in damage to eight different charities for illegality misusing charitable funds at the Trump Foundation for political purposes.  Not only has the Trump Foundation shut down for its misconduct but the president has been forced to pay $2 million for misusing charitable funds for his own political gain writes Attorney General Letitia James in a released dated December 10, 2019.  James also writes, additionally, as part of the settlement Trump was required to agree to 19 admissions, acknowledging his personal misuse of funds of the Trump foundation.  

And now, Trump is  scheduled to go on trial again in New York on April 15 concerning the matter of Stormy Daniels. Trump also faces two other federal trials and another state trial  in Georgia after numerous indictments.  Those trial dates have not been set yet.  It is almost impossible to  believe that in America, a political party would gladly nominate such a person who is so unfit for the Presidency or any other political office.  But here we are.  American democracy deserves better.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio