PolitiDose

CIA, Past Misdeeds Will Be Investigated

2009-07-21T23:36:00.000-04:00

The Associated Press reported on 7/8/09 that the chairman and other members of the House Intelligence Committee said that present CIA director Leon Panneta told congress last month that senior CIA officials have concealed significant actions and misled lawmakers repeatedly since 2001.

To those who follow the news and what goes on in our country the above revelation is nothing new. It is only the most recent violation of the law by people in CIA that is new. The problem is that the intelligence committee members have failed to do their jobs even though they are aware of past serious CIA violations that go back 40 years or more and have continued. It is the same old problem. It would be laughable if it was not so serious. Does any one really care that it was the Bush administration in conjunction with the CIA who promoted a war and occupation of Iraq over WMD that did not exist.

How many Americans are willing to stand up for the families and their sons and daughters who have given their lives and so much more over the deceit and lies concerning this war. Those who manufactured the intelligence and this war try to justify their lies by branding those who stand up as being unpatriotic. It won't wash anymore.

The CIA and other American intelligence was set up to gather intelligence for the protection of our national security but has become a shadow government with enormous power that answers to no one and none of them are elected by the people. The intelligence apparatus creates their own foreign policy that has been a disaster to the United States at critical times. They have proved beyond a shadow of doubt how they promote war and unrest to serve their ideology and power.

I would advise every American to read the book, JFK And The Unspeakable, by James W. Douglass. It details the CIA's involvement that cost America and its people dearly, plus the life of its young President who discovered what CIA was up to. The President was going to change all that after his reelection but was killed before his first term was completed.

Lee H. Oswald worked for both the CIA and FBI. He did not fire a rifle that day in Dallas and was set up as the patsy to take the fall. I covered that in a previous article in politidose. The Warren Commission, whose fairy tale report named Oswald as President Kennedy's lone killer is no longer believable. Allen Dulles, director of CIA during the Bay of Pigs and who was fired by Kennedy after the disaster was a Warren Commission member who did much to hide the true role of Oswald and the CIA in the murder of the President.

The 40 plus year record of the CIA is one of consistent wrong doing and lies to the American people and our nation. It is time for the present administration to do what President Kennedy said he would do," break the CIA up in a thousand pieces and scatter them to the wind." The latest revelation by CIA director Panneta should be given to the public when the investigation is complete. No one should be shocked or surprised what the latest violations may be. It is still hard to believe we are still going down that same dark road.

The Bloodshed Continues In Iraq

2009-06-29T21:16:00.001-04:00

Over 250 Iraqi's have been killed in Iraq by bombings in just the last week. More is expected to come and the withdrawal of American troops from the cities by June 30 is being used by some as an explanation for the killings.

There are those in America who still want the war to continue and are saying our troops should not be withdrawn by June 30. Our military leaders and Iraqi government officials say the agreement will be honored and that Iraq can handle the situation. Those in America who want to undermine the treaty forget there was much more killing in Iraq when our troops were in full combat mode. What is happening now does not compare to the horrific killings in the past.

President Obama and our military should see that the treaty plays out as planned. It is past time for Iraq to handle their own security and affairs. Keeping U.S. troops in Iraq will not stop the killing. We have found that out already. The invasion and occupation of Iraq started a chain reaction and no one can say for sure how it will all end. The price of this unnecessary war has been steep, especially for our men and women in uniform and their families. Our troops have been in Iraq for over 6 years and most have seen multiple deployments. It will get worse for some because they will be going to Afghanistan, the forgotten war on terror.

The picture of this unnecessary war could be seen long ago. The war will not go away quietly even after all our troops are long gone. The past has always been a mirror image of the future. The middle east is not America and too many of our leaders have not learned from the past.

Louisiana Legislature And Their Pork

2009-06-29T21:15:00.000-04:00

Louisiana lost 3700 non-farm jobs in May and the unemployment rate jumped to 6.6% from 4.1% in May 2008. AT the same time gasoline prices are still rising at the pump despite an over supply and despite the fact that gasoline usage is still down.

The Louisiana legislature closed its session the other day but not before providing millions of dollars of tax breaks to businesses as they have been doing on a regular basis for years. The people are told it is necessary to create jobs but unemployment is going up not down. The jobs are not being created when they are needed the most, in an economic downturn.

Mr. Benson and his Saints made out like bandits again thanks to our elected officials. It pays to have money in this state. The Saints play in the dome no more than 11 days a year and for that Mr. Benson is paid millions of dollars in cash and other goodies.

The Louisiana economy will turn around and create jobs when the national economy does so. Business welfare does not create and sustain jobs. Those industries who receive those hand outs prove that over and over. The people would do well to remember the Investment Tax Credit that congress passed over 20 years ago. It was done at the urging of CEO's of big business. They said it was necessary to buy new plant and equipment to make them more competitive and have the latest technology which would make them more efficient and more profitable and plow those profits back into their plants and keep them competitive. Well instead of plowing those profits back into their businesses they went to bonuses for their CEO's and executives. That's what a study by congress found out.

With all of the tax breaks and corporate welfare given to American businesses for the past 50 years one would think we should have a lasting economy and job creation. Politicians who benefit from lobbyist campaign cash are just as bad ad the bosses of American businesses. Louisiana has a governor who is AWOL concerning those things that really matter and make a difference for the average citizen. Once again it was business who came out on top this session of the legislature and the governor led the way.

President Obama, Israel and The Palestinians

2009-06-06T15:39:00.001-04:00

President Obama in Cairo, Egypt on June 4th in a speech to the world had some blunt words for Israel. He expressed sympathy for the Palestinians and what he called the "daily humiliations, large and small, that come with occupation." He also described the Palestinians plight as "intolerable" after 60 years of statelessness reported the New York Times and several T.V. stations. The President also said the United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements.

Obama's speech was a clear break from the previous administration and signaled he does not support or desire to continue the status quo on the subject. His speech was also a direct piece of diplomacy to let Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu know that the U.S. policy is no new and or expansion of settlements into Palestinians territory and that the two state solution is the only solution. Netanyahu has recently slipped away from those two conditions.

It is about time an American President faces the real problem concerning Israel and the Palestinian problem. President Obama needs to hang tough and continue to be blunt in his pursuit of a lasting peace. It will take tough dialog between all parties concerned because there will be factions on both sides that will try and wreck the peace process. If President Obama follows through on his courageous speech it will make a difference and a lasting peace will have an opportunity to evolve.

Afghanistran: A Troubled Foreign Policy

2009-06-06T15:19:00.000-04:00

The United States and a few allies have been in Afghanistan since late 2001, almost 8 years, yet the Taliban is as strong as ever, the Afghan government is still unstable, corruption still rampant according to the latest reports and their poppi trade still flourishing and still being used to support the Taliban. Meanwhile Americans are still being killed and our own military leaders tell us it will get worse.

The border area's with Pakistan we are told are still a haven for Al Queda and the Taliban despite the million's of dollars given Pakistan to clean up those area's. Much of the Afghan population still support the Taliban. The Taliban also know how to fight an occupation thanks to their war with the Soviet Union and the help of the U.S. in that war. So what should the U.S. do different since there has been no real progress in almost 8 years of war and occupation.

The U.S. and its allies must convince Pakistan to clean up the safe havens in border regions and deny Al Queda and the Taliban a base to operate from. Since Obama took office it seems that Pakistan is making a serious effort to do so. Time will tell. It is better if Pakistan assumes the responsibility to do this because that will send the real message to AlQueda and the Taliban.

The U.S. should step up its use of unmanned drones which we are told is being very successful. The U.S. should also work to get a U.N. security force into Afghanistan to take over security. The U.S. presence could and should be lessoned if the border regions are cleaned up by Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is really their war and their countries that are being threatened.

If the U.S. implements a foreign policy of sending more Americans into Afghanistan as the war in Iraq winds down that will only bring the same deployment problems to Afghanistan that he U.S. suffered from in Iraq and our troops will once again pay the price of those multiple deployments. If Afghanistan is handled like Iraq the U.S. will be in Afghanistan another 10 years and the problem will still not be solved. This writer still does not know what the U.S. game plan is for Afghanistan from what I have seen so far. Maybe there is some secret diplomacy going on between the parties that will end this sad situation. Our men and women in uniform deserve better and the American people need to know what the end game is and how the U.S. will accomplish it.

Iraq: Front and Center Once Again

2009-06-04T17:26:00.001-04:00

Bad news again for America and its men and women in uniform concerning Iraq. On a day when 3 more Americans were killed in Iraq the Associated Press reported the Pentagon is prepared to have U.S. troops stay in Iraq for a decade despite the agreement between the U.S. and Iraq to withdraw all U.S. troops from that country by 2012.

General George Casey, the army chief of staff said "global trends are pushing in the wrong direction, and that the world remains dangerous and unpredictable." Not much information there to explain the U.S. presence in Iraq for another 10 years. It seems some in the military want another Viet Nam. President Obama should immediately announce no such thing will happen and that the U.S.-Iraq agreement will be honored in full.

This unnecessary war has been a major recruitment tool for creating more terrorists. Our men and women in uniform do not need 10 more years of dying in Iraq or being rotated in and out of Iraq for seven or eight times. They have already been there and done that. Another 10 years in Iraq will guarantee the U.S. will be in a unnecessary perpetual war with terrorists.

The world will always be dangerous and unpredictable like it was during the "cold war" and like it was on 9/11. It was dangerous when Iraq invaded Kuwait and President Bush 41 responded. Bush had the wisdom to withdraw from Iraq after the defeat of Saddam Hussein's military and ejection from Kuwait. Many of the people who supported the present war in Iraq was not happy with Bush's 41 decision not to occupy Iraq or go after Saddam. Some of them now want another 10 years to occupy Iraq. Those people care nothing about our men and women in uniform and would use any excuse to occupy middle east lands.

The war in Iraq over WMD that did not exist is in its 7th year. It was never about terrorism, but it created people to join terrorists organizations and wage war against our men and women in uniform. If President Obama agrees to occupy Iraq for another 10 years the 21st century will be devastating to our country and to our men and women in uniform. President Obama should reject this thinking immediately.

Smoking Ban For Louisiana Casinos And Bars

2009-06-04T17:25:00.000-04:00

The Louisiana senate on May 28 voted to expand Louisiana's smoking ban to include bars and casinos. The bill now goes to the house for action. It is an undisputed fact that second hand smoke is a danger to people's health and should have been banned in the 2006 legislation but the casino lobby prevailed at that time. There is also no question that casino smoke dangers more people because more people are exposed in a casino and are so tightly together.

Four senators who represent the New Orleans metro area voted against the bill. Alario, Duplessis, Heitmeier and Murray. Alario attempted to exempt casinos from the ban but it was turned back. Their no vote fell in line with the casino lobby. It will be interested to see how those four senators vote on Jindal's plan to cut health care in the proposed budget. Members of the legislature continue to put the demands of the lobby industry ahead of the people's needs.

On another vote that favors common sense, the house shot down a bill that would allow qualified college faculty and students 21 years or older to carry fire arms on campuses. The vote was overwhelming 86-18. The sponsor of the bill Ernest Wooton said he may bring it back next year. Mr. Wooton, a republican blamed the lost support for the bill on politics. Sadly, the bill was about republican politics and their support of everything the NRA wants.

Lobbying in Louisiana should be given the cold shoulder to those that care nothing about the needs and safety of our citizens. Lets see if the full house and senate carry through with its vote to finally ban smoking in casinos. It should have been done a long time ago. The people of Louisiana will have an opportunity to see how the members of the legislature cast their final vote on the subject.

The Dick Cheney and Colin Powell Saga

2009-05-30T11:16:00.000-04:00

The country and the American people have recently witnessed the verbal exchange by Cheney and Powell concerning each ones position on certain issues. Their comments need not be repeated here because that is not the real story although you would never think that by the reporting of the news media, especially television.

The real story is how two grown men both with political experience, one with actual military experience, both who held high government positions who could affect government policies failed their country and its people at critical times. That is the sad story the news media has failed to inform the people.

Dick Cheney has served in congress, was chief of staff to President Gerald Ford, Secretary of Defense under Bush 41 and held that position during the 1991 Gulf War. He was Vice President under Bush 43 for 8 years, yet with all that experience, his lack of character and judgement concerning the war on terror, the war in Iraq, his obsession with secrecy, his lies on his position of torture, his lack of respect for our men and women in uniform and his attitude of using fear to scare the American people is a betrayal of everything America stands for.

Colin Powell, a career military man and general, was chairman of the joint chiefs of staff during the Bush 41 administration, ran the Gulf War of 1991, secretary of state for 4 years under Bush 43. Yet Powell not only supported the unnecessary invasion of Iraq and the war, he gave false testimony to the American people and the world before the United Nations concerning Iraq's WMD and Iraq's military capabilities. He used the cover of the director of the CIA who was sitting behind him during his testimony as justification for his false statements. U.S. senator, Carl Levine put it bluntly when he said Powell was the one person in the Bush administration who could have stopped the war in Iraq and failed to speak up.

Now Cheney and Powell are both at each other. That is a non story compared to the real story of their failure to serve the country and its people at a time of danger. How could two people with such vast experience and background betray their allegiance to the people and the country. Going with the flow is a prescription for disaster and the country and its people have the scars to prove it.

This petty side show of Cheney and Powell and the news media's handling of the situation is indeed a very sad chapter of how experienced people have failed the test to truly recognize what really matters and makes a difference for our country and its people. That is the real story, their tirade against each other is an attempt to dodge the real issue of their failures.

Torture: Another Attempt To Rewrite History By The Republicans

2009-05-26T13:50:00.000-04:00

The Bush administration tried to rewrite the history of why we went to war in Iraq when no WMD were found and now former V.P. Dick Cheney is in the forefront of trying to rewrite the history of torture that occurred on his and Bush's watch in connection with the war on terror. Republicans Mitch McConnell and John Boehner in congress along with former representative Newt Gingrich are joining the battle. They introduced a new twist. It is ok to torture as long as useful information is gathered from torture. It does not matter to them that the U.S. is party to the Geneva Convention and other treaties that forbid torture, period.

Fox news and other cable news have also joined the battle and are trying to change the nature of the torture debate by accusing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as being involved because she was briefed by the CIA on the interrogation being used. She denied she was told waterboarding and torture were used. It should be noted that the republican party controlled congress when congress was briefed.

I wrote in a post here when Karl Rove left the White House and went to work for Fox news he would be trying to rewrite the history of the Bush administration and the damage done to the country. He has been doing just that on Fox news and will soon publish a book to do the same thing. The torture flap is a continuation of how republicans operate.

Why are they trying to rewrite the torture problem now. Well simply because information has been recently made public by the White House and the Justice Department. Also former administration officials who were connected with the torture memos are singing like birds on national T.V. The people who are responsible for torture and the use of torture are those who authorized the practice and those who knew it was torture and still carried it out. Republicans in Bush's administration have a history of lying to conceal the administrations illegal activities and their operating in secret.

Nancy Pelosi is being used as a distraction from the real problem concerning torture. Republicans will be in the mode to rewrite the history that happened on their watch for a long time because more and more is being revealed little by little as time goes by of just how the Bush administration operated and the damage done to our country.

Only cowards try to rewrite history and a lot of them are coming out of the wood work. They are really a sorry bunch.

Louisiana's Budget Woes

2009-05-26T13:49:00.000-04:00

Governor Bobby Jindal and his administration are trying to address a $1.3 billion short fall in the budget. Major cuts in spending has been proposed by Jindal to make up for the revenue shortage he and the legislature failed to anticipate. Governor Jindal inherited a $2 billion surplus from the previous administration. The reader will remember how Bush inherited budget surpluses from the Clinton administration and then failed to balance one budget in his 8 years in office. However, the state of Louisiana is required to balance its budget.

Republicans seem to have a problem balancing budgets especially after they inherit surpluses from the previous administration. If one listens to what Jindal says, the fault lies in fallen oil and gas prices and the condition of the national economy. Not so says former Republican Governor Buddy Roemer. As reported in the Times Picayune of May 17, Roemer in a sit down with representative Dan Claitor said, Jindal can not separate himself from the budget shortfall. Roemer said Jindal was part of the problem and is a result of Jindal's miscalculation in the last budget. Jindal's spokesman, Kyle Platkin blamed it on the national economy and a decrease in oil and gas revenue. The usual disclaimer by republicans. Always passing the buck.

The big problem is how and where Jindal wants to cut the budget and spending. Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu in a letter to the editors dated 5/19 to the Times Picayune pointed out how the $2 billion surplus Jindal and the legislature inherited from the previous administration and then decided to increase spending over $1.3 billion. Those decisions Landrieu said forced them into a position this year of cutting 87 academic programs at our colleges and universities. Plus budgets cuts to health care funding across the state.

Landrieu also pointed out we should invest our money in education, health care, critical infrastructure and other programs that offer substantial return on taxpayers dollars. In other words every situation has a priority. You do not cut the budget programs that produce revenue.

I recall what Bob Woodward, the Washington Post journalist wrote in one of his many books. He said that in Bill Clinton's first year in office he knew more about the federal budget than the members of congress did even though most of them had been in congress for many years and had to deal with the budget every year. The republicans were especially astonished by Clinton's knowledge about the federal budget. That explains why Clinton's fiscal and economical policies reversed the 12 years of deficit spending by the Reagan-Bush years. It also explains what is going on with the Louisiana budget. Jindal and the legislature are all over the place because they really don not understand how budgeting works and managing the peoples money.

Mitch Landrieu's letter to the editors was right on target.

The Homestead Exemption, Corporate Incentives and Louisiana Budget Cuts

2009-05-20T19:11:00.001-04:00

All of the above are being played out now in the Louisiana legislature and when all is said and done the average tax payer and middle class will be the ones who get screwed by our elected officials. Businesses will once again come out a winner and why not, that is where political campaign contributions come from.

Jefferson Parish Assessor Lawrence Chehardy noted the homestead exemption of $75,000 has not been changed since 1982 and that 20 years ago 81% of homeowners was covered by the exemption. Today that amount is 46%. That is a great revelation but you do not hear the voices of LABI acknowledging that more home owners have been paying more taxes on their property.

LABI and the business community they represent are opposed to raising the exemption on the grounds that business would have to be taxed to make up for the short fall. Of course to start with, most businesses do not pay their fair share in taxes, state or federal because of the tax loopholes that are created for them and the corporate welfare and other incentives they receive from the state or federal government.

Lets take the Shaw Group who's headquarters are in Baton Rouge, La. They announced May 6, the company will decline $172.5 million in incentive payments from the state for a major manufacturing project or for the company's commitment to keep its headquarters in Baton Rouge as reported in the Times Picayune. Shaw's chairman was quoted in the article as saying the Shaw Group will continue with its plans but would rather see the government incentive money spent on higher education or other state needs. That was a noble decision by the Shaw Group. Evidently the project was needed since Shaw will continue with its plans. The article also pointed out Shaw was a global provider with $7 billion in revenue last year. Does a $7 billion company need incentives to stay in Louisiana and expand their business?

Now for Tom Benson and the New Orleans Saints. The state has paid Mr. Benson more than $300 million in cash and improvements since 1985. Governor Jindal has recently agreed to commit $85 million of state money to upgrade the Superdome for the saints and would also require up to $6 million in payments a year to the saints if stated targets are not met. This new proposed contract which has to be approved by the legislature would replace the present on which expires in 2010. According to reports Mr. Benson paid approximately $75 million for the franchise and the NFL said the franchise is now worth approximately $800 million. That is a pretty good return on equity for Mr. Benson at the expense of the people of Louisiana.

Under the new contract Mr. Benson's company would buy Dominion Tower and lease space back to the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans Center and parking garage is included. In the Times Picayune of May 10 this is what one local real estate expert said. "Benson and his various companies can apply for new market tax credits and that they might make enough money that they can take the credits themselves to offset their federal tax burden." That is a real sweet deal for a multimillionaire and his companies in any ones book. Where are the loopholes in the tax code for the average payer?

Those who oppose the increase in the homestead exemption should tell the average citizen just how much money the state gives out yearly in corporate welfare and so called incentives to Louisiana businesses. The number would be staggering. Yet the budget before the legislature contains reductions in the millions of dollars for higher education, health care and other projects. As a result, the legislature has approved a proposal for public colleges and universities to raise tuition 5% for the 2009/2010 school year. The people get screwed again while the millionaires and their companies continue to make out like bandits. I have written many times how politicians try to gain favor with the voters by promising no new taxes or increase in taxes and then get into the pockets of ordinary citizens 100 different ways.

State and federal taxes are written to help those that have the most and those that can afford to pay. It is special interest politics at its worse. There was a time when a company would locate to a certain state because of the normal advantages that state had to offer such as, transportation, (La. has water transportation, the cheapest way to move goods.), rail, truck, natural resources, location and a reasonable labor force. But then greed got in the way and companies started to use blackmail on the states for monetary concessions to locate their facilities. And Politicians jumped at the chance using taxpayer money to subsidize company operation when there was no need.

The present economic conditions in the U.S. is a reminder just how greedy corporations have been and how eager politicians are willing to go along. By the way, unemployment in Louisiana in March of 2008 was 3.4%. In March of 2009 it was 5.3%. Where are all the new jobs that are supposed to be created by La. businesses that receive millions of dollars in incentives from the state to do so. Tax fairness, you will not find it in Louisiana.

Can The Health Care Industry Be Trusted?

2009-05-20T19:09:00.000-04:00

President Obama praised the health care industry's promise to cut $2 trillion in cost over 10 years in connection with Obama's health care reform proposed legislation. Representatives of the insurance industry, doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and labor groups appeared at the White House and made the pledge.

According to a report by the Associated Press the industry group said they would slow the growth of health care costs by 1.5% a year by coordinating care, reducing administrative costs and focusing on quality, efficiency and standardization. However, initial reports said congress was not impressed by the industry's lack of specifics.

If the health care industry really wanted to do something to reduce the cost of health care they should (1) immediately stop their T.V. adds that tell the people "to check with your doctor if such and such a prescription is right for you." (2) Stop all advertising of drugs, especially the most costly ones. Let the consumer get this information from the doctor. (3) Start a nationwide program of prevention, that is the key to a lasting lower health cost. (4) Incorporate alternative treatments and medication. (5) There are many more that the health care industry is aware of that can dramatically reduce their cost and the cost to consumers.

Congress should not be impressed until the industry spells out the definitive way that cost will be reduced and sustained over many years. It should also be tied to an ongoing preventative program. The industry is one of the most wealthiest among corporate America and should step up to the plate and tell the people exactly how they plan to reduce health care cost for the consumer and sustain that savings. Until they do that congress and the President should remain skeptical.

Journalist David Brooks About Face

2009-05-16T10:30:00.002-04:00

New York Times conservative writer David Brooks is the latest to see the light why the republican party in general and conservatives in particular are out of favor with the American people and also out of touch. He recently wrote a column titled, "Order vs. Freedom" to explain how and where the republican party lost its way. Keep in mind this is the same David Brooks who has supported the conservative republican agenda in the past and backed George Bush's policies all the way for the last 8 years.

Brooks speaks about Obama running up the debt and intervenes rashly in sector after sector. Yet he fails to mention the record debt run up by George Bush, his father and Ronald Reagan and was silent the years they did so. Their record debt is one of the major causes of what the country and its people are dealing with today.

In his article, Brooks uses John Wayne and director John Ford in his fairytale. He speaks about two theories of civic order and that shows he is out of touch with reality by explaining a "liberal theory" vs. a "conservative theory." Brooks is still caught up in brand names and can not bring himself to the conclusion that what is needed and what was provided the American people in November was a choice for an American solution and theory.

The democratic party can rightly be called the American party because it represents American ideals while the republican party represents the elite. The democratic party has its own built in checks and balances because they don't unite behind a single leader and rubber stamp their own party's proposals. You don't see the party issuing talking points and then repeat them over and over again. Mr. Brooks and the conservatives now find themselves in a flip-flop mode.

America needs a good two party system and maybe a good independent system. The best thing the republican party can do is drop the word conservatism from its vocabulary. Their leaders don't even understand what the word conservatism means. The liberal label conservatives like to pin on democrats don't stick because the people can see the democratic party does not govern by ideology. There are those that will never get it, David Brooks for one.

United States Antitrust Policies

2009-05-16T10:30:00.001-04:00

The Obama administration announced on May 11 that the U.S. Government is tightening its policies and will move against big firms that hurt smaller firms and competitors. A lax of enforcement by the Bush administration was cited as a contributor to the current economic troubles.

Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney said the Justice Department is abandoning legal guidelines established by the Bush administration that made it difficult to pursue antitrust cases against big firms. Varney said there was a high cost to standing aside and the government has to change course with a new tack. The new rules will return to the antitrust policies of the Clinton administration.

The lack of antitrust enforcement has once again proved that corporate America can not be trusted to do the right thing on their own. That has been talked about in politidose for a long time, Giant firms buying up their competitors have never resulted in lower prices or better products for the consumers. In fact just the opposite takes place.

A fair enforcement of the antitrust laws and using that avenue to protect the consumer and smaller businesses is long overdue. We know because of the present economic meltdown what big business power can do when in the hands of the most wealthy. They have a free hand to do as they wish with out checks and balances.

This antitrust decision is good news for the consumer. Now the government has to follow through on its promise.

What Is Next For The Republican Party

2009-05-08T16:16:00.001-04:00

That is a question the party is asking itself at this very moment but so far the answer has been elusive.
Michael Steele, the newest Chairman of the Republican National Committee has had a problem bringing the various factions of the party together and his rhetoric has been acid laced towards democrats while at the same time apologizing to Rush Limbaugh.

Republican leaders in congress Mitch McConnell and John Boehner are a part of the failed republican policy and ideology of the past and offer only criticism of democrats and nothing new in the way of policytomove the country or their party forward. The same can be said for Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Rielly their likes and the Christian right have been able to bully the leaders of the republican party using divisive issues. I remember a motion picture when I was a youngster that had the title "Tall in the saddle." What the republican party needs is some one who is "tall in courage" to stand up to the phonies in their party and those mentioned above.

The Washington Post carried a story, "Ailing GOP Vows To Start Conversation with voter." Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, republican Mitt Romney and congressman Eric Cantor unveiled the "National Council for a New America" at a town hall meeting in Washington, D.C. This was to be a first in a national series about "rebranding" the GOP said Cantor. In other words, the re packaging of the GOP.

Congressman Cantor has been in the news a lot and has been critical of President Obama's policies and the legislation he has sent to congress. However, like his party, has no proposals of his own. Romney had his chance to represent change when he ran for his party's Presidential nomination last year and lost. During the debates he not only offered nothing new he kept talking about how Ronald Reagan cut spending. Even though Reagan had no record of cutting spending and in fact ended up being the biggest deficit spender of his time. Former gov. Jeb Bush represents the same school of thought as his brother, George Bush. Ideology is his platform and has no credentials that would separate him from the republican party we know today.

The republican party will not change as long as the same leaders are running the show no matter how much window dressing they put on their actions. New leadership is needed that change the debate on issues such as abortion, gay marriage and other social and moral issues that the American people are able to sort through on their own. Forget about conservatism being some kind of elite status when it comes to family values and fiscal and social responsibility and other badges of honor conservatives claims to wear. In other words, come down off the high pedestal and try to just be an American. Conservatives destroyed their so called elite status long ago.

The republican party needs to enter the debate on the real issues facing the people and shed their do nothing attitude and their talking points of blame. All is not lost for the GOP if they recognize how they wrecked their own train. The status quo with the same leaders and the same ideology is a burden the republican party has to change. A real change, not the same phony games they have been playing.

Another First For Politidose

2009-05-08T16:15:00.000-04:00

It was pointed out here in politidose long ago how representatives from the oil and gas industry, President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney lied to the American people when they said no new oil refineries have been built in the last 30 years in the U.S. because of environmental reasons and the cost thereof.

No new refineries have been built because there has been no demand because there was no shortage of stockpiles, ethanol was added to the mix and most existing refineries have been expanded. The CEO's of Chevron and other major oil companies testified to that before congress under oath. In fact they stated why should we build a new refinery when ethanol is being pushed to reduce the use of gasoline. Republicans and representatives of the oil and gas industry have long made the environmental problem the whipping boy and out right lied to the people and used that every time the price of oil and gasoline spiked.

Now we read in an article in the New Orleans Times Picayune of 5/2/09 how Marathon Petroleum is increasing its oil refinery capacity at its Garyville, Louisiana refinery which now ranks as the 18th largest in the country and will move up to number 4 in 2010 when the expansion is complete. The refinery now processes 256,000 barrels of oil a day and when completed, will process 436,000 barrels of oil a day, an increase of 70%. The reader will remember it was said in politidose long ago that almost every refinery in Louisiana has increased its capacity in the last several years. The fact is oil refineries have not stood still but you don't hear that from the liars.

There are more kickers in the Marathon Oil story. Alfonse Mannato, an analyst with the American Petroleum Institute said oil companies have enlarged existing facilities during the past decade creating the equivalent of one new refinery every year. The fact that it is an expansion and not a new refinery does not diminish its importance. That is a powerful statement devastating to the liars. Rich Bedell the facility manager described the expansion as a long held plan by Marathon that did not take into account the high prices of last summer or the subsequent downturn. That is another powerful statement that is at odds with those who say the price of gasoline should be $4.00 gallon.

Marathon's investment in the project expansion is $3.4 billion. Louisiana allowed the company to use $1 billion in Gulf Opportunity Zone bonds, a tax free financing device authorized by Congress to help the state recover economically after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The plant now has 920 jobs that will go to 1200 jobs when complete. Mr. Bedell called the refinery one of the most efficient in the nation.

The American people deserve to be told the facts concerning what is taking place in the oil and gas industry and the prices the people have to pay. That has not been the case. If any one still has any doubts about the manipulation of prices in this industry I guess the lies will continue. An electorate who wants to really understand what is happening can make change for the better.

The bottom line to the Marathon story is that existing refineries have enlarged and up graded their refinery capacity to keep up with demand and that there has be no major shortage of refinery capacity to cause the run up in prices the country has seen in the last 5 years. Liars will always be liars.

U.S. Senator Arlen Specter

2009-04-30T23:03:00.001-04:00

Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania announced he was leaving the republican party to become a democrat. He was candid in his reasons why he was leaving the republic party. He said he was not prepared to have his 29 year record with the U.S. Senate decided by the jury of the Pennsylvania republican primary electorate. Specter also said the republican party had moved far to the right. Specter's republican colleges were not happy with the move and were not so kind about his decision to change.

There was immediate talk by people in the news media that Specter would give the democratic party the 60 votes in the Senate needed to shut down debate. That seems to be premature since no one knows how Specter will vote as a democrat. However, between now and his reelection bid he will have an opportunity to develop a record as a democrat and the people will be able to judge just who is Specter the man. Is he the man who cares only about his reelection or will his voting record reflect progress for the country and its people.

The present time should be a defining time for the American people because of all the serious problems the country and its people are facing. There are a lot of votes coming up in congress on many of those issues and the people will be able to see how our elected officials vote. We the voters have to take note and see if elected officials vote for progress or vote to retain the status quo. That is the bottom line regardless of party affiliation. Time will tell.

U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu

2009-04-30T23:02:00.002-04:00

Democratic U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu announced on 4/27/09 she was supporting the retention of Jim Letten as U.S. attorney for Louisiana's Eastern District. Jim Letten, a republican was appointed by President George W. Bush.

Senator Landrieu's decision was a good one and showed her courage and class. It was in sharp contrast to the firing of 7 U.S. Attorneys by former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, which was done for partisan reasons that have come out in hearings before congress. Louisiana's junior U.S. Senator, David Vitter had pledged to fight the nomination of anyone but Letten. This is the same David Vitter who finished second on a list of the least by partisan republicans according to a survey by the Capitol Hill Newspaper, "The Hill" reported in the Times Picayune of 4/26/09.

Senator Landrieu noted in her recommendation of Mr. Letten that President Obama said that he wanted to reach across the aisle and build bridges and middle ground. This recommendation does that. The people of Louisiana can be proud of Senator Landrieu's actions. It is just one more example that separates the democratic party from the republican party.

A Fiscal Responsible Government

2009-04-30T23:02:00.001-04:00

I have written many times in past commentaries concerning the federal budget deficits and debt that has been the republican trade mart of the last 3 republican Presidents and how their ideology of trickle down economics has failed. Those commentaries were made long before the economy crashed, the wall street financial collapse and the massive job losses that have occurred over the past 15 months.

It was pointed out in those commentaries how the republican ideology and a lack of a true fiscal and economic policy failed to create a sustained economy and a sustained job creation for the American people. The country and its people are now living through the carnage and the government has embarked on a massive stimulus plan to turn things around. I also spoke about the greed of corporate America and how innovation has been lost in America, especially in the automotive industry. It should be noted no other form of news media were talking about those issues at that very early time.

Now, the news media is paying a considerable amount of attention to all of those issues. President Obama"s commitment to put the U.S. on track again to balance the federal budget and have a sound fiscal policy has gotten little attention in the news media however, which is very unfortunate.

The President has already started the ball rolling to put the country back on a sound fiscal policy. He has already ordered his cabinet to identify programs that are outdated or not working and in his radio address to the nation on 4/26/09 called on congress to pass "pay as you go" legislation to deal with the budget problem. He also said, government must act the same way any responsible family does in setting its budget. The President's initiative to stabilize the economy will result in larger federal budgets for awhile. That has been compounded by record deficit spending by the Bush administration for eight straight years.

The Presidents desire to return the government to fiscal discipline should be given that chance and the American people should make it be known they too want their government to be fiscally sound and balance the federal budget. No one really knows how much money the federal government waste each year but if our leaders really want to do the right thing, I believe the government could afford those things that really matter to our country and its ;people without creating more debt. The Presidents leadership in this will make a difference.

The Torture Flip Flops

2009-04-27T16:11:00.000-04:00

The United States is party to more than one international treaty that forbids torture and other cruel and inhumane treatment. Those treaties forbid torture regardless of what rationale is given by those who think torture is a legitimate tool.

The Bush administration has repeated the line the U.S. does not torture however, we know now because of the release of intelligence documents and testimony before congress and the debate that is going on now the U.S. did indeed use torture on several prisoners. More and more people who served in the Bush administration are now talking openly about the situation.

President Obama said it would be up to the Justice department to see if they have a case to prosecute those in the Bush administration who authorized torture. Some seem to be getting scared, especially former V.P. Dick Cheney. He has been on Fox cable news proclaiming that torture works and got results and prevented some terror attacks in the past. After denying the U.S. tortured anyone he now wants to justify that action because he said they prevented more terror attacks.

Cheney wants it both ways especially now since he may be in legal jeopardy with more and more information coming out. It is also reported that a few CIA agents said torture was used to establish a link between Saddam Hussein, Bin Laden and the 9-11 attacks. Bush and Cheney have been trying to find that link before the Iraqi war and after when no WMD were found. Their justification for going to war in Iraq was a lie so they were looking for another excuse and even though it did not exist, they still tried to plant that seed in the mind of the people.

The U.S. government should find out the truth and if indeed torture was authorized, those responsible should have to answer to the law. Treaties are a two way street for all who are a party to them. Laws are what people have to live by and the U.S. is the one nation that can make a difference in upholding the law.

U.S. Representative Steve Scalise, The New Newt Gingrich

2009-04-27T16:10:00.000-04:00

Newt Gingrich, the Republican who when Speaker of the House introduced his contract for America (which America never asked for), opposed President Clinton's deficit reduction and economic policy, shut down the federal government and then later resigned in disgrace is now being imitated by U.S. representative Scalise.

Mr. Scalise is opposing almost all of the Presidents proposals and says they are job killers. Yet it is Mr. Scalise and his party who have no record of job creation. The economy lost over 4 million jobs in the last 13 months of the Bush administration. All one has to do is look at the republican record for the last 8 years.

The republican party has yet to find a new face that represents change and progress for the American people. Its new faces represent the same failed ideology and policies that has brought the economy to its knees. Scalise is all over the ball park on the "cap and trade" proposal congress will be debating and as usual offers no proof for his statements that the legislation, if adopted would result in huge job loses. It is almost laughable when republicans talk about job losses.

The democratic party over the years have proven they are open on various issues. On the other hand, the republican party is still the party who think they and only they know what is good for America and its people. Well the people rejected that sad ideology in November. Republicans in congress have nothing to offer the people so far so what is their new strategy? They are trying to brand the democratic party as the socialism party. When you have nothing to contribute, attack and attack.

Thomas Jefferson would not look at the republican party of today as a viable option for the American people. Mr. Scalise and his party need to grow up.

Republicans, Conservatives and The Tax Tea Party

2009-04-22T20:33:00.002-04:00

The republican party and conservatism does not define each other and has been that way since the election of Ronald Reagan as President. The last 3 republican Presidents and members of their party in congress have by their actions proven there is no such thing as a conservative politician. The same holds true for many republican leaders who are no longer in congress but still play a major role in the republican party decisions such as Newt Gingrich, Dick Armey, Tom DeLay and others.

Then you have those in the news media like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Riley, Niel Cavuto and others who I will refer to as the "group" who preach conservatism but in fact are right wing radicals who care nothing about the principal foundations our country was built on.

The "group" and those mentioned above have banded together and high jacked true conservatism and replaced it with right wing ideology, then created a base to promote and practice that ideology. The result has been to divide America, deficit spending and debt for 20 years, a transfer of wealth from the middle class, failure to regulate corporate America and the economic situation the country finds itself in today.

The American people in the last 3 elections, two congressional and one Presidential, made a decision to reverse the ideology policies of the republican party and put the democrats in control. As a result the republican party has no real leader today that has any credibility. The "group" will not support any republican who puts country first that is why they are promoting and leading the current tax and tea party. They can not compete with new ideas so they try to create an issue for the new President. At the same time they are silent on the subject of the cause of what is taking place in America today, republican ideology.

What the republican party needs is a new leader who is willing to stand up to the present leaders of their party and the "group" and put the country first. The days of beating on ones chest and proclaiming, "I am a conservative" and that makes me better than any one else are gone. The republican party has failed to offer the American people any constructive direction.

Who's Side Are They On?

2009-04-22T20:33:00.001-04:00

Louisiana representatives Charles Boustany and Steve Scalise's letter to the eidtor of the Times Picayune dated 4/17/09 is just another scare tactic to maintain the status quo of corporate welfare to the Oil and Gas Industry. Congress has already given that industry over a year ago $7 or $8 billion of corporate welfare at a time when oil was over $100 barrel and gasoline $3.00 gallon.

They now say the government should be giving them more to increase production. What is stopping that industry now from increasing production? Oil is over $50 barrel and gasoline around $2.00 gallon. The rig count both nationally and in Louisiana has been going down. That reflects supply has overtaken demand because the people have cut back on their driving habits and are using less fuel. That is good sense by the consumer and good for the economy, they can spend their money on more productive things like consumer goods, health insurance and education.

Mr. Boustany and Scalise need to leave the pockets of corporate America, especially the oil and gas industry and their lobbyist. They preach conservatism and then cater to the special interest groups, then use the Cap and Trade legislature passed by the U.S. House to scare the people. The oil and gas industry has made record profits for the last several years, they can afford to do what ever need to be done on their own. Using tax payers dollars to give the oil and gas industry to increase production is wasted money.

The public needs to also remember it is members of congress who stack the tax code with loop holes and goodies that allow corporate America to pay less than their fair share of taxes and shields a good portion of their revenue from tax with offshore accounts. If any one believes corporate welfare will allow business to reduce their products costs to consumers, they need to study economics and learn that it is greed that fuels corporate America.

The status quo seems to be Mr. Boustany and Scalise's agenda. The American people voted the opposite way in the November elections.

Louisiana Politics: Still Cloudy

2009-04-19T10:54:00.001-04:00

Former Louisiana Governor Blanco decided not to run for reelection because she thought the aftermath of Katrina would dominate the campaign instead of the many other issues important to Louisiana and its people. That was a courageous decision. Most elected officials put self before any thing or anyone else.

The people elected Bobby Jindal as governor. A republican has not occupied the governor's office seat very often and the word was spread that a new era in Louisiana politics would began for the better. Politics concerning the proposed budget that is in deficit reflects the same old political solutions. Higher education, health care and funding for the arts are taking a heavy hit. Nothing new there and so far no original thought. The increase in property taxes is once again with us and home owners are mad. Nothing new there either. One member of the legislature is proposing a tax rebate to help out and also will introduce legislature to raise the homestead exemption to $150,000 to replace the present $75,000. Nothing new there because the problem is still with us after many years of debate and elected officials seem to be all over the ball park.

More and more people are writing to the Times Picayune letters to the editors expressing their disapproval of governor Jindal's many trips out of state to raise campaign contributions. Nothing new there either. A lot of our past governors have been AWOL. Jindal tells the people often how lucky the people of Louisiana are that the economic down turn has not been as severe for its people as other parts of the country. Yet the Times Picayune reported 3/30/09 that Louisiana's rate of personal income growth in 2007 was 10.2% and dropped to 4.2% in 2008, a decrease of 6%. That number would be pretty severe to a lot of folks.

The people are told finding new revenue sources is not easy. Is that supposed to mean our elected officials can't make the hard decisions when necessary? Former republican governor David Treen resurrected just recently a way for the state to raise new revenue. Its called CWEL, "Coastal Wetlands Environmental Levy." The levy would produce substantial revenue with the impact on Louisiana hardly noticeable says Treen. The problem is that elected officials are afraid to do their job when anything that looks like a tax is mentioned. Instead, they find a way to get into the consumers pockets a hundred different ways.

Our politicians tell us they know a lot about oil and gas in this state. Yet they got carried away with their budget projections on revenue from oil and gas which was part of the budget problem. They thought the price of oil was going to stay sky high. They acted like they were from Nebraska. Is there any one in Louisiana who knows the price of oil will come down. Nothing new there either.

At this point I don't believe any one can say with a straight face a new era has begun in Louisiana. The people who run government still lack any original thought.

Yes America, A War Is Still Going On In Iraq

2009-04-19T10:53:00.001-04:00

ix more Americans were killed in Iraq in a three day period recently. Truck and roadside bombs were the killers weapons again, again and again. The war is in its seventh year and the U.S. still has no defense against these weapons and our men and women in uniform still go out on patrol and are exposed to the hazards.

The Obama administration and our military planners should find a way to end the U.S. presence there at a faster pace than has been announced. Over 4000 Americans have given their lives for their country in that war because they were sent to fight a war over WMD that did not exist. Not one more American should have to die on Iraqi soil.

It was a betrayal to America to have a foreign policy based on the premise that Iraq was tied to the national security of the United States. It has always been the Israeli-Palestine, Syria and Iran connection that has a bearing on our national security in that area. Sadly, the people who started this war knew that. And if that is not sad enough our own military advisers are still telling us we have no way of knowing what will happen in Iraq after the U.S. leaves.

Israel and Egypt have had normal relations since the Camp David accords over 30 years ago that was prodded by President Carter. If the Israel, Palestine, Syria and Iran problem is not addressed, Iran will hold the wild card over Iraq when the U.S. departs. If that happens, what will our experts who started and supported the war in Iraq tell the parents of our men and women in uniform who paid the ultimate price.