Belleair Beach Officials May Borrow Funds – Citizens of Belleair Beach most likely are not following reports about a likely need of funds in order to repair a small access bridge on Harrison Avenue. It happens that original project repair estimates of $165,000 have more than doubled and could ultimately reach $400,000.
Where should the city find those funds? Should the city council increase taxes, shuffle the city budget, or borrow money?
If the city borrows money to fund the project, then should that city “loan” be for a short-term or long-term?
If you reside in Belleair Beach, this might be a good time to call City Hall and voice your opinion regarding this important matter.
To The Victor Belongs The Spoils - Barack Obama won the presidency and all of the spoils that flow through this powerful office.
For example, Obama just stated that census data control would be transferred under the Office of the President instead of the Department of Commerce. This change in the manner in which census data in America is controlled and interpreted is now under the political power of anti-Republican Chief of Staff Rob Emanuel. Of course, not much of this change is being mentioned in the liberal media.
Imagine, on the other hand, if President Bush had put census data and political power under Karl Rove (who has been painted by the media as anti-liberal.) The media would have gone crazy.
Nevertheless, to the victor go the spoils. Political changes Obama wants will be instituted in Washington and across America. Why did the lone Republican refuse to accept the Department of Commerce position offered to him by Obama? Simple, he saw that his office would be stripped of all its power and his nomination would be nothing but a simple political ploy.
What other power moves will be made in Washington over the next few weeks? Time will tell, but it makes some folks wonder if the League of Woman's Voters and other alleged non-partisan groups will voice an outcry over the manner in which census data was removed from the Dept. of Commerce.
More Outrage - Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) is becoming an embarrassment in her support of what some people refer to as the "fairness doctrine" with radio talk-show hosts. Sen. Debbie wants more liberal talk-show hosting--even if the government must subsidize the costs. Of course, what Sen. Debbie is not saying is that her husband is the founder of liberal talk networks such as the recent failure of "Obama 1260." Yes, it appears that Sen. Debbie wants the "fairness doctrine” passed in order to help fund her family's financial pocketbook.
Then there is Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) who asked the following question, "If you knew a bill in the US Senate would cause a recession in 10 years, would you support it?"
US Senate Talk And Gov. Charlie Crist - Recent news from Tallahassee has Gov. Charlie Crist contemplating a run for Florida's US Senate seat currently held by Mel Martinez. If true, then the governor's seat would be up for grabs in the next election.
State Treasurer and Democrat favorite Alex Sink would likely jump at that political office and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio might consider running for Alex Sink's position in the State Cabinet.
Talk about moving the favorite Republican up and out in order to gain two important state seats for the Democrat Party of Florida! Of course, if Gov. Crist remains as governor, then Sink will remain in her job and Iorio could be out of a job. On the GOP side, Mayor Rick Baker of St. Pete would likely run for US Rep. Bill Young's seat if Young opted to retire. Baker, however, might not be the only Republican with eyes on Rep. Young's seat, there could be several challengers since Young's district includes cities where Baker is not as prominent as in St. Pete.
Much of this political talk will, nevertheless, change over the next year as President Obama's approval ratings continue to fall from election day highs. After all, and as VP Joe Biden said, “There is a 30% chance this might not work.”
Shortage Of Doctors In Japan - Every now and then someone complains about the health care system in America. Inevitability, there is usually another person standing nearby that agrees with the comment and says that it is better in places like England and Japan.
Well, in Tokyo, Japan, it was reported that a 69-year-old man injured in an accident died after paramedics spent over an hour negotiating with 14 hospitals before one would admit him. It appears that there is a shortage of medical doctors in Japan and there are other problems with Japan's medical system. More than 14,000 patients were rejected by hospitals in Japan in 2007 before treatment was granted.
We Americans are blessed to live in a country where the health care delivery system is one of the best in the world, if not the best. Yes, we still graduate top quality medical students and have many of the best hospitals in the world. Problems? Yes, we have problems with health care, but, at the end of the day, we do not have the problems that are being reflected in Japan.
Income for doctors? If we begin to radically cut income to good doctors, there will be a day when the same good (medical) students decide it is better to attend law school and sue doctors or, heaven forbid, become top executives on Wall Street.
Do You Support More Government Spending? – President Obama supports a federal government stimulus spending plan that could exceed $1.5 trillion of taxpayer funds. Regardless of one’s political party persuasion, the Clearwater Gazette would like to report on whether our readers support this spending bill or not.
This weeks poll results: Do you support President Obama's federal stimulus spending bill?
Yes: 22%
No: 75%
Undecided: 2%
“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” - Margaret Thatcher