The Way I See ItBy cj pollickThe Sign Is Correct - According to Belleair Beach city manager, the new "county" sign at the east-end of the Belleair Beach Causeway Bridge stating "Belleair Boat Ramp" entrance is correct. This matter is not a new issue and history reflects a time when residents of Belleair Beach did not wish to have anything to do with the boat ramp area on the east-end of the (old) Belleair Beach bridge. Thus, county planners used the words "Belleair Boat Ramp" to describe that part of the new bridge and boat ramp project... as it had been for many years. To those folks who sent emails questioning the sign's language, the sign is correct, it is the "Belleair Boat Ramp" entrance on the east side of the new highrise bridge. And, it is a marvelous boat ramp area with plenty of parking and floating boat docks by the boat ramp areas. Did Someone Say Boat Slips? - With 36 boat slips under agreement in the downtown Clearwater marina project, this city marina boat slip project is becoming more popular with boat owners seeking a good location for boat slip rental. However, the Clearwater Beach city marina has more boat slip openings than in many years. Thirty boat slips are now vacant at the beach marina location. This fact may surprise many local boat owners since it was not ago that there was a long waiting list of hopeful boat tenants for a slip at the beach city marina. My, how times have changed on Clearwater Beach. Rubio Beats Crist In Local Poll - It was not long ago that Gov. Charlie Crist held such a large lead in the race for the US Senate seat once held by Sen. Mel Martinez that he simply ignored all GOP opponents. After all, Crist had new powerful friends such as Donald Trump and Gov. Arnold Swartznegger of California helping to raise campaign funds. Crist was on top of the world and enjoying the view from the top. Times have changed, in great part due to Charlie Crist, and a young conservative GOP candidate began to gain ground on Charlie Crist, his name is Marco Rubio. It was not long before polls started reflecting gains by Rubio against Crist--in fact, most current polls show Rubio tied with Crist and gaining ground with Republicans. Crist, nevertheless, has avoided Rubio and refuses to accept a public debate. Crist still believes he can beat Rubio without accepting any type of public debate. Gov. Crist may have made some huge mistakes by ignoring all candidates as if the race was unofficially over. This past week the Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee (PCREC) voted to support Rubio over Crist by a vote of 106-54. Although this vote was merely a sampling of how some Republicans feel about the Senate race, it was also perhaps indicative of how other Republicans in Pinellas County feel about Rubio over Crist (in Crist's own backyard.) Can Crist overcome a charging Marco Rubio by ignoring him? Or, will Crist finally realize that his new, rich friends would forget his name as soon as he lost the GOP election! Interestingly, some political pundits are saying that Crist may abandon his campaign for the senate seat and run for re-election as Florida's governor. Imagine the political turmoil if Crist made such a move. Alex Sink would become a distant second in the governor's race, Bill McCollum would likely drop out of the race and ponder if it was time to leave Florida politics and, yes, Marco Rubio would become the frontrunner for the senate seat. An amazing turn of events for Charlie Crist. Sen. Harry Reid Said It, But Is Sorry - When Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV.) described then Sen. Barack Obama as a "light skinned Negro...did not speak with a Negro dialect, unless he wanted," he stated he was merely trying to describe Barack Obama to others. Reid is now under fire for making such comments about Barack Obama by the GOP. On the other hand, President Obama has forgiven the snide remark and stated it is a non-issue. In fact, Obama supports Reid for re-election in Nevada. Most of the media as well as liberal special interest groups have forgiven Sen. Reid; but, it does make you wonder how this type of comment would have played-out if a Republican had described Obama using the same words. What is perhaps interesting about Reid's comments was that he most likely was referring to southern old "slang" sounding words that could have been said by other southern folk, regardless of ethnic background. But, to say someone "spoke like a Negro if he wanted," was/is something you wouldn't think you would hear from a US Senator. Reid was wrong to have used those words to describe Obama and it might just cost him some votes in Nevada. He Said It, But Didn't Mean It - When Barack Obama was campaigning across America he proudly asserted that he would fully "air" discussions about healthcare legislation on C-SPAN. Full transparency, he asserted to crowds of cheering supporters. (Then) Sen. Obama said those things to encourage people to vote for him; and many people thought he would be true to his word. Voters thought Obama appeared sincere in his words and truthful in his eagerness to bring change to the way business is done in Washington. Unfortunately, this campaign promise was not true. Eight times candidate Obama promised to use C-SPAN so that citizens could watch and hear full political discussions about healthcare changes he would propose. Candidate Obama wanted people to watch and listen to debate about healthcare on C-SPAN. Citizens believed and welcomed the idea that there would be in-depth congressional discussions aired on C-SPAN before any health care law would be voted upon. Listen and hear what they say, asserted the candidate. Didn't happen, and when Speaker Nancy Pelosi was recently asked about the fact that President Obama promised to air healthcare debate on C-SPAN, she merely turned, smiled and ignored the question. Washington politics as usual, perhaps worse. Congressional meetings were discreetly held and citizens were not able to listen to those discussions on C-SPAN as promised. Thus, another campaign promise unfulfilled. Taking A Joy Ride To Copenhagen - Twenty Democratic House members, including Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer D-MD) along with numerous staff took a taxpayer funded trip to the failed Copenhagen Climate Summit, including the use of three military jets: two 737s and a Gulfstream five. USF And Coach Levitt - For 13 years Coach Levitt guided the USF football program; unfortunately, Levitt will be remembered as the USF coach that was fired due to allegations of hitting a USF football player. A regretful situation considering all the good that was done by Levitt since the founding of the football program. However, USF President and leadership made the right decision- there is no room in college sports for any coach to hit a player, no room, none. USF will replace Levitt with a new football coach in the coming weeks, in fact, names such as Tommy Bowden have been mentioned. USF will move forward from this setback - many USF fans also hope the same is true for Coach Levitt, even though Levitt has hired an attorney and stated he will fight to get his job back. Speaking Of Football - If you watched the playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and the Arizona Cardinals you saw strong offenses for both sides that resulted in high scores for both teams, until the final play of the game when Rogers was sacked, lost the ball which a Cardinal defensive player grabbed and ran in for the winning touchdown. WOW! It doesn't get more exciting than that! The Cardinals will now face the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, January 16th, at 2:30 p.m. in New Orleans. The Minnesota Vikings will face the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, January 17th, at Minnesota. Looks like a great weekend for football fans. "If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its run." Samuel Adams, 1776 |