Around HereBy Leo CoughlinNobody asked me, but - …John Atanasio and Geoff Moakley, Largo citizens who keeps a sharp eye on city finances and have lots of good ideas, have gathered petition cards for the November race. Both would be welcome additions to the City Commission. …You hear the not well-informed bleating about this country headed toward socialism. Couldn't be more wrong. Our government is well in the throes of fascism. Check the definitions. …Given all the brouhaha about the pending Arizona law ("Ausweis, bitte!"), keep in mind that as a citizen you never have to show ID on demand unless you are doing something that requires a license or permit - driving a vehicle, present on public hunting grounds, etc. …It appears that Belleair and Belleair Bluffs folks are in a nasty scrap. The words are flying. The reason for the contretemps was reported here, but further deponent sayeth naught. …When is the Israeli leash going to be pulled up? The latest outrage was piracy on the high seas in pursuit of a blockade, which is an act of war against a people where no legal war exists. Israel, sadly enough, is a democracy only to the extent its apartheid allows it to be. Interested people really need to look at the hard facts here and not swallow the neo-con line, which is dedicated to having America preserve Israel. …This is what hurts - I can remember when Betty White was young. (And she was a pretty attractive dame. - Can one use that word anymore? Bogart did.) …Anyone who believes that a hefty campaign contribution is not an incipient bribe is living on a different planet. In the realm of humankind, when A gives B something large and desired and B accepts such, A in turn expects something in return. If you don't believe that, you are a moron. We gotta figure a way to get quid pro quo money out of politics. …How's this for efficiency? The Largo Library Advisory Board issued the minutes of its April 15 meeting six weeks after the meeting took place and a week after the board's most recent meeting. But not to worry. A review of the minutes shows that nothing - but nothing - happens at the meeting. Classic waste of time. …The movie "Caddyshack" from 1980 was aired on TV the other night. The introduction fulsomely praised it as one of the all time, bar none, super-dooper funny movies of all times. Wrong. It is terrible, unwatchable and the possibly the worst movie made since "Reefer Madness." …Speaking of golf, there is a summer "after noon" special at the Largo Municipal Course that began June 1 and runs until the end of September - two golfers play for a total of $30 for 18 holes, electric cart and a meatless hot dog for each. …Whatever became of Katherine Harris? …Some people still can't get it straight, confusing what Memorial Day and Veterans Day are all about in each instance. Joe Biden at Arlington Memorial Day was giving thanks to all those who served. No, Joe; that was a day to remember the dead. …And, come to think of it, many of those who never served, but could have, often make the loudest patriot noises. …Michael Savage, one of the more notorious whack jobs out there, needs a history lesson. Recent quote from Le Savage - "I don't know of any American president who has resigned…There may have been one." Yeah, Michael, there was; just the one. …There is only one way the National Anthem should be performed - by a military band adagio, live or by recording. Forget all these jazzed up interpretations - UGH!! …A recent Supreme Court decision needs to be understood well. A person held, arrested or taken into custody by the police, regardless of his or her actual innocence which will be determined later, must explicitly and without any ambiguity say to police "I do not want to answer questions. I want a lawyer." And stick to that. Remember, cops are not your friends; police do not have to tell you the truth; they are there to get evidence that convicts and the latitude given to them to search an individual or vehicle is too broad. Obey all police instructions, be polite always, never resist, give your name, and say only - "I want a lawyer."
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