The Way I See ItBy cj pollickFlorida Stone Crab Season - On October 15th Stone Crab season opens in Florida. Many local seafood restaurants will add this delicacy to their menus beginning on Friday and Saturday. (Many of our advertisers are offering stone crabs. Please visit our advertisers.) A plate full of large Stone Crab claws? Perhaps it best to reserve your table at one of our restaurants now-rather than calling on Friday morning. Stone Crab claws? Is there anything better? And for the local people that walk the flats and/or dive the bridges to collect these tasty crustaceans? See you at low tide. Jeb Bush Endorses Rick Scott - Former Florida governor Jeb Bush recently endorsed GOP candidate Rick Scott for the governor's seat over Alex Sink. Why? According to Jeb Bush, "I believe Rick Scott will create jobs in Florida and think outside the box." Something career politicians seem to avoid. As support for Rick Scott surges ahead, recent polling numbers reflect a decline in support for democrat candidate Alex Sink. Perhaps it is wise that Alex Sink is carefully avoiding photo opportunities with President Obama only weeks before the election. However, it is a fact that Alex Sink does support Obamacare, increased taxes, larger government and most every Democrat Party platform supported by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. And, as Jeb Bush inferred, there are major differences between Scott and Sink when it comes to creating more private sector jobs in Florida. Jeb Bush believes Scott should be favored over Sink. What about negative advertising? It's personal and it is bad. But, when it comes down to who will create jobs and shrink the size of our Florida government-only one candidate has the experience in creating private sector jobs-Rick Scott. All of the negative ads can't change that fact. (And, don't think Sink has not had her own problems, just like Scott.) As Marco Rubio extends his lead in recent polls, Democrats are trying to rally their troops in Miami to support the Meek senate campaign. Meek is trailing in poll numbers, while Charlie Crist campaign is trying to negotiate with Democrats for Meek to dropout of the race and to support Crist. Perhaps showing for the first time that Crist has indeed changed parties and would like to be the Democrat Party candidate. As the political chameleon of the US senate race, Crist has flip-flopped on so many political issues that both Rubio and Meek have challenged Crist on where he stands on important national issues. Meek stated that Crist is standing on a wet "paper box," while Rubio has stated that Crist has changed his position over six times on some issues. Meek says that he is the only Democrat in the senate race; Rubio says he is the only Republican in the senate race-Crist says, "There are things I like in both parties." Voters will soon decide who should lead our state. Lack Of Drilling Will Cost Jobs - Last week the Obama administration admitted their new drilling regulations will kill jobs. No surprise, our government does not seem to care about job creation. Banks Lending Less Now - The banks bailed out by TARP are actually lending less today than they did in the depths of the financial crisis. Unfunded Public Pensions - U.S. city pensions are unfunded by $574 billion, according to the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the University of Rochester. Who should pay for giveaway pension plans by cities? Yes, they are looking for a taxpayer bailout. Pentagon Alarmed By China - The Pentagon is increasingly alarmed by the harsh tone of China's military. Isn't China still a communist nation? Spending BIG Bucks - The National Education Association, the country's largest labor union, said it would spend $15 million on television and radio ads to re-elect Democrats. No big surprise. The teacher's union has been liberal leaning for decades. Over Age 60? - For readers who are over age 60, perhaps it is worth noting that current leaders in Washington have decided to not increase social security benefits in 2010-2011. Thus, the only folks who received a pay increase in 2010 were generally government employees. Cost of living increase? No. That's big government for you…cut non-government jobs, increase taxes and punish retirees…oh, and yes, pass a healthcare bill that includes a hidden law that will impose a home sales tax after 2013 by 3.5%. Angry older voters? You bet. Wall Street Does Not Care, Democrat Or Republican - Not long ago our illustrious leaders in Washington decided that they would spend billions upon billions of taxpayer funds to "bail-out" some of Wall Street's largest financial companies. Banks, insurance companies, investment banks, etc., etc., were given taxpayer funds to help keep them afloat due to gross mismanagement and greed. One would have thought Wall Street execs would have learned some lessons from this financial fiasco and would have "cleaned-up" their act. No ridiculous salaries and/or bonuses, no shady investment fees, no packaging of underperforming mortgages (and calling them investment securities that people could buy), etc. No high salaries or bonuses until all of Wall Street loans had been paid back. What did Wall Street do to handle their financial mess? Higher pay raises. Yes, Wall Street has increased its compensation to record levels. Where are officials from Washington? Seeking campaign contributions and election support. Wall Street does not care who is in power-they only seek to be friends with whoever is in power. Tea Party? Common folks who wish to stop this corruption and are therefore disliked by both career Democrats and Republicans. China Buys Oil Land Rights In Texas - Over 600,000 acres of oil land was bought by China, according to recent public reports. US energy companies, such as Chesapeake Bay Energy, are selling ownership interests in their energy companies to China. Thus, China is investing billions of dollars into US energy companies to obtain oil development rights in the US as well as obtaining new ideas regarding how to extract oil from shale. China drilling in the US for oil? Yes, and, in fact, China expects an output of over 500,000 barrels of US oil per day. Makes you wonder where this "Texas" oil might be shipped? Rand Paul Says Bring It On To Bill Clinton - GOP candidate Rand Paul of Kentucky has some strong words for former president Bill Clinton campaigning for his opponent in the "Blue Grass State." Paul said that perhaps Bill Clinton should not refer to Paul as some type of radical without looking at himself. Paul continued that if anyone was a radical in office it was Clinton. What Clinton did was an embarrassment to the office of the president, said Paul. Interesting exchange of unpleasant words in Kentucky. It appears that Tea party favorite Rand Paul is not going to allow negative campaign words from Bill Clinton to go without comment. Bulls, Gators, Noles And Hurricanes - USF had many chances to beat Syracuse last Saturday. They lost due to 4 penalties at the worst time and bad passing by the quarterback. USF needs plenty of help on offense, maybe a passing quarterback, and maybe a new kicker. Heaven help the young Bulls on Thursday evening at West Virginia. Gators lost to LSU…at the Swamp. This was the second loss for the Gators as they prepare for several other tough SEC games. Noles beat Miami at Miami. Bobby would have been proud of the Noles offense led by perhaps one of the nation's best athletic quarterbacks. Miami has lost a couple of games, but should rebound to end the season in a bowl game. FSU? Keep your eye on the NOLES-they could win the ACC and end up a top ten-ranked BCS team. OHIO STATE? They play in a weak Big Ten Conference and should end the season as the number one team in college football. Boise State? They will likely go undefeated and end the year ranked number four or five. The Rays? Season is over. "No one can make you unhappy without your consent."
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