No Wake Zone - There is an issue brewing on Island Estates that deals with no wake zones.
"We need them," said one Island Estate resident last week.
"We don't need then," replied another Clearwater Beach resident.
The city council in Clearwater will review this no wake zone matter at the Monday worksession.
If a no wake zone is passed by the city council, one city official stated that such a law might be difficult to regulate, "We do not have a police water patrol in Clearwater."
Largo Election - Clean sweep! Incumbents were ousted in Largo in favor of new faces and perhaps new direction in important city issues.
Mayor Bob Jackson, an incumbent who had served the city three decades, was beaten by 171 votes in a tight race by current city commissioner Pat Gerard.
In another contentious city race, newcomer Rodney Woods defeated Ernie Bach. Woods now becomes the first minority elected to Largo city commission.
What does the sweep mean in Largo?
Time will tell, but some city insiders believe the election will result in a decided move "to the left" on social and economic issues.
Higher taxes in Largo?
The people (about 14% of them) have spoken.
Amazing lack of voter turn-out in Largo. Why the apathy?
Reader Responds To Gallagher/Crist Comment - One of our Democrat readers asked why I did not mention Jim Davis (Tampa favorite) as a frontrunner in the Florida governor's race.
Of course, my comment about the tight Republican primary race between Gallagher and Crist was the point of my previous article. Further, it is not I that stated the winner of the Republican primary would most likely win the governor's seat, it is polling companies that make such statements.
Nevertheless, Jim Davis is clearly the Democrat frontrunner in the Democrat primary for the governor's office. Davis is popular in places like Tampa and Orlando and would indeed be a most formidable opponent for either Gallagher or Crist.
Davis is a loyal supporter of the Democrat platform and should win many votes in places like Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa and Orlando.
No, the governor's race will be contentious and close.
The winner?
You tell me. (We will conduct a Clearwater Gazette poll that will reflect our readers sentiments).
Politics, As Usual - According to an article published in the American Enterprise Institute, "In the 1960's Democrats wanted the one-person-one vote rule because the rural districts with few people tended to be much more conservative than (the people) in urban areas, and they (city voters) were given disproportionate influences."
In Texas, where Democrats once made national news because they fled to New Mexico and Okalahoma to avoid a state congressional forum (to avoid a vote they were sure to lose), the same political infighting is taking place regarding districting.
As expected, the losing politicians are taking the issue to court - the U.S. Supreme Court.
The irony of all this political fighting is that gerrymandering had been used by both political parties for many years. Who doesn't recognize the fact that the winning political party tends to draw district lines in their favor?
The mess in Texas is nothing more than politics as usual - both sides have done it for decades … it is called politics.
P.S. Tom Delay won by a landslide in this week's primary race.
Slight Of Hand - In case you missed it, the powerful and biased media in Florida, and many other states, have taken-away the voters right to know the political persuasion of judicial candidates.
Let's face it, voters tend to know very little about judicial candidates. In fact, in most races voters know nothing about any judicial candidate up for election.
Should we at least know the party registration of the candidates?
Once you know that information you perhaps would at least know more about where the candidate stands (as far as large party platform issues are concerned).
Pay For No Work - General Motors Corp. deserves what it is getting - a drop in the bottom line.
Imagine receiving pay just to show-up and sit all day (with lunch break) in a chair with nothing to do! Nothing, but sit in a chair.
GM will pay $1.4 billion into the Jobs Bank Program a year for laid-off employees to sit idle in their so-called "rubber room."
Does that sound crazy or what?
There was a time when GM did not wish to lose people during a slump in business production; thus, the Job Bank Program was initiated. Today, however, the program is draining GM funds and there is no longer the need for a job bank of people.
What is being taught during these long, boring days in the "rubber room?" Things like, Trivia Pursuit, crossword puzzles, old movies, etc.
The cost per person?
$100,000 to $130,000 in wages and benefits, stated union and GM people to the Wall Street Journal".
Is there a better solution for the idle workers and GM?
Most of the workers want to work and certainly GM could save some money creating a work environment.
The Rubber Room?
No wonder GM is in trouble.
Soulforce Goes To Liberty University And Brigham Young University - Soulforce, an activist group for the gay community, will travel to Liberty University and Brigham Young University to promote tolerance for gay rights.
However, each university stated they would not permit a staged visit to the university to turn into a demonstration critical of the school's beliefs or lifestyles.
One person said the group will present what the Bible does and does not say about homosexuality.
The way I see it, the conversation could be lively and full of emotion. By the way, doesn't the word tolerance mean opposing views should respect each other's right to have "opposing views?"
Reputation - You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do. - Henry Ford