What About Spring Break? - Once upon a time, folks in Clearwater talked about Spring Break and all the things that went with it. Yes, there was local Clearwater talk about roadway traffic, jaywalkers, dozens of busy t-shirt shops, motels with no vacancy signs, hotels booked from December to April 15, local restaurants full every night of the week, charter boats making two (sometimes three) fishing trips a day, extra-duty police officers walking the beach, parking problems and the list could go on and on.
Local citizens remember those days.
Gone.
Yes, those days are gone. Visitors have found another place to vacation.
Clearwater leaders had a vision for a new and better Clearwater.
Well, we now see that vision.
Welcome to Clearwater Beach during Spring Break (local high school students.)
Leo Was Right - Remember when Gazette writer Leo Coughlin began to write articles about the city manager of Indian Rocks Beach? If yes, then you now know Leo was right in stating that such city manager was indeed planning to leave Indian Rocks Beach.
Well, Al Grieshaber, Jr. is gone, taking a management job at Sun n' Lake.
Leo was right. v Of course, Leo has also stated that perhaps some other local city managers might (should) be on their way out. That Leo, does he have a crystal Ball?
Democrats Win, But Begin Fighting Among Themselves - San Francisco's Nancy Pelosi has begun to flex her new-found political muscle. She is now backing a less senior Democrat for the important majority seat in the House of Representatives. Of course, Pelosi's recent comments about supporting a non-senior Democrat for the powerful chairmanship has come as yet another blow by Pelosi to appoint the most liberal Democrats to powerful positions in Congress.
Ironically, during the recent campaign process, Pelosi maintained a low profile allowing more moderate Democrats to promote an agenda of future moderate leadership in Congress. However, many of those same moderate Democrat candidates (who won election) are being cast aside by the far-left leadership agenda of Pelosi and her close liberal friends in the Democrat Party.
What is also surprising is talk of abandoning Democrat leader Howard Dean of Vermont. It appears that some public statements by Howard Dean are not welcome with leaders in the Democrat Party that has taken control of the U.S. Congress. What might happen to Howard Dean? Amazing as this might seem, Dean is not likely to fade into the political sunset. It wouldn't surprise anyone to notice Howard Dean running in the 2008 presidential election.
More infighting by the Dems.
Remember Joe Lieberman of Connecticut? Well, he won re-election as an Independent. Of course, Lieberman lost the Democrat primary to a liberal Democrat who had support from prominent Washington Democrats. Lieberman's win means he may not vote along party lines, since he technically did not win re-election as a Democrat. In fact, Lieberman lost election as a Democrat.
Nevertheless, Lieberman is a supporter of the war in Iraq (although disagreeing with how it is being managed.) Bottom line? Lieberman can't be counted on as a vote to immediately leave Iraq. Thus, the Iraq war issue may be decided on by one or two senators that may not vote along political party lines.
Dems fighting because of Nancy Pelosi's liberal agenda?
Yes. And it could get worse as her new-found power requires support from liberal lobbyists from Hollywood and big money from union organizations (demanding U.S. worker protection in light of world trade agreements.) Some have already predicted that by 2008 Nancy Pelosi's liberal agenda might cause serious re-election damage to those several moderate Democrats who won election by less than 1 percent of the votes.
Bipartisan consensus?
Don't count on it.
To the victors belong the spoils. It is fair to say that the current Democrat controlled Congress should lead the way in offering their solutions regarding illegal immigration, social security, the war in Iraq, national security, nuclear warfare, the nation's economy, and a host of other important issues. If Pelosi's friends can solve those problems the next president will be a Democrat with a Democrat controlled Congress and their judges appointed to federal courts. All of this is in the hands of Nancy Pelosi and her supporters.
Speaking Of College Football - Yes, the Gators were fortunate to beat South Carolina and Coach Steve Spurrier. Yes, FSU has enormous problems with their football program. Yes, Miami football is in a tailspin that will result in a new coach. However, and closer to home, how about those USF Bulls? Last two weeks the Bulls beat Pitt, beat Syracuse, and should have beaten Rutgers!)
The USF Bulls are headed to a post-season bowl game. With two tough "road games" ahead against Louisville and West Virginia, one more win would result in a more significant bowl selection for USF. Imagine USF playing FSU at Tampa stadium? Of course, this would never happen - but, we can dream about such a bowl game.
Southern Cal moved-up in the poll to number three, jumping over the Gators, with hopes of playing the winner of Michigan/Ohio State. To the SEC fans this jump by USC was unworthy. Imagine USC playing in the SEC and not having at least two losses . . . The Gators deserved to be number three in football polls because a win is an important win when you play in the SEC . . . and all this talk about use of an Indian name? If colleges have used names such as Seminoles, Indians, Mandans, Mohegans, or any other Indian name as part of their college identity, such name was selected by early school officials as an honor not a slander to Indians. North Dakota State had to recently go to court to try and hold a college playoff game at their school due to their use of an Indian name in the college logo. This is not much different than what FSU had to do when some folks wanted them to not use the name "Seminole." The way I see it, some folks must have nothing better to do when they legally attack colleges for use of an Indian nickname.
Imagine the Irish without the expression "Fighting Irish." Or the "Spartans" of USC? Amazing stuff, isn't it?
GO BULLS.
Success - Success comes in cans, failures come in can'ts.