More Visitors? - It is the time of year when our friends from snow-country visit Clearwater. Yes, there are noticeably more people walking the Clearwater beaches. However, and from what I hear from visitors, parking is still a problem on Clearwater Beach.
A new problem?
Good gracious, no. I can remember former Clearwater Commissioner Karen Seel asking the City Council to promote more beach parking space before the new Memorial Causeway Bridge was built. Seel's advice went unheeded and Clearwater is still known as a wonderful beach community without adequate parking.
New beach parking space?
They're a talkin' 'bout it.
City Government And Its Citizens - When you read in the Gazette about government activities at Indian Rocks Beach you wonder where the elected folks have been. Surely, the good people in elected office would not support some of the things that have allegedly occurred at Indian Rocks Beach City Hall. Waste of taxpayer funds? Wow.
Of course, I have often wondered why elected representatives of the people would tolerate known waste of taxpayer funds, regardless of whether they (the elected officials) have specific financial oversight or not. In fact, it seems that some local city governments should amend their rules requiring elected official final oversight in matters such as the city budget, city spending, city contracts and other financial matters where questions could be raised about city spending habits of taxpayer funds.
Residents of a city must learn that many top city employees do not reside within the city they "manage."
This does not mean that they are not talented employees; rather, it means that elected representatives of a city should be held to a higher standard as residents.
President Gerald Ford Leaves Legacy - Former President Gerald Ford left a legacy of not following media criticism regarding his presidential pardon of President Richard Nixon. Ford was publicly ridiculed by the liberal Washington press contingency while he was President.
My, how times have changed.
Today the same liberal media praises Ford's decision to pardon Nixon.
"Courageous . . . Bold . . . Right Thing To Do," and other media comments have recently been made about Ford's pardon of Nixon.
Ford was also portrayed as clumsy, a golfer who could hit bystanders more often than the golf course fareway. Clumsy? Not this President. Gerald Ford was probably the most athletic of all presidents. An ex-Michigan football player who remained in pretty good shape all of his life. In fact, he is in the Michigan University Hall of Fame.
Gerald Ford was a good man, much like many U.S. presidents. A good man, a good president and a good husband and father.
Poor Charlie Crist - Imagine that you are a local politician and you read the newspapers. You are good-hearted Gov. Charlie Crist.
Unlike some politicians who do not read newspapers, Crist must read several of his favorite newspapers. And, as many people know, Crist did not receive favorable press regarding the costs of his inaugural ceremony (ball.) Waste of private money, said many newspapers.
What, did I say, waste of private money?
Private money!
The way I see it, anyone is entitled to spend private money as they see fit.
It's private money, not public money. Perhaps we should have the same news sources printing something about the waste of taxpayer (public) money in our local school systems. (Now, there is a waste of public money.)
Nevertheless, the price tag of the (once) proposed governor's inaugural ceremony was indeed outrageous. Millions of dollars spent just to swear-in the next governor? Clearly a waste of money - private or not. Crist got the message. However, I expected more of Charlie on this issue from the time it was suggested that he have an extravagant inaugural ball. It is too bad newspapers had to break the bad news to our new governor. It makes me wonder how Crist will follow media opinion. Will Crist lead, or will he be led by media opinion?
Democrats Renege On Pledge - Remember when Democrat candidates said they would, if they won the November elections, work with Republicans in writing new law in the U. S. Congress?
Well, they lied.
It seems as though San Francisco's Nancy Pelosi, now head of the House of Representatives, will not include Republicans in discussions regarding her favorite new laws the Democrats want passed.
Thus, and as expected by most Washington political pundits, Rep. Nancy Pelosi will rule by decree with support from her California constituency. (And, folks, that Pelosi stand is far left from the political moderate stance some Democrat candidates stated they supported in November.)
Funny thing, politics, you tend to make promises you do not mean to keep.
It was only a few months ago that Congressional Democrats said they blamed Republicans for not including them in decision-making. Wow, it is the Democrats that do not want to include Republicans in decisions. More importantly, are you reading any of this political stuff in other newspapers? Makes you wonder why, does it not?
To the victors go the spoils. Republicans lost in November and the Democrats won. Voters should expect a quick turn to the left of moderate in national politics. More towards San Francisco and new leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
What, you thought politics might change under the new Democrat regime?
Gibbs High School Sending The Wrong Message - Imagine spending over $58 million of taxpayers' dollars to build a new school for young students and observe them literally destroy the place. The students at Gibbs could not care less if they had a school that's a 100-years-old or one-day-old.
Of course, all of this destruction is a reflection on the school board and school discipline. Walls painted, toilets broken, student excrement on walls and floors . . . not a pretty picture.
Worse.
If you were a student trying to get ahead in life, how would this learning environment help your study habits? Gangs and thugs seem to run the school.
Leadership?
$58 million . . . and they want more money.
University of Texas - Say It Ain't So, Joe -Appears as though another group at the University of Texas wants to have a study performed about removing Confederate statutes at the Austin, Texas campus. "They are offensive to minorities," said one supporter for removal.
Yes, it is true that there was a Civil War in America.
At the end of the day, more Americans died in this Civil War than any other military action. President Abraham Lincoln was shot and killed and carpetbaggers raked the south for many years. Yes, the south paid a dear price for the insurrection. Who could forget Sherman's terrible march to the sea via Atlanta! The Civil War divided the country for generations and some folks still want to fight the war. Most Americans do not have any relationship to people who fought and died in this war of 1861. The issues so dearly fought for in 1861-65 have long been gone. Slavery is a distant memory in American history as well as brave men who fought and died for "the cause." Famous Americans were part of this war. President Lincoln, Gen. Grant, Gen. Lee and a host of other good people are still remembered.
Remove statues of Gen. Lee at Texas because he went to West Point and was a loyal U.S. military officer prior to being forced to fight for his home state of Virginia? No, they want to remove the statue because he represented the confederate south.
Re-fighting the Civil War.
We are one America with a past that has not been without blemish since people landed at Plymouth Rock. The way I see it, Indians might want to remove all white-men statues. After all, we stole their land, killed their people and one President refused to comply with a Supreme Court order to help the Indians. The history of America is not all good news.
Bulls, Noles, Canes And Gators - Wow, the USF Bulls won their first football bowl game over East Carolina and FSU Seminoles beat UCLA. Two Florida football programs that seem to be headed towards a very good 2007 football season.
Miami Hurricanes played and defeated Nevada in another college post-season bowl game and the Florida Gators are playing for a National Championship.
The New Year lies before you like a spotless track of snow - Be careful how you tread on it because every mark will show. - Author Unknown