Regardless Of The Intent, It Was Not A Good Idea - Clearwater officials will soon spend taxpayer money to push for a downtown Clearwater marina (boat slips). Not a bad idea, if the people of Clearwater support the project.
Thus, the proposed downtown boat slip project must have voter approval before it could be developed. Voter approval or rejection will be made in March when there is a public vote (referendum) on the issue.
You might think Clearwater leaders would avoid any possible negative entanglements regarding how to persuade Clearwater voters to support this downtown boat slip idea. You might think the vote could be so close (since many Clearwater people could care less about adding boat slips in downtown Clearwater) that any "air" of impropriety would be avoided.
If that thinking makes good sense, then why is an Invitation-only "stakeholder" meeting held for people who are planned to be stakeholders in the downtown boat slip project? Why not just a public meeting with people who might have an interest in being a part of the downtown boat slip project?
Big deal? Probably not, but that decision could cost some votes.
Me? I'm for adding more boat slips in downtown Clearwater, but there must be adequate boat slips for public use available every day of the week. Stakeholders? No big deal, they clearly have an important role. Public meetings? Yes. This referendum vote in March is important for downtown Clearwater development, it would be sad to see it lose because of a few miscalculations.
What About Illegal Immigration? - Let's see, Democrats are in charge and the problem of illegal immigration is not on their agenda. San Francisco's Nancy Pelosi, as expected, is avoiding the illegal worker issue.
Of course, the same is true about other national issues such as social security and healthcare. No solutions have been brought forward for vote.
Clearly, this is the time for Democrats to offer their plan for a better America. With no solution for the war in Iraq except to withdraw troops, not much has been offered for public support. Yes, Democrats have the power in Congress to make (force) change in the war on terrorists.
Other than increase minimum wage, except for Pelosi's protected major corporate political contributors, where is the plan that Democrats held as their solution for a better America?
One would think this plan would already be presented to Congress and votes held for passage. But there is no discussion of a "master plan" for change in Congress and no upcoming Congressional votes.
Makes you wonder if anything could change in Washington whether Democrats or Republicans were in charge. Washington politicians seem to be cut from the same piece of wood - you say whatever it takes to get elected, then do as little as possible to offend major campaign contributors.
Iraq? If the Democrats want us to leave Iraq, then they could cut military funding and we would be forced to leave.
Afghanistan? If the Democrats want us out of Afghanistan they could cut military spending and U.S. troops would leave.
Social Security? If the Democrats want to increase social security benefits, they could pass law to increase benefits for the elderly.
Illegal Immigration? If the Democrats wanted to solve the illegal immigration problem, they could pass laws to enforce our borders and then fund the initiative.
More jobs? If the Democrats wanted to eliminate corporations using foreign employees in foreign countries, they could pass law making it unwise.
Healthcare? This is the time when Hilliary Clinton could push for national healthcare, they have the power.
The list could go on and on for Democrat changes in Washington.
However, the folks in power will avoid these subjects and focus on the war in Iraq. Why? It is easy to blame others for decisions made about Iraq and avoid addressing other national issues that might cost votes in 2008.
Politics.
Real Madrid -- If you follow professional soccer, then you know that England superstar David Beckham, who is in his last months with Real Madrid soccer team in Spain, will leave at the end of the season and join the LA Galaxy soccer team.
This is a huge gain for American soccer and a negative to the Spanish soccer team known as Real Madrid. Of course, the owner of Real Madrid recently made some defamatory comments about the playing ability of David Beckham, referring to Beckham as more of a Hollywood type.
Nonsense, of course. David Beckham is a major name in professional soccer and his joining the LA Galaxy will help to attract many thousands of soccer fans to games. This acquisition might also mean that other American professional soccer teams might need to recruit top-name international players in order to compete. All of this is good news if you like soccer and wish for better soccer in America.
David Beckham playing soccer in America?
Let's hope he comes to Tampa for a game.
National Security And Judges - Can you imagine the arrogance of an appointed judge thinking he knows more about national security issues than the entire U.S. military, CIA, FBI, national security advisors, the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Cabinet?
Yes, there are some appointed, and I emphasize appointed, judges that seem to know everything about everything. Those "activist "judges never ran for public office but act as if they were elected by the people.
The U.S. Attorney General recently went public to criticize an appeals court judge for ruling on a national security topic where the appointed judge actually knew very little about the issue at hand. Of course, his decision was appealed to a higher court and will likely be overturned. Embarrassing to the lower court judge?
The Attorney General voiced concern about this judge as being an "activist judge... who was not elected to office."
All of this should cause us to think about judges who are appointed to office and who rule on national issues as if they were indeed elected by the people to be representatives of the people-- to which tappointed judges are not. The way I see it, judges should all run for office and stand on their record. Let the people (voters) know how they would rule on issues of social and national importance. What's to fear, the people?
Wolves Of The Sea - They travel the world oceans in a pack. They breathe air and can grow to over 25 feet long with a mouthful of teeth. They are known throughout the world as killer whales.
There have been pictures taken of killer whales tossing a great white shark in the air as if it were a toy. There is only one dreaded leader of the world seas and that leader is the killer whale.
Interestingly, a pack of whales have been recorded chasing large whales for several miles just to attack young whales. The killer whales surround the victim and in a concerted effort roll over the young whale until it drowns from fatigue. Then the killer whales only eat the choice parts and leave the carcass.
Organized, smart hunters, much like a wolf pack in Alaska.
The next time you visit Sea World in Orlando think about the large killer whale in captivity as merely one member of a traditional pack of killer whales swimming in our oceans. Imagine the damage that could be inflicted by several killer whales on the hunt.
Success - Success comes in cans, failures come in cant's. Unknown Author