The Way I See ItBy cj pollickClearwater Election - The only city race in Clearwater pits incumbent Mayor Frank Hibbard versus former Mayor Rita Garvey. Hibbard, as the mayor, is knowledgeable of the city budget (and budget cuts that might be necessary) and most every other city issue. Whether people agree with Hibbard on every city decision, the fact remains that he is prepared to defend his decisions with facts based upon his active role as mayor. On the other hand, and as was presented in the Gazette last week, there is doubt whether Garvey has remained active in following important city issues and city budget issues that would require some attention in 2008. Thus, and even though Garvey has been a loyal and good supporter of the city library system, she has not been active in any other important city committee (such as the Community Development Board.) It is doubtful whether she could effectively enter the city mayor's office without a period of time to learn about pressing city issues to resolve. The Gazette endorsed Frank Hibbard because of his knowledge of city affairs as the best prepared candidate. Rita Garvey had served Clearwater as former mayor and still is active with the Clearwater library system. She is to be commended for her interest in a better Clearwater, but the best prepared candidate is Hibbard. Vote for Frank Hibbard on election day. Florida GOP Voters - Republicans in Florida will soon vote on their presidential candidate. Florida is the first primary state where only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary. In other states, such as New Hampshire, Independent voters (all voters) could vote in what is described as the "Republican Primary." Which, of course, is not true. Florida is the first real test for Republican candidates in a partisan primary. Republican candidates in a partisan primary. The real conservative Republican? Mitt Romney. Sen. John McCain voted with Democrats against the 2001 and 2003 Bush Tax Cuts, and favored amnesty for 12 million or more illegal immigrants instead of tougher illegal immigration enforcement. Mayor Rudy Guillini simply has too much baggage to beat a Democrat and Mike Huckabee can't seem to attract Republicans except for the Evangelicals. Mitt Romney offers the Republicans the best chance to win the presidency - he is a man with no personal baggage. He stands for smaller government, tax reductions, control of illegal immigration and strong national security. Vote Mitt Romney on election day if you are a Republican. (When liberal newspapers endorse Sen. John McCain, Republicans should question why!) Florida Democrats - Even though the National Democrat Party snubbed their nose at Florida and asked candidates to avoid Florida, that was a big mistake. Florida Democrat voters should never be ignored. Nevertheless, and The Way I See it, the best Democrat candidate is Barack Obama. (And if John Edwards would drop out of the race, Obama would be the clear choice.) Super Bowl Madness - New England versus New York. Last week Tom Brady proved he is human and Eli Manning proved he could move a football team without many mistakes. If Brady has another average football game and Manning has an above-average game, then the Super Bowl might be something special. At least, that is what the Miami Dolphins former Coach Don Shula hopes will happen next week. (Feb. 3). However, if the New England Patriots win the Super Bowl then they are likely to be credited as the best team ever in professional football. Sorry to the old Miami Dolphins and Coach Don Shula. Tom Brady the best playoff quarterback of all-time? Yes, arguably better than Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Troy Aikman or Ken Stabler. Go New England, set all the records. Knerr And Fisher - When you consider all of the things American Bobby Fisher could have accomplished as one of the best master chess champions of the world, it is indeed sad to observe his obituary reported from his new homeland in Iceland. Fisher was only 64 when he died. As a brilliant American chess player in his youth, Fisher became famous when he beat Russian world chess champion Boris Spassky to claim the world's chess title in 1972. Soon after the win Fisher quit playing chess and became a recluse often denouncing his American and Jewish heritage (from his mother.) Since Iceland offered Fisher citizenship, he relocated to Iceland where he remained until death. Interestingly, Spassky challenged Fisher to another chess match in 1992 where Fisher again beat Spassky and won the prize of over $3 million dollars. Fisher again quit playing chess ... a game where he believed he could beat anyone. On the other hand, the death of Richard Knerr at age 82 was also reported last week. Knerr was one of the co-founders of the Hula Hoop. In 1958 Knerr bought the rights to the hula hoop concept from an Australian who used the round plastic devise in workouts. Later Knerr bought rights to a round flying disc and renamed the devise a Frisbee. Knerr's partner Spud Melin died in 2007 at age 77. It was reported that both Melin and Knerr enjoyed ownership of the Hula Hoop and Frisbee products.
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