The Way I See ItBy cj pollickClearwater Bayfront Promenade - Contract In amount of $1,480,139.28 to Meisner Marine Construction. Promenade will be built on the existing pilings from the old Memorial Causeway Bridge. Construction tentatively set to begin in July and take 180 days. Construction of the Downtown Boat Slips project is expected to begin in January 2009. Clearwater Station Square Park Construction – Bid awarded in the amount of $1,266,030.85. Construction will be complete within 180 days of start. City of Clearwater Parks & Recreation will be in charge of operation and maintenance of the park. Media Message Is Clear - Most media sources in America are supporting Sen. Barack Obama for the presidency. That fact is no surprise to most Americans since the written and televised "spin" in American politics leans to the liberal left. Most major newspapers have begun to avoid the strengths of a conservative/moderate presidential candidate in favor of a liberal/moderate candidate. Perhaps that is why most people do not trust the media when it comes to fair and accurate political reporting. The next president will most likely appoint several federal justices and perhaps two Supreme Court justices. Therefore, the next president will establish the political and legal infrastructure for the next generation. Should our next Supreme Court justices be conservative, moderate or liberal? On the other hand, there are some clear differences of opinion between candidates Obama and McCain:
Both candidates are multi-millionaires via their family incomes. Both candidates are well educated and appear to be good people. McCain is a military hero (spending years as a prisoner of war.) Both candidates have supportive wives who understand the world of politics. Neither candidate appeals to the entire political party base of their particular political party. McCain appeals to the people who desire an experienced, yet independent, leader. Obama has run a campaign based on "change," (whatever that means.) Voters will decide in November the type of leader America needs for the next four (or eight) years. McCain or Obama? You will decide. Senate Democrats Meet Oil Executives - U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee asked several of the U.S. oil company heads to come to Washington to respond to inquiries about oil profits and the price of oil. Chairman Sen. Leahy (D-Vt.) tried his best to lead the inquiry as a show of Democrat concern over the price of oil and oil company profits. Here was what the Senators learned about the oil industry:
Increase taxes to U.S. oil companies? One economist stated that the cost of any new (excess profit) tax would result in an increase to the price of gas by the consumer. Bottom line? The U.S. is an oil dependant nation. U.S. oil companies are small when compared to foreign oil companies. Without new forms of U.S. energy and new U.S. oil reserves, the price of foreign oil will continue to climb. Did Sen. Leahy learn anything? Probably not, but he will spin the truth about oil to gain votes. With no drilling for new oil in the U.S., price relief should not be expected. Iran Continues To Develop Nuclear Programs - The President of Iran continues to threaten any, and all, nations that would try to stop Iran's nuclear programs. Of course, this is the same radical who believes Israel does not have a right to exist. Nuclear weapon experts from the U.S. believe Iran will soon have the ability to develop nuclear weapons and, according to President Bush, "Iran with nuclear weapons would be incredibly dangerous." To which President Ahmadinejad replied," The Bush era has ended." UN leaders have tried to threaten Iran's leader with financial boycotts and recently waived financial support for Iran if it stopped its nuclear development program. Ahmadinejad merely laughed at the feeble suggestion that Iran needed money. Iran is, after all, the world's fourth largest oil producer and made about $70 billion in oil revenues last year. What happens when Iran has nuclear weapons? Some Washington insiders have opined that Israel would strike first to stop any final development of nuclear programs in Iran; and, Iran would predictably strike Israel with every military weapon it might have available. Warren Buffet Does It Again - During the past year or so, investor guru Warren Buffet started investing large sums of money into railroad stocks. Buffet believed that with energy prices continuing to climb, people and businesses would begin looking at the railroads for relief. He was, as usual, right. Amtrack ticket sales have climbed 15 percent and are at record numbers. Most every railroad company has experienced record growth in ticket sales during the past year. In fact, the U.S. government is contemplating an investment of $14 billion to help improve passenger service in America by rail. Back to riding on the railroad? 1947 Was A Recovery Year - In 1947 Harry S. Truman was president and the price of a first-class stamp was $0.03. Federal spending was $34.50 billion and the GDP was 244.6 billion dollars. America was recovering from the personal and financial effects of WW-II. The Greatest Generation had helped to beat Nazi Germany, returned home to a depleted economy, began to look for jobs and had children that are now called "baby-boomers." Chuck Yeager of the USAF proved you could break the sound barrier, the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, Doris Day was the queen of music with Frankie Lane, people read The Diary Of A Young Girl by Anne Frank, a play written by Tennessee Williams opened called “A Streetcar Named Desire,” Henry Ford died, the champion of NCAA football was Notre Dame, the Yankees beat the Dodgers in the World Series, life expectancy was 66.8 years and recovery was made in New York after a B-25 bomber crashed into the Empire State Building killing fourteen people The “Greatest Generation” won the war and helped to rebuild the American economy. Americans always rise to the occasion – and will do it again. |