The Way I See ItBy cj pollickStone Crab Season Is Here - If you are a lover of stone crabs, then the wait is over. Stone Crab Season opens today, Thursday (the 15th of October.) However, with summer-like weather conditions, it makes you wonder if the normally "cool weather" stone crabs will turn-out in record numbers. Looking for a place to eat stone crabs this Friday and Saturday? Check out the dining section of the Gazette. Stone crabs better than lobster? Many folks say, yes. Healthcare Reform - We can't wait to develop a clear consensus for healthcare reform, says Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cal.) We can't wait to hear more from the American people, says Harry Reid (D-Nev.) We can't wait until everyone has read proposed legislation and has added responsible input, says Congress. We can't wait, we are in a hurry, says President Obama. Even if new healthcare law results in higher taxes for the middle class and also increases federal debt and covers illegal immigrants, Congress refuses to wait to hear how Americans feel about federalizing our nation's healthcare to Washington bureaucrats. We can't wait to review how economists forecast national debt and the resulting need for more tax revenues. There is a rush to pass national healthcare regardless of voter displeasure. Why would so many elected officials risk not getting re-elected just to pass an unpopular radical law? Arrogance? Belief that voters will not vote in the next election? Belief that Barack Obama will carry the day? Health Insurance Premiums Would Be Higher - According to a recent study performed by Price Waterhouse Coopers, Obamacare would raise insurance premiums for all Americans. Soaring Costs? The State of Massachusetts will soon begin limiting patient's choice of doctors and hospitals due to increasing costs of health care. Federal Housing Administration May Need Taxpayer Bailout -With 20% of Federal Housing Administration loans facing possible foreclosure, the FHA is in danger of needing a financial bailout. Who might be the unlucky person to bailout the FHA? The American taxpayer. 2010 could be a rather interesting year for our non-performing banks, mortgage lenders, credit card companies and commercial rental properties (including shopping malls.) Fear Of 2010 Elections - There is one thing driving all of the radical ideas coming out of Washington: fear of the 2010 national elections. Democrats in power believe that if they delay passing sweeping legislation in 2009, they may not have enough votes in Congress to pass the same liberal legislation in 2010. So-called "blue-dog" Democrats are expected to lose many of the seats they had won in moderate Republican districts in the last election. If this shift occurs, as predicted by political pundits in Washington, President Obama's liberal agenda would require bi-partisan support, which is not happening. Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize - When the Nobel Peace Prize winner was announced last week, many people were surprised to hear that Barack Obama won the Prize. The officials in Norway thought Barack Obama had the best chance to help improve peace around the world. However, the Taliban in Pakistan responded by saying the Peace Prize decision was bogus and that President Obama is not helping to bring peace in the world; rather, they said he is adding to the war in Pakistan by sending more US military troops to fight the Taliban. Nobel Prize after only 10 months in office? Imagine the pressure on President Obama to show he can become the world's number-one peacemaker while keeping America safe from terrorism! Can This Be True? - The BBC recently reported that the year with the highest global temperatures on record was 1998. Residents in upper America understand that there is no global warming, as Al Gore is promoting. Interestingly, Al Gore's personal wealth has climbed from $10 million to over $100 million the past few years. Big East Game Tonight --USF vs Cincinnati - USF plays top-ranked Cincinnati at Raymond James Stadium Thursday evening in an important Big East football game. Both teams need to win this game in order to have a chance to win the Big East. Cincinnati is highly ranked by most every football poll while USF is ranked 21st. Gators defeated an average LSU team last Saturday (at LSU) with Tim Tebow at less than 100%. Perhaps this proved that the Gators, even with a less than 100% Tebow, have enough to beat any other top ranked college football team. Tebow will get better each week and opponents will continue to fall. Gators are the real deal. FSU is better than its record--good quarterback, good offense, weak defense, (imagine.) Coach Bobby is getting all of the heat, even though he allows Jimbo to call the plays. Don't blame Bobby Bowden for all of FSU's problems, Jimbo has a lot to do with FSU's on-field performance and recruiting. FSU will, nevertheless, improve next year with new recruits to help some weak spots in the defense. Miami is back, not like the Miami Hurricane teams of the past, but they are back from the gloom and doom days of the past few years. Good coaching--good recruiting--competitive attitude. Look out for the Hurricanes. Why is Penn Sate or Ohio State highly ranked? Imagine if any of the top six SEC teams played in the BIG TEN! BYU? Ideas are funny things. They don't work unless you do. |