The Way I See ItBy cj pollickLargo Chief To Retire - Largo Police Chief Lester Aradi has announced plans to retire effective June 1st. Chief Aradi has been an exemplary public servant in the City of Largo the past nine years. We wish the Chief and his wife, Diane, Godspeed as they embark on new horizons. Charlie Crist To Decide - The rise and fall of politician Charlie Crist is amazing. Crist's meteoric rise to the governorship of Florida shocked many political insiders except perhaps those faithful supporters from St. Petersburg to Clearwater. Those die-hard supporters knew that they supported a political candidate who had perfect hair color, a wonderful Florida tan, a great smile, a great memory for names and an innocent disposition. In other words, Charlie Crist was given everything Mother Nature could render to a politician. And, yes, Crist started his political career with a bang by supporting most every popular conservative cause and ultimately earned the nickname "Chain-gang Charlie." Crist was a loyal Republican who sought after, and gained, friendships with popular charismatic politicians such as Sen. Connie Mack, etc. Crist's popularity continued to rise until he was amazingly enough mentioned as a vice-presidential candidate for the GOP. If there were ten names mentioned by the GOP as upcoming elected officials who could become president of the United States of America, Charlie Crist's name was one of those mentioned. Gov. Crist was, only several months ago, an unbeatable name to become the next US Senator from Florida. Neither a Republican nor a Democrat came within 30% of Crist's polling numbers across Florida. "Unbeatable," was the word used to describe Crist's chances for winning the US Senate seat. From top of the world to a distant third. Some political pundits have stated that Crist's demise began with his dating and later marriage time constraints. Not enough attention to details of the governorship, they said. Then there are others who have questioned Crist's hugging of President Obama and supporting the use of TARP federal money. Others say he abandoned his old local friends and gained new wealthy friends in West Palm Beach, Washington, California and New York. Regardless of the reason, Crist certainly changed his politics and became more liberal in his voting. One liberal vote and decision as governor of Florida followed another until Charlie Crist was being labeled at best a moderate and at worst a modern-day liberal-progressive. As Crist left behind old friends he also left behind the Florida GOP. It almost appeared as though Crist believed he was invincible and did not need the Florida GOP or old supporters to win the Senate seat. Many local Crist supporters could hardly believe the change in their old friend and once favorite politician. A younger version of Charlie Crist named Marco Rubio challenged Crist for the GOP nod and trailed by 30% in early polling numbers. No fear in this challenge, thought Crist campaign leaders. However, and as more and more people began to know Marco Rubio, they began to like more of his conservative views than Crist's views. As President Obama's popularity began to sink, as well as many other career politicians, including Crist's, former Florida State Senator Rubio's popularity grew among Republicans…and continued to grow until Rubio was leading Crist by over 20%. An amazing change of about 50% in voter polling numbers in a matter of several months. Crist was in trouble, real trouble. He realized he probably would not win the US Senate seat he coveted as a Republican. Crist then began tinkering with the idea of leaving the Republican Party and running as an Independent. Could he win enough Democrat votes to overcome the popularity of Rubio? If Crist left the GOP could he raise enough campaign funds to fend-off a well-funded Rubio campaign? Could any voter trust Crist if he left his political party just to gain an office in Washington? Popular Sen. Connie Mack sent perhaps the final blow to Crist's thoughts-Connie Mack left the Crist campaign team. Obviously, Sen. Connie Mack has seen enough to realize that staying on the Crist team was not a good for Crist or the Florida GOP. Crist was losing popular political friends in a time when he needed them most. Today Crist will decide if he wishes to remain a Republican and finish the GOP campaign against Marco Rubio or defect the GOP and run as an "independent" challenger. Who could have imagined this turn of events only several months ago! Interestingly enough, latest polls show Crist likely to run third if he ran as an "independent" in the Senate race. However, the story has not ended, it will end with September election results and the November general election. Bisexual Men Sue To Play Against Gay Men - The day has come when bisexual men are suing a gay men's organizations in order to compete in the "gay" athletic games. The bisexual men are seeking the right to play against gay men in their organized athletic games and $75,000 in compensatory damages. The gay men's organization has responded that the dissenting bisexual men are not "gay enough" to play in the gay athletic games. Less than 100% gay is not enough, the men say. It makes you wonder if this could happen in lesbian athletic games when bisexual women who are not 100% lesbian desire to compete. The legal system (Supreme Court?) could render the final answer in determining who qualifies to compete in those "sexual orientation" athletic games. Do gay and lesbian athletes have the right to compete with "straight" athletes? (If yes, then what about the reverse?) Some might remember that it was not that long ago when Renee Richards (sex change) tried to compete on the professional woman's tennis tour. Richards did not win many top tennis matches, but did make national news by playing on the USTA Woman's Tour. Some tennis fans remember Richards for having large feet, a taller build, and a weak serve/strokes. Richards did not last and was generally not welcomed by legitimate professional female tennis players. Nevertheless, a "sexual" orientation precedent for the USTA did occur on the woman's tour. The men's tour? Can't remember such a thing ever occurring; but, imagine the media if it had occurred against a tennis pro like Jimmy Conners or John McEnroe. Old "hustler" Bobby Riggs provided enough attention in those days playing against the women…until he met Billy Jean King. Warren Buffett Says Change The Law - In a move to protect financial interests of Berkshire Hathaway (and investors,) Warren Buffett called on his Washington friends at the White House to "grandfather" his company's "derivative business" while pushing to regulate investments in the derivative market by requiring collateral for other "new"" players in that special type of investment. In plain words, Warren Buffett is playing politics while lobbying for special treatment for his company. What, you thought Warren Buffett was above playing politics for personal gain? Think again. Rev. Al Sharpton Says "We'll March!" - When lawmakers in Arizona supported regulating illegal immigration traffic at the Arizona border, they passed a state law that granted greater regulation power to their police. Police in Arizona can and will ask for proof of citizenship if there was legal reason to make a stop. Illegals, if caught in this legal stop, could be arrested and deported. It is the new law in Arizona. A place where illegal trafficking had been known for years and a state where the federal government was/is lax in enforcing illegal immigration laws. Of course, this act by Arizona lawmakers to control illegal immigration has offended people like Rev. Al Sharpton who quickly stated he would support a "March in Arizona" to stop the enforcement of this law. How did President Obama react when hearing of the passage of tough illegal immigration laws in Arizona? "I will have the (federal) justice department look into this act and determine if it is legal." Thus, Big Government has entered the picture of determining what individual states can do to regulate illegal immigration in their state. This could become another issue for the Supreme Court to render an opinion. Of course, and because of national politics, Presidential appointments to the Supreme Court usually reflect judicial appointments that are either liberal or conservative (in their legal decisions.) Why would (liberal) Justice Stevens state, at his post-retirement age, that he is retiring during the Obama presidency? Could it be Justice Stevens wanted to be assured that another liberal political vote would be on the Supreme Court? Bottom line? Citizens in Arizona are fed-up with lax federal regulation of illegal border crossing in their state. If the federal government will not enforce illegal trafficking laws, then Arizona police will enforce the law. Again, this is a move by frustrated legal citizens in Arizona, much like the national Tea Party citizen groups who are fed-up with the direction of our leaders in Washington. Rev. Sharpton says, "We'll march on Arizona." Rev. Sharpton is boldly asserting he believes in loud, sign-waving citizen protests. Good grief, is Rev. Sharpton also a part of the Tea Party movement that Washington hates? Illegal Immigrants Rally - With no apparent regard for the fact they are breaking the law, "illegal" immigrants and proponents of illegal immigration took to the streets over last weekend protesting having to follow the laws instituted by the state of Arizona. The protests turned violent with many protestors throwing bottles at police and drawing swastikas on government buildings with refried beans. City Workers Earn Big Bucks - More than 1 in 3 of San Francisco's nearly 27,000 city workers earned $100,000 or more last year - nearly eight times the number from a decade ago. The optimist fell ten stories. At each window he shouted to his friends: "All right so far." |