Established in 2014, Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of local and national politics, sports, lifestyles and Tampa Bay memories from a politically incorrect viewpoint.

Leading off: Rector for Mayor

Over the past three decades, Clearwater has had a string of mayors, with differing styles to be sure, but generally good leadership skills in Rita Garvey, Brian Aungst, Frank Hibbard and George Cretekos. In next month’s mayoral election, the choice is tough. First term council member Kathleen Beckman is opposed by civic volunteer, but political newcomer Bruce Rector. The supposed non-partisan race is offset by the fact that Beckman is a liberal Democrat and Rector a staunch Republican. You’d like to have a more seasoned Rector or a less divisive voice than Beckman has exhibited in her time on the council, but voters must play the hand they are dealt. Remembering that others, including Aungst, have stepped into the center chair without previous political experience, we recommend the more even-toned Rector as Clearwater’s next mayor. By the way, if you received a letter recently from former mayor Hibbard, take time to read it. It outlines in more detail than space here allows why Rector is the better alternative.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Idle thought: we’re quite sure Nikki Haley would lap the field against Biden and company. Not so sure about Trump doing the same.

Meanwhile, Biden is awakening to the fact that he better do something about the nation’s southern border if he wants to continue his part time job in Washington. Might be a little too late, Joe.

A sign of the times – the LA Times is laying off nearly a quarter of their newsroom. It continues personnel cutting trends at predominately liberal news operations across the country.

A sign of the other times - the bay area’s shrinking bi-weekly has abandoned its Tampa office for smaller quarters away from downtown.

Meanwhile, CNN is in its third reorganization in the past 18 months. The prognosis for the ailing media platform is not bright.

Reverse angle parking, where you must back into a spot, is coming to parts, but not all, of downtown Clearwater. In the words of a great American, “what can possibly go wrong?”

Kim Jong Un is rattling his sword towards South Korea – and the United States. One wonders how previous Presidents would have reacted to this – say Andrew Jackson?

We’ve watched President Trump’s remark, “I’ll be a dictator for one day” twisted around by left wingers to something like “I’ll be a dictator from day one.” So, how would that be any different than the last three years?

Cutting corners is how most airline experts describe Boeing’s troubled 737MAX fleet. Rather than craft a new single aisle, short haul airplane, Boeing tried to build on a 1967 design leading to most of its troubles.

Palm Harbor’s Jimy Williams passed away at age 80 last week. Manager of three major league teams during his career, he also managed to find time to touch the lives of hundreds of youth baseball players in our area.

This week in 1940 (Feb. 10) the Glenn Miller classic “In the Mood” hits number one on the charts.

Sports, media and other notes:

From the 5:05 Newsletter: I seem to have purchased a lot of alcohol lately. I hope I am not becoming a shopaholic.

When the chips are down, give us Patrick Mahomes under center.

Having Andy Reid on the sideline doesn’t hurt either.

You may not recognize the name Dr. James Andrews, but his surgical skills extended the careers of more major league pitchers and other athletes than any other individual. The renowned doctor has decided to retire at age 81.

Post Hall of Fame balloting nuggets: the first unanimous selection was Mariano Rivera. The highest percentage on the first balloting in 1936 was Ty Cobb at 98.2 percent. That now ranks 7^th all time. Babe Ruth at 95.1 percent doesn’t make the top 10 – ridiculous.

Factoid: 1948 saw the first drive thru at In-N-Out Burger in California. Today, two-thirds of fast food revenue is generated through a drive thru lane.

One last thing: The MLB off-season-winner

If you mean who spent the most money, the clear winner was the Los Angeles Dodgers. But as Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick reminds us, LA has added a DH plus a pitcher who has never thrown a big league inning to a roster his team dispatched in three games during last year’s playoffs. Last year’s big spenders, the Mets and Padres were missing from the postseason. But with spring training about to begin, major league GM’s jobs are just partially done. In the next six weeks, they separate the wheat from the chaff and, more importantly, (see Texas Rangers, 2023) make trading deadline moves to strengthen their team for the post season.

NEXT WEEK: Channel 8; Caregivers; Clearwater council race

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