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: Buying the student loan vote

With Biden again trying to buy the election with student loan forgiveness, we repeat this note from TBRR last fall, “Regarding student loans and other matters, it seems the current occupant of the White House regards Supreme Court decisions as suggestions.” The latest version of Biden wealth transfer would cost American taxpayers $1.2 billion. It will be challenged in the courts. Meanwhile, our saintly wife wonders when she will get a refund on the repayment this young couple managed to scrape up years ago while she was still pursuing her degree and we were a lowly E-2 in the U.S. Air Force.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Way to go DNC. The Democratic National Committee celebrated Presidents’ Day by releasing a picture of living Democratic presidents – Clinton, Obama and Biden, somehow missing out on the man who had more integrity in his little finger than the other three combined – Jimmy Carter. The red-faced DNC quickly and quietly withdrew the picture.

Donald Trump may face some hurdles in his run for the White House, but none the size of those faced by Russian dissident Boris Nadezhdin who was opposing President Putin next month. Russian opposition tends to either walk away, less they have unfortunate accidents.

Speaking of the Don, it’s a bit concerning how “all in” the Fox Network, in general, and Laura Ingraham, in particular, are on the mercuric former President.

Our friend TL advises us, if we should get in a scrape with the law, to act old and diminished. This has come to be known as the Biden defense.

The city of St. Pete is making noises about taking over the franchise for providing electric power to the city from Duke Energy. Before they waste a lot of time, they need to talk to municipalities that have been down that road. It just doesn’t work from both a logistical and financial standpoint.

Factoid: Approximately 30 per cent of sales at retailers are handled at self service checkout machines. Despite the growth, many retailers are now scaling back mainly due to theft.

Only in California – beginning this year, gas-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers and edgers will be banned in the, let us say unique, state. The ban is being tested in the courts.

Borrowed from a friend - “I was visiting my daughter when I asked if I could borrow a newspaper. ‘This is the 21st century, she replied, we don’t waste money on newspapers. Here use my iPad.’ I can tell you this … that fly never knew what hit him.”

Related from the 5:05 Newsletter: Newspapers in America should consider all using the same marketing slogan: “In Case You Missed It Online.”

Born a hundred years ago this week (Feb. 29) was Al Rosen, Cleveland Indian MVP third baseman, and later an executive with the Yankees, Astros and Giants.

Sports, media and other notes:

If you owned a Rolex watch, Gary Zumbaugh was the man you wanted to know. The personable watch expert passed away earlier this month at age 77.

TIA is recognized as one of the best, but it fails in one area – no basketball court like the one installed in Indianapolis International Airport to celebrate the NBA’s All-Star weekend. Only in hoop crazed Indiana.

Stolen from veteran Atlanta Journal Constitution columnist, Mark Bradley, “Sobering news from MLB, Commissioner Rob Manfred plans to stick around until 2029.”

Factoid: The last time Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium did not sell out; their head coach Jon Scheyer was three years old.

The latest fast food casualty in Clearwater is Aussie Grill, an offshoot of Outback, on Gulf-to-Bay Blvd., which has been shuttered after just over a year.

You’ve lived in the bay area (or anywhere else) if you remember the line “You’re soaking in it” – the punch line from the Palmolive dish detergent ads of the 70s and 80s uttered by Madge, the manicurist, played by character actress Jan Miner.

…one last thing: Never too soon for NFL odds

Andy and Patrick barely get a chance to admire their trophies and Las Vegas has new odds for Super Bowl 59. The early pick – the 49ers. Makes sense, they were this close and nobody has ever won three Super Bowls in a row. The Chiefs are number two in the odds with the Ravens, who never seem to win a big game, ranked number three followed by the Bills and Lions. Biggest surprises for us were the Bucs ranked 25 among the 32 teams and perennial contenders, the Steelers, at number 27. We think that’s where we’d put our money. Those two are not the sixth and eighth weakest teams in the league by a long shot.

NEXT WEEK: DST; Unaffordable housing; Tastee-Freez

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