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

First thing on our mind:

For the retired or semi-retired, start slow and then taper off.

Leading off: The Democrats’ short bench

Joe Biden has bowed to the inevitable; leaving the Democratic Party with what – Kamala Harris? After an Obama orchestrated coup d’état, the far left is holding a love fest for the radical Harris. And she will, no doubt, siphon some votes from President Trump, but those votes will be cancelled, if not overwhelmed by the millions of Americans who look at a radical pro-abortion candidate as a non-starter. Her equally unacceptable beliefs on energy, the border and taxation should be more than enough to assure a Trump victory in November. Look for a bounce in the polls over the next few weeks, then deflation as the scary truth of Harris’ agenda sinks in.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Granted, the Secret Service Director had to go; but how about a little decorum in our congressional chambers, Rep. Mace? The South Carolina Republican was the worst, but a dozen or more of our lawmakers were nearly as embarrassing.

The presumptive Democratic candidate for president who blows off a Congressional appearance of the Israeli prime minister for a sorority tea party has a bit to learn about international diplomacy.

Given the turmoil at 1600 Pennsylvania, are you surprised China and Russia are conducting military aircraft flights just outside U.S. air space?

We repeat a plea we offer up every year or two; we would gladly pay a few extra bucks in property taxes if Pinellas County would hire some traffic engineers who could sync our traffic lights on major thoroughfares.

As more and more of us do more and more of our banking functions on line, banks are seeing less need for so many branches. Truist and Wells Fargo are among such banks closing up local branches recently. Customer service suffers more than a little as the folks who you were familiar with at your now closed branch are scattered.

From the 5:05 Newsletter:Everyone needs a friend who they should not be allowed to sit next to at a serious function.

Editor’s note to above: Unfortunately for both of us, we had such a friend all the way through high school and college.

Born 100 years ago this week (8/2) in New York City was the star of a very successful comedy - All in the Family and a drama - In the Heat of the Night, Carroll O’Connor.

Sports, media and other notes:

Not the best of starts or the 2024 Summer Olympics.

We think it was Joe Garagiola who said baseball is a funny game. Last year, the Mets armed with two Hall of Fame bound right-handers were picked by many to win it all. This year, many picked them last. They currently lead the NL wild card race.

Randy Arozarena and Zach Eflin are the first major chips to tumble in Tampa Bay.

Number of the week: 13 – the number of Crayola colors officially retired over the years. Among them are dandelion, burnt umber and mulberry.

This week’s political song: The Beatles Hello Goodbye.

Last thing: Geier, Marolf & Picard best choices

The Pinellas County School Board is at a crossroads this fall. With three seats being contested, there is an opportunity to get education back on course – to prepare our students for advanced education or the work force. As we have seen, the role of the parent in their child’s education has been vastly diminished, a serious problem Danielle Marolf, Erika Picard and Stacy Geier vow to rectify. All three support returning to educational fundamentals, which have been compromised in favor of ideologies that do not belong in school curriculums. These three highly qualified women deserve your vote in August and November.

NEXT UP: MLB four months in; Warehouse stores; Blaze of Glory

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