Florida and Pinellas political wheels keep spinning

Charlie has a new opponent. Florida has a new Charlie. And there is hope for us in Pinellas County after all. Let’s take in order. U.S. Rep. David Jolly has dropped out of the U.S. Senate race. This is somewhat of a disappointment because we had come around to believing he could win it. Jolly will instead seek re-election to his current seat even though our state’s courts have gerrymandered the heck of what has been a Republican stronghold for half a century. Even with the odds stacked against him, Jolly has the incumbency and the fact his opponent is a “which way is the wind blowing today” Democrat (this week). Meanwhile Florida’s incumbent U.S. Senator appears ready to jump back in the race after his ill-fated presidential run – a move that seems all too Charlie-like.

Around Tampa Bay:

1. Verbalized many times by people many times smarter than us – there is simply no need for anyone other than a member of the military or a law enforcement agency to possess weapons that spit out dozens of bullets in the space of seconds. The trick, of course, is making that happen. But it needs to happen.

2. In a related note, our esteemed president turns a cold shoulder to Governor Scott’s request for assistance in the wake of Orlando because Scott has justifiably been critical of Obama in the past. Come on, Mr. President, this isn’t Chicago ward politics but a nation you’re supposed to be running.

3. Two years ago this week (RANTS – June 15, 2014) we outlined some parameters for a new city hall for the city of Clearwater. That was occasioned by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s since rejected plan to move downtown. But the city still needs a replacement for its 50-year headquarters in the near future and it’s time, no past time, to start planning.

4. Before we turn gyrocopter pilot Doug Hughes into too much of a folk hero, the truth is he violated the law – big time. By his own admission, he’s lucky Secret Service agents didn’t blow him out of the sky.

5. You’ve lived in Pinellas County for a long time if you remember the expansive Knowles Pottery Company on Clearwater Largo Road.

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. Breaking news: Toronto SS Troy Tulowitzki on the disabled list again. The veteran shortstop is very good when he plays but that has been less than half the season for five out of the last six years. (Update: as this week’s edition went on line, Tulo came off the disabled list).

7. With the baseball draft just completed, here are arguably the Top 5 Number One picks in the draft since its inception in 1966 (remember Rick Monday?). At least three are headed for the Hall, one is already there and the fifth would have been there had he played it straight. The top number one draft picks are LA’s Adrian Gonzalez, the Twins’ Joe Mauer and the Braves’ Chipper Jones. Ken Griffey, Jr. is already in the Hall and ARod would have been but for his various dalliances with PEDs. Barring career-threatening injuries, the Nat’s Strasburg and Harper will join that list in a few more seasons.

8. Here’s a follow up to last week’s baseball names – a half dozen basketball names that need no last name attached – Elgin, Kareem, Kobe, LeBron, Magic and Wilt. Stephen will soon join that list.

9. The once red hot retailer Gap has hit an iceberg and new leadership is bailing water as fast they can. Two bay area stores have closed within the last month.

10. New York Times headline – “Clinton, Trump accuse each other of being unfit for the presidency”. This time, we agree with both candidates.

In search of columnist Tom Jackson

Last week, we commented on the lack of change at the uber-liberal Times after their dismantling of the Tampa Tribune. Biggest negative in that awful occurrence was the loss of columnist Tom Jackson who should have been brought on board if the Times were truly interested in a more balanced journalistic approach. Good news is you can find Tom occasionally at SaintPetersBlog – a blog with a similar bent as this weekly offering.

SNEEK PEEK AT NEXT WEEK – WHAT ANNETTE, PAUL ANKA AND JOHNNY CARSON HAVE IN COMMON