Tampa Bay Rants and Raves is a weekly airing of national and local politics, sports, lifestyles and nostalgia items from a very politically incorrect viewpoint. As always, beware - some of what is printed here should not be taken literally.

Note to local taxing authorities: tighten your belt

It is a good time not to be an elected official. Your constituents have been burned on every economic level. Gas, thanks to the Biden administration, is at an all-time high. We expect “easy financing’ signs to soon appear at the local grocery stores. Property insurance increases of 15 percent and more are common. The last thing stressed out people want is an increase in their property taxes. Yes, we know it’s costing a lot more to fill up those fire trucks and police cars; but in other areas local governments need to hold the line. It means doing the same with less, but that is the challenge every one of your constituents is faced with, and local governments, more than ever, need to step up.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

Heads up! Most absentee ballots for this year’s primary were mailed on July 19. If you’ve not yet received it, you should shortly.

We hope Liz Cheney has enjoyed her starring role in the Trump show trial. If the polling numbers in Wyoming are correct, it will be her last hurrah.

In the wake of Roe v Wade, even the White House condemned arson and vandalism at houses of worship "in the strongest possible terms," calling the attacks "despicable" and unlawful while maintaining Americans "must be able to practice their faith without fear." This while liberal outlets call for more protection for abortion clinics which don’t seem to need it.

So tell us AOC, do you usually walk with your hands behind your back?

Factoid: In the last 75 years, the American public has become more jaded about their chief executive. The three highest average favorable ratings for presidents in that period were JFK (70 %)  Ike (65%) and George H.W. Bush (61%). The three lowest ranked were Carter (46 %) and Trump and Biden (41% each).

In this ever changing world, the 5:05 Newsletter reports, “My mortgage identifies as a student loan.”

Related to mortgages, sticker shock is seeing the home you sold for a little under $100,000 twenty five years ago now on the market for just under $600,000.

This week (7/26) in 1776, the United States Post Office is created under our first Postmaster General Benjamin Franklin.

Sports, media and other stuff:

A happy 100^th birthday this week (7/27) to Norman Lear, the guiding light behind All in the Family, Maude, The Jeffersons plus Sanford and Son.

And a belated Happy 84^th birthday to our friend and wellness author Don Ardell who celebrated last week.

Will ex-Giant and Viking tight end Kyle Rudolph be the next Gronk? Probably not, but he will help.

The rest of the baseball world got a look at Sandy Alcántara last week. The Marlins’  hurler, who should have been the NL’s starting pitcher in the All-Star game, cut through three really good hitters in like 10 pitches.

Poor Ryan Weber, the Central Catholic grad was designated for assignment by the Yankees for the third time this year. It’s a numbers game, not performance. He has a 1.17 earned run average in his limited work with the Yanks.

You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you remember when you could drive straight down Cleveland Street to the beach – in the last block before the causeway passing Calvary Baptist Church, a Gulf station, a bowling alley and the legendary Bay Drive In.

Toronto situation is ridiculous

Last week, the Kansas City Royals journeyed to Toronto for a four game series minus 10 players from their roster. Those players do not have a Covid vaccination. Earlier, the Phillies were without two members of their starting rotation, their starting catcher and regular third baseman, again because of vaccination issues. What Canada wants to do is fine and dandy, but 29 of 30 teams should not have to play short-handed because of a foreign country’s desires. Major League Baseball needs to step in and find a solution for this competitive disadvantage when American teams need to journey north of the border. That can be ten games with a short roster for the Orioles, Rays, Red Sox and Yankees. MLB requiring Toronto to play their home games in Buffalo would not be too extreme.

UP NEXT: Big Mac; Judge Brown; Road Problems

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