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.

Midterms will bring little change to Florida

There are indications of a significant shift in the balance of power in midterms across the United States with voters fed up with the negative changes they have experienced under a Democratic regime. A change in the House is almost certain and Republicans are cautiously optimistic about the Senate. Statewide, traditional national Democratic dollars have dried up as the party has pretty much given up on Florida. There should be little change with Ron DeSantis (11%), Marco Rubio, Ashley Moody and Jimmy Patronis having comfortable leads in the polls. Additionally, it will be refreshing to once again have an individual actually involved in agriculture (Wilton Simpson) as Ag Secretary after the queen of marijuana stepped aside for her ill-fated run for governor. Pinellas’ District 13 Congressional seat is up for grabs with Charlie Crist deserting the seat for yet another try at Tallahassee. Neither District 13 candidate creates a great deal of enthusiasm among voters – same for several of the State House seats. And for Clearwater voters, there is a significant down ballot item that would bring massive changes to the city’s bayfront. Supporters can only hope they have done a good enough job of selling the project as most down ballot items get a no vote if the electorate is not sure of what they are voting for.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

Election commentary from the 5:05 Newsletter: National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that Russia has promised not to interfere with U.S. elections this fall. In a related story Lucy has promised to hold the football steady for Charlie Brown.

Honest, he asked this – Charlie Crist asked Ron DeSantis if he were elected, would he (DeSantis) serve a full four year term as Governor? This comes from an office-hopping politician, who recently resigned from the US House to focus on the governor’s race leaving District 13 with no representation.

Don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour this coming weekend and to pen a nice note to your Congressman telling them to get this time thing fixed or to start looking for a job in two years. Oh wait, if you live in District 13, you don’t have aCongressman (see above).

We don’t make up this stuff – a mom and her dreadlock kid are challenging a JROTC policy concerning hair length. Folks, this is a quasi-military organization, not a basketball team. Good luck with those locks in basic training.

The world is passing us by. We have a 4x6 index card lined down the middle with two dozen user names and passwords for various stuff. After entering all this and our DOB; we are then asked if we want to receive a text (what’s a text?) or a call with a six digit authenticator code. Good grief!

This week in 1948 (November 2) – Stop the presses; Dewey does not defeat Truman for the Presidency.

Sports, media and other stuff:

Great Balls of Fire – legendary rocker Jerry Lee Lewis passes away at age 87.

Bucs drop home game to the Ravens plus two in a row to teams with a combined 4-10 record. The Belleair Road sign guy is not happy.

The Astros are the favorite in the World Series, but we can’t help but remember how a lineup similar to Phillies (the Braves) demolished the Houston pitching staff last year. Stay tuned.

It says something about the legitimacy of the so-called ghost runner that the rule is dropped in every phase of post season baseball.

With NCAA basketball about to tip off this week, there is talk of expanding the post season beyond the current 68 teams. Why?

Factoid: only Charlotte and Akron have worse records (1-7) than USF among the 131 Division 1 football teams.

Before TV personalities say something stupid on the air, they need to remember we all have a remote right by our side and approximately 2000 channels to choose from.

Answer: Goodfellow Dry Goods. Question what was the original name of Target when it was established in 1902?

You’ve lived in Florida a long time if you remember the Florida Barge Canal, first proposed and funded by FDR in 1933 and officially abandoned in 1971. The proposed canal would have cut through the state at Jacksonville terminating at Yankeetown, some 75 miles north of the bay area.

Focus Group: Favorite Halloween treat

On this Halloween week, we asked our rather aged Trick or Treaters what snack made them happiest back in the days when it was still safe to go Trick or Treating in their neighborhood. One of our charter members opted for what could probably be called “America’s Candy Bar” – the Hershey Bar. Another charter member’s favorite treat, the Kit Kat bar, didn’t make it to America until long after his trick or treating days, so he was always very happy to find a Hershey’s Krackel or Nestle Crunch Bar in his bag. Another of our focus group, who believes in living large, sought any full size candy bar - preferably Snickers. Another of our members also opted for Snickers with two exclamation marks!! Factoid: the very popular bar was named after a horse owned by the Mars family who make the sweet treat. Our western-most focus group member was pleased to have either Necco Wafers, Sugar Babies or candy cigarettes dropped in her bag (didn’t know she smoked!). Another answer had a neat twist to it – it was the Hershey Bar – the one supplied by his late and beloved Mom to kick start the evening.

UP NEXT: Voter suppression; Steak & Ale; Fort Fonda

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