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.

Leading off: Clearwater’s voting system

There is an ill-advised move among the Clearwater City Council to adjust the city’s voting system which seems to have worked for over 100 years. Among the suggested changes - run-offs if no candidate achieves a majority. That pre-supposes a three person race which is the exception rather than the rule in Clearwater. Another suggestion that has been swatted down for years is voting districts. That’s fine in a city of half a million, not so in a city of under 120,000 and where a one third voter turnout is extraordinary. Do the math; you can end up with well less than 5000 people electing someone to the council. While another suggestion to move the city’s elections to sync with federal elections/primaries, increasing turnout, has some merit, the offset is the race can become partisan and Clearwater’s non-partisan system, again, seems to have worked well for over a century. There is simply no reason to change the city’s voting system and should some ill-constructed measure come to the voters next year, the resounding answer should be NO.

Tampa Bay, politics and stuff:

Margaritaville, Fins, Changes in Latitudes, Come Monday, Duke’s on Sunday – thanks, Jimmy.

DeSantis Watch: When our governor announced a run for President, we suggested you put a dollar or five of a vacation fund in a sock drawer for every time he was subject to an attack article in the area’s left wing bi-weekly. With last Sunday’s front page alone totaling two of the three articles, you’re well on your way to Europe.

Nancy Pelosi says the Jan. 6, 2021 incident at the Capitol gives her reason to want to stay in Congress. The 83-year-old would see the sun rising in the East as a sign we still need her services.

Idle thought: watching the coverage of Hurricane Idalia a few weeks back, many mentions were made of Dixie County, making us wonder how that county has escaped the speech police.

A fervent wish from the 5:05 Newsletter: I really wish Joe Biden would stop riding his bicycle. That $29 helmet is the only thing between the American people and Kamala.

This week in 1928 (9/15) Scottish biologist Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin.

Sports, media and other stuff:

College football conferences are holding their breath over the proliferation of sports gambling and the possible, or likely, impact on players in the major conferences. Already, Iowa State’s leading rusher and other players from Iowa have been charged with making hundreds of illegal wagers.

When you’re a USF alum, you don’t watch the AP Top 25, but The Athletic’s ranking of all 133 Division I teams. The Bulls dropped from 111 to 114, but should gain some ground against FAMU – but then comes the Crimson Tide.

As the NFL season kicks off, the Bucs face some severe challenges, but when you consider that 8-9 won the NFL South last year, anything can happen.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen will step away from the network next year after over three decades of football analysis. His presence will be missed – assuming we are able to actually watch ESPN by then.

Heading down the stretch, the only sure things are the Braves and Dodgers and even they are battling for full home field advantage. The rest is a baseball fan’s dream.

Idle question: Were there any better athletes with the same name than Robin Roberts (basketball) and Robin Roberts (baseball)? Both went on to secondary careers, the female Robert Roberts with ESPN and ABC and the Phillies’ ace as the head baseball coach at USF.

You’ve lived in Clearwater a long time if you remember when Earle Brown opened the first VW dealership in the city at the corner of Drew Street and Anna Avenue.

…and another thing: You gotta see this!

For September, we asked our esteemed TBR&R Focus Group to name a national attraction or tourist site every American should see at least once.

Our leadoff hitter replied with Denali National Park with its gorgeous scenery, animals everywhere and fresh air.

Our second reply took us literally to the other end of the country – Key West with its super laid back atmosphere plus historic sites like the Little White House and Ernest Hemingway’s home.

Next we go to D.C. and environs where our Focus Group member recommends the unforgettable Vietnam Memorial as well as Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Another of our contributors also offers up a pair of “must sees” – the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore.

Our western most member chose the National Mall which attracts close to 25 million visitors a year.

And then there’s the happiest place on earth just 90 miles away. The youngster who was born the year your humble blogger graduated from college casts a vote for the Magic Kingdom and its companion parks. Hard to disagree.

Our northernmost focus group member places a vote for the Grand Canyon and, possessing a, shall we say, unique sense of humor, places a second vote for the world’s largest ball of twine. While there are conflicting claims on this, the generally accepted biggest twine ball is in Cawker City, KS.

As always, thanks to our respondents for their answers.

NEXT UP: Pure college football; Oh, Pluto; Clearwater vs. Largo

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