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

First thing on our mind:

Congratulations to Al Capogna on being awarded the key to the city of Clearwater. Well deserved.

Leading off: Blue versus red

It is impossible not to note the reaction times of the White House to the bridge tragedy in Maryland versus the train tragedy in Ohio well over a year ago. As we write this, Joe Biden is on his way to Maryland to offer everything the folks there deservedly need. But contrast that with East Palestine, Ohio where it took Biden over a year to visit – and where some people still cannot return to their homes or jobs. The “official word” on the Ohio delay is that they did not suffer a natural disaster, thus the delay. A barge hitting a bridge is not a natural disaster either, so that doesn’t wash. It seems to have everything to do with Ohio being a red state and Maryland blue and that is just appalling.

Tampa Bay, politics and notes:

Idle thought: We have a friend and a nephew who both have the same first name and last initial as the current occupant of the White House. We are convinced either of them would do a much better job; are certainly more cogent and, as a bonus, both have a much better sense of the bizarre than the guy currently taking up space at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

One last Clearwater city election thought. A total of well over a quarter million dollars spent by the two mayoral candidates is obscene. That much money for what is essentially a ceremonial position boggles the mind.

We sincerely hope Ronna McDaniel sues the pants off NBC after the network caved to their whiney commentators’ protests to the hiring of a conservative voice.

Biz notes: Previously thought invulnerable to layoffs, Apple cuts over 600 workers. Wal-Mart, caught with their thumb on the scale, agrees to a $45 million settlement for shorting its customers on meats and produce.

The media is telling us that inflation is cooling off. Our weekly grocery bills and prices at the pump tell a different story.

Other victims of “Bidenomics” are food pantries who are being stretched to the max by demand.

Weather alert from the 5:05 Newsletter: Meteorologists are calling for rain showers this coming weekend with a slight chance of getting crushed by falling parts from a Boeing Airliner.

Fifty years ago this week (April 8), Hank Aaron surpasses Babe Ruth’s long lasting career homerun record by hitting #715 off the Dodgers’ Al Downing at Fulton County Stadium.

Sports, media and other notes:

Sometimes bad news takes a while to reach you. Jim Alvis, a short track racing legend, passed away last October in Dunnellon. The long time resident of Pinellas County and mentor to other race car builders and drivers was 91.

Earlier this year, we noted seven communities, including Tampa Bay, considering new venues for their major sports teams. The season is not off to a good start with Kansas City voters rejecting a tax measure for a new home for the Royals. Meanwhile, the Athletics are moving 80 miles up I-80 to play the 2025-27 seasons in Sacramento. What a mess.

A partial score from an opening week game – Braves 12 Phillies 1 Home plate umpire 3. You had to be there.

We wish we could say we were surprised. In the brief time since sports betting was legalized in Florida, calls to the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling’s hotline have doubled.

Sports thought: It’s hard to imagine the Masters being anywhere but on CBS.

The Clearwater Threshers open up their home season Tues, the 9^th hosting Fort Myers, the single A farm club of the Minnesota Twins.

Topping the charts fifty years ago this week was the re-make of the B.J. Thomas hit, Hooked on a Feeling, by the Swedish group, Blue Swede.

You’ve lived in the bay area a long time if you ever enjoyed a juicy steak at Moock’s Tavern on 16^th Street North in St. Pete.

…one last thing: Remembering NPR

No, NPR isn’t gone – yet. But the days of Bob Edwards and the even-balanced Morning Edition are long since past. Now NPR is captained by a new CEO whose resume includes all sorts of incendiary remarks. Katherine Maher is quoted as calling Donald Trump “a racist” and blaming the LA lootings as “a reaction to oppression.” That should ensure balanced reporting. Meanwhile Rome is burning. NPR strengths have always been among listeners in metro areas. Over the past two years, the network’s ratings have dropped between 19 and 25 percent in the New York, Chicago, LA and Frisco markets. Listeners under the age of 40 are virtually non-existent. Observing radio from both inside and out, we can safely say if your station does not perform well, you were out on your ear. But we the taxpayers keep the cash flowing for NPR to spew its leftist agenda. Our only hope is Congress wakes up and says “no more.”

UP NEXT: The Biden Malaise; Falling branches; America’s ship

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