U.S. House race has potential to be truly bizarre

Potential Democratic challengers for U.S. Rep. David Jolly’s seat next year continue a trend of astonishing choices. In the first election, we had a carpetbagger from Hillsborough County; in the second - none after the Democrats organized a circular firing squad and this time, the potential challengers include yet another carpetbagger from Hillsborough (just not as well-known as the first) and a second recently arrived candidate who is still learning where Central Avenue is. A third potential candidate who has served in public office for what? – six months has backed off from a challenge for Jolly’s seat. One can only surmise, a few folks took her behind closed doors and explained what “no chance” means. Then there’s Charlie – never run an election without him. Charlie badly needs a win as he’s oh for his last three. Stay tuned, this should be fun.

Around the bay:

1. More on District 13: the only good thing that can come out of the courts juggling the district to make it more Democrat friendly is if they steal enough votes away from gerrymandered District 14 to put Rep. Kathy Castor on the unemployment line.

2. And also related, several local political wonks express great optimism in David Jolly’s Senate run. Wish we could join them. Jolly is a little too fresh out of the box to win statewide. Would love to see him prevail – particularly for what it would mean for the Bay Area, but as a betting man, would have to put my money elsewhere.

3. As the Hillsborough Public Transportation Commission, a child of decades ago smoke-filled backrooms and greased palms, continues to try to drive away Lyft and Uber as alternative transportation services, more and more influential people are saying the PTC is what ought to go away.

4. More transportation: Allegiant Air is about to make it easier for Bay Area residents to go walking in Memphis (apologies to Marc Cohn) adding two weekly non-stops to the city. But you wonder given the strains on the aging Allegiant fleet lately, is this a good time to be expanding routes?

5. You’ve lived in Clearwater for a long time if you remember Bob Weatherly, WTAN’s morning announcer and Bomber play by play man who later became the Mayor of the “Sparkling City”.

The diamond, the media and other stuff:

6. Sorry to see Ohio Governor John Kasich enter the GOP presidential race so late in the game. It won’t give him enough time to raise money and to differentiate himself from the pack of 15. And that’s sad, because he’s head and shoulders above about 90 per cent of the pack.

7. Our Rants and Raves focus group (comprised of three old, cranky people) cite Boy Scout leaders being brow beaten into accepting gay troop leaders, our military brass being forced to accept transgender recruits and our president pardoning over forty “non-violent” drug pushers as sure signs we are nearing utopia in our great nation. (See disclaimer above)

8. Fill in the blank: If I were king ____________. For us it would be that every potential office holder had to have made a payroll once in their life. But then if you or I were king, there would be no need for office holders.

9. The NHL is “doing the dance” with Las Vegas (as well as Quebec City) regarding an expansion franchise. This brings up two questions – will a major (sort of) sport finally locate in Sin City and can you name a dozen NHL franchises if we spot you the original six?

10. Factoid, four of the last six Managers of the Year in the National League are currently unemployed (Black, Gibson, Davey Johnson and Tracy). Conversely, only one of the last six Managers of the Year in AL has been given the gate (Rod Gardenhire).

Next on the MLB manager hit list – John Farrell?

As mentioned here a couple weeks ago (RANTS June 21) you could easily predict that Bud Black was going to be the fall guy for a badly constructed San Diego Padres team. John Farrell could easily be next on the list. Coincidentally, Farrell, like Black, is one of only three ex-pitchers managing in the majors, the other being the Red’s Bryan Price. Also coincidentally, the problem is the same with Farrell as with Black, he is shouldered with a team comprised of three or four designated hitters trying to play defense. The Sox need to dump a no longer effective David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval before they dump a manager who gave them a World Series just three years ago.