Dipping My Toes Back Into The Water

After 14 months of retirement I'm back in the TV news business.

A couple of weeks ago I received a surprise phone call from the head news guy at WTSP 10 News, Peter Roghaar. He asked if I would be interested in being their political analyst for the 2010 election cycle. I said I would - we met- and the handshake deal was done. I'm thrilled.

A little background: When I was at WFLA-TV for 27 years, I focused my reporting on local and state politics. I was -and am- a political junkie. I learned when covering Florida politics - when you think you have figured it out, you're usually wrong. So now, when I have formed an opinion on a particular race or party I go back and re-think it. That's the approach I'll take at 10-News.

This is going to be a fascinating election cycle and I hope I can bring some clarity to it. I look forward to working with the folks at News 10. They are bright, nice and fun. If you can't have fun doing something you love - why do it?

Bill Ratliff

The Joy Of Being A Grandparent

I get it. I finally get it.

More than five and half years ago my daughter Shannon married a great guy, Josh. Right after they were married my friends would always ask me if I was ready to be a grandparent. I would loudly say "No!"

Boy, have I changed my mind. For the past 10 days, Shannon, Josh and 9 month old Declan (pronounced Deck-lyn. It's Irish) spent their vacation with us. Linda and I even had the little guy for 4 days to ourselves. All I can say is it was pure joys for us.

Friends who were already grandparents would tell me what a great experience it was, but I kept thinking it would make me feel old. I was really wrong. It actually makes you feel younger! There is nothing like a grandchild looking up at you and just smiling. It makes your heart melt.

I can't wait to have more grandkids.

Bill Ratliff

Is It Time To Get Out Of Afghanistan?

You know, as a practicing broadcast journalist for more than thirty-seven years I worked long and hard to not let anyone know my opinion about stories I covered. TV viewers didn't want to know what I thought. They just wanted the facts. That's what I did - just presented the facts.

There were many stories I felt strongly about and didn't utter an opinion, but there are stories right now that I want to say something about. Now, because of retirement, I can. The current story that weighs on my mind is the war in Afghanistan. Do we really need to be there?

If I say no, we need to get out, some, or even many people will claim I'm unpatriotic and I don't support our brave troops. But let's take a look at the facts. We went there nine years ago to clean the breeding ground of Al- Qaeda. You could say that mission is accomplished. Many experts say there are only about 50 Al- Qaeda members left in that worn-torn country. Yet more than 1000 Americans have died fighting that war and it is safe to say many more will die the longer we're there. Not to mention the billions of dollars more we'll spend.

Look, I'm a child of the Vietnam war. I was in college at the height of the war protests. I didn't get drafted because of a medical condition, but I had friends who did go to Nam' and were wounded and one was killed. I supported our troops then - as I do now. But that war effort failed, as this one is likely to fail.

Why? Simply, there is no end strategy - no real exit strategy. It's a nation of tribes - making nation building an impossibility. It's a country that doesn't really want us there.

So, why stay - why?

Bill Ratliff