The unique perspective and provocative opinions of Joe O’Neill
Quoteworthy
“Find a way to get in the way.”—The late civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga.
“Considering his enormous impact on the history of this country, what always struck those who met John (Lewis) was his gentleness and humanity.”—Former President Barack Obama.
“Today, if you are Iran, why compromise with an (American) Administration which may only have a few months left?”—Karim Sadjadpour, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
“When somebody is the president of the United States, the authority is total, and that’s the way it’s got to be.”—Donald Trump.
“In our judicial system, ‘the public has a right to every man’s evidence. Since the earliest days of the Republic, ‘every man’ has included the president of the United States.”—U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
“This term, most justices—and John Roberts, in particular—modeled centrist, nonpartisan behavior for the country.”—Lee Epstein, law professor and political scientist at Washington University in St. Louis.
“(Roger) Stone was prosecuted and convicted because he committed federal crimes. He remains a convicted felon, and rightly so.”—Robert Mueller.
“Unprecedented, historic corruption: An American president commutes the sentence of a person convicted by a jury of lying to shield that very president.”—Sen. Mitt Romney, R- Utah.
“If the election were held today, it would be a big win for Biden, and while Trump is unlikely to undergo a believable personality transformation and the coronavirus pandemic might possibly … be less terrible than now, it is also possible Trump has not hit rock bottom yet.”—Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post.
“There is a singular view that strength is mean, that any kind of ability to collaborate, or not be angry is a weakness.”—Elaine C. Duke, former acting secretary of homeland security, describing the Cabinet dynamics of the Trump Administration.
“There’s nothing in the data that suggest that kids being in school is in any way dangerous.”—Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
“No major new evidence has emerged that suggests the (police violence) protests were superspreader events.”—Mark Lurie, professor of epidemiology at Brown University.
“I never thought in my wildest dreams that I’d be telling tourists, ‘Don’t come to our beaches.’”—Joe McComb, mayor of Corpus Christi, Texas.
“I am compelled to express my significant concerns with the viability of this event.”—Duvall County Republican Sheriff Mike Williams on safety and security issues at the GOP national convention in Jacksonville.
“One thing is clear: President Trump could not care less about clean air, clean water or the climate. … He’s willing to risk the health of our children and the well-being of our communities so polluters can turn a profit.”—Congresswoman Kathy Castor, who chairs the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, in response to reports that President Trump would be gutting the public health protections in the National Environmental Policy Act in the middle of a public health crisis.
“Gov. DeSantis believes in a bottom up, decision-making process and not from the top down.”—DeSantis’ communications director Helen Aguirre Ferre.
“The governor needs to do his damn job.”—Florida Democratic Congresswoman DebbieWasserman Schultz.
“I just don’t think it’s safe. I don’t want blood on my hands.”—Tampa City CouncilChairman Guido Maniscalco, in calling off a scheduled in-person city council meeting at the Convention Center.
“Impossible to do.”—Hillsborough School Superintendent Addison Davis, on the reality of social distancing on a school bus.
“It’s a shame that the recklessness of a few have put a strain on so many businesses who are going about reopening responsibly. … Please note, we know who you are.”—Mayor Jane Castor on certain alcohol-serving violators.