The unique perspective and provocative opinions of Joe O’Neill
Quoteworthy
“Coronavirus is deadly, and it’s now spreading exponentially in the U.K.”—British Health Secretary Matt Hancock. Britain already has Europe’s deadliest outbreak—with more than 44,000 confirmed virus deaths.
“We have committed to keeping Canadians safe and we keep extending the border closures because the (United) States is not in a place where we would feel comfortable reopening those borders.”—Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“True democracy is a project that’s much bigger than any one of us. It’s bigger than any one person, any one president, and any one government. It’s a job for all of us.”—Barack Obama, in his final (2017) speech as president.
“You would not be getting Justice Scalia; you would be getting Justice Barrett.”—Judge Amy Coney Barrett, at her confirmation hearing.
“I just don’t have the power by fiat to impose my policy preferences or choose the results I prefer.”–Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
“Women couldn’t vote. Slavery was legal. AR-15s and the internet and electric lights didn’t exist. But originalism.”—Judiciary Committee member Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
“Much has been made of the Democratic threat of ‘court packing.’ Was it ‘court stripping’ when Republicans decided that eight justices were enough rather than consider the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland?”—Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post.
“The rhetoric coming out of this White House has serious and potentially deadly consequences. It must stop.”—Alena Yarmosky, spokeswoman for Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. According to the FBI, members of anti-government, paramilitary groups discussed plans to kidnap Gov. Northam.
“State and local leaders, in both parties, must denounce armed militia activity, whether from the right or the left. These efforts must continue after the election, when the threat of civil unrest could be at its greatest. … The law is on their side—private armed militias find no support in the U.S. or state constitutions or in American history. They must not be tolerated in our society.”—Mary B. McCord, legal director for Georgetown Law’s Institute for Constitutional Advocacy.
“For all its pious moaning about censorship, the right wing is more upset about being held to a standard of verifiable truth because they know it’s one they cannot meet.”—Leonard Pitts, Miami Herald.
“The unpaid-taxes story may be more of a threat to Trump than the Access Hollywood tape. The president never pretended to be a good guy around women; he has pretended, however, to be a brilliant businessman—and the knowledge of all that debt, and all those losses, could pull out the block that will send his Jenga-tower reputation toppling.”—Molly Roberts,Washington Post.
“The main reason Trump could avoid paying income taxes is that he was a lousy businessman.”—Jonah Goldberg, The Dispatch.
“First, The Apprentice, and now this (NBC-hosted Trump town hall). Why not a new Bill Cosby special while we’re at it.”—ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel.
“Of all the many ways President Donald Trump mishandled his COVID-19 diagnosis and recovery, the worst is what he’s doing now: facilitating super-spreader events while the United States is undergoing a surge in coronavirus cases.”—Dr. Leona S. Wen, former health commissioner of Baltimore.
“Stopping Trump is a short-term solution. The long-term solution—and it will be more difficult—is fixing the educational system that has created so many people ignorant enough to vote for Trump.”—author and satirist Andy Borowitz.
“I knew this job would be hard. But I’ll be honest, I never could have imagined anything like this.”—Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, after learning of a plot to kidnap her.
“Too many people still believe that as long as they’re not an active member of the Ku Klux Klan, they couldn’t possibly be racist.”—Nathalie Baptiste, Mother Jones.
“Florida citrus production is a marathon, not a sprint, and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services stands committed to help strengthen and promote Florida-grown citrus.”—Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, in response to news that the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast a 15 percent decline in orange production for the recently started growing season, as well as a 7 percent decline in grapefruit production.
“The only thing that we have that’s consistent is the inconsistency.”—Mayor Jane Castor, in criticizing the state for not doing enough contact tracing and for not releasing data in a timely fashion.
“Job growth, investment, is driven by the access to talent. That talent wants to be downtown. Jobs and investment will follow. … Everyone we’re working with expects this formula to be fully in place.”—David Dixon, vice president of Stantec, the urban planning group that is a lead figure in the development of Water Street Tampa.
“Our hometown’s future has never been brighter.”—Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, which announced that Tampa will be hosting the Women’s Final Four (2025), the Frozen Four (2023), the Women’s Volleyball championship (2023), plus first- and second-round men’s NCAA Tournament games (2026).