* “The U.S. would not be a society divided into insulated winners and angry losers had it not believed its own rhetoric about the unimpeachable virtues of its liberal capitalist system after the collapse of the Soviet Union.”–Pankaj Mishra, author of “Age of Anger: A History of the Present.”
* “The United States has become a values-free international actor under a president who has led a values-free life.”–Roger Cohen, New York Times.
* “We accept the results of the Electoral College and ask that you bless President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.”–Senate chaplain Barry Black.
* “Further attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election are contrary to the clearly expressed will of the American people and only serve to undermine Americans’ confidence in the already determined election results.”–Statement from a bipartisan group of 10 senators, including Republicans Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mitt Romney of Utah.
* “(Trump’s) so unspooled—and so unable to come to terms with losing—that he’s willing to try torching democracy to soothe himself.”--Timothy O’Brien, author of “TrumpNation: The Art of Being The Donald.”
* “The scheme by members of Congress to reject the certification of the presidential election makes a mockery of our system and who we are as Americans.”–Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan.
* “These Republicans in the Senate seem to have an endless tolerance for other people’s sadness.”–House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
* “She is reduced to hollering about socialism. Perhaps with an eye on 2024, Nikki Haley figures nonsensical accusations are the way to gain favor in her intellectually vacant party.”–Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post.
* “I think it’s very hard to get back to to the way things were. … But if any president can make headway in this era of gall and grievance, it’s Biden. He was elected to soothe rather than stir, plod rather than strut, and by all appearances so far, he understands that.”–Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney.
* “President-elect Biden is a legislator by avocation, by training, by instinct, by experience in a way that former President Obama was not.”–Republican consultant Michael Steel, former adviser to GOP House Speaker John Boehner.
* “In March, we asked you to stay home to help us save lives. Now we are asking you to get vaccinated. … When you are called, please say yes.”–Dr. Joan Bregstein, attending physician in the department of emergency medicine at Columbia University.
* “COVID-19 restrictions are not like a diet. We can’t skip a day of following the plan and make up for it the next.”–Connie Schultz, Creators.Com.
* “I see promise in the year ahead, and not just on COVID-19. I think we also have a chance to make concrete progress on another major global challenge: climate change. There are a number of reasons—including a United Nations summit hosted by the U.K.–to believe that 2021 can be an important year in the effort to avoid a climate disaster.”–Bill Gates.
* “David Jolly may never be in office because the system is set up to block independent runs. But it’s an indictment of our system if an independent isn’t viable. Florida is exactly the forum where an independent candidate should be viable.”–Former Florida Republican Congressman David Jolly, who left the GOP in a public split over allegiance to Donald Trump.
* “Leadership rises to the top when you’re in trouble, and in Florida we’re in trouble. I’ll continue to listen to the people, and I’ll see where it takes me. I’m excited about the future in Florida.”–Florida Democratic Congresswoman Val Demings, who was vetted for vice president and is a target for speculation about a U.S. Senate or gubernatorial run next year.
* “If you are 65 and older, you are going to get access to this (vaccine)). It may not be today for everyone, may not be next week. But over the next many weeks, as long as we continue getting the supply, you’re going to have the opportunity to get this.”–Gov. Ron DeSantis.
* “For the arts, I see a steady return of our audiences as comfort level grows. There will be an appreciation for gathering as a community for live performance that hasn’t been seen since before the digital age.”–Susan Crockett, president and CEO of Ruth Eckerd Hall.
* “In this Tampa Bay market region, it’s going to be a continuation of peak demand. I think you’re going to see home values increase—from what I’m reading, it could be upwards of 20 percent.”–Jennifer Motsinger, executive vice president of the Tampa Bay Builders Association.
* “I don’t see any layoffs coming in Tampa, but every local government will have to deal with revenue cuts.”–Tampa City Councilman John Dingfelder.