Opinions to go Online

The unique perspective and provocative opinions of Joe O’Neill

Archive for the Sardonic Side Category

Whither Will Weatherford?

Given the House Speaker’s 180 turnaround from a man for all conciliatory seasons to ambitious, right-wing panderer, shouldn’t his name now be Won’t Weatherford?

Jeb, We Hardly Knew Ye

Jeb Bush to the right of Marco Rubio on immigration? From “Jeb!” to “Jeb?”

Missed Opportunity

The Florida State Fair missed a big fund-raising opportunity last Thursday. Surely, some local charity could have benefited from an unexpected windfall. All it would have taken was Rick Scott agreeing to a dunk tank cameo.

The Undy 5000

We’re all for those who help raise money for good causes. Of course we are. That said, anyone else think, almost ashamedly, that some of the means to unassailably worthy ends are kind of, well, weird? Case in point, those images of runners who took part in the Undy 5000 Run/Walk, an awareness-increasing fundraiser for [...]

In Lieu Of

Indeed, what’s with the loopy signature of Treasury Secretary nominee Jack Lew? Is it louche, sloppy, Slinky inspired or maybe just written in the loo?

Semi-Pro Bass Shops

Pro Bass Shops should want a mulligan for the past six months. First it was the flap over incentives Hillsborough County was considering to lure it here. As if Pro Bass would be bringing in the 21st century jobs the county needs. As if Pro Bass shouldn’t want to be in a retail market like [...]

American Exceptionalism

When you’re a Tea Party-Koch Brothers-Cato Institute kind of governor you make it known in no uncertain terms that big government is no ally. In fact, its society-eroding role needs constant monitoring and marginalization. But for Gov. Rick Scott inconvenient exceptions keep popping up–from, say, personal higher-education help via the G.I. Bill to, well, requesting [...]

Media Matter

Just wondering. Ever find yourself nearly clueless when glancing at “Walter Scott’s Personality Parade” in Sunday’s Parade Magazine? Who are these, well, celebrities? Ever feel woefully out of touch when checking the daily lists of societal notables having birthdays? After Mickey Rooney and Warren Buffet, none of them ring a bell. It’s sort of like [...]

Names And The News

* Thanks to Paula Broadwell and associates, “embed,” “all in” and “you’ve got (male)” will never be the same. * Remember when “socialite” meant one who was prominent in fashionable society? Those were the days. * I wonder if Derek Jeter has ever uttered: “Hey, I can see the Kelley mansion from here”? * Hulk, [...]

Irish Priorities

I have family and friends with homes in New Jersey. They took hits ranging from wiped out to new normal. Among them, my brother, who has a house on the Jersey Shore. It surely didn’t dodge a coastal bullet. I called. Both his Philadelphia number and his Sea Isle number. No answer. Several times.  His [...]