Category: Uncategorized

* Last week had to have been a tough one for Joe Maddon. And not just because his LA Angels suffered a four-game sweep at home to the Rays. The error-prone Angels looked uncharacteristically sloppy and un-Maddon like. Then the team awkwardly released Hall-of-Famer to-be Albert Pujols, 41. Not the way that career, even though Pujols had been overpaid and under-performing for a while, should have ended. Nobody looked good.

* “A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.”–Thomas Paine.

* “It is clear that China is failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris.”–NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

* “I get called Uncle Tom and the N word by progressives. I know first hand our healing is not finished. Hear me clearly. America is not a racist country.”–South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the lone black Republican senator.

* “If there were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers.”–Charles Dickens.

* “When it comes to privacy and accountability, people always demand the former for themselves and the latter for everyone else.”–Science fiction author and NASA consultant David Brin.

* “We expect to continue to see strong leisure travel demand in Florida throughout the summer, especially now that all adults are eligible for vaccinations. The desire to go to the beach doesn’t seem to be waning. … We’ll have to wait and see whether conventions and business meetings happen in person at that time.”–Chelsea McCready, director of hospitality market analytics at CoStar Group.

* “This (Supreme Court) didn’t take up this case without a plan to pull the trigger. It’s a safe bet that it is not hearing a Second Amendment dispute for the purpose of limiting gun rights.”–Ruth Marcus, Washington Post, on the Court’s announcement that it will (next year) be taking up a case involving a New York state law that requires residents to show “proper cause” or need in order to receive a concealed carry permit.

* “Cruise ships have motors, propellers and rudders, and God forbid we can’t operate in the state of Florida for whatever reason (including disagreement over requiring vaccination proof), then there are other states that we do operate from.” Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

* “To the governor and his allies who supported an extremist agenda, this will be considered a very successful legislative session. For the rest of us here in Florida, not so much.”–State Rep. Ben Diamond, D-St. Petersburg.

* “The legislative session: It was all theater. It was all appealing to the Fox News crowd. … I’m disgusted and am concerned. … Our governor claimed that he had many policy successes this session. Well, I would say he actually had many pandering successes.”–Florida Democratic Party Chairman Manny Diaz.

* “This is Tampa’s time right now. … Tampa is really set to be the gateway for all of Southern Florida.”–Renowned hotelier Ian Schrager, whose Tampa Edition Hotel is partnering with Marriott. It’s slated to open on Water Street Tampa early next year.

* “Can you imagine if each city (including St. Petersburg, Tampa, Orlando, Miami and Miami Beach) had been led by Ron DeSantis? How many lives would have been lost? What would our economy look like today?”–St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman.

I’ve never been a fan of State of the Union-speech optics. The relatively tight, TV podium shot of the president, who deserves undivided attention as he speaks to the nation and beyond, still shares the screen–and audience focus–with the two people behind him, the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. They try to rein in their attention-attracting expressions and gestures, but we know they’re there, especially when it comes to applause lines and standing ovations. Even when they are of the same party, it can be a distraction. When they are not, it’s a disservice.

That context didn’t apply last Wednesday when President Joe Biden made his first address to a joint session of Congress. Sure, he is the anti-Trump avatar. And he needed this forum to underscore the case for going FDR-big to counter the biggest collective challenges—from pandemic, racial injustice and climate change to myriad iterations of infrastructure upgrades, global security and economic competitiveness–in America’s history. His Administration is making what amounts to a $6 trillion, once-in-a-generation investment in America. It’s also sending a cut-to-the-chase message that “autocracy will not win the future; democracy will.” And, sure, the socially—and ideologically—distanced Republicans were still partisan and still expressing, masks notwithstanding, their discord over an expensive “liberal wish list.”

But that VP and House Speaker behind Biden, Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi, respectively, were more than (next-in-succession) political props. They were monumentally important, historic figures. Before the president reiterated his priorities and oratorically reminded viewers that empathy, candor, optimism and inclusiveness were, indeed, back in fashion, he called everyone’s attention to the history they were witnessing.

“Madam Vice President, Madam Speaker,” said Biden. “No president has ever said those words from this podium. … And it’s about time.” After four embarrassing, chaotic Trump years amid a pandemic, it was about time that America had something to celebrate besides a Trumpless Oval Office. You go, Madams.

* “You know, I think this is going to be a popular speech with the American public.”– Fox News’ Chris Wallace’s take on President Biden’s speech.

* “I applaud President Joe Biden’s efforts to promote environmental justice in his infrastructure plan, the American Jobs Act. His proposal to replace the lead pipes that provide water to our schools, day cares and homes would be transformational in communities of color.”–Former Florida state Rep. Sean Shaw, the 2018 Democratic nominee for attorney general.

* “I do think the Biden Administration and President Biden have exceeded expectations that progressives had.”–New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

* “Whether you’re on the left or right, Biden’s boldness—his sheer audacity—is politically admirable.”–Gary Abernathy, Washington Post.

* “The center has moved. And Biden is aware, as a politician, of the progressive moment in history that he’s operating in.”–Faiz Shakir, who managed Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign.

* Optics always matter: One of the first glad-handers encountered by President Biden after his joint-session-of-Congress speech was Bernie Sanders.

* It was beyond a sobering democratic optic to see the post-insurrection Capitol of the U.S. encased by metal fencing and ringed by National Guard troops in preparing for a presidential address. Another Trump legacy box checked.

* When there are enormous national challenges—from a life-and-death pandemic to critical infrastructure needs—the answer is not “smaller government.”

* A hinged, non-tweeting president: What a concept.

* On Earth Day, the president announced that the U.S. would reduce greenhouse emissions by half to 52 percent of 2005 levels by 2030.

* “‘Wokeness’ is a problem and everyone knows it. It’s hard to talk to anybody today—and I talk to lots of people in the Democratic Party. … But they don’t want to say it out loud—because they’ll get clobbered or canceled.”–Democratic political consultant James Carville.

* It speaks volumes about the Administration’s commitment to climate—and global security—to have John Kerry as Joe Biden’s Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. And it was well noted that Kerry, the former secretary of state, became the first Administration official to go to Beijing.

* “Jimmy Carter was a little bit needy in his relations with his successors. But they were wrong not to take more advantage of his immense intelligence and experience in the world.”–Jonathan Alter, author of “His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life.” Nice gesture by President Biden to find time–before his recent Atlanta rally–to pay a visit to the Carters in Plains, Ga.

#AloneTogether

* Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was fined the equivalent of $190 for not wearing a mask at an emergency government meeting.

* The U.S. is now further restricting travel from India. The U.S. already requires negative tests and quarantines for all international travelers.

* “At the same time that the world works to get through this pandemic, we also know that we must prepare for the next. The status quo is not nearly good enough, and innovation is indeed the path forward.”–Vice President Kamala Harris in a virtual address to the United Nations.

* “One thing is clear: All 27 (EU) states will accept, unconditionally, all those (Americans) who are vaccinated with vaccines that are approved by the European Medicines Agency.”–European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

* 100 million: The number of Americans fully vaccinated. That’s about 40 percent of American adults.

* According to law enforcement data, police officer vaccination rates are lower than—or about the same as—those of the general public.

* The TSA is extending a federal mandate requiring people to wear masks at airports, on commercial flights and on commuter buses and trains through Sept. 13.

* Airbnb has instituted a global ban on parties and has set up a 24-hour hotline for neighbors to report on banned gatherings.

* The Border Patrol says it has insufficient time and space to conduct coronavirus testing at crowded processing stations. Officials in border cities fear further spread of the virus.

* Visitor spending in New York City fell by 73 percent last year, costing the city $1.2 billion in tax revenues.

* Births have fallen dramatically in many states during the pandemic. Births for all of 2020 were down 4.3 percent from 2019.

* “Joints for Jabs.” Several marijuana dispensaries are giving out cannabis treats or free rolled joints to encourage people to get vaccinated in New York City and Washington. Some breweries are offering “shots and a chaser” to motivate the unvaccinated.

* With more than 85 percent of the Rays players and staff receiving at least one dose of the vaccine, the Rays are in line to have MLB protocols relaxed later in May.

* According to the Census Bureau, the state of Florida has seen a 14.5 percent population increase in the last decade. It is now estimated at more than 21,500,000. As a result, Florida has gained one new U.S. House seat (as well as another Electoral College vote). Other states adding a seat: Colorado, North Carolina, Oregon and Montana. Texas has added two seats.

* More than three out of every 10 transgender kids has attempted suicide in the preceding year, according to the CDC. Yes, Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis, this is about more than girls sports.

* Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz continues on as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, even though this is the committee that oversees the federal agency investigating him.

* How unconscionably stupid for that private Centner Academy in Miami to bar vaccinated teachers from student contact. Another sobering reminder that the reach of–and reaction to–misinformation is worrisome—even for those paying $30,000 in middle school tuition.

* In Tallahassee, lawmakers voted to gut the bill that would have permitted the building of more than 300 miles of toll roads across rural Florida. No studies proved a need for the project; the price tag would have been in the tens of billions; and the environmental impact would have been disastrous to pristine parts of the state. The House vote to repeal was 115-0, which means the Sunshine State doesn’t always live down to Flori-duh.

* “The right-wing echo chamber starts going crazy because you can go after a Democrat.”–Juan Williams, co-host of “The Five” on Fox News.

* “Conservative media isn’t the real world. Here, ideas don’t have consequences. You can be consistently wrong on every major political issue of the century and be absolutely certain that you’ll keep your magazine column, your think-tank fellowship and your cushy book deal.”–Michael Warren Davis, the American Conservative.

* Donald Trump says he is “100 percent” thinking about running again, and, if so, would “certainly” consider Ron DeSantis as a running mate. “A lot of people like that,” he said on Fox Business. “He’s done a great job as governor.” Yeah, nothing like an “All-Flori-duh” 2024 ticket.

* “Four years of promises made, promises kept.” That’s how former Vice President Mike Pence described the Trump years in a recent South Carolina speech to the Palmetto Family Council. Two takeaways. Pence is still a self-serving sycophant who knows the Trump base requires Trump fealty. It’s also a reminder to potential Trump successors that South Carolina holds the first presidential primaries in the South.

* So, voting by mail only helps Democrats, as Trump has often stated. Census data doesn’t concur; it shows that older and more affluent voters were especially likely to vote by mail in 2020. Moreover, white voters are more likely to vote by mail than black voters.

* “Trump’s metier wasn’t politics. It was performance. Tucker Carlson gets that. … I’m not saying he’s Trump’s doppelganger. … He can be as verbally dexterous as Trump is oratorically incontinent, as brimming with information as Trump is barren of it. Carlson reminds you of a prep school debate team captain all puffed up at his lectern. Trump reminds you of puffy reality-show ham.”–Frank Bruni, New York Times.

* Jack McCain, son of the late Sen. John McCain, was sent by American Airlines to Austin to lobby Texas Republicans to roll back some of the more stringent restrictions on voting.

* When documentarians reflect on Trump and his impact on the U.S. and the world, we will see–many times over–that downward escalator ride that symbolizes America’s trajectory under him.

* Congrats to USF softball coach Ken Ericksen on his 1,000 career victory. Moreover, the Bulls’ 5-0 win against East Carolina came on a no-hitter by pitcher Georgina Corrick. Ericksen also serves as coach of the U.S. Olympic team.

* Speaking of the Bulls, a shout-out to former USF pitcher Shane McClanahan, who recently made his regular season debut with the Rays.

* Midnight Bourbon. Helium. Hidden Stash. Rock Your World. Hot Rod Charlie. Ever notice how the names of horses running in the Kentucky Derby increasingly sound like rock groups?

* “We welcome you back to planet Earth and thanks for flying SpaceX. For those of you enrolled in our frequent flyer program, you’ve earned 68 million miles on this voyage.”–SpaceX’s Mission Control, moments after the SpaceX Dragon capsule returned four astronauts from the International Space Station.

* “Complex and not without risk.”–How Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, characterized the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan by Sept. 11.

* “One enduring focus needs to be the recruitment and retention of diverse individuals who as officers are trained to interact with a constituency, and not merely fight the perceived antagonist.”–Former federal prosecutor Michael McAuliffe, now an adjunct law professor at William & Mary College.

* Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now 81. I love saying that out loud, especially at the end of a long and frustrating day. If she can keep going, so can we.”–Connie Schultz, Creators Syndicate.

* “An exciting day for Florida’s economic growth.”–Gov. Ron DeSantis, on the announced relocation–from Chicago to Tampa–of the headquarters of Signode Industrial Group, a transit-packaging company. The move should bring 200 jobs to the area.

* “Lack of transparency breeds suspicion, and suspicion breeds contempt and … leads to more problems than it solves.”–Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri

* “This is a deep purple county that we have painted blue.”–Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren at the Hillsborough Democratic Party’s annual Spring Fling fundraiser.