Quoteworthy

  • “Today, in many countries, hyperbole, extremism and polarization have become political tools.”—Pope Francis.
  • “(Trump) is aiding and abetting Vladimir Putin’s efforts by not being direct about this. This sustained campaign of disruption, disinformation and denial is aided by any leader who doesn’t acknowledge it.”—Retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, a former national security adviser to Trump.
  • “Russian operatives did not invent our crude tribal politics; they invented internet personas to whip them up. American politicians reduced the country to red and blue states; Russian operatives purchased online ads to target voters on both sides of the domestic divide. … The biggest risk to this election is not the Russians, it’s us.”—Fiona Hill, senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and a former official of the U.S. National Security Council, specializing in Russian and European affairs.
  • “Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us.”—Jim Mattis, former defense secretary under Trump.
  • “Hate. … It’s a contagious virus that easily infects people afflicted by the pre-existing conditions of ignorance and fear.”—Mary Schmich, Chicago Tribune.
  • “A virus that both leaders shrugged off as neither a personal nor a political threat may yet bring them down.”—Jenni Russell, The Times of London, referring to both British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and President Donald Trump.
  • “Presidents make these decisions based on politics over medicine. And there is an inherent conflict between politics and medicine.”—Presidential author Matthew Algeo, in reference to Trump’s repeated requests to be discharged from Walter Reed hospital as

well as his denial of the seriousness of the coronavirus.

  • “I don’t understand the resistance to a virtual (presidential) debate. We have moved much of our lives online. The technology is there. Why the insistence on an in-person debate?—University of Florida epidemiologist Natalie Dean.
  • “What’s alarming is that each diagnosis in the White House demonstrates how thoroughly this administration has been infected by its own disinformation.”—Michelle Goldberg, New York Times.
  • “A perfect physical specimen.”—How Trump described himself in a post-hospitalization interview on the Fox Business Network
  • “Waiting until after the election to reach an agreement on the next COVID-19 relief package is a huge mistake.”—Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.
  • “The hope of Republicans was that the Barrett nomination could save them, that she’d shine like a star and put some new wind in the sails. That’s all that we would be talking about right now.”—Stephen Moore, a member of Trump’s economic task force.
  • “The GOP is inhospitable to conservatives, moderates and people of decency and courage. … America needs a sane, serious, humane, center-right party that aims to persuade, not to dominate. This GOP is not that.”—Mona Charen, the Bulwark.
  • “You were looked down upon when you would walk by with a mask.”—Olivia Troye, formerly one of Mike Pence’s top aides on the coronavirus task force.
  • “Let (Trump) howl at the moon all he wants. He’s scared. And he has good reason to be.”—Eugene Robinson, Washington Post.
  • “Trump might lose women voters by numbers we’ve never imagined.”—Tim Alberta, Politico.
  • “Trigger City.” The Tampa Bay chapter of the Proud Boys.
  • “When it comes to children being online, there is no such thing as being too protective as a parent.”—Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister.
  • “These things are never staring at their cell phones, and they never drink.”—District transportation secretary David Gwynn, on the debut of downtown Tampa’s Beep autonomous shuttle.

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