Category: Uncategorized

* “Tight margins in Congress do not bring out the best in pols.”–Maureen Dowd, NYT.

* “For many Americans, to be a conservative Republican is to be an evangelical Christian, regardless of whether they ever attend a Sunday service. … White evangelicalism has never been more politically unified than it is right now. In the 1970s, only 40 percent of white weekly churchgoing evangelicals identified as Republicans; in the most recent data, that number has risen to an all-time high of 70 percent.”–Ryan Burge, author of “20 Myths About Religion and Politics in America.”

* “It’s long been fashionable to denigrate the GOP as the party of old, white men. The demographic is still over represented among party office-holders, but that’s fast changing. … Women or racial minorities won 10 of the 15 state legislative seats Republicans captured from Democrats in November.”–Ethics and Public Policy Center senior fellow Henry Olsen.

* “The larger context of the Republican Party’s attempt to gerrymander itself into a House majority is its successful effort to gerrymander itself into long-term control of state legislatures across the country.”–Jamelle Bouie, NYT.

* “I’m not responsible for rumors, and it’s bullsh*t.”–West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, on speculation that he plans to leave the Democratic Party.

* “This time I’m going to be more selective about who I work for.”–Former Trump lawyer-fixer Michael Cohen, who is now out of jail.

* “Biden was elected to restore a sense of ‘normalcy.’ But these are not normal times, and perhaps the reality is that a normal approach to politics in profoundly abnormal times is a formula for political disaster.”–Charlie Sykes, The Bulwark.

* “Being in the office makes sense. … It’s very important to get the younger employees in the office, collaborating and working hard. … This is where you’re going to create upward mobility. We’re going to be able to do a better job if we’re together. ”–Chris Merrill, co-founder of Harrison Street, a private real estate investment firm.

* “Facebook is not just any corporation. It reached trillion-dollar status in a single decade by applying the logic of surveillance capitalism—an economic system built on the secret extraction of and manipulation of human data—to its vision of connecting the entire world.”–Shoshana Zuboff, author of “Age of Surveillance Capitalism.”

* “If you’re in the position to sell a car, it’s a great time. You’re going to get top dollar for it.”–Matt Degen, Kelley Blue Book editor.

* “It’s just not possible to stop people from catching viruses. It’s a fool’s errand.”–Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo.

* “We’d love it if Tampa could evolve into a real critical mass center of blockchain development. This is a great place to live: I’ve said it for a number of years—why not us?”–Tampa Bay Lightning owner and innovation investor Jeff Vinik.

This year Tampa International Airport is celebrating its 50^th anniversary. It’s an appropriate time to reflect on the futuristic approach of TIA—from the hub-and-spoke terminal and tram system to biometric gate checks and air taxis.

But let’s not take for granted two consummate game-changers. TIA is presciently located in the urban hub of the Tampa Bay market—not some far-flung suburb. And it has long prioritized passengers over planes. Thank you and happy anniversary, TIA.

* “As you look at 2022, we need to stay united.”–President Joe Biden’s pragmatic message to Democratic activists.

* “We are letting a noisy wing of our party define the rest of us. And my point is we can’t do that. … Some of those people need to go to a ‘Woke’ detox center or something.”–Democratic analyst James Carville. Bottom line: Downplay the counterproductive rhetoric such as ‘woke’ and “defund the police’ and play up the need for candor about societal realities, including police accountability.

* The infrastructure bill, however imperfect, finally passed and America is much better off. And let’s not forget that Trump never managed to secure an infrastructure deal—multiple pledges notwithstanding.

* According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 530,000 jobs were created in October. As for unemployment, the rate has dropped from 6.3 percent in January to 4.5 percent. On the other economic hand, inflation rose 6.2 percent in October—compared to a year earlier.

* Re: wealth taxes. The U.S. has 724 billionaires and more than 15 million millionaire households—or nearly 12 percent of all households.

* “Nobody elected (Biden) to be FDR. They elected him to be normal and stop the chaos.”–Moderate Democratic Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger of Virginia. True, but infrastructure needs and social safety nets that require overhauling and updating are no less necessary.

* “As anyone who has been here for more than a few years knows, the gears of the Senate have ossified.”–Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

* “My advice to Democrats: Don’t bring a briefing book to a culture war.”–Eugene Robinson, WaPo. Indeed, not unlike bringing a knife to a gun fight.

* This Saturday is President Joe Biden’s birthday. He’s arguably had happier ones. When you turn 79 and Glasgow summit news coverage included presidential nodding off and gas passing, it will occasion something less than traditional greetings and 79-candle shout-outs.

* Global death toll: More than 5 million.

* Africa: World’s least vaccinated area: Approximately 5 percent fully vaccinated.

* 85 percent of those in Singapore eligible for COVID vaccine have been fully vaccinated. The government recently announced that it will no longer cover the medical costs of those “unvaccinated by choice.”

* Russia has reported more than 250,000 COVID deaths, the most in Europe.

* USA death toll: At least 745,000.

* According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the unvaccinated—across all age groups—were 40 times more likely to die than fully vaccinated people.

* A federal judge ruled that a ban imposed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on mask mandates in schools violated the Americans With Disabilities Act.

* Tens of thousands of federal workers have requested vaccination exemptions on religious grounds. What would Jesus say?

* Here’s one sure way to get the attention of University of Florida officials who had been showing more fealty to state politics than to a university’s societal and constitutional charges. Faculty union leaders calling on donors to withhold contributions until UF takes steps to assert its independence from state politicians and commitment to academic freedom.

* As a result of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, at least $13 billion is coming to Florida for roads and bridge repairs plus funding for increased broadband coverage and airport upgrades. It was relatively bipartisan with Mitch McConnell and 18 Senate GOPsters voting yes. But Florida senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott voted no.

* “History made. Jobs created. Lives and communities will change. This is a WIN!”–Florida state Sen. Shevrin Jones, on passage of the infrastructure bill.

* “The bottom line is we are dealing with a much more ruthless and sophisticated operator than Rick Scott was.”–Kartik Krishnaiyer, Democratic consultant, on the politicized challenges presented by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

* The “Friends of Ron DeSantis” political committee is promoting beer koozies and other merchandise featuring the vintage DeSantis message: “How the hell am I going to be able to drink a beer with a mask on?”

* A new “freedom”-framed Florida law that eases restrictions and encourages people to run businesses from home is encountering predictable pushback. Not all home-based businesses are a good neighborhood fit. Exhibit A: The owner of Popping Smoke Ammunition filed paperwork to start up–seriously–his ammo-supply company from his 2-bedroom home in Lauderdale Lakes.

* A reminder. “Florida’s election in 2020 was accurate, transparent, and conducted in compliance with Florida law.”–Secretary of State Laurel Lee.

* StonerSpeak: “If Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis does not order an audit of the 2020 election to expose the fact that that there are over 1 million phantom voters on the Florida voter rolls in the Sunshine State, I may be forced to seek the Libertarian Party nomination for governor of Florida in 2022.”–Trump acolyte Roger Stone.

* Florida is home to 23 of the 25 most at-risk American cities from sea-level rise resulting from climate change.

* Seven of the 50 worst commutes in the U.S. are in Florida.

* Florida is the country’s most dangerous place for pedestrians.

* We now have confirmed plans for the 37-story Pendry Tampa (Hoteland Resorts) on the Riverwalk–not Trump Tower Tampa. How’s that for an image-eroding, dodged bullet?

* Thanks to a partnership between Visit Florida and The Michelin Guide, Tampa will be referenced in the Michelin Stars 2022 Guide. But don’t look for Cuban Sandwich kudos.

* “We feel it is Tampa’s time. Right now, to get some funding for our transportation solutions.”–Mayor Jane Castor, on Florida’s—and Tampa’s—expected share of the trillion-dollar federal infrastructure bill.

* “We have a responsibility to consider whether releasing horse race numbers in close proximity to an election is making a positive or negative contribution to the political discourse.”–Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. Bottom line: Polling has never been more challenging—from push-polling and problematic sampling to cell phone scenarios and online misinformation. This is not the Gallup of yesteryear—with respected, professional pollsters and cooperative callees, who appreciated their participatory role.

* According to research from the University of North Carolina, about ¼ of the nation’s newspapers have closed and half of local journalism jobs lost in the last 15 years.

* “Let’s go Brandon.” That’s the sanitized version of “F—k Joe Biden” now making the rounds in the usual Augean stable circles. It’s a MAGA version of “Sieg Heil.” It’s also a reminder of an old word-play joke that interchanges “typically nasty weather” with “tickle your ass with a feather.” At least that one is (still) funny–and not another example of how subterranean low the bar is on partisan political taunts. Speaking of “typically nasty weather,” Gov. Ron DeSantis referred to the “Brandon administration” at one of his campaign-style events.

* This just in: Avocado glut leaves Australian farmers crushed as prices hit guac bottom.

* Pick sick: Thanks, as it were, to unvaccinated, Joe Rogan fan Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers for reminding us that elite, marquee athletes can also be arrogant, disingenuous and stupid. Hall of Fame quarterbacking doesn’t make one a role model outside the NFL’s parallel universe. There is no requirement that they use their high-profile platform responsibly. Ultimately, of course, there’s no immunity from reality. And, seemingly, none from fools. Rodgers isn’t Bart Starr.

* The world’s top-ranked female golfer, 23-year-old Nelly Kora, is a Bradenton native.

* Yo, Gators: The University of Florida has been making the kind of headlines no prominent university welcomes. The academic freedom issue has been beyond concerning and embarrassing, and the Gator football fortunes that can be welcome distractions only added to the humiliation after one-sided losses to Georgia and South Carolina and giving up 52 points to Samford. Samford!

* The Bucs disappointing loss to Washington was a reminder of NFL parity. Where else in football can you win a championship and have, say, five losses as the Bucs did last season?

* Contentious rivals. “We fiercely dislike Mexico’s soccer team.”–USA coach Gregg Berhalter after the U.S. defeated Mexico, 2-0, in a World Cup Qualifying match.

* “The insurrection took place on Nov. 3, election day. January 6^th was the protest.”–Insurrectionist former President Donald Trump, still living his lies.

* “When (Trump) ran for re-election, he lost to Joe Biden.”–Former Republican governor of New Jersey Chris Christie, who still hopes, somehow, to be a presidential player in 2024.

* “The president’s refusal to require compliance with the law laid the foundation for the violations.”–Excerpt from a report from the office of Special Counsel Henry Kerner that more than a dozen Trump officials violated the Hatch Act by mixing governing with campaigning before the 2020 elections.

* “100 percent”: The chance that Trump will run again in 2024, according to former Trump chief of staff Reince Priebus.

* “Political leaders who sit silently in the face of these false and dangerous (Trump) claims are aiding a former president who is at war with the rule of law and the Constitution.”–Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.

* Badge of dishonor. If Steve Bannon winds up serving time—from 30 days to one year—for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol siege, it will, he knows, only improve his brand in Trump world.

* “One hundred percent of my focus is standing up to this administration.”–Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reminding America, yet again, of his party-first priorities. Barack Obama would, alas, understand.

* According to Forbes magazine rankings, Trump is no longer one of the 400 richest people in America. While no one disputes that he’s wealthy, Trump’s net worth has always been considerably less than he claimed publicly.