The unique perspective and provocative opinions of Joe O’Neill
Quoteworthy
“Make no mistake, democracy in the era of Trump and Putin is in retreat and has been targeted for extinction. With the right amount of public awareness, determination and dedication to the principles we hold dear and love, it can be stopped.”—Malcolm Nance, author of “The Plot to Destroy Democracy.”
“I give myself an A+. I don’t think any president has ever done what I’ve done in this short … we haven’t even been two years.”–Donald Trump.
“Sure, despite his denial, he was a “crook.” But compared with the incumbent, I’d take Richard Nixon any day.”–Philip Allen Lacovara, former counsel to the Watergate special prosecutor.
“We shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher–the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed.”—Former President Barack Obama, on the passing of Sen. John McCain.
“While I am attorney general, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations. … No nation has a more talented, more dedicated group of law enforcement investigators and prosecutors than the United States.”–Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
“You know the only reason I gave him the job because I felt loyalty. He was an original supporter.”—Donald Trump, on his rationale for appointing Jeff Sessions attorney general.
“He’s supposed to be a big hero from 9/11, and yet every one of his lines screams incompetent great uncle who gets drunk at Thanksgiving.”—Gail Collins, New YorkTimes, in satirizing Rudy Giuliani.
“We are fighting history.”–Bill Stepien, White House political director, in noting that the party of an incumbent president typically suffers electoral losses in the mid-term year–and why President Trump will be spending a lot of time campaigning for Republican candidates on the ballot in 2018.
“If (the murdered) Mollie Tibbetts is a household name by October, Democrats will be in deep trouble. If we can be blocked by Manafort-Cohen, etc., then the GOP could lose (the House) badly.”–Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
“The Congressional GOP has not simply enabled Trumpism’s worst and most dangerous instincts, but actually has encouraged them.”–Charles J. Sykes, Weekly Standard.
“Life is fraught with opportunities to keep your mouth shut.”–Winston Churchill.
“How long is it going to take for us to get guns off the street?”—Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams, in the aftermath of a gunman opening fire during a video game tournament.
“Considering that Canada is the No.1 customer for U.S. goods, and Florida is an important part of that, we can only imagine the impact if trade barriers go up in a world without NAFTA. It would hurt everyone.”–Laurent Morel-a-l’Huissier, consul with the Consulate General of Canada office in Miami.
“Can’t recall a primary election cycle this nasty.”—State Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa.
“This sort of announcement, I just want to savor it.”—TIA CEO Joe Lopano, in celebrating news that the airport is getting non-stop flights to Amsterdam–TIA’s fifth destination in Europe.
“The potential for Brightline to connect Orlando and Tampa is a game changer for the I-4 Corridor. … We are all in on this.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn.