Author: opinionstogo

 

* “The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.”–Winston Churchill.

* “If you don’t say anything, you won’t be called on to repeat it.”–Calvin Coolidge.

* “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a president would come to this decision.”–President Joe Biden on the pardoning of his son Hunter.

* “I’m proud to become the first sitting president to visit the Amazon.”–President Joe Biden, who then signed a U.S. proclamation designating Nov. 17 as International Conservation Day.

* “Despite potential setbacks in Washington, there are multiple (climate change) avenues to make headway. The private sector role is crucial, but it’s not the only lever we have. State and local governments also hold substantial power in addressing climate issues.”–Mary Anna Mancuso, spokesperson for RepublicEn.org.

* “They (Russia) are invested in undermining institutions in the U.S., as well as the U.S.’s reputation internationally.”–Melanie Smith, director of research for the Strategic Dialogue’s U.S. division.

* “If a percentage of what the United States spends on war were dedicated to peace and development, that would address the underlying causes of migration.”–Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

* “I think NATO was fine for the Cold War. It made sense.”–Ron DeSantis.

* “Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation and disinformation when it comes to public health.”–Donald Trump, who then nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the anti-vaccine activist, to be HHS secretary.

* “A loss, however painful, is not the end of the world. Every election result is provisional.”–Mona Charen, The Bulwark.

* “The Wild West.” How Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler described the world of crypto.

* “I do not intend to join the 119^th Congress. I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress.”–Matt Gaetz.

* “I like Matt (Gaetz), and I think he would have changed the way DOJ is run.”–Sen. Rick Scott.

* “If RFK Jr. were a Democratic nominee, GOP senators would oppose him as a threat to public health. If they confirm him, they’d better hope they won’t need the cures that won’t be developed.”–The Wall Street Journal.

* “The real worry is that the Florida (education) model goes national.”–Trinity College political science professor Isaac Kamola.

* “It’s a disservice to young people, and it’s morally wrong to abandon the humanities. If we stand by a belief in classical education, students will come.”—New College trustee and author Mark Bauerlein.

* “Permitless carry has already cost lives in Florida. Open carry will make it worse.”–State Sen. Carlos Guilleremo Smith, D-Orlando.

* “The losses for the triple-whammy of Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton exposed our outdated infrastructure.”–U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor.

* “We couldn’t have asked for a more accommodating and gracious organization to help us in our time of need. The Yankees are certainly our on-field rivals, but we are partners off the field, and they extended a hand to us when we were really in dire straits.”–Rays President Matt Silverman, on the team using Tampa’s George M. Steinbrenner Field in 2025.

“I welcome anyone to work with me. I don’t care who you voted for in the last election or who you are going to vote for in the next election.” Obviously, that was not Gov. Ron DisAstrous. It was Vice President Kamala Harris. It’s what should be said by those in authority during times of emergency and stress, regardless of political affiliation or self-interest. It should be a “given.”

Would that this governor’s priorities transcended partisan politics, and he could at least respectfully acknowledge those in power with the wherewithal to help out Floridians, the constituents of any Florida governor. But that’s a reach too far for a governor grasping at post-gubernatorial, 2028 scenarios. A photo with President Joe Biden or VP Harris would not help his self-serving, career-first, partisan, political agenda..

Amid conspiracy and immigrant lies, assassination attempts, better economic numbers, impactful foreign policy scenarios, a one-sided presidential debate and poll snapshots, there is one particularly blunt bottom-line for 2024. Who but sycophantic cult followers, spineless, hypocritical GOPster pols, easily manipulated disinformation targets or KKK descendants could possibly vote for Donald Trump? Seriously. This is not Harris vs. Romney or Harris vs. Kasich or Harris vs. Jeb. This is Harris vs. a deplorable, felonious human being who will Make America Grating Again.

As for those “undecided voters”: What the hell would it take for them to take one for the country, common cause and common sense?

• “History is so clear in reminding us the U.S. cannot and should not isolate ourselves from the rest of the world. Isolation is not insulation.”—Vice President Kamala Harris.
• Swing state billboards: “Jill Stein Helped Trump Once. Don’t Let Her Do It Again.”
• Inflation (2.4%) has reached the lowest point in three years. Also, gas prices are dropping, the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates for the first time in four years, hiring has picked up strongly, the unemployment rate (4.1%) has dipped and wage growth was strong in September. A resilient economy should not be a Republican issue. And, BTW, violent crime is near a 50-year low.
• “Inflation has been quelled, and the economy’s fine—that’s a soft landing.”—Neil Dutta, head of economics at Renaissance Macro Research.
• Future Forward: The biggest super PAC in American politics, which is analytics- and evidence-driven, will spend more money ($700 million) on (Harris-supported) TV ads in the closing weeks of the 2024 race than the campaigns of Harris and Trump combined.
• “Black men and young black men have to think about what they have at stake in the election. Donald Trump tells you that you have nothing to lose. Well, you have health insurance you could lose, you have a job you could lose.”—James Carville.

• Thank you, Electoral College, otherwise the candidate with the most votes would always win.
• Thank you, International Olympic Committee, for being so inclusive and up to date. Now we can look forward to darts, shuffleboard and corn hole in future Games.
• Candidates for political office have issue-agendas, would-be constituencies, pragmatic fundraising needs and problematic opponents. That they are ego driven surprises no one. Wonder if they considered political cartoons before making the commitment. They range from blatantly unflattering to bluntly insulting. Whatever your features, nobody looks good in a partisan caricature.
• Remember when guys in suits and ties where not also wearing sneakers?
• Favorite pop-music lyric: “She’s so fine, there’s no tellin’ where the money went” from “Simply Irresistible” by Robert Palmer.

• No recovery partisanship. “In moments like these, we come together to take care of each other, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans.” That was President Joe Biden during a post-hurricane briefing at St. Pete Beach. Too bad this state’s governor doesn’t see it that way.
• Rule of urban thumb: When a scary hurricane is headed your way, construction cranes should not be part of your skyline.
• 43% of Florida’s annual fuel imports pass through Port Tampa Bay.

• DisAstrous update: This state’s health department has threatened TV stations with criminal prosecution if they keep running ads in support of the pro-abortion amendment. Prominent among those in disagreement: U.S. District Judge Mark Walker. He wasn’t nuanced. “To keep it simple for the State of Florida: It’s the First Amendment, stupid,” wrote Walker in granting a request for a temporary restraining order.
• “I appreciate that (President Biden) chose not to make this (Helene-Milton) political.” That was Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, who knows a thing or two about politization. Recall that APL nominated Trump for the Congressional Gold Medal.
• Florida is the third largest gasoline consumer in the U.S.
• “Hide from wind, run from water.” A rule-of-thumb, hurricane reminder for Floridians from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.

• So much for Elon Musk’s X being a “politically neutral” platform that doesn’t advance election disinformation.
• Bob Woodward’s latest book, “War,” includes a reference to Trump having spoken to Vladimir Putin seven times since leaving office.
• In the age of Trump, Doonesbury has never been more appreciated. But isn’t it time to move it to the editorial—and not comics section? It no longer belongs next to Zits, Rubes and The Family Circus.
• The Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame had another induction celebration—but still no HoF membership for Chubby Checker.

• It’s projected that by 2050, Africa’s population will be approximately 2.5 billion—or an estimated one of every four people on the planet.

• For the first time, the Rays will not be playing under catwalks, and this is not good news.
• The mid-October Associated Press College Football Rankings included both Army and Navy for the first time since 1960.
• Major League Baseball is the only North American professional men’s sports league that has yet to have a player compete while out as gay.