Opinions to go Online

* The rule of law must trump the rule of politics.

* “I think (Trump’s) a coward, and I think he’s a puppet of Putin.” That was Chris Christie—now, not then.

* Mike Pence has checked a presidential wannabe box by visiting Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine. As for former President Donald Trump, he’s more likely to visit Vlad Putin.

* Trump, of course, is entitled to a jury of his peers. But it still sounds kind of creepy.

* One question that could have been asked of Rudy Giuliani by Justice Department investigators: “You sold your soul to support Donald Trump, would you like to buy it back?”

* “To Russian tyranny, I say the world needs more, not less, American exceptionalism.”–Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

* “We should not allow any disagreement to lead to misunderstandings that needlessly worsen our bilateral economic and financial relationships.”–Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, in her meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

* “Truly a tragedy for us all.”–How SCOTUS Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson referenced the Court’s ruling striking down affirmative action in college admissions.

* “Affirmative action is an effort to include every aspect of society in the decision-making.”–Andrew Young, the late civil rights activist and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

* “Kevin McCarthy has no control over his conference. The race to the extreme is now running the House of Representatives.”–Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff.

* “The great paradox of American politics today: You can get what you want if you win more elections, but to win more elections you need to ask for less.”–Jonah Goldberg, The Dispatch.

* “When men are elected to Congress, they’re given the presumption of competence. Women have the burden of proof.”–Geraldine Ferraro.

* “Women, families and doctors are the only people who should decide when to have children, not politicians.”–Florida Congresswoman Kathy Castor.

* “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”–Fannie Lou Hamer.

* “What we’ve done in our politics is create a situation where we’re electing idiots. I think electing serious people can’t be partisan.”–Former Wyoming Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney.

* “EVs (electric vehicles) are no longer a niche.”–Coner Sen, Bloomberg.

* “Literature is a way for us to experience the world in a safe place.”–Author Zoraida Cordova.

* “La pluma es la lengua del alma.” (“The pen is the tongue of the soul.”)–Cuban proverb.

* “Sincerity is the secret of success. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.”–George Burns.

* “If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving is definitely not for you.”–Comedian Steven Wright.

* “Expanding work-base college alternatives would go a long way toward filling skills shortages, boosting economic opportunity and reducing household debts.”-–Bloomberg Opinion.

* “We are experiencing a legal revolution in Florida in which constitutional values that have been taken for granted are being trashed.”–Howard Simon, former executive director of the ACLU of Florida.

* “I don’t know what’s more embarrassing—(DeSantis’) recent scorecard in the courts or his cratering poll numbers.”—Florida Democratic Chair Nikki Fried.

* “When politicians need to speak of their faith to court votes, they do it.”–Former Florida Republican Congressman David Jolly.

* What a campaign needs to be successful—money, messaging and a new brand, because the Democratic brand in Florida, for better or worse, is a damaged brand.”–Miami-based, Democratic pollster Fernand Amandi.

* “We don’t want to negotiate in the media.”–St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch on the ongoing redevelopment plans for Tropicana Field.

Gov. Ron DiSaster’s ultimate challenge: How, as an official presidential candidate, do you hit back at your main rival, Donald Trump, without alienating his MAGA-movement minions? This constituency, especially, wants white-knuckle performance art, the sort that lashes out in their perceived populist-punk interest. But they don’t want their cult leader attacked by a GOPster. That’s what they expect from “libtards” and other socialist lefties. Talk about threading a needle.

So far, that means continuing his anti-”woke” agenda, including the subsidizing of immigrant flights to California and Massachusetts, and noting that the multi-count, indicted Trump has been “running to the left” or that the next president will need more than four years (that a lame duck Trump would be limited to) to really accomplish stuff.

So, Gov. DiSaster is mostly throwing jabs–not sucker punches–because he doesn’t want to insult and unfriend that always ready-to-smolder Trump base. So, no, he won’t be leading a “Lock him up” crusade. But he does want to “Make America Florida” and is playing the family card against Trump. Think Ozzie Nelson vs. Archie Bunker—even if it’s more like Murdoch vs. Manson. But, yeah, look for DiSaster to promise to pardon insurrectionists.

* “No one got everything they wanted, but the American people got what they needed. We averted an economic crisis and an economic collapse.” That was President Joe Biden on the last-minute budget agreement, the one that no pol or party wants to be targeted for catastrophic blame. It’s also beyond disgraceful that Washington still doesn’t get how dangerous it is to play the brinkmanship default game.

* “We have only one truly sacred obligation: to prepare those we send into harm’s way and care for them and their families when they come home and when they don’t.”–President Joe Biden at Arlington National Cemetery.

* No, it’s not a game changer, but it makes Florida a little less red-meat Republican. Jacksonville elected its first female mayor, Democrat Donna Deegan. No less notable: This now means that three of Florida’s largest jurisdictions—Tampa, Jacksonville and Miami-Dade County—are now run by Democratic women.

* Signs of the times: “No Parking. Trespassers Will Be Violated.” “This is a private sign. Please Do Not Read.”

* Apparently RSVPing to a wedding invitation “Maybe next time” isn’t the correct response.

* Alas, there is no Deus Ex Machina clause in the Constitution.

* Some things don’t change: It’s still better to do good than to do well.

* Would-be DeSantis signage:

^“Better Red than well-read.”

^“Let Kids be Kids, especially if they want to be Props.”

* Last year was a record year for visitors. This year it’s less likely. Hardly helping was the NAACP issuance of a travel advisory for Florida warning that the state is “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.” Then the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ+ organization, issued an updated travel advisory after what it labeled “the most anti-LGBTQ legislative session in history.”

* GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley has offered to relocate 70,000 Disney jobs to South Carolina, where the locals are “not woke, but we’re not sanctimonious about it either.” Zing.

* Orlando pushback: Conventions canceled and no more plans for a Disney Corporate Campus. Remember the business-friendly GOP?

* Speaking of travel advisories, the unspeakable Rick Scott has predictably weighed in and issued his own “TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR SOCIALISTS VISITING FLORIDA.” No, you can’t make this up.

* Flori-duh: AAA’s hurricane season survey found that 1 in 4 Floridians said they would ignore hurricane evacuation orders.

* “A veneer to impose an ideological agenda.” That’s how Gov. Ron DisIngenuous has referred to the concepts of diversity, equity and inclusion. What’s actually being imposed, misstates DeSantis, is “discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination.”

* “What we know is that faculty are leaving Florida in droves.”–Amy Reid, professor of French and director of New College’s gender studies program.

* “Academic freedom, tenure and shared governance in Florida’s public colleges and universities currently face a politically and ideologically driven assault unparalleled in U.S. history.”–The American Association of University Professors.

* “You guys need to disregard lies of untruthful media and politicians.” That’s what commencement speaker Scott Atlas, who wasn’t referring to Fox, Alex Jones or Gov. DiSaster, told New College grads.

* Florida remains one of only 10 states that have not taken advantage of expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

* It’s official. The (GOP venerating) Villages was the fastest-growing U.S. metro area between 2021 and 2022, increasing–as this governor well knows–by 7.5 percent.

* DeSantis signed a bill allowing group prayer before sports events. What would Jesus say? Hopefully not: “For Christ’s sake, let’s go and kick some ass.”

* Reefer gladness: According to the Division of Elections, the recreational marijuana initiative has surpassed the number of petition signatures necessary to place it on the 2024 ballot. No, AG Ashley Moody wasn’t pleased.

* The hype over an on-campus, $340-million USF football stadium continues to pick up momentum. Revenue sports–and their myriad ripple effects–have never been more embedded into the collegiate experience. It’s enough to periodically raise the obvious question as to what is an acceptable role for high-profile football and coaches paid more than cancer researchers and university presidents in an institution of higher learning. Here are two responses:

^“Sometimes it’s hard to rally around the math department”: Alabama’s Bear Bryant.

^Football is your “front porch.” Once you get loyal fans there, they can be briefed about what else is going on and where help is needed. That was USF’s Skip Holtz.

* USF has now joined the prestigious Association of American Universities, the top-tier, research institution group. The state’s other public-university AAU member is the University of Florida. How welcoming: higher ed in the news that doesn’t involve gubernatorial meddling.

* Tampa Pride has canceled its annual Pride on the River event in September. Yes, it had everything to do with the DeSantis-imposed political climate in Florida. And, no, having to cancel Pride on the River is nothing to be proud of.

* “There’s all sorts of ways that we can use digital technology to engage, especially newer, younger audiences.”–Greg Holland, the new president and CEO of the Straz Center.

* According to national rental-index stats compiled at FAU, Tampa is the 18^th most expensive metro area.

* The new normal: Truth is tribal. “News” that affirms—not informs.

* According to the Surgeon General’s Report, 95 percent of teens use social media—a third of them “almost constantly.”

* When the Oakland A’s relocate to Las Vegas, it will make the latter the smallest TV market in Major League Baseball. It will also become the smallest market to be home to three major pro franchises (along with hockey and football).

* “Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise.”–CNN founder Ted Turner.

* The National Labor Relations Board filed a formal complaint against the NCAA and others alleging a misclassification of college athletes as “student athletes” instead of employees. Anyone not see this coming? Too often “student athlete” is an oxymoronic reference to basketball and football mercenaries–many of whom have played the transfer portal game–prepping for a shot at the pros instead of studying serious subjects in classrooms with real students.

Back in the day, room & board, a high-profile campus presence, a diploma and a forum for post-graduate networking were sufficient.

* Ever notice how often the Rays need an interpreter—but the Lightning don’t? Speaking directly to fans—even in the context of a formulaic press conference—helps a franchise and individual players relate even better to this market.

* Congrats to the University of Florida for winning its 5^th NCAA Men’s Golf National Championship. Of course for hard-core Gator fans, it’s not consoling enough after a 6-7 football season.

* “Sportswashing”: The term used to describe Saudi Arabia’s attempt to distract from the country’s human rights abuses.

* Romaine Beckford, a USF high-jumper, became the Bulls’ first national track-and-field national champion in 30 years.

* “I AM AN INNOCENT MAN.”–The multi-count, federally indicted Donald Trump, who hasn’t been “innocent” since helping father Fred red-line New York real estate.

* Trump, of course, is entitled to a jury of his peers. Sounds scary.

* Document bottom line: Not so much what is taken, but what is kept.

* “Trump without the charm.”–How Nikki Haley’s campaign spokesman referred to Ron DeSantis. Too bad the reference couldn’t have been: Trump without the authoritative arrogance.

* Merriam-Webster.com reported that 2017’s most looked up word was “emolument.”

* “Personality transplant”:What DeSantis needs, according–ironically–to Trump.

* “DeSedative”: DeSantis nickname, courtesy of his one-time ally, Matt Gaetz.

* “For four years, we had a close working relationship. It did not end well.”–Mike Pence.

* Iowa will be critically important—from credibility to fund-raising—for GOP presidential-candidate Ron DeSantis. Recall that Trump, for all his early, media-enamored-and-enabled performances at cult rallies, didn’t carry Iowa in 2016. Ted Cruz did.

* “(Trump’s) a guy whose thoughts are often just six fireflies beeping randomly in a jar.”–David Brooks, New York Times.

* “I don’t think Trump can win a general election.”–Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La.

* “Our party is on a collision course toward electoral irrelevance without significant corrective action.”–New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who had considered running for president.

* For the record, former President Trump once backed raising the retirement age to 70 and called for privatizing Social Security, which he labeled a “Ponzi scheme.” We’ll hear that again.