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A compilation of quotations on a variety of issues by national, state and regional writers, well-known personalities, just plain everyday people and from various publications collected by the editors of THE ADVANCE.

Quotes for our Times:

Leah Barkoukis, online features editor at Townhall.com: Bessent Had the Perfect Response to China Raising Tariffs on US Goods.

'It was a mistake for China to retaliate,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. 'When America is punched, [the president] punches back harder, and that's why there will be 104% tariffs going into effect on China tonight at midnight.'

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the escalation a 'loser' for China.

'I think it's unfortunate that the Chinese actually don't want to come and negotiate because they are the worst offenders in the international trading system,' he said. 'And I can tell you that this escalation is a loser for them.'

He seemed unfazed by China's response. 'They can raise their tariffs, but so what?' Byron York, chief political correspondent for The Washington Examiner: Tim Walz and the border that would still be a crisis.

[2024 Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz]: 'We need to make sure, if you're going to be in this country here legally, when you are, you're going to be uplifted, celebrated and part of this great American tapestry. And that is the bipartisan bill we had.' …

But what Walz's interview really brings to mind is the fact that if he and Harris had been elected, the border problem would still be with us. One of the remarkable things about the second Trump administration is how quickly Trump stopped the massive and destructive flow of illegal crossers over the border. The border crisis, once named in opinion polls as one of the nation's most pressing issues, virtually disappeared overnight.

Matt Vespa, Senior Editor at Townhall. com: Watch Senator Kennedy savage Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with one line.

“I’ve said about her before; I think she’s the reason there are directions on a shampoo bottle,” he said, as his colleagues chuckled.

“Our plan for dealing with her is ‘Operation Let Her Speak,’” he added.

Short, sweet, and lethal — that’s how it should be. That’s how you manufacture an effective soundbite to weaponize against the opposition. Make her a punchline, and everything else about her is a joke. And it fits because the modern Democratic Party is a clown car, with bad ideas, and illiberal tendencies that have veered into endorsement of political violence when these people don’t get their way.

Brooke L. Rollins, the 33rd secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture: American farmers have a voice in Washington again.

As President Trump works to rebalance our current trade deals and expand market access around the world, USDA has the backs of our farmers, ranchers, and producers as they enter the spring planting season.

American farmers made their voices heard, and their president is back. Under his leadership, they will always have a voice in Washington.