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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:

Matt Vespa, Senior Editor at Townhall.com: Why we need to redraw every congressional map possible, explained perfectly by this CNN segment.

While it was not their intention, CNN made the case yesterday, noting that Democrats could lose at least 19 seats next year. It’s why President Trump is encouraging Republican governors to redraw the maps.

If the Democrats retake the lower chamber, you know they’ll do anything to hobble this administration, including completing their impeachment push. They’d make it a trilogy. It’ll be hearing after hearing of nonsense, fraught with screeching lunatics. That cannot happen under any circumstances. Redraw the maps, own the Dems, keep the agenda pushing forward by any means.

Amy Curtis, Purveyor of epic Twitter rants and awesome Townhall content: The Schumer shutdown continues: Senate dems once again refuse to open the government.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune posted on X, reminding voters exactly who is shutting down the government: 'Republicans are not asking Democrats to support any new Republican policies. We’re not asking them to swallow any partisan policy riders. We’re simply asking them to turn the lights back on.

'We have put forward a clean, nonpartisan CR. That’s the bill Democrats are rejecting.'

Democrats can open the government immediately by voting for the clean Continuing Resolution, H.R. 5317, that the Republicancontrolled House passed and the Republicans in the Senate (along with three Democrats) voted for.

Douglas MacKinnon, former White House and Pentagon official and author: Hegseth is saving our military. Our Police and Fire Departments should be next.

But if a career field includes the protecting and saving of human life, common sense and self-survival dictate that those who enter those fields should be physically qualified to carry out their duties. Sometimes such duties will include taking down an enemy combatant in hand-to-hand combat; sometimes it will involve arresting a very large and aggressive suspect in the street; sometimes it will involve lifting very heavy hoses or carrying a victim out of a burning building. …

We desperately need a “Secretary of the Police Departments” and a “Secretary of the Fire Departments” to replicate what Secretary of War Hegseth is doing with our military. Standards do matter and will save lives.

K.T. McFarland, President Trump’s previous Deputy National Security Advisor, board member of the American Conservative Union and author: How Trump's relentless Middle East gamble finally flipped the script.

As President Trump says, this is 'a historic dawn' for the entire Middle East, not just Gaza. The people of the region will now trade terrorism for technology, commerce for chaos. They will join the Abraham Accords. The Middle East is poised for a golden age for all the Abrahamic peoples. A region at peace could become the gateway for trade and transit from Europe to Asia.

Only Donald J. Trump could have done this. His dogged determination, endless energy and willingness to turn conventional wisdom on its head made the difference.

Blessed are the peacemakers.