* “People are dying, and we run toward death.”–Mahmoud Fadlallah, a leader of Syrian Civil Defense first responders known as the White Helmets.
* “In the Cold War, we had an ideological screening test. The time is overdue to develop a new screening test for the threats we face today. … I call it extreme, extreme vetting.”–Donald Trump.
* “Union decline has left the working class politically and economically vulnerable, and it’s this vulnerability Mr. Trump has been able to exploit.”–Neil Gross, author and professor of sociology at Colby College.
* “It’s very hard to find someone to mimic the reckless temperament and the hateful instincts and divisive instincts of Donald Trump.”–Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook, on the challenge of finding anyone to play Trump for debate practice.
* “The country today doesn’t need the first female president. It needs the first president in a long time who can govern with a center-left, center-right coalition, and actually end the gridlock on fiscal policy in a smart way.”–Thomas Friedman, New York Times.
* “I’ve stood by everything I ever said in my campaign, and that said, we’re in a different place now.”–Sen. Marco Rubio, in answer to the Miami Herald editorial board question: “Do you still think (Donald Trump’s) a ‘con man’?”
* “It’s transparently hypocritical.”–Florida Republican strategist Mac Stipanovich’s assessment of Marco Rubio’s position of trying to balance party loyalty with antipathy toward Donald Trump.
* “Marco Rubio, not strong enough to stand up to Trump.”–Tag line from an online ad launched by U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, Rubio’s likely senatorial rival.
* “Given the convenience of e-commerce, the consumer needs a really good reason to go to a store and park their car.”–Edward Yruma, managing director at KeyBanc Capital Markets, after Macy’s announced that it would close 100 stores, saying they were more valuable as real estate.
* “I want to reach the goal I set when I was first elected nearly12 years ago to create a paperless office.”–Clerk of the Circuit Court Pat Frank.
* “I think we’ve got to explore light rail, and we have to explore using the CSX lines. That doesn’t mean it’s the only answer, but it does mean it’s something we need to strongly consider.”–Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik at the first “State of Transit ,” sponsored by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority.
* “I think it’s unnecessary, I think it’s redundant, and I think it goes against the spirit of the (city) charter that was passed and has worked successfully.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn, on city council scheduling a referendum ordering internal audits at City Hall.
* “The generation that would have supported community theater is disappearing.”–John Collins, director of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance.
* “This area is what the Hamptons are for New Yorkers.”–Alona Dishy, listing agent for Premier Sotheby’s International, in reference to Pass-a-Grille beach.