- “We are not seeking war with Iran. We need to get back on the diplomatic channel.”—Secretary of Defense Mark Esper at his Senate confirmation hearing.
- “Basically, we’re policemen right now. We’re not supposed to be policemen.”—President Donald Trump, in emphasizing that he wants an American exit from Afghanistan.
- “Trump is bringing the force of the American presidency to the rescue of white supremacy. And, self-identified Republicans absolutely love him for it.”—Charles Blow, New York Times.
- “(Trump) is more George Wallace than George Washington.”—Joe Biden.
- “(Trump) has never made a serious effort to expand his base. Instead, he seeks to inflame it. … The Republican Party goes along meekly as Trump struts around like a dime-store Mussolini.”—Eugene Robinson, Washington Post.
- “‘The Squad’ is a very racist group of troublemakers who are young, inexperienced and not very smart.”—Donald Trump.
- “I love America more than any other country in the world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.”—James Baldwin.
- “Years ago, we put our faith in the federal government to act. We won’t make that mistake again.”—New York Mayor—and presidential candidate–Bill de Blasio, in reacting to the fact that none of the New York police officers involved in the Eric Garner choke-hold death in 2014 will face federal criminal charges.
- “By raising the federal minimum wage, 23 million women across the nation, including 71,1000 local mothers and daughters in Tampa and Hillsborough, will see their wages increase. When women get a raise, we all benefit.”—U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, on landmark legislation to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025.
- “If lightning can vaporize rock, imagine what it can do to a person.”—Matthew Pasek, USF associate professor of geoscience.
- “So, the citizens of this county had the wherewithal and the cojones to put (All For Transportation) on the ballot and it passed by 57 percent of the vote. That’s what happened. We should be adhering to what they said.”—Les Miller, chairman of the Hillsborough County Commission, after it reinstated (4-3) spending restrictions on the new, 1-cent transportation sales tax. An appeal to the Florida Supreme Court still awaits.
- “At the appropriate time, I will give it thought.”—Pinellas County School Superintendent Mike Grego on whether he will apply for the superintendent’s position in Hillsborough County after Jeff Eakins retires.
- “It’s really exciting to see everything happening in Tampa. It has great energy to it now, and we think it’s a great time to be here.”—Anthony Soloman, owner of the Naples-based Ronto Group, which has unveiled plans for the 22-story Alltura Bayshore condo tower at Bayshore and Bay to Bay boulevards.
“We know that we can legislate the laws, but we can’t legislate attitudes. It’s the attitudes and viewpoints that we have to change as individuals and communities.”—Mayor JaneCastor, speaking at the LGBTA Democratic Caucus Summer Conference in Tampa.