* “History will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and world around him. … We offer condolences to Fidel Castro’s family, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Cuban people. In the days ahead, they will recall the past and also look to the future. As they do, the Cuban people must know that they have a friend and partner in the United States of America.”–President Barack Obama.
* “The world marks the passage of a brutal dictator who oppressed his own people for nearly six decades. … Though the tragedies, deaths and pain caused by Fidel Castro cannot be erased, our administration will do all it can to ensure the Cuban people can finally begin their journey toward prosperity and liberty.”–President-elect Donald Trump.
* “Slamming the door shut at this point in time would be disastrous. Instead, Fidel Castro’s death should encourage all of us to meet the challenge of better diplomatic relations, economic opportunities for Cubans and Americans, expanded travel, and support for the dignity of the Cuban people.”–Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa.
* “It’s important to reaffirm that, more than ever, we need an America that’s committed to world affairs.”–Francois Delattre, French ambassador to the United Nations.
* “The basic argument that China and Russia make is not that their system is better, but that we are the same–just as corrupt, sordid and undemocratic.”–Tom Malinowski, assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor.
* “The long-term question is whether America pulls back from Asia and makes it easier for China to force countries in the region to make a choice between China and the United States.”–Richard Bush, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, on the implications of the reversal of U.S. membership in the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership.
* “Mr. Obama was a great policy maker, but not a great party builder. In the face of Republican intransigence, he still managed to get things done. But the strategies that made him successful–passing legislation by the narrowest partisan majority, refraining from boasting about what his reforms accomplished, and in the end, falling back on executive orders–are exactly what make his legacy so vulnerable.”–Julian Zelizer, Princeton University historian.
* “Don’t be surprised if, like FDR (with radio), Trump marshals his Twitter followers to lobby and troll members of Congress who oppose him.”–Matt Lewis, Daily Caller.
* “In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally.”–President-elect Donald Trump.
* “Right-wing nutty.”–Former Secretary of State Colin Powell’s assessment of Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Trump’s choice for national security adviser.
* “In the long run, people like Bannon and Trump will be open to the clarity of our ideas.”–Jared Taylor, founder of the white nationalist publication American Renaissance.
* “We can work together to quickly pass a robust infrastructure jobs bill.”–Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi.
* “On basic issues of humanity, we don’t give an inch.”–Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
* “Being an evangelical used to mean practicing a certain form of faith. But ‘evangelical’ has gone from being an adjective to a noun, a simplistic tribal identity that commands Republican affiliation.”–David Brooks, New York Times.
* “If you only focus on the toxic crap, you’re not being fair to the Trump voters. But if you deny all the toxic crap, you’re not being fair to the rest of Americans.”–CNN contributor Van Jones.
* “Facebook is no longer just a social network. It’s an advertising medium that’s now dangerously easy to weaponize.”–McKenzie Funk, founding member of the journalism cooperative Deca.
* “The Sunshine State’s college attainment rate rose and the growth forecast rates are among the nation’s best. Projected job and population growth are both expected to be second best in the country over the next five years with income growth fourth fastest.”–Excerpt from Forbes’ annual “Best States for Business” list. Florida was ranked 12th overall.
* “Florida is still viewed as a dream vacation, especially internationally. The whole state is doing well, and we continue to outpace the rest of the country.”–Patrick Harrison, chief marketing officer for Visit Tampa Bay, on data showing tourists visiting Florida in record numbers this year.
* “There are a lot of American businesses that are starting to benefit from the opening (to Cuba) that has occurred to date, and the president-elect is a businessman. We are hopeful that the president-elect will allow the relationship-building to continue.”–St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman.