* “A positive, optimistic, hopeful vision of public life isn’t a naive dream–it can be a powerful force for change.”–Newly elected Liberal Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
* “What is America’s cause today? What is our mission in the world? Where is the coherence, the consistency, of U.S. policy in the Middle East that should cause us to draw red lines, and fight if they are crossed?”–Pat Buchanan, Creators Syndicate.
* “Learning is about so much more than just filling in the right bubble. So we’re going to work with states, school districts, teachers, and parents to make sure that we’re not obsessing about testing.”–President Barack Obama.
* “Imagine what it would be like if we weren’t present is a strong reason to participate, but at the same time I hate to give them any patina of respectability.”–Rep. Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif., on being a member of the House Select Committee on Benghazi.
* “I have disavowed all Super PACs, requested the return of all donations made to said PACs, and I am calling on all presidential candidates to do the same. The character of our country is only as strong as our leaders.”–Donald Trump.
* “This means lean and mean, and means I have an ability to adapt. The circumstances when we started the election were different.”–Jeb Bush’s explanation of his campaign’s announcement that there would be a substantial downsizing of his political operation and changes in strategy.
* “I’m getting old–at just the right time.”–Former President George H.W. Bush.
* “Unfortunately, I believe we’re out of time, the time necessary to mount a winning campaign for the nomination. But while I will not be a candidate, I will not be silent.”–Vice President Joe Biden.
* “We’ll think about it.”–Jim Webb’s answer to a question on whether he still considers himself a Democrat.
* “The president is not going to get involved in this primary. … While he has respect for both Charlie Crist and Eric Lynn, he is going to leave the choice between the two up to Florida voters.”–White House statement regarding Pinellas County’s open congressional seat.
* “There’s no one path that’s going to lock you into being a CEO. Technology is a detriment in some ways because of how it’s changed the way we communicate. Those skills are so important.”–Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSN.
* “My No. 1 responsibility as a leader is to make myself replaceable. It’s important to mentor those under me. Leaders who don’t aren’t being transparent.”–Liz Smith, CEO of Bloomin’ Brands.
* “The fact that the digital side of the business has leveled off has worked to our advantage. It’s resulted in a far healthier independent bookstore market today than we have had in a long time.”–Oren Teicher, chief executive of the American Booksellers Association.
* “What I worry about gun ownership is this: that amateurs like me, wanting to keep themselves safe, will make our country a much more dangerous place.”–Gina Barreca, feminist scholar and English professor at the University of Connecticut.
* “There is a consensus in the scientific community that global warming is real. There’s no question about it, really, and yet when you listen to the news or read the newspaper, you often see people say things like ‘I don’t believe in global warming’ and things like that. And it’s not a matter of belief. These are hard, solid facts.”–Craig Joseph, professor of astronomy and planetarium director at St. Petersburg College.
* “That money is sacred. That money is in a lock box. … That’s our way of telling the company , ‘Your money is guaranteed. It’s assured, once you perform.”–Enterprise Florida CEO Bill Johnson, on the more than $300 million set aside for incentive programs, including $141 million in escrow accounts promised to future jobs that do not exist.
* “Public service is in my heart.”–Charlie Crist, at his congressional (District 13) campaign kickoff.
* “I care too much about this district, the institution of Congress, and who represents us to lay down and let this huckster walk into office.”–Incumbent Republican Rep. David Jolly after the Crist campaign kickoff.
* “Education malpractice.”–How U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan characterized the rapid decline of five predominantly black neighborhood schools in St. Petersburg.
* “The days of Hillsborough and Pinellas fighting about our respective areas and touting ourselves at the expense of others are done.”–Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
* “Two of the fastest-growing segments of our tourism demographics are international visitors and millennials. They consider it a failure if a destination doesn’t offer robust transit options.”–David Downing, executive director of Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, speaking in behalf of a recently proposed ferry service between Tampa and St. Petersburg.
* “People ask why we need an event center. The answer is because we need one for the 250 events we have every year, and we currently don’t have a facility to seat 150 people.”–Thom Stork, president and CEO of the Florida Aquarium, at the ground-breaking for the 2,500-square-foot event center.
* “I’ve been clear that I want to bring St. Pete along to a point where we act like, and are run like, the fourth largest city in Florida.”–St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman.
* “The biggest challenge was filling all the spaces. But the space has evolved a lot in a year. … You have to feel your way through it in this first year, which I think all the retailers did very well.”–Bill Edwards, who redeveloped St. Petersburg’s BayWalk shopping center into Sundial.