* “We have a common outlook on the world.”–President Barack Obama, in honoring Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a state dinner.
* “The organized group of people, many of them thugs, who shut down our First Amendment rights in Chicago, have totally energized America.”–Donald Trump.
* “Fueled by acrimonious rhetoric, (Trump) has sparked an angry movement that has now created an angry backlash. Campaign 2016 is on a downward and dangerous descent.”–Dan Balz, Washington Post.
* “I think we’ve had enough debates. I mean, how many times do you have to give the same answer to the same question?”–Donald Trump.
* “It’s delightful to see the encrusted political king-making class utter a primal scream as Trump smashes their golden apple art. He’s a real threat to the cozy, greedy, oleaginous cartel, their own Creature from the Black Lagoon.”–Maureen Dowd, New York Times.
* “I believe (Trump) will be a disaster for the party electorally and morally.”–Florida Republican strategist Mac Stipanovich.
* “The founders had little patience for ‘pure democracy,’ which they found particularly vulnerable to demagogues. … Trump is the guy your Founding Fathers warned you about.”–Michael Gerson, Washington Post.
* “We buried the hatchet. That was political stuff. I have found in talking with him, that there’s a lot more alignment, philosophically and spiritually, than I ever thought that there was.”–Dr. Ben Carson, in endorsing Donald Trump.
* “If Trump wins, Hillary wins.”–South Caroline Gov. Nikki Haley, who endorses Marco Rubio.
* “We need someone who is unafraid to lead and restore America to its greatness.”–Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, in her endorsement of Donald Trump.
* “Ronald Reagan was a real conservative. Is there anything about Donald Trump that reminds you of Ronald Reagan?”–Marco Rubio.
* “(Rubio) is extremely skilled and ambitious. He is also extremely not loyal.”–Pinellas County Republican leader Tony DiMatteo.
* “The hour is late and the odds may be long. But there is still hope. It’s a moment for (convention-deciding) audacity, not settling for Cruz simply because he’s the Titanic you know.”–David Brooks, New York Times.
* “The Republican coalition has been slowly breaking apart for years. It’s like a solar system of odd planets, with free traders and Main Street, evangelicals, corporatists, Wall Street and neo-conservative intellectuals who’ve prodded the nation into wars.”–John Kass, Chicago Tribune.
* “Bernie Sanders is the most successful Jewish candidate for the presidency ever. It’s a rare sign of the health of our republic that no one seems to much care or even notice.”–Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post.
* “It makes absolutely no sense, especially when we know that we’re going to have to do high-speed rail if we’re going to have a competitive economy.”–Hillary Clinton, in referring to Gov. Rick Scott’s 2011 decision to turn down $2.4 billion in federal funds to develop high-speed rail between Tampa and Orlando.
* “The state of Florida has an extraordinary natural resource: it’s called sunlight. And this state should be a leader in the world in producing solar energy.”–Bernie Sanders.
* “I never send text messages to them (Gov. Rick Scott’s office), and they wouldn’t accept text messages if I did send them. They specifically said, ‘Call me.’ That’s how they want to do business, so I call them.”–Republican state Sen. Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg.
* “I’m supporting Narain.”–Retiring Democratic state Sen. Arthenia Joyner, in her endorsement of state Rep. Ed Narain–over former Rep. Betty Reed and Rep. Darryl Rouson–for the District 19 seat in the Florida Senate.
* “I think it isn’t wise to say no to things in life. All I can say is that right now, I have no plans to run.”–Former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, now president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, on running again for public office.
* “Kids are our best natural resources.”–Jeff Vinik, whose Vinik Family Foundation recently gave $2.5 million to renovate and expand a Boys and Girls Club recreation center in the Palm River area.
* “Our enemies can never destroy us. We can only destroy ourselves when we allow fear and hate to turn us against each other and undermine the values and principles we hold so dear which make our nation so great.”–Hassan Shibly, civil rights attorney and chief executive director of the Florida Council on American Islamic Relations
* “The best cultural tribute to our authentic places, music and art? Preserve them! But recognizing the destruction of the neighborhood and eulogizing its loss with art is much better than nothing.”–Former Tampa City Council member Linda Saul-Sena on the mood-altering artistic touches at Perry Harvey Park.
* “In my opinion, we’re backdooring legalization of something.”–City Councilman Charlie Miranda, on council’s preliminary approval of an ordinance that could allow those caught with small amounts of marijuana to avoid jail and pay a fine instead.
* “She’s not complacent, she’s not coasting, she’s not in the twilight of her path here, and we see only great things ahead of us.”–USF trustee Byron Shinn, on the approval of a raise and performance-based incentives for Judy Genshaft, the longest-serving president in USF history.
* “Every year we seem to make a little more progress in making it less inconvenient for businesses and residents.”–St. Petersburg City Councilman Karl Nurse about preparations for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.