Talking Points: Did You See What They Said?

"I can't believe it. I literally was starting to think this day would never happen. I did not want to give up. I fought for that gold medal." -- Paralympian Oksana Masters, who won gold three weeks after an injury and one day after withdrawing from a race after falling. (Wednesday, TeamUSA.org)"It took less than four hours to demolish 20 years of our lives. That was as hard as going through the flood itself." -- Randa Langerud, a Wharton, Texas resident whose home was demolished because she couldn't afford to elevate her property. (Wednesday, Texas Tribune)"I am energy secretary from now until the foreseeable future. Happily." -- Energy Secretary Rick Perry on rumors he may become the next head of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Wednesday, CBSAustin.com)"In such a tiny community, there is a stronger bond between the students and the teachers ... that is really important in a school, and I just love that part of it. We back each other up; the community backs the teachers up." -- Abbie Williams, a Christoval ISD student discussing armed schoolteachers. (Monday, GoSanAngelo.com)"The Theranos story is an important lesson for Silicon Valley. Innovators who seek to revolutionize and disrupt an industry must tell investors the truth about what their technology can do today, not just what they hope it might do someday." -- Securities Exchange Commission San Francisco regional director Jina Choi (Wednesday, Wired)"I wonder, if I stopped delivering the facts, what would go in its place in this place that is most watched, most listened, most viewed, most trusted? I don't know." -- Fox News anchor Shepard Smith after resigning. (Friday, The Washington Post)"We have a lousy wall over here now, but at least it stops 90, 95 percent. When we put up the real wall, we're going to stop 99 percent. Maybe more than that."-- President Donald Trump after inspecting prototypes of the border wall. (Wednesday, The San Diego Union-Tribune)"Trump has been telling people that he fired Rex Tillerson all by himself. Trump brags about firing people the same way a toddler brags about using the bathroom alone for the first time." -- Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon talking about Trump firing Rex Tillerson. (Tuesday, Newsmax)"This bridge was about goodness, not sadness. Now we're feeling immense sadness, uncontrollable sadness. And our hearts go out to all those affected, their friends and their families." -- Florida International University president Mark Rosenberg, after a newly installed pedestrian bridge collapsed, killing six people and injuring nine. (Friday, CBS)What's your view?Got an opinion about this issue? Send a letter to the editor, and you just might get published.  Continue reading...