In their words …

“The emergency room has become the pediatrics clinic for too many Washington children.”

— Paola Maranan, executive director of the Children’s Alliance, talking about the number of low-income youngsters in Washington state who lack health insurance and can’t afford to seek routine medical attention until they have acute conditions that require emergency room care at a hospital.

“We have no front lines, the front lines can be the dining hall, it can be the road outside the base, it can be the governor’s office, the president’s office, the mayor’s office down in Mosul.”

— Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, commenting in the aftermath of a suicide bomber’s attack that killed 22 people in a mess tent on a U.S. military compound in Mosul, Iraq.

“We see all kinds of creative and interesting activity on the ballots.”

— Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton, talking about some of the ballot-marking practices that election canvassers witnessed during the intense gubernatorial recount process.

“We will fight like hell for Dino, but there is not anything ennobling or good about this. This is horrible. It’s a political street brawl.”

— Washington state Republican Chairman Chris Vance, giving his perspective on the recount battle — and this was while Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi was still the leader.

“There is no question that a vote on our project will bring out many of the negative voters in the community.”

— Coeur d’Alene businessman and developer Duane Hagadone, explaining that he abandoned his controversial proposal for a botanical garden on Sherman Avenue because he feared an advisory vote on the idea would jeopardize other measures on the upcoming ballot.

“At this point, no one can say with confidence whether the worst drug safety problems are behind us or ahead of us.”

— U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, following a series of recent announcements about health concerns over popular prescription drugs previously approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“It’s narrow, it’s windy, it’s a nightmare.”

— Idaho State Patrol Sgt. Jonelle Greear, describing the traffic congestion caused along Lake Coeur d’Alene’s northeast shoreline by sightseers crowding the area where flocks of bald eagles are a popular attraction.