In their words
A selection of quotations from people in recent news stories, big and small
“The way the guy tells a story is amazing. We’re just all waiting for him to get home and tell this one.”
– Tom Coggio, about his brother-in-law, merchant ship Capt. Richard Phillips, who volunteered himself as a hostage to Somali pirates who tried to commandeer the Maersk Alabama.
“It was all theater, just theater.”
– Coeur d’Alene lawyer and civil rights activist Norm Gissel, recalling the impression it made on the jury in a lawsuit against North Idaho’s Aryan Nations to see plaintiffs’ attorneys surrounded by tight security during the trial.
“It wasn’t a goal, but here it is.”
– Spokane native and National Basketball Association Hall of Fame inductee John Stockton, after the predictable honor was announced.
“We’re giving them a bargain. We shouldn’t apologize for the tuition in Washington state.”
– Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, saying higher education at this state’s colleges and universities is still a good deal for students even if tuition goes up appreciably under authority she wants to give the boards of regents and trustees.
“I don’t think you’ll find a lynx den where you want to build a house.”
– Eastern Washington coordinator Kitty Klitzke of the environmental group Futurewise, saying there’s little threat to housing projects from a court requirement that Stevens County’s growth plans protect the steep, high-altitude habitat favored by the dwindling Canada lynx population.
“I’m not only happy to be here, I’m ecstatic to be here.”
– Former Portland State University basketball coach Ken Bone, after being named to the head coaching position at Washington State University vacated by Tony Bennett.
“It is like a small paradise where people are oblivious of the problems going on in the other corners of Somalia.”
– Self-described pirate Salah Haji Bahdon, describing the pocket of luxury around Eyl, Somalia, where he and other pirates often take hijacked ships while ransoms are being negotiated.
“In the long term, that’s not how we want to reduce emissions.”
– Emilie Mazzacurati of the energy research company Point Carbon, commenting on the lower CO2 discharges being generated by industries that are forced to scale back production at their factories because of sluggish economic conditions.
“A lot of it is eaten up in what the state should be providing. The levy should be enriching the local community wants, not basic education.”
– Associate Superintendent of Spokane Public Schools Mark Anderson, expressing reservations about a proposal to lift the lid that restricts how much local school districts can collect in property taxes when voters approve special levies.
“In 25 years on the bench, I’ve never seen anything approaching the mishandling and misconduct that I’ve seen in this case.”
– U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan, voiding the conviction of former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, on charges that he failed to report gifts as required when filling out Senate financial-disclosure forms.