The most memorable quotes in the Chattanooga Times Free Press for Jan. 3-8.
“Every time he opens his mouth, he drives up sales – which is probably the exact opposite of what he wants.”
– Shooters Depot co-owner Amiee Smith after President Barack Obama says he’ll take executive action against gun violence
“I apologize. It looked stupid. It was idiotic. You never know who is watching, especially in our line of work.”
– Chattanooga Police officer Mikel Thomas, after he and officer Mark Niethammer were handed one-day suspensions following release of a video showing them drag-racing in their patrol cars
“The Lord just kept opening door after door and we just kept walking through.”
– Cindy Horton, chairman of the Rhea County Community Center board, after the center reopened in the space formerly occupied by the YMCA in Dayton, Tenn.
“Regardless of what Trump says, we’re not going to ship them back. They’re here.”
– State Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, fretting that his bill to grant in-state tuition to students brought illegally to the U.S. by their parents could get “Trumped” in the Legislature in this year’s political climate
“I’m just saying, if you all want to take the poison, I’ll mix the brew.”
– State Rep. Mike Carter, R-Ooltewah, saying he might sponsor a bill to let Hamilton County commissioners set their own pay but believes they’ll regret it if they do so
“I believe the proposed FOCUS plan is unworkable and will seriously impair the critical alignment of the state’s needs, the TBR’s oversight responsibility and each institution’s accountability.”
– Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor John Morgan, saying he’s resigning over Gov. Bill Haslam’s plan to break up governance for the state’s institutions of higher education.