* “We do need a new architecture for this new world: more Frank Gehry than formal Greek.”–Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
* “I haven’t forgotten about Benghazi. Hillary Clinton got away with murder in my view.”–Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
* “We don’t view ourselves as being in the incumbent protection business, but we want to pick the most conservative candidate who can win.”–Steven J. Law, president of American Crossroads, a Republican “super PAC.”
* “We were anxious to get back into the battle. Post-election we have new battle lines being drawn with the president. He kicks it off with these nominations, and it made sense for us.”–Nick Ryan, founder of the American Future Fund PAC, which has taken on a leading role in opposing Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel.
* “Critics on the right complain about political correctness–excessive sensitivity to perceived racism, sexism and other bigotries–but the most powerful form of political correctness in America is patriotism that reels in national idolatry. Ambitious politicians take care not to run afoul of it.”–Randall Kennedy, professor of law, Harvard Law School.
* “We (political) moderates generally suffer from too much righteousness, too little populist grit and too many compound sentences.”–Joe Klein, Time magazine.
* “A quarter ago, you’d say the housing market had stabilized. Now you can say the housing market is starting to grow.”–JJ Kinahan, chief derivatives strategist for TD Ameritrade.
* “Immigrants, both legal and illegal, do not drain the federal budget. It’s true that states and localities have to spend money to educate them when they are children, but, over the course of their lives, they pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits.”–David Brooks, New York Times.
* “It’s an important filmmaker who trusts the audience to participate.”–Actress Jessica Chastain, who stars in Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty.
* “I think it’s stupid.”–Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco on the site of next year’s Super Bowl: East Rutherford, N.J.
* “With his poll numbers, no other politician would even consider running for re-election. He’s doing this because his political life is hanging by a thread. This is more politics than it is policy.”–Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, on the motivation behind Gov. Rick Scott’s plan for teacher pay raises.
* “The stars are aligned to have a really good adult conversation about higher education this year in Florida.”–Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford.
* “It is an embarrassment of riches. Florida is at the top of the heap of destination marketing.”–Visit Florida CEO Will Seccombe.
* “Guess what? Jurors let O.J. Simpson go.”–Todd “MJ” Schnitt.
* “I’m not advocating that teachers should walk around the school grounds with guns, because that’s against the law. But an educated society is an empowered society.”–Lenny Bogdanos, president of Clearwater-based International Executive Protection, which is offering free concealed-carry permit training to schoolteachers.
* “I’ve known him for a long time. I know he will be successful… I really like him. I like his heart. I like who he is.”–Former USF football coach Jim Leavitt on Willie Taggart, USF’s new football coach.
* “Whether you like the Rays or not, whether you like sports or not, when you have an economic engine in the $300 million-a-year range, I believe it’s incumbent upon elected officials to do everything we can to ensure that engine remains.”–Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan.
* “I just wasn’t used to the losing. I thought I could go anywhere and win. I took a little bit of a beating there, no question.”–Lou Piniella on his 2003-05 tenure (200-285) with the Rays.