* “Many, many months to multiple years.”–Assessment of David R. Shedd, deputy director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, as to how long the Syrian conflict could last.
* “…Considered terminated the process begun in the conversations in Guatemala (in June with Secretary of State John Kerry) that had as their goal the regularization of our diplomatic relations.”–Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias Jaua on where formal relations now stand with the United States.
* “They’re the most important buyers of art in the market today.”–Patricia Hambrecht, chief business development officer for Phillips auction house, referring to Qatar, the tiny Persian Gulf country with enormous wealth and cultural ambitions.
* “I’m not going to let gridlock or inaction or indifference to the plight of families get in the way of this country. So where I could act on my own, I’ll act on my own.”–President Barack Obama in his Jacksonville speech.
* “Washington is dysfunctional politically, and it is not just a momentary thing.”–Rahm Emanuel, mayor of Chicago and former chief of staff of President Obama.
* “We ought to be judged on how many laws we repeal.”–House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
* “I failed. Big time. When you dig yourself a hole, you can either lie in it the rest of your life or do something positive. That’s why I’m running.–Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who resigned in disgrace over a prostitution habit, on his candidacy for New York City comptroller.
* “I don’t think there are any rude questions.”–The late Helen Thomas.
* “Sometimes I sit back and evaluate that we give too many second chances.”–Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer.
* “We believe there should be an amendment to the ‘stand your ground’ law that simply says you cannot be the initial aggressor. You cannot start the confrontation. You cannot pick the fight, and then shoot the person, put your hands in the air and say, ‘I was standing my ground.'”–Benjamin Crump, attorney for the parents of Trayvon Martin.
* “George Zimmerman got away with murder, but you can’t get away from God. … The law couldn’t prove it.”–Zimmerman-trial Juror B-29 or “Maddy.”
* “I voted based on what I thought was the intent of the law. Obviously, if I knew then what I know about how the law was implemented, I would not have voted for that.”–Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former state Sen. Nan Rich on her 2005 vote for the “stand your ground” law.
* “Why would we want to alienate this rising star? I’m not encouraging people to look past immigration, but–no pun intended–to have a comprehensive look at his record.”–Niger Innis, chief strategist of TheTeaParty, commenting on Sen. Marco Rubio.
* “I will have $25 million in the bank by the end of the year and will use it in early 2014 to define my opponent.”–Gov. Rick Scott.
* “When people are looking at houses in an area, they do look at grades of the schools, not knowing that the whole thing is a shell game. To a teacher who teaches in an A school, it is a big deal because they get that A-plus money.”–Hillsborough School Board member Cindy Stuart.
* “We’re not going to raise taxes to pay for a stadium.”–Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Ken Hagan on how far the county would go in exploring any baseball-stadium options.
* “I can tell you our organization would be very supportive of public transportation, mass transit and light rail and very supportive of a baseball stadium downtown.”–Rick Homans, executive director of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp.
* “It’s time we got out of thinking about transportation as only roads. I think this is a good, not terribly expensive way to do that.”–Ray Chiaramonte, executive director of the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Commission, commenting on a proposed high-speed ferry service.
* “We see this as the heart and soul of the community.”–SoHo Capital developer Adam Harden of the role of the Armature Works building, repurposed as an events locale, in The Heights mixed-use development north of downtown along the Hillsborough River.
* “When you meet face-to-face and shake hands, that works. When you have attorneys send letters across the channel, that’s not effective.”–Tampa Port Authority board member Patrick Allman, on the frustrating, Channelside relationship between the Authority and the Irish Bank Resolution Corp.
* “We need revenue to sustain operations.”–Michael English, Tampa Historic Streetcar board member.
* “When law enforcement is going out there for disturbance calls, they need to be the eyes and ears for code enforcement.”–Tampa City Council member Frank Reddick.
* “I may top a wee pint.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn at the ribbon-cutting for the Paddywagon Irish pub downtown.