* “I will not give up my candidacy for a third term.”–Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
* “Why, then, are we training Syrians to attack his (President Bashar Assad) army and arming people to topple his government? Have we not before us, in Libya, an example of what happens when we bring down an autocrat like Gaddafi, and even worse devils are unleashed?”–Patrick J. Buchanan, Creators Syndicate.
* “It is time to decide our self-determination and not wait for other people to decide for us.”–Massoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Regional Government.
* “If we want to keep attracting the best and the brightest from beyond our shores, we’re going to have to fix our immigration system, which is broken.”–President Barack Obama.
* “Sushi.”–Humorous term applied in certain Arab countries for Sunnis and Shiites who intermarry.
* “We’re the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it.”–Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.
* “The largest companies are starting to realize climate change is a financial issue.”–Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres, an environmental and investor advocacy group.
* “Simply put, there is no reward for the great risk to which these children are being subjected.”–Anthony Wayne, U.S. ambassador to Mexico, on the explosion of illegal border crossings by unaccompanied minors and the reality that awaits.
* “If Cuba is trapped in the 1950s, the Internet of Cuba is trapped in the 1990s.”–Google co-founder Eric Schmidt.
* “Widening and deepening inequality is not driven by immutable economic laws, but by laws we have written ourselves.”–Joseph E. Stiglitz, Nobel laureate in economics and former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and chief economist for the World Bank.
* “I’m glad that my parents are living longer. But it’s creating this budgetary math problem that we’re unwilling to look at.”–Julia Isaacs, Urban Institute senior fellow.
* “The decisions by the Supreme Court have left the American people with a status quo in which one side’s billionaires are pitted against the other side’s billionaires. Except one side doesn’t have many billionaires.”–Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
* “In a decision of startling breadth, the court holds that commercial enterprises, including corporations, along with partnerships and sole proprietorships, can opt out of any law (saving only tax laws) they judge incompatible with their sincerely held religious beliefs.”–Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in her dissent of the Supreme Court Burwell vs. Hobby Lobby ruling that provided exemptions to an employer health care coverage mandate.
* “It’s smart politics. He’s certainly been trying to soften his image by campaigning with his wife and family, and (boost) his popularity among women.”–Florida State University political science professor Carol Weissert, on the campaign strategy of Gov. Rick Scott.
* “They’re not getting steered to cast absentee ballots. They’re not getting mobilized on Election Day. If you’re registered as an NPA (no party affiliation), the two parties are less likely to think that you can be persuaded.”–University of Florida political scientist Daniel Smith.
* “This institution (Florida Polytechnic University) is unique and different, and that’s why it was created. Except for New College, all the rest (of the state universities) are University of Florida wanna-bes.”–Former Republican state Sen. JD Alexander.
* “The student loan business has changed college-going in almost entirely negative ways.”–Eckerd College President Donald R. Eastman.
* “Frustrated Floridians are looking for an environmental hero. Clearly, it’s not going to come from our current leaders.”–Former Florida Republican legislator Paula Dockery.
* “It would be fantastic. This could help us financially by sending a strong message about our state.”–Jeffrey Abbaticchio, director of public relations at Loews Don CeSar Hotel on St. Pete Beach, on the impact of legalized same-sex marriage in Florida.
* “This could be something cool. This city deserves something better.”–Tampa Bay Lightning CEO Ted Leiweke, after the unveiling of the Jeff Vinik group’s glitzy vision for Channelside Bay Plaza.
* “The neighborhood has struggled because of the high number of renters. When you put more homeowners into a neighborhood, you’re going to change the dynamics of that neighborhood.”–Vanessa McCleary, Tampa’s housing and community development manager, on the strategy for revitalizing the Sulphur Springs neighborhood.
* “The city can’t do it all. It’s time for the private sector to come forth.”–Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos on the scenario necessary for revitalizing downtown Clearwater.