* “The world is on the brink of a new Cold War. Some are even saying that it’s already begun.”–Former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
* “The American people overwhelmingly believe that this town doesn’t work well.”–President Barack Obama.
* “There will be no government shutdown or default on the national debt.”–New Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ga.
* “Republicans in Congress now have the opportunity–and the responsibility–to demonstrate to American voters that our party can effectively govern.”–Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
* “George W. Bush, who supported immigration reform, won 44 percent of the Hispanic vote in 2004. Mitt Romney received 27 percent. If Republicans don’t win at least 35 percent of the Hispanic vote, it’s hard to imagine them winning the White House again.”–Ari Fleisher, former White House press secretary under President George W. Bush.
* “Being welded to the status quo obviously spooks Hillary Clinton … and that’s why if she runs for president, she’ll bang the “first woman ever” drum in a manner that she didn’t last time around. It’s a way to argue that putting another Democrat in the White House after Obama isn’t mere perpetuation.”–Frank Bruni, New York Times.
* “The trend is that Americans have the shortest vacations in the rich world, so we travel too fast. I think it’s important to travel to a place assuming you will return.”–Travel-guide author and PBS host Rick Steves.
* “We’re in a very good place in the recovery. … The unemployment rate has come down significantly; we’re seeing good growth numbers; we’re not fearing a recession anymore; we’re not fearing tipping back into one. The macro indicators are all pointed in the right direction.”–U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Sarah Bloom Raskin.
* “There was nothing aspirational about this governor’s race. … These campaigns are all about demonizing someone else as opposed to uplifting the state.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
* “There is no mandate for Rick Scott. … He does not have the support that he thinks he has.”–Florida Democratic Party chairwoman Allison Tant.
* “This is just the first battle, and I plan to win the war.”–John Morgan in the aftermath of the narrow defeat of Amendment 2.
* “Investing in transportation is not an option; it is a necessity for the economic vitality of our region.”–Stuart Rogel, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership.
* “Everyone’s talking about transportation in Hillsborough County, and I don’t think we can continue to look at where we’re going … with having an interim CEO of this agency.”–HART board director and Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller on the decision by HART directors to make the agency’s interim CEO, Katherine Eagan, a permanent one.
* “You have a little something to eat, maybe a glass of wine. You watch the sunset. Then you go to the airside and get on your plane. It will be completely awesome.”–TIA CEO Joe Lopano, rhapsodizing on what the upgraded and expanded TIA will be like.
* “To me, it’s what a growing and vibrant city does. It embraces new concepts, new ways of enjoying what we have.”–Tampa City Council member Harry Cohen, on council’s passage of an ordinance permitting open containers of alcoholic drinks along the Riverwalk.
* “I’m optimistic that St. Petersburg and the Rays will reach an agreement to amend their lease and allow the team to talk to us.”–Hillsborough County commissioner Ken Hagan.
* “This will be a radically different skyline over the next five years.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
* “This is a great place to host events. We’ll be back at some point in some form. Maybe when some of the construction around the (Channelside) area is done, it’ll make for an even more compelling event and gathering of people. We’re keeping an eye on it.”–NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on the prospects of the Amalie Arena hosting an All-Star Game.
* “The Tampa Police Department exists to serve the community, and it’s very, very important to us that we mirror the community that we serve.”–Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor.
* “Our feelings are pretty straightforward: Our employees work especially hard during the holiday season and we simply believe that they deserve the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with their families and friends.”–Richard Galanti, CFO of Costco Wholesale Corp., on Costco’s policy of closing for Thanksgiving.
* “I think the bay area has been made a better place because of both of you.”–WTSP-Ch. 10 anchor Reginald Roundtree at a Poynter Institute for Media Studies-sponsored gathering to honor retiring Fox 13 news anchor John Wilson and News Channel 8 anchor Gayle Sierens.