* “Saudi Arabia has been unusually independent and assertive in its foreign policy in recent years, and that is likely to continue–if only because the kingdom no longer trusts its longtime U.S. protector to defend its interests in the volatile region, particularly against the growing power of Iran.”–Karen Elliott House, Time magazine.
* “I will go anywhere I am invited to make the state of Israel’s case.”–Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
* “Hate is not for humans. Judgment lies with God. That’s what I learned from my Arabic brothers and sisters.”–Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, who was recently beheaded by ISIS, in a 2010 Tweet from Syria.
* “A misguided effort to mask the brutality of executions by making them look serene and peaceful. … If we as a society want to carry out executions, we should be willing to face the fact that the state is committing a horrendous brutality on our behalf.”–California appellate Judge Alex Kozinski.
* “There is no reason for Cubans to be the chosen people of U.S. immigration policy, with automatic admission, residency and financial benefits, regardless of need or circumstance.”–Phil Peters, president of the Cuba Research Center.
* “Today I can’t use a single dollar of my trade promotion (budget) for our trade with Cuba. It’s 11 million people, a $1.7 billion market, and we really ought to be dominating that market.”–U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
* “We all need to remember this is a prohibition on Americans, not Cubans. We’re simply saying that Americans should be allowed to travel wherever they want unless there’s a compelling national security reason.”–Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a co-sponsor of the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act of 2015.
* “I do not want to make it more difficult for someone else to emerge who may have a better chance of becoming president.”–Mitt Romney.
* “I’m excited about a Jeb candidacy. Marco doesn’t bring that much more experience than Obama did, and we have to be honest about that if you’re somebody who thinks experience is a qualification, as I do.”–Florida Congressman David Jolly.
* “A report says that legalized marijuana is the fastest growing business in the U.S. Followed closely by pizzerias, ice cream parlors and bakeries.”–Humor blogger Jim Barach.
* “There are a significant number of people who want this and there is a need for it for medical purposes. This should be legislatively driven. We should not be talking about this in 2016.”–Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, on medical marijuana.
* “We do not plan to do anything on Medicaid expansion.”–Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli.
* “There’s just a lot of disbelief that Florida, the Sunshine State, has policies that block the sun.”–Debbie Dooley, co-founder of the Atlanta Tea Party and a leader in the effort to push a 2016 amendment to the Florida Constitution that would allow solar producers to sell power.
* “Leadership is more than press releases.”–Republican state Sen. Jack Latvala’s characterization of the response of Florida cabinet members to Gov. Rick Scott’s handling of the ouster of former FDLE Chief Gerald Bailey.
* “This is not a political issue, this is a quality of life issue.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn, one of three local mayors pushing “A Healthy Florida Works” program, which would increase health coverage for 1 million uninsured working Floridians.
* “We’re often asked, ‘Are you prepared for Cuba trade?’ Yes, we’re ready. Once the embargo is lifted, I can promise you that we can become the port we used to be.”–Raul Alfonso, executive vice president of Port Tampa Bay.
* “The message I have tried to send to the Rays and Major League Baseball is that we’re ready and we want the team.”–Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan.
* “I know for a certainty that Stu’s (Sternberg) first choice is (for the Rays) to stay in Tampa Bay.”–MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.
* “What our county desperately needs is infill development in older communities near the urban core.”–Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White.
* “We’ll have a safe fair. We don’t want a police state. That’s not what we’re going to have. We want everyone to come here and have a good time.”–Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller, on ramped-up Florida State Fair security.