* “Why would a Sunni soldier want to die fighting Sunnis to defend a Shiite (Iraq) government?”–French ambassador to the United States Gerard Araud.
* “I don’t really feel the weight of the world economy. I feel the weight of the Greek people resting on my shoulders. If little Greece, in order to survive, brings down the financial world, it can’t be our fault. It would be as if Delaware brought down the United States economy. That would be the fault of the U.S., not Delaware.”–Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis.
* “A report says that China is building a massive database of Americans’ personal information. Who do they think they are? Google?”–Political humor blogger Jim Barach.
* “The highest premium voter in ’92 was a voter who would vote for one party some and for another party some. Now the highest premium voter is somebody with a high probability to vote for you and low probability to turn out. That’s the golden list. And that’s a humongous change in basic strategic doctrine.”–James Carville, chief strategist for Bill Clinton in 1992.
* “I will be the youngest woman president in the history of the United States. And the first grandmother as well.”–Hillary Clinton.
* “Tell me how it is that you can get pulled over for a broken taillight, but if you wreck the nation’s economy you are untouchable.”–Democratic presidential candidate Martin O’Malley.
* “It should come as no surprise that (Bernie) Sanders seems to be catching fire among the leftish faithful, drawing big crowds and scoring double digits in an Iowa poll. He is a recognizable Democratic type–the prophet scorned, gushing rumpled authenticity.”–Joe Klein, Time magazine.
* “Walker is trying to put a stake in the heart of a strong piece of Democratic support that has long been a thorn in the side of the Republicans.”–University of Maryland School of Public Policy Professor Donald F. Kettl, on the union-busting record of Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker, the governor of Wisconsin.
* “There’s a little bit of rust on him. He’s still finding his rhythms.”–Former Gov. Bob Martinez on the early performance of Jeb Bush.
* “We need a president willing to challenge and disrupt the whole culture in our nation’s capital.”–Jeb Bush at his presidential-candidate announcement.
* “Those of us who served in Tallahassee while he (Jeb Bush) was governor know that while he was a severe social conservative, his record on fiscal matters does not mesh with the tax-cutting, government-shrinking fiscal conservative storyline so many of his supporters advance.”–Former Florida state senator and Democratic House leader Dan Gelber.
* “They have taken their own child hostage. Does it hurt the president? Of course it hurts the president, but it hurts America more.”–U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., on House Democrats thwarting President Obama’s push to expand trade negotiating power.
* “The Obama White House has managed Congress poorly, with arrogance–or worse, neglect.”–Maureen Dowd, New York Times.
* “We can ensure that now and forever, these tools shall be freely available for all.”–College Board president David Coleman, in announcing that the College Board is teaming up with Khan Academy to make SAT-preparation materials available for free.
* “The sidelines are not where you want to live your life. The world needs you in the arena.”–Apple CEO Tim Cook, in his commencement address at George Washington University.
* “Americans have been sold a myth that there are two kinds of judges–umpires and activists–and that being unbiased is a choice that a person makes. But the truth is that all judges are swayed by countless forces beyond their conscious awareness or control.”–Adam Benforado, associate law professor at Drexel University and author of “Unfair: The New Science of Criminal Justice.”
* “We’ve moved from the right to bear arms to the right to flaunt arms.”–Gail Collins, New York Times.
* “Who’s the last person with a top-notch legal team to be executed?”–MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough.
* “Newsworthiness should be decided by people who choose to look at Gawker or not look at Gawker, not by a jury.”–Charles D. Tobin, entertainment and media lawyer at Holland & Knight, weighing in on Hulk Hogan’s sex-tape suit against Gawker Media.
* “Demand in our key rivers systems are outstripping supply. Other cuts may be imminent.”–Caren Trgovcich, chief deputy director of California’s State Water Resources Control Board, on the state’s drought response that includes sharply cutting back farmers’ century-old, (senior) water rights.
* “He (Jeb Bush) was really the godfather of the growth of the Republican Party in South Florida.”–Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
* “We were trying to prove a point, and we became overprescriptive.”–Senate Education Committee Chairman John Legg, on the Florida Legislature’s effort to tie teachers’ job evaluations to student performance.
* “I think it’s a winnable number. I think all of us need to temper our enthusiasm with the reality.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn, on a county transportation plan that would increase the sales tax by a half-cent.
* “Each jurisdiction’s going to be held accountable for what they do with their money. What they said they wanted, we are going to deliver.”–Hillsborough County Commission Chairwoman Sandra Murman, on the transportation-funding plan that would generate $3.5 billion over 30 years.
* “Trying to win a Stanley Cup is fantastic, but this is also fantastic for our community. I will shamelessly say I’m trying to get all the exposure I can for this region.”–Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik.