* “… A historic step forward in our efforts to normalize relations with the Cuban government and people, and begin a new chapter with our neighbors in the Americas. … We don’t have to be imprisoned by the past.”–President Barack Obama, on the announcement that the U.S. and Cuba would open embassies this month in each other’s capitals.
* “Just another trivial attempt for President Obama to go legacy shopping.”–The take of U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, on the same announcement of U.S. Cuban rapprochement.
* “The world is paying attention to the improving relationship of the United States and Cuba. Tampa could become a focal point of it.”–Tampa City Councilwoman Yoli Capín, who wrote the resolution to bring the Cuban consulate to Tampa.
* “You’re going to get what I think whether you like it or not, or whether it makes you cringe every once in a while or not. I am now ready to fight for the people of the United States of America.”–New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, in announcing his Republican presidential bid.
* “Today Donald Trump reaffirmed his stance against gay marriage. Trump said marriage is between a rich guy and his much younger third wife.”–Conan O’Brien.
* “The Democrats appear to be yearning for an emotional connection with their candidate, which could explain the flurry of excitement surrounding the Bernie Sanders campaign. … But whatever Bernie can do, can’t Biden do it better? In a lot of ways, Joe Biden would be the true anti-Hillary. He is completely uninhibited, he is impossible to script–which makes him seem authentic–and he has a human appeal that everyone can relate to.”–Ed Rogers, Republican political consultant.
* “If a bank is too big to fail, it is too big to exist.”–Bernie Sanders.
* “I understand the odds, particularly in today’s political climate, where fair debate is so often drowned out by huge sums of money. I know that more than one candidate in this process intends to raise at least a billion dollars.”–Former Navy Secretary and Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, who has joined the Democratic field of presidential candidates.
* “Every once in a while, we bring down the curtain on the politics of a prior era. The stage is now cleared for the next generation of issues.”–Conservative writer David Frum.
* “We are making it clear that we should not expend our limited resources on deporting those who have been here for years, have committed no serious crimes and have, in effect, become integrated members of our society.”–Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.
* “The most interesting thing about this (U.S. Supreme Court) term is the acceleration of a long-term trend of disagreement among the Republican-appointed judges, while the Democratic-appointed judges continue to march in lockstep. … . Kennedy, Roberts and Alito’s pragmatism contrasts with the formalism of Scalia and Thomas, for example.”–University of Chicago law Professor Eric Posner.
* “Sometimes we talk on the record. Sometimes we talk on background. There’s just such a variety, it depends on the context.”–New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
* “We see male athletes as athletes first. We see female athletes as women first.”–Cheryl Cooky, associate professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies at Purdue University.
* “Although the Internet could be making all of us smarter, it makes many of us stupider, because it’s not just a magnet for the curious. It’s a sinkhole for the gullible.”–Frank Bruni, New York Times.
* “We are heading towards an epidemic again.”–Priya Rajkumar, vice president of Metro Wellness and Community Centers, on news that Florida now has the highest number of new HIV diagnoses in the nation.
* “He must be looking down the road at what his next job will be.”–Darryl Paulson, professor emeritus of political science at USF St. Petersburg, on a possible rationale for Gov. Rick Scott’s political fundraising committee (Let’s Get To Work) spending nearly $300,000 on political consulting firms since April.
* “It presents the possibility of conflict and controversy. If I were still chief of staff, I’d rather have him down the hall taking care of our business than being on TV taking care of his own business.”–Mac Stipanovich, lobbyist, Republican strategist and former chief-of-staff to Gov. Bob Martinez, on the reality of having Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera running for the U.S. Senate.
* “It’s absolutely something we should consider. Misdemeanor possession of marijuana is a minor offense. We don’t need that clogging up the judicial system.”–Pinellas-Pasco Public Defender Bob Dillinger.
* “We as law enforcement see every single day the consequences of a society that has an addiction problem. Why in the world are we going to make it easier for people to recreationally use something else?”–Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.
* “In general, we’re all for civil citations (fines but no resultant criminal record) for that purpose.”–Tampa Police Chief Eric Ward.
* “Do you care yet? When you care enough, give us a call.”–Tampa Police Captain Ron McMullen, asking for community help in combating a surge in violence this year.
* “In order for us to do our jobs better, metrics matter. What gets measured gets done.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn, in unveiling his administration’s new website, tampagov.net/metrics, that provides performance measures for city services.
* “Eventually, we’re going to have to change. This county is getting too big and you’re going to need to increase the size of the board eventually to keep up with it.”–Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller.