* “Strategic patience (regarding North Korea) has led to acquiescence. What a contrast to the effort and creativity the administration put into the Iranian case.”–Author Robert Litwak of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
* “This responsibility has been given to us and we have been active from the early moments to lessen tensions to prevent a disaster from happening that could affect the entire region.”–Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, in proposing mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
* “We are not telling them not to come. But we are telling (refugees) them that this is not paradise.”–Jorma Vuorio, director general of Finland’s Migration Department.
* “Ransom payments lead to future kidnappings, and future kidnappings lead to additional ransom payments. It all builds the capacity of terrorist organization to conduct attacks.”–David Cohen, former under-secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the Treasury Department.
* “I follow Allah. I pledge my allegiance to the Islamic State, and that’s why I did what I did.”–Edward Archer, on his motivation for ambushing a Philadelphia Police officer.
* “…Continue to drag out this political charade closer to the 2016 presidential election, and the American taxpayers continue to pay the price.”–Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-MD, on the agenda of the House Benghazi Committee. Cummings is the committee’s senior Democrat.
* “Hillary Clinton will have her (Sen. Elizabeth Warren) come where she’s needed. No one is more forceful and more articulate on issues with the progressive community.”–Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.
* “I think there is a question. … I don’t think it’s illegitimate to look into.”–Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain, on the scrutiny of Ted Cruz’s “natural born citizen” status.
* “We’re in a bit of a panic attack–we’re high anxiety because, you know, the left has really had a pretty good run.”–House Speaker Paul Ryan.
* “They market name-calling as truth-telling, pettiness as boldness, vanity as conviction. And their tandem success suggests a dynamic peculiar to the 2016 election, a special rule for the road: Obnoxiousness is the new charisma.”–Frank Bruni, New York Times, referring to Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.
* “A senator can help shape the agenda, but only a president can change the agenda.”–Marco Rubio.
* “A recession is not imminent. But the probability has gone up.”–Sean Snaith, director of the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Economic Competitiveness.
* “I just got back from China and India. It was an eye-opening experience. We’re absolutely digging our own ecological grave.”–Actor/environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio, who is partnering with Netflix on documentary and docu-series projects on the environment.
* “I take no pride in keeping secrets that may be perceived as protecting criminals.”–Sean Penn.
* “Let us always remember that God rejoices more when one winner returns to the fold than when 99 righteous people have no need of repentance.”–Pope Francis.
* “Elected officials who oppose constitutional rights will have a reckoning to contend with from their constituents at election time. The right to bear arms is a primary issue to most gun owners, and gun owners vote at a much higher rate than other segments of the population.”–Sean Caranna, executive director of Florida Carry Inc.
* “They hold the same extreme views; they’re just not as active.”–Ryan Lenz, editor of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Hate-watch blog, on Florida “militias.”
* “My hope is the 2016 (Legislative) session will get back to normalcy–as we call normal around here.”–Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island.
* “He does not feel a need to work with the Legislature and that is going to be a problem. … The governor has bragged about being singularly focused on jobs but by being singularly focused, he neglects everything else. The chicken is coming home to roost, and now we’re not able to provide services to the people of Florida.”–State Sen. Oscar Braynon, of Miami Gardens, the incoming Senate Democratic leader.
* “This will turn the Senate into the House.”–The prediction of Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, regarding the impact of term limits on the Florida Senate–as former House members pursue Senate seats this fall.
* “There is a very real possibility that we will not pass a compact this session.”–Florida Senate Majority Leader Bill Galvano, on the $3 billion gaming deal negotiated between Gov. Rick Scott and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
* “Any school grade scale or model that arbitrarily stigmatizes kids, families, communities and their schools cannot help kids.”–Tom Grady, Florida School Board of Education member.
* “The mission of the partnership is to have a very high bar in terms of identifying projects of regional significance. … We should not be Hillsborough competing with Pinellas competing with Pasco. We should be Tampa Bay competing for big projects with South Florida and Central Florida for funds in Tallahassee–in a friendly way.”–Tampa Bay Partnership CEO Rick Homans.
* “Truthfully, we’re already on the clock. We hope to make our home town shine like never before. We think it will be the coming out party for the Riverwalk. … We think it’s going to leave a lasting impression for all the visitors.”–Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, on the impact of next year’s College Football Playoff championship at Raymond James Stadium.
* “Doing this doesn’t make us any less anti-drug, but it’s a realization that the penalties that have been imposed have done more damage to the trajectories of young peoples’ lives than the offenses have warranted.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
* “People are ready for this to be resolved. There is a lot of interest in that property.”–St. Petersburg City Council Chairwoman Amy Foster, in reference to the 85-acre Tropicana Field site.
* “Connecting our two downtowns is the right thing to do. I just think that we have to take a good hard look at the numbers. … I am open to the idea.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn, after meeting with St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman about a proposed cross-bay ferry service.
* “MOSI should consider that bigger isn’t always better. Many museums that have overbuilt are getting smaller.”–Among the points made by the consultants, Museum Management Consultants Inc. and ConsultEcon Inc., advising MOSI as it weighs a move from north Tampa to downtown.