* “One cannot simultaneously champion expanding Israeli settlements and champion a viable two-state solution that would end the conflict.”–Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the U.N., explaining why the Obama Administration allowed (via abstention) the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution that condemned Israeli settlement construction.
* “(Obama) not only failed to protect Israel against this gang-up at the U.N., but (the U.S.) has colluded with it behind the scenes.”–Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
* “Whatever our personal politics, how can we possibly want to respond to Russia’s interference in our election by putting American foreign policy in the hands of a Putin friend?”–Nicholas Kristof.
* “Relations between Russia and the U.S. remain an important factor in ensuring stability and security of the modern world.”–Russian President Vladimir Putin.
* “Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch (any adversary) at every pass and outlast them all.”–Donald Trump.
* “There are signs that Mr. Trump seeks to diminish the news media’s traditional role by using Twitter, video messages and public rallies to circumvent the White House press corps and communicate directly with voters–taking a page out of the playbook of populist leaders like Silvio Berlusconi in Italy, Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and Recep Tayyip-Erdogan in Turkey.”–Steven Levitsky, professor of government at Harvard University.
* “The emerging policy agenda is anything but populist. All indications are that we’re looking at huge windfalls for billionaires combined with savage cuts in programs that serve not just the poor but also the middle class. And the white working class, which provided much of the 46 percent Trump vote share, is shaping up as the biggest loser.”–Paul Krugman, New York Times.
* “It looks like Trump isn’t the only billionaire set to profit off of the presidency.”–DNC spokesman Eric Walker.
* “Because I will be devoting so much time and energy to the presidency and solving the many problems facing our country and the world, I don’t want to allow good work to be associated with the possible conflict of interest.”–Donald Trump, on his plans to shut down his charitable foundation.
* “The Trump Foundation is still under investigation by this office and cannot legally dissolve until that investigation is complete.”–Amy Spitalnick, spokeswoman for the New York attorney general’s office.
* “Moderation is a difficult virtue for people to rally around, since by definition it doesn’t arouse fervor or zealous advocates. But in a time of spreading resentments and rage, when truth is increasingly the target of assault and dialogue is often viewed as betrayal, moderation isn’t simply a decorous democratic quality; it becomes an essential democratic virtue.”–Peter Wehner, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.
* “I believe one of the failures of the Democratic Party has been the DNC. The Democratic National Committee has been worthless.”–Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
* “My colleagues and I are recognizing the considerable progress the economy has made.”–Janet L. Yellen, chairwoman of the Federal Reserve, which recently raised its benchmark interest rate for just the second time since the financial crisis of 2008.
* “Doomsday predictions about the marketplace were wrong. … The marketplace is strong.”–HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell, referring to the 7 percent increase in Americans signing up for the Affordable Care Act.
* “Jacqueline Kennedy to me was probably the most unknown of the known women of the 20th century.”–Pablo Larrain, director of “Jackie.”
* “Tech companies should be required to make devices that cannot be used in moving cars. Pedestrians should not be allowed to have powered up devices or ear equipment within 100 yards of a road.”–Dick Meyer, Scripps Washington Bureau.
* “The future of Florida is at stake. We would like to discuss with you the impact that sea level rise will have on properties like Mar-A-Lago.”–Excerpt from climate-change letter to Donald Trump from 10 Florida scientists.
* “While I’m compelled at some point to re-engage in the political arena, I just think the timing right now is not right.”–Former Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford, in announcing that he won’t run for governor in 2018.
* “Airbnb, Uber and Lyft are all disruptive technologies that are changing the way we do business. Tampa needs to be a place that welcomes that.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
* “I’ve never shied away from saying what my age (87) is. I’m proud of it. It was an issue in the campaign, and I’m glad people said age shouldn’t be an impediment if you’re doing a good job.”–Hillsborough Clerk of Court Pat Frank.