* “My goal in coming here was not to apologize for what I consider to be a triumph against terrorism of unprecedented consequences.”–Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., on his trip to Pakistan to discuss the killing of Osama bin Laden with top Pakistani leaders.
* “A stable Afghanistan is not essential; a stable Pakistan is essential.”–The late Richard Holbrooke, who had been the Obama Administration’s special envoy to the Af-Pak region.
* “Fragile and reversible.”–Gen. David Petraeus’ assessment of the security situation in Afghanistan.
* “The biggest challenge to governance (in Afghanistan) is that they do not have that tradition of noncorrupt government. They are recruiting honest brokers to participate, but corruption is going to continue to be a big issue.”–U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa.
* “Newt Gingrich is in deep trouble with the Republican base for stating the obvious on Sunday (with David Gregory on NBC’s “Meet The Press”), when he called the signature Medicare proposal of his party ‘right-wing social engineering.’ But that’s exactly what it is: a blueprint for downward mobility.”–Timothy Egan, New York Times.
* “I appreciate Newt Gingrich appearing on all kinds of different platforms. He’s always willing to sit down and answer questions and say what he thinks. Not every politician is willing to do that.”–David Gregory.
* “Had to monitor Fox for a story. Can’t. Deal. With. The. Blathering.”–Recent U.S. Secret Service tweet, which was hurriedly taken down.
* “Given his admirable handicap of Minnesota niceness, (former Gov. Tim) Pawlenty’s attempts at partisan outrage can seem awkward. He could get a ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ tattoo and still not secure a majority of tea party support.”–Michael Gerson, Washington Post.
* “The federal government is basically an insurance company with an army.”–Paul Krugman, New York Times.
* “In the November elections, if you said ‘tea party,’ that was fabulous. But the tea party’s sex appeal, for lack of a better term, may not be as strong today.”–Associated Industries of Florida Senior Vice President Chris Verlander in the wake of the election of African-American Democrat Alvin Brown as mayor of Jacksonville.
* “Florida has always been a state that has been open in having access to voting for legal residents. This bill reduces that access.”–Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, on the signing of the controversial elections bill (HB 1355) by Gov. Rick Scott.
* “Florida has a tough time attracting new physicians and retaining our homegrown physicians because of the state’s dangerous medical liability climate. Florida ranks among the worst states in the nation for paid malpractice claims and payouts. Our medical malpractice premiums are by far the highest in the nation. … In Florida the average liability premium for an OB/GYN is $200,000 per year.”–Dr. Madelyn E. Butler, M.D., president of Florida Medical Association.
* “We put it out to bid. They bid. They won the bid. Their money’s green and spends like everybody else’s.”–Pinellas County Commissioner Neil Brickfield on plans to sell five downtown Clearwater buildings to the Church of Scientology.
* “I really feel like the local market can bear another half marathon. I’m comfortable with it. I wish it could be further away from Gasparilla, but it won’t be, so we all have to deal with it.”–Gasparilla Distance Classic organizer Susan Harmeling on the announcement of the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll St. Pete Half Marathon on Feb. 12, 2012.
* “And I know I ran as a fiscal conservative and promised to be a budget hawk. I really agonized over this one.”–Hillsborough County School Board member Stacy White on the board’s decision to spend about $900,000 (in federal grant money) for Apple iPads for every student and teacher at (the new, single-gender magnet program) Franklin and Ferrell middle schools.
* “Tampa has one terrific owner (Jeff Vinik). He’s a hockey fan, he’s smart, he’s a good business person, he has the resources, he has the commitment, he knew what he was getting into and hires the right people.”–NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.