* “We’re within reach of strategically defeating al-Qaida.” Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.
* “Citizens of the more affluent, fiscally conservative Northern European countries are fed up with pouring billions of their tax euros into the coffers of Southern European states they see as irresponsible, spending too much, retiring too early and not saving enough.”–Frida Ghitis, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
* “Quite simply, we lost our way.” Part of an editorial apology in the last issue of the scandal-closing British tabloid News of the World.
*”If not now, when?”–President Barack Obama on a deficit-fix deal.
* “The struggles of the next few weeks are about what sort of party the GOP is–a normal conservative party or an odd protest movement that has separated itself from normal governance, the normal rules of evidence and the ancient habits of our nation.”–David Brooks, New York Times.
* “Space leadership is highly symbolic of national capabilities and international influence, and a decline in space leadership will be seen as symbolic of a relative decline in U.S. power and influence.”–Scott Pace, former associate NASA administrator.
* “Her staff, which is not ready for prime time, is not serving as a filter to protect her from eager but misinformed supporters, and from herself.”–George Will, Washington Post, on Michelle Bachmann’s penchant for fact gaffes.
* “Teacher education is a low-status field in universities, even within education schools. Too often, admissions and graduation standards are weak. …”–Arthur Levine, president of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation and former president of Teachers College at Columbia University.
* “There is little to no relationship between an individual’s willingness to admit ignorance and his or her tendency to offer opinions.”–University of Cincinnati political scientist George Bishop.
* “We spend more than $7 billion providing Head Start to nearly 1 million children each year. And finally there is indisputable evidence about the program’s effectiveness, provided by the Department of Health and Human Services: Head Start simply does not work.”–Joe Klein, Time magazine.
* “Liz (Taylor) and Dick (Burton) were famous, but they weren’t easily accessible. They defined charisma before politicians and political consultants cheapened the term.”–Gerald Rafshoon, movie producer and erstwhile media adviser to former President Jimmy Carter.
* “In the past decade many (Puerto Ricans) have moved to Central Florida, mainly to Orlando and Tampa, where Puerto Ricans now number approximately 850,000. Unlike the mostly blue-collar and unschooled Puerto Ricans who immigrated to New York and other points north in the 1940s and 1950s, today’s newcomers support statehood and lean Republican.”–Luisita Lopez Torregrosa, Los Angeles Times.
* “Despite the criticisms of former Gov. Charlie Crist, no one can levy any attacks upon him for the way he handled the BP oil spill. …It is now July 2011, and the billion-dollar-plus bill owed to Florida remains unpaid. The reason? (Gov.) Scott does not want corporate America to pick up the check even when the wrongdoing is clear, the damages apparent and the need for payment never greater.”–Tampa attorney Steve Yerrid, the former special counsel to the governor regarding the Deepwater Horizon Oil disaster.
* “In the meantime, if she needs extra cash, Casey (Anthony’s) criminal defense lawyers might consider giving her part-time work baby-sitting their children and grandchildren.”–John Kass, Chicago Tribune.
* “I think we showed them we’re not backing down, we’re not scared of them, them and their $180 million payroll, we don’t care.”–Baltimore pitcher Kevin Gregg on the recent physical confrontation between the Orioles and the Boston Red Sox.
* “The rhetoric of campaigning is not necessarily the reality of governing.”–Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
* “Sort of a cross between Walking Tall and Barney Fife.”–Ex-Ray and Hall of Famer Wade Boggs on his role as a Louisiana deputy sheriff in Swamp Shark, a Syfy network movie.