* “He (President Vladimir Putin) sees himself as a historical figure already, a man who prevented the collapse of the country. The problem is, now he has to meet the real demands of people who are 30 years younger than him.”–Alexander Rahr, a Russia expert with the German Council on Foreign Relations.
* “Europe wouldn’t be in this fix if Greece still had its drachma, Spain its peseta, Ireland its punt, and so on, because Greece and Spain would have what they now lack: a quick way to restore cost-competitiveness and boost exports, namely devaluation.”–Paul Krugman, New York Times.
* “Tribalism, radicalism and socialism are the growth stocks of the new Europe.”–Patrick J. Buchanan, Creators Syndicate.
* “Every one of these awakening countries needs to make the transition from Saddam to Jefferson without getting stuck in Khomeini.”–Thomas Friedman, New York Times.
* “Over the decades, companies and other entities have implanted a growing number of special-interest deals into the tax and regulatory codes, making it harder for politically unconnected, new competitors, making the economy less dynamic.”–David Brooks, New York Times.
* “It just shows they can’t manage risk–and if JPMorgan can’t, no one can.”–Simon Johnson, former chief economist for the International Monetary Fund, after JPMorgan Chase had acknowledged a recent $2 billion loss by one of its trading groups.
* “From both the right and the left, there has been a continuing, dramatic cognitive disconnect between Mr. Obama’s record and the public perception of his leadership: despite his demonstrated willingness to use force, neither side regards him as the warrior president he is.”–Peter Bergen, director of the New America Foundation of author of “Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden–From 9/11 to Abbottabad.”
* “What principle or purpose unites Obama’s initial campaign with his current re-election effort? There is little obvious continuity–apart from one, unchanging commitment. The cause that has outlasted hope and change is Obama himself.”–Michael Gerson, Washington Post.
* “Our political system is losing its ability to even explore alternatives.”–Outgoing U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Indiana.
* “You don’t become a teacher to make a world of money. You become a teacher to make a world of difference.”–Charles Blow, New York Times.
* “I readily admit it. I didn’t think a lot about costs. I do not think we have given significant thought to the impact of college costs on families.”–Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee.
* “If you cross-tabulate poll results on homosexuality going back several decades, you’ll see a sweeping realignment driven by two underlying factors: a rising belief that homosexuality is innate and increasing awareness that some of our friends, neighbors and relatives are gay.”–William Saletan, Slate.
* “To my understanding, he is still deciding what his position on immigration is. … I misspoke, Romney’s position on immigration is clear.”–Bettina Inclan, RNC Hispanic outreach director.
* “While President Obama has played politics on this issue, the Republican Party and our presumptive nominee Mitt Romney have been clear. We support maintaining marriage between one man and one woman and would oppose any attempts to change that.”–RNC Chairman Reince Priebus.
* “The people who wouldn’t vote for him (President Obama) because of this weren’t voting for him to begin with.”–Nadine Smith, head of the gay rights group Equality Florida.
* “Even as Republicans try to wrestle women into chastity belts, the Vatican is trying to muzzle American nuns.”–Maureen Dowd, New York Times.
* “The language of music is universal.”–Enrique Perez Mesa, director of the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba, who conducted The Florida Orchestra in three Tampa Bay concerts last weekend.
* “Unfortunately, the current political climate is one in which winning at any cost is considered success even if the outcome is destructive, divisive or wasteful. A true leader doesn’t force their will on others but rather works with others collaboratively to reach a shared outcome or goal.”–Sen. Paula Dockery in her commencement address to the last graduating class of USF Polytechnic.
* “Most observers, I believe, would agree that we have accomplished a great deal during my year of service here.”–Steve MacNamara, Gov. Rick Scott’s chief of staff, in announcing his resignation.