* “Neither is the epitome of the back-slapping pol. Both of them are almost shy, which is amazing in this business.”–Former (Democratic) Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell on Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
* “Presidential candidates are largely self-selected, which favors ambition and self-regard above, well, all other traits. A vice presidential field results from a party’s consensus on talent and competence.”–Michael Gerson, Washington Post.
* “Here is the telling difference, and the sad, perhaps inevitable, trajectory of any political dynasty, from idealism to expediency. George Romney railed–indeed, he battled–against what he saw happening. Mitt Romney has adapted to it.”–Ruth Marcus, Washington Post.
* “There should be no military action authorized by the United States that does not include income- and corporate-tax surcharges … sufficient to cover all of the operating costs of the war … and a trust fund to provide for lifetime support for those who serve and sacrifice in the war.”–James Wright, former president of Dartmouth College and author of “Those Who Have Borne The Battle.”
* “I am all too afraid that Benjamin Franklin correctly saw our nation’s destiny when he said, ‘When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.'”–Walter E. Williams, George Mason University economics professor.
* “But even readers who love Facebook, or at least cannot imagine life without it, should see its stock market failure as a sign of the commercial limits of the Internet. … It’s created a cultural revolution more than an economic one. … It’s telling that the companies most often cited as digital-era successes, Apple and Amazon, both have business models that are firmly rooted in the production and delivery of nonvirtual goods.”–Ross Douthat, New York Times.
* “Our research shows that real estate values increase as neighborhoods became more walkable, where everyday needs, including working, can be met by walking, transit or biking.”–Christopher B. Leinberger, George Washington University School of Business and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
* “We’d like to know why (Gov. Scott) believes, in the absence of real evidence, that there’s a voter fraud problem in our state. We’d also like to know if he’s been communicating without organizations or national party leaders about this.”–Ashley Mushnick, spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch of Boca Raton.
* “I will stand on the sidelines and support their efforts. … This is not about me.”–State Sen. JD Alexander’s reference to the newly-formed Florida Poly Vision Inc. booster group.
* “He gave people a language they desperately needed for talking about death and dying, which also taught us a lot about living.”–Baltimore talk-radio host Tom Hall on Tampa native and journalist Dudley Clendinen, who recently died of Lou Gehrig’s disease.
* “This is not a gay pride event. This is a showcase of businesses in this great landmark historic district.”–Carrie West, president of the GaYbor District Coalition, in reference to Ybor City’s five-day GaYbor Days festival.
* “We want to show what the Tampa area offers. I’ve been looking forward to doing this for a long time.”–Mise en Place proprietor Maryann Ferenc, who has opened the First Flight wine bar in the main terminal of TIA.