* “People always looked up to America as the best-run country, the most reasonable, the most sensible. And now people are asking: ‘Can America manage itself and what are the implications for us?'”–Kishore Mahbubani, author and dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore.
* “Whether we were feared or loved, America was always the outsized standard by which all others were compared. What we built and what we dreamt were, to many, the definition of the future. Well, today, to many people we look like the definition of a drunken driver–like a life-long mentor who has gone on a binge and is no longer predictable.”–Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times.
* “The oppressiveness of…police states came from the fear every citizen had that another citizen would disclose deviations from the party line. The relevant question here is: Are we creating an informant society, in which every overheard conversation, cell phone photograph or other record of personal behavior is transmitted not to police but to the world at large?”–Michael Chertoff, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
* “He’s the one president from the post-World War II era who could appear on the streets now and fit right in.”–Historian Larry Sabato on former President John F. Kennedy.
* “In almost every case, you can argue that the second terms have been pretty dreadful.”–Presidential historian Michael Beschloss.
* “The main way you win elections these days is by destroying the reputation of your opponent. And the winners go to Washington highly imbued with partisanship.”–Former President Jimmy Carter.
* “When antitrust lawyers look at a merger, they look at the benefits of the economies of scale and the market power created by concentration. But increased political power is another factor that should be brought into antitrust analysis. These companies become so important politically to the state or country that it is hard to resist transforming their interests into the policy of the country.”–Luigi Zingales, professor of entrepreneurship and finance at the University of Chicago and author of “A Capitalism for the People.”
* “In some ways, it’s the most detested bull market of all time. A big part of that comes from what preceded this market: the bursting of two large equity bubbles within a 10-year period, and the terrible trauma that caused.”–Michael Hartnett, chief global equity strategist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
* “We cannot impose more austerity on people who are already suffering. Instead of talking about cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, we must end the absurdity of corporations not paying a nickel in federal income taxes.”–Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
* “You could theoretically come up with a bill that does it all, and does it all well. But realistically, given the environment we’re in now, especially, the only chance of success on immigration may be a series of bills that build on each other.”–Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.
* “It’s something that I think I’m uniquely qualified for and I say that very humbly.”–David Jolly, former general counsel to the late U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, on his announcement that he would run for Young’s vacant seat.
* “Rick Scott can spend a billion on false ads and it won’t matter. We will have an army of angels on our side.”–Charlie Crist.
* “We’ve been in Brazil for over 15 years. But this trip was so special because the entire cavalry was there.”–Visit Tampa Bay CEO Santiago Corrada.
*”It is a one-of-a-kind facility. It will bring sustainability to our state and our region for generations.”–Port of Tampa CEO Paul Anderson on the unveiling of the first phase of the $56-million, petroleum terminal complex, the largest capital investment in port history.
* “I’m just a big nerd. I love the process.”–Jim Porter, newly appointed Hillsborough County School Board attorney.
* “People can be at home watching football, but where are they? Listening to opera right here.”–Straz Center president and CEO Judy Lisi describing last Sunday’s Picnic in the Park with Opera Tampa in Curtis Hixon Park.
* “The Jewish community is part of the whole community. When you install a rabbi, that rabbi becomes a member of the general Tampa community as well.”–Installation co-chairwoman Margot Marcadis on the installation of Joshua Hearshen as the new rabbi of Congregation Rodeph Sholom.