* “It’s not in America’s interests to have troops in the middle of every conflict in the Middle East, or to be permanently involved in open-ended wars in the Middle East.”–Benjamin J. Rhodes, a White House deputy national security adviser.
* “The entire political order of the Middle East is being renegotiated.”–Imad Salamey, international relations professor at the Lebanese American University.
* “In recent decades American presidents, confronted with a tough problem abroad, have too often been too quick to reach for a gun–to use military force…Wars are a lot easier to get into than out of.”–Former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates in “Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary of War.”
* “The No. 1 cause of death of Chinese regimes in history is greed and corruption.”–Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times.
* “I think the real vulnerability may not be with the Olympic games themselves but possibly outside this perimeter where you’re going to have a lot of soft targets.”–U.S. House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Tex.)
* “A traitor and no way a whistle-blower. He represents only callow arrogance.”–Former acting CIA Director John McLaughlin, referring to Edward Snowden.
* “We believe the lessons we have learned will make us a stronger company.”–JPMorgan spokesman Joseph Evangelisti on the bank’s agreement to pay a $1.7 billion penalty for its role in Bernard Madoff’s multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme.
* “You certainly want to be respected by those that you’re requiring compliance with securities laws from, and I think we are. … You want to be a powerful force. You want to be able to deter wrongdoing. And so a little bit of fear on top of that respect is not a bad thing.”–Mary Jo White, chairwoman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
* “Its advocates want small government when it comes to regulating firearms, the environment, education, business and taxes. But when it comes to regulating your personal morality, the same people suddenly want government to be the opposite of small. … Thus it is no accident the party of small government is also the party of anti-gay legislation and trans-vaginal ultrasounds.”–Leonard Pitts, Miami Herald.
* “On the one hand, I think he’s got a lot to offer. I think he’s the most able politician since Bill Clinton. On the other hand, you look at these other qualities and ask, ‘do you really want that in your president?'”–Mentor and former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean (R) on Chris Christie.
* “As hugs go it wasn’t anything special … but that simple gesture ended my career as a viable Republican politician.”–Charlie Crist, on his support of federal stimulus and embrace of President Obama.
* “I don’t think legalizing marijuana or even decriminalizing it is the right decision for our country.”–Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
* “Banking is the most urgent issue facing the legal cannabis industry today. … Federal law (under which marijuana remains illegal) needs to be harmonized with state laws.”–Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association.
* “This is the most talked-about problem in the state. … We’ve paid more into the federal program than we’ve ever taken out. We’ve been mistreated. … We can do better on our own.”–Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, on exploring options outside the National Flood Insurance Program.
* “A good cold snap lowers the acidity in oranges and increases sugar content, sweetens the fruit.”–Frankie Hall, policy director for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation.
* “We’re on pace for a third consecutive record year of tourism. If you’re on that kind of pace, there are two things you can do: You can sit back and enjoy the ride or you can double down and redouble your efforts to build on that momentum.”–Visit Florida President and CEO Will Seccombe.
* “We’re not going to have the federal government telling us how to do our education system.”–Florida Gov. Rick Scott.
* “I am looking for partners who recognize Ybor’s history and want to help fulfill its potential.”–Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn in announcing proposals from two developers for a hotel and apartments in Ybor City.
* “We have an awful lot of work to do. There’s still a lot of people that don’t really understand or don’t know anything about the plan.”–Ronnie Duncan, chairman of the Tampa Bay Regional Transportation Authority, on the Greenlight Pinellas plan that will be up for a vote in November.