* “With the government in deficit, that means that another $1 billion will be added to our national debt.”–Bob Rae, Liberals’ foreign-affairs critic, on what Canada will spend on the upcoming G-8 and G-20 summits of world leaders in Huntsville, Ontario and Toronto, respectively.
* “Presidencies are always about crisis management.”–Maureen Dowd, New York Times.
* “When you talk to Beck fans, the first thing they say is he’s entertaining and funny. It was clear he was much more of a cultural movement figure–much more a Sarah Palin than a Sean Hannity.”–Alexander Zaitchik, author of “Common Nonsense: Glenn Beck and the Triumph of Ignorance.”
* “We are asking only two things. That they hire Americans and do their building in America to create jobs.”–Secretary of Transportation Roy LaHood in acknowledging that foreign companies have contacted him about building the Tampa-to-Orlando high-speed rail line.
* “I this is the most important urban project in the United States at this time. You cannot afford to fail.”–Urban planner and University of Pennsylvania Professor Jonathan Barnett on the high-speed rail line.
* “If Rick Scott proposes the same accountability measures for Florida government that he used at Columbia/HCA, we’ll have to back up the paddy wagon to the front door of the Capitol.”–Kyra Jennings, spokeswoman for Alex Sink.
* “Veto Corleone.”–USF political scientist Darryl Paulson’s nickname for Gov. Charlie Crist.
* “I think we have to be cautious and that we don’t turn police officers into racial profilers.”–Florida House District 58 Rep. Janet Cruz’s take on Arizona’s immigration law and any possible application to Florida.
* “They haven’t done what other teams have done, which is to make threats and give deadlines. That’s to be respected, since we do live in an environment where sports teams have a lot of economic power.”–Andrew Zimbalist, sports economist from Smith College, on the Tampa Bay Rays ownership.
* “Working with Pinellas is where it begins. We’re already working together on big events (such as the Super Bowl and Republican convention bids). We need to look at the everyday stuff … and presenting ourselves as a complete destination.”–Maryann Ferenc, co-owner of Tampa’s Mise en Place restaurant, chairwoman of the tourism-promoting Tampa Bay & Co. and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Board.