* “To conduct foreign policy, we have to deal with the governments that exist. And some of those are dictatorships.”–Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Jimmy Carter’s national security advisor.
* “No.” Historian Kevin Starr’s answer to the question of whether Americans have a clear idea of who Ronald Reagan was.
* “We have a legislative system built for a political system from another time. If we’re to win the future, we’re going to need one adapted to the realities of our present.”–Ezra Klein, Washington Post.
* “After the election, I sat down with my consultants, and their names were John Walker, James Beam and Jose Cuervo, my Hispanic consultant. When I was finished with them, I was done with that consultation.”–State Democratic Chairman Rod Smith, reflecting on the immediate aftermath of the November gubernatorial election when he was Alex Sink’s running mate.
* “Sen. (Bill) Nelson is not in terrific shape, but he is not in terrible shape either. His fate may rest with how President Barack Obama does in 2012 as Florida voters see the two men similarly on the issues.”–Peter A. Brown, assistant director, Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
* “Yes, Florida will not be breaking any previous growth records. But its recovery will still be strong, especially relative to other states.”–Karl Kuykendall, regional economist, IHS Global Insight.
* “You have to work with people. But some people who are reluctant to do that need to leave that career, they need to leave teaching.”–Hillsborough School Superintendent MaryEllen Elia.