* “UFOs are real! With no prevarication or qualifications of terms, there are physical objects of unknown origin that do transit our universe. The evidence that supports those statements is simply overwhelming.”–Retired Army Col. John Alexander, author of UFOs: Myths, Conspiracies and Realities.
* “At the suitable time, we will open the arms depot so all Libyans and tribes become armed, so that Libya becomes red with fire.”–Moammar Gadhafi.
* “When a leader’s only means of staying in power is to use mass violence against his own people, he has lost the legitimacy to rule and needs to do what is right for his country by leaving now.”–President Barack Obama.
* “The smart thing for us to do right now is to impose a $1-a-gallon gasoline tax, to be phased in at 5 cents a month beginning in 2012, with all of the money going to pay down the deficit. … With one little gasoline tax we can make ourselves more economically and strategically secure, help sell more Chevy Volts and free ourselves to openly push for democratic values in the Middle East without worrying anymore that it will harm our oil interests. Yes, it will mean higher gas prices, but prices are going up anyway, folks. Let’s capture some of it for ourselves.”–Thomas Friedman, New York Times.
* “Anything that Congress does that will undermine our recovery is quite troublesome to us. We’re asking for cooperation.”–Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, head of the National Governors Conference, imploring Congress to avoid a shutdown and spending cuts.
* “When leverage works, it magnifies your gains. Your spouse thinks you’re clever, and your neighbors get envious. But leverage is addictive. Once having profited from its wonders, very few people retreat to more conservative practices.”–Billionaire Warren Buffett.
* “One thing that never changes in Washington is the difference in metabolism between the House and Senate. Have you ever watched pet-rehabilitation shows like The Dog Whisperer? The House is the deranged Pomeranian that yelps and throws itself against the window and tears up the upholstery 24/7. The Senate, meanwhile, is like a narcoleptic great Dane you can hardly rouse for dinner.”–Gail Collins, New York Times.
* “If you can’t play by the rules, you can’t receive the benefit of those rules.”–Karen Floyd, South Carolina Republican Party chairman, saying she would favor pulling the 2012 GOP Convention from Tampa if Florida keeps its rules-breaking primary in January.
* “As soon as you get out of Florida, they think you’re mayor of Tampa Bay.”–Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio.
* “Making it in the book world was like saying I have a voice. I can speak to people. My thoughts and my experiences are relatable.”–Tampa Bay Rays’ pitcher Dirk Hayhurst, author of “The Baseball Gospels,” a New York Times best-seller.