Category: Media Watch

* “We’re testing diplomacy; we’re not resorting immediately to military conflict. Tough talk and bluster may be the easy thing to do politically, but it’s not the right thing for our security.”–President Barack Obama.

* “In addition to Secretary of State John Kerry, we may also need a ‘Secretary of State Just for the Middle East.’ Because restoring the U.S.-Iran relationship and bringing it in from the cold after 34 years is such a wrenching shock to the Middle East system, it will require daily consultation and hand-holding with all our Arab and Israeli friends.”–Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times.

* “Politically, it’s probably a blessing in disguise for Brazil. It’s trying to portray itself as capable and transparent and all eyes will be watching. Brazil probably needs to turn outward, and these events are forcing it outward.”–Greg Michener, a professor at the Brazilian School of Public and Business Administration in Rio de Janeiro, on the implications of international scrutiny focusing on Brazil as it prepares for the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016.

* “How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?”–Pope Francis.

*”I think both the presidential and vice presidential nominee should be a former or current governor. People who have done successful things in their states.”–Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

* “The next challenge for the (Affordable Care Act) law, as the White House knows, will be the outreach challenge of signing up enough young-and-healthy people to balance out its risk pools. That’s a challenge the White House spent quite a lot of time thinking about before this IT nightmare.”–Ezra Klein, Washington Post.

* “Democrats will run on the Affordable Care Act and win.”–Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, and chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.

* “I don’t think anybody is looking back (to 2008). If Hillary runs for the nomination, she gets it. Period.”–L. Douglas Wilder, the nation’s first elected black governor from Virginia.

* “Consumers should be able to know whether there are other eyes surfing on the web with them.”–Eric T. Schneiderman, attorney general of New York, after Google agreed to pay $17 million to 37 states and the District of Columbia in a settlement over tracking consumers online without their knowledge.

* “The journalism world is changing. In the broadest terms, transparency has become more important; traditional objectivity less so. Within the whirlwind, journalists need to hold on tight to accuracy, intellectual honesty, rigorous reporting and fairness–values that can never go out of style.”–New York Times Public Editor Margaret Sullivan.

* “Administrators who market (their verb, not mine) education as a passport to success instead of defining it as a pathway to knowledge are, essentially, advocating for the training of workers rather than for the education of citizens. … Some argue that the days of furthering or bettering oneself through a liberal arts education are gone, but that’s true only if ‘furthering and bettering’ means ‘making more money.’ If that’s the case, then let’s just teach our kids to write ransom notes.”–Gina Barreca, Hartford Courant.

* “It’s the cutest phenomenon ever.”–Lynn Quincy, senior health policy analyst at Consumers Union, on the strategy that insurers and advocacy group are using to get young adults to sign up for health insurance: appealing to their mothers.

* “I am tremendously worried, not about my political future. Health care should be a right in America, not a privilege.”–Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Miami.

* “In the 2012 session, the Republican-controlled Legislature failed to pass a bill allowing major casinos in South Florida. But the pro-expansion players are doubling down. … And based on the contributions to the governor’s political committee, they’re hoping he’ll be their ace in the hole.”–Former Florida state legislator Paula Dockery.

* “I was flabbergasted. It’s a perfect example of a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.”–Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer on Secretary of State Ken Detzner’s plans to eliminate remote voting sites for absentee-voter drop off.

* “Though I call myself socially liberal and a fiscal conservative, it is frustrating that there is no place for me in today’s politics.”–Raymond James chairman Tom James.

* “We know what this program is all about. I have total confidence in coach Muschamp and have made that clear. We’ve got to fix some things. When you have seasons like this, that’s what you do: You evaluate, you analyze and you fix things. You don’t panic.”–University of Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley regarding the status of head football coach Will Muschamp.

* “I’m from Montreal and I love going back there, but Tampa has always been my home.”–Former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier.

The other day at the gym someone remarked about the message on the T-shirt I was wearing. Probably like a lot of folks, I put on whatever is on top of the pile on a given day. Then I forget whether it says “Bolts,” “Tampa Theatre,” “Rays” or “Habitat For Humanity.” In this case, I was sporting a green and white number from my reporter days with the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

The mildly amused inquisitor was familiar with TBBJ, but mentioned the wording on the back. I had forgotten there was anything there. He read it back to me. It was, I then recalled, mildly suggestive, insider humor from the advertising/marketing side: “Exposing, Reaching, Penetrating.”

I wonder if they’re still that funny over there.

* “No matter where you are, we are a target these days. No matter where we go, countries like China, Russia and much of the Arab world have assets and are trying to spy on us so you have to think about that and take as many precautions as possible.”–R. James Woolsey Jr., the director of central intelligence during the Clinton administration.

* “When we emphasize the uncertainty of climate change, we appear to justify a course of no action on climate. … At present, it seems that the human race stands little risk of overreacting to global warming but a great risk of underreacting.”–Adam Sobel, author, atmospheric scientist and professor at Columbia University.

* “Right now, governors are the most popular political players in the country, mainly because of the dysfunction in Washington and because the public perceives governors as being bipartisan, pragmatic and able to work things out. Governors are the hot political items right now.”–Bill Richardson, former governor of New Mexico and Democratic candidate for president in 2008.

* “The fact that there is a little bit of a disagreement between the press corps and the White House press office about how much access the press corps should have to the president is built into the system. If that tension didn’t exist, then either you or we aren’t doing our jobs.”–White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

* “Politics is a team sport. Obama’s the blue team captain, and he’s not doing well. So it’s no surprise the president’s teammates are not doing well, either.”–Quinnipiac pollster Peter A. Brown.

* “Without a doubt, the conduct uncovered in this investigation helped sow the seeds of the mortgage meltdown.”–U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on the $13-billion settlement penalty reached by the U.S. Justice Department and JPMorgan Chase over the bank’s peddling of toxic mortgages.

* “The failures of massive online education come as no shock to those of us who actually educate students by being in the same room with them. … Successful education needs personal interaction and accountability, period. This is, in fact, the same reason students feel annoyed, alienated and anonymous in large lecture halls and thus justified in sexting and playing World of Warcraft during class.”–Rebecca Schuman, adjunct professor of humanities at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

* “All of us have entered into a compact, a conspiracy. For the pleasure the sport (football) gives us, we’ll tuck away our reservations about its culture of violence. We’ll turn a blind eye to the wreckage.”–Frank Bruni, New York Times.

* “They should have checked with us before they scheduled the game in New Jersey. If I was paying that much for a ticket, I might not want to sit in the snow.”–Sandi Duncan, managing editor of the Farmers’ Almanac, commenting on the site of this year’s Super Bowl: New Jersey’s outdoors MetLife Stadium.

* “Everybody has been putting their toe in the water, but Toyota putting its toe in the water is a bit more significant.”–Auto industry analyst Alan Baum on Toyota’s announcement that it plans to begin selling a hydrogen fuel-cell car by 2015.

* “It’s hard to say stocks are expensive when you compare them to any other asset class.”–Brian Hogan, director of equities at Fidelity Investments.

* “Harry Potter is not American. It’s foreign, and it’s so blatantly commercial it’s off the charts.”–John Hotchner, former president of the American Philatelic Society, on the U.S. Postal Service plans to issue a Harry Potter stamp.

* “I have yet to have a bad martini in DC.”–Florida Congressman Trey Radel, R-Fort Myers.

* “There is a desire to have a broad, one-size-fits-all answer to cyberbullying. I don’t know if this phenomenon lends itself to that kind of solution.”–Lyrissa Lidsky, First Amendment and cyber law professor at the University of Florida.

* “When I look at what is happening in other states across the country, Florida is way back. I think (consumers) are mad, but they’re feeling helpless.”–Florida Congresswoman Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, on this state’s need to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

* “Florida faces a preponderance of needs that have been neglected by, and in some cases caused by, the Republican leadership.”–Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, the House minority leader.

* “People are looking at this as a very nationalized race, a bellwether for the country–one of the first congressional races to be held in the actual election year.”–USF political scientist Susan MacManus on the significance of the March special election to replace the late Republican Rep. C.W. “Bill” Young in Pinellas County.

* “It’s a message that Tampa is open for business and welcoming of talent.”–Nadine Smith, CEO of Equality Florida, in response to the Human Rights Campaign’s ranking of Tampa as first in the state in the promotion of equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents.

* “Major League Baseball does not believe in Tampa Bay as a baseball region. I am convinced of that. I believe that Mr. (Stuart) Sternberg believes it could work. I’m not sure he’s convinced, but he believes it could work.”–St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster.

First things first. I saw “The Book of Mormon” the other night at the Straz Center and was, well, surprised. I liked it. I’ll get back to that in a bit.

I can be finicky about pop culture. My wife would say “dismissive.” That would be too harsh a judgment were it not so often applicable.

For example, I don’t like rap. Call me old-school. Or old. Or white. I prefer that performers actually carry a tune–and carry themselves in a way that doesn’t involve crotch checks. Yes, it’s still there. And while “Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On” and “Tutti Frutti” had to be sanitized for main stream acceptance back in the day, nobody ever thought there were thuggish or misogynistic versions.

I’m also not a fan of movies creatively inspired, as it were, by comic books and video games. And I like my cinematic violence more Hitchcockian than Tarrantinoesque, thank you. Reality shows are oxymoronic. Where there are lights and cameras, there is reality distortion and self-awareness, the compelling presence of Snookie notwithstanding.

I can still remember when media pundits weren’t shill-and-shout, acolyte-recruiting infotainers.

I can also recall when cartoons were childlike, goofy and occasionally dead-on, Cold War parody. Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale were Soviet-era send-ups on “Rocky and His Friends.” No wonder older siblings and parents hovered nearby. This wasn’t “Mighty Mouse” or “Woody the Woodpecker.” But nobody cringed at the dialogue.

Which brings us, however circuitously, to “South Park,” the highly successful, prime time, adult cartoon. I’m not a fan. Not that I miss Bullwinkle so much. I guess I just unfairly write off most sitcoms–animated or not, TV-MA rating or not, 4th-grade characters or not–since “M*A*S*H,” “The Cosby Show,” “Mad About You” and “Seinfeld.” And, frankly, if I want a dose of crude humor and coarse language, I’ll see what HBO’s offering.

This is relevant, of course, because “South Park” creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone–along with Robert Lopez of “Avenue Q” fame–collaborated on the book, lyrics and music of “The Book of Mormon.”

It all works. Plus, the set designs and choreography are first rate. We are again reminded how fortunate we are in this market to have the Straz–and its ability to lure Tony Award-winning productions.

And the Straz, to be sure, knows it. Tampa isn’t New York, but neither is it New Port Richey. It doesn’t look good if internationally recognized, award-winning fare doesn’t play well in this market with such a world-class facility.

“People have definitely been turning out,” says Paul Bilyeu, the Straz’s senior director of communications. “It’s a terrific show for Tampa to get. And if we didn’t get it, it would be noted.”

Not to worry. A recent Saturday night audience that packed Morsani Hall was more than receptive. Here’s one take on why–beyond the aforementioned production values and the Straz’s proactivity in getting out the word to those not likely to accept sacrilegious in the name of silly.

Thank you, Mormon religion.

We all have door bells. We remember the Romney campaign disclaimers. We get it.

Other religions have, for example, Jesus of Nazareth or Muhammad of Mecca as their deified prophets. The Mormons have Joe Smith of upstate New York. And the hits keep coming from there. From nerdy, teenaged missionaries presuming to explain much of anything to other cultures, especially African ones, to biblical back stories that might as well have Hobbits in the mix.

Plus, I grew up a George Carlin Catholic. I know dogmatic parody material.

And thank you, musical comedy.

Blasphemies set to song don’t seem all that, well, blasphemous. Ask Mel Brooks. Think: Spring Time for Hitler in “The Producers” or even Puttin on the Ritz from “Young Frankenstein.” And in the case of Spring Time, maybe even a device to defuse evil by reducing it to song and dance.

It might not seem fair, but well-done musical comedy might be the perfect vehicle for the otherwise outrageous. And making light of the holocaust, genital mutilation and AIDS–as well as flipping off God–arguably qualifies. But they’re also–wink, nod–plot-advancing devices.

Sure, there were times when sophomoric humor was just that–and we could have done without choreography that included a simulated sex act by Jeffrey Dahmer. Honest, it’s there, but it’s in the diversion-filled, “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream” scene and is easy to miss. Some things “South Parkers” just can’t resist–even when they should.

Probably the loudest laugh of the night was elicited from a line by one of the young missionary “elders,” who was reeling from revelatory life outside the Utah cocoon. “I can’t believe Jesus called me a dick.” Actually, by then, it’s downright believable. Jesus had a case.

To their credit, Mormons have responded in a PR-savvy and good-natured way. They took out multiple, full-page ads in the Straz playbill, including: “The Book Is Always Better.”

* “As the West Bank is to Israelis and Palestinians, nuclear power is becoming to many Iranians. Powerful figures there have linked the issue to the history of foreign exploitation of Iran’s oil resources in an effort to reframe it as a matter of national pride.”–Frank Rose, author of “The Art of Immersion: How the Digital Generation Is Remaking Hollywood, Madison Avenue and the Way We Tell Stories.”

* “Saudi objections to the Islamic Republic of Iran are existential. The Saudis regard Tehran as a heretical, Shi’ite, Persian enemy that must be opposed relentlessly and unequivocally. Its antipathy predates Iran’s nuclear program and will persist regardless of how it’s resolved.”–Fareed Zakaria, Time magazine.

* “Now we are being beckoned–by history, by our Holy Father, by the force of our own logic–to extend those efforts (in promoting religious liberty in the United States) to the dramatic front lines of this battle where Christians (abroad) are paying for their fidelity with their lives.”–Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, in his final address as president of America’s Roman Catholic bishops.

* “The question now is whether his brassy act will play as well in Nashua and Sioux City as it does in Nutley and Asbury Park. The answer rests on what direction a divided Republican Party takes over the next few years.”–Joe Scarborough, co-host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” in assessing the presidential prospects of re-elected New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

* “They (Cuban government) may take it (environmental duty) more seriously than members of the United States Congress.”–Florida Congresswoman Kathy Castor, D-Tampa.

* “Gerrymandering results in voter disenfranchisement and is a threat to our confidence in representative democracy.”–Richard Meyer, professor emeritus in the College of Business at USF.

* “It’s ironic that the governor and his entourage experienced riding Japan’s network of high speed rail lines, the Shinkansen, on an economic development mission after turning down $2.4 billion in federal funds and guarantees of up to $400 million in private equity from the very country he was visiting.”–Former Florida legislator Paula Dockery.

* “There is no question that this is an existential threat to the industry.”–Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam on citrus greening attacks.

* “This technology is not 22nd century technology; it is here.”–Ananth Prasad, secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, on driverless vehicles.

* “For a guy who is of Indian heritage, I don’t like outsourcing. “–Paresh Patel, CEO of Tampa-based Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance.

* “We had a nice, long, face to face meeting that went, in my eyes, extremely well.”–Tampa Bay Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg on his introductory meeting with St. Petersburg Mayor-elect Rick Kriseman.

* “Usually when I show up outside the confines of the city limits, the rumors start. Either, ‘He’s going to annex’ or ‘He’s running for governor.’ … My vision isn’t just contained to the city limits. Everybody has to buy into it. I want it to be as contagious in Brandon as it is in Tampa.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

* “It is truly rare for a university, nationally, globally, to have a $1 billion campaign.”–USF President Judy Genshaft on USF’s “Unstoppable” fundraising campaign now in phase two–with a goal of $1 billion.

* “One of the things that we have strived to do is to round out the activities in Ybor. More heads on beds. When you have more people living there, it attracts more service retail and rounds out that Ybor experience.”–Bob McDonaugh, Tampa’s economic opportunity administrator, on city plans to seek proposals on land that is a potential hotel site.

* “It’s an internationally recognized brand. It’s worthy to have a building that is appropriate for our visiting out-of-town guests to come in, rather than a former sewage treatment plant.”–Frank Dame, chief operating officer of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, on plans for a new facility.

* “But it’s different when you see that hard work turn into something. Now we believe.”–Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Davin Joseph after the Bucs’ 41-28 win over Atlanta.

Here’s an additional thought that was prompted by the recently debuted “JFK in Tampa” documentary. How ironic that the word “alleged” is scrupulously–and appropriately–applied to (untried, unconvicted) murder suspects. And that includes, most notably, the infamous Dontae Morris, the alleged TPD cop-killer.

But for too many media members the word “alleged” no longer seems applicable to Lee Harvey Oswald.

Perhaps it’s self-consciousness over appearing to be duped by conspiracy opportunists and “nuts.” Perhaps it’s an ineluctable concession to permanently moving on past a half-century-old crime. Perhaps Oliver Stone has been replaced by Bill O’Reilly.

But there is one immutable, unquestioned fact. With summary suspect executions, you get no trial or conviction or perspective. Had Oswald been subject to a public trial, frankly, chain-of-evidence custody would have been a prosecutorial nightmare. Cherry-picked witnesses and conflicting testimony would have been beyond problematic. And, of course, there was no 1963 counterpart to a dashboard video.

Applied today to Oswald, “alleged” is no mere legal technicality. Its absence, however, is journalistic malpractice.

We all know the formidable challenges–technological and cultural–faced by traditional newspapers in a digital age. But it’s more than just the paying-for-content crucible. Metro dailies have downsized, merged and collaborated with electronic counterparts. Some, such as the Tampa Bay Times, have gotten proactive with proprietary features such as PolitiFact.

Now the Times has pushed beyond holding public officials accountable to fact-checking pundits. To that end, it recently debuted PunditFact, actually a partnership of PolitiFact and the Times-owning Poynter Institute. This was as inevitable as it was overdue. Too much of the punditocracy are either clueless online amateurs or partisan hacks and conflict-driven infotainers.

The real test, however, will come when the Times has to call out its own.

Speaking of the Tampa Bay Times, its recent editorial take in support of the Hillsborough County Commission’s decision to maintain the status quo on the configuration of the seven-member board surprised a number of observers. The progressive alternative would have been to allow voters next year to decide if they wanted to retain the alignment of three (at-large) countywide seats and four district seats–or change to two at-large and five district. The vote went the way of a Republican majority–Ken Hagan, Sandy  Murman, Victor Crist and Al Higginbotham. A super majority of five was necessary to send the proposal to voters, but only Democrats Les Miller and Kevin Beckner and Republican Mark Sharpe voted for the measure that would have lessened the number of constituents per commissioner and improved chances of an Hispanic being elected to the Commission.

The Times found the proposed plan an exercise in discrimination. It also argued that continuing to allow any voter to elect a majority of the board–a district rep and three at-large commissioners–was meritorious enough to carry the day.

The upshot is this. About 70,000 fewer constituents per commissioner would make for more responsive government. Moreover, a county that is nearly a quarter Hispanic and where more than a third of its public school students are Hispanic would now have a better chance of finally having Hispanic representation–not some politically-correct token–on the Commission.

Reasonable people, regardless of position on the political spectrum, can disagree over the implications of a 5-2 vs. 4-3 make-up. What they should be able to agree on, however, is that it should go to the voters to make the ultimate call at the ballot box.

* “We are not blind, and I don’t think we are stupid. I think we have a pretty strong sense of how to measure whether or not we are acting in the interests of our country and of the globe and particularly of our allies like Israel and Gulf States and others in the region.”–Secretary of State John Kerry in defending his negotiating strategy with Iran over its nuclear program.

* “There is a military coup in the country. I am the president of the republic, according to the constitution of the state, and I am forcibly detained.”–Mohammed Morsi, the overthrown president of Egypt.

* “It’s amazing how resilient the economy has been in the face of numerous shocks.”–Joe LaVorgna, chief U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank.

* “When that note comes due–and this isn’t racist…but it’s going to be like slavery when that note is due. We are going to be beholden to a foreign master. Because there is no plan coming out of Washington, D.C. to stop the incurrence of debt.”–Sarah Palin.

* “Debt can indirectly make us poorer if deficits drive up interest rates and thereby discourage productivity investment. But that hasn’t been happening. Instead, investment is low because of the economy’s weakness. And one of the main things keeping the economy weak is the depressing effect of cutbacks in public spending–especially, by the way, cutbacks in public investment–all justified in the name of protecting the future from the wildly exaggerated threat of excessive debt.”–Paul Krugman, New York Times.

* “Ninety-five percent of the world’s consumers live outside the United States; 80 percent of the world’s growth will happen outside the United States. The fastest-growing component of the middle class is happening in emerging markets, not here. So American companies that have an exportable service need to be thinking globally. That is my message to Florida, and that is my message to small-and medium-sized companies around the country.”–Tampa native Frank Sanchez, the former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade.

* “I resent it. I’ve resented it from the beginning. People in this city got past it almost a year ago, as people got to know me and we started to relate as individuals.”–Detroit’s Mayor-elect Mike Duggan saying that too much has been made of the fact that he will be Detroit’s first white mayor in four decades.

* “In today’s world of punditry, some still research for hours, if not days, before posting an opinion. Others roll out of bed with an idea and hit ‘send’ before a brush meets their bed hair. In the eyes of too much of the public, we’re all one and the same.”–Connie Schultz, Creators Syndicate.

* “The Internet is the death of forgetting. You cannot reinvent yourself because it’s always there. You hit Google, and your cavalcade of misdeeds comes rolling back to the top of the page.”–Alec Baldwin.

* “If you want to measure change, don’t change the measure.”–Jack Buckley, National Center for Education Statistics commissioner.

* “No matter what they say, it is not a sin to reach across the aisle. It is your obligation to work together.”–Charlie Crist.

* “LeMieux is a skunk.”–Attorney John Morgan on Charlie Crist-criticism leveled by George LeMieux, Crist’s former political advisor, chief of staff and appointed U.S. senator.

* “We could not change this city without your help.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn to HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan who recently toured the federally-funded Encore housing project.

* “Today, the energy in our community is tangible. We’re thinking bigger, reaching higher and achieving more than ever before. … We think we are in a unique place at a unique time to make some big things happen.”–Rick Homans, chief executive of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp.

* “One of the concerns raised early on was to make sure that there was plenty of public input. There’s actually more opportunities  here than we usually have.”–Bob McDonaugh, Tampa’s economic opportunity administrator, on the four public workshops designed to give input to the consulting firm hired to plan changes in Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.

* “My (Pro Football Hall of Fame) bust may seem comfy in Canton, Ohio, but my heart and soul is here in Tampa Bay.”–Warren Sapp.

* “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.