Category: Media Watch

* “I don’t think we will survive another thousand years without escaping beyond our fragile planet.”–Physicist Stephen Hawking.

* “The response has been weak so far. People are holding on to their weapons.”–Libya’s National Transitional Council leader Mustafa Abdul-Jalil on the difficulty reining in militias.

* “I refuse to take ‘no’ for an answer.”–President Barack Obama in defying GOP lawmakers by (recess) appointing Richard Cordray as the first director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

* “A Florida win by anyone other than Romney would be a big boost for a conservative challenger, who would be catapulted into the South, which is loaded with conservative evangelical Tea Party voters who aren’t really Mitt Romney voters.”–Greg Mueller, president of the (conservative) CRC public relations firm.

* “Even if (former Pennsylvania Senator) Rick Santorum is not nominated, he might galvanize a constituency that makes him a vice-presidential choice. For Obama, getting to 270 electoral votes without Pennsylvania’s 20 is problematic.”–George Will, Washington Post.

* “To prevent the next panic, it’s not enough to rely on emergency actions by the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank. Instead, governments should fully guarantee all bank deposits–and impose much tighter restrictions on risk-taking by banks. Banks should be forced to shed activities like derivatives trading that regulators cannot easily examine. The Dodd-Frank financial reform act of 2010 did nothing to secure large deposits and very little to curtail risk-taking by banks.”–Tufts College Professor Amar Bhide, author of “A Call for Judgment: Sensible Finance for a Dynamic Economy.”

* “If entitlements and social democracy were anywhere near the impediments to enterprise that Romney claims, Germany would hardly be the most successful economy in the advanced industrial world, with those of Scandinavia close behind.”–Harold Meyerson, editor of the American Prospect.

* “To those many millions of Americans whose guts tell them the Occupy Movement is on to something but aren’t the sort to camp out or protest in the street, I say find another way to let your voice be heard in the new year.”–Norman Lear, television writer/producer and founder of People for the American Way.

* “Everyone wants the best available care, especially for life-threatening diseases like cancer. But that doesn’t mean Americans should pay exorbitant costs for (proton beam) treatments that (often) can’t be shown to be better than other, cheaper options. If the United States is ever going to control our health care costs, we have to demand better evidence of effectiveness, and stop handing out taxpayer dollars with no questions asked.”–Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, oncologist and former White House adviser.

* “Last year was an exceptional year for the business community and certainly for the Florida Chamber. It’s rare to have 31 out of 36 priorities pass both bodies and have 31 of them signed by the governor.”–David Hart, vice president of governmental affairs for the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

* “All in all, a good start.”–Former Gov. Jeb Bush assessing first year of Gov. Rick Scott.

* “Newt Gingrich is the one who has the most capability to challenge Barack Obama.”–Former Attorney General Bill McCollum.

* “We all have to die, so why not die the Islamic way?”–Sami Osmakac, who allegedly planned acts of terror in Tampa.

* “I’ll look everywhere as long as I can look anywhere. That’s still it.”–Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternberg on the pursuit of a new baseball stadium.

* “By no means does it shed a true light on the advancements academically that we have made. The ironic thing is that the majority of our students made learning gains. They just didn’t meet the benchmark of proficiency.”–Middleton High School Principal Owen Young addressing his school’s Department of Education grade dropping from a C to a D.

* “They’re going to be a tenant.”–Tampa Convention Center Director Rick Hamilton on accommodating media needs for two months before this summer’s GOP National Convention.

* “I can’t think of anything else that’s gone for that high a square-foot price in two years. … For a long time, you could not give land away.”–Patrick Berman, commercial real estate broker with Cushman & Wakefield, commenting on the $4.8 million paid for the former Malio’s Steakhouse at 301 S. Dale Mabry Highway by L.A. Fitness of Irvine, Calif.

* “We do have plans for connecting bike lanes, just like we connect sidewalks. Whenever we do other work, we take that as an opportunity.”–Steve Daignault, Tampa’s public works director.

* “This is a great way to showcase the city, the waterfront and the great sport of rowing.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn speaking at the inaugural Roosevelt Rowing Regatta.

If you see no other movie in the coming year, then take in “The Artist.” It’s still playing at Tampa Theatre, which only adds to the experience. Where an appreciative crowd will applaud, as this one did, at the end of a superb movie.

It’s been noted that “The Artist” is an ode to silent films. It is, but that’s almost too academic an accolade. Sure, the conventions of silent filmmaking are on display, nostalgically so, and we hearken back to another era–the late 1920s. But subtitles are at a minimum, which puts a premium on audience participation. It’s obvious that dialogue would often be redundant.

If you are choosey about what movies are worth your time before they’re rentable, choose this one. You’ll be cinematically transported, and you’ll love the trip.

* “The free flow of goods and services through the Strait of Hormuz is vital to regional and global prosperity. Any disruption will not be tolerated.”–Lt. Rebecca Rebarich, U.S. Navy spokeswoman in Bahrain, site of the 5th Fleet headquarters.

* “Cracking down on organizations whose sole purpose is to support the democratic process during Egypt’s historic transition sends a disturbing signal.”–Kenneth Wollack, president of the National Democratic Institute, a democracy-promoting group financed by the U.S.

* “In the Dark Ages when it comes to maternity leave.”–Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly’s characterization of the United States.

* “My idea of gun control? Use both hands.”–Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

* “You can’t be against same-sex marriage and for Newt Gingrich. No man has ever loved another man as much as Newt Gingrich loves Newt Gingrich.”–Bill Maher, the host of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher.”

* “Debates have nearly crippled campaigns, chewing into the precious time each candidate has to organize, raise money, set themes, roll out policy and campaign.”–Republican strategist Karl Rove.

* “What happens in Iowa doesn’t stay in Iowa: it befouls Republicans’ image nationally, becomes a millstone around the eventual nominee’s neck and legitimizes debate about some matters that shouldn’t be debated.”–Frank Bruni, New York Times.

* “Mittens.”–Nickname given to Mitt Romney by media covering his campaign.

* “The Internet is everywhere, but this is (also) a golden age of long-form journalism. …Tweets are fun, but essays you’ll remember.”–David Brooks, New York Times.

* “An energetic stump speaker and prolific writer, (Theodore) Roosevelt is still eminently quotable. Besides ‘malefactors of great wealth,’ he is also responsible for giving the language ‘lunatic fringe,’ ‘muckrakers,’ ‘loose cannon’ and ‘parlor pinks.'”–Rosemarie Ostler, History News Service.

* “This (state) budget, if passed, carries dire consequences that not only hurt our community’s most vulnerable, but puts all of us at risk. When a hospital changes its scope of services, it doesn’t preserve a portion for privately insured and paying patients. The service ceases to exist for everyone who needs it.”–Bayfront Health System CEO Sue. G. Brady on Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed $2 billion Medicaid cut that also eliminates federal and local matching funds.

* “There’s a fairly large bloc of Republicans who would like to see the Senate a little more moderate. In the last session, we spent four days on abortion and one day on jobs.”–State Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Seminole.

* “A Las Vegas Sands destination resort meets Florida’s need for billions of investment capital, attracting hundreds of thousands of new visitors and creating thousands of new, quality jobs.”–Andy Abboud, vice president of government relations and community development at Las Vegas Sands Corp.

*”We should not be seduced into embracing casino gambling with its long-term economic and social consequences based on a five-year out-of-the-norm economic slump.”–Former Florida Gov. Bob Graham.

* “…I’m just clean as a whistle. …I knew I didn’t do anything wrong, and I was validated.”– Sen. Jim Norman, R-Tampa, on federal prosecutors dropping the case involving that $500,000 house loan to his wife from the late Ralph Hughes.

* “It wouldn’t be like NASCAR. It would be done in a tasteful manner…”–Rep. Larry Ahern, R-Seminole, a co-sponsor of a bill that would allow school districts to sell ads on the sides of school buses.

* “When you look at the loss of $500,000, there’s no way to replace it. All you can really do is eat into the plan you already have.”–WUSF General Manager JoAnn Urofsky on the impact of cuts in state funding.

* “A history of conservative financial management contributing to strong reserves and healthy financial flexibility underpin Tampa’s credit profile.”–Fitch Ratings commentary on Tampa’s municipal bonds.

* “It’s one of those things where you prepare for the worst and you hope for the best.”–Tampa Assistant Police Chief Marc Hamlin on preparing for the GOP National Convention in August.

* “There seems to be a lot more talk about police than what their mission should be.”–TPD spokeswoman Andrea Davis on the Occupy Tampa protesters.

* “Since he’s been at Georgia, he has been a wonderful representative of our university and program. He’s very well-spoken and he’s a handsome kid–I know my daughter’s in love with him–and he understands that people are looking to him. He does it all with a dose of humility.”–Georgia head football coach Mark Richt describing quarterback Aaron Murray, a Plant High graduate.

* “If I was in the business of worrying about my future, I wouldn’t be coaching.”–Recently fired Bucs head coach Raheem Morris.

* “Everything could potentially change. The only person who had the experience and who held  the exclusive power is gone.”–Shi Yinhong, professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing, on the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and the appointment of his son, Kim Jong Un, 27, as successor.

* “Perhaps a few of us thought that after German unification there would not be so much more to do. We were wrong there.”–German Chancellor Angela Merkle.

* “I’m happy that I have lived to see the people waking up. This raises big hopes.”–Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev commenting on recent Russian demonstrations demanding free elections and an end to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s 12-year rule.

* “We will terribly miss him, but we will never, ever forget him.”–Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State and a native of Prague, in paying tribute to the late Vaclav Havel, the first democratically elected leader of Czechoslovakia.

* “The nation’s overall (population) growth rate is now at its lowest point (0.92 percent) since before the baby boom.”–Census Bureau Director Robert Groves.

* “And, fair or not, the majority of voters will not feel comfortable with their nominee being a 76-year-old man who generally comes across as a character in ‘Grumpy Old Men.'”–New Hampshire GOP operative Michael Dennehy, commenting on Ron Paul.

* “We will attack it quickly, aggressively and as far from our shores as we can.”–Rear Admiral William Baumgartner on how the U.S. Coast Guard would react in the case of an oil spill resulting from drilling off the Coast of Cuba–less than 100 miles from Florida.

* “A circular firing squad.”–Wall Street Journal editorial reference to U.S. House Republicans.

* “One of the many problems of my life here is the amount of time to think.”–The imprisoned Bernie Madoff.

* “Have we lost faith in the free-market system of entrepreneurial capitalism? Are we no longer willing to place our trust in the creative chaos unleashed by millions of people pursuing their own best economic interests?”–Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

* “The I-4 corridor is an area we think is poised to have above-average growth. It’s an area that is evolving into Florida’s new breadbasket.”–Sean Snaith, director of UCF’s Institute for Economic Competitiveness.

* “I know she’s said she’s not running for governor, but she’s building a franchise. She’s making friends all over the state. She’s visible; she’s out there.”–State Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, in reference to Attorney General Pam Bondi.

* “Mr. Goodman has made the Lakeland campus a sideshow with his attempts to become independent from USF main.”–Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, on the ouster of Marshall Goodman as chancellor of USF Poly.

* “The Board’s motion that outlines the steps for the Polytech to achieve independence called for collaboration with the Board of Governors in this process, and I do not see the manner in which the interim Regional Chancellor was appointed as an example of full collaboration.”–Dean Colson, chairman-elect of the Florida Board of Governors, on the way USF announced that Goodman was out and David Touchton was in as interim chancellor of USF Poly in Lakeland.

* “It’s ultimately a pipeline issue. By the time they get to us, they’re not qualified.”–Florida International University President Mark Rosenberg on the need for students to put in more work on STEM subjects before they get to the university level.

* “I must go on record that we are all, as board members, continuing to raise the bar for all students, including all the minorities. We are not going to be falling for any soft bigotry of low expectations.”–A.K. Desai, a member of the Florida Board of Education, explaining the rationale behind raising the passing scores for all levels of FCAT.

* “I’m the last person to ask his opinion on art because I’m barely able to offer one. But it’s a conversation  piece. If people are making fun of it, that means they’re talking about it.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn assessing the so-called ‘Exploding Chicken’ sculpture that will soon be relocated to the Channel District roundabout.

* “You cannot conduct an adventurist foreign policy when you rebuild a country. We must have the best of relations with the United States.”–Amr Moussa, former foreign minister of Egypt and a front-runner in the race for president.

*  “Club Med.”–Patrick Buchanan, Creators Syndicate, in referring to European economic laggards Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

* “It is harder to end a war than to begin one.”–President Barack Obama.

* “It is vindication of my father 50 years afterward. Dad is one of our American heroes.”–Francis Gary Powers Jr. on the announcement that his late father, who was the U-2 pilot shot down over the Soviet Union in1960, will be posthumously awarded the Silver Star by the U.S. Air Force.

* “Newt Gingrich, I think, would be the largest disaster the Republican party would put into the nomination since Barry Goldwater.”–Brian Ballard, Tallahassee lobbyist and a top fundraiser for Mitt Romney.

* “Many politicians are full of themselves. Gingrich is overstuffed.”–Frank Bruni, New York Times.

* “I hope I am the Tim Tebow of the Iowa caucuses.”–Rick Perry.

* “Foreign aid, which represents less than 1 percent of the total federal budget, helps to strengthen our allies, deprive extremists like al-Qaida of new recruits, and protect millions of women and children from AIDS and preventable, life-threatening diseases like malaria–all goals vital to our national interests.”–Mark Schlakman, senior program director at FSU’s Center for the Advancement of Human Rights.

* “If new regulations were eating into business, we’d see a slip in corporate profits. We are not.”–David Brooks, New York Times.

* “We will stand firm against outside influence, no matter how well intended.”–FAMU Board of Trustees Chairman Solomon Badger explaining the board’s rejection of Gov. Rick Scott’s call for the suspension of FAMU President James Ammons.

* “The recovery is not a robust one. We need to see declining unemployment, rising payrolls and a growing labor force.”–University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith.

* “The bottom line is that you cut $1.35 billion last year. So this billion doesn’t even come close to replacing what you cut last year.”–Florida Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich referring to Gov. Rick Scott’s request to the Legislature for a $1 billion increase in education funding.

* “He (Marco Rubio) could give Tea Party activists a reason to turn out at the polls even if the presidential nominee isn’t their first choice. But as a way to guarantee a big defection of Latino votes to the GOP column, he’s no sure thing.”–Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times.

* “Florida is the greatest offender of some of the most gerrymandered  districts in the country, and the Legislature is creating  obstructions to voting. It’s shameful.”–Former state Sen. Dan Gelber.

* “Our vision will become a reality.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn’s response to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s rejection of a $10 million grant to complete two final segments of the Riverwalk project.

* “I know quit when I see quit, and quit is not disguised tonight.”–NFL Network’s Deion Sanders’ assessment of Bucs in their 31-15 loss to Dallas last Saturday.

* “She set the tone for some of our public figures inside the country, sent a signal to them. They heard this signal and launched active work with the U.S. State Department’s support.”–Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in criticizing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for questioning the validity of Russia’s recent parliamentary elections.

* “We all agree that a financial transaction tax would be the right signal to show that we have understood that financial markets have to contribute their share to the recovery of economies.”–German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the merits of the so-called Robin Hood tax: a tiny levy on trades in the financial markets.

* “A crappy VC.”–Former Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence Summers’ characterization of the federal government as venture capitalist.

* “Why doesn’t he propose to drug test executives at Wall Street banks?”–Rep. George Miller of California, top Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, in response to legislation introduced by Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., that would require applicants for federally subsidized jobless benefits to fill out a drug-screening questionnaire to determine whether they should have to take a drug test.

* “In tough economic times, it’s not the time to stop investing in education.”–Education Secretary Arne Duncan in his visit to Fletcher High School in Neptune Beach.

* “How does an ostentatious know-it-all fare so well in a party supposedly hostile to intellectuals and intellectualism?”–Frank Bruni, New York Times, on the pre-primary surge of Newt Gingrich.

* “The only reason you didn’t become a career politician is because you lost to Teddy Kennedy in 1994.”–Newt Gingrich to Mitt Romney at last Saturday’s debate in Des Moines, Iowa.

* “One of the things that I think people recognize in Washington is that people go there to serve the people and then stay there to serve themselves.”–Mitt
Romney.

* “Let me just say, if Newt Gingrich is the smartest guy in the room, leave that room.”–Joe Scarborough, former Congressman (R-Fla.) and host of MSNBC’s
“Morning Joe.”

* “I am not going to contort myself into something that’s unrecognizable–I am what I am.”–Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman.

* “It’s worth remembering also that four years ago at this time, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was the Republican leader.”–Pollster Peter
Brown.

* “Americans do not believe that Obama has succeeded, but they still want him to succeed.”–Michael Gerson, Washington Post.

* “I’m being judged against the ideal. Joe Biden has a good expression. He says, ‘Don’t judge me against the Almighty, judge me against the alternative.'”–President Barack Obama.

* “Although he claims to have no interest in the job, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is still the most likely VP choice for any Republican nominee, especially Gingrich, who has mentioned Rubio specifically.”–Jonathan Alter, Bloomberg News.

* “A stable regulatory environment does not mean lower environmental standards.”–Gov. Rick Scott.

* “We do not support either the magnitude of the cuts or the policy behind the reductions.”–Paul Belcher of the Florida Hospital Association referencing Gov.
Rick Scott’s proposed Medicaid cuts of nearly $2 billion.

* “It would be transformative.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn on the impact of a Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium in downtown Tampa.

*”From afar, I’ve been in awe of the job they’ve done. I’ve admired the work of Joe Maddon and his (Tampa Bay Rays) team.”–New Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine.

Not that it should surprise anyone, but nice to see that a CNN Travel website listed Tampa International Airport as the country’s most “loved” and number six in the world.

TIA was the product of visionaries who saw an ideal location and foresaw the perfect priority. TIA was built more for people than planes.

It became the prototype for modern airports. Ask Orlando.

* “The idea that the Iranian authorities could not have protected our embassy or that this assault could have taken place without some degree of regime consent is fanciful.”–British Foreign Secretary William Hague.

* “We do not allow Iran to use us against others that Iran has problems with, and we do not allow others to use us against Iran.”–Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

* “It was easy to be European when it didn’t cost anything. When sacrifices are necessary, the European identity dissolves away.”–David Brooks, New York Times.

* “The central banks of the world have resolved that there will not be a liquidity shortage.”–David Kotok, chairman and chief investment officer of Cumberland Advisors.

* “Government’s general posture should be standing up for capitalism rather than for well-connected capitalists.”–Lawrence Summers, former Treasury secretary in the Clinton administration and former economic advisor to President Barack Obama.

* “There have been repeated fines and malfeasance at literally all the investment banks, but it doesn’t seem to affect their behavior much. So, I have to conclude it is part of strategy as simple cost/benefit analysis, that fines and legal costs are a small price to pay for the profits.”–Former Goldman Sachs technology analyst Richard Kramer.

* “Think back to 2000. Many Democrats and journalists alike, feeling grouchy, were dismissive of Al Gore and magnified his shortcomings. We forgot the context, prided ourselves on our disdainful superiority–and won eight years of George Bush.”–Nicholas Kristof, New York Times.

* “We should distinguish carefully skepticism about big government from contempt for all government.”–Mitch Daniels, Republican governor of Indiana and former preferred presidential candidate of the GOP establishment.

* “Campaigns waged with lies presage governments racked by distrust. The sclerosis starts there. And I don’t this country can endure much more of it without profound, lasting damage.”–Frank Bruni, New York Times.

* “I don’t claim to be the perfect candidate. I just claim to be a lot more conservative than Mitt Romney and a lot more electable than anybody else.”–Newt Gingrich.

* “Gingrich has a self-regard so immense that it rivals Obama’s–but unlike Obama’s, is untamed by self-discipline.”–Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post.

* “I apologize to anybody who came to this city to ride the high speed rail project. I killed that.”–Gov. Rick Scott at the Republican Governors Association gathering in Orlando.

* “We are in a time machine which has now delivered us back to the 1960s.”–Former Gov. Bob Graham in rebuking Florida’s 2011 Legislature for its water and land conservation reversals.

* “(U.S. Rep. Connie) Mack is well versed in throwing his name around, relying more on his family’s history than his lackluster record in Tallahassee and Washington or his vast professional experience planning parties for Hooters.”–Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Arceneaux

* “Sports is very high profile, and if the S.E.C. can find something here that was done illegally, then that will send a message to communities similarly situated.”–Jordan Kobritz, assistant professor of sports management at Eastern New Mexico University, on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s subpoena of the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County seeking details about what due diligence they did before agreeing to issue nearly $500 million in bonds to pay for the Florida Marlins new stadium and adjoining parking lots.

* “They all tell a story about this rebranding of St. Petersburg. They all engage the community, and they’re all pieces of art.”–St. Petersburg Mayor Bill
Foster in assessing the three finalists’ designs for replacing the city’s iconic downtown Pier.

* “The city’s parks are for everyone. Nobody is going to occupy them.”–Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

* “I have never met a man who cared so much about the human race. There will not be another Freddie (Solomon).”–Former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo.

I’ve never given as much credence to polls as political junkies do. Not unless I know the sampling and the wording of questions. And that goes for Gallup, not just self-serving, candidate push polls. Even still, I’m leery about the percentage of respondents who respond in a way seemingly sought by the questioner.

All of that notwithstanding, a consensus of polls has President Barack Obama somewhere in the low 40 percent approval rating. For what it’s worth, President Ronald Reagan was foundering with a 35 percent approval rating in early 1983.

Not only are polls sometimes suspect, they are always volatile.