* “A lot of this was really inevitable, or at least pretty predictable. We have a lot of government activism at a time when skepticism of government efficiency is at an all-time high.”–Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) on President Obama’s low poll numbers.
* “The Palins are now reality TV royalty, like the Blagojeviches and the Ozzy Osbournes.”–Gail Collins, New York Times.
* “The rich spend a much smaller proportion of their incomes than the rest of us. So when they get a disproportionate share of total income, the economy is robbed of the demand it needs to keep growing and creating jobs. What’s more, the rich don’t necessarily invest their earnings and savings in the American economy; they send them anywhere around the globe where they’ll summon the highest returns.”–Robert B. Reich, former secretary of labor and author of “After-shock: The Next Economy and America’s Future.”
* “The federal government should require that all credentialed scientists have access to the affected sites. Without such a commitment to independent financing and equal access, the legal process and the rehabilitation of the Gulf will be seriously undermined.”–Linda Hooper-Bui, professor of entomology, Louisiana State University.
* “He contacted me.”–Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink on whether her campaign had requested that independent candidate Bud Chiles drop out.
* “How do you unite a divided party? Establish a common enemy.”–University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato on the Rick Scott campaign strategy of linking “Obamacrat” Alex Sink with President Obama.
* “It’s not anti-incumbent year. It’s an anti-incompetence year.”–Dave Beattie, Alex Sink pollster.
* “Representing 28 private, not-for-profit universities in Florida, I hope U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and George LeMieux, along with Florida’s entire congressional delegation, will support maintaining the 15 percent maximum tax rate on dividends and capital gains. Keeping the current capital gains and dividend tax rates would give employers economic stability to create jobs for our graduates.”–Ed Moore, president and CEO, Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida.
* “The gangs are used to putting fear into the community. Law enforcement is putting the fear back into the gangs.” Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detective David Everts in the aftermath of an anti-gang operation that resulted in 28 arrests, many in the Palm River and Progress Village area.
* “It has to be closed. I want the candidates to be open. We are talking with someone we never met before and asking them to tell us everything they can to tough questions.”–Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Chairman Al Austin on why interviews with the four finalists for executive director of TIA will not be open to the public or the media.