"The two leaders are not leaving the tough issues to the end of their discussions; they are tackling upfront — and did so this evening — the issues that are at the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We take this as a strong indicator of their belief that peace is possible and of their desire to conclude an agreement." — George Mitchell, the U.S. envoy for Mideast peace efforts, in remarks after Mideast leaders ended their latest round of peace talks, still divided on major issues.
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"You have every right to keep the heat on me and the Democrats, and I hope you do. That's how our political process works. But don't forget who is standing with you, and who is standing against you. Don't ever believe that this election coming up doesn't matter." — President Barack Obama at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's awards dinner appealing to Hispanics to support Democrats in the November elections despite his failed promise to pass an immigration overhaul.
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"It's time we stop this charade and implement sensible laws that would tax and regulate marijuana the same way we do more harmful — but legal — drugs like alcohol and tobacco." — Mike Meno, a spokesman for the pro-legalization Marijuana Policy Project, after the government reported that the rate of illegal drug use rose last year to the highest level in nearly a decade, fueled by a sharp increase in marijuana use and a surge in ecstasy and methamphetamine abuse.
