Edwards, Cuban, Murguia, Baird, McReynolds, Friedman, Ruple, Thompson, Smithee, and Dewhurst

Democratic U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, to the Dallas Morning News editorial board, on his race against Republican Bill Flores: "I don't mind saying we are behind. I relish being the underdog."

Brian Cuban, brother of Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, on the need to legalize medical marijuana, quoted in The Dallas Morning News: "This is not about Cheech and Chong. We're not talking about pot shops cropping up along Northwest Highway like strip clubs. We need to get the attention of the suits and ties, and the soccer moms."

Ciudad Juárez Mayor Hector "Teto" Murguía, addressing the Mexican press during his swearing in ceremony in the embattled city across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas: "Undoubtedly, the media will be of great help in this transition from paralysis to action, from fear to hope, from apathy to commitment. You have been and will be the pillar of our democracy."

Judge Charlie Baird, who while on the Criminal Court of Appeals voted to reaffirm Cameron Todd Wilingham's death sentence and now stands poised to review the Corsicana man's conviction, in The Texas Tribune: "Life is full of mistakes, but my thinking has always been, if you make a mistake, you ought to be man or woman enough to admit it."

Rep. Jim McReynolds, D-Lufkin, explaining to the Tribune what he thinks of politicians that switch parties: "In the Church of Christ, if you get a sex change, I won't sit by you next Sunday."

Kinky Friedman to the Tribune: "I mourn the passing of the Democratic Party. They deserve to get beat and get beat bad. This is the harvest that Obama has reaped. It's a government by ego. I sense that he doesn't love America. I sense that he loves Obama."

Janice Ruple, elections administrator for Atascosa County, to the Austin American-Statesman after realizing the county for years has been sending out absentee ballots with a picture of the flag of Chile instead of Texas: "We just never caught it."

Attorney David Thompson, a school finance expert, on the state's funding for public schools: "There is not one single defender of our system. Further, there is not one single person who can explain our system."

State Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, quoted in the Amarillo Globe-News on the prospects of a race for speaker of the House between Joe Straus of San Antonio and Warren Chisum of Pampa: "I am looking at two of my best friends in the Legislature. It is not a comfortable position to be in."

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, on the coming legislative session with its promised battles over a large budget shortfall and political redistricting: "I'm looking forward to it. I haven't lost my mind. I'm looking forward to it."