The Week in Words: Smoke in the air; stepping up with ideas

"When we got in there, we were blown away with how profitable CNBC was."

- Comcast Corp. chief executive officer Brian L. Roberts, on a planned
$30 billion merger with
NBC Universal Inc.

"They're blowing smoke in the air."

- former Chrysler Group L.L.C. dealer Jeff Jarrett, on news the automaker might give some ousted dealers a new chance

"He also is practicing a highly intrusive model of a chairmanship where he's preempted a CEO from having the ability to lead."

- Yale management professor Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld, on General Motors Co. Chairman Ed Whitacre Jr., after the resignation of GM's CEO Frederick "Fritz" Henderson

"We want you to step up. We don't want any bureaucracy."

- Whitacre, in a pep talk to GM employees

"Let me be clear, I am open to every demonstrably good idea. And I want to take every responsible step to accelerate job creation. We also though have to face the fact that our resources are limited."

- President Obama at his "job summit"

"There are no jobs out there."

- unemployed warehouse worker Al Schork of Bensalem

"In America, it's not a sin to be rich nor is it a crime to die rich."

- U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D., Colo.), who nevertheless voted to permanently extend a 45 percent inheritance tax on estates larger than
$3.5 million

"I think we are seeing the true stripes of the consumer. She is still motivated by need rather than want."

- BMO Capital Markets analyst John Morris, on a surprise drop in November retail sales