Old Fogey's Quotes for Wednesday

"Geoff Miller should be dealing with lawyers and defense attorneys; he shouldn't be getting an award."
John Sifton, an attorney at Human Rights Watch, regarding the retirement of the general responsible for the detainee operations at Guantanamo Bay and in Iraq
Army Lets General in Prison Scandal Retire

"How do we realistically believe that a continuation of the systematic destruction of an American friend -- the country and people of Lebanon -- is going to enhance America's image and give us the trust and credibility to lead a lasting and sustained peace effort in the Middle East?"
Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel
Key GOP senator calls for Mideast cease-fire

"This will be remembered as a Luddite moment in American history."
Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey on the stem cell law veoted by Bush
The politics of science

"The thing that's different is the combination of a new sense of urgency about the problem and a sense of optimism that dealing with the problem can produce economic prosperity."
Bill Clinton, speaking of his iniative to induce large cities to act to limit their contributions to global warming (22 cities around the world have signed on)
22 Cities Join Clinton Anti-Warming Effort

“There are times at which a hands-off policy can be justified. It’s not obvious to me that this is one of them.”
Richard N. Haass, a senior State Department official in Bush's first term, regarding Israel
Bush’s Embrace of Israel Shows Gap With Father

''Finding out about the subpoena caused me to wonder about what was going on and what else I didn't know."
Glenn Hodas , former campaign manager to Kathrine Harris, regarding the investigation of the Florida Republican
Ex-Aide Says Katherine Harris Hid Subpoena

“You go to a meeting, and word comes down that this is an important chemical, this is one we’ve got to save. It’s all informal, of course. But it suggests that industry interests are governing the decisions of E.P.A. management. The pesticide program functions as a governmental cover for what is effectively a private industry licensing program.”
E.P.A. specialist involved in the pesticide program who spoke on the condition of anonymity
Unions Say E.P.A. Bends to Political Pressure

"Can we just agree God invented Darwin?”
Sue Gamble, a moderate member of the Kansas State Board of Education
Evolution’s Backers in Kansas Start Counterattack

"We often find cigarette lighters, bucket handles, toothbrushes, syringes, toy soldiers — anything made out of plastic."
John Klavitter, a wildlife biologist, who turned a bird over and cut it open with a knife at Midway Atoll
Plague of Plastic Chokes the Seas