Old Fogey's Quotes for Sunday

"Contrary to popular belief, members of Congress are human beings. They have a certain shelf life and a certain amount of energy to be drawn on. We're tired."
Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), usually a reliable conservative firebrand
Congress Likely to Run Out The Clock
[Yes, and some of them stayed on far past their expiration dates. Maybe that explains the stench that has been coming from Congress.]

"I feel like I gave them my son and they've done nothing but dishonor him."
Peggy Buryj, who lost a son in Iraq and is distressed by the botched investigation of his death
Review Finds Army Mishandled Friendly-Fire Case
[We send these men and women into a hell-hole only to dishonor them in many ways: refusing to provide adequate equipment, restricting veteran benefits, returning them again and again to find things have only gotten worse, and then refusing to tell the truth about what has happened to them. If we keep worsening their working conditions for far too little money, military service may become another job that "Americans refuse to do." ]

"It is often said that 'justice delayed is justice denied.' Nothing could be closer to the truth with reference to the Guantanamo Bay cases."
U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler of Washington D.C.
Guantanamo Inmates Turn to Freed Fellows
[Let's hope the new Congress will save us from the idea that justices can have their jurisdictions legislated away, when they uphold the constitution with rulings the Bushies think 'aid and abet' terrorists.]

"They are willing to risk a valuable, renewable resource like Bristol Bay's salmon fisheries for limited, shortsighted drilling plans."
Carl Pope, the Sierra Club's executive director
Bush May End Drilling Ban in Alaskan Bay
[Amid our celebrations over the elections, let us not forget how much damage can still be done by King George the Oil Santa. Vigilence is still needed to monitor his executive orders and presidential signings]

“Announce that whatever new approach the U.S. decides on, the U.S. is doing so on a trial basis. This will give us the ability to readjust and move to another course, if necessary, and therefore not ‘lose.’ ”
Donald Rumsfield, in a classified memo to the White House two days before his resignation
Rumsfeld Memo on Iraq Proposed ‘Major’ Change
[Can't we ever get to the place where the Iraq War is no longer about America winning or losing, but instead about finding a way to do the least continuing harm to the Iraqis themselves. After reading rhis memo, Bush may have linked Rumsfield with the 'cut and runners.' Didn't Rumsie understand that any change would be the same as admitting failure in the mind of King George the Course Stayer?]