Verbatim: May 22, 2006

• Share

"Are you telling me that tens of millions of Americans are involved with al-Qaeda?"

PATRICK LEAHY, Democratic Senator from Vermont, on reports that the National Security Agency has amassed the phone records of millions of U.S. homes and businesses since 9/11, in search of patterns that might lead to terrorist networks

"Where is all this pathos about protecting human rights and democracy when it comes to the need to pursue their own interests?"

VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russian President, responding to Vice President Dick Cheney's accusations that Russia is cutting back on democracy

"I would say the best moment of all was when I caught a 7.5-lb. perch in my lake."

GEORGE W. BUSH, answering a German newspaper reporter who asked him to name the best moment of his five years as President

"I've noticed a change. It's a lot of lobbyists eating with each other."

JOHN BREAUX, lobbyist and former Louisiana Senator, on the impact on Washington of ethics scandals and subsequent reforms

"All of them were burnt beyond recognition."

ABIODUN OREBIYI, secretary-general of the Nigerian Red Cross, on the more than 150 people who died in the explosion of a fuel pipeline from which scavengers were siphoning gasoline

"Why should I reward someone who doesn't like the President so they can use funds to try to campaign against the President? Logic says they don't get the contract."

ALPHONSO JACKSON, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, recounting a conversation with a prospective advertising contractor. Jackson later apologized and said he made up the story

"Of course she got more signatures than me. She had all her ex-husbands sign."

KINKY FRIEDMAN, independent candidate for Texas Governor, after a rival, thrice-married Carole Keeton Strayhorn, amassed at least 50,000 more signatures than he did to get on the November ballot

"Don't worry, Dave. It's not yours."

BRITNEY SPEARS, confirming to David Letterman on CBS's Late Show that she is pregnant with her second child

For more daily sound bites, visit time.com/quotes

Sources: USA Today; AP; The Guardian; Bloomberg; Agence France Presse; Dallas Business Journal; Washington Times; AP