Verbatim: Dec. 18, 2006

"I thought we would succeed quicker than we did, and I am disappointed by the pace of success." PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, at a press conference with chief Iraq-war ally British Prime Minister Tony Blair, answering a question about whether he would acknowledge his failures and change course

"Another defeat for the North American empire. Another defeat for the devil." HUGO CHAVEZ, Venezuelan President, on the significance of his re-election last week. Chávez said it's clear that the U.S. does not want to take meaningful steps toward détente with his country

"I have bad news for you. Those trips you had planned in January--forget 'em. We will be working almost every day in January, starting with the 4th." STENY HOYER, Maryland Democrat who will become the House majority leader, telling reporters about the new five-day work schedule for members of the House of Representatives

"They all should have congratulated one another on their good taste and the fact that they could afford the dress." LETITIA BALDRIGE, etiquette expert and Kennedy-era White House social secretary, after Laura Bush and three other women wore identical $8,500 red Oscar de la Renta gowns to a White House reception

"American has banned her for a long time." LYNNE LOWRANCE, Nashville International Airport Authority spokeswoman, on a woman blacklisted by American Airlines after she lit a match aboard a plane to hide her flatulence, setting off alarms and causing the plane to make an emergency landing

Sources: White House; Los Angeles Times; Washington Post; CBS; USA Today

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