Verbatim

• Share

'I didn't know what the guy said, but I saw his sole.' GEORGE W. BUSH, alluding to his memorable comment about meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, after an Iraqi journalist hurled a pair of shoes at him

'It sucks. I used to be governor of New York.' ELIOT SPITZER, when asked how he was enjoying his new job as a columnist for Slate magazine

'Talk about turning the tables.' JON FRENCH, a former U.S. State Department official, on the abduction of an American kidnapping negotiator who had traveled to Mexico to give a seminar on his techniques

'The desire for a child cannot justify the "production" of offspring.' ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, in a statement disapproving of modern reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization

'The North Koreans don't want to put into writing what they put into words.' CHRISTOPHER HILL, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, on stalled nuclear-disarmament talks after North Korea rejected several proposals to verify the extent of its arsenal

'We will ask the courts to give ex-President Chen Shui-bian the strictest punishment.' CHEN YUN-NAN, spokesman for the Taiwanese Supreme Court's special prosecutor's office, on the indictment of Taiwan's former President on charges that he pocketed millions in campaign donations

'In looking at myself, I thought, Man, that came across as arrogant.' TOM CRUISE, on the Today show, apologizing for a 2005 appearance during which he called host Matt Lauer "glib" for his stance on psychiatric medication

Back & Forth:

Politics

'The party has to stop shouting at the world and at the country.' COLIN POWELL, former Secretary of State, saying pundits like Rush Limbaugh are hurting the GOP

'It would be one thing if Republicans were listening to me and going down in flames, but they're not, and they haven't for the longest time.' Talk-show host RUSH LIMBAUGH, calling Powell's argument "incoherent" and accusing him of being a "turncoat" for supporting President-elect Barack Obama

The Internet

'Google Inc. has approached major cable and phone companies that carry Internet traffic with a proposal to create a fast lane for its own content.' Wall Street Journal reporters VISHESH KUMAR and CHRISTOPHER RHOADS, claiming the search giant is turning away from Net neutrality--the idea that all Internet traffic be treated equally

'The Wall Street Journal story is wildly, dramatically overblown.' Google spokesman ADAM KOVACEVICH, disputing the article's claims, saying the search giant had simply installed its own servers to speed up delivery

LEXICON

Obesity tax n.-- A 15% tax on sweetened sodas proposed by New York Governor David Paterson to help close the state's nearly $15 billion budget deficit

USAGE: "The so-called obesity tax would generate an estimated $404 million a year. Milk, juice, diet soda and bottled water would be exempt from the tax." --New York Times, Dec. 15, 2008

Sources: Times of London; Financial Times; New York Times; USA Today; AFP; Reuters; Today show

For daily sound bites, visit time.com/quotes