Verbatim: Jun. 20, 2005

  • "Warming will also cause reductions in mountain glaciers and advance the timing of the melt of mountain snow peaks in polar regions."

    OMITTED SENTENCE, in a draft of a report on global warming, from a section crossed out by Philip Cooney, chief of staff for the White House Council on Environmental Quality (and former oil-industry lobbyist), whose note says the section was "straying from research strategy into speculative findings"

    "How much ineptitude are we going to tolerate?"

    KRISTEN BREITWEISER, a leader of a Sept. 11 survivors' group, about a new Justice Department report detailing FBI mistakes in failing to uncover the terrorist plot

    "The way the situation is, we wouldn't be ready to take responsibility for a thousand years."

    AMAR MANA, an Iraqi private, after he was asked when the Iraqi army will be ready to take responsibility for internal security

    "I was sent by the people. We are mad as hell and we're not going to take it any longer."

    ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, California Governor, quoting anchorman Howard Beale from the movie Network, in vowing to push his legislative agenda despite recent reverses

    "I remember one Archbishop telling me, 'My feeling about this, Tom, is no one's ever going to sue the Catholic Church.'"

    THE REV. THOMAS DOYLE, saying that he warned church leaders 20 years ago that clergy-abuse costs could eventually exceed $1 billion. Known settlements now total $1.06 billion

    "Please don't recount this vote."

    AL GORE, adhering to the Webby Awards' five-word limit on acceptance speeches, after receiving the group's Lifetime Achievement Award for his role in the development of the Internet

    "The last guy to announce on your show came in fourth."

    NEWT GINGRICH, former House majority leader, referring to Senator John Edwards when asked by TV host Jon Stewart if he planned to run for President

    "I think I'm playing it cool."

    TOM CRUISE, talking to Jay Leno about his enthusiasm for his new romance with actress Katie Holmes

    Sources: New York Times (2); Washington Post; USA Today; AP; New York Times; Comedy Central; NBC