"Once again, it comes down to a government bureaucratic issue that just gets in the way of doing the right thing."

Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan on eight local firefighters laid off 11 weeks ago, who have been collecting full pay the whole time because a civil service opinion on whether the layoffs were justified has yet to be issued.

"That's just a waste of money."

Ed Guy, candidate for the West District City Council seat in Methuen, on plans by Mayor William Manzi to spend a $250,000 state grant to turn the riverside lot of the former Bea's Sandwich Shop into a park with a boat ramp. Guy and mayoral challenger Al DiNuccio say the city should give back the grant and sell the property.

"He is extremely dangerous. He does it without regard for people on the road."

Assistant District Attorney Ashlee Logan in Haverhill District Court, on Richard Kluge, 40, charged with drunken driving for the eighth time. Kluge's license had been revoked in 2001 after his seventh conviction.

"When we heard 'not guilty,' it was like Daniel just got killed again."

Anibal Torres, 39, of Lawrence, uncle of Daniel Bautista, on the acquittal in Lawrence Superior Court of Rudy Cruz, 19, of Lawrence, who had been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Bautista.

"We want to get it right. We've tried to resist the temptation to hurry up and do this."

State Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill, House chairman of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, saying it will likely be three years before a casino is up and running in Massachusetts.

"It's just very cold."

Prosecutor Dara Cashman after three teenagers were charged as adults in the gang rape of a 15-year-old girl outside a homecoming dance in Richmond, Calif. "We want to give shots to all of our OB patients, but right now the highest risk population is the only population we can take care of."

Ann Marie Tinkham, practice administrator of the Women's Health Center in Haverhill, on the shortage of swine flu vaccine.

"Americans' health care is too important to risk on one gigantic bill that was negotiated behind closed doors. The Medicare cuts will hurt seniors, the tax increases will kill jobs and the government takeover of health care will increase premium costs."

Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., in a statement after House Democrats reached agreement on key elements of a health care bill that would vastly alter America's medical landscape, requiring virtually universal sign-ups and establishing a new government-run insurance option for millions.

"I want you to know this fight is not Pakistan's alone. These extremists are committed to destroying what is dear to us as much as they are committed to destroying that which is dear to you and to all people. So this is our struggle as well."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at a news conference in Pakistan after suspected militants exploded a car bomb in a market crowded with women and children, killing 100 people.

"This is a landmark step in eliminating the kind of hate motivated violence that has taken the lives of so many in our community."

Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation in a statement after President Barack Obama signed a defense bill that makes it a federal hate crime to assault people based on sexual orientation.

"I leave the senators of the republic to face their responsibility in front of the nation."

Haiti Prime Minister Michele Pierre-Louis, before being removed from office by the Haitian Senate in a move that could imperil efforts to attract foreign investment to the country.

"It's a weapon system that the enemy has figured out has strategic impact. It really hampers our ability to execute a counterinsurgency doctrine. And it's a weapon system that has to be fought, and I don't think we can back off or shy away from fighting it."

Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz in a statement after roadside bombs — the biggest killer of U.S. soldiers — claimed eight more American lives, driving the U.S. death toll to a record level for the third time in four months.

"You engaged in conduct that put your passengers and your crew in serious jeopardy. Northwest Flight 188 was not in communications with controllers or the airline dispatchers "while you were on a frolic of your own. ... This is a total dereliction and disregard for your duties."

FAA regional counsel Eddie Thomas in a letter to pilot Timothy Cheney after the Federal Aviation Administration revoked the licenses of two Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot their Minneapolis destination by 150 miles.

"This isn't over until I'm standing with President Obama and he's signing a bill into law that delivers what Nevadans are demanding — real health insurance reform."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in an e-mail message to political supporters in his home state after Democratic moderates who control the balance of power on health care legislation balked at a government-run insurance option for millions of Americans a day after Reid unveiled the plan as a consensus product.

"This signifies my return to power in the coming days, and peace for Honduras."

Honduran President Manuel Zelaya after he and the interim government signed an agreement that apparently opens the way for Zelaya's reinstatement four months after he was ousted.