Quotable & Notable

“Think Halliburton in a skirt.”

-- Reaction of the National Organization of Women to news that the Independent Women’s Forum -- which NOW called ultraconservative and anti-feminist -- is one of seven organizations awarded a $10 million grant to help train Iraqi women for the upcoming January elections. Lynne Cheney, wife of the vice president, is a member of the forum.

“There’s a growing recognition of the need for this plane.”

-- Rob Weiss, a deputy vice president for Lockheed Martin, talking about the F/A-22 fighter jet, nicknamed the Raptor, which is ready to become part of the American arsenal. With a price tag of $258 million per plane, it is the most expensive fighter jet in history. The Air Force plans to buy 277 Raptors. If it buys more, it may get a quantity discount.

“We always thought it was better for good people to pretend to be evil rather than for evil people to pretend to be good.”

-- Garrison Keillor explaining why his generation likes Halloween

“I’d just take my wife out to dinner.”

-- Asked about last month’s presidential debates, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said what he would do if he wanted to hear a smart liberal Democrat and a Republican leader argue.

“The priest kisses the altar and the Book of the Gospels to show reverence and respect. (It is not because he is celibate.)”

-- Note in parish bulletin for St. James Church, Liberty, Mo.

National Catholic Reporter, November 12, 2004