Verbatim: Nov. 28, 2005

“If you get too tired to do your job, close your eyes for a moment and then get back to work.” ZHOU LIWEI, provincial spokesman of Liaoning, China, to workers helping vaccinate the country’s 5.2 billion chickens against bird flu

“The President and I cannot prevent certain politicians from losing their memory or their backbone, but we’re not going to sit by and let them rewrite history.” DICK CHENEY, Vice President, on Democrats accusing the Administration of misrepresenting prewar intelligence in Iraq, an allegation he called “dishonest and reprehensible”

“I like guys who got five deferments [during the Vietnam War] and never been there and send people to war and then don’t like to hear suggestions about what needs to be done.” |JOHN MURTHA, Pennsylvania Congressman and decorated veteran, on Cheney’s lack of service in Vietnam; the once hawkish Democrat last week called for immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq

“I hunkered down. I’m in the habit of keeping secrets. I didn’t want anything out there that was going to get me subpoenaed.” BOB WOODWARD, investigative journalist, on why he didn’t tell his bosses at the Washington Post that an Administration official told him two years ago about CIA operative Valerie Plame, whose leaked identity led to a federal probe, a jailed reporter and an indictment

“Because a lot of the farmers are prejudiced against New Yorkers, Hillary hauls me along as the token redneck, and I milk the cows.” BILL CLINTON, former President, on visiting the New York State Fair with his wife Senator Hillary Clinton

“Women make more money these days, they’re calling the shots, they’re more powerful. And let’s face it, it’s hard to meet someone.” HEIDI FLEISS, former “Hollywood Madam,” on why she struck a deal to open a Nevada brothel that will cater to female clients

“I think we should be investigating this as an escape attempt.” JOSEPH ORLANDO, New Jersey Turnpike Authority spokesman, on two dozen turkeys falling off the back of a delivery truck last week

Sources: AP; CNN (2); Washington Post; New York Times; Reuters; AP