Verbatim: Apr. 23, 2007

‘With great pride, I announce that as of today, our dear country, Iran, is among the countries of the world that produces the industrial level of nuclear fuel.’

MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, Iranian President, announcing an increase in the amount of uranium his country is enriching

‘I think it was a major mistake. It would be like me saying I’ve been a lifelong golfer because I played putt-putt when I was 9 years old and I rode in a golf cart a couple of times.’

MIKE HUCKABEE, former Arkansas Governor and Republican presidential candidate, on rival Mitt Romney’s claim to be a lifelong hunter although he has been on only two hunting trips

‘He should become in tune with the fact that he is President of the United States, not king of the United States.’

HARRY REID, Senate majority leader, on George W. Bush. Reid and the President have been sparring over a range of issues, most notably funding for the war in Iraq

‘The ride was excellent.’

MARTHA STEWART, about a camel ride she took in Kazakhstan before watching the launch of a Russian rocket ship carrying her friend, billionaire Charles Simonyi, and two cosmonauts into orbit on a 13-day journey to the International Space Station. For Simonyi’s trip, Stewart packed meals that included quail roasted in Madiran wine, duck breast confit with capers and shredded chicken parmentier

‘He has degenerated as a political leader and as a human being.’

MICHAEL THELWELL, professor of African-American studies at the University of Massachusetts, on Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe; the university is considering a request to revoke an honorary degree awarded to Mugabe in 1986

‘They say a giant has to fall at some point.’

ZACH JOHNSON, who won his first major golfing title by beating world No. 1 Tiger Woods at the 2007 Augusta National Masters Tournament

‘You can’t make fun of everybody, because some people don’t deserve it.’

DON IMUS, radio host, in one of many apologies for calling members of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hos” after they lost the national championship; MSNBC and CBS radio suspended the shock jock for two weeks

”I know that my Spanish is not perfect, but I am studying so it will be better.’

NEWT GINGRICH, former Speaker of the House, in Spanish, in a videotaped olive branch to Spanish speakers. He said his recent critique of bilingual education was a “poor word choice”

Sources: CNN; AP; MSNBC; AP (2); Newsday; AP; CNN