“I’m a very private person. I just want to be an average citizen and do my job.”

– Air Force Reserve Maj. Margaret H. Witt, regretting the public attention that followed her suit to prevent the Air Force from drumming her out, after 19 years, because she’s a lesbian.

“We walked in the door with a $222.6 million surplus, and if we can’t find some dollars in there to give some people some property tax relief in this state, we have gone awry.”

– Idaho state Rep. Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly, speaking about legislation he hoped to pry loose as the Idaho Legislature was drawing to a close for 2006.

“We hadn’t counted on, I guess, the over-enthusiasm of people.”

– Washington State Quarter Advisory Commission spokesman Mark Gerth, after a robotic voting scheme overwhelmed the Internet balloting site set up so state residents could go online to help select the design that will represent Washington in the series of state commemorative 25-cent pieces.

“We need leadership up there that respects the military as they expect the military to respect them. And that leadership needs to understand teamwork.”

– Retired Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste, who commanded the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq in 2004-2005 and is now one of at least six retired American generals who believe Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld should step down.

“Out of thousands and thousands of admirals and generals, if every time two or three people disagreed, we changed the secretary of defense of the United States, it would be like a merry-go-round.”

– U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, responding to the generals’ criticism.

“I’m not objecting to being used if it gets the lights changed and gets respect for the elderly.”

– 82-year-old Mayvis Coyle, who’s gone to court to challenge the $114 jaywalking ticket she got in Los Angeles when the light changed to “Don’t Walk” as she tried to cross the street with her groceries in one hand and a cane in the other.

“She is military. She should expect people at war with her to want to kill her.”

– Confessed terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui, commenting on the tears shed by Navy Lt. Nancy McKeown during her testimony, in Moussaoui’s death penalty trial, about the deaths of two subordinates in the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon.

“You know, George doesn’t like to think of his childhood home as historic yet.”

– First lady Laura Bush, following dedication last week of the restored Midland, Texas, house where her 59-year-old husband spent part of his childhood.

“I guess in some ways my life is on the line, so I’m a little nervous.”

– Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling, who once made more than $100 million a year, testifying in a fraud and conspiracy trial that could expose him to years in jail and millions of dollars in fines.