Quote(s) for the week.

1) "They're better off taking the pants off and just wearing a dress."
- CAROL BROUSSARD, the mayor of Delcambre, La., on a new town ordinance banning people from wearing "saggy pants" that are too revealing. Penalties include up to six months in jail and a $500 fine.

2) "When the N.R.A. and I agree on legislation, you know that it's going to get through, become law and do some good."
- Sen. CHARLES E. SCHUMER (D-NY), on the gun control bill that passed the House yesterday. The bill would close the loophole that allowed the Virginia Tech gunman to buy firearms even though he had been committed to a mental hospital.

3) "It would be a backward-looking and very contentious process."
- U.S. Defense Secretary ROBERT GATES, describing the likely confirmation process for a second term for current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace, to justify the surprise decision to not recommend him again.

4) "Today's media, more than ever, hunts in a pack ... It is like a feral beast just tearing people and reputations to bits."
- U.K. Prime Minister TONY BLAIR, claiming TV and newspaper coverage has worsened during his 10 years at Downing Street.

5) "The President cannot eliminate constitutional protections with the stroke of a pen."
- U.S. Circuit Judge DIANA GRIBBON MOTZ, in a federal appeals court ruling that says the military cannot hold U.S. resident Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, an alleged terrorist, indefinitely in South Carolina without charges.

6) "I'll see you at the bill signing."
- President GEORGE W. BUSH, displaying his classic arrogance, by pledging that his stalled immigration overhaul would be revived.

7) "I used to act dumb. That act is no longer cute. Now, I would like to make a difference ... God has given me this new chance."
- PARIS HILTON, speaking to Barbara Walters via phone from the L.A. County Jail, where she is serving out the remainder of her 45-day sentence for drunk driving.

8) "It was really David Chase's joke on all of us: Nothing happened."
- CAROL JOYNT, fan of the HBO series The Sopranos, on the show's creator, David Chase, and the finale's unexpected end — an abrupt cut to black.

9) "If it were up to me, I would close Guantanamo not tomorrow but this afternoon."
- COLIN POWELL, former U.S. Secretary of State, calling for the immediate closure of the controversial military prison.

10) "One of the frustrations is that there is more attention on Britney Spears getting out of a car without underwear than there is about who is going to be the next president."
- Republican presidential candidate MIKE HUCKABEE, criticizing the media's coverage of celebrities.

11) "We went from being viewed as athletes to being viewed as rapists."
- READE SELIGMANN, one of the falsely accused Duke lacrosse players, testifying during the fourth day of Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong's ethics trial.

12) "Beverage was saying basically that people that contributed to the campaigns got road work, got construction work and contracts. I think Sam Beverage has some credibility. I think he knows everything."
- Franklin County Kentucky Commonwealth's Attorney, Larry Cleveland, on allegations made by the State Highway Engineer, Sam Beverage, that the Fletcher administration steered highway contracts to campaign contributors.

13) "Credibility is an issue. These statements were made by a person originally indicted on a felony perjury charge who then had the charge reduced in a plea agreement."
- Transportation Cabinet spokesman responding to the same allegations.