Quotables

"Mexican drug cartels literally do control parts of Arizona."

Pinal County (Ariz.) Sheriff Paul Babeu on the lawlessness in southern Arizona. The Bureau of Land Management has reportedly posted signs along a 60-mile portion of Interstate 8 warning drivers that the area is unsafe.

"If they would adopt the rest of the McCain economic plan, I think we would make some progress."

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, chairman of the National Governors Association, on President Obama's proposal to allow businesses a tax write-off for capital spending, which was part of Sen. John McCain's campaign platform in 2008.

"The last person I'd vote for."

U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., on Newt Gingrich, an oft-named GOP presidential hopeful. Coburn specifically criticized Gingrich for twice leaving wives for other women: "His life indicates he does not have a commitment to the character traits necessary to be a great president."

"How can you fall in love if you can't see her face. We can see the boys, so we can tell which are beautiful."

Mohammed Daud, a 29-year-old Afghan man, on the centuries-old practice of men, even married men, taking boys as lovers in parts of Afghanistan. A U.S. State Department report calls the tradition a "widespread, culturally sanctioned form of male rape."

"It's my first shark."

Fisherman Willy Dean on inadvertently catching a bull shark in the Potomac River on Aug. 31. The shark was more than eight feet long and weighed more than 300 pounds. Dean says he plans to eat the huge fish: "We're gonna steak him up and try him. Some people say shark is good to eat. We'll see."

"It's a good time to call up Barney Fife."

Democratic consultant Brad Cone on the news that actor Andy Griffith's approval rating has dropped 25 percent in his home state of North Carolina since 2008, according to the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling. This year Griffith cut an ad, paid for by taxpayers, touting the Democrats' controversial healthcare overhaul.