Quotables

"We feel like a bride and groom."

Rachel Bird of Roseville, Calif., on her and husband Gideon Codding's refusal to sign marriage licenses in California because the state mandates that they be referred to as "Party A" and "Party B." California courts have mandated gender-neutral marriage forms.

"I didn't know we did it, and if I had anything to do with it, we'd have never done it."

Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden on a campaign ad that suggested GOP opponent John McCain doesn't know how to use a computer. He later said he was reacting only to press reports about the ad and had not seen it.

"Both the United States secretary of state and secretary of defense have doctorates in Russian studies. A fat lot of good that's done us."

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates on increasing tensions with Russia after efforts at a closer relationship.

"It's kind of like riding a bike."

Dr. Mark Burns, on helping to deliver Hurricane Ike evacuee Ku Paw's fourth child in a restroom of a shelter. It was reportedly Burns' first delivery in two decades.

"I thought, If I were to ever build a house on the coast, I'm going to contact the guy who built this."

Aaron Reed, spokesman for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, on a single house in its section of Gilchrist, Texas, that survived Hurricane Ike.

"Our enemies don't want to see democracy flourishing in the country.

Pakistani Interior Ministry official Rehman Malik, after a bombing attack killed dozens and injured hundreds at a Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on Sept. 20.