Quotables

"Your policy has been one which I fully understand-I'm not second-guessing."

Vice President Joe Biden, in China, responding on Aug. 21 to a question about that nation's one-child policy, which includes forced abortions and sterilizations. He then added that the policy was economically unsustainable. In response to criticism, the administration stated that it "strongly opposes all aspects" of China's policy.

"So I'm here as the modern-day Harriet Tubman to kind of lead people on the underground railroad away from that plantation into a sense of sensibility."

U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., on his hopes to lead African-Americans out of the Democratic Party.

"I'll work every day to try to make Washington, D.C., as inconsequential in your life as I can."

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, on his plans should he become president of the United States (see "Seizing the moment").

"I love being in the United States Senate in this time in our history. I'm not going to be the vice presidential nominee."

Freshman U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio on speculation that he might become the running mate of the 2012 Republican presidential nominee.

"The pregnancy was all so consumerish to begin with, and this became yet another thing we could control."

"Jenny," a 45-year-old woman interviewed by The New York Times, on aborting one of her twin unborn children that resulted from fertility treatments. The practice of "pregnancy reduction" is reportedly growing as the use of fertility treatments results in more twins.