BY DAN MILLER
(originally posted October 14, 2004)
Some more of the interesting statements, uttered by sometimes interesting people:
1. "I woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. I was dreaming that I was about 45 minutes into the debate, halfway through, and I had no more questions. And I said, 'Gentlemen, I've run out of questions, so please talk among yourselves'."
(Bob Schieffer, describing a nightmare he had prior to moderating Wednesday night's final presidential debate in Arizona)
2. "I would have made the rhythm of 'California Girls' a little better. That is my only regret."
(Brian Wilson - whose life has been filled with emotional traumas, drug abuse, battles with weight and legal hassles - when asked if there was anything in his life would change)
3. "One Sunday afternoon, I drove up there (to the Governor's mansion). They have a TV camera down at the gate and they're supposed to recognize you when you get there. I said 'Yes, I want to get in.' The young man said, 'Do you want to see someone? Do you have an appointment with the governor?' I said, 'No, I don't have an appointment with the governor.'
He answered, 'Well, we can't let you in unless you identify yourself.' I said, 'Well, hell, I am the governor.' Then the gates swung open. I thought, 'Well, I hope the pearly gates swing open when I get up there to those.'"
(Ned Ray McWherter, in the Jackson Sun, on his memories of life as governor)
4. "I don't want to put some weird, you know, psycho twist on it, like he was pulling me out or anything, but he had a lot to do with me getting out of that car. From the movement I made to unbuckle my belt, to lying on the stretcher, I have no idea what happened."
(Dale Earnhardt Jr., believing his late father somehow helped him escape from his burning race car back in July)
5. "This is what Mayberry would look like if Aunt Bee had money."
(Pat Sajak, speaking at a museum grand opening in the small town of Perry, Iowa)
6. "I am thrilled to be the emcee of the National Book Awards ceremony, a big night in the book world, when you get to see distinguished authors feign nonchalance though they're all giddy and sweaty and their hearts are pounding. Someday I hope to feign nonchalance myself."
(Garrison Keillor)
7. "When I signed my new contract, I felt that the timing was right to plan for my successor, and there is no one more qualified than Conan. Plus, I promised Mavis I would take her out for dinner before I turned 60."
(Jay Leno, announcing Conan O'Brien will take over the Tonight Show in 2009)
8. "Our lives are more valuable than the insurance companies' profit margins."
(Actress Fran Drescher, who had uterine cancer in 2000, urging cancer screening tests be included as part of standard women's health care)
9. "When I look at my children, sometimes I wish I remained a virgin."
(the late Lillian Carter, mother of Jimmy Carter, as quoted by White House reporter Helen Thomas)
10. "Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and perhaps weigh 1-1/2 tons."
(Popular Mechanics, 1949)
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