“Neighbor informing on neighbor, this isn’t the American way, it isn’t the Montana way, it isn’t the cowboy way. We weren’t the only state to have this kind of hysteria, but we will be the first state to say, ‘We had it wrong.’ “

— Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who last week pardoned 78 people convicted under the state’s World War I-era sedition law, which imposed jail sentences and fines for opposing the war and making other comments termed disloyal.

“You came here to be a martyr and to die in a big bang of glory, but to paraphrase T.S. Eliot, you will die with a whimper.”

— U.S. District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema, addressing confessed conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, after a jury had decided he should be sentenced to life in prison for his part in the 9/11 attacks.

“In this day and age, anything a little odd-looking arouses suspicion.”

— Los Angeles Times Publisher Jeff Johnson, after a Los Angeles County sheriff’s squad blew up a Times vending machine equipped with an electronic box that played the “Mission: Impossible” theme song as part of a promotion for the movie.

“There’s nothing about this that I would (call) peacekeeping. We’re in a fight.”

— Army Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, talking about conditions in Iraq, where he commands U.S.-led troops.

“She was scared and very emotional. Not just scared but sad, too, because they were her boys and she didn’t want them to get in trouble. But she was afraid to live with them.”

— Liberty Lake police Officer Erin Lance, who interviewed a woman who alleged her teenage sons beat her, threatened her with a gun and stole her car.

“I think the system’s fair. When I screw up, I screw up.”

— Former Spokane Valley City Councilman Michael Flanigan, saying he didn’t know he owed the Public Disclosure Commission a $150 fine over a financial reporting compliance issue, but planned to pay up promptly.

“It’s always a tough situation when an officer has to take law enforcement action with members of Congress.”

— Former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Terrence W. Gainer, after talking with officers who believe six-term Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, D-R.I., and the son of U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., got special treatment – such as not having to take a sobriety test – following a one-car accident Thursday in Washington, D.C.

“If a guy has a lot of signs up but the place looks great, leave it alone.”

— Spokane Valley business owner Ed Conley, calling for modification of the restrictive sign ordinances that Spokane Valley adopted from Spokane County after the new municipality incorporated.

“They’ll have views of pretty much everything. You can see over the South Hill.”

— Spokane developer Rob Brewster, describing a 300-foot tall retail and residential building he wants to construct in downtown Spokane, where it would be the city’s tallest.