Quotes of the Day: ‘…President Bush would have gone largely in this direction’

“I think there’s every possibility that President Bush would have gone largely in this direction, and certainly [Defense Secretary Robert] Gates and [General David] Petraeus are two of the key architects, and of course they were there under Bush as well.” — Michael O’Hanlon, The Brookings Institution, to ABC News, on President Obama’s emerging plan for Afghanistan

“Investments will be based on performance. The era of the blank check for President Karzai is over.” — Senior administration official, to ABC’s Jake Tapper

I think the American public is actually going to be extremely surprised with all the details that went from beginning to end into what was supposed to be a lovely, beautiful evening.” – Tareq Salahi, alleged White House “crasher,” to NBC News 

“A lot of people running for office next year, I’ve met with them. They actually want me involved in their campaigns. I want to be helpful, without being hurtful.” — Senator John Ensign, R-Nev., who has acknowledged an affair with a friend and staffer’s wife, making himself available