E-Mail This Article to a Friend QUOTES + NUMBERS Who is screwing up America?

10

Average number of insurgent attacks per day in Iraq in May 2003.

52

Average per day in June 2004.

70

Average per day in May 2005.

— from the Brookings Institution

"Ho."

The two-letter reason given for why Courtney Love is #95 in Bernard Goldberg’s schlocky new book, 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (And Al Franken Is #37). Other entries include alt-weekly cartoonist Ted Rall (#15), Ted Kennedy (#3), and, at #1, Michael Moore. Very original.

"Hmmm, time to buy."

— Fox News’s Brit Hume on his initial reaction to the London bombings.

(From MediaMatters.org)

Question of the week

Would you trade a pretty beach for sustainable energy?

send an SMS ("Pretty" or "Energy") to 22122 or go to BostonPhoenix.com to weigh in.

Last Week’s Results: Is Menino being savvy or chicken by refusing to debate Hennigan? Savvy: 32% Chicken 68%

"He didn’t mention God, so he’s still British under it all, but I’m pretty sure I even heard him use Mr. Bush’s favourite words, ‘freedom’ and ‘resolve.’ "

— London-based columnist Gwynne Dyer on how British Prime minister Tony Blair channeled the US president in his comments following last week’s terror attacks.

"I want to know the truth. If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is. And if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of."

— George Bush, on the Valerie Plame CIA leak, in which Karl Rove has been implicated.

"[Cue chirping crickets]"

— George W. Bush, July 2005, on the allegations published in Newsweek that top adviser Karl Rove was behind the leak.