"This is like quitting drinking, but making an exception for beer and hard liquor."

-- Maya MacGuineas of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, on loopholes in the "pay as you go " ("PAYGO") spending policies President Obama has been touting.

"Now, this is not a sign that our troubles are over. Far from it."

-- President Obama, on allowing 10 banks to repay "TARP" bailout money.

"From our standpoint we have not been treated fairly from the beginning as individual bondholders."

-- Mark Modica of Chalfont, Pa., one of a group of GM bondholders who plan to protest the automaker's bankruptcy deal.