* ”Silence is betrayal, and I believe it is a betrayal not to speak out against the escalation of the war in Iraq.” – Former Sen. John Edwards, speaking at the politically significant Riverside Church in Manhattan.

* “Those of us who object to what I consider to be a disastrous policy on the part of President Bush have put forward a different approach. If we initiate a phased withdrawal, that provides us leverage to make sure the Iraqis are doing what needs to be done to arrive at a political solution.” – Sen. Barack Obama, on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” He also said that ‘we need to look at what options we have available to constrain the president.”

* ”A [Congressional] motion of disapproval, I view as purely a political ploy to do further damage to the president of the United States. If they’re dead serious, then we should have a motion to cut off funding.” – Sen. John McCain, also speaking on “Face the Nation.” Later, he said he’s “rather lose a campaign than lose a war.”

* ”People follow hopes and they follow dreams and they follow the solution to problems. “I saw that happen in New York City. … I think we have to have a sense of optimism about ourselves, about who we are and where we’re going.” – Rudy Giuliani, speaking to a Republican gathering in Delaware. He also said that “if we leave Iraq in failure, then the world is going to be much more dangerous for us” and endorsed school vouchers to “revolutionize” public education.