Always a fan of quality sound-bytes and purveyor of the "QOTD," I thought I'd offer my personal-faves of the last year. Here are the gems:
"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our Founders if alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer." -President-Elect Obama, November 4 (For full transcript and video, click here)
"In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving." -John McCain, November 4 (Read the whole thing here)
"I think I was unprepared for war." -President George W. Bush
"The Yanks have a great lineup on paper, but it guarantees nothing." -Joe Posnanski, Sports Illustrated
"I realize that my place and position in history is that I will go down as the voice of this generation, of this decade; I will be the loudest voice. It's me settling into that position of just really accepting that it's one thing to say you want to do it and it's another thing to really end up being like Michael Jordan." -Kanye West
"I just got an award given to me by a Beatle. Have you had that happen yet, Kanye?" -Vince Gill, accepting the Grammy Award for Best Country Album from Ringo Starr
"Tonight we look beyond the dark days and focus on happier fare: This year's slate of Oscar-nominated psychopathic killer movies. Does this town need a hug? What happened? 'No Country for Old Men,' 'Sweeney Todd,' 'There Will Be Blood.' All I can say is thank God for teen pregnancy." — Jon Stewart, hosting the Oscars
"Well it's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'new-clear.'" -Seth Myers, SNL's Weekend Update "According to KLAC-AM, Jose Canseco has been detained at the U.S.-Mexico border for alleged possession of steroids... Wait, do you hear that? It's the sound of us not being surprised." -Perez Hilton "Then why are you covering the Nationals?" -Ralph Nader when told by the Washington Post they would not cover his campaing since he would likely not have a chance to win "...All of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years." -Sarah Palin, asked by Katie Couric which newspapers, specifically, she reads "I want to be done playing this lady November 5th. So if anybody can help me be done playing this lady November 5th, that would be good for me." -Tina Fey "This quote helped shape the election results... as it sank in the public realized this was someone really, really inexperienced and perhaps lacking in curiosity about the world." -Fred R. Shapiro, Yale Law School "Working with Heath was one of the purest joys of my life. He brought to the role of Ennis more than any of us could have imagined - a thirst for life, for love, and for truth, and a vulnerability that made everyone who knew him love him. His death is heartbreaking." -Ang Lee, director, Brokeback Mountain "Watching the returns on election night was an amazing experience. Barack Obama is our new president. Change is here. I, like millions of Americans, felt like we had taken a giant step towards equality. We were watching history... This morning, when it was clear that Proposition 8 had passed in California, I can’t explain the feeling I had. I was saddened beyond belief. Here we just had a giant step towards equality and then on the very next day, we took a giant step away... I believe one day a 'ban on gay marriage' will sound totally ridiculous. In the meantime, I will continue to speak out for equality for all of us." -Ellen DeGeneres, November 5 "... Alright, I get it. 51% of you think that I am a second class citizen... so I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen. I mean that would just be wrong, to make someone pay taxes and not give them the same rights, sounds sort of like that taxation without representation thing from the history books... I don't mean to get too personal here but there is a lot I can do with the extra half a million dollars that I will be keeping instead of handing it over to the state of California... What recession? We're gay!" -Melissa Etheridge (full statement here) "I said, 'Wow, this girl is angry.' And then I said, 'Oh man, I think it's Alanis.' ... I listened to the song over and over again, and I said, 'I think I have really hurt this person.'" -Dave Coulier, recounting the first time he heard "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette "Let's put that guitar down and go fuck Matt Damon." -Matt Damon to Sarah Silverman "That's pretty fucking good." -Josh Groban in "Fucking Ben Affleck" "It's kind of freaky knowing you're diving into someone's Grandpa." -Boston Red Sox Outfielder, Coco Crisp, after Fenway banned pouring cremated ashes over the field
"I can see Russia from my house!" -Tina Fey as Sarah Palin
"Now don't make me cry. I love this part, and I love this show so much that if I don't take a deep breath and move on now I never will, and you'll be wheeling me out of the Tardis in my bath chair." -David Tennant upon announcing his departure from Doctor Who
