Quotes of the Year

Fred Shapiro, associate librarian of Yale Law School, has released his fifth annual list of most notable quotations of the year.

Obviously, the guy is obsessed with Christine O'Donnell and the Tea Party movement.

Only one of the quotations, from Nancy Pelosi, recognizes the Democrats and reflects poorly on them.

Not a single significant quotation of the year was uttered by Obama, accoring to Shapiro. That's odd considering he's supposed to be the greatest orator of our time, of all time.

Here's Shapiro's list:

1. (TIE) "I'm not a witch." Christine O'Donnell, television advertisement, Oct. 4.

1. (TIE) "I'd like my life back." Tony Hayward, comment to reporters, May 30.

3. "If you touch my junk, I'm gonna have you arrested." airline passenger John Tyner, remark to Transportation Security Administration worker at San Diego airport, Nov. 13, 2010

4. "Don't retreat. Instead — reload!" Sarah Palin, Tweet, March 23.

5. "Chi! Chi! Chi! Le! Le! Le! Los mineros de Chile!" Chant at Chilean mine rescue, Oct. 13.

6. "I hope that's not where we're going, but you know, if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies. They're saying: My goodness, what can we do to turn this country around?" Sharron Angle, radio interview in January.

7. "We have to pass the (health care) bill so you can find out what is in it." Nancy Pelosi, speech to National Association of Counties, March 9.

8. "I'm going to take my talents to South Beach." LeBron James, television broadcast, July 8.

9. "You're telling me that the separation of church and state is found in the First Amendment?" Christine O'Donnell, Delaware senatorial debate, Oct. 19. (The Associated Press reported the quote: "So you're telling me that the separation of church and state, the phrase 'separation of church and state,' is in the First Amendment?")

10. "They should never have put me with that woman. ... She was just a sort of bigoted woman who said she used to be Labour." Gordon Brown, comments about a voter he met while campaigning for British general election, Apr. 28.

Two from Christine O'Donnell, one from Sharron Angle, and one from Sarah Palin?

Good grief.

Supposedly, "Shapiro picks quotes that are famous, important or revealing of the spirit of the times. The quotes aren't necessarily the most eloquent or admirable."

I think Shapiro's list is extremely inadequate in terms of importance and capturing the "spirit of the times," not to mention heavily biased against the Tea Party and conservatives.

Here are some quotations that Shapiro should not have overlooked:

"We're buying shrimp." Barack Obama

"[T]here's no such thing as shovel-ready projects." Barack Obama

"We don't mind the Republicans joining us. They can come for the ride, but THEY GOTTA SIT IN BACK." Barack Obama

"We talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers so I know whose ass to kick." Barack Obama

"Think of an economy where people could be an artist or a photographer or a writer without worrying about keeping their day job in order to have health insurance or that people could start a business and be entrepreneurial and take risk, but not job loss because of a child with asthma or someone in the family is bipolar—you name it, any condition — is job-locking." Nancy Pelosi

"I refuse to accept the notion that the United States of America is not going to lead the world economically throughout the 20th Century." Joe Biden

"Obama's critics keep blasting him for Chicago-style politics. So, fine. Channel your inner Al Capone and go gangsta against your foes. Let 'em know that if they aren't with you, they are against you, and will pay the price." Roland Martin

"I am wildly excited about the notion that I can walk through a machine instead of getting my dose of love pats." Claire McCaskill

"Why would you put people in charge of government who just don't want to do it? I mean, you wouldn't expect to see al Qaeda members as pilots." Alan Grayson

"Come here, bitch. Come to New York and do it. I'm not praying for [Sharron Angle]. She's going to hell. She's going to hell, this bitch. Joy Behar

There are so many other quotations worth noting that truly capture the spirit of 2010, so many missed by Shapiro.