In 50 wide-ranging lists, TIME surveys the highs and lows, the good and the bad, of the past 12 months

Top 10 Quotes

1. McCain Makes a U-Turn

By Frances RomeroThursday, Dec. 09, 2010
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Laura Segall / Getty Images

"I never considered myself a maverick."

—John McCain, rejecting the label on which he campaigned for the presidency in 2008 (Newsweek)

Next VP Says It Plain