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

Top 10 Quotes

2. VP Says It Plain

By Frances RomeroThursday, Dec. 09, 2010
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Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg / Getty Images

"This is a big f___ing deal."

—Joe Biden, Vice President, accidentally expressing to President Obama excessive enthusiasm for passage of the health care bill, in front of a hot mike at the White House's signing ceremony (CNN)

Next Hayward "Apologizes"