Washington Post's Quotes of the Year

Their Oops? We'll Hear It Again and Again.

5. "I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, uh, people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and, I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, or, uh, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future, for our children."
-- Lauren Caitlin Upton, Miss Teen South Carolina, in the Miss Teen USA pageant, airing live on NBC. The 18-year-old was asked why one-fifth of Americans can't locate the United States on a blank world map. She later said she was flustered by the question.

4. "In Iran, we don't have homosexuals like in your country."
-- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, during a question-and-answer session at Columbia University.

3. "That's some nappy-headed hos there."
-- Radio host Don Imus, describing his perception of the Rutgers women's basketball team.

2. "He has a wide stance."
-- Sgt. Dave Karsnia of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport police, summarizing Idaho Sen. Larry Craig's explanation of their June 11 bathroom stall encounter.

1. "Whoop-de-damn-do."
-- Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, quoting his own reaction to being told the Senate had confirmed his nomination to the Supreme Court.