Top 20 Quotes of 2009
When legislators returned home for the summer they were met by angry constituents who disrupted town hall meetings around the country on health care reform. People on both sides of the battle brought signs and chanted slogans.
Sullenberger landed the plane safely in the Hudson River, and everyone onboard survived.
The release of the iPhone 3GS on June 19, 2009, brought on another onset of iPhone fever. The advertising campaigns during and after the release of the new edition boasted the multitude of applications a user could download and use on his or her phone.
The outburst came after during President Obama's joint address to Congress, when he said health care reforms would not apply to illegal immigrants. The comment prompted gasps from the crowd, and Wilson later apologized.
The comment lead to a July 30 "beer summit," in which Gates, the officer who arrested him, Mr. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden raised their glasses in the wake of the debate over Gates' arrest.
The rapper was criticized for the onstage outburst; President Obama even called him a "jackass" in an off-the-record comment. West apologized to Swift two days later.
The Heene family commanded the nation's attention after father Richard's balloon-like aircraft took off on Oct. 15, with 6-year-old Falcon allegedly inside. The boy's comments on CNN led to eventual confirmation that the incident was a publicity stunt.
Palin posted this on her Facebook page on Aug. 7, 2009, claiming that the Obama administration's proposed plan would allow bureaucrats to decide whether the sick, elderly and disabled are worthy of health care.
Sanford's whereabouts were unknown June 18-24, 2009, but when he arrived home on a flight from Argentina, the hiking story unraveled and he later admitted to being unfaithful to his wife, Jenny, who has since filed for divorce.
The former professional wrestler and governor of Minnesota said this during an interview with CNN on May 11, 2009.
In February 2009, an audio recording was released of Bale delivering a long, expletive-filled tirade on the set of his film "Terminator Salvation" in June 2008. The rant started because the film's director of photography accidentally walked onto the set while Bale was shooting a scene.
The model responded with that statement on Nov. 13, 2009, when asked by Womens Wear Daily if she had a personal motto. The quote drew fire from eating-disorder experts.
The singer commented during an interview in Glamour magazine's December issue about the unprecedented levels of media attention she endured after she was assaulted by former boyfriend Chris Brown in February.
The singer finalized her divorce from film director Guy Ritchie in December 2008.
On Aug. 10, 2009, she snapped at a Congolese student who asked, "What does Mr. Clinton think, through the mouth of Mrs. Clinton, about China's growing influence." The student later said he had meant to say Mr. Obama.
Madoff, who swindled investors and charities out of $65 billion, pleaded guilty to 11 federal offenses on March 12, 2009. The quote is from an apology to his victims he read when he pleaded guilty. On June 29, he was sentenced to the maximum sentence of 150 years in federal prison.
Mr. Obama spoke these words during his inaugural address on Jan. 20, 2009, in Washington, after being sworn in as the 44th president of the United States.
The Salahis shocked Secret Service and civilians when it was discovered the Virginia couple made their way into the White House state dinner on Nov. 24, 2009, without being invited. The Secret Service later announced that it had not followed proper security procedures in admitting them.
On Oct. 1, 2009, Letterman admitted to having sex with co-workers after CBS News producer Robert "Joe" Halderman allegedly threatened to expose the affairs and try to blackmail him.
A Nov. 27, 2009, car crash started a chain that led to women coming forward claiming they had affairs with the golfer. He released a statement on Dec. 2, admitting only to vague "transgressions" and "sins," but as more women came forward he eventually confirmed his infidelities.