This Just In ...

Week-ends (12/29/12)

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Dec. 29, 2012

Week-ends

This is a special year-end edition of Week-ends, a look back at the people and events that made news the past year. Week-ends is a regular weekly feature of This Just In...


HEROES OF THE YEAR


Brian Murphy


Victoria Soto


Steve St. Bernard


Dylan Smith ...and others.



VILLAINS OF THE YEAR


The mass shooters



QUOTES OF THE YEAR 


Remember one of Paul Ryan's great lines at the RNC...






"There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it -- that that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. ... These are people who pay no income tax. ... [M]y job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."
Mitt Romney at a private fundraiser in May that was secretly recorded and posted online in September by Mother Jones magazine.


"We took a concerted effort to go out and find women who had backgrounds that could be qualified to become members of our cabinet [in Massachusetts]. I went to a number of women's groups and said, 'Can you help us find folks?' and they brought us whole binders full of women."
Mitt Romney during the second presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y. in October.


"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business — you didn't build that."
President Obama at a campaign appearance in Roanoke, Va., July 13.


"You mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets because the nature of our military has changed. We have these things called aircraft carriers where planes land on them. We have these ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines."
President Obama during the third presidential debate in Boca Raton, Fla., Oct. 22.


"If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."
Missouri senatorial candidate Todd Akin during a KTVI-TV interview, Aug. 19


"You hit a reset button for the fall campaign; everything changes. It's almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and we start all over again."
Romney senior campaign adviser Eric Fehrnstrom during a CNN interview, March 21.


"I'm an honorary consul general, so I have inviolability."
Socialite Jill Kelley, telephone call to a 911 dispatcher, Tampa, Fla., Nov. 11, about media crews that came to her home as news broke of her involvement in the scandal over the resignation of CIA director David Petraeus.


"Under current law, on January 1st, 2013, there is going to be a massive fiscal cliff of large spending cuts and tax increases."
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testifying before the House Committee on Financial Services hearing, Feb. 29.


"I care more about my country than I do about a 20-year-old pledge."
Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss about the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.


“No… [applause], but I will. I think the destructive, negative, vicious nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to run for public office, and I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that.”
Newt Gingrich after being asked during a CNN debate if he’d like to respond to allegations by an ex-wife that he wanted an open marriage.


“You know, back in my days, they used Bayer aspirin for contraception. The gals put it between their knees, and it wasn’t that costly.”
Foster Friess, a Rick Santorum supporter.


“Ann drives a couple of Cadillacs actually.”
Mitt Romney


“This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.”
President Obama to Russian President Medvedev.


“Well, you know, I guess we better unzip him and let the real Mitt Romney out because he is not!”
Ann Romney when asked by a radio host about the criticism that her husband “comes off stiff.”


“Guess what? His wife has actually never worked a day in her life.”
Hilary Rosen, Democratic strategist, referring to Ann Romney.


“The private sector is doing fine.”
President Obama in June.


“The highest Court in the land has now spoken. We will continue to implement this law. And we'll work together to improve on it where we can. But what we won’t do -- what the country can’t afford to do -- is refight the political battles of two years ago, or go back to the way things were.”
President Obama on the health-care law being upheld, 5-4, by the Supreme Court with Chief Justice Roberts being the deciding vote.


“Join me in welcoming the next president of the United States, Paul Ryan."
Mitt Romney introducing Ryan as his vice presidential pick. Romney came back on stage: "Every now and then I'm known to make a mistake. I did not make a mistake with this guy. But I can tell you this. He's going to be the next vice president of the United States."


"They gonna put y’all back in chains."
VP Joe Biden


“I’m a Catholic deer hunter. I am happy to be clinging to my guns and to my religion.”
Paul Ryan


“I’ve got a little bumper sticker for you: Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive.”
VP Joe Biden


“America, I never said this journey would be easy, and I won't promise that now. Yes, our path is harder, but it leads to a better place.”
President Obama


“It’s disgraceful that the Obama administration’s first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.”
Mitt Romney


“I think the best answer is as little as possible.”
Mitt Romney when asked what he wears to bed at night.


“And congratulations to you, Mr. President, on your anniversary. I’m sure this was the most romantic place you could imagine — here with me!”
Mitt Romney during the first presidential debate.


“I like PBS, I love Big Bird. I actually like you, too.”
Mitt Romney to moderator Jim Lehrer of PBS in the first presidential debate.


“Obviously, I had an off-night.” 
President Obama to Jon Stewart in reference to his first debate performance.


“Life is that gift from God. And even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.”
Richard Mourdock


“The president has been all over this and he deserves great credit”
Chris Christie on the response to Hurricane Sandy.


“I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation.”
Mitt Romney in his concession speech.


“He was a charismatic African American president with a billion dollars, no primary and media that often felt morally conflicted about being critical.”
Stu Stevens


“He [Mitt Romney] wanted to be president less than anyone I’ve met in my life. He had no desire to . . . run.”
Tagg Romney



OUTRAGE OF THE YEAR


The mass shootings.



MOST OVER-HYPED STORY OF THE YEAR


Election polls, many of which were wrong.



MOST UNDER-REPORTED STORY OF THE YEAR


Benghazi.

Locally, Governor Walker's constant visits to businesses that are adding  jobs.



STRANGEST, MOST UNUSUAL STORY OF THE YEAR


We could list dozens, but I pick this one from Franklin.