The 25 Dumbest Quotes of 2007

25. "It was an unidentified flying object, OK? It's, like, it's unidentified." --Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), after being asked about an account in Shirley MacLain's book that said Kucinich once had a close encounter with a UFO while visiting her house in Washington state. MacLaine wrote that Kucinich "felt a connection in his heart and heard directions in his mind" as a triangular craft hovered above him. (Watch video clip)

24. "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man." --Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) on Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)

23. "I'm pretty sure there will be duck-hunting in heaven and I can't wait!" --former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee

22. "PETA is not happy that my dog likes fresh air." --former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, responding to criticism from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals following revelations that he had once strapped the family dog to roof of his car during a long road trip

21. "Biking through New York's boroughs in 2005, I thought about some old friends, Joe and Eileen Bailey. Though they are imaginary, I frequently talk to them." --Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), in an excerpt from his book, Positively American

20. "I'm in the private sector and for the first time in my life I'm earning money. You know that's sort of part of the Jewish tradition and I do not find anything wrong with that." --Former Republican presidential candidate Tommy Thompson, speaking to an audience of Jewish activists

19. "The question is, we face a lot of dangers in the world and, in the gentleman's words, we face a lot of evil men. And what in my background equips me to deal with evil and bad men?" --Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), laughing off a question from a voter who asked Clinton what qualified her to deal with leaders from countries such as Iran and North Korea

18. "What do you think about that?" --Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), after handing his Senate business card to the police officer who arrested him for attempting to solicit sex in a Minneapolis airport men's room

17. "Thank you all very much for coming out today." --Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), at the beginning of his remarks to reporters in which he insisted he was "not gay"

16. "I never said I was pro-choice, but my position was effectively pro-choice. I changed my position. And I get tired of people that are holier-than-thou because they've been pro-life longer than I have. But I'm proud of the fact." --Mitt Romney, clarifying his position on abortion

15. "And the ultimate thing is, I may not be the expert that some people are on foreign policy, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night." --Mike Huckabee

14. "All these things give me kind of a gut feeling, not that I have a specific threat that I have in mind right now, but we are entering a period of increased vulnerability." --Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, on terrorism threats

13. "Like a normal outdoor market in Indiana in the summertime." --Rep Mike Pence (R-IN), describing his visit to a Baghdad market where a suicide bomber killed 88 people a few months earlier. Pence and the other members of the U.S. delegation visiting the market were decked in flak jackets while surrounded by 100 soldiers in armored Humvees and attack helicopters.

12. "I just want to add, I did not say that it should be done, but I certainly recognize why Gov. Spitzer is trying to do it. And we have failed." --Sen. Hillary Clinton, responding in a Democratic debate to New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer's plan to give drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants. Moments earlier, Clinton had said, "They are driving on our roads. The possibility of them having an accident that harms themselves or others is just a matter of the odds."

11. "This president has listened to some people, the so-called Vulcans in the White House, the ideologues. But you know, unlike the Vulcans of Star Trek who made the decisions based on logic and fact, these guys make it on ideology. These aren't Vulcans. There are Klingons in the White House. But unlike the real Klingons of Star Trek, these Klingons have never fought a battle of their own. Don't let faux Klingons send real Americans to war." --Rep. David Wu (D-OR), in a speech on the floor of Congress (Watch video clip)