December 16, 2006 10:32pm by David Farrar

Tim Blair’s quotes of the year

Tim Blair does his usual annual quotes of the year feature.

“WILL Beazley win? Oh, yes. You see if I am right.” – a 2007 election prediction from political expert Bob Ellis

“We are altering the balance of energy between our planet and the rest of the universe.” – Al Gore continues losing his mind

“It’s taken just three years in Iraq for US deaths to equal the body count after six years in Vietnam.” – The Australian’s Phillip Adams. In fact, in the six years after troops entered Vietnam in 1965, 53,446 US servicemen were killed

“Activities which are not compatible with western standards.” – an ABC news description of Hamas suicide bombings

“I would love to kill George Bush.” – Nobel peace laureate Betty Williams, speaking to Brisbane schoolchildren

“I’m sorry. I’m from South Australia.” – a caller to gamble-TV program Quizmania, explaining why he was so slow to turn down the sound on his television

“We want to make it clear that if the Pope does not appear on TV and apologize for his comments, we will blow up all of Gaza’s churches.” – terror group the Sword of Islam, upset over comments by the Pope linking Islam to violence

“The animal world has finally taken its revenge on Irwin …” – Germaine Greer’s cruel farewell to Steve Irwin, written mere hours after his death

“Gender inequalities will likely worsen with climate change.” – page 23, chapter four of the Stern Report

“If one puts uncovered meat out in the street, or on the footpath, or in the garden, or in the park, or in the backyard without a cover, then the cats come and eat it, is it the fault of the cat or the uncovered meat? The uncovered meat is the problem!” – Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali digs a hole

“Our thoughts and the thoughts of many, many Australians will be with Karl Rove as he goes through the very sad process of burying his beloved wife.” – Kim Beazley, signing off

“The next most human way to reduce the population might be to put something in the water …” – Melbourne neuroscientist Dr John Reid, who believes the population must be reduced by many millions, for the planet’s sake.