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Closing Arguments: 2008's Biggest Villain?
December 30, 2008 11:58 PM
As we reported tonight, 2008 will be remembered by many for its scandals and scoundrels.
So tonight, we ask you: Who caused the most harm? Who caused the most pain? Who was the year's biggest villain?
A reminder of some of this year's shameful subjects:
1. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's alleged plan to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat.
2. Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's multiple trysts with high-class hookers.
3. The Big Three auto CEOs who flew to Washington in private jets.
4. John Edwards' admission that he lied about an extramarital affair with a campaign employee.
5. Former Lehman Brothers CEO Richard Fuld's decision to defend the $484 million he made at his firm.
6. Bernard Madoff's alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme.
Or perhaps you have a candidate of your own?
Tell us what you think.
December 30, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (210)
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The biggest villian is president George W. Bush. He has ruined out country and is responsible for the biggest scandal in our history this Iraq War.
See you in hell W!
Posted by: Guillermo Cancio | Dec 31, 2008 12:08:48 AM
George Bush
Posted by: Jamie D. Sebens | Dec 31, 2008 12:09:21 AM
Madoff deserves to be executed for all the harm he has done to so many. Also, the SEC needs a big shake up because they just let it happen.
Posted by: Domenic Ciancarelli | Dec 31, 2008 12:09:31 AM
AIG - for saying they were in trouble and needed help and then going to a very nice retreat - and not just once TWICE!
Posted by: Sara | Dec 31, 2008 12:09:41 AM
I think that it would be the ceos who flew in by private jets. They were asking for money, but they had spent it on jets.
Posted by: Nick | Dec 31, 2008 12:09:51 AM
6. Bernard Madoff's alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme.
Posted by: lisie | Dec 31, 2008 12:10:22 AM
The biggest villain in 2008 has to be George W. Bush. He was the biggest in 2000-2001-2002-2003-2004 and so on. Why would it be any different this year?
What after stealing the election or robbing this country of its tax revenue, bringing us into an interminable war. Thank you George W. Bush, there should be a Marvel Comic about you.
Posted by: Guillermo Cancio | Dec 31, 2008 12:10:37 AM
Since the economy is the biggest news in our house, I would have to say that Richard Fuld's $484 million is the biggest villain of 2008!
Posted by: Angela Tibbits | Dec 31, 2008 12:10:57 AM
President Bush is this year's biggest villain. It is he who has caused the most pain, done the most damage, and was the leader who set the standard for all the other lesser villians. They all pale in comparison to President Bush, and this is evidenced by his approval rating of somewhere around 29%, the lowest of any president in history.
Posted by: Rick Boulware | Dec 31, 2008 12:11:16 AM
I say a tie between these two greedy individuals. How much money does one need to live one life on planet earth? They used $$$$ to keep score and worth. Pure greed and misplaced values.
5. Former Lehman Brothers CEO Richard Fuld's decision to defend the $484 million he made at his firm.
6. Bernard Madoff's alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme.
Posted by: Ron Houston | Dec 31, 2008 12:11:47 AM
I think the the president, vice president and government are 2008's biggest villian. What a disappointment to put so much faith into your government and country and to have all of this terrible stuff occur in the last few years.
Posted by: JJ | Dec 31, 2008 12:11:56 AM
The biggest villian of 2008 is the the Media and their election coverage.
In fact I have a difficult time time calling the news outlets "news outlets". We should start calling them "Personal Agenda Commentary and Propoganda" outlets. I still wait impatiently for a U.S. "news" organization to truly cover and report "real" news.
Posted by: Nancy | Dec 31, 2008 12:11:59 AM
America's biggest vilian in 2008 (and 07, 06, 05, 04, 03, 02, 01 and 00) was George W. Bush. His incompetent leadership has cost America MUCH more than the financial meltdown, caused more personal harm than all the sexual scandals, and has been personified by an arrogance that far surpasses the airline executives, AIG and even the Governor of Illinois combined.
Posted by: Paul F. Davis | Dec 31, 2008 12:12:07 AM
George W Bush, no doubt
Posted by: Joey Courtney | Dec 31, 2008 12:12:09 AM
The shameful truth of 2008 is that our current President,George Bush, was not impeached. He is the biggest unnamed villian of 2008. My goodness didn't he take excellent care of our country! What an inheritance and legacy these last eight years will leave for our children. Bravo...#1 Villian!!!!
Posted by: T.McCall | Dec 31, 2008 12:13:15 AM
Without a doubt the biggest villain in the past 8 years is Dubya Bush!
Posted by: Chick | Dec 31, 2008 12:13:20 AM
The worst most horrible person \public figure George Bush. He is the most worthless human being on this planet.
Posted by: jeff salazar | Dec 31, 2008 12:13:49 AM
Richard Fuld and Bernard Madoff. How can someone be so greedy that they do not care about who they hurt or what means they use to make money. Why does anyone need more money than they can possibly spend in their lifetime? Money truly is the root of all evil.
Posted by: Kristie | Dec 31, 2008 12:13:51 AM
We vote for the Bernie Madoff scandal as being the biggest scandal of the year
Posted by: kimmiecat | Dec 31, 2008 12:14:17 AM
I feel that Spitzer caused the most harm/pain...especially to his family!!
He portrayed himself as the opposite of what he really was/is. He lived a lie and his family was destroyed by it.
Posted by: Jo | Dec 31, 2008 12:15:16 AM
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