Farewell, 2006: a year in which celebrity babble reached all-time heights.  There’s nothing quite like, for instance, Lindsay Lohan saying, “I just left an AA meeting.  I haven’t had a drink in seven days. Or anything.  I’m not even legal to, so why would I? I don’t drink when I go to clubs. I drink with my friends at home, but there’s no need to.”  Unsure if one of those friends is Al Gore, although she can surely use his help.

But our interests here aren’t celebrities talking about alcohol.  Our interests are celebrities babbling about politics.  Unless, of course,  alcohol colors a celebrity’s geopolitical views.  That’s when we sit up, notice, and throw our head back in laughter.  Which is why Mel Gibson leads The Top Ten Funniest Things Celebrities Said About Politics in 2006.

The complete list:

1.  Mel Gibson: “The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.” (July 28)

2.  Arnold Schwarzenegger: “To link me to George Bush is like linking me to an Oscar.” (October 11)

3.  Sharon Stone: “A woman should be past her sexuality when she runs. Hillary still has sexual power and I don’t think people will accept that. It’s too threatening.” (March 27)

4.  Pamela Anderson: “The bust of Colonel Sanders stands as a monument to cruelty and has no place in the Kentucky State Capitol.” (Jan. 13)

5.  Bobby Brown: “Cigarettes kill more people everyday than any terrorists I’ve ever seen — on television.” (June 6)

6.  A tie:

Rosie O’Donnell: “Don’t fear the terrorists. They’re mothers and fathers.”  (Nov. 9)

and

Rosie O’Donnell: “Apparently ‘ching-chong,’ unbeknownst to me, is a very offensive way to make fun, quote-unquote, or mock, Asian accents.” (Dec. 14)

7.  Meadow Soprano: “9/11, 9/11. Bush is using it as an excuse to erode our Constitutional protections and you’re falling for it.” Carmela Soprano: “Well, I voted for him.” (April 16)

8.  Kevin Federline: “I want to go to Africa — it’s a place where you can really help people. And I’m into the safari animals.” (Oct. 31)

9.  Bono at the National Prayer Breakfast: “Please join me in praying that I don’t say something we all regret. If you’re wondering what I’m doing at the prayer breakfast, so am I. I’m certainly not here as a man of the cloth. Unless that cloth is leather.” (Feb. 23)

10.  George Clooney , accepting a Supporting Actor Golden Globe for “Syriana”: “I want to thank Jack Abramoff, you know, just because … I don’t know why … Who would name their kid Jack but the last word’s ‘off’ at the end of their last name? No wonder that guy’s screwed up.” (Jan. 18).

As a special bonus to this list, a twist — a politician saying something funny about a celebrity.  Let’s lower the house lights and give a warm Extreme welcome to Japan’s former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, live from Graceleand.  Mr. Minister?

PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI: It’s like a dream. I never expected President come with me to visit Graceland. There’s Elvis song: To Dream Impossible. (Singing Elvis song.) (Laughter.) My dream came true. Thank you very much for — thank you. Thank you very much for treating me nice, the Elvis song. (Singing Elvis song.) Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: We’re going to go have some barbeque, thank you. (June 30)

For Extreme Mortman’s other 2006 year in review specials, check out Top Ten Funniest Political Moments Of 2006, and Top Ten Funniest Political Quotes Of 2006.