Jerry Brown said…

It was quite a year for the often-quotable Gov. Jerry Brown. A year ago, The Bee created a Twitter account, @JerryBrownSays, to disseminate some of his most memorable lines – 159 of them this year alone. Here is a recap of the Democratic governor’s spoken wisdom from 2012.

"I know that whatever happens one night there’s always another challenge the next day."
– said on CBS This Morning after winning Proposition 30

"I poured a lot of good wine. I had them over to the loft … but it didn’t make any difference."
– regarding GOP lawmakers’ resistance to tax increases

"I’ve never seen a CEQA exemption thatI don’t like."
– Referring to the California Environmental Quality Act, the reform of which he described on another occasion as the "Lord’s work.”

"There’s alot of other ingredients to my Moonbeamship, only one of which was my interest in space."
– Referring to his old nickname,"Governor Moonbeam”

"I wouldn’t be a bitsurprised if the outcomeis even more positive than most of you are probably expecting."
– regarding Proposition 30, said to reporters after casting his ballot on Election Day

"I want to get s--- done.”

"You’re going to hear so much that I wouldn’t miss it if I were you."
– said to reporters when asked what they might expect to hear in his then-upcoming State of the State address

"Jogging forces meto pay attention to where I’m running."
– said to Esquire,in an interview

"Vote for the tax … suck it in."
– also regarding Proposition 30

"Not as much hair, I’m slowed down a little bit. But I have to tell you, I ran three miles in 29 minutes two nights ago ... and I hereby challenge Gov. Christie to a three-mile race, a pushup contest and a chin-up contest. And whatever he wants to bet, I have no doubt of the outcome."
– in remarks after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called Brown an "old retread”

"It’s a pretzel palace of incredible complexity."
– regarding the state budget

"Should this meeting be closed to the press?"
– consulting Siri, on his iPhone 4S, in response to a question by The Bee about whether a dinner in Washington, D.C. should be closed to reporters

"These reporters speak softly, and carry a big stick."
– urging a crowd to be quiet so questions from reporters could be heard

"Remember the people who liked to run around in hoods because they didn’t want people to see who the hell they are?"
– speaking at a state conference of the National Association for the Advancementof Colored People, criticizing an $11 million donation from a secretive, out-of-state group to a committee opposing Proposition 30 and supporting Proposition 32

"This is a message from outer space, and I’m going to turn it on mute now so we don’t have to worry about it."
– interrupted by his cellphone while speaking at a campaign event