AOL News' 2010 News Turkeys

(Nov. 25) -- It's the time of year for giving thanks -- thanks for not being one of the birdbrains behind some of this year's most embarrassing headlines.

From dodo politicians to cuckoo celebrities, 2010's headlines have been stuffed with turkeys. Yes, turkeys -- those good-for-nothing newsmakers who have made us flapping mad at one time or another during the year.

Here are our choices for the year's biggest news turkeys, complete with rankings of their fowlness. At the bottom of our list, vote on who you think the year's biggest turkey is.

Melodi Dushane poses for her police booking photo on Jan. 1, 2010.

Toledo, Ohio, Police Department

Melodi Dushane gave new meaning to the phrase "food fight." On New Year's Day, she flew into a rage when McDonald's workers refused to serve her Chicken McNuggets at 6:30 a.m. She threw punches and shattered the drive-thru window. (Dushane was sentenced in July.) Maybe next year she'll Double Down.
Turkey

Felipe Major, AP

"Barefoot Bandit" Colton Harris-Moore was one of those crime suspects who could run -- but not hide. That's understandable, considering how hard it is to hide stolen airplanes and boats. The teen built up quite a following with his attention-getting escapes, but attention is a bad thing when you're linked to dozens of thefts.
Turkey

Rock stars are famous for getting trashed and trashing hotel rooms. Sitcom stars, not so much. But Charlie Sheen went the whole nine yards at New York's Plaza Hotel, allegedly trashing the "Eloise" suite naked while a prostitute hid in the bathroom. His publicist blamed an "allergic reaction" -- an excuse rockers would sneeze at.
Turkey

Mark Ralston, AFP / Getty Images

If you call the mother of your child a "whore," what must you say about other people? Oh, right. In his fiercest speech since "Braveheart," Mel Gibson allegedly threatened Oksana Grigorieva's life, told her she looked "like a [bleeping] pig in heat," and said he hopes she gets gang-raped. Is this really the man who starred in "What Women Want?"
Turkey

Bauer-Griffin

Jim Mone, AP

Brett Favre found himself under pressure when a sports blog published lewd photographs and voicemails he had allegedly sent to New York Jets worker Jenn Sterger. It's unclear if he will be punished. But the Vikings quarterback has already taken one hit below the belt: Wrangler scaled back a series of denim ads featuring the oft-retiring star.
Turkey

Alex Wong, Getty Images

As the Deepwater Horizon oil spill devastated the Gulf Coast, BP exec Tony Hayward made a plea for the biggest victim of the disaster: himself. The yacht racer stuck his boat shoe in his mouth, whining, "I'd like my life back." Two months later, he lost his job -- but at least he got his wish.
Turkey

Alex Wong, Getty Images

This guy sounds like one bad egg. Investigators believe Jack DeCoster was responsible for a salmonella outbreak that sickened about 1,600 people and led to the recall of 550 million eggs. Some believe his conduct has been rotten since he set up his first henhouse in 1949. Later, DeCoster was linked to another batch of potentially tainted eggs.
Turkey

It's hard to pinpoint the exact moment when Christine O'Donnell's Senate run went off the rails, but it might have been her notorious "I'm you" TV ad. Say what you will about targeted advertising, but there probably aren't many voters who are pro-abstinence, anti-masturbation dabblers in witchcraft who have gone on dates on Satanic altars.
Turkey

Rob Carr, AP

Mary Ann Chastain, AP

Just when you thought politics couldn't get any weirder, a guy like Alvin Greene comes along. The long-shot Senate anti-candidate from South Carolina seemed to be trying to lose: dodging interviews and avoiding outlining positions. At times, it felt as if his candidacy wasn't real at all, but more like something out of "The Manchurian Candidate."
Turkey

Paul J. Richards, AFP / Getty Images

Florida pastor Terry Jones got roasted after announcing plans to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks by burning copies of the Koran. Pretty much everyone flamed him. As the date approached, Jones flip-flopped about his stunt until he canceled the event and it became clear he was just blowing smoke.
Turkey

They say loose lips sink ships. Apparently they also sink military careers. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, then head of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, came under attack after he mouthed off about the president to a reporter. Word to the wise: Mocking your boss is risky, no matter how many stars you've earned. He's now retired.
Turkey

Alex Wong, Getty Images

Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi is no stranger to scandals, but rumors about his sex life are out of control. He has long been linked to escorts and underwear models, but voters were turned off by stories about a teen who attended his so-called "Bunga Bunga" orgies. Say what you will, but he's got stamina. He was also accused of paying $14,200 for sex.