2008 will be remembered most as an election year, and, as in any election year, people learned that the public officials they despise, others think are pretty swell. Yet there were still a few newsmakers out there whose misdeeds or obnoxious behavior were such that even a divided nation could agree to shower them with universal scorn.

So who was the most thoroughly hated in 2008? After the jump, read about the businessmen, celebrities, athletes and politicians who have all seen better years.

Robiot Blaspitzevich: Not only do you get a regular head of governor hair if you combine Eliot Spitzer and Rod Blagojevich's tresses, but each were introduced to a national audience as jaw-dropping disgraces, and were both under the mistaken impression that they would one day be president. Oh, and they were both Democrats. Proving there won't be any fewer political scandals now that the GOP has been kicked to the curb -- just fewer political scandals involving gay sex.

Heather Mills: Mills has always been on thin ice, but in 2008 she crashed through and fell deep into the cold waters of universal scorn. By painting legendary Beatle Paul McCartney as an abusive pothead, it was as if the former model took a big public dump on Big Ben. Look for Mills's stock to fall even further after Guy Ritchie shows England and the world the classy, two-legged way to get tens of millions from a pop-icon spouse during a divorce.

Bernie Madoff: The former NASDAQ chair, who was able to use his massive Rolodex to swindle everyone from famous movie directors to banks to charities to mom-and-pop investors, had to have the conditions of his bail reworked because he couldn't find anyone besides his wife and brother to co-sign for him. His own kids turned him in! Madoff is the most despised man on Wall Street, and, in 2008, that is saying a lot.

Tom Cruise: In 2008 Cruise wasn't able to suppress the Scientology indoctrination video that pretty much settled the debate over whether he is a lunatic, and continued to hold Joey Potter hostage. Once box office gold, Cruise's first celluloid appearance of the year came uncredited and while wearing a disguise. In his next role, Cruise tries to get back into our good graces by playing a Nazi plotting to kill Hitler. We'll see if that cheap trick works.

Plaxico Burress: Despite his being an integral part of an improbable Super Bowl victory, even the most die-hard Giants fan would have trouble mustering a kind word about Plax. Basically, the guy has always been bad news, but in 2008 he drove the point home with a bullet to his own thigh. This year we also learned Burress wears sweatpants to the club. A potentially awesome fashion choice, made utterly indefensible by the fact he tried to holster a handgun in the waistband.